ARCHAEOLOGIST ANNOUNCES RARE FIND!

Doctor Silvia Jennings announces last dig unearth five Crystal Eyes. Not much is known about the artefacts, only that they were supposed to hold DNA to long extinct animals.

Dr. Jennings has yet to release evidence to support these findings, or which eyes she is currently in possession of.

Kali furrowed her brow as she turned to the railing separating the loft kitchen from the rest of the house. "Hey, RJ, you ever heard of things called "crystal eyes"?" she asked.

"Did you say Crystal Eyes?" Rylie repeated.

"Yeah. Why?"

Rylie turned to RJ. "They can't be, can they?" she asked.

Kali raised an eyebrow at the couple. "Does someone want to tell what these things are?" she asked.

"The Crystal Eyes are linked to creatures known as Phantoms," RJ answered, climbing the stairs to the kitchen. "There were considered the baddest beast in the entire Beast War. One by one, the masters were able to destroy the Phantoms, and saved humans. When each beast was destroyed a Crystal Eye was left in their place, trapping the spirit of that beast inside it."

"How many Phantom Beasts were there?" Kali asked.

"Eight," Rylie answered. She picked up the paper from the table, reading the article. "She's only found five. That means there are another three-left unaccounted for."

Kali leaned back in her chair. "Okay, I understand that these things are dangerous," she said, "and I'm already considering paying Dr Jennings a visit in the morning to ask her, politely, to hand them over. But I still got to ask - why does she need to hand them over? The Phantoms are gone, stuck in these eyes, they can't come back, can they?"

RJ sighed. "Normally, no," he said, shaking his head. "It takes a rare celestial alignment to reignite the power inside a Crystal Eye. Unfortunately, that alignment happens tonight."

"Of course, it does," said Kali.

"Poor woman," said Rylie, staring at the paper. "She probably doesn't even know what she's got."

Kali nodded and took the paper back. "This is why I say certain things should stay just a myth," she said. "I'll grab Casey. We'll head to the lab as soon as the sun is up."

RJ nodded and watched Kali disappear before turning to Rylie.

"This isn't good," said Rylie, quietly. "We need to find the other three eyes before Dai Shi."

"I think it's a bit late for that," RJ admitted.

Rylie sighed. "For once, I hope you're wrong," she said.

~X~

Later that morning, Kali and Casey wandered up three flights of stairs and into an open floored lab. At the end of the room stood two people - one was the blonde-haired Silvia Jennings, and the other a brunette male, her assistant. They were looking over a couple of X-rays.

"The retinal scan was negative for Crocodile," Jennings said, turning to the second image. "And Iguana."

"Mastodon."

Jennings gave a start and turned, finding herself face to face with two unlikely people. They were too old to be students, but also too young to be scientists. She also knew everyone on her team, having handpicked them herself based on their credentials. She didn't recognise this pair.

"I'm sorry?" Jennings asked.

Casey held up a copy of the newspaper article. "We read that you hadn't identified one of the eyes," he said. "It's a Mastodon."

"I've been trying to determine that for a long time," said Jennings, putting down the x-rays. "How did you -?"

"10,000 years ago," said Kali. "The only creatures that really existed around them were Mastodon, Bison, Sloth's, giant beavers, and Mammoths."

"And you just automatically guessed Mastodon?" Jennings asked.

"Call it a lucky guess," said Kali. "Anyway, we were hoping we could talk to you about the eyes, if that's possible?"

Jennings nodded and leaned across her desk. "I'm Silvia Jennings, it's a pleasure to meet you -?"

"Kali. Kali Briar, this is my friend, Casey."

Jennings nodded and sat down behind her desk. "Before we start, can I ask - how did you know there was an animal inside the Crystals?" she asked. "I mean, not everyone is privy to that information, certainly not the media."

"I went to a school that specialised in animal spirits," Casey answered. "My teacher used to say that everyone had an animal spirit locked away inside them. The Crystals, you've found, were taught as part of the curriculum. They're important to some people."

"I can relate," said Jennings. "My father used to say, 'live in harmony with your animal spirit and you'd be in harmony with yourself'."

"Gentle, playful, loves the water," said Casey, glancing at a picture on Jennings desk. "Your spirit is a dolphin."

Jennings beamed. "Right again," she confirmed.

"Now that we've determined she's a dolphin," said Kali, leaning forward in her seat. "Can we get to the part where we tell you that the Crystal Eyes are a danger to you and your team."

Jennings looked alarmed. "What are you talking about?" she asked. "What kind of danger?"

"They're highly valuable and wanted by a lot of bad people," said Kali. "The attacks you've undoubtedly seen happening in Ocean Bluff for the last few months. The person responsible wants the eyes, and unless you give them to us, he's going to come here and take them from you. I can't guarantee that you'll make it out alive, however."

At the flicker of fear in Jennings face, Casey nudged Kali with his foot. "What my friend means is," he said, turning to Jennings. "The eyes have powers, and we only want what is best for you and your team."

"So, you want me to just hand over my life's work?" Jennings asked, her fear turning quickly to anger. "You're out of your mind if you think I am going to do that. I have rounded the clock security on this centre, motion sensors, and unbreakable locks on every door. No one will get out of here with these Eyes."

Kali raised an eyebrow. "Yes, because a 10,000-year-old dragon spirit is really going to be frightened off by a few locks," she said.

"Did you say -?" Jennings stammered.

"Look, we're not here to scare you," said Casey. "We just want to make sure you, your team, and your research is safe. We only want the Eyes until after the danger is passed, and then we'll give them straight back."

Jennings looked between the two. "How do I know you're not the danger?" she asked. "How do I know for certain that you're not here to steal them from me? I spent years looking for these Eyes, so did my father before me, and now you just want me to hand them over?"

"" said Kali, nodding. "I mean, if you've spent years searching for the Eyes then you're aware of the stories and how dangerous they can be. So, I don't see what the problem is. You have our word that you'll get them back once the danger is over."

"Your word, you're joking?" Jennings scoffed.

"Listen -" Kali started.

Jennings shook her head. "The answer is no," she said, loudly and firmly, raising from her seat. "Now, please leave, before I call security and have you removed."

Casey huffed and stood, grabbed Kali by the arm and dragged her from her seat. They left the room and headed for the stairwell. Once the door closed behind them, he turned to Kali. "What the hell was that?" he asked.

"What?" Kali asked. "Would you rather I lie to her? Make it out that everything would be, okay? Flirt with her?"

"I wasn't flirting with her," Casey defended.

"Oh, so the doe-eyes I saw when you were listing all her animal spirit traits was, what, exactly?"

Casey scoffed and hurried down the stairs.

"No, come on, seriously," Kali said, following him. "If they were your attempts at flirting, what were they?"

Casey shook his head. "Forget it," he said. "It doesn't matter anyway. We didn't get the Eyes, and for all we know Dai Shi could be on his way here for them. We need a plan."

"I could just go up there and take them from her," said Kali.

"Theft," said Casey, nodding. "Yeah, I can see that going over really well."

Kali shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time," she said.

"I thought you'd changed?"

Kali rolled her eyes. She wasn't really considering stealing the Crystal Eyes - okay, she was - but at least she had a legitimate reason for doing so this time. "Look, we need those eyes, I don't care how we get them, but we need them before Dai Shi turns up. He's bound to know that they're here by this point."

Casey was cut off from retorting as their morphers beeped. He pulled his from his trouser pocket and slipped them onto his face, tapping the side. "What's up, guys?" he asked.

"Grizzaka is attacking the city," Theo answered. "We need backup. Can one of you be spared?"

Kali raised her eyebrow as Casey removed the glasses, looking shaken. "What?" she asked, nervously.

"Grizzaka is attacking the city, the others need one of us to go help."

Kali lowered her gaze, her thoughts racing back to the day at the Nexus when Dai Shi had unleashed his fullest potential of Zokado on her and the other Mystics. She could remember shielding herself from the blast, but the feeling of ignited power that surged through her was enough for her to realise after that she had absorbed at least an inkling of power from the great Dragon.

If she went to the help the others, she could tap into that power and use it against the Earth Overlord. Grizzaka wouldn't be expecting her to use dark magic, at least not as dark as Zokado, anyway.

"Okay. I'll go," said Kali, dropping her arms. "Stay here and protect the eyes, don't let anything happen to Jennings if you can help it."

Casey nodded. "Good luck!" he called.

Kali offered him a weary thumbs up as she raced towards a nearby tree and disappeared through the trunk.

~X~

"We need help!" Lily groaned, landing on her stomach beside Dom, Theo, and RJ.

"Even if they were here," said RJ, struggling to push himself up. His arms buckled under his weight, and he face planted the floor.

"This guy is too much," said Theo, shaking his head.

"And he's not done yet," added Dom.

Grizzaka growled, pulled one arm back, behind his shoulder and crossed the other over his chest. He then threw them both out in front of him, a bluish-black mass spiralled to life between his claws and sailed towards the fallen Rangers.

"Jungle Master Mode!"

Lily, Dom, Theo, and RJ gasped as Kali jumped over them. She was fully morphed, and when she landed, she grabbed the energy ball in both hands, sliding backward a little under the force, and then turned in a full circle, throwing the mass back at Grizzaka.

The Earth Overlord cut through the attack; his eyes narrowed at the Black Ranger. "How -?" he started, unsure on how anyone could stop a Zokado attack.

"It would seem I have unwillingly picked up a new trick," said Kali. "You can thank Dai Shi, I suppose - ZOKADO!" She raised her hands above her head, summoning the flowing magic throughout her body and channelling it into her hands. A huge swirling mass of black and purple grew between her hands.

"No! That's impossible!" Grizzaka howled.

"Firing Jets!" Kali called, the jets on her hips igniting and she soared into the air. She hovered about the other Rangers and Grizzaka. "How does it feel to be on the receiving end of your own powers?!" she asked, drawing back, and throwing the great ball at the giant bear.

Grizzaka roared as the attack slammed into him, blasting him backward through a solid brick wall.

Kali stopped the jets on her hips and dropped back to the ground. She turned to her friends, holding her hand out to Lily and pulling the young Cheetah up.

"Kali, how did you -?" Theo gasped. "You used -?"

RJ clapped Kali on the shoulder. "It was the Nexus, wasn't it?" he asked.

"It was a combination of both, I think," said Kali. "When I protected Dom from Dai Shi, I could feel the power radiating from the tree. I didn't think anything of it until Dai Shi unleashed his Zokado blast and it ignite my nerves. It was like a car battery."

RJ nodded. "You possess all three heads of the Hellhound," he said. "Meaning, you can manage a lot darker powers than most guardians."

"Yeah, Leanbow already told me," said Kali. "But I don't want this power. I've seen what it's done to Grizzaka, and I've seen the lengths Dai Shi is willing to go to get it." She shook her head. "Being a guardian of all three Heads is enough, I have more than enough powers and responsibilities. Zokado is too dangerous, even for me."

"You mean, you're not going to use it?" Dom asked. "But it could come in handy."

"At the risk of losing myself to the dark side?" Kali asked. "No, Dom. Trust me when I say it's better if I don't use this newfound ability. I'll use it to stop Grizzaka, but after today, I'm heading back to Root core, to see if I can get rid of it somehow."

Lily squeezed Kali's arm. "Maybe it's a case of 'if you don't use it, you lose it'?" she offered.

"I hope so," said Kali.

The ground grumbled and the team turned to see Grizzaka dislodging himself from the wall. He was shaking in furious anger, his eyes flashing between normal and red, and his gaze was set, defiantly on Kali. "You!" he hissed, pointing a claw at her. "You made a fool of me! No one makes a fool of Grizzaka!"

Kali rolled her eyes. "You made a fool of yourself when you thought you could win against us," she said. "Maybe you should've done your research as soon as Camille let you out of your cage. Powers Rangers, whether they be Pai Zhuq or Mystic Force, have always triumphed against you and people like you. We beat you 10,000 years ago, and we'll beat you now. It's over, Grizzaka. You're finished!"

Spreading his arms as wide as he could, Grizzaka stomped his feet and roared. Buildings quaked under the noise, while dust and debris rattled on the pavement.

"I think you made him mad," said Dom.

"Good. His emotions will cloud his judgement," said Kali. She turned to the newest Ranger on the team and held out her hand. "Can I borrow your morpher?"

Dom furrowed his brow but handed over the weapon anyway. He, and the others, watched as Kali slotted the morpher on top of her Claw Booster, powering it up and causing the sharp, clear blade to glint in the dying light.

"Whoa," said Theo. "How'd you do that?"

"I figured, why not combine the two more powerful animal spirits and see what happens?" Kali asked.

"How did you know it would work?" Dom asked.

Kali shrugged. "I didn't. I do what I've done every battle since I became a Ranger," she glanced at the Rhino Ranger. "I wing it. Rhino and Hellhound, combine!" she called.

Lily gasped as Dom's morpher took on a dark hue of orange while black streaks coursed down the blade, streaming dark flames behind them.

"It doesn't matter!" Grizzaka growled. "You can't beat me!"

"I'm willing to find out!" Kali retorted. She gripped the handle of the blade in her palm and raced forward, jumping over Grizzaka's arm, and throwing herself into a forward's roll mid-air. She felt the pavement scratch against the suit of her shoulders as she rolled back to her feet, turned around and raised the sword to block Grizzaka's downward strike.

Grizzaka growled and twisted his arm around, drawing his claws back up and throwing most of his weight into it. Kali felt her body lifted into the air and called on her back jets as she was thrown backwards, she felt her whole-body surge forward, fending off Grizzaka's attacks. The jets changed to the forward ones on her chest, which then propelled her back away from Grizzaka as he landed, and she dropped back to the ground a few feet away.

Annoyed, Grizzaka charged forward. He lifted his left arm, striking it down as Kali blocked. He then swiped at her hips with his right arm, but Kali blocked with her leg; pressing her foot into his thigh she jumped back, her jets firing from her hips and launching her into the air as Grizzaka aimed a punch for her stomach and chest.

She hovered a few feet off the ground, her jets disappearing from her front and igniting on her front as she soared back to Earth. She raised the blade and drew it down, the tip clashing against Grizzaka's armour and squealing as Kali dragged it all the way down to the end.

Jumping up, Kali side-stepped as Grizzaka lunged forward. She danced out of his reach, spinning around nimbly, and wielding the blade in an arching half circle. With a knowing smirk, Kali faced Grizzaka and goaded him towards her with a beckoning finger.

Grizzaka roared and charged. He raised his arms and Kali ducked the first hit, jumped over the second, and then kicked off from the ground, flipping over Grizzaka's head and raising the blade above her own. A dark flame wrapped itself around the steel and Kali swung down as she landed.

For a second, it seemed her attack hadn't worked. But then Grizzaka fell to his knees, groaning as he sparked.

"I can't believe that worked," said Lily, racing over with the others. "Kali, you kicked butt!"

"Don't get me wrong, this power upgrade is amazing, add the Rhino Spirit on top of that and you've got unbeatable powers," said Kali. "But I don't want dark power if it originates from him." She nodded at Grizzaka.

"I don't blame you," said Lily, nodding.

Kali smiled and turned to the others. "You guys ready to do this?" she asked.

"Yeah!" they chorused.

Grizzaka roared and got back to his feet, weakened from the attacks inflicted by the Hellhound. "You better be ready," he sneered.

"Claw Cannon!" Kali, Theo, and Lily called. It was now programmed to work with any three animal spirits, and not just all four.

"Wolf Beam!" RJ called, powering up his morpher.

"Rhino Blade!" Dom added.

Kali's finger hovered over the trigger on the claw cannon. "Ready?" she asked.

"FIRE!"

The triple attack hit Grizzaka dead centre. He exploded.

"Guys!"

The team turned to see Casey finally arrive.

"You did it!" Casey said, clapping Theo and Lily on the shoulder. "You destroyed Grizzaka!"

"Not quite yet," said Kali, looking up as Grizzaka returned, using his own Zokado power to activate the last of his life force. "Looks like you got here just in time, Case. Want to do the honours?"

Casey nodded and stepped forward. "Ready?" he asked Lily and Theo.

The pair nodded and stepped up beside him.

"Animal Spirits, Go! - Jungle Master Megazord!"

Powering up his morpher, RJ called on his own animal spirit, and formed his own Wolf Pride Megazord to fight alongside the others.

Dom turned to Kali. "You're not going to help?" he asked.

"Aren't you?" Kali countered.

Dom chuckled.

"ZOKADO!"

The city shook violently as Grizzaka floored both megazord.

Kali turned to Dom. "Let's do it!" she said. "Chimera Spirit!"

"Rhino Spirit!"

"Chimera Master Megazord!" Kali said, landing in front of the fallen Jungle Master Megazord. She opened her wings and wrapped them around her body as Grizzaka fired a Zokado blast at her.

Grizzaka turned at the sound of a loud roar and narrowed his eyes as the Rhino Zord lumbered towards him. "Weak!" he called as Dom transformed the zord into his warrior mode.

Despite being a foot smaller than the Rhino Megazord, Grizzaka charged. He blocked Dom's blade and blasted him back using his mastery over the Zokado powers.

"It is your turn to learn the lesson all of my enemies have," Grizzaka roared, looking around at all the Zords. "There is no one has powerful as Grizzaka, and there never will be." He set his gaze on the only one that hadn't fallen under his hand and stomped forward.

Kali pushed her Megazord up. It was a lot taller than Dom's Rhino Zord, and therefore dwarfed Grizzaka by two feet. When he raised his claws and struck her flank, Kali laughed as he glanced off it, the metal glinting in the dying sun. "You're right on one thing, Grizzaka," she said. "There is not one person that is stronger than you… now six individuals working as one? That's a different story."

"You ready to end this?" Dom asked, moving his Megazord so that it stood behind Kali's. He touched her shoulder with one hand and raised his Zords sword with the other.

"Let's do it!" said Lily, as the Jungle Pride Megazord stationed itself beside Kali's other shoulder.

RJ stood behind the other two - one hand on the Rhino Megazord, and the other on the Jungle Pride - "All at once," he said.

"Animal Spirits!" Kali called.

"Stampede!"

The four Megazord's disengaged from their mega-forms and returned to their individual animal forms, each one charging forward and attacking Grizzaka.

"Jungle Masters Spin Attack!" the team echoed, moving in their arms in a forward stroke. The antelope, wolf, and penguin collided with Grizzaka, while the rhino lifted its head and smashed its blade-like horn, into Grizzaka's shoulders and chest, while the Chimera whipped its hind around and stuck him with its tail.

As the other Zords pulled back, the Gorilla rushed forward, arms swinging wildly as it smashed Grizzaka multiple times with its fists.

Grizzaka roared as he was launched backwards through the air. He got unsteadily back to his feet, is whole body quivering. "Impossible! I am invincible! No one is stronger than… Grizzaka!"

With one last bellow, Grizzaka exploded.

"I know one team that is," said Kali.

Casey nodded.

"Power Rangers Jungle Fury!"

~X~

Kali looked up from her phone as Casey jumped the last few steps and turned towards the door. He stopped short when he saw her, his shoulder's sagging slightly. "What's with the long face?" she asked.

"You're here to shout at me," said Casey.

Kali frowned. "Why would I be here to shout at you?" she asked. "You did the right thing today. I told you to do whatever you could to protect the Eyes and Jennings. Sure, you put Jennings' above the Eyes, but you still came out on top with both being protected. You be proud, Casey, not many people can say they succeeded in saving both the girl and the artefacts."

Casey blushed under the praise. "Well, while your way was blunt earlier, Jennings' did say that you got your point across," he said. "It made her reconsider keeping the Eyes here while the danger is still out there. She doesn't want any harm to come to them, or any of her team, so she wants us to take them until a time where Dai Shi isn't after them."

Kali smiled lightly as Casey held up the box that Jennings' kept the Eyes. "Ah, smart lady," she said. "And I was just about to request Mystic Defenders come out and guard this place. I'll cancel Rune and her team."

"You can do that?" Casey asked. "Just, send a team of defenders to an unknown location and tell them to stay guard?"

"I'm the Hellhound," said Kali. "I can ask for anything, within reason, of course. But, if it means protecting the magical realm from those who seek to destroy or exploit it, then yes, I can issue orders upon places and people that need Magical protection. Like for example, the Mayor of Reefside is benefiting from Mystic protection right now, so is her daughter."

"And they don't question it?" Casey asked.

Kali shrugged. "Sometimes people aren't aware that the Mystic Realm is around them every day," she said. "Those who do, understand the dangers, and know that the Defenders are only there for their protection. Those who don't, well, they're safer than most."

"And the Mayor of Reefside, does she know?"

"Not yet," said Kali, shaking her head. "Although, her daughter is a Power Ranger, so it won't be long before she finds out."

Casey pursed his lips and nodded, following Kali out of the building and towards the parking lot.

"How are you getting back to JKP?" Kali asked, noticing that JKP jeep was nowhere to be found.

Casey shrugged. "Was thinking of walking," he said.

"With the Eyes tucked under your arm?" Kali asked.

"Why not? I can defend myself."

Kali shook her head. "Nuh-uh," she said, muttering a spell and summoning a second helmet. She tossed it at Casey and kicked her leg over the side of motorcycle. She slid her own helmet onto her head, clipped it, and looked up at the Tiger. "Get on."

"Uh," Casey said, hesitantly.

"Don't make me make you," said Kali.

Casey sighed, pulled the helmet onto his head, clipped it in place and kicked his leg over the bike. He settled the Crystal Eyes case between him and Kali and settled his feet on the side of the bike, while his hands gripped the back of the seat.

"Ready?" Kali asked.

"As I'll ever be," said Casey.

Kali smirked. "Don't worry, Case, I've only ever crashed with a passenger once," she said, rolling backwards out of the lot and onto the main road, "and that was during a street race."

"Wait, WHAT?!" Casey yelled, but Kali had already gunned the engine and took off down the road, swerving between traffic as she headed towards JKP.