Chapter 5:  The Journey Begins

Back at Zedd's moon palace, he was gloating over his newly created monsters and the destruction they were causing.  "Ah, I love the smell of destruction," he said.  "Even if the Rangers do reach the Great Power, there will be nothing left to save by the time they get back!"  He began to laugh maniacally.

Meanwhile, back on Phaedos, the former Rangers and Dulcea finally reached their destination.  It was an old, broken-down temple with vines and plants growing in it.  Aisha looked around and breathed, "Wow.  Amazing."  Tommy asked, "What is this place?"  "These are the ancient ruins of the Ninjetti Temple," answered Dulcea.

She walked to the balcony and said, "There, beyond the Neola Jungle, is the Monolith.  Inside waits the Power of the Universe.  The Monolith is heavily guarded against intruders.  The ground is littered with the bones of those who have tried for it and failed.  Aside from the original team, no one has ever survived and attempt to reach it."  "Then how can we?" asked Tanya.  "You were chosen by Zordon," said Dulcea.  "I have faith in his wisdom."  Justin then asked, "Can you help us?"  Dulcea walked toward the center of the Temple.  "We will call upon the Sacred Animals of the Ninjetti for help."

Back at the Command Center, Zordon and Alpha witnessed the destruction being caused by Lord Zedd's monsters via the monitor.  "Ay-yi-yi!" said Alpha.  "Zordon, isn't there anything we can do?"  "We must wait for word from Dulcea," said Zordon calmly.  "We can make any further plans from there as to how we can hold them off until the Rangers return."

It was now nighttime on Phaedos.  A fire was burning in the center of the Temple.  Dulcea leaned her staff against the alter near the fire.  She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a jar.  She opened it and poured what looked like dust into her hand and placed the jar on the alter.  She then turned to the former Rangers, who were gathered around the fire, and said, "Buried deep within each of us, there are many animal spirits waiting to be released.  They each represent a different side of you, all bursting to get free.  Close your eyes and look deep inside."

The seven fallen heroes each did as they were told.  Dulcea then blew the dust into the fire, causing it to momentarily burn higher.  Sparkles of blue energy appeared and began to encircle the ex-Rangers.  When it was over, they were each dressed in ninja garb, similar to the outfits Tommy, Kat, Adam, and Aisha would call upon as Ninja Rangers.  They each had a silver emblem on their chests with their animal spirits.  Most of them were surprised at what they saw.  They each removed their masks and hoods as Dulcea approached them.

Jada smiled when she found herself in the familiar pink.  "Jada, beautiful and graceful, you are the dove."

Next was Justin, who was surprised to find himself wearing red.  "Justin, strong, smart, and full of life, you are the monkey."  He grinned sheepishly.

Aisha, who was astonished to find herself in purple, came next.  "Aisha, you are the jaguar, brave and swift."

Adam, back in black, was next in line.  "Adam, you are the lion, king of the beasts."  He smiled, glad he wasn't a frog this time!

Tanya was still in yellow.  "Tanya, fast and agile, you are the cheetah."

Tommy looked uneasy when he found himself in green.  Dulcea noticed this.  "Tommy?  Tommy, what's wrong?"  "I'm the Green Ranger again."  Tommy remembered his time as the Green Ranger and it stirred up some bad memories.  "Of course you are," Dulcea said.  "You are the tiger, fierce and deadly.  And this time, you can't lose your powers."  This surprised Tommy.  "How did you. . .?"  Dulcea interrupted him.  "I know," she said.  She smiled and winked at him.  He couldn't help but smile back.

Finally, Kat was astonished to find that she was blue.  "And you, Katherine, leader of the team, are the hawk, predator of the skies."

"Me?" she asked in surprise.  "Yes, you," said Dulcea smiling.  "You have proven your worth, and now you are rewarded for it."

Dulcea walked back toward the balcony.  As she did so, she said, "To be in harmony with the Sacred Animal spirits is to have the Force of the Ninjetti."  She then turned to them and said, "To those who are Ninjetti, anything is possible."  She paused.  "But, I am afraid you must do this on your own."

This surprised the Rangers.  "You're not coming with us, Dulcea?" asked Kat.  "If only I could," said Dulcea with a tinge of regret.  "But that would be cheating.  The strength is inside you.  Trust it.  Your Sacred Animals will be your guide.  Now I must return to Earth.  There's no telling what sort of trouble Lord Zedd is causing right now.  I must help protect Earth any way I can until you return."  The Ninjetti Rangers looked at Dulcea and nodded in understanding.

"May your animal spirits watch over you."  She threw a little bit of the same dust on herself that she used on the fire.  When she did so, she turned into an owl, her animal spirit.  She flew off.  When she reached as high as she could go, she teleported away in a streak of white light.