Kira's eyes widened as she entered the base. "What happened?" she gasped, looking around as the others stepped of the stairs. The base was completely and utterly trashed.

"Anabel?" Tommy called.

"Over here," said Circe, spotting movement in the rubble. She dashed across the lab, shoving aside boulders and debris until she uncovered the Mayor.

Brushing past Circe, Conner lifted Zoey Brooke's into his arms and carefully laid her on a table that Ethan and Kira uplifted from the other side of the lab. The older woman groaned in her sleep but didn't wake up.

"Blade?" Circe asked, and Kira looked around to see her kneeling beside her brother. "Blade, wake up! Blade!"

Kneeling beside the older elf, Kira felt around for a pulse. She swallowed and looked up, meeting Circe's gaze.

"No," said Circe, tears in her eyes. "No! He can't -" her tears turned quickly to anger, and she turned to the others still loitering around at the back of the base. "What happened?!"

Trent cocked his head to the side as he spotted a blinking black box under the rubble nearest him. "What's this?" he asked, digging it out.

"It's a security camera," said Hayley, taking the device. "Let's see what it picked up." She seized the laptop that she kept at the base from beneath the destroyed mainframe, and powered it up, linking the black box up to its hard drive and presenting the security footage to the others.

The grainy images on the screen showed the last few hours at the base.

Circe gasped as she watched Zeltrax throw a blast of energy at Zoey and Anabel but hit her brother instead as he threw himself into its path. Her anger then turned to fury as she watched Zeltrax strike Anabel from behind, lift her into his arms, and walk out of the base with her.

"Why didn't she fight back?" Conner asked, as Hayley replayed the footage. "Why does she just sit there and let him strike her? Do you think she's given up?"

Kira shook her head. "Look at her body language," she said. "I don't think she gave up, exactly. It's almost like she knew Zeltrax would get her out of here one way or the other. Why put up a fight, getting hurt in the process, and then be dragged out, as opposed to just letting him take her."

"But she did get hurt," said Conner.

"A bump to the head is nothing compared to what he could've done to her if she had fought back," said Ethan. "I agree with Kira. Anabel just gave him what he wanted. I mean, she knows we're going to come for her, so why fight?"

Realising he wasn't going to win the debate, Conner sighed and shrugged. He understood that both Kira and Ethan had a point, but he still couldn't quite grasp why Anabel wouldn't have fought back. If it had been him? Zeltrax would've had to drag him from the base, kicking and screaming.

"This is all my fault," said Anton, rubbing his weary face with his hand. "I should've stopped him."

"Don't blame yourself for what you did when you were him," said Trent, shaking his head.

"Trent is right, Anton," said Tommy, placing a reassuring hand on his old friend's shoulder. "This is between me and Smity. It had nothing to do with you."

Anton shook his head. "That may be true," he said. "But, he targeted my daughter. This has much to do with me as it does you."

"Maybe so," said Tommy. "But, Zeltrax went after Anabel long before any of us knew about you and Mesogog."

Trent nodded. "Besides, I don't think Zeltrax actually knows that Anabel is your kid," he said. "Mesogog never targeted her specifically because of you."

Anton sighed. Trent had a good point. When he had been Mesogog, he had always stated that his past was a sore subject whenever Trent brought it up as a child. It was the only part of him that Mesogog didn't seem to have access too, and the more he played it off as a sore subject, the more it remained that way. Therefore, Mesogog had no idea that the Green Dino Ranger was his biological daughter.

"That being said," said Anton. "If there were no Mesogog then there would be no Zeltrax."

"We can't go back and change what has been done," said Tommy, insistently. "Mesogog is gone. We should be thankful for that."

Trent nodded.

Anton sighed and stared at the unconscious form of his daughter as she was carried off screen on the security footage. He knew Tommy had a point, but it didn't make him feel any better about the whole thing. His daughter was in danger of being destroyed by Zeltrax, a cyborg he had created and later abandoned. He'd never forgive himself if anything happened to her because of what he had done while he had been Mesogog.

"So what now?" Conner asked. "I guess we don't hang up our morphers just yet?"

Tommy shook his head. "No. Hayley and I will stay here and try and search for Anabel," he said. "The rest of you get some rest. You're going to need it for what is to come. Circe, I'm so sorry about your brother, is there anything you would like me to do? Maybe contact Root core?"

"No, I got it," said Circe, shaking her head. She wandered back to her brother's body and knelt beside him, clutching his arm in her grasp. She sniffled, choking back her tears, and looking up at the others. "Just get Anabel back, please?"

"We will," said Tommy.

Swallowing, Circe nodded and looked back down at her brother's body. She muttered a spell and disappeared in a flash of black magic.

Kira sighed and turned to Doctor Oliver. "You sure you don't want us to stay?" she asked. "We can help."

"No. Get as much rest as you can," said Tommy. "We'll call you when we find something."

"What about the Mayor?" Ethan asked. "Should we get her medical attention?"

"I can take her to the hospital," Conner offered.

Hayley looked at Tommy. It was a good idea, especially given the cuts and bruises that covered the Mayor's face and neck.

"I'll go with you," said Anton. "I'll call my doctor on the way. Have him meet us there. I'd rather have her seen by someone I know and trust, than some random on-call."

Conner nodded and, lifting the mayor into his arms once more, headed upstairs. Kira and Ethan in tow.

Trent hesitated and turned to the others. "I don't know how you're going to find Anabel without her Gem, but," he handed over the Gem case which still housed the Green Dino Gem.

"Thanks. I'll let you know as soon as we've found something," said Tommy.

"Good luck."

Tommy nodded and watched as both Anton and Trent left the lab. He then turned to Hayley, handing her the Green Dino Gem. "Tell you have a way to find her," he pleaded.

"I think I do," said Hayley. "Kali said that the Green Dino Gem is what tainted Anabel, right? Well, maybe we could use that link to find her."

"Will that work?" Tommy asked.

Hayley shrugged. "Guess we'll find out," she said, setting up the computers that weren't destroyed, and getting to work.

~X~

The first thing Anabel noticed as she came too was that her head was throbbing, like she had been hit over the back of it with something dull, the second thing was that her hands were tied above her head and her legs were tied at the ankles. What had happened? Was this some stupid BDSM shit that she and Conner used to mess around with when they were together, sure, she used to tie him up, but she was never the submissive, besides, she wasn't even with Conner anymore, she was with Tommy, and he didn't seem the type that was into BDSM.

"Finally, you're awake."

Closing her eyes, Anabel frowned at the familiarity of the robotic voice. But, it couldn't have been him, could it? Hadn't Conner said he had destroyed him using the Battelizer? If so, how could she hear his voice now? Was she dreaming? Had she been hit so hard that she was hallucinating? Even so, that didn't explain why she was tied up?

Had she been abducted? Had there been an attack and she had been taken hostage?

BANG!

The base shook violently.

Anabel pushed away from the computers and looked around. The wall concealing the tunnel blew inwards, shattering lights and tables as heavy boulders landed in them. Through the dust, Anabel could just make out a shape, her eyes widened as it became more distinctive as the dust cleared.

"But, you're -"

"Gone?" Zeltrax laughed. "I did tell you this wasn't over, Green Ranger."

Anabel sidestepped in front of her mother, her hands balling to fists. "I won't let you take her again," she said.

"I haven't come for her," said Zeltrax. "She's not the one that's going to bring the Black Ranger to me."

Reaching forward, Zoey held tightly to the back of Anabel's jacket. "You can't take her!" she said, defiantly.

Zeltrax laughed, balled up his fist and drew it back. When he threw it out again, a blinding white light soared at the ceiling above the two women. There was a crack and the solid rock give way.

Anabel snapped awake, the pulsating in her head hurting more than ever as the last few hours came racing back to her. She had been abducted. Has her gaze refocused, Anabel looked up in the metal face of her abductor. "Zeltrax," she breathed.

Zeltrax chuckled darkly. "You can struggle all you want, Ranger, you won't escape me this time," he said, noting how the minute she became lucid, Anabel had started to tug at her restraints.

"Maybe. But I'm going to try," said Anabel. "Taking me was a stupid mistake, you know? The others will find me, and when they do, they'll destroy you. For good this time."

"You think so?" Zeltrax asked. "Because, once they know that I have you by my side, I hasten to think that their attempts at destroying me will dwindle. They wouldn't want to hurt you, after all."

Anabel pulled her head away as he reached for her. She winced, feeling his cold, metallic fingers grip her neck tightly. "Haven't you learned by now that revenge isn't the answer?" she asked.

"Revenge is all that has kept me going!" Zeltrax roared.

"And look what it has turned you into!" Anabel argued. "Tommy told me all about you. He has so many memories of his life when you worked together. You're just going to throw that away?"

"Tommy Oliver took everything from me!" Zeltrax hissed. "Now, I'm going to take everything from him. Starting with you."

Anabel swallowed. She dreaded to think what plans he had for her, and more to the point, what plans he had for her team and later her home.

Releasing her neck, Zeltrax stood and turned his back, his head craning towards the skies. Anabel followed his line of sight, her mouth dropping open as a Megazord appeared, towering over the storage units around her.

"My Zelzord," said Zeltrax, turning his attention back to her. He stepped around to her left side and unchained one of her hands from the metal rod above. But he didn't untie her wrists, instead, he hauled her to her feet using the chains, and heaved her over his shoulder. "It'll be the last thing you ever see."

Anabel whined as her stomach pressed against the surface of his armoured shoulder. He jostled her as he walked, and she closed her eyes against the throbbing still in her head. All she could do was hope that the others found her, and soon.

~X~

Zoey Brookes awoke to the sound of beeping. She tried to sit up, but hands on her shoulders pushed her back down. Wherever she was, it was a lot softer than where she had been when she was knocked unconscious. Slowly, despite the pain spasming through her body, Zoey opened her eyes and looked around. Her gaze was hazy, but she could just make out a hospital room.

"Easy, easy," said a gentle voice to her left. Zoey turned, her gaze catching sight of Doctor Jordan, Anton's personal doctor. He held a clipboard in his hand and was smiling gently down at her. "There she is. Hello Madam Mayor."

"What happened?" Zoey croaked.

"We're still trying to determine that," said Doctor Jordan. "But, from what we've been told, you were caught in an attack on the city. You're safe. You're at Reefside General. Anton brought you in."

"Anton? He's here?"

Doctor Jordan nodded. "He's right outside. I'll let him back in once I've finished my check up," he said. He checked his clipboard and then set it aside, lifting his stethoscope from around his neck and puffing on the metal underside. "Breathe in," he said, placing the chest piece to her skin and listening,

Zoey breathed in and out when instructed. Once Doctor Jordan was finished, he smiled happily, explained that, despite her injuries, she was in good health, and that he would allow Anton back in as he stepped out. With a sigh, Zoey lay back against her pillow and closed her eyes, the events of the last few hours playing over and over in her mind.

The door opened, and Zoey looked around. Her ex-fiancé looked worse than she felt. He offered her a small smile and she returned it as he sat beside her bed.

"Doctor Jordan says that your tests are all negative, and the cuts are superficial," said Anton. "That's good. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you."

"Anabel told me everything," said Zoey. "Part of me is still angry that you left, but the other part of me wants to say thank you for thinking of us."

Anton nodded and took her hand. "I wish I could've told you," he said. "But, I hate to think what he would've done if he knew."

Zoey smiled. "Where is Anabel?" she asked. "The last thing I remember -"

"She'll be home soon," Anton promised. "You raised her to be strong and safe in the face of danger. We have to trust that she will come back."

Taking a deep, reassuring breath, Zoey nodded, her eyes closing for a third time.

"Rest," said Anton, softly. He rubbed his thumb up and down the back of Zoey's hand. He used to do it all the time when they were engaged and living together, it always used to calm her when she was in a panic. "When you wake up, Anabel will be back."

"Okay," Zoey whispered, her eyes closing as she slipped back into unconsciousness.

Anton watched her for a few seconds before his attention drifted to the door as it opened, and Trent peered inside.

"They found Zeltrax," said Trent, meeting his father's gaze. "I have to go."

"Be careful!" Anton warned.

Trent nodded and withdrew.

Anton sighed and looked back at Zoey. He didn't know what the future would bring, but he couldn't help but hope for a second chance at a life with her and Anabel, and, in doing so, give Trent the family he deserved.

~X~

"Woah, check out his Zord!" Ethan breathed, looking up at the Zelzord as it towered over the city. It had just blasted a beam of energy into the mountain side, obliterating it in a show of power.

Turning on the spot, the Zelzord loomed over the team, as the others arrived. "Power Rangers!" Zeltrax boomed. "Surrender! Or my most precious cargo will be destroyed!"

"I bet he's got Anabel in there!" said Conner.

"Correct!" Zeltrax stated. "I wanted her to bear witness to your demise! Triptoids!"

The bouncy black and white creatures appeared before the Rangers. Each of them balancing a too-long staff in their hands. They chirped and rushed the team, separating them down the middle, and into individual fights to make attacking them easier.

Kira raised her Ptera grips, blocking the downward strike of a staff. She pushed up, twisted her wrists around, and forced the staff down towards the ground as she kicked up, planting her foot into the chest of the Triptoid, and knocking it backward.

"Now it gets interesting," said Zeltrax, clenching his hand into a fist.

Anabel grit her teeth as she struggled against the thick vines that pinned her against a column inside the Zelzord cockpit. From here, she could see the entire city, and watched helplessly as her friends fought without her.

"No!" Anabel cried as Zeltrax unleashed an energy blast onto the city, destroying buildings and road works within a two-mile radius. His attack even divided the Rangers even more, knocking them all into the air and blasting them backward, away from one another.

Clutching his arm, Tommy regained his footing and looked up at the Zelzord. "This has gone far enough!" he said. He turned to Trent. "Can you handle the Triptoids?" he asked.

Trent nodded. "You got it!" he confirmed.

"You guys call the Zords," said Tommy to Conner, Ethan, and Kira. "I'm going to get Anabel."

"You got it!" said Conner. He lifted his morpher to his lips and called into it, requesting the assistance of the four Biozords.

From her spot inside the Zelzord, Anabel watched as her Compy screeched and zipped through the city, looking for her. When it didn't find her, it reluctantly joined the Megazord.

"Sentimental over a piece of metal!" Zeltrax hissed. "You humans are pathetic!"

Anabel shot him a glare. "At least my piece of metal is worth being sentimental over!" she snapped. "No one is going to care when you're gone."

Zeltrax hissed.

"Anabel?"

Anabel gasped as Tommy's voice echoed throughout the Zelzord. "Tommy!" she called back. "I'm in the cockpit!"

"Hang on! I'm coming!"

Zeltrax growled. "Triptoids, stop him!" he ordered.

"Tommy, watch out!" Anabel called. She screamed as the Zelzord rocked backwards as it collided with the Thundersaurus Megazord. Her irrational fear of being hurt surfacing in the back of her mind.

Zeltrax laughed as he blocked an attack from the Thundersaurus Dino drill, and stabbed forward with his sword, clipping the Megazord in the side.

Conner, Ethan, and Kira cried out as they stumbled backward.

"Leave them alone!" Anabel snapped.

Zeltrax laughed, unleashed a neon bright whip that wrapped around the Thundersaurus Megazord, and lifted it into the air. He slammed his easily onto the console and dropped the Megazord onto the ground, with earth shattering results.

Anabel winced, her arms pulling against the vines in a desperate need to escape.

"It won't matter!" said Zeltrax, as Conner called on the Mezodon Rover. It's roar echoed around the city as it thundered into view.

"Is that fear I hear?" Anabel asked.

Zeltrax shot her a dark glare.

Looking around, Anabel gasped as she saw Tommy tumble into the cockpit. He was fighting off the last of the Triptoids, and barely managed to glance up at her as he fended the off.

"Anabel!"

"Tommy!"

"I'll be right there," Tommy promised.

Looking up, Anabel tugged harder against the vines.

"Darkness Flare!"

With a gasp, Anabel whipped her head around, just in time to see a wave of darkness smash into the remaining Triptoids and disintegrate them. As the wave disappeared, Circe stepped in view, her hand held out in front of her as she walked toward Tommy.

"Circe!" Anabel gasped.

"It's over, Zeltrax!" Circe said, her glare fixed on the cyborg. "Just let her go!"

"Never!" Zeltrax roared. He abandoned his controls, raised his sword above his head, and rushed at the two Defenders.

Circe ducked to avoid the collision and Zeltrax continued towards Tommy. He swung his sword, catching the black ranger in the side, and slamming him against a pillar.

"Tommy!" Anabel yelled.

Tommy groaned and fell to one knee as Zeltrax twisted his sword up into the air, poised above his head, ready for a downward strike.

"Circe!" Anabel called.

Raising her hand, Circe hit Zeltrax with a Darkness Flare, knocking him away from the Black Ranger.

Zeltrax howled as he was thrown backward into the hall.

Turning from the pair, Circe raised her hand, black magic crackling between her fingers as she touched them to the vines holding Anabel's wrists in place. They vines creaked and sparked, before disappearing.

With a sigh, Anabel lowered her arms. If she had to describe the feeling in them, she would say it was like jelly. They had been tied above her head for so long, the blood had rushed down into body, making her hands cold and number.

Touching her fingers to the vine around Anabel's waist, Circe reached out and caught the Green Ranger as she stumbled forward, her arms wrapping around Circe's shoulders.

"Easy, I got you," said Circe, tightening her hold around Anabel and squeezing.

Anabel sighed, burying her face into Circe's shoulder, and breathing in deeply. She didn't realise how much Circe meant to her, until right now. Especially with the knowledge she had of Blade.

"Circe, I'm so sorry about your brother," said Anabel, withdrawing from the hug.

Circe shook her head. "It's not your fault," she said. "Blade knew the risks of being a Mystic Defender, we both do. But, I don't intend to let the one who murdered him get away."

"Good," said Anabel.

"Anabel."

Separating from Circe, Anabel threw her arms around Tommy as he wrapped his one arm around her. She squeezed him as tight as she could, feeling how his hand grasp the back of her clothes in his fist.

"Hate to break you up," said Circe, spying Zeltrax over Tommy's shoulder. "But, metal head is back for more."

Releasing Anabel enough that he could face Zeltrax but keep her within reach, Tommy turned around. His gaze locked with the cyborg that had once been his old friend, and his grip tightened on his staff. Regardless of the memories and times he shared with Smity, he had gone too far when he had endangered Anabel.

"Maximum power!" Zeltrax hissed.

Anabel swallowed hard as before her eyes, Zeltrax's armour changed.

"You and me, Tommy!" Zeltrax growled, his voice deeper.

"Circe, get her out of here!" said Tommy.

Zeltrax roared, drawing the trio's attention to him. "You're not going anywhere!" he said, throwing his hands into the air.

Anabel gasped, her whole-body shivering as she felt the darkness rolling off Zeltrax and into the air. Smoky tendrils escaped through the pipes all over the Zelzord, and seeped into the air, turning daytime into night.

"What's going on?" Circe asked.

"I don't know," said Anabel, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. "But, whatever it is, it doesn't feel good!"

Circe slid her arm around Anabel. She had spoken with Kali and was stunned to learn that Anabel's Dino Gem had been tampered with and was expelling darkness into the teenager every time she morphed. Of course, she had wanted to return straight away after learning the little fact, but Kali hadn't allowed it, stating that she was needed in the Magical World until there was a time where her mission to protect Anabel was reignited.

"We got to get you out of here!" said Circe, looking around for an exit route.

"What? No!" Anabel argued. "I'm not leave you both here!"

Circe shook her head. "There's no time to argue, Anabel," she said, gripping her tightly to stop her from weaselling her way out. "We're doing this to keep you safe."

"Who's going to keep me safe if you get destroyed in here?" Anabel asked.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Anabel struggled but Circe's grip on her arm was too strong. Desperately, she looked around for Tommy, and found him battling Zeltrax on the other side of the cockpit.

"Anabel, go!" Tommy called, meeting her gaze.

"But -" Anabel cut off as the Tyranno tail burst through the side of the Zelzord, collided with Zeltrax, and threw him across the cockpit, into the same beam she had been tied to.

Circe grinned. "Perfect!" she said, dragging Anabel across the room. With her grip growing tighter, she jumped, pulling the Green Ranger with her.

The pair landed on the ground within the city, not that far from where Trent was finishing with the Triptoids.

Wrenching her arm out of Circe's grasp, Anabel spun around and looked up. "Tommy!" she called, relief settling in her chest as the black Ranger landed a mere foot away. She run to him, throwing her arms around him as he straightened up.

"I'm okay," said Tommy, winding both arms around her and holding her close.

"Not for long!" said Zeltrax, landing behind the couple.

Circe growled and extended both her arms out in front of her. "Don't you know when to quit?" she asked, drawing both arms back as black magic crackled between her hands. She then threw the blast at the Cyborg, sending him hurling backward into the side of a building.

Both Anabel and Tommy looked around as Circe stepped forward. The look of fury on her face was enough to scare both to the core.

"I've had enough of you Defenders interfering!" Zeltrax hissed, dislodging himself from the building. He clenched his hand into a fist. "After today, I'll have rid this planet of Power Rangers, and two defenders."

Circe grit her teeth. "Don't count on it!" she growled. "Darkness Inferno!" She raised her hand above her head, summoning as much magic as she could muster, and generating it into a ball of energy. Drawing her easily, she pressed her palms against the side of the energy sphere and shoved it outward.

The ball soared towards Zeltrax and engulfed him.

"This is for Blade," said Circe, snapping her fingers.

Anabel watched as the sphere surrounding Zeltrax grew smaller and smaller, until it disappeared into Zeltrax's body. Then, it exploded outward, ripping the cyborg apart from the inside.

"Ouch. That had to hurt," said Circe.

Anabel raised an eyebrow. "You think?" she asked. She looked from her defender to where Zeltrax had once stood, and then back again. "You're scary when you mad, you know that?"

"It's not like he didn't deserve it," said Circe.

"True," Anabel replied.

The ground shook as the Thundersaurus Megazord was knocked off balance, followed closely by the Mezodon. Now that Zeltrax had been destroyed, the Zelzord was running amok with no one in control of it.

"How do we destroy it?" Trent asked, running over. He had finished his task of destroying the Triptoids, was now watching Conner, Ethan, and Kira take a beating at the hands of Zeltrax's last toy.

With one arm still around Anabel, Tommy raised his morpher. "Conner, you're going to need all the Zords," he said.

Upon command, the auxiliary Zords, including Trent's Drago Zords, surrounded the three Megazord's.

"Dino Zords! Full power!"

Anabel watched expectantly as a golden light filled the city, as each Zord powered up its final attack. The beam of energy soared through the air, smashing into the Zelzord. It exploded, raining debris down onto the city.

For a split second, everything felt like it was over. But the skies were still shrouded in darkness, then, the nightmare continued as the Zelzord returned.

"No!" Anabel breathed; her eyes wide.

"Woah!" Circe squeaked, her arms flapping as she looked for something to grab onto. A huge influx of wind hit the city, drawing as much debris and destruction as it could toward the Zelzord.

"I got you!" said Trent, catching Circe's arm and pulling her behind him. His own body braced against the wind as his feet planted firmly against the floor.

Anabel drew herself closer to Tommy. Without her Dino Gem, and an increase in energy, she was vulnerable to attack such as the one now.

"You've got to sacrifice the Zords," said Tommy.

Anabel looked up; her eyes wide.

"We can't!" said Conner.

"No, Doctor Oliver!" argued Ethan.

"There has to be another way!" Kira agreed.

"You have, too," said Tommy. "It's the only way."

Turning her attention away from Tommy, Anabel watched as Conner, Ethan, and Kira activated the self-destruct on the two Megazord's, each one drawing on the power of the auxiliary Zords around them.

Through the carnage, Anabel could've sworn she heard the Compy zord screech out.

"Goodbye old friend," Anabel murmured, tears blurring her vision. She felt Tommy's hold tighten around her as a blind light filled the area, ripping through the Zords and the Zelzord, causing it to explode.

As the city settled, and the explosion give way to a cloud of smoke, Anabel squeezed her eyes shut tight, burying her face in Tommy's chest.

The Zelzord may have been gone, but so were the Thundersaurus, the Mezodon, and the Auxiliary Zords.

"Where are they?" Trent asked, noticing that neither Conner, Ethan, nor Kira had ejected before the blast. "Do you think they -?" he broke off, unable to fathom his own thoughts into words.

Chewing on her lower lip, Circe looked around her.

The others had got out, right?

TO BE CONTINUED...