The Dark Side of the Moon

by Twix3780

When she was twelve years old, Rune Winters met her idol - the Black Mystic Ranger - and was taught to use the dark side of the Moon to her advantage. Now, six years later, she must put those skills to the test as the Nighlok rise from the depths of the Sanzu, and the fight for Earth begins anew. (Book Nine of the THU). In Progress.

25. The Bullzord

"What's up?"

"We got a problem. Can you meet me at Hayley's in an hour?"

"Sure. Is everything okay?"

"Just be there and I'll fill you in."

Kali dropped her Ninja disc back under her shirt and stood from the rocking chair where she had been feeding Joe. She kissed his forehead and set him back in his crib, looking up briefly as the door opened and two whirlwinds rushed inside.

"Momma! Momma!" Aviva and Aziva echoed. "Can we go play in the Woodland Realm? Grandma Eithne is there, can we go?"

Nick appeared in the door, breathless and panting. "Damn, they're fast," he whined. "Guess they take after you."

"Or you're just slowing down in your old age."

Nick scoffed. "We can't all have decelerated ageing abilities, you know, Princess," he teased.

Kali shot him a sharp look. Being half elf meant that she aged differently to her friends; whereas in human years she was in her thirties, she still looked to be in her early twenties; and not only did she retain her appearance but the benefits of being young meant her body didn't slow down as fast, either.

"They want to go see your mother," said Nick.

"I gathered that," said Kali. "I'm needed in Reefside. Can you take them?"

Nick furrowed his brow. "What's going on in Reefside?" he asked.

Kali shrugged. "Hunter called, said he needed to speak with me about something," she answered. "He was a little light on the details. But it must be important if he wants to meet me."

"Do you want company?"

"I'll be okay," said Kali. "Besides, someone needs to be around to watch these two whirlwinds." She turned on the musical mobile above the crib. "Claire said she'd keep an eye on Joe, besides, your mum and dad are back today."

Nick smiled down at his son. The baby kicked his legs and babbled nonsense at the sight of his father. Glancing up, Nick watched Kali as she watched Joe. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.

It had been two weeks since Kali had returned from Panorama city bruised and bloody, shaking and rambling about a Nighlok named Serrator and how he had been the one to open the Abyss for Lothor to escape. She had requested a memory potion from Claire, and when she had told him of her intentions to use it on Rune and the Samurai team, he had tried to stop her.

Nick knew how much Rune meant to Kali, not only as a student, but as a friend and sister, too. But Kali was adamant that this was the only way to protect Rune from Serrator's deadly vendetta. That night, Nick had held Kali as she cried over the guilt and loss of losing someone special.

"Yeah," said Kali, shaking herself out of her stupor. "I'm fine." She pushed away from the crib and turned to the twins on the bed. "You can see Grandma. But, you have to promise you'll do everything she says."

"We promise!" the twins chimed. "Can we go now?"

"Dad will take you."

The twins turned to Nick. "Can we go, Daddy? Please?" they begged.

Nick sighed and nodded. The twins cheered and scampered out of the room. "Call me if you need me," he said, kissing Kali once.

"I will," Kali promised.

~X~

Hayley greeted Kali with a grin. "Hey, long time," she said. "How you doing?"

"Seen better days," Kali admitted. "How about you? How's business?"

"It's good. A lot more rumbunctious now that school is out for summer," said Hayley, "and I don't just mean the local high schools. There's been a few Ninja's in here recently."

"Yeah, the senior class at the Academy are allowed to leave the grounds for a few hours. It's to promote trust and encourage responsibility."

"So, what are you here for?"

"I'm meeting Hunter," Kali answered. "He says he has something he needs to share with me, and this seemed like a good place to meet. If I turn up at the academy one to many times the students get freaked out and start to wonder if things are wrong."

"Sounds like you speak from experience?"

Kali nodded. "It doesn't happen as much at the Thunder academy, but the Wind academy was my home for a year," she answered. "I used to go back when I was pregnant, and just after the twins were born, and it started to freak the students out. So, Cam and I came to an agreement that we would meet up off school grounds."

"Sounds logical."

"Speaking of past friends," said Kali, sliding onto a bar stool. "How are the others? What happened after graduation?"

"Kira and Trent are in New York," said Hayley. "Tommy's still teaching at Reefside, Conner has opened a soccer camp, and Ethan's at Reefside tech."

"And Anabel?"

Hayley set a drink down in front of Kali. "Last I heard she was in Scotland," she said. "She stays connected with Tommy often, and he's been out to see her a few times. But other than that…" she shrugged.

"So, they're still going strong then?"

"Yep."

"How long has it been now?"

"Five years," Hayley answered.

The door opened and Kali looked around to see Hunter enter the cafe, behind him came a familiar face and she furrowed her brow in confusion.

"Hey, you made it," said Hunter, approaching the bar. "Hey, Hayley."

"Hey Hunter, what can I get you?"

Hunter gave his order and Kali raised her brow at the kid beside him. "You want anything Charlie?" she asked.

"No thanks," Charlie Winters said, shaking his head. He looked troubled and she couldn't help but wonder why he was there.

"What's going on?" Kali asked Hunter.

Hunter glanced around, there weren't meant patrons near them, but he didn't want to risk being overheard. "Come with me," he said, motioning for her to follow him. They found a booth at the back of the room, away from prying eyes.

"I hate cloak and dagger routines," said Kali. "Either spit out what you need to tell me, or I'm heading back to Root-core."

"You haven't changed a bit."

"Bite me, Bradley," said Kali. "What's going on? What's Charlie doing here?"

"The Bullzord has awakened."

Kali paused. "The what?" she asked.

~X~

Jayden chuckled as Rune wrapped her arms around the box in her arms. There was a new bounce in every step she took, and he could tell she was excited about unwrapping the parcel she had been sent. He had tried to get her to tell him what it was, but she has refused, stating that she wanted it to be a surprise.

"It's hardly a surprise for me," said Jayden. "I'm not the gamer. Besides, shouldn't you be surprising Mike?"

"Mike will be just as surprised," Rune replied. "With this, we can all play."

Jayden shook his head. "I can't see Kevin sacrificing training for playing," he said.

"It's hardly a sacrifice if it helps, is it?"

"Gaming helps you, Rune."

"And Mike."

Jayden chuckled. "You don't know what it is, do you?" he asked.

"Course I do. You really think I would sign for something if I didn't know what it was?"

"Then why don't you just tell me?"

Rune rolled her eyes. "You're impatient, you know that?" she asked.

"Hey," said Mentor, interrupting their discussion. "I see you got the parcel."

"Yeah. He keeps bugging me to tell him what it is," said Rune, nudging Jayden with her elbow. "You've taught him everything except the definition of a surprise."

Mentor chuckled and Jayden rubbed his ribs. "He never did like surprises, even has a kid," he said.

"Where are the others?" Jayden asked.

"Outback," Mentor replied. "Kevin had a training regime that he wanted to run through with them."

Jayden nodded and turned towards the house. He stopped when he realised the front door was open. "Did you leave the door open?" he asked turning back to Mentor.

Mentor shook his head and straightened up.

"Maybe one of the others came out, forgot what they wanted, and went back in?" Rune suggested. "Or, even came looking for Mentor and then realised he was out here? I used to do that all the time with my mother."

Jayden murmured his agreement. "Let's get this parcel inside," he said. "I'll get the others while you start opening it."

"Okay."

The pair headed inside, Rune diverting into the living room as Jayden headed into the kitchen. Setting the parcel on the coffee table, Rune jumped as someone cleared their throat.

Whipping around, Rune pushed her hand out, palm flat against the air and hit the person at her rear in the chest with an energy ball.

The figure sailed backward, through the sheer thin wall and landed with a crunch on the floor of the dojo.

"Nice to see you, too, sis," Charlie winced.

Rune gasped and rushed to her brother's side. "You idiot!" she scolded. "What you doing sneaking up on me anyway?"

"You walked straight past me!" Charlie protested. "I was letting you know I was here. What you doing blasting people? Do you greet all newcomers to the house like that?"

"Just the ones that frighten the life out of me!"

Fast-paced footsteps echoed from outside, and Rune looked up as her name was called. The others had arrived in the living room and then appeared in the doorway to the dojo.

Kevin and Jayden had noticed the hole in the wall, while the others were staring at her and Charlie with a look of confusion.

"What happened?" Jayden asked.

"You guys remember my brother, I trust?" Rune asked. She stood, pulling Charlie up with her. "Charlie, this is the team."

Charlie pressed his hands to his bad and twisted at the hips, cracking his muscles, and easing the pain out of them. He sighed and waved at the others.

"What's going on?" Kevin asked. "Why is he here?"

Rune shot him a sharp look.

"It's a valid question," said Jayden. "Rules state that we aren't -"

"I know the rules," said Rune. "I haven't had a chance to ask why he is here." She turned expectantly to Charlie.

Charlie sighed. "Sensei Bradley sent me," he said. "He has a message for you." He handed over a scroll, tied with a crimson ribbon.

"What's say?" Mike asked, watching as Rune unfurled the scroll.

"It's a summons. He wants us to come to the Thunder Ninja Academy for a face-to-face." Rune looked up at her brother. "He says that the current Hellhound has said that what he has to say will be important to us. What's this about, Charlie?"

"You ever hear of the Bullzord?"

Rune looked thoughtful and then shook her head.

"The bullzord?" Mentor asked, startling everyone. He had returned from the tomato patch without alerting anyone and was standing in the second doorway listing closely.

"You've heard of this Zord?" Jayden asked.

"Yes. The Bullzord was the first ever zord to be created with Symbol power," Mentor answered. "It has immense primal power."

"How come we've never heard of it?" Kevin asked.

"Because it was locked away three hundred years ago," said Charlie. "Sensei Bradley says that it went out of control sooner after it had appeared, and because there was no one around to control it, it was locked away - like everything else that no one can handle."

Rune squeezed Charlie's shoulders. "Where was it locked away?" she asked.

"Reefside," Mentor replied. "The Thunder Ninja Academy now resides at the base of the Bullzord's mountain. They have been guardians to it ever since."

"Who sealed it away?" Mia asked.

"The Grand Shogun," said Mentor.

"Not the Hellhound?" Emily asked.

Mentor shook his head. "After the Thunder Ninja Academy was created, and an alliance between them and the Mystic Realm was struck, the Grand Shogun offered part responsibility to the Mystic Guardians, but the alliance didn't last long and when it broke, so did the responsibility," he explained.

"But the alliance has been rebuilt now," said Charlie. "That's why Sensei Bradley contacted Kal - I mean, the Hellhound. She was the one who suggested that I come here and get you,"

"What would the Hellhound know about us?" Rune asked.

"You fall under protectors of the Mystic Realm," said Charlie. "Besides, it was the Hellhound's mother that trained you to become a Mystic Defender, remember?"

Rune racked her brains, drawing on memories of her time in the Mystic Realm. She could see a woman training her outside of Academy hours, but she didn't recognise her in the slightest. "Yeah, I think so," she said, rubbing her head as it throbbed painfully.

"So, Sensei Bradley wants to see us about a Zord that hasn't been around for almost three hundred years?" Kevin asked. "Why? Does he think that maybe we can control it now?"

"We have the black box," said Antonio.

"I think there may be more to it than that," said Mentor. "If the Bullzord has awakened, that is."

"Hunter wouldn't be asking to see us if he didn't believe the Bullzord was awake," said Rune, shaking her head. She glanced at Jayden. "I think we should go."

Jayden held her gaze and then nodded.

Rune smiled and turned her attention back to Charlie. "How did you get here?" she asked.

"The Ninja Red Eye?"

"The what?" Mike asked.

Rune and Charlie shared a smile. "You'll see," they echoed.

~X~

The Ninja Red Eye was a form of transportation that the Ninja Storm Rangers used back in 2006. It had only been used once and it had been when the Thunders needed to get from Ninja Ops to the Reefside forest where their grandmother lived. Rune, herself, had never used it, or if she had she couldn't remember, but Mike had been ecstatic since learning of its existence, and even more so now that he had got to use it.

"That was awesome!" Mike exclaimed. He didn't a full 360 turn, taking in the trees that now surrounded him and the others. They had just left Paranoma City and were standing in an empty clearing just west of the Thunder Ninja Academy.

"You say that every magical encounter we have," Mia laughed.

"Because they're all awesome!" Mike said.

Rune smiled. Mike's reaction to all things magical resembled her own when she had first learned about the Mystic Realm, there was still times to this day where she couldn't believe such things existed, or that she had access to them.

"Where's the entrance?" Kevin asked.

"That way," said Charlie, pointing west. "About a ten-minute walk. Come on, Sensei Bradley should be waiting."

"If he's not?" Emily asked.

Charlie shrugged. "The sentries have been told that we're expecting visitors," he said. "They should let us pass through without problem."

"And if they don't?"

"Well, last time Ninjas were late for class or intruding outside of the secret entrance, a fight broke out," said Charlie,

"A fight?" Mia questioned. "But we can't -"

"Don't worry, we won't be made to fight Thunder Ninjas," said Rune. "No one really leaves the academy grounds without permission from an elder or Sensei. Charlie is still a first year, he would've been sent to get us, he wouldn't be allowed to just leave."

"She's right," Charlie agreed. "Like I said, Sensei Bradley knows I'm out here. Plus, I have this." He showed them a scroll which he had tucked inside his tunic. "It's a note, explaining the situation."

The Samurai's relaxed.

The walk was over before it had even begun, and when the group reached the entrance, Sensei Bradley was in fact waiting for them. He smiled and bowed at them.

Rune clasped her hands together and bowed back. The last time she had seen Hunter Bradley was when she was living in Blue Bay Harbour. He had been part of the Big Brother/Little Brother programme and had been matched with Charlie. She couldn't remember who her big sister had been, but she knew that she had one.

Why couldn't she remember? The memory was twisted, a faint outline of a person sat opposite her at the arcade. They were asking questions about what she liked to do, like her bobbies, and what games she enjoyed, but the image was so distorted that Rune couldn't make out a face.

"Ah," Rune gasped, pressing a hand to her head. She stumbled to the left and Jayden had to grab her shoulders to stabilise her.

"You okay?" Jayden asked, concern in his voice.

Rune swallowed and nodded. "Yeah. Headache," she answered, rubbing her forehead. "It's fading now. Thanks." She stepped away from him and met Hunter's gaze with a smile.

"Hello, Rune," Hunter said, smiling back. "How are you?"

Rune shrugged. "Can't complain," she replied. "You?"

"Same, I suppose. How's Ranger life treating?"

"It's okay. I mean, there are times where I wish I hadn't spent my whole life in training, but if I don't do it, who will?"

"I had the same thoughts and feelings when I was training," said Hunter. He glanced around at her team. "Why don't you introduce me?"

Rune smiled and turned to the others. "Hunter, these are Emily, Mike, Mia, Kevin, Antonio, and Jayden," she pointed at each Ranger in turn. It was obvious for Hunter to guess their colours; their outfit schemes gave them away. "Guys, this is Hunter Bradley. Former Crimson Thunder Ranger, and current Headmaster of the Thunder Ninja Academy."

"Hey," the Samurai greeted.

Hunter nodded at each in turn. He then returned his attention to Rune. "Did Charlie tell you what this meeting was about?" he asked, motioning for them to follow him into the mountainside.

They did. It was dark at first, but the further they got along the path fire lanterns flickered to life on the wall, illuminating the stone and casting their shadows along the rock. At the end was an iron gate, which separated them from the rest of the grounds.

"I half expected there to be some Ninja Magic blocking us," said Mike, suddenly disappointed.

"There is," said Charlie. "But you're Samurai, and it recognises your elements and Ranger status, so you don't feel or see it when you cross the border."

Mike's eyes alit with excitement.

"So like the protection charms around the Shiba house?" Emily asked.

"Similar, yeah," said Rune, nodding. "Also, yes, Charlie told me why we were asked here," she added to Hunter. "The Bullzord?"

Hunter nodded. "The current Hellhound has suggested that maybe you would have a chance at taming the Bullzord before it breaks out of its confinements," he said.

"Where is it locked away?" Jayden asked.

"You just passed through," said Hunter, motioning over his shoulder. "The Bullzord was trapped in the entrance mountain, it's partly why we used it as an entrance, to be honest. Legend was that the Bullzord could sense anyone that had ill intentions and that it would come to life and stop them from accessing the academy should they try. Of course, that's just a myth, as until now the Bullzord has been dormant."

"Any idea why it would choose now to wake up?" Rune asked.

Hunter shook his head. "The Hellhound seems to think it could be the rise in Nighlok activity that has awoken the beast," he said. "But we don't have the capabilities to tame it, and therefore don't know what it's intentions are."

"It's been dormant for a few years," said Kevin. "What makes you or the Hellhound think that it's intentions are for anything but evil?"

"Because the Bullzord was never evil to begin with," said Hunter. "Evil is not born, it is made. Circumstances change and so do actions. When the Bullzord was created, there was no symbol power strong enough to tame it, it went wild under the influence of so much power and was locked away for it. Now, I hear there is something that could tame the beast and it's primal power."

Rune turned to Antonio and held out her hand. He passed the black box over and she showed it to Hunter. "This is the Black Box," she explained. "It's how we access a higher level of symbol power. Do you think this will be strong enough to tame the Bullzord?"

"With the right spin disc, yeah," Hunter nodded.

"Do you have that spin disc?" Jayden asked.

Hunter led them across the grounds, Thunder students were training in a variety of different classes and paid them very little attention. At the doors to the temple, Charlie hugged his sister and bid goodbye the rest of the team, before heading off to his afternoon classes.

Rune watched him run across the lawn and slide into a close combat training class at the far end. Hunter followed her gaze and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He's doing well here," Hunter said, softly. "You needn't worry."

Smiling, Rune nodded and followed Hunter into the temple.

~X~

A statue of the grand shogun stood in the headmaster's office. Hunter motioned to it as he entered and then approached his desk. Rune noted that it was covered in plans and blueprints, but before she could ask why Hunter stuffed them all into the top drawer and settled himself into his chair.

"Three hundred years ago, the Grand Shogun appeared in the Mystic Realm and asked the guardians then to protect the Bullzord," Hunter explained. "Legend says that it was so full of power that it couldn't be contained by the then team of Samurai and to diminish the risk of it falling into Nighlok hands it was locked away."

"Why did the Mystic Realm feel that the Thunder Academy were the best protectors of the Bullzord?" Rune asked.

"Possibly for the same reason they asked the Wind Ninja Academy to guard the Abyss of Evil," said Hunter. "Separating powers between different guardians makes it almost impossible for evil to get their hands on them."

"But the Mystic Force," said Kevin. "Surely they were powerful enough?"

"Just like everything else, the Mystic Force weren't as established three hundred years ago," said Hunter. "They were also just creating their own homes. Plus, the literal gate to the Underworld rests in Briarwood, the abyss of Evil and the Bullzord around the gate would be Hell on Earth."

Rune grimaced at the idea.

"How do you know that the Bullzord is awake?" Jayden asked.

"One of our students - a youngster named Cody - came to me a few days ago and said that he had a dream, originally I didn't think anything of it. But when he came to be this morning stating that he had the same dream, and it was accompanied by a voice, I knew that something was happening."

"Why did you contact us?" Mia asked.

Hunter shrugged. "Simply because you're the only Ranger team in existence that harness Symbol power," he said. "Also, because the Grand Shogun is a direct line to the Samurai legacy. Who else would I call?"

"Charlie said the Hellhound suggested us," said Rune. "Is that true?"

Hunter nodded. "They are firm believers that you'll be able to tame the Bullzord," he said. It was hard for him to think that Rune couldn't remember Kali, but he understood Kali's reasoning behind what she had done. The kid before him needed to be protected, and Kali had always been the type to do whatever was needed in order to protect her friends and family.

"Is Cody here?" Kevin asked.

"He has classes for the rest of the afternoon," said Hunter. "Once he is finished, I'll have him brought here."

"What more can you tell us about the Bullzord?" Jayden asked.

Standing from his chair, Hunter moved to the other side of his office and pulled a long scroll from the top of the bookcase. He unfurled it and rolled it out on an empty table nearby.

Kevin gasped as he examined the words, symbols, and pictures on the scroll, while Hunter explained of the Grand Shogun's plans for the Bullzord. As she listened, Rune couldn't help but wonder why such a great Zord was created if the plans for it were to be just locked away for the rest of existence. Surely, someone would've had the power to tame such a mighty beast.

Lost in her thoughts, Rune drifted from the table, Hunter's voice still breaking her conscious thoughts as he spoke. She gravitated towards the window, her gaze drawn to the mountain that concealed the Thunder Ninja Academy from the outside world, and where the Bullzord was stated to be hidden.

"Rune?"

Blinking, Rune turned and found the others staring at her. "Sorry, did you say something?" she asked.

"We asked if you were okay," said Mike.

"Yeah, sorry, just…" Rune looked back to the mountain, her thoughts returning to the Bullzord that lay beneath the hundred pound of rock, "thinking."

"Care to share with the class?" Hunter asked.

Rune wrinkled her nose at his teacher voice. It reminded her too much of when she was in lessons as a child. "Nothing to share," she replied. "Nothing valuable, at least."

"Why do you keep looking at the mountain?" Emily asked.

"And isn't that the same mountain where the Bullzord is?" Kevin asked.

Rune took a deep breath and turned to her friends. "I need some air. I'll be back." She left quickly, before anyone could stop her.

~X~

"Hey, Rune, wait up!"

Rune slowed her walk, allowing Charlie and his friend a chance to catch up to her. They were still within the grounds of the Academy, and therefore didn't have to worry about teachers or sentries stopping them from leaving the safety of the school.

"Who's your friend?" Rune asked her brother.

"This is Cody," Charlie answered. "Cody, this is my sister, Rune."

"You're the Silver Samurai Ranger," said Cody.

Rune lifted an eyebrow.

"They teach a lesson here on past and present Ranger teams," said Cody. "They want us to know who can be trusted if and when we need them, especially if random people start showing up at the Academy, Sensei Bradley wants us to be aware that we aren't in danger."

"It's basically a facial recognition lesson," said Charlie. "I mean, when the Hellhound was popping up every other week a few months back, some students started to worry that bad things were happening outside of the school. Then she stopped coming and Sensei Bradley had us take the class in case any more former Rangers popped up."

Rune nodded, although she was barely listening. Instead she had stopped walking and was staring at the iron gate between her and the outside world. She turned to Cody. "You're the kid that told Hunter - I mean, Sensei Bradley, that he had a dream about the Bullzord," she said.

"I told him I had a dream about being inside the mountain and there was a voice talking to me," said Cody. "I didn't say anything about a Bullzord. What is it?"

"It's exactly what it sounds like," said Rune. "A zord that is shaped like a bull. What can you tell me about the dream?"

Cody shrugged. "Not much than what I already have," he said. "I enter the mountain. I see a faint golden light, here a roar, and then there is a podium in front of me. It looks like it's missing something, like a disc or something. Anyway, I hear the roar again and then I wake up."

"Have you had these dreams before?" Rune asked.

"Not me, personally, no," said Cody. "Although, I did write to my dad about it, and he wrote back saying that he had the same dream when he attended the Academy."

"Your dad was a Thunder Ninja?"

"Wesley Monroe," said Cody. "Graduated twenty years ago. Just like his father before him, and his grandfather before that."

"You're a Thunder legacy," said Rune.

Cody beamed.

Rune turned back to the mountain. "That's why you're having dreams of the Bullzord," she concluded. "Your father's family was probably here when it first appeared three hundred years ago. You're guardians."

"We are?" Cody asked, blinking in confusion. "But I've never heard of the Bullzord. How can I be a guardian of something I've never even heard of?"

"You'd be surprised," Rune muttered. She started forward again, opening the iron gate and stepping past the boundary line.

Cody and Charlie shared glances. They knew they couldn't leave the grounds without permission, but they were with a Samurai, an adult, and a friend of the Headmasters, not to mention Charlie's sister; surely they wouldn't get into trouble for following her?

~X~

The room was exactly as he had dreamt it. Stone walls, stone podium with a U-shaped horns resting on top, and a glowing red triangle in the centre. The image on the centre was clearer now, and Rune murmured 'Bull' under her breath when she saw it.

"It's speaking to me," said Cody. "It's happy that I have come. How do I know that?"

"You're connected," said Rune. "Does it sound like actual words in your head or is it more like a feeling in your heart?"

"More like a feeling," said Cody. "My body feels like it's buzzing, you know? Like, jittery, like you're running on adrenaline."

Rune nodded. She recognised the symptoms well. She had the same connection and feelings with her Owl Foldingzord.

Cody was definitely a guardian, whether he knew it or not.

"It wants to know if we're here to free it," said Cody.

Rune chewed her lower lip. She knew better than to release a creature with wild, untameable power onto the world, but she also knew that it couldn't stay inside this mountain forever. It deserve a chance to show everyone what it was capable of, and that it could be used as a force of good and not evil.

"Rune?" Charlie asked, quietly. He placed a hand on her arm. He would be lying if he said he wasn't curious if his sister had been drawn here because of her similarities with the Bullzord. She, just like it, had a side of her that was untameable, a side that no one could place it's full trust in, and a side that she only wanted people to see could be used for total goodness.

Rune shook herself. She had been staring at the podium like it was alive. Like she was the one connected to the Bullzord spirit and not Cody.

"Tell it, if we release it then it needs to try and listen to us," said Rune. "We don't to tame it completely, but enough where people won't want to destroy it on sight."

Cody looked back at the podium. "How do I do that?" he asked, unsure.

"You're connected by heart and mind," said Rune. "If you feel genuine concern for the Bullzord, it will sense it."

Cody closed his eyes. Focusing on the buzzing feeling all round him. He felt it through his body and sighed as he allowed it to meld with his own heartbeat.

"It promises," said Cody.

Rune removed her morpher. The energy in the room shifted and the light on the podium burned brighter, hotter.

"It's scared," said Cody. He eyed the morpher.

Rune held her hands up in defence. "I'm not going to hurt it," she said. "I to use it to use the release symbol. I can't tap into my symbol power without it."

Cody took a second deep breath and then the room was still again. He turned to Rune and nodded.

"You're a quick study," Rune said, patting his shoulder.

Cody grinned.

Stepping closer to the podium, Rune snapped open her morpher and held the tip towards the Bullzord's energy source. She traced the release symbol in the air and swiped through it, sending it hurtling forward.

"I can't believe it worked!" Cody and Charlie gasped.

Without warning, the room shuddered, sending a shockwave throughout the mountain and into both the real world and the Academy grounds.

"Did we just do a bad thing?" Cody asked. He looked at Rune. "I feel like we just did a bad thing."

"Breathe, Cody, we didn't do a bad thing," said Rune. "The Bullzord is free, yes, but it's not up to its full strength yet. We don't have the power disc to power it up fully anyway. So there's not much the Bullzord can do without."

Cody nodded, but Rune could tell that he was still uneasy.

"Look!" Charlie gasped, pointing above the podium. Now free from the mountain, a holographic screen had appeared above the stone podium showing the outside world. Giant Moogers stood ahead of the Zord, blocking any path it may have taken.

Rune gripped her morpher and turned toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Cody asked. He stepped forward, stopping only as Rune hit the doorway and bounced back, a reflective shield glittering and then disappearing.

"I was going to help my friends," said Rune, rubbing her nose.

"Are we trapped?" Cody asked, eyes wide in fear. He too run forward, only to be bounced backward by the same shield. "We're trapped!"

Rune sighed and picked herself up from floor, dusted herself off, and turned back to the screen. The others had joined the battle now, but if they had ever been at a disadvantage it was now. Without her or her Owl zord they couldn't create the Megazord.

The ground rumbled again, little bits of rock tumbled from the walls and dust fell from the ceiling. It felt like they were on a moving train, the engine beneath their feet purring as the scenery outside blurred past the windows, only this time scenery was the street upon which the Bullzord was heading.

"We're moving!" Cody cried. Charlie clapping a hand on his shoulder to steady him.

"Rune, what do we do?" Charlie asked.

Rune fumbled and stared at her morpher. She drew a symbol in the air and swiped through it, spinning it towards the podium. "Stop!" she yelled.

The Bullzord didn't slow down.

"Cody, tell it to stop!" Charlie implored.

"He's not listening to me," Cody replied. He turned to Rune. "Why won't he listen to me?"

"He's been locked away for three hundred years, and no one tamed him back then," said Rune. "We shouldn't be surprised that his power has only manifested and is now out of control. It's what happens when…" she trailed off.

Charlie glanced at his sister. He knew, better than anyone else that she understood the Bullzord. Her Nighlok half made it difficult for anyone to trust her, for anything to understand her, and he guessed that was why she had been drawn to the mountain. Been drawn to the Bullzord.

They were one in the same.

"They have a Megazord!" said Charlie, noticing the Samurai team surrounding the Bullzord.

"It's Antonio!" said Rune. "The others can't form the Megazord without me."

"Why not?" Cody asked.

"Because my owl combines with Jayden's lion to form the body. Without that, they don't have the part for the legs to attach."

Panic-stricken, Cody whirled around, eyes finding the screen as the Bullzord jerked both left and right. Outside, giant Moogers stood either side of them tugging at chains and trying to corral the Bullzord toward a crack that had formed in the mountain.

"What's happening?" Cody asked.

"Bullzord, you can't let them take you to the Netherworld!" Rune cried, eyeing the crack. If she were to enter it, she would survive, but Cody and Charlie wouldn't. Not to mention one touch of Sanzu River water would instantly turn the Bullzord evil.

"You have to break free!" Charlie called.

The Bullzord roared. It threw its head back, drawing the Moogers towards it and then spearing them with its horns. They squealed and released the chains, tumbling away from the rampaging bull as the other Folding Zords rolled in.

"Careful where you're swinging!" Rune said, watching as the Bull narrowly missed Jayden's lion. She winced as it whirled around, clipping Mike's bear and Emily's ape with the chains.

"Stop! You'll destroy our friends!" said Charlie.

Head swinging, the Bullzord threw the chains into the air. They crashed against the Dragon zord and landed over the Turtle, pulling them both to the ground.

"No!" Rune cried, watching the pair struggle to release themselves. "Guys…"

Then, the Bullzord was moving again. It crashed through the last of the giant Moogers, piercing them with its horns and trampling the rest under foot.

"Where's it going?" Charlie asked.

Rune shook her head, watching as the Folding Zords became further and further away as the Bullzord left the area. "He's leaving," she said. "He's either freaked out from all the fighting or hurt and needs to retreat."

"What do we do now?"

"I don't know," Rune said. She motioned to the door. "We can't get out, or we could just leave and go back to the academy. Hunter and the others are probably really mad at me, but it beats sitting here and waiting for something to happen."

"We shouldn't have done this," said Cody, heaving a sigh. He glanced at Rune. "This was a bad idea."

Yeah, Rune agreed. This was a very bad idea.

~X~

Kali paced Hunter's office, muttering.

The door opened and the blonde idiot she knew to be Hunter Bradley walked in. He stopped short when he saw her, and then offered her an apologetic smile.

"Don't even say it," Kali said, her temper flaring. She clenched her hands to cool herself, but Hunter could tell if he didn't tread carefully then she would blow.

Stepping around her, Hunter sat on the edge of his desk and watched his old friend pace. She clenched and unclenched her fist, a tic she did when she was nervous or angry, and right now he could tell she was both. He couldn't blame her, Rune was missing, taken away by a runaway Bullzord.

"Can I say something now?" Hunter asked as Kali stopped muttering.

"No."

Hunter sighed. "Well, this is going to be a very one-sided conversation if I can't speak," he said. "Do you want to know the plan on finding Rune?"

"I want to know why she is lost in the first place!"

"It was a misunderstanding," said Hunter, hands up in defence. "She wanted some air and so she went outside. None of us knew she was heading for the mountain."

"Why wasn't someone with her?"

"From what I know, Charlie and his friend Cody saw her walking the grounds and went with her."

"That's not helpful!" Kali said. "Charlie is her brother, he's not going to stop her from doing anything, and Cody is just a student. What control do you think either of them would've had over her?"

"Well, if Blake told me to not do something, I probably would've listened."

"Blake told you not to believe Chubo on Boderco Island, you still attacked him."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. Talk about a low blow.

"Your parents -"

"Alright, let's not get into that again," said Hunter, cutting her off abruptly. The discussion of his parents was still a sore subject for them both, especially when the first time he had met her he had plans to abduct her and use her energy source to bring his parents back from the dead.

Kali sighed. She was worried about Rune. The kid may not have remembered her due to the memory potion, but that didn't mean Kali's own feelings of protection were taken away. She still felt responsible for Rune, she was still her sister, her daughter, best friend. If anything happened to her and Kali was unable to be there to help, everyone knew that she wouldn't forgive herself.

"What's being done to find her?" Kali asked.

"The other Samurai have sent out their Folding Zords," said Hunter. "They believe that the connection with the Bullzord, and Rune's Owl should make it easy for them to find the others."

Kali pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why didn't you just give them the disc like we discussed?" she asked. "That was the plan. Charlie brings the team here, you give them the disc, and they use the black box to tame the Bull."

"When did any of our teachers ever make things easy for us?" Hunter asked. "I saw this as a lesson, and I run with it."

"And you're decision to deviate from the plan has put three kids in danger!" Kali snapped.

"Rune is a Ranger," Hunter retorted, his own anger getting the better of him. "She knows the dangers of being a Ranger, and sometimes shit like this happens."

"Shit like this wouldn't have happened if you had stuck to the damn plan!"

The door banged open and a young woman with dark red hair stood on the threshold. She was wearing square spectacles and had a worried expression on her face. "Is everything okay in here?" she asked, tentatively, looking between Hunter and Kali. They were both on their feet, mere inches apart, and glaring at one another.

Hunter relaxed and turned to the woman. "Everything is okay, Belle," he said, courteously. "You may clock off now."

Belle hesitated for a second, her gaze still flickering between Hunter and Kali. She then turned promptly and left; the door swinging shut in her wake.

Silence hung in the air, and Kali turned away her hands raising to cover her face. She couldn't cry, she wouldn't. She needed a sharp head right now if she had any chance of finding Rune alive.

"Have they sent the Folding Zords out yet?" Kali asked.

"No. But they're planning to do it before bed," said Hunter. "I've set them up with quarters here at the temple. They'll be on hand should the Bullzord or the Nighlok return."

"Good," said Kali. "I have a spell that will help find Rune, Charlie, and Cody. But I need to do it on the Folding Zords before they leave."

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but why do I feel this is going to be a problem?" he asked.

"Because the rest of the Samurai also don't remember me," Kali said. "Removing me from all their memories was the only way I could protect Rune. If even one remembered me, she would. I need you to get me their Zords so I can perform the spell."

"That's not going to be easy," said Hunter.

Kali nodded. "I know. But it's the only way I can guarantee us finding the three missing students without Nighlok interference," she said.

Hunter sighed. "You never make things easy, do you?" he asked.

"Think of it as a lesson."

"Oh, funny," said Hunter, shooting her an annoyed look.

Kali smirked.

~X~

The next morning, a faint glowing aura of yellow extended from the school grounds out into the forest. It twisted between the trees and disappeared from sight.

"Is that it?" Hunter asked.

Kali nodded. She stood outside the entrance to the Thunder Academy, arms folded.

The night before she had instructed Hunter to get the Foldingzords from the Samurai Rangers, a feat that was not easy as both had suspected, but he had managed. She then had cast a tracking spell on the Zords, one that would activate when they had found something with similar magic like their own, like the Bullzord.

Turning to face him, Kali dropped her arms and nodded. "Tell the team all they have to do is follow the trail and they'll find what they're searching for," she said.

"You're not going to stick around?"

Kali shook her head. "I can't be seen by them," she said. "If even one remembers -"

"It'll put Rune in danger of remembering," Hunter repeated, nodding. "I still think there was another way around protecting her from Serrator; anything but a memory spell."

"Maybe. But at the time I didn't have anything else," said Kali. "You shouldn't be surprised that this is my way of protecting those I love."

"I'm not," Hunter admitted. "Does this mean you would've done it with us? The other Ninjas and I, I mean?"

Kali shrugged. "If it meant that I could protect you? Then yes," she said. "Do I need to remind you that I am the same person that always says if I can't save you then I'll stop you?"

Hunter sighed, gaze drawn to the track and trace.

"I'm confident that the Samurai will find Rune, Charlie, and Cody," said Kali, watching him closely. "Your students will be returned in one piece, and please, don't be harsh on Rune when she comes back. She obviously did this for a reason, I'm sure she meant no harm."

"I'm hardly the person to confront her about conducting stupid shit when I've done the same in the past, am I?"

Kali smiled and held her hand out to him. Hunter took it and the pair hugged one another before separating. "Send a report to Root core when you've got them back," she said.

"Will do. Take care, Kali," said Hunter, watching as she approached a nearby tree.

Kali nodded and then laid her hand on the tree trunk. Then, in a blink, she was gone.

Hunter sighed, glanced once at the track and trace again, before returning to the Academy to alert the Samurai team to the new developments.

~X~

It had been a long night of pleading with the Bullzord to let them leave. The more they remained stranded with no way out, the more guilt Rune felt for dragging her brother and Cody into her mess. She understood that they had followed her willingly into the mountain, but she should've turned them back before releasing the zord with her symbol power.

"Please, Bullzord, listen to me," Cody pleaded. His voice breaking the silence for the first time in hours. Normally he spoke telepathically with the zord, leaving Charlie and Rune to wait for a verdict.

The podium pulsed as the Bullzord listened. Rune had deduced fairly early on that the podium was connected to the bulls heart and mind. It's what fuelled the Zord and connected its thoughts to Cody; every time they spoke to it, or it to them, the podium pulsed, and a dull rumble echoed throughout the cavern.

"You wanted to be free," Cody continued. "But if you don't stop they're going to do more than seal you up again. They have the power now to destroy you."

The cavern rumbled and Rune felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. "Oh, I think you're doing more than scaring him into submission, Cody," she said.

"You're time is up, guardian."

Rune turned, hand reaching for her Samuraizer as her gaze fell on a rock-type monster blocking the entryway. How did he get in? What happened to the forcefield? Did it allow people in but prevent them from leaving?

Fear stricken, Cody stepped back in alarm, crashing into Rune as she stepped forward. She swung her hand around, Samuraizer clasped tightly in her palm, and swept the two students behind her.

"Move!" the Nighlok sneered, pointing a short-handed sword at her. "I'm taking the Bullzord."

"You'll have to go through me first," said Rune.

The Nighlok snorted. "What can you do?" he asked.

"She can do plenty," said Charlie. "You don't know who you're messing with, freak."

"Charlie!" Rune hissed. She was only one Ranger, one mystic defender, and she had enough on plate by keeping the Nighlok away from the podium without him antagonising the Nighlok and causing him to change targets.

The Nighlok looked between the three humans before his gaze fixed primarily on Rune. "My orders are to get the Bullzord and its guardian," he said. "That's not you. So, get out of my way!"

Rune traced her morphin' symbol through the air and sliced through it. Her suit snapped on over her clothes and vision darkened slightly as her visor covered her eyes. "Like I said, go through me," she repeated, drawing her spin sword.

"Fine!" the Nighlok grumbled. He raised his sword and stepped forward, slashing down. He narrowly missed Rune's figure as a second sword crossed between them, blocking his attack.

Rune gasped as she followed the arm that held the sword. "Jayden!" she gasped, as Jayden slid between her and the Nighlok, crossing his sword across his chest and shoved the Nighlok back.

"One more makes no difference!" the Nighlok growled, catching his footing. He swivelled around and charged, cutting through the couple, his sword swinging wildly.

Rune and Jayden stood together, each falling back, their swords raised in front of them as the Nighlok turned on a dime, raised his own sword and lunged again.

The couple split and the Nighlok slammed into the wall behind them.

Suddenly the ground rumbled as the podium pulsated. With a loud roar, the Bullzord started to move, rocks falling again from the walls and ceiling as it barrelled over rocky terrain outside.

"Why did you leave?" Jayden asked, blocking a downward strike from the Nighlok as Rune rolled her sword over hands and then slashed upward.

Jumping up, Rune planted her foot in the Nighlok's stomach, and kicked as hard as she could. He staggered backward and, as she landed, Rune turned to Jayden.

"You're asking me this now?" Rune asked. She raised her sword, blocking a second downward strike as the Nighlok recovered quicker than anticipated.

Grabbing her arm, Jayden pulled Rune to him spinning her behind him, his arm lifting and circling his head, as he rushed forward and leapt into the air. He kicked the Nighlok in the head and then sliced down his body with his sword.

"You've been gone all night, Rune," said Jayden. "You left for some air and then the Bullzord was running rampant. Why did you release it?"

"Because it didn't deserve to be locked away," Rune argued. "It's untameable, not a monster."

"Being untameable makes it a monster."

Rune shook her head, ducking to avoid the Nighlok's sword as it sliced through the air. She rolled under its outstretched arm and popped back up beside Jayden. "I understand it," she said. "I mean, I can't talk to it like Cody cay, but I understand the lack of understanding surrounding it. No one knows, or even tried to tame it."

"And you thought you could?"

Rune shrugged. "I just know how it felt," she said. "Powerful, trapped, and misunderstood."

"How could you possibly -?"

"By being a Nighlok!" Rune said, stabbing the tip of her sword into the belly of the Nighlok. She stopped and turned to Jayden. "Everyone, including you, only understand half of who I am. You're all afraid of my other half because of the lack of knowledge of half Nighloks, especially when the ones we've met have all been evil."

Jayden sighed and rolled his sword up, striking it back down as the Nighlok tried to creep up on him and Rune. He was trying, both he and the others were trying their damned hardest to understood Rune as a whole, but she was right. They had only met half Nighloks that had been evil, and no one had ever met one that used it's abilities for the good of mankind. She was extremely rare.

"But the Bullzord is on a rampage," said Jayden.

"And I could go on one, too," said Rune. "I don't know what's keeping my Nighlok side in check. Maybe it's my human side, maybe it's you and the others, I don't know, but without it? I dread to think what could become of me. Neither me nor the Bullzord is evil, we're powerful and we need help. I think that's why I was drawn to it. I understand it."

Jayden stared at her. He couldn't see her face, and she couldn't see his, but he could read her body language. At first he had struggled, but the more time he spent with her the easier she had become to read. She wasn't a threat to him and the others, and he while he didn't understand her all the time, he did trust her.

"Then take this," said Jayden, offering her an all-white disc. "Hunter gave it to me before I left the Thunder academy. He said it holds all the powers to the Bullzord and will restore it immediately. If you think it can be trusted, then I trust you."

Rune hesitated and then took the disc. She glanced at the Nighlok and back at Jayden.

"I got him," Jayden promised.

Nodding, Rune rushed to the podium, actively aware of Jayden fighting to keep the Nighlok at bay behind her. She spotted Cody and Charlie huddled beside the stone and nodded at them. "It's going to be okay," she said, sliding the disc onto the podium.

The Bullzord rumbled but didn't slow down.

"Okay, Bullzord, it's just you and me now," Rune murmured, tracing the power symbol in the air. She sliced through it and sent it spinning into the podium.

There was a split second of hesitation. One where Cody screamed and buried his head in Charlie's shoulder as the image of a cliff approaching appeared on the screen.

"We're going to over the side!" Charlie said. "Rune, do something!"

Come on, Rune thought. Work with me here!

The Bullzord tilted forward as it hit the cliffside… then it lifted into the air, it's hooves pounding the sky as it turned and returned to solid ground.

Rune fell to her knees, a sigh of relief escaping her lips.

The Bullzord rumbled, the podium flashing a consistent and steady red. For a split second, Rune thought it was going to trample again, but instead the stone shattered from the podium and a door opened behind it, revealing a silver sigil on the walls.

"Look," said Charlie, pointing at the disc on the centre of the podium. It had turned from all white, to black and silver.

Cody took the disc and turned, offering it to Rune.

"Rune, look out!" Jayden called.

Fingers barely brushing the disc, Rune turned and raised her sword as the Nighlok sped towards her. He stepped mere inches away as a bolt of lightning hit him dead in the chest, blasting him backward into the entryway.

As the Nighlok's body hit the force field, the Nighlok spasmed and exploded.

Rune turned; eyes wide as Charlie lowered his arm. Crimson sparks disappearing from his fingertips. "Dude!" she exclaimed. "You just -"

"Guess I'm a lot like Hunter than originally thought," said Charlie, grinning.

"I'll say," said Rune. "He's going to be so proud."

Charlie beamed.

Staggering to his feet, Jayden took a deep breath and approached Rune. He touched her shoulder, smiling as she turned and rested her head against his chest. They'd have to wait until the fight was over to reunite properly, but this was better than nothing.

"What do we do now?" Cody asked. He was still holding the Bull disc but looking imploringly at Rune. "The Nighlok is destroyed. Do we just send the Bullzord away."

Rune shook her head. "No. He'll come home with us, now," she said, taking the disc. "Don't worry, Cody, we'll take good care of him."

Cody grinned.