Episode Four "Discovering the Family Secret"

New to taking full responsibility of the Kingdom, Kira was already having her first royal migraine. She stood on the balcony that came out from the Royal Bedroom, overlooking the entire Kingdom of Dande. Too many thoughts were going through her mind to count, and most of them centered on Lex. He had said he loved her, but had left too quickly for him to hear her response. It had been her fault that he left, but did he know? Did he know, just by chance, that she felt so for him?

Although they barely knew each other, Kira felt a deep love for Lex. From the first time she had saw him, she knew he was the man she would be wed to. But she was unable to express her feelings in time - partially because she had been well known to have an ill temper towards the Rangers - and partially because she didn't know how she truly felt about him. But now she knew. She had to reach him, some how, some way.

Her auburn hair swayed in the wind, and she turned away from her inheritance, and walked back into her room.

her grand bed lay a book, which was to be read only if something happened to her mother. She hadn't dare look in it, she couldn't bare the fact that her mother was gone, maybe for forever, just yet. The cover was made of leather, and it was bound by a leather strap. The pages, she could tell without opening it, were old; they had unlimited knowledge in them.

She sat upon the bed, made herself comfortable, and brought the book to her lap. She took a deep breath, undid the binding, and opened it. What she saw on the very first page astounded her.

With a heavy sigh, Rue walked about the A.F.E. base on Eltare. Ever since they had been teleported back by Queen Kira, they had been grounded, unable to do anything if Zedd attacked any other planet. He was so frustrated, all he did all day was pace back and forth his quarters. It didn't help Lex was missing, either. Zordon had tried reaching him telepathically, but something was wrong. The only way he couldn't make a connection is if Lex was evil, or he was…

No, no, Lex wasn't dead. Rue couldn't accept that. Lex was too strong, his will to live exceeded anyone's he knew, even his own. Lex, even if he couldn't take on Rita or Zedd (which he couldn't), would somehow make it out of whatever he was in alive. Rue had complete faith - although something bad lurked in his mind.

"Rue," said Amone's voice from behind. "Putties and Bolirox have appeared on Eltare. Zordon wants us to go ahead and fight before the A.F.E. agents arrive. Are you in?"

Rue, not for the first time in his life, doubted a mission he was given. Why would they fight? To get revenge for Kira, of course, and possibly rescue Lex - but then what? After they succeeded, if they succeeded, what would they do? After quickly searching his mind, he came up with an answer. "Yeah," he said with a sigh. "I'm not sure for how much longer."

Kira kept her eyes on the symbol. It a golden circle with small wings sprouting from each edge. She didn't know what it was, but something about it just kept her amazed. She felt somehow connected to it, and it to her. She turned the olden page, and on the next, she recognized her mother's handwriting.

If you are reading this, something unfortunate has happened to me, and/or the plant of Dande. Whomever is to read on must be of Dande Royal Blood, or else the secrets ahead may fall into the wrong hands. I trust you, the reader, to be of my own flesh and blood.

"Mastodon!"

"Pterodactyl!"

"Triceratops!"

"Sabertooth Tiger!"

"Tyrannosaurus!"

The Ranger team charged at the mixed army of Putty Patrollers and Bolirox, each having their personal weapon handy. Each of them now had more of a reason to fight then before. Yes, they had wanted to fight and win for good, and for the Universe's safety, but that had affected everyone. This was personal.

Rina flipped over her attackers, which was a group of two Bolirox and one Putty. She punched one Bolirox in the stomach, then flipped him over onto the ground. The other Bolirox charged at her, but before it could reach her, she shot two energized arrows at it and destroyed it. Next, the Putty kicked her in her stomach, making her stumble backwards. She grabbed its arm, cracked it over her shoulder, then stabbed it in the chest with her bow.

"Goodbye," she said, speaking to no one, but delivering a devastating blow to the Putty with her Blade Blaster blade.

Amone and Lucretia stood back-to-back, guarding each others' blind sights. A group of four Putties and two Bolirox surrounded them. A blast from Amone's axe, which could convert to a cannon, took out the Bolirox. Now they just had to get past the Putties.

"Four against two isn't exactly fair," said Amone.

"Is anything fair these days?" retorted Lucretia.

Kira read on, enticed by the writing.

It is no doubt to me that you are feeling strong hatred towards whoever did this to me, and for that reason, I have prepared to tell you a secret that has been in this family since the war between Zordon and Zedd began.

I am also prepared to leave a great power in your hands, so you must take full responsibility for what you must do.

Amone and Lucretia fired shots from their Blade Blasters at the Putties, but it did barely any damage. As on Gali, they were tough, and the only way to defeat them was cutting through them somehow. And these two were the ones for the job. Amone held his axe high in the air as he stood in front of two Putties. The blade began to glow with a black light, and he brought it down, swiping across the Putties' chests. They were weakened, but still fought.

"I don't know how Rita did it," Amone said to Lucretia.

"Did what?" yelled Lucretia, dodging a punch from the Putty attacking her.

"Made clay so damn powerful!" Amone yelled back, also dodging a punch. He delivered another slash to one of the Putty's gut, destroying it. He turned around and cut one across the chest several times, resulting in its destruction also. He noticed that Lucretia had also taken care of her business, and they ran to help the others.

Rue, Amone, Xander, Rina and Lucretia stood in front of the dozen or so Putties and Bolirox that were left. They wouldn't need the A.F.E.'s help after all, that is, if Rita and Zedd didn't have something cooked up in their dense minds. The five Rangers and the Army of Zedd charged at each other, exchanging blows as they came.

Kira continued reading the book, although it grew harder and harder to do. Yes, she wanted to find this secret out that her mother spoke of, but it meant she'd have to accept the fact that her mother was gone.

And now, in the telling of the secret, you must be informed of its past. I have encrypted in this book a way for you to see it, just say these words and it will be shown. That which I desire to see, come to be in front of me.

Kira took a deep breath. If she decided to say these words, she would begin the journey to receive the knowledge of her family's secret. Her mother had counted that her own flesh and blood, whoever it may be, would have enough courage to do so. If her mother had that much faith it someone she could've not known, Kira could do it. She knew she could.

She closed her eyes and read aloud. "That which I desire to see, come to be in front of me." She slowly opened her eyes to find that she was no longer in her room, on her bed - but in a beautiful clearing. She still clung to the book, but she hadn't recognized the environment around her.

A beautiful waterfall laid across the way, surrounded by luscious vegetation. The water was crystal clear - the purest Kira had ever seen. She walked over to it, bent down, holding the book to her chest, she tapped the surface with her finger. A ripple went out from her finger and to the edge of the bank, and to the end of the waterfall itself.

"Ninjor," a woman's voice said. Kira twisted around. "I can have the Powers in a safe place as soon as possible. If only you trusted me-"

"It's not you that I distrust, and you know that," the ninja replied. The scene in front of her unraveled too quickly for her to bear; her mother, young in her days - alive! Not to mention, with one of the beings whose fault was bringing Rita to Dande.

I'll forgive him later, she thought to herself. She came to the conclusion that neither her mother or Ninjor could see her, so she let the story unfold while she sat on the grass.

"Power down!" the Rangers said in unison. They had successfully beaten the attack on Eltare, and, after waiting fifteen minutes to make sure nothing else was coming, they demorphed.

"This just isn't the same," said Rue. "We fight the good fight, we keep our strength up. But we're in debt two times over, and we're sitting here, doing nothing."

"Not literally," added Xander.

"Shouldn't we be getting revenge for Queen Nell, Kingston, and Kira? And shouldn't we be looking for Lex? - he's our own teammate, damn it!" argued Rue. The other Rangers kept silent; they knew he was right.

Suddenly, several shots hit the unmorphed Rangers, sending them flipping in the air. When they looked, Goldar and Scorpina walked towards them in the distance.

"Tyrannosaurus!"

Rue ran towards the duo, his Power Sword extended. If the other Rangers couldn't - or wouldn't - do anything, he would.

"Rue!" yelled Rina. The Rangers all morphed and ran towards Goldar and Scorpina. They were going to fight the two monsters or save Rue - they hadn't decided yet.

Kira watched with tears in her eyes. She still couldn't believe her mother was standing there, before her.

"Ninjor, the Powers would be a great help to Zordon and you. Why won't you let me create them?" pleaded the young Nell.

"Because," the retort came, "if you are discovered to be able to make Ranger powers, then you will be in high danger. We can't make you give up the security of your Kingdom and planet for the sake of making new Ranger powers."

Kira's eyes were wide, her expression priceless. She had just found out that her mother - who had always wanted peace - could've created Ranger powers at any time she wanted. But had she? The scene in front of her showed that she hadn't, but she still watched.

Suddenly, Zordon appeared beside Ninjor. "Zedd's forces have appeared," he said. "We must go."

Ninjor looked to Nell with sorrow in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Nell," he said sweetly. "If not for Zordon and I - do it for our daughter. Do it for Kira."

Kira literally screamed "What the hell?" even though no one heard her. Nell - and Ninjor? How could this - there could be no way! She had to push that out of her mind, for she felt the most important part of the story was coming.

When Ninjor and Zordon had disappeared, Nell sat down beside the waterfall, only a few feet from Kira. She held her head in her hands and wept. For what reason, Kira did not know, but didn't think she wanted to. Nell then drew her hand in the water, and suddenly got serious. She stood up and put her hands together. In them, a bright light shone, and she outstretched her arm, the same light glowing around her wrist. Kira watch closely. This was it.

"Wind Ranger Power!" Nell yelled. Suddenly, she was in pink spandex - the same color as the Ranger Rina's - but her suit was different. Her suit was almost entirely pink, except for her legs and arms, which were light gray. Her boots were pink with black lining on the top, and her gloves were white with a pink stripe on the back. Her cuffs were also pink, along with a gold border. The same symbol Kira had encountered in the book resided on her mother's chest.

"Pink Wind Ranger!" Nell shouted. "Power of Light!"

Kira stood there, stunned. Her peaceful mother was a Ranger herself. But if it had been a family secret, why hadn't she been told earlier? Suddenly, the scene around her began to disappear and she found herself back in her bedroom. But she felt different, like she was changed. She looked down, and on her wrist was the morpher her mother had used to morph into the Pink Wind Ranger.

She returned to the book, reading the last message.

So, presuming you are whom I think you are, Kira, you are now the Pink Wind Ranger, Guardian of Light. Use the power wisely, and may the Power protect you.

P.S. Use the blank pages in the book to keep a history of what has happened - someone needs to know the history in years to come!

This was a lot to swallow, and Kira knew it. She sat there stunned for a moment. If this is to be my destiny, she thought, and if I am to become a Power Ranger… this means that Lex and I are destined for each other too. Fine, I will become the person my mother was.

She outreached her arm, brought it to her chest, and pressed a button on it. "Wind Ranger Power! Pink Wind Ranger, power of light!"

The Rangers were losing. Badly. Goldar was holding Amone by the neck while stomping on Rue's chest. Scorpina was slamming Rina's helmet into a rock, which meant she would be dead if it wasn't for the helmet. Lucretia and Xander tried to help their teammates, but each time they did, they were thrown across the distance. They felt like they were at the end of their line.

Lex, Rue thought, please, wherever you are, be safe. Always be safe. May the Power protect you.

As Rue took his last breath, he felt air returning to his lungs. Goldar's step had been removed, and Rue was now lying beside Amone, who was coughing. He looked up and saw a pink streak of light badgering Goldar and Scorpina. Finally, the streak landed to reveal another pink Ranger!

"Who the hell?" asked Xander.

"I'm sorry for this, mother," the Ranger said. "But you are on the side of evil now, and evil shall not survive!" She rose her hand into the air. "Feather Daggers!" Suddenly, two pink-handled daggers appeared in the unknown's hands. She twirled them in her hands, and a stream of explosions followed a line on the ground until they hit Scorpina and Goldar, who, upon contact, teleported away.

"Who are you?" asked Lucretia, helping Rina up.

"Power down," she said, demorphing. "It's me, Kira."