I promised I'd make it up to you guys for that dreadful last chapter so I'm posting this one early! And also I want to get up as many as possible in case the school stop me posting - as they have done on my DeviantArt site (grrr!) It's a bit longer... I really don't know why they're shorter than usual (and no smart remarks on how I'm writing less 'sticks out tongue'!), all I can say is sorry and they will get even longer!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed and many apologies for the shortness! In answer to the question 'What can Phantasm do'... read on and you'll find out very shortly! Enjoy!

Fears can be Deadly

Hunter reached the quarry just as the others did. The morphed rangers turned to look at the monster and were taken back to see an almost human figure standing there.

"Dude, it's a woman." Dustin couldn't help but state the obvious.

"I am Phantasm," it, she, said, "And it's time for you rangers to experience my power." Before they could react a cloud of dust enveloped the rangers. That was strange enough, but what made it stranger was the fact that it was pink and sparkly! The dust got into their helmets and soon the rangers were coughing as they breathed in the strange powder. Once it cleared, the alien was still standing there, still smiling.

"What did you do?" Tori demanded, but Phantasm only continued smiling.

"You will soon find out, rangers. Very soon." She didn't even bat an eyelash as they took up fighting stances, all except Shane. "Aw, are you going to attack me without your Red Ranger to back you up?" she asked.

Puzzled, the rangers turned to look at their red teammate…

Shane suddenly froze. He wasn't fighting the monster anymore; he was standing on top a cliff. A sudden jab to his back made him fall over the edge. The wind whistled past him as he plummeted towards the sharp rocks at the bottom of the cliff. He was going to die and was powerless to stop it. Powerless…

"Shane, Shane. Are you ok bro? What's happening?" Dustin asked, as they stared at their teammate in horror. Shane had suddenly demorphed and dropped to the floor, where he now lay shaking and yelling.

"I'm falling, I'm falling," he moaned, "I'm gonna die."

"Shane snap out of it," Tori said, "You're on the ground…" She was cut off as Shane began to fade. His arm became transparent, like he was just disappearing.

"What's happening to him?" Blake asked, but it was the monster that responded.

"Oh dear, looks like your leader has a fear of being powerless – how surprising," she said with an evil grin. "Fears can be deadly. Have fun rangers. Once your fears have taken you all, there will be no one left to oppose my master." With those chilling words it disappeared.

They stared at the place where it had been for a moment, then were brought back to the present by another moan from Shane. The remaining four rangers demorphed.

"Cam, what's going on?" Hunter contacted the Samurai. "Please tell us you know how to get Shane out of this."

"Calm down," came the reply. "I know exactly what's happening. Hold on, I'll be there in a minute."

The rangers just stared at the slowly fading Shane until a flash of green announced that Cam had arrived.

"What's going on bro?" Dustin asked, worry obvious on his face.

"I know you guys never paid any attention to those ranger history lessons I tried to give you," Cam said with a shake of his head.

"Huh?"

"I'll explain in a minute. First, let's sort out Shane." He knelt down beside the red ranger and began to speak to him a soft voice, "Shane, can you hear me? Come on, snap out of this. You cannot be falling; you have the power of air. Use the ninja powers. Come on, work with me here."

A voice penetrated Shane's consciousness. Cam. What was that he was saying? Shane concentrated until he could make out the words. Cam was right. How could he be falling? He had the power of air. He stopped falling and began to float upwards again.

Shane stopped fading, even as he thought this and became solid again. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. He opened his eyes and stopped shaking.

"What happened?" he asked, sitting up.

"You ok?" Cam asked.

"I'm fine. It was… weird. I was falling and I couldn't stop. Like, I don't know." He shrugged.

"Will you tell us what's going on?" Tori asked Cam.

"Do you remember me telling you about the original ranger team?" They nodded. "Do you remember the Island of Illusion?"

There was a pause. "Where they all had to face their worst fears?" Blake said finally.

"Exactly," Cam smiled at him, "Someone who was listening. Well this monster comes from that island and that spell she put on you all… very similar to what they had to go through. To break the spell you have to conquer your fear."

"So you mean we're all going to have to face our worst fears?" Dustin asked.

Cam looked at the expressions on their faces and noted that Hunter especially did not look happy. "Yes," he said quietly. "But let's get back to Ninja Ops, we have a better chance at helping you there."

They all turned to leave, except Tori, who was staring at nothing.

"Tori?" Blake asked, but there was no response.

Suddenly she gave a cry and fell to the floor. As the others ran to her, she began to fade…