Hayley sighed as she inspected the Samurai amulet. The battle between Lothor and the Rangers was over, and the three teams had returned to the Lab. "I'm sorry," she said, turning away from the computers and facing the three teams. "It's dead."
Shane sighed but nodded his head in understanding. While he and the other Ninjas had been hopeful that their powers would remain intact, they also knew it was futile to hope for a lost cause. Their abilities had been destroyed two years ago, when Kali had first sealed Lothor away in the Abyss, now they had retired, and there was no real reason for them to continue being Rangers.
"Lothor's extraction of its powers left just enough energy for one last battle," Hayley continued.
"It's okay," said Shane. He turned his attention to Conner and reached out, tapping his shoulder. "I guess it's a good thing we've got you guys."
"You've done your part," said Conner, reaching over and tapping Shane's arm. "It's our turn to take over where you left off."
Anabel furrowed her brow at Conner and then leaned closer to Kira. "When did Conner become so wise?" she asked, her voice loud enough for the whole lab to hear.
Conner shot Anabel a look as Kira laughed.
Anabel grinned and winked in return.
Shaking his head, Conner turned away from the two girls.' He glanced at Dustin, as the Earth Sensei clapped his shoulder as he slid past.
"There's still one thing I don't understand," said Dustin, drawing everyone's attention.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Kali teased.
Dustin whined and pouted at her.
"What don't you understand?" Kali asked him, a teasing smile on her lips.
"Who opened the Abyss in the first place?"
Kali groaned. "Don't remind me," she whined. "Lothor said something about a friend he made in the Abyss. I don't even know who is down there, so it could be someone I didn't put away."
"What if it's Imperious?" Xander suggested, wandering over. "He'd had every reason to try and get back at you."
"If my father wanted to get back at me, why didn't he come get me himself?" Kali asked. "I don't think it's Imperious. I faced my demons of him a long time ago."
Xander furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Remember when I said it was a long story?" Kali asked.
Xander nodded.
"It's part of that." Kali sighed and folded her arms, leaning back against the solid desk as the other teams crowded around. They had been drawn in my Dustin's questions, but eager to hear more about Kali's theories. She shook her head.
Reaching out, Tori rubbed her hand up and down Kali's arm. "You okay?" she asked.
Kali swallowed, took a deep breath, and exhaled. "Whoever opened the Abyss from the other side is stronger than anyone I've ever faced," she said. "To be honest, I didn't think that would be possible after the Master and Dai Shi."
"Is there any way of finding out who it is?" Kira asked.
"I don't think so," said Kali, shaking her head. "Lothor said that one day soon I would meet this person, and I don't know if I am eager to find that out. I just hope, whoever it is, I'm ready for it."
"We," corrected Nick, sliding an arm around his girlfriend.
Kali frowned at him. "We?" she repeated.
"You said, 'I'm ready for it'," said Nick. "It should be, 'We are ready for it.' We've been over this, Kali, we're a team. We'll face whatever threat is coming together."
Kali sighed and nodded. "You're right," she agreed. "Sorry."
Nick pressed a kiss to the side of her head and rested his chin atop of it after.
"I'm just glad everyone made it out okay," said Anabel. She turned to Eric. He had come out of the bottle that Lothor had been holding, along with the other Ninja students.
Eric winked at her. "Yeah. But what about the Abyss?" he glanced at Kali. "Doesn't it need to be resealed? To stop something like this happening again?"
"There's nothing down there to escape anymore," said Kali. "Whoever got left behind when Lothor escaped was destroyed when it collapsed on us." She nodded at Cam, Hunter, and Blake.
"So, the Abyss is history?" Eric asked.
Kali nodded.
"Does that mean you sealed the gate to the spirit world permanently?"
Kali shook her head. "Nope. The Abyss was cut off from the spirit world when I sealed it two years ago," she said. "It can only now be opened directly from me. So, that's still intact, thankfully."
"Why is it thankful?" Eric asked, curiously.
"Because I have a few Spirits that don't belong on this side of the gate to put back when I'm finished with them," said Kali.
"You're talking about Dai Shi?" Hayley asked.
Kali shook her head. "No. Dai Shi will, probably, join Lothor when his time comes. Unless, of course, the Pai Zhuq has a different agenda." She shrugged. "I'm talking about Master Mao. He keeps escaping, and it's driving me bonkers."
Laughter echoed through the lab.
"Speaking of Master Mao," said Nick, checking his watch. "Don't you leave for Ocean Bluff soon?"
Kali also checked the time. She had less than an hour before she was needed back.
"Wait, so you're not coming to the race?" Blake asked.
"Sorry, Blake," Kali said, apologetically. "I have training with my team, and an outcasted Dragon that waits for no one."
"Did you just say dragon?" Ethan asked.
Kali nodded. "Yep. He's a Dragon that is inhabiting a Lion and is one step closer to becoming a Phantom Beast King," she said. "I hate to think what third spirit he will possess when he gets there."
"Sounds like you've got your hands full," said Anabel.
"Yep. This is my last team, though," said Kali, happily. "I go back to being just Mystic Force Black then."
"And I finally get my girlfriend back," said Nick.
Kali smiled, wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her head into his neck as he squeezed her.
"Well, I'll miss you cheering me on," said Blake. "But, you're right, Ocean Bluff needs you more than I do right now."
"I already know you're going to dominate," said Kali. "You're Blake Bradley. You always win."
Blake grinned. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," he said, before turning to everyone else. "The race starts in an hour. Who's coming with me?"
"Yeah!" the others cheered, their voices ringing loudly throughout the base.
Kali kissed Nick as she untangled herself from his hold, and grabbed Anabel's arm as she passed her, heading toward the back of the lab with the rest of the group. "We need to talk first," she said.
"Uh, okay," said Anabel, nodding. She glanced up and met Tommy's gaze, causing him to fall back.
The others hesitated at the back of the lab.
"You guys go on," said Kali. "She'll catch up, and I call when I get back to Ocean Bluff. Make me proud, Blake."
Blake saluted and left the lab with the others.
Kali waited until they had all left before turning her attention to Anabel. "I didn't mean to scare you when I said you had darkness around you," she said. "But, I owe you an explanation as to why I said it."
"Are you sure that my gem has darkness around it?" Anabel asked, her voice was quiet and timid, and fear shone in her eyes.
"Yes," said Kali. "I didn't notice it at first. But after I used the Zokado to take out Lothor, it started to show more. Zokado is old, dark magic, and a side effect of using it is that I can detect even the smallest amount of dark energy. You have an aura around you. Think of it like a bubble of light, but yours is darkness. However, unlike most aura's, which are attached to the body, yours isn't. It's being generated from that." She nodded at the bracelet.
Anabel looked down at the glittering gem.
"Are you sure?" Hayley asked. She had also stayed behind with Tommy and Anabel, curious to hear what Kali had to say about the Green Dino Gem.
Kali nodded.
"The reason I ask," said Hayley, "I have done test after test on the Green gem, but everything has come back as trace amounts, and there is damage to it, but not to the extent that you're describing."
"It's like I said earlier, science and technology doesn't resonate around Magic," said Kali. "I'm not saying the Gem is evil, exactly, but it has definitely been tampered with." She held out her hand, palm up. "May I?"
Anabel hesitated, her hand closing around her bracelet, and glancing up at Tommy. He sighed and nodded.
Popping the gem out of her bracelet, Anabel handed it over. She watched as Kali held the gem up, so it was eye level, and then lowered it to her chest. She closed her free hand over the top, her eyes closing as she muttered something under her breath. It couldn't have been a spell; it was too short.
Anabel gasped as black lines began to snake up Kali's arms, like blood vessels flowing backwards. They disappeared under the sleeves of her jacket, and when Kali's eyes opened they burned orange, like fire.
As soon as they appeared, the black lines and flames disappeared, and Kali stood before the trio looking as normal has she had done a few minutes ago. She handed back the Green gem, silently.
"What did you just do?" Anabel asked. She rolled her Dino Gem over in her hands.
"I absorbed some of the darkness," said Kali. "Not all of it, unfortunately, but enough that it won't hurt you as you continue to use it."
"Hurt me?" Anabel echoed. Even Hayley and Tommy looked stunned.
Kali nodded. "Darkness is a fickle magic," she said. "It works both side of the spectrum. It can either bring you great power or it can destroy you."
"But you use it for everyday purposes," said Anabel.
"I'm different," said Kali. "I'm the Hellhound, and I was born to both good and evil. I have a percent for both light and dark. You're different. You're good, and you were born to the light. The manifestation of darkness in you could destroy you."
Anabel licked her lips and slipped her Dino Gem back into her bracelet. "So, there's not enough darkness in here to destroy me now?" she asked.
"Not at the moment, no," said Kali, shaking her head. "Unfortunately, the more you use it, the more darkness it's going to generate. I don't know how long you're stint as a Ranger is going to last, and I'm not telling you that you should step down, but, I am warning you that your gem isn't going to last much longer. Do with that what you will, just be careful."
Anabel swallowed and glanced at Tommy and Hayley. She noted that they both looked nervous, even scared at the revelation of truth that Kali had just dropped.
"As for your science and technology," Kali added, turning to Hayley. "I'll leave a request at Root core, and they will send someone to come upgrade your systems to co-exist with magic. It'll probably be Rune, or even one of her team. I don't know."
"What about Circe?" Anabel asked. "Couldn't she come do it?"
"Circe grew up in the magical realm," said Kali, shaking her head. "Neither she nor her brother have the knowledge of upgrading human technology to co-exist with magic."
"But Rune does?"
"Rune was around when my aunt Blu lived among humans," said Kali. "She picked up on a few things after Blu returned to the Mystic Realm."
Tommy perked up. "How is Blu?" he asked.
Kali smiled sadly. "She died," she answered. "Back in 2003. She was helping in Mariner Bay with the demon population when she was caught in an attack."
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that," said Tommy. "She was a good friend of mine."
"I know," said Kali. "Billy told me."
"Billy?" Tommy echoed. "Billy Cranston?"
Kali nodded.
"He's on Earth?"
Kali furrowed her brow. "Of course, he's on Earth," she said. "Where else would he be?"
"He left Earth to go live on Aquitar," said Tommy. "I didn't know he was back. I mean, I knew he came back when the Overdrive Rangers lost their powers, but I didn't know he would stay."
"I'm guessing that means he hasn't been in contact with you?"
Tommy shook his head.
"He's in Angel Grove," said Kali. "He and Alpha went back to the Command Centre after San Angeles. They were trying to fix it up. I don't know if they succeeded, but they were determined, so I'm willing to bet they did. Give him a call. Maybe he has been too busy to get in touch?"
Tommy looked thoughtful. "Yeah. Maybe," he said. It had been a few years since he had had any contact with his former Mighty Morphin' teammates. He shouldn't have been so disappointed that Billy hadn't been in contact, especially since he hadn't really stayed connected with any of the others.
Licking her lips, Kali checked her watch and sighed. "I'm sorry to drop two bombshells and dash," she said, looking between Anabel and Tommy. "But I should really get going." She reached into her back pocket and took out a card which had her number on it, she handed it to Hayley. "That's my personal number. If you need me, and you can't get hold of Root core, call. I'll be here as soon as I can."
"Thank you," said Hayley. "For everything."
"Thank you," said Kali. "I may not see Mesogog has much of a threat, at least not like I did Lothor or even Dai Shi, but I am glad that you're all here to stop him." She smiled at the trio. "Good luck."
There is the team up. I had been looking forward to this for a long time, and I'm sad to see it end. But, I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
~Twix