Disclaimer: I do not own or pretend to own Ranma or Power Rangers.

Nighthawke was pissed. His favorite warrior, Shadow, who had just been brought back, was breaking free of his influence. The bond that he had forged with Shadow was fading away. The bond had lasted for the last 10,000 years and had kept him under his influence. The bond, unlike most magical spells, didn't make Shadow totally evil, but made it where Nighthawke could change his mind at a critical time. "This sucks," was the major thought running through Nighthawke's head. He knew that Shadow was about to return to the good side and he could do nothing about it.

Back on Earth, wooded area in Nerima

Nabiki was confused. You would be to if a woman with bad fashion sense appeared out of nowhere right in front of you. They stood facing each other for a couple minutes before Nabiki broke the silence. Nabiki asked in a cold voice, "Who are you and why are you blocking my path?"

The badly dressed woman replied, "My name is Rita Repulsa and the reason I am blocking your path is because I wish a minute of your time."

Recognition crossed Nabiki's face, "You're that person who's attacking that city in America. Angel Grove, isn't it? Why would you want to talk to me and how much are you willing to pay for my time?"

Rita smirked and replied, "I want to talk to you, because I wish to persuade you to become my Purple Ranger and I'm also willing to pay big, but not in money. I know what your deepest wish is and I'm able to grant it. With the power of the Purple Ranger comes companionship. The purple power is connected to the green so if you accepted you would finally have someone that cared about you."

Nabiki, always the suspicious one, asked, "What if the Green Ranger doesn't like me?"

"Don't worry about that. The purple power will only connect with someone the Green Ranger will like. So, what do you think? I promise nothing bad will happen if you reject my offer."

"Can I have some time to think about it?"

"Sure, how long?"

"Give me an hour. I'll give you my answer at the end of that time."

"In an hour then." With that, Rita teleported back.

Back on the moon, Ranma and his split personalities had been stunned by Shadow's announcement. They briefly wondered what brought this change of heart on, but then dismissed it as irrelevant. Shadow had asked for a way to live and only Panther had the answer. Speaking up, he said, "I have an answer, but it will kill you in a way. The solution I speak of is to fuse with Ranma."

"Now just wait a darned..." began Ranma, but was cut off by Shadow. "Fuse with Ranma? How is that possible? Two souls can't become one."

"Usually, that would be true, but in this case it's not. Because of the reunion of Ranma and Ranko it gives us a way to join in. I have already begun my own assimilation and its going very well."

Everybody blinked at this. None of them had known about this aspect of Ranma's and Ranko's reunion. Shadow stood there for a couple minutes, unconsciously, tapping his finger against his lips. He really didn't like the idea, but couldn't see any other option. Finally, nodding his head to himself, he said, "I'll do it. What exactly do I have to do?"

"Well, first, you have to look at Ranma's Ki and then find the line connecting him to Ranko. Then connect your own Ki to that line. That will start the fusion."

Shadow nodded to Panther and then closed his eyes to concentrate better. Reaching out with his senses, he searched for Ranma's aura. After doing that, he then looked for the line that Panther said was there. Seeing it, he reached out with his own Ki and attached it to the line. He noticed Panther's connection while he was doing this. Shadow asked, "Is that all?"

Panther shrugged and replied, "Yep, basically." Suddenly, Panther started fading away. Looking down at himself, he said, "It seems that my fusion is almost done. I'll see you guys in the afterlife. Ranma, remember, the Nekoken is very powerful, but very deadly. It's a great responsibility that you now bare. Never forget that. Goodbye, my friends." With that, Panther was gone.

Ranma was the first one to break out of the trance that Panther's passing caused. He hadn't known the cat for long, but in that short time he had come to respect the highly dangerous animal. So, he wasn't going to disrespect his memory by letting his passing crush him. He went over to where Panther disappeared, knelt, bowed his head, and let one tear fall from his face. As far as Ranma was concerned it was only unmanly to cry for pain, but not for the passing of a friend.

Standing up, he said to the others, "Come on, we have to continue our training."

Back on Earth, in the Tendo dojo

Nabiki hadn't practiced martial arts in a long time, but sometimes she would practice when she felt she was losing control. This time she was practicing to help focus her mind. Everything that Rita had said had hit too close to home. She was lonely and she really did need a friend, but she wondered if joining was the right answer. She really didn't know. Any normal person would say it wasn't, but most normal people don't live in Nerima. The level of craziness in Nerima, even without Ranma, was second to none. So, Nabiki wondered, was it worth the price. She couldn't really say. Her morals were somewhat skewed, because of, especially because of, the fact she had to grow up real fast. A seven-year-old is not meant to take care of the family finances.

Her hour was almost up and she still didn't have an answer. So, for the first time in years, she would have to just wing it. She didn't like that idea, but hopefully it would work. With that thought, she left the dojo to get changed. A couple minutes later, she was back at the spot where she originally met Rita. She sat down on a nearby tree stump to wait out the five minutes she had left.

Ten minutes earlier on the moon,

Shadow entered the throne room with a slow and casual glide in his footsteps. After training in 50× earths gravity, it was almost too hard to walk in regular gravity. He stopped before Rita and knelt, "You summoned me, my lady."

"Ah, yes," Rita leaned on her staff continuing, "You will be happy to know you're about to receive a partner."

Rising, Shadow asked, "A partner? Why do I need a partner? I'm doing just fine on my own."

Rita cackled and said, "I do not doubt your efficiency, but even though the Dragonzord is powerful it cannot stand up to the Megazord. That is why I'm putting the Purple Ranger back in action."

Shadow thought to himself, "Ranma, this could ruin our plans." Ranma thought back, "So adapt. Remember that is what Anything Goes is all about." Shadow nodded mentally and replied out loud, "Very well. May I, at least, know who my partner will be?"

Rita smiled (shudder) and said, "Her name is Nabiki Tendo and she is the most conniving human I have ever seen. Her only fault is that she wishes for companionship, but her reputation drives everybody away. On the other hand, she very protective of anybody she likes."

Shadow nodded and asked, "Did you tell her about the side effect of the purple power coin? You know the fact that we are mentally joined?"

Rita shook her head no, "I was going to let her find out on her own." Shadow rubbed the bridge of his nose and thought, "I don't mind having a partner, but I'm going to give her the Power. It's time to take down this witch, but first I must find out where her candidate is then I will kill her."

Outloud, he said, "Where are you supposed to meet? I would really like to take a glance at this girl."

Rita pointed at her telescope and said, "It's already pointing at the Tendo girl." Shadow walked over and took a look. He found a brown, shorthaired girl practicing the basics of anything goes in a purple gi. Shadow and Ranma both thought at the same time, "She's cute." Inside of their mind, Ranko finished his fusion with Ranma and faded away. The admittance of thinking a girl was cute finished the rejoining. Now, there was only one more to go.

"So, what do you think? Does she pass?" Rita asked snidely. Shadow, ignoring the sarcasm, nodded and asked, "When are you going to give her the purple power coin?"

"In about 10 minutes."

"What if she doesn't accept your offer?" Shadow wondered.

"Then I will have to force her. Her intellect is too good to let getaway." Shadow sighed and knew it was time. Moving with speed Rita didn't know he had, Shadow jumped across the room and grabbed her by the neck. Before she knew what was happening, Shadow had twisted and broken her neck. He let the lifeless body fall from his hands. No matter how many times he had killed he could never find it within himself to enjoy it. Before he teleported to Earth, he said two words, "I'm sorry."

He appeared in a flash of green light where Nabiki waited. Startled, Nabiki said, "Who are you? Are you from Rita? Why didn't she come herself?"

Laughing for the first time in a millennium, Shadow replied, "In order, my name is Shadow, yes, I'm from Rita, she didn't come, because she's dead. Before you ask, I'm the one who killed her, because I was ready to turn good."

Nabiki blinked and shrugged asking, "So, does that mean we'll be fighting for the good guys? Assuming, you still want me for a partner."

Shadow stood there for a minute thinking and then replied, "Yes and no. We will still fight the good fight, but we are not going to become part of their team. Mainly, because, I'm not much of a team player." Cocking his head, he asked, "Are you sure you still want to be a Power Ranger?"

Nabiki nodded. Shadow, seeing this, continued, "First, we have to find a way to transfer to a school in Angel Grove. Then, we have to figure out how the Rangers communicate with each other. I can handle the communication part, but I don't know much about the school system on this world."

Nabiki, shaking her head, told him, "I can handle the transfer. You just worry about the communications. By the way, can I see the purple power coin?"

Slapping his forehead, Shadow pulled out the coin and tossed it to Nabiki. Catching it, she held it up and took a good look at it. It seemed to be made out of some type of metal that looked like silver. Engraven into the front was some type of animal that looked vaguely like a Chinese dragon with wings except smaller. Wrinkling her forehead, she asked, "What type of creature is that?"

Shadow replied with a smile, "That's a wyvern. Cousin to the English dragon, it's faster, but not as strong as the Chinese dragon."

Nabiki, accepting the explanation with aplomb, asked, "How do I use it?"

"You hold it in front of you and yell out the name of the animal like this," With that, Shadow pulled out his Morpher and yelled, "Dragonzord." In a flash, he was in the uniform of the Green Ranger. Unlike in the TV show, his suit looked like actual armor.

Nabiki, copying his movements, yelled, "Wyvern." With that, she was standing in a purple version of the Pink Ranger's costume meaning it had a skirt. She had only one thing to say about it, "Cool."

To be continued...