Thanks to those who reviewed. I had someone ask me a really good question, which I am going to answer. The question was whether or not I was planning on hooking up Mel and Tommy and the answer is no. I am planning on hooking Mel up with someone, though.

Thanks for the question,

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Fifteen

He sat in the dungeon, trying to find a way out. He needed to escape so that he could get to Melissa. He had to do something to get the old her back. But, what could he do?

He thought of nothing as he tried to kick the cell's barred door down. She was turned evil and it was all his fault. But, he knew that she was strong and she would be able to fight this. He just hoped that it wouldn't destroy her in the process.

He let out a low growl as he gave up and leaned against the wall of his cell. There was no way of getting out. The bars were solid. They weren't going to budge, now that he was in his human form.

"I can't believe this." He muttered.

"You keep saying that, yet nothing is gong to change what happened, Black Ranger."

He recognized that voice. "Mel!" He got to his feet and rushed to the bars of his cell. "Mel, come on, you know me. You have to snap out of it!"

"There is nothing to snap out of. I feel better than ever before… You certainly gave up a good thing when you were turned."

"When I-... You do know me then!" He said with a surprised expression.

"Of course." She snapped as if he was completely stupid.

"Then, you've come to let me out?" It wasa stupid question, he knew, but it was worth a shot.

"Nice try. I'm evil; not stupid." She swished her hip to the right and rested her hand on it.

"Then, why did you come down here?"

"I need to know how your students were able to teleport out of here. That must have been a new feature that Hayley must've just added." She cocked an eyebrow as she stared him down.

He didn't even notice the way she had spat out Hayley's name. He just lowered his gaze from hers. "I can't tell you."

"Then, you shall rot." She said as she turned to leave.

"Wait!" He called for her. She turned back around and looked at him with a bored expression. "Please … can we talk? I know the real you is in there… Let me help you find it… I don't want to lose what we've gained."

She walked slightly closer to him and pulled up a crate to sit on. This was going to be entertaining. "Speak, then, for my king waits."

"Mel, I know what you're going through. I've been there… and I know it's hard, but you have to find the real you inside of… well, you." He paused as she lightly scoffed at him and the fact that he was staring at the way she was dressed. He'd never seen her wear anything like that before. But, he was getting nowhere and fast. "When I became evil, the others were there for me. They helped me to break the spell. They bared themselves to me to show me that I had them to care for me… I'm here for you… I'm sorry for the way I acted, before. I know that you can handle this power. You were braver than I'd seen you when you gave up your powers. You were braver than any of us.

"You are my sister; there is no denying that that is the way I feel about you. I will always be there for you… just as you were always there for me… and how Zordon was always there for all of us. We've all had to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good of Angel Grove, Reefside, the world… But, don't sacrifice yourself for the good of Mesogog… Think of Zordon and all he'd done for us. If it wasn't for him, we probably wouldn't have become the great friends that we are." He paused as he saw the expressions on her face shift. It was beginning to work.

"Zordon." She said, softly as she remembered her former mentor. She missed him now that he was gone from existence.

"And even before you gave up your powers, think of what you did for your friend from New York when she came to visit. You saved her life because of your powers… I don't know why I didn't remember this before. But, you can handle the power of the Dino Gem. All you have to do is believe." He paused again. "Mel… please?"

She didn't say anything as thoughts began to race through her mind. She remembered when she paid her a visit over summer break. She was still a Power Ranger, though she hadn't given up her powers, yet. She still had enough power for one more battle.

It was after the fight with Zedd and she'd still had her powers, or what was left of them, anyway. Zordon had had an idea for the powers to see if he could forge a new power coin from the gem… So far, he had no progress.

So, Melissa was left to struggle with what power she still had. She did all right, just as long as she didn't overexert herself. That was the hard part, though. Being a Ranger, she would always overwork herself in a battle and would have to rest for three days at a time. That was why the others usually tried to do as much as they could.

It was very hard at times for her to not jump into a fight when she was needed. She was just being stubborn, though.

"I swear you guys needed me! Why wouldn't you let me help?" She asked as she and Tommy pulled up in front of her house in his truck.

"Because, we didn't want you to get worn out. We don't always need your help, you know." He told her as he looked curiously at the strange car that was sitting in her driveway. It certainly didn't belong to her parents or a neighbor around the block. He shrugged it off as he continued arguing with Melissa.

"You treat me like a baby." She said.

"You act like one." He joked. She playfully slapped him on the arm as she too noticed the car. "Who's car?"

"I dunno and I'm going to tell your girlfriend on you for that remark, Bub." She said as she climbed out of the truck. "You wanna come in? You know how Mom loves having you over for dinner."

"No. It looks like you guys have company. I'll see you tomorrow, though." He said, not wanting to be rude.

"Okay. Suit yourself… Tomorrow, your butt is going to get beat!" She called to him.

"I'd like to see you try!" He called back as he backed the truck out of the driveway and drove off.

Tomorrow, there was to be a karate tournament held at the Youth Center. It was for charity, so each of the Rangers decided to enter, so they could help the community. Tommy and Melissa were to fight each other, which was going to make it very interesting, since she wasn't as skilled a fighter as he was.

They also hoped that they would draw a big crowd. The more people they had, the more money they'd be able to raise.

Melissa smiled to herself as Tommy's taillights drove out of sight. She walked through the front door to see a familiar face sitting on her couch. Her eyes went wide at the sight of the girl in front of her.

"Chloe?" She asked, surprised to see her best friend from New York had flown all the way out there to see her.

"Surprised?" The girl asked. Chloe was just as tall as Melissa. She was also a punk, but she had brown eyes and brown hair with red and purple streaks in it.

"Very… What are you doing here?"

"My parents decided that they would give me a real vacation. They went to L.A. and let me come here to see you and stay for a week."

"Really?" Melissa asked, looked at her Mom and Dad.

"Really. She's going to stay here for as long as her parents allow her, while they're in California. Isn't that great?" Her mother asked.

Melissa smiled. "Yeah, great." But, it didn't seem very good to her. Sure she was happy to see Chloe; there was no doubt about that. It was just the fact of the secret she was sitting on. Usually, when she was around Chloe, she couldn't keep secrets. This wasn't going to be fun.

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