Chapter Eight: "Shifting the Balance of Power."

In Angel Grove:

Billy silently watched on in awe at the sight of Shane, Dustin, and Tori in their ninja training gear, sparring together in the Training Room of the Underground Resistance Base. Their movements were fast, fluid, and powerful, their forms continuing to block and attack, deflect and counter, their ninja martial arts techniques outstanding. Shane's movements were fast like his element, Tori's fluid and well timed, while Dustin's were slower but possessing a stronger attack. As he continued to watch them he slowly smiled, knowing that despite being only three of them, they made a great team.

He turned to glance back as the door to the Training Room opened, and Justin came in, outfitted in a dull blue tracksuit. He silently nodded to Billy, before walking over to him, watching as the others continued to train.

Billy smiled at the expression on Justin's face. "They're really good aren't they?"

"Hmm, nothing that I couldn't handle."

"Really?" Said Shane, turning as he overheard their conversation.

"Dude, no offence but even Tori could kick your ass." Laughed Dustin.

"Guess we'll have to see then." Justin smiled back, flexing his arms.

Tori turned to Shane, Dustin, and Billy before looking back to him. "You sure? I mean, I don't want to embarrass you or anything."

Justin let out a small laugh. "Course you won't. Because you're not going to win."

"Is that so?" Tori smiled. "Ok, then Justin, let's see what you've got."

"Guys!" Cut in Billy.

"Don't worry, Billy." Said Justin. "There's no way that I'm going to get beaten by a girl!"

"Dude, Tori's no girl."

"Dustin!"

"I - I mean, you're like one of the guys, er, you know."

Shane laughed. "Dustin just stop right there before you dig yourself into an even deeper hole!"

Justin walked towards the centre of the room, getting into a fighting stance. "Let's up the stakes." His arms blurred in a fluid motion as he activated his morpher. "Shift into Turbo!" A bright pulse of blue light surrounded him as he morphed into the blue Turbo ranger.

"Fine with me!" Tori raised her left arm, creating a ninja symbol before activating her wind morpher. "Ninja Storm - Ranger Form!" A similar blue pulse surrounded her as she transformed into the blue Ninja Storm Ranger. "Power of Water!" She echoed.

Justin made the first move, rushing forward with a quick Turbo kick, that Tori narrowly avoided, as side stepped to the right, landing a right punch into his stomach. Justin fell back slightly, the wind knocked out of him, before letting out a double combo which Tori expertly deflected. She then pressed forward, countering with a twirling roundhouse kick, and unleashing a ninja drop kick which Justin had no chance to block, sending him crashing to the ground.

"Oougw."

"Alright Tori!" Smiled Shane.

Tori smiled before walking over to Justin, powering down into her ninja form and offering her hand to him. Justin waited a moment to catch his breath before conceding defeat. He slowly powered down and accepted her hand.

"You did good." She smiled.

"T-thanks."

Billy shook his head. "Amazing. And you didn't even use your full power."

"Dude, we rock." Smiled Dustin. "Though Sensai almost didn't give us the Ninja Storm powers."

"What do you mean?"

Shane sighed. "As you know Dustin, Tori and I have been training at the Win Ninja Academy under the guidance of our Sensai. It was before the demons began attacking that he started to sense their darkness, and knew that dark times lay ahead. The Academy has a lot of expert ninjas, but Sensai saw in us something different, a potential to become more than our loser selves."

Tori nodded, continuing: "So against his better judgement he chose us to become rangers, knowing that in the short-term we needed a lot of work, but in the long-term his decision would pay off and we would be able to stand par with you guys."

Justin shook his head. "Stand par? You guys are way stronger than us."

Billy continued to smile, before a loud beeping sound came from his back pocket. He turned, reaching into it and withdrawing a small device. He quickly studied the screen, a strange expression on his features.

"What is it Billy?" Asked Tori.

"I - I don't know. I'm suddenly picking up a strong power source coming from the vicinity of Silver Hills. Its power is way off the chart!" He pressed a few buttons on the console. "My computer can't identify what it belongs to."

"I hope the others are ok." Said Justin.

Suddenly a bright flash of light erupted from the corridor and the five of them turned, rushing to meet what they thought must be an attack by the demons. They suddenly stopped, a smile appearing on their features, as they saw Tommy, Kat, Trini, Adam, Rocky, Jason, and David appear, a strange silver morpher on their wrists.

"W-what's going on?" Asked Billy.

Tommy smiled. "Billy, we were able to unlock the full power of the Zeo crystals!"

"It's full power?" He asked, bemused He suddenly turned as he caught sight of Trini. "T-Trini! You're safe!" He ran over to his dear friend, hugging her tightly. "Thank God, I was so worried!"

"Billy." Trini smiled, staying in his embrace. "It's so good to see you too."

Justin walked over to Rocky, staring at the strange silver morpher that was now around his wrist, a hint of blue around it. "Wow, amazing!"

Kat smiled. "We've got a lot to tell you guys."

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Billy continued to shake his head in amazement, the others having filled him in on what had just passed, hope rising within him. The power that his computer had picked up must have been theirs. If that was true then they now had the power to fight back! "The power of the Zeo Matrix." He studied the morpher that Tommy had shown him, a small silver oval shape that could be attached to the wrist, outlined in dark red, and the faint image of a komodo dragon in the centre. "Amazing!" He whispered once more.

"Sure is." Smiled Adam.

"So what now?" Asked Jason, turning to Tommy.

Tommy thought for a moment, before turning to the Ninja Storm rangers. "Would you guys mind continuing on here for a little longer?"

"Of course, bro." Nodded Shane. "We're here to help."

"Great. Then I think its best if we return to Silver Hills. We've got to be there to aid the Time Force rangers when Djiwu mounts his counter attack."

"Agreed." Nodded Rocky.

Billy smiled, handing Tommy his morpher back. "I can't wait to see the transformation."

Tommy turned, nodding to Kat, Trini, Adam, Rocky, and Jason. "Ready guys?"

"Ready." They smiled back.

As one they stepped forward, their arms blurring in a fluid motion as they activated their morphers. "Zeo Matrix Power!"

"Zeo Matrix Wind-Phoenix Power!" A sharp pulse of pink light surrounded Kat, as she called forth her powers, a harsh tornado covering her body. As the wind slowly subsided the phoenix emblem appeared on her chest, and an oval appeared on her visor, before the rest of her body quickly changed into her Zeo Matrix form.

"Zeo Matrix Thunder-Tiger Power!" A sharp pulse of yellow light surrounded Trini, bolts of thunder covering her body. As the lightning slowly dispersed the tiger emblem appeared on her chest, twin elongated ovals appearing on her visor, before the rest of her body transformed into her Zeo Matrix form.

"Zeo Matrix Ice-Wolf Power!" A sharp pulse of blue light surrounded Rocky, a cold blizzard covering his body. As the blizzard slowly subsided the wolf emblem appeared on his chest, a downward triangle appearing on his visor, before the rest of his body changed into his Zeo Matrix form.

"Zeo Matrix Terra-Cobra Power!" A sharp pulse of green light surrounded Adam, shards of rock covering his body. As the rocks slowly faded from sight a cobra emblem appeared on his chest, a rectangle appearing on his visor, before the rest of his body transformed into his Zeo Matrix form.

"Zeo Matrix Fire-Dragon Power!" A sharp pulse of red light surrounded Tommy as he called forth his powers, a raging pillar of fire covering his body. As the flames slowly subsided, the komodo dragon emblem appeared on his chest, a five pointed star appearing on his visor, before the rest of his body quickly formed into his Zeo Matrix suit.

A strange black and gold light surrounded Jason. "Zeo Matrix Shadow-Lion Power!" As he called forth his powers, his body was covered in complete, dark shadow. As the shadow slowly faded from sight, the lion emblem appeared on his chest, the strange markings of his visor appearing, before the rest of his body formed into his Zeo Matrix form.

Billy, Justin, Shane, Dustin, and Tori stepped back in shock as they both saw and felt the power that emanated off of the Zeo Matrix rangers. The six stepped forward, gazing at the suits that they now wore, amazed at the strength, agility, stamina, and power that flowed into them. Billy looked at each of their emblems: the fire dragon, the wind phoenix, the thunder tiger, the terra cobra, the shadow lion - and the ice wolf. He couldn't help but continue to stare at Rocky, a brief wave of jealously coming over him at the sight.

"Simply amazing." Said Trini, testing the air with a few lightning jabs that they could hardly keep up with.

"I still can't believe it." Smiled Jason.

Before they had a chance to get used to the powerful flow of energy that coursed through their bodies, the system alarm went off, and they all turned to run into the Operations Room. Justin ran over to the console, expecting it to be Wes reporting Djiwu's counter attack, but instead found that the communications was coming from Mariner Bay. "It's Carter!"

Carter's image soon appeared on the viewing screen. "Guys, we've got serious trouble! Xentu and his forces are preparing an all out attack on Mariner Bay!" He cut off short when he saw the six strange rangers that were standing in the background. "W-who?"

"We'll explain later. Don't worry, we're on our way!"

Carter recognised the voice as Tommy's. "W-wow, I, we'll see you soon. Carter out."

As the transmission ended Tommy turned to the others. "Let's go guys!"

"Wait!" They all turned to stop as David called to them. "Remember, the power of the Zeo Matrix is more powerful than anything you have experienced so far. As your bodies still attempt to adjust to this new power listen to the spirit inside of each of you, they will teach you how to unleash powers like you could never imagine!"

Tommy nodded, signalling to the others before they stood together in a line, a bright white light surrounding them as they teleported out of the Underground Base, and towards Mariner Bay.

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In the Alternate Reality:

Xentu slowly ascended the dark, torn steps that led up into the inner chambers of the Fortress, an extremely powerful aura of pure darkness coming from up ahead, his own powers paling in comparison. His body was thin but muscular, broad shoulders raised high and arched forward to house the twin dark wings that protruded from his back. His face was twisted and demonic, his eyes narrow slits, his ears hound-like, his mouth cruel and twisted with fangs. He possessed no claws on his hands, but carried a long and powerful scythe weapon at all times.

He quickly moved forward, crossing the stone floor that was broken up and distorted, stepping forward towards the being that sat atop a throne of crushed skulls. "M-mas-ter." His speech slurred. "For-ces are in pos-ition. Ready to des-troy Ma-rin-er Bay."

The dark being's eyes flashed a blood red, moments passing before it answered. "Excellent." Its speech was pure and came out with no difficulty. "Then attack!"

Xentu nodded, bowing his head slightly to his Master, before turning towards a distortion that began to shimmer behind him, slipping through into the other reality.

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In Mariner Bay:

Carter, Dana, Joel, Ryan, Miss Fairweather, and Captain Mitchell watched on in complete awe and shock as the Zeo Matrix rangers slowly withdrew their helmets, revealing their identities. A smile came to their lips as they saw the forms of Tommy, Kat, Trini, Rocky, Adam and Jason. The rangers put their helmets to one side before greeting their friends.

"Tommy, it's great that you're here!" Said Carter, shaking his hand. "Billy was informing us of your situation." He studied their suits. "It's just incredible!"

Tommy smiled, turning as Captain Mitchell came into view. "Sir." He said, shaking his hand.

Captain Mitchell smiled, returning the handshake. "Gentlemen." He indicated to the Conference Room. The group followed him into the narrow but long room that held a large rectangle table in the centre. They each took a seat as Captain Mitchell activated a console, showing the schematics for Mariner Bay. "There is little time so I'll cut straight to the basics. Right now Xentu is mounting his forces towards the eastern sector of the city, from the looks of things, an all out assault. Andros, TJ, Carlos, and Zhane are in that sector now, gathering what intelligence they can, and awaiting the signal to attack."

Jason looked over the schematics. "They've got quite a force assembled." He noticed.

Miss Fairweather nodded. "Xentu has been inactive for the last couple of days. It has given us a chance to rest and recover, but also a chance for him to gather more of his forces. We are assembling all the resources that we have to prepare for the attack, but I don't think we stand a good chance." She paused slightly. "But with you here the balance of power might shift in our favour."

Joel took a deep breath, before sighing. "It's all or nothing. Weather Mariner Bay stands or falls depends on our success."

"We'll be right there with you!" Said Trini. "We won't let them take this city!"

Dana glanced over at her brother before turning to Carter. "We should get going. I'm worried about the others."

He nodded. "Right."

The two generations of rangers stood up, before following Light Speed towards the hanger, and the patrol car that they had waiting for them. The trip through the underground tunnels and towards the eastern sector of the city was done in complete silence; each ranger lost in their own deep thoughts. Carter soon pulled the patrol car over and motioned for them to keep silence, as he glanced around the corner, a small smile appearing on his face.

"Andros!"

Andros turned as he heard his name being called and smiled, motioning for TJ, Carlos, and Zhane to follow, as he rounded the corner and met up with Carter and the others. "Carter!" He then saw the new rangers, smiling as he recognised Tommy and Jason. "We meet again." He smiled.

Tommy and Jason returned the handshake before introducing the rest of the team. They then turned as TJ approached, happy to see them.

"Guys!" Smiled TJ. "We were wandering when you'd turn up!"

"Good to see you again." Smiled Adam, shaking hands with Carlos.

"You too."

"So what's the latest info?" Asked Ryan.

Zhane answered. "They're ready to attack. Just awaiting Xentu's return."

"Then let's hit them now!" Said Rocky.

The three generations of rangers nodded, breaking off into their separate teams:

"Let's Rocket!" Andros, TJ, Carlos, and Zhane reached for their morphers, inputting the morphing code: 3-3-5, before a bright light surrounded them and they transformed into the red, blue, black, and silver Space rangers.

Carter, Dana, and Joel then stepped forward. "Light Speed - Rescue!" A bright light surrounded each of them as they activated their morphers, transforming into the red, pink, and green Light Speed rangers.

"Titanium Power!" Shouted Ryan, activating his morpher. As the bright light surrounded him he completed his transformation into the Titanium ranger.

"Zeo Matrix Power Reactivate!"

The power flowed through the Zeo Matrix rangers once more as their helmets returned to their heads, powering them back up for action. Without a word the rangers rushed forward down the deserted streets, rushing head on into the startled horde of Shadow Demons that lay before them.