Disclaimer: do you honestly THINK I own anything more than the OCs or the plot? If I did, I would be freakin rich, and this story would be an actual episode!

Chapter four: Redemption.

As Zeltrax left his lab, Shadow emerged from a spot on the wall. He strode over to the console, and activated it. The image of the original Zelzord and several smaller ones appeared in 3D, kicking the crad out of the brachiozord. He snorted. That was the most unoriginal plans he had ever seen, and yet an oddly effective one. Obviously Zeltrax had studied the Forever Red mission as well. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he vanished back into the wall, not bothering to hide the fact that he had been there.

Shadow appeared in his lair, a place that few knew of. It was here that he would study the Grand Arcanum, and train his powers. It was also here he would speak to his friends in limbo. There was a slight scent on the air, judging by the odor, one of his old comrades. They were here long ago, and had left. He shrugged it off and walked over to a display case. Contained within it was a sword. Opening the glass, he pulled out the sword, and spoke it's name. "Sword of Ancient Kings.."

At Dr. Oliver's lab, they had reached the conclusion that he was building something. The only question was, what? "Okay, all we know is he needs this stuff to make something. Something big, most likely." Tommy said as he rubbed his jaw. "He's bringing back the Zelzord. Then he'll use it to destroy this building first." Shadow's voice came from all around them as the lights went off. "What's goin on?" Zack yelled as they all stood up. The lights came back on,with Shadow standing in the middle of the room. "I have told you what you are up against, so now it is up to you to stop him." he said he began to fade.

"Wierd." Zack said as they headed out to investigate. Upon reaching the area of the woods where they had fought the clones, the ground began to shake violently. Out from the ground rose the Zelzord, better than ever. "You guys thinkin what I'm thinkin?" Carlos asked. The others nodded and called their zords to them. "Brachoizord!" Tommy yelled, as the gigantic zord approached. "Mastadon!" Zack called. "Shogun zord!" Adam called. "Shuttle voyager!" Carlos yelled out, as all the forementioned zords appeared. Theuir respective rangers jumped in and began pilotting them as the Zelzored luanched the cloned zords.

Shadow stood on a hill, watching. He shook his head. No matter how many they destroyed, Zeltrax would only luanch more. "Guys, you have to put em together." he said over their comms. "Black Ranger megazord, activate!" they all yelled. Adam's shogun zord just stood there, while the mastadon formed the shoulder plates on it, as well as new arms. The legs on it disappeared, as it merged with the brachiozord, and finally, the shuttle voyager came down and acted a gigantic cannon. It was the only time this would ever happen, so they had to make it count.

On the hill, Shadow was vaguely aware that another being had landed behind him. "So you have shown them the way." it was his uncle. He nodded. "Just as Zeltrax's attack showed me." he said softly, watching as they destroyed all the clones with a massive wave of energy, disabling the Zelzord's reproduction ability. "What now, Shadow?" he asked. "Now, it is in their hands. Should it appear that they will fail, I will step in. But only untilthey are back up and ready to go." he said as he turned to walk away. "You know why Zeltrax attacked the village, right?" Chang asked, in a last-ditch effort to get Shadow into the fight. "No, I don't" he said as another Zelzord, pilotted by Goldenrod appeared. "To kill you." chang said as he vanuished.

"All that, just to get me?" he whispered, his anger growing with each passing second. He morphed, and called his zord to him. The other rangers were getting pounded by the two Zelzords, when a new zord grabbed Goldenrod's zord in a suplex and slammed it to the ground. It flashed a thumbs up to the black ranger zord, and commenced its own battle. "Who the heck is that?" Zack yelled from inside. "A friend." came his response. The two zords stood back to back and pulled out their swords. "I done had enough of you, Goldenrod!" Shadow yelled as he slashed at the forementioned cyborg, cutting off one his zord's arms. "Had enough?" he yelled as he did the same to the other arm and the legs, effectively destroying it. Goldenrod grow;ed, and leaped out.

Shadow followed, dismissing his zord and drawing his word. The two went at it fruiously, niether willing to give up. The othe zords were also going furiously. When it came to mobility, the black rangers were out matched, but more than made up for it with superior firepower and armor. As Zeltrax tried to beat them down, he was rewarded by a s back hand attack across the face of his zord. "How many times has Angela done that to you, bro?" Tommy asked Zack. "Many times." the mastadon ranger muttered. "Let's finish this!" Tommy yelled as they charged up their cannon blast again, destroying the zord as Zeltrax bailed out.

The four followed him as he landed next to Goldenrod. Shadow stood on the other side of the clearing, where the other four rangers landed next to him. "This is your fight now." he said as he teleported away. The rangers all took their stances and drew their weapons. The two sides stared at eachother for about five seconds, then all hell broke loose as they charged.

Shadow appeared in the ruins of his village and looked around. He bent over and scooped some ash and dirt into his hand, then teleported again, this time over looking the sea. He flung the ash into the waters, and watched as they were disentegrated. "May the spirits guide to you paradise, my people.." he whispered as he knelt and began to pray. He had much to atone for, and now was the best time to do it.

Back at the battle, it was growing tenser than ever. Zeltrax had called the triptoids to him, and was using them so he could repair himself and Goldenrod. As Goldenrod re-entered the battle, Adam and Zack converted their power axes to cannon mode and fired, destroying him. Zeltrax roared in anger, and attacked. With two slashes, he demorphed the two, and was about deliver the killing blows when Tommy intervened, leaving Carlos to deal with the triptoids.

Shadow lit a torch, and threw it into a pool of water, setting it ablaze. This was one of the most painful redemption ceremonies he could undergo, but it to be done. He had to redeem himself now, or he would never walk in the prescence, and would burn forever. Taking a deep breath, he fell into the water. His pain filled screams echoed across the still sea as he thrashed about, letting the fire cover him.

Tommy and Zeltrax were engaged in yet another of their classic battles, when Zeltrax stopped, and literally fell apart. "Power down." Tommy said. They all stood side by side, staring at the remains. "What happened?" Adam asked. Tommy shook his head. "It looks like he just ran out of juice." Zack said as he nudged one of the pieces with his foot. "It doesn't matter; we won." Carlos said. The other snodded and walked away.

Shadow climbed out of the pool, gasping in pain. He was mildly shocked to see his uncle sitting there. "You have redeemed yourself, nephew. Go now and find a new village to help." he said as he began to vanish. Shadow smiled and ripped away his mask. He needed it no longer, Shadow was dead; he was Dave once more. And this time, he would stay Dave.

And so the black ranger mission draws to a close..

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