A/N: Getting closer to the final battle scene – the next chapter will be pretty action-packed!
Spoilers for "Sensei Switcheroo" ahead…

Not much later, after a pit stop at the Bradleys' place, Tori, Dustin and Hunter were showing their visitor around downtown Blue Bay Harbor. Mithrandos' transformation from other-dimensional Guardian to everyday California boy had gone quite smoothly, but even in one of Hunter's long-sleeved crimson T-shirts, jeans and sneakers, Mithrandos still attracted quite a bit of attention as they walked along the shopping promenade, mainly from female passers-by.

Tori was of the opinion that it was definitely due to the young man's looks; with his golden-blond mane, impressive physique and proud, straight-backed posture, Mithrandos was unquestionably a sight that turned heads. Hunter, on the other hand, was insistent that the looks Mith received was either due to the very obvious tattoo along his temple or the way the tall warrior studied everyone and everything he came across in open wonder.

They came to a crosswalk and while they waited for the light to turn, Mithrandos' head kept swiveling back and forth, taking in everything from the cars on the street to the formidable concrete and steel facades of the commercial high-rises on the other side.

"The peoples of your world certainly have a mind of metal and stone," he said with unconcealed amazement. "Not to mention of height!"

Tori and Dustin grinned; Hunter smirked as well, but a sudden perception of eyes on him made him turn his head. Next to him a woman with a baby carriage was openly staring at them, a look between perplexity and incredulity on her face. Hunter gave her his most indulgent smile. "My cousin. It's, ah, his first time in a big city. He's visiting...from the country."

It wasn't even a downright lie: Yesterday over pizza slices, Mithrandos had told the ninjas more about life in Ithrandar and with its rural villages, temples, castles and wizards, it had had a very Arthurian ring to it.

He had not mentioned advanced technologies of any kind. Magic seemed to be the technology in Ithrandar. So it was quite understandable why Mithrandos, captain of the Guardians of The Light, was walking around downtown Blue Bay Harbor with an expression similar to a three-year-old on Christmas morning, namely complete wonder.

He was so enthralled with the high-rising architecture of the city that Tori and Hunter both had to yank him back from walking straight into traffic or into other pedestrians a few times.

After a while the three ninjas agreed that answering a steady flow of questions while at the same time trying to keep their other-dimensional visitor alive and away from traffic was quite a hunger-inducing chore. So when they turned a corner and spotted a pair of familiar golden arches up ahead, Dustin and Hunter steered right for the restaurant while the Earth ninja called to Tori and Mith from over his shoulder, "C'mon, dudes, it's Big Mac Value Meal time!"

"Big...what?" Mithrandos asked.

"It's a...uh, classic staple of our food," Tori explained. "Bread, beef, fried potato sticks...probably not even that different from what you're used to eating." She smiled and took his arm. "Come on, I bet you'll like it."

Mithrandos did follow her but the look he cast her before they entered the restaurant was distinctly unconvinced.

Later…

Cam, Shane and Sensei were assembled in the command center a few hours later when voices and footsteps announced the return of the sightseers.

"Hey, guys," Tori called out with a wide grin and gestured towards Mithrandos who was coming down the stairs behind her. "May we present...Mith! Just your average California boy."

"As long as he doesn't open his mouth," came Hunter's bemused contribution.

Now the Guardian in question came into view as he descended the last few steps, a backpack slung over one shoulder that doubtlessly contained his Ithrandarian clothes.

"The vestments of your world are strange indeed," was the first thing out of his mouth and Hunter crossed his arms and smirked complacently.

"Case in point!"

"Well, you definitely look more inconspicuous this way." Cam gave the shirt-and-jeans-clad Guardian an assessing once-over. Next to him, Shane was looking between Mithrandos and Hunter with an amused expression.

"Okay, that's just freaky," he murmured to Cam. "Looks as if Hunter somehow acquired an older brother overnight."

The corners of Cam's mouth twitched as he watched the little group saunter past the command center table. "A temporary brother at best if Blake has anything to say in that matter."

Shane just smirked.

"So, how do you like our quaint little town, Mithrandos?" Sensei wanted to know.

Mithrandos put down the backpack. "Wagons that move by themselves, birds of steel that fly without beating their wings..." He shook his head slightly as if he still couldn't believe it all. "You say there is no such thing as magic in this world, yet I have seen more magic these past few hours than I ever did in Ithrandar."

"Technology, not magic," Cam corrected him automatically, but Mithrandos' attention was focused on Sensei Watanabe while he launched into a recount of all the things he had seen in the city.

Meanwhile the rest of the gang made their way to the Supercomputer. Hunter nodded towards the gibberish of numbers and formulae on the screen.

"Any updates on your project, Cam?"

"Well, the results from the conversion of the energy beam into the reverse algorithm are finally complete," the technician replied, albeit the way he said it let the Rangers know that he wasn't all that pleased with the results.

"So what's the problem?"

"That right there." Cam pointed to a number at the end of a lengthy formula that could have been written in hieroglyphics for all the team knew.

After a moment of confused silence, Dustin said, "That number looks, like, really high."

"It's not just high, Dustin, it's 'out there', to use a phrase from your vocabulary," Cam said and the gloomy tone in his voice was audible to them all.

Tori was chewing on her thumbnail, looking thoughtful. "What could possibly generate an energy beam that powerful?"

"Theoretically only two things: A nuclear explosion, which in our case would be useless since the energy output is completely erratic whereas the power we need has to be of that exact magnitude down to the last number behind the decimal point." Cam once again nodded towards the screen and Tori gazed at the dismally long number again. There were quite a few digits behind that decimal point.

"Otherwise..."

"Otherwise there is no way of saying where the sarcophagus will end up." Cam pushed his glasses further up his nose. "If it doesn't get destroyed."

"So what's the second option?" the Crimson Ranger wanted to know.

"The Hurricane Megazord. But there is a problem with that, too. We've never generated a beam of that force, so there's no way of predicting what would happen." Cam looked troubled. "It could overload the entire system - or worse."

Hunter cast a surreptitious glance at Mithrandos a few yards away, ostensibly to judge whether the Guardian was overhearing any of this, then lowered his voice. "So you don't think it can be done."

"I don't know." Cam rubbed his jaw wearily. "I'll have to make some adjustments to both the Megazord's hardware and software, run some simulations..."

"Uh...do you need us for any of that?" Shane piped up. "'cause I'm starving after all that Zord Bay cleaning, dude."

The technician's weary look turned wry as he regarded the Red Ranger. "You're not the only hungry one. But, no, go ahead; I can handle this on my own."

"If you wish...I could prepare today's meal."

Cam and Shane both turned at the sound of Mithrandos' voice. The Guardian was strolling towards them with Sensei perched on his shoulder and he fixed the group of ninjas with a formal gaze. "All of you have shown me naught but hospitality since my arrival. It is only right I should return the gesture in whatever small way I can.
"Worry not," he added with a smile when he caught Cam's wary look. "I have been told a few times in the past that I am a half-skilled cook."

Shane, never disinclined towards an invitation that involved food, rubbed his hands together and grinned. "Cool. Whatcha got in mind?"

"Well, first we need to find a cow…" Mithrandos paused when he saw the smirks appearing on the faces of the teens gathered around him. "Have I said something wrong? Do you not have cows in your realm?"

That earned him a round of snickers. "Oh, we've got cows all right, but we don't have to go searching for them if it's steaks you got in mind," Cam informed him and nodded towards the kitchenette. "As a matter of fact, I have some right here in the freezer. I'm pretty sure it's enough for all of us."

Mithrandos followed Cam into the kitchen and watched as the technician extracted eight ziplock-bagged beef steaks from the freezer compartment above the refrigerator. Puzzled, the Guardian looked between the freezer and the frozen pieces of meat on the counter, then rapped a knuckle against one of them. "A device to freeze food," he mumbled and in his face Cam could see the unspoken part of that sentence. 'Magic again.'

He tried to hide his grin. No. Technology. "I can just defrost them in the microwave," he offered, but Mithrandos was already lining up the rock-hard steaks on the counter and slowly waved his hand back, then forth, over them.

"...or you can do that," he observed wryly as he watched each steak seemingly flash-defrost under the blond warrior's palm. Mithrandos piled the now completely thawed pieces of meat onto a plate, nodded to himself and turned, heading out of the kitchenette and towards the stone steps with his stack of steaks. Cam cast a puzzled look at the Guardian's retreating back.

"Uh, where are you going?"

Mithrandos thrust a thumb over his shoulder. "Into the forest to gather wood and prepare the fireplace. Will you bring some skillets in a little while? And a few spices?"

A grin spread over Cam's face. "Yeah, sure. No problem." Guess we're eating outside today.

Prelude to battle…

"So Sensei was like BAM! BAM! POW! Lothor's paintbrush-heads had no chance!" From his spot around the fire, Dustin punched the air a few times in emphasis, and his vibratory enthusiasm drew laughter from the rest of the group, including Mithrandos.

The seven of them were lounging around the campfire Mithrandos had built, munching steaks and guzzling sodas. The scent of burning wood and grilled meat mingled with the fragrances of the forest: oak trees and pine cones, Spanish moss and untainted air. Out here one could easily be tricked into believing that there was not a care in this world.

Earlier, Cam had provided Mithrandos with the requested skillets and spices and half an hour later, Mithrandos in turn had presented the gang with the perfectly cooked steaks they were now devouring with obvious relish.

For the sake of reminiscence as well as Mithrandos' entertainment, Dustin had launched into a recount of Cam's ill-fated attempt at converting his father's body back to his human form a few months ago. The ensuing body-switching disasters between Sensei, Dustin and Shane now had everyone in various stages of amusement.

Mithrandos grinned at Cam. "So your technology-magic is not infallible after all."

"The technology was sound," Cam countered. "The procedure would have worked for sure if somebody hadn't felt the need to stick his hands into the energy flow." He underscored the remark with a mock-stern look into Dustin's direction.

It didn't faze Dustin in the least. "But you gotta admit, though; Sensei looked really smooth in that Yellow Ranger suit."

Shane momentarily paused from his task of pouring barbecue sauce over his meat. "Aren't you forgetting my part in that whole story, man?"

Dustin gave him a cheeky grin. "No. Actually I'm trying to spare you some embarrassment here, dude, since we all remember the whole skateboarding fiasco. But, hey, I can act it out for Mith, if you want…"

Shane shoved his teammate playfully. "Hey, Sensei may not know how to skateboard, but he kicked some serious kelzak-butt in my body, too!"

"What about you, Mith?" Tori leaned forward, peering around Blake who had made sure to interpose himself between the blond Guardian and the Water ninja. "I'm sure you have a couple of outrageous stories to tell, too."

Mithrandos thought for a moment. "Well, there was the time when..."

CRAAACKKKK!

As one, six ninjas and one other-dimensional warrior flinched at the sound of the thunder clap directly overhead. Before their upturned eyes, the skies changed; blue turned to grey and grey darkened to charcoal. And with the unnatural darkness came the hot rains.

It wasn't the gradual precipitation of an ordinary thunderstorm. No - it was as if someone had turned on a faucet. The startled Rangers scrambled to their feet, their clothes and hair already plastered onto their bodies before they were fully upright.

"What the...?"

"Ouch, this is hot!"

"What's going on? Lothor…"

Mithrandos stood, unaffected by the hot wetness. "Darkness before dusk and scalding rains; the signs of the Dark Powers," he said gravely. "The sorcerer draws near. It seems that secrecy avails him no longer; his evil plans are afoot."

The grinning young man from a few moments ago was gone, replaced by a battle-ready warrior. Mithrandos' expression was now hardened by determination. "He is not far, I am certain of that. I can find him..."

"All right, let's go, then."

The Guardian opened his mouth at Shane's exclamation, ready to protest, but Dustin cut him off.

"If you're going to say Stay Here, then you're out of luck, dude. We're coming with you."

"Especially since Lothor will most likely be with him and probably an army of kelzaks, too," Hunter added grimly.

"Let's head to Ninja Ops first," Cam decided. "We'll be able to track their exact location much faster if we use the Supercomputer."

They quickly made their way back to their headquarters and although the hot rain was still soaking them, they all felt a chill of foreboding.

Preparations…

Sensei was already on the computer console when they stumbled into the command center. Cam rushed to his customary position in front of the terminal and executed a search for unnatural activity in the surrounding area. The results were almost instantaneous.

The screen showed downtown Blue Bay Harbor, the same area where Dustin, Hunter, Tori and Mithrandos had been sightseeing just a few hours before.

Chaos reigned there now; the premature darkness and steaming rains were descending there, too, but it was the figure in black hovering ten feet off the ground above the major intersection that people were fleeing from in panic. Snarling, and with a look of utter contempt, the dark sorcerer Luthien watched the terror-stricken crowd below him.

Flames were leaping from his outstretched hands and behind him, lightning ripped through the heavens. Every bolt struck something; a building, a lamppost, a car. The destruction was mounting quickly.

Cam cast an urgent glance at Mithrandos, but the Guardian's face was set as if in stone while he stared at the screen.

"We cannot lose time, for he will not spare innocent lives," he said. "I must prepare quickly."

He turned and hurried towards the backpack he had left propped against the command table, extracted his white uniform and took a small crystal from his leather pouch. He held it up and with a flash it converted into a shape resembling a shirt which seemed to consist of tiny, interlocking rings forming a mesh.

Hunter approached from his position behind Cam's chair to get a better look "Chain mail?" he asked, somewhat incredulous, but Mithrandos only nodded solemnly.

"The sorcerer is a formidable adversary." He put the chain mail shirt on the table and in one quick motion, pulled his borrowed crimson shirt over his head, revealing a pale but muscular torso with a smooth chest and tight stomach.

If same-sex attraction had been Hunter's thing, he probably would have felt a tug of desire towards this otherworldly warrior at that moment, but since it was not, he was merely wondering how many daily crunches it took Mithrandos to retain the washboard abs he was sporting. Or how many magic potions, for that matter.

Mithrandos fixed Hunter with an intense gaze. "Luthien is cunning and he does not fight honorably. The first time we battled I was unprepared for him; I shall not be so today." He paused, then slowly turned until Hunter, and the rest of the team, had a direct look at his back. He brushed his hair out of the way. "This was the result of my carelessness."

A collective gasp erupted from the group of ninjas. Across the entire length of Mithrandos' back, from the right shoulder blade to the left hip bone, ran a thick, red scar, the puckered, injured tissue stretching with every little movement that the blond warrior made.

"A memento from Luthien's blade," he said softly.

There was a long moment of silence during which the Guardian could clearly sense his newfound friends' shock and consternation at the sight of his ruined back.

"You've lived through this?" came Tori's half-whispered exclamation.

"Only with the aid and the healing magic of the High Wizards of The Light," Mithrandos said over his shoulder. "For three days I floated in the grey lands between life and death. It is not an experience I wish to repeat, so you will understand my need for extra preparations for this battle."

And while the Rangers still stared in horror at the hideous wound, Mithrandos reached for his chain mail shirt again. Once donned, he pulled his white Guardian tunic over his head and the Rangers discreetly turned their heads while Mithrandos finished changing to talk amongst themselves.

The realization of what their opponent was capable of had put a damper on their spirits.

"What if Mith can't defeat this guy?" Dustin said. "What if things...go the other way round?"

A deep frown marred Shane's features. "Then things are definitely going to go downhill from then," he said grimly.

"Not just downhill," Cam mumbled. "More like straight off the cliff."

The team shared some downhearted looks between each other, but looked up when Mithrandos re-joined the group and handed Hunter his clothes back with a solemn face.

"I shall face Luthien with the crest of the Guardians of Ithrandar upon my chest, but I thank you, Hunter, for the use of your garments."

The Thunder ninja received the folded bundle with a nod, then asked out loud what the rest of the group was thinking.

"Can you beat him?"

Mithrandos gazed at the Wind and Thunder ninjas, Cam and Sensei. There was a flash of deep jade in his eyes before he said in a soft voice, "Everything before me is in shadows. I do not know what will happen when we meet on the battlefield. All I know is that I mustn't fail. There is no other option."

It was Tori who broke the gloomy atmosphere surrounding them all when she punched her fist into her hand a moment later. She nodded to them all in encouragement, determination in her eyes.

"All right, come on, guys. Let's do this!"

Mithrandos grasped Cam's wrist as the team hurried past him towards the exit. "The fair lady joins us in battle? There is grave peril ahead," he whispered urgently.

And despite the ominous task ahead, Cam cast him a grin weak. "Oh, don't worry, the Lady Tori can hold her own in a fight, believe me."

Mithrandos' lips tightened and he cast a concerned look at Tori's back, but apparently decided that further protests would be useless.

"Very well, then. Let us make haste, ninjas."

TBC…