"Can you tell me about him?"

Mystic Mother sighed, wistfully. "Thrax was always different. He was born just after the Z wave - Zordon's not Zedd's - his father and I hoped that he would be born good, unfortunately, he was still in transition when he was born. He was, kind of like you, neither good nor evil."

"Thanks," said Kali. She hadn't expected to be compared to a spawn of evil, but even she couldn't deny the similarities. "When did you come to the Mystic Realm?"

"Not long after the Z wave. Your ancestor, Blu, I remember her from my time as Rita. She was a fierce warrior."

Kali smiled, briefly.

"She came and found me after the Z Wave. Zedd didn't trust her, and tried to talk me out of going with her, but I was determined to do something good," said the Mystic Mother. "I wanted to make up for all the harm I had caused as Rita. So I brought Thrax to the Mystic Realm, I thought that maybe he would grow up, surrounded by goodness, and, oh, I don't know absorb it or something? I was foolish."

Kali placed her hand on top of the Mystic Mothers. "No mother is foolish," she said. "You all want what is best for your children. I understand your determination. What happened next?"

"The Master - Occulous," said Mystic Mother. "Thrax used to have terrible nightmares as a child. He would wake up, every night, crying and yelling. Something about a monster trying to take him. At first, I thought it was just his imagination, or maybe a reminder that he wasn't purely good. But, it got worse. He started to hear voices and then he would describe things he had seen, things that only he could see. It sought help from Mystic healers, even Udonna, but there was nothing they could do for him."

Kali furrowed her brow.

"Oculous was searching for an heir," said Mystic Mother, as if reading Kali's thoughts. "He wanted the Hellhound, but you were perfectly hidden in the Human world, so he went after the next best thing."

"Your son," Kali murmured.

Mystic Mother nodded. "I tried to fight him. I tried to cloak Thrax as best I could in good magic, but it was no use, the darkness was too strong for him," she explained. "By the time he had grown older, the gate had started to rise again and word was swift that the Hellhound had returned. You had returned. The Master was still trapped, but his hold on my child was strong."

"Thrax was ready to head to the Underworld?" Kali asked.

"Yes. He had missed his opportunity the first time, afterall, he was only a newborn," said Mystic Mother. "But he was determined when Morticon raised the gate."

Kali paused, her brow furrowed. "But… I closed that gate," she said. "It was the first time the Hellhound took control."

The Mystic Mother nodded, casting a glance at Kali. "And from that day, Thrax swore to avenge another opportunity missed," she said. "I am sorry to say, Hellhound, but he wanted you dead."

"He's not the first," said Kali, shaking her head. "His hatred for me only grew though, didn't it?"

Mystic Mother smiled. "Unfortunately, yes, when he learned that the Master new of your return, he was furious. You had already taken away his chances of travelling to the Underworld, if the Master was able to corrupt you and appoint you as his heir instead of him…" she broke, off, shaking her head..

Kali looked down. Thrax's history was slowly piecing together inside her head. What she still didn't understand, however, was why Thrax was determined to wipe out San Andreas. "Mystic Mother, does the name Sentinel Knight mean anything to you?"

"Is he here?" Mystic Mother asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He's on Earth. He's a spirit, but yes, on Earth," said Kali. "Do you know him?"

Mystic Mother nodded. "When Thrax left me the first time, he was found by the Sentinel Knight. He tried to help him, to rid him of his darkness and make him forever good," she answered.

"Thrax didn't want that."

"No. Thrax believed that the Sentinel Knight wanted him good so that the Master could appoint you his heir."

Kali nodded. It made sense now. Why Thrax hated the Sentinel Knight out of all others. "You said when he left you the first time?" she asked. "What did you mean? Did he come back to you?"

"Yes. Once. He tried to turn me to his will," said Mystic Mother. "He attacked this sacred place and in doing so, severed all maternal ties with me. He said that he was going to go off and prove that he was a good candidate for the Master's heir, and he would find his own way to the Underworld. I pleaded with him to reconsider, but he would have none of it."

"I don't mean this to sound… insensitive, but it seemed you were fighting a losing battle from the start," said Kali. "You could've pleaded and begged until your dying breath, but Thrax wasn't affected by the Z-Wave in the slightest. He was born evil, and he remained that way."

Mystic Mother sighed. "I fear you may be right," she agreed. "Foolish old woman, I am, for thinking otherwise."

Kali shook her head. "I'm a firm believer that, regardless of the wrong things we do as children, they shouldn't define us as adults," she said. "I did some crappy stuff as a kid, but I changed my attitude as I grew older. Sure, becoming a Ranger and finding my real family helped, but sometimes people just don't want to change. Thrax seems like one of those people."

"I wish I could argue and say he wasn't," said the Mystic Mother. "But it would be a futile attempt. Dare I ask what you're going to do to him?"

Kali hesitated. She wanted to say that she would do whatever it took to not destroy him, but she knew that Thrax wouldn't give her that opportunity. He would fight her with every ounce of being he possessed, and she couldn't afford to not do the same.

"It's okay, young one," said the Mystic Mother. "I understand."

"I'm sorry…"

Mystic Mother shook her head and patted Kali's hand. "Do not apologise for something that is not broken," she said. "Thrax made his choices, and I must resign to his demise. I was given a second chance, and he has had ample opportunities to do the same. As you said, he does not want to change."

Kali opened her mouth to reply, stopped, and then closed it again. There was no comforting words that she could say, nothing that would spare Mystic Mother the heartache of knowing that soon her son would cease to exist.

A bright light exploded to the right and Kali whipped around to seek its origins. It shimmered, hovering a few inches off the ground. "What is that?" she asked.

"That, my dear, is to announce that our time together is ending," said the Mystic Mother. "You cannot stay here for too long, and I must retire. My time in this form is limited. After Oculous' attack, I was reduced to atoms, and am not yet strong enough to maintain a physical form."

Kali opened her mouth to protest, but Mystic Mother merely smiled and pressed two fingers to her forehead.

"Go, young Hellhound, do what you must on the living plane, and I shall rest and recharge here," said the Mystic Mother. "I hope the next time we meet will be under different circumstances."

"I really am sorry for what I must do," said Kali, rising from her seat. She could feel a tug behind her navel.

Mystic Mother smiled a sad and sombre smile. "I know, little one, so am I," she said. "Good luck, and may you never be without magic."

Kali offered her a small smile.

Then, she closed her eyes, and faded.

~X~

When Kali opened her eyes she was back in her own body, laying on the sofa in the REC room of Hartford manor. She sat up, running her fingers through her hair and sighing. What a rush, she thought, remembering everything from her conversation with the Mystic Mother.

"You're awake."

Kali gave a start and look around. Her heart slammed against her ribs before slowing as she spotted Spencer, Hartford's butler standing on the threshold of the rec room. "Yes. Why, did you think otherwise?" she asked.

"When I tried to arouse you…" said Spencer.

"Sorry. Should've warned you of what I was about to do. Astral Telepotation projects my mind into a different place, leaving my body in a sort of semi-concious state. If I am away to long, I could slip into a coma."

Spencer nodded. "Well, it is good to have to back with us, Miss Brair," he said. "The others are in the base. Your team should be returning any moment."

"The others?" Kali asked. "You mean the Overdrive rangers? They returned."

Spencer nodded.

Kali smiled. She knew that they would. "I'll join you soon, Spencer," she said.

"Of course, miss," said Spencer. He withdrew from the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Kali swung her legs off the sofa and stood. Her world spun a little, and she had to brace herself against the arm of the sofa to keep from falling over. "Woozy," she mumbled. "I wonder if it's to do with the Astral Teleportation?" Granted she had read about the abiility, it wasn't limited to nly the Hellhound, the other Mystics could do it, too, but she hadn't managed to find any symptoms concerning it. She made a mental note to ask her mother later.

Upon hearing noises beyond the rec room doors, Kali rounded the sofa and opened it, finding herself face-to-face with Chris Haynes.

"Well, look who decided to turn up," said Chris, folding his arms. "Where've you been? Taking a nap?"

Kali rolled her eyes and looked passed Chris, her eyes locking with Aviva's. She quirked and eyebrow, silently asking how the youngster could know so much about the Mystic Realm, the Mystic Mother, and the abilities of the Mystic Guardians.

"I can't say," said Aviva, answering Kali's unanswered questions.

"Bullshit!" Kali said. "When this is over, and before you leave, you owe me some explanations."

Aviva folded her arms, stubbornly.

"Could we maybe have this discussion later?" Bridge asked. "We need to thank Mack for saving our asses out there."

Kali pulled back and faced Bridge. "What did he do?" she asked.

"We'll tell you as we go," said Rhea, looping her arm through Kali's and leading her toward the elevator.

~X~

The elevator doors opened pinged open and Kali found herself face-to-face with the Overdrive team, Mr Hartford, Spencer, and the Sentinel Knight.

"Holy shit!" Kali gasped. "What happened to you?"

A light chuckle rumbled around the room.

Sentinel Knight looked down at his own body. "The Sword of Excelsior can do amazing things, can it not?"

Kali furrowed her brow as she wracked her brain for information. She had heard that name once before, but where? "Wait, Excelsior?" she asked. "From the Warrior Goddess?"

"You know it?" Rose asked.

"Of course I know it!" said Kali. "It's a monument hidden deep within the Mystic Realm."

Mack cocked his head to the side. "I was wondering why it was so hard to find," he said. "That place was creepy."

"It was designed specifcally to ward away potential thieves," said Kali. "Only those of pure nature could find the statue, and convince the Warrior Goddess to give them the stone."

"You may need to update the last part," said Will. "Thrax was able to find the statue."

"Then he must've followed you," said Kali. "He wouldn't have been able to find it, otherwise."

Will opened his mouth to argue, but Chris cut him off as he turned to Mack. "You really saved our butts out there," he said.

"Yeah. We wouldn't have made it back had it not been for you," said Maisie.

Mack blushed under the praise.

There was a flash of light, and Alpha appeared beside Kali. "Am I late for the party?" he asked, tottering forward.

"Whoa, who are you?" Dax asked, stunned.

"Alpha Six, at your service."

"Does you being here mean you fixed the morphin' grid?" Kali asked.

Alpha nodded.

Looking around, Kali watched as Andrew slid past his team and inspected the monitor screen behind them. There was a pause before he laughed and turned back to the room. "He did it!" he exclaimed. "The Morphin' Grid is fixed!"

"Yeah!" Bridge cheered.

"And we got our Ranger powers back," said Ronny. "Thanks, Alpha!"

"Ai, Ai, Ai, Ai! It's good to feel useful again," said Alpha.

"Tell us about it," Dax replied.