It had been almost a week since the Master had been resurrected through Matoombo's body, a whole week since Udonnna had saved Leanbow and Eithne from the Underworld, and a week since the Rangers had had any battles with the three Terrors that remained at large.

The silence on the Master's side was both a blessing and a curse. The Rangers knew better than to lower their guard, but they weren't going to pass on the opportunity to relax. They still had a job at the Rock Porium and lives outside of their duties as Power Rangers.

However, Nick and Kali had more responsibilities now than they ever had before.

Since being back, Leanbow had scheduled training exercise after training exercise with his son, to prepare him for the ultimate fight against the Master. It was coming, they just weren't sure when or in what form.

Eithne, on the other hand, wanted to as much time to catch up with her long-lost daughter and to teach her all she needed to know about being the Hellhound. Which was why Kali was sat at the round table, a book open in front of her, and her mother sitting alongside.

"There are several legends concerning the Hellhound," Eithne was saying, "and all of them talk about it being the Keeper of Souls. But only a few mention it's abilities as protector. Your abilities are not only to prevent souls from the escaping the Underworld but also to stop the Master from returning."

"Well, I did a great job there," said Kali. "He's here, and he took out a friend in the process."

"Matoombo new his fate was sealed the minute he decided to go against the Master."

"Doesn't make the sting of loss any less easier to deal with. Matoombo became a close friend in the short amount of time we knew him, it hurts."

"He tried to destroy myself and Leanbow."

"Just like Leanbow tried to destroy us."

Eithne sighed.

"Udonna told me that I couldn't hold Leanbow's actions as Koragg against him," said Kali, staring at her mother. "The same goes for Matoombo. He may have been created to serve the Master, but he proved himself a worthy alley in the end by turning against him. If we can forgive Leanbow, then you can forgive Matoombo."

Eithne looked down at the table. "Okay. I'll try," she said. "Now, back to the Hellhound. I'm sure you've figured out just how important you are to the Master, by now. You're wanted for both your abilities and your powers. If he gets his hands on you, he will have the ability to sense when an attack is coming, but he'll also be able to remain outside of his cage."

Kali nodded. "Nick and I have already discussed ways of protecting each other," she said.

"You must rely on your team, not just each other. Your team will protect you better than just one person."

"I trust Nick, more than anyone."

"Maybe so," said Eithne. "But I have noticed, when you're both together, you're so distracted by the other that everything else fades away. Your feelings could cost you everything if you let them cloud your judgement."

Kali rolled her eyes and pushed away from the table. "My feelings for Nick have never clouded my judgement before," she said. "Even when we were arguing, we still managed to put everything aside for the sake of a battle. Ask the others, they'll agree, even Xander and he was part of the reason we were fighting in the first place."

"Maeve -"

Kali shook her head. "I go by Kali, now," she reminded.

"Alright. Kali," said Eithne with a sigh. "I'm just trying to keep you safe."

"I know, but I don't need you to," said Kali. "I've lasted this long without a mother hovering over my shoulder and worrying about my every move, I don't need someone to start doing it now. So, please, just trust me and my actions. I know what I'm doing."

Eithne hesitated and then sighed. She could understand why Kali was holding her at arms-length, but at the same time, she was disappointed. In the nineteen years, she had been trapped in the Underworld, the only thing that had kept her sane was one day being reunited with her daughter. She had dreamed of seeing Maeve again, holding her in her arms and doing all the things a mother and daughter should've done together, but the reality was a lot different.

Maeve was a grown woman now. She was hardened to many aspects of life, she had a shield around her heart, and only a select few were granted access. She was a stubborn and hard-headed individual, but also fiercely protective and loyal to her friends.

When Eithne had first been reintroduced to her daughter, Maeve had smiled and nothing more. She had stiffened when Eithne hugged her, and then awkwardly pulled away. To say Eithne had been disheartened would've been an understatement. It had taken her a long time to understand that things were different and that Maeve was not the person she would have been had Eithne raised her.

The human world had changed her daughter, and Eithne wasn't entirely sure if it was for the best.

~X~

"Rangers!" Itassis called as she strode through the warehouse quadrant of Briarwood. She stopped as the team crossed her path. "By order of the Master, I'm here to destroy your world."

"And we're here to stop you," said Chip. He gripped his lion staff and rushed forward, firing several lightning bolts at Itsassis.

"Do not interfere!" Itassis yelled, rebounding the bolts back at Chip.

Kali noticed Vida and Maddie break away from the group and rush Itassis from the left.

"Hey! Over here!" Maddie called, drawing the Terror's attention.

"You're going down for that!" Vida said, spinning her staff around in her hand.

The sisters leapt into the air and attacked Itassis with a tidal wave and a hurricane. But the terror merely batted aside the two attacks and knocked the pair out of the sky.

"Hey!" Xander yelled, running to cover the pair. He swung his staff at Itassis, but she ducked out of the way and blocked his punch by twisting his wrist towards the ground.

"Stop fighting and accept your fate," Itassis told him.

"Never!" Xander growled. He wrestled his arm from her grasp and flipped over, spinning around and thrusting his staff at the Itassis. "Vine power!" he commanded.

Itassis struggled as thick vines wrapped themselves around her, but she blasted through and leapt into the air. Blasting Xander off his feet.

"I am one of the ten terrors," Itassis said, landing and turning back to the team. "Your magic is nothing compared to mine."

"I'll show you magic!" said Nick, running forward to cover his team. "Red Dragon Fire Ranger!" He combined with Fireheart and leapt at Itassis.

While the terror was busy with Nick, Kali checked on the others.

"Impressive!" Itassis said, fending of Nick's batons.

"Always!"

Itassis kicked off from Nick's armour, flipped over and held up her club. "Try this on for size!" she yelled, blasting him back.

Nick groaned as he slid across the floor and then crashed into a pile of debris.

"Now will you admit your defeat?" Itassis asked.

Biting back a growl, Kali straightened up and stormed towards Itassis. She gripped her Lion Staff tightly in hand and pointed it at the Terror. "You Terror's are all the same. The only one of you that had any sense of what he wanted was Matoombo, and he gave his life to make sure the Master never had a chance to rise. Why can't you see that you're nothing but a puppet in his game!"

Itassis gasped at the sting of Kali's words.

"You're a smart creature, Itassis, you know in your heart that the Master doesn't care about you," Kali continued. "You don't have to serve him. You have a choice! You can say no."

Itassis sighed heavily and turned away, her head hung low. She then disappeared.

~X~

After the battle, Kali returned to Briarwood with the others while Nick headed back to Root core for another training exercise with Leanbow. As she entered the Rock Porium, Kali spotted LeeLee working in the kitchen and broke away from the others, heading in her direction.

"Hey," Kali said, gently.

LeeLee smiled in return. Despite Kali agreeing to trust her, things had still been a little rocky between them. They hadn't got off on the right foot, what with LeeLee telling Xander that Kali had stolen from the store, not to mention Kali threatening and scaring LeeLee every chance she had for upsetting her friends.

"I've been thinking about this for the last week, and I owe you an apology," said Kali.

"Why?" LeeLee asked, scrunching her brow together. "I mean..."

Kali held up her hand. "I'm not saying you're completely innocent in everything that has happened, you were a bully to my friends, and you tried to throw your weight around. But, I also know why you did that. It's hard trying to find a place, especially when you don't know how to go about it. You and I arrived in Briarwood at the same time, but I have an older brother and two younger sisters, and I have Nick and his family. So I know how to gel with people, and make friends. Being an only child makes it harder. You're used to having everything revolve around you. It's hard to make friends with that mentality."

LeeLee bit her lip.

"And then, after we learned the truth, I blamed you for your mother's mistakes," Kali added. "I blamed you for who your mother was. It took me a while to realise that I was being hypocritical. If I could blame you for your mother's actions, then you had every right to blame me for my fathers. You're not Necrolai, just like I'm not Imperious, and I'm sorry for treating you as if you were her. I do trust you, LeeLee. I hope in time you can come to trust me, too."

LeeLee met Kali's gaze and smiled. "I'm sorry for being a brat," she said.

"Apology accepted," Kali chuckled. She winked at LeeLee and returned to the front of the store.

Xander looked up from the til and met Kali's gaze. "I meant to ask, how's life with your biological mother?" he asked.

"You know, I spent so long searching for my real parents, imagining what they looked like and what it would be like when I found them. But the reality?" Kali shook her head. "I don't know whether I had my expectations too high, but I don't know whether I am disappointed or angry."

"Angry?"

Kali nodded. "Since finding out Eithne was my mother, I read everything about her," she said. "I thought if I knew everything about her that it would make things easier when I finally got to see her again, but I can't help but keep her at arm's length. I don't know, I guess I'm angry that she let me go in the first place."

"She didn't have a choice," said Xander. "You know that."

"I know," Kali said, nodding. "But... she still let me go."

Xander sighed and stepped out from behind the counter. He drew Kali into a hug and squeezed her. Since realising that her feelings for him weren't going to extend further than a close friendship, they had agreed that they would be better off as friends than anything more. Neither of them wanted to push a relationship only to end up resenting one another later.

"Have you told her everything that's happened to you since she gave you up?" Xander asked. "Have you told her about your life with your adopted parents? About your juvie record?"

Kali shook her head. "I can't," she whispered.

"Why not?"

"She's a princess!" Kali said, drawing away from Xander. "She comes from royalty, which means, technically, I come from royalty. I don't know how the royal family of the woodland elves act, but I am pretty sure that having a royal member convicted of stealing isn't good for their image."

Xander rolled his eyes. "Kali, it was a long time ago," he said.

"It was two years ago!"

"You had suffered a trauma," Xander defended. "You'd just found out that your brother was MIA. You can't blame yourself for the past, isn't that what you said about Matoombo?"

Kali looked away and sighed.

Placing two fingers under her chin, Xander lifted Kali's head to meet his gaze. "You had no shame in opening up to us about your past," he said. "Eithne isn't going to be any different. She hasn't been a Princess for a long time, and besides, she left the royal family to become a Mystic defender. Like you said, you don't know how the royal family acts. It could work in your favour."

"When did you become wise?" Kali asked, shoving him playfully.

Xander grinned and released her.

As her Morpher jingled from her pocket, Kali pulled it out and snapped it open. "Something's happening in the mystic forest," she said. "We got to go." She snapped her Morpher closed and looked around for the others, whistling to catch their attention and heading out of the store.

The others followed.

~X~

Covering her mouth with her hand, Kali walked amongst the wreckage of the Woodland village. Fires, both big and small, continued to blaze as villagers tried to put them out using buckets of water. Spotting a pair of children near an open flame, Kali hurried to their side and held her palm out towards the flames, absorbing them into her body.

"Don't worry, folks. Everything's going to be okay," said Vida, hurrying over with the others in tow.

"How can we help?" Chip asked, looking around at the destruction. How could this have happened without them knowing? Why hadn't the Mystic Ball alerted them to evil in the forest?

"You can leave us!" said an elder elf. He had been picking at the debris with Leanbow and turned to glare at the team when they arrived. "You're not welcome here."

Kali frowned and backed away from an old elf. She had tried to help him put out the fire on his home, but the glare he had given her was enough to make her recoil. She retraced her steps and stopped as she backed into Xander.

"But we're the Mystic Force," said Maddie.

"Don't you remember us?" Xander asked. "We're the protector, who you love and adore."

The others rolled their eyes as Kali punched Xander's shoulder.

"I said go," the elf yelled, taking a hostile step towards the team. "Humans do not belong here."

Kali stepped forward, meeting the elf's stride with a defiant glare. "I'm not human," she said, "and they're with me."

"The Hellhound is supposed to protect us," the man said. "You're supposed to protect us. Where were you when this happened? Look around. Look what happened to our village - our homes destroyed, our crops ruined."

Kali's glare fell and she felt a pool of guilt bubble in her belly. She couldn't argue with him, he had a point. While the forest was being attacked, she was in Briarwood pretending to be human. She wanted to apologise, but an apology wasn't going to change what had happened. If anything, it would only anger him more.

The air shifted, and Kali looked up as a flicker of fear crossed the elf's face. She looked around, noticing the same changes in the other villagers. They were all looking at something behind her and whatever it was they were seeing, it scared them.

"You. He's back. The destroyer has returned!" the elf shouted, startling those around him and forcing them to find shelter. He pointed at something behind Kali, and she turned, her brow furrowing in confusion as she spotted Nick entering the village.

"Destroyer?" Leanbow repeated. "No, you've got it wrong. That's my son."

Kali watched as Nick grin broke into a snarl and his eyes burned blue. She felt the air around him ripple with dark magic and had to reach for Maddie and Chip as they both took a step forward, toward their leader. She shook her head as they glanced back at her, confusion in their eyes.

"Like father, like son," Nick rasped. "You guys missed the show."

"Bowen... is this true?" Udonna asked.

"Yeah," Nick confirmed, loudly. "And I'm just getting started." He clenched his hands into a fist, pulled back and unleashed a powerful blast at the team.

"Look out!" Kali yelled, shoving Maddie aside and landing beside her. She rolled back to her knees and saw that the blast had hit Leanbow, knocking him to the ground.

Screams of terrified villagers filled the air and Kali looked up at Nick, surprised to find him covered in Koragg's armour.

"The Master's dark magic has given me more power than I ever dreamed," said Nick. "I can't believe you gave it up."

Leanbow shook his head and straightened up. "Bowen, you have to fight this," he urged.

"I'm here to fight you," said Nick. He blasted Leanbow again, the blast was blocked by his shield as he morphed and defended himself against his son's attacks. "The Mystic Force will fall by my sword, starting with the mighty Leanbow."

A purple seal appeared beneath the pair and they disappeared through it.

"No!" Udonna cried as the seal disappeared.

Pushing herself to her feet, Kali turned to help Maddie as Eithne gathered Udonna in her arms and straightened.

"I don't understand what's happening," said Maddie, shaking her head. "Why Nick?"

"The Master thinks he can corrupt the Light then either Leanbow or you will destroy it," said Eithne. "It's always been his way of fighting - if he can't do it himself, he'll get someone else to do it for him."

"How do we snap Nick out of it?" Vida asked. "There has to be a way to get the Master to release him, right?"

Eithne shrugged. "If there is, I do not know it," she said.

A second seal appeared this time in the air the team, and Leanbow fell through, closely followed by Nick. Leanbow hit the ground and rolled for a few seconds before coming to a stop near the base of an old water tank. He rolled to his knees and braced himself against his sword.

"There they are!" said Vida, rushing forward. She stopped as a forcefield cut her and the others off, forcing them to only watch as Nick stood over his father.

"I'll deal with you after," said Nick, shouldering his sword and turning back to Leanbow.

"Nick, please!" Maddie begged.

"Don't do it!" Xander pleaded.

"This is the end," said Nick, ignoring the others.

Taking a deep breath, Leanbow speared his sword into the ground and released it. "You're right," he agreed. "We've battled enough." He stood and demorphed, facing his son in his most vulnerable state.

"Pick up your sword," Nick ordered.

"I won't fight you anymore," said Leanbow, facing his son stubbornly as his old sword hovered closer.

"Then perish..." Nick growled, raising the sword above his head.

Kali held her breath.

"I know you're in there, son," said Leanbow, quietly. "I love you."

"Dad!" Nick called. He lurched forward, his body twisting as darkness gathered at his core and then ripped from him. Koragg's armour disappeared and Nick stumbled forward into Leanbow's arms. "I'm sorry, dad, I couldn't help what I was doing." He looked up at his father. "Now I know what you went through."

"I'm just glad your back," said Leanbow, drawing him for another hug.

~X~

Kali looked around Root core. It had been cleaned up to the best of the other's abilities, but she could still tell that a great battle had raged inside its walls. The podium where the Xenotome usually stood had been cut in half, and the crystal ball had been shattered. All debris had either been cleaned up or pushed aside, leaving a bare and empty feeling to the base.

Eithne watched her daughter from afar and then joined her where the round table had been that morning. "Kali, I'm sorry if you feel backed into a corner," she apologised. "I've had just imagined being with you for the last nineteen years, and I guess I came across a little too strong."

"There is much we don't know about each other," said Kali. "Maybe, when this is all over, we can start again? There is much about me that I am ashamed of, things that you'll find out about eventually, but I'm scared of how you'll react."

"I'm sure there are things I have done that you will find surprising, also," said Eithne. "We all go through a learning curve. But, I would like the chance to get to know you more as a person. So, yes, when this is all over, we'll talk."

Kali smiled. "I'll hold you to that," she said.

Eithne nodded and looked up as Leanbow rushed into the room. He was followed closely by Nick and Udonna, and Daggeron stepped in from Fireheart's cave.

"Is everything ready?" Leanbow asked.

"Yes," Daggeron said.

Eithne nodded.

Kali furrowed her brow and looked around at them. "Ready for what?" she asked. "What's going on?"

"The Mystic Mother was attacked earlier today," said Udonna. "The Snow Prince was badly injured. He's resting upstairs, Claire is taking care of him."

"Okay. But that doesn't explain why you three look like you're about to travel," said Kali, looking around at Leanbow, Eithne, and Daggeron. "Unless..."

"Someone has to make sure that the Mystic Mother made it out," said Leanbow.

"Let me go with you," said Nick.

"If he's going then so am I," Kali said, hurrying around to Nick's side.

Leanbow shook his head at the pair. "No, Daggeron, Eithne and I will handle this," he said.

Nick sighed. He glanced at Udonna as she squeezed his shoulder and then approached her husband. "It seems like we're always saying goodbye," she said, caressing his face.

"I promise. This time will be the last," Leanbow said. "Nick," he added, turning to his son. "I'm counting on you to take care of things while I'm gone."

"But I can help you!" Nick protested.

"You're needed more here, understood?"

Daggeron pushed Jenji's lamp into Nick's hands. "Keep an eye on Jenji," he said.

"Great. I'm a cat sitter," Nick said, glumly.

With one final look at his family, Leanbow turned away.

"Hang on a second," Kali interrupted. "Am I the only one thinking logically here? You're going to the Mystic Mother's dimension, but you have no idea what is waiting for you there. We've lost all of you once before, what if we lose you again?"

Leanbow, Daggeron and Eithne considered one another carefully as Udonna put both her hands on Nick and Kali's shoulders.

"Trust us to come back," said Eithne, smiling fondly at her daughter. She then turned and walked away as Daggeron summoned the Solar Streak.

Kali shook her head as the train disappeared. "That's not an answer," she muttered.

Their morphers chimed and Nick snapped his open.

"We've got big trouble in the city, guys," said Xander.

Nick glanced at Kali and she nodded. "We're on our way," he replied.

Udonna smiled wearily as the pair took off.

~X~

"I will defeat you this time!" Black Lance boomed as he thundered through the city on his chariot. His target was the Manticore Megazord that stood opposite him, its staff in hand and six annoying Rangers inside its cockpit that he was ready to eliminate.

"We're ready, Black Lance!" Nick called, taking the helm.

"Legend Striker, Spin attack!" the Rangers called, powering up their most powerful attack. They rolled their staff between their hands and then thrust it at the Terror, blasting a tunnel of fire at him. The fire tornado hit the chariot, but Black Lance leapt through the flames and slammed his lance down onto the Megazord.

Kali grit her teeth as the Megazord steadied itself.

"You're not nearly as strong as your parents," said Black Lance. It was obvious to the team that he was speaking to both Nick and Kali.

"You should never have made the mistake of thinking that we are them," said Kali. She raised her staff and swung it at the holographic screen in front of her. The Megazord followed her actions, slamming its staff against Black Lance's shoulder and sending him stumbling.

Black Lance growled and blocked the second attack, stabbing the tip of his lance into the Megazord and causing it to break apart. The team groaned as they hit the ground, unmorphed and aching.

Kali coughed and rolled onto her stomach, lifting her head in time to see Black Lance return to his normal height and approach Sculpin, the likes of whom had just delivered a fatal blow to Udonna, knocking her out of her morphed state, and into a pile of nearby rubble.

"Udonna!" Maddie cried.

Sculpin laughed and slammed his staff into the ground. "At last!" he boomed. "Oh, how the mighty Mystic Force has fallen. There's no one to help you now." He lifted his staff and thrust it at the team.

"No! Stop!" Jenji yelled, appearing out of thin air and taking the blast to the chest.

"Jenji!" Maddie yelled.

Kali gasped as Jenji disappeared before even hitting the floor, and her blood turned cold as Sculpin's continued laughter reached her ears. She looked around, forcing herself to her feet and launched herself across the courtyard. "I've had enough of you!" she said, firing an energy ball at the Terror.

"You're magic is no match for mine!" Sculpin said, cutting through the energy ball. He grasped Udonna under the arm and half-raised her from the floor. He opened a spell seat and turned to Black Lance. "Rid the surface world of these pesky rangers," he ordered, before returning his attention to Kali. "Follow me, if you dare."

He and Udonna disappeared through the spell seal. It lingered on the ground for a little longer than normal before it started to close.

Kali stared at the rapidly shrinking seal, then took a deep breath and turned to face her friends. She offered them a small smile, then stepped back and disappeared after Sculpin.

TO BE CONTINUED...