'No! It can't be!' Lothor stared at the screen before him where the guy in white had just successfully defeated his newfound ally. Incredulity, dismay and wrath surged in him until he was literally trembling with rage.

'Another plan to take over Earth down the drain!' He balled his fists so tightly that the black leather of his gloves strained over the covered skin.

"I...don't...believe...this!" In sore need to release his pent-up anger, the evil space ninja grabbed the first thing within reaching distance - which happened to be a kelzak - and slammed the drone clear across the room and into the far bulkhead of the ship's bridge. Then he turned and fixed the small ensemble cowering behind him with a smoldering glare.

"Why are you all standing there like someone just ran over your dog? Go down there and get them! They're weak now, this is our chance!"

Chooboo peeked out from behind Zurgane's shoulder. "Uhmmm...can we draw straws for that?"

"Yeah, I really don't think it's a good idea to get anywhere close to the guy in the white PJ's, Uncle," Kapri added.

Lothor's bellow reverberated off the walls of the bridge. "ARE YOU REFUSING MY ORDERS?"

His evil space ninja team huddled together even closer than they already were.

"But, Uncle," Marah piped up warily, "he just defeated Dreamb...I mean the Dark Sorcerer, and that guy was, like, the most powerful evil villain we've ever seen!"

"I don't believe this! What a bunch of cowards!" Lothor's stare was daggers laced with poison.

"Well - why don't you go?" Kapri suggested.

"Me?" the evil ninja spluttered. "I can't go! I have a ship to run, things to do up here, important things...Besides, that's what I have you all for! Zurgane!"

Zurgane flinched, and gesticulated wildly at nothing or no one in particular. "Sir, I am overseeing the kelzak ship-cleaning committee! They cannot function without strict supervision."

"Chooboo!"

"Uh...ah...my lunch hour started three minutes ago. Sorry! I've already punched out for it, too. See?" The green alien held up an employee time card in emphasis.

"Shimatsu!"

The addressed general all but went into a crouch, holding up his hands imploringly. "Master, as much as I would love to be of service, but I have a soufflé in the oven and you know how it is with soufflés - if you don't watch them constantly and take them out just at the right time..."

"AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!"

Aftermath…

The sounds of multiple boot steps behind him prompted Mithrandos to look up from Luthien's slack-jawed countenance. A moment later, the ninjas were gathered around him.

"Mith!"

"What's going on? Is he...?"

The Guardian caught Cam's gaze when the technician crouched down beside him. "Yes, the danger has passed. He is once again under the spell of the enchanted slumber."

Cam watched as Mithrandos took Luthien's sword, converted it to its crystal form and tucked it into his pouch. The Guardian looked weary, both in body and mind, yet he gave them all a broad smile across Luthien's body. "I could not have defeated him without your aid. There are no adequate words for my gratitude, my friends."

"Yeah, well, don't worry about it," Shane declared for the rest of the team. "I'm just glad it was enough to put the creep back to sleep."

"We better clear out of here, though," Blake said. "Get him back in the box before Lothor decides to show up."

"Yes." Mithrandos agreed. "Let us make haste, Rangers."

Carrying Luthien between them, Shane and Hunter streaked from the battle site, followed by Tori, Blake and Dustin.

"Do you want a ride," Cam asked Mithrandos, "or do you remember how to get back to the sarcophagus?"

"Thank you, but I will make my own way to the forest clearing," Mithrandos said. "I shall see you there shortly."

Cam simply nodded and was gone in a flash of green a second later. Mithrandos took one long, rueful look around ravaged downtown Blue Bay Harbor and sighed before he dematerialized, leaving behind a quickly dissipating dusting of silver sparks.

Hunter and Shane were just putting the sorcerer's body inside the sarcophagus when Mithrandos arrived at the glade. The Guardian looked down onto the prone figure, now back in his rightful place. "Until next time, Luthien," he mumbled, then held his hand over the lock and summoned the spell that activated the magical force field across the sorcerer's side of the sarcophagus.

On the far side of the crate, Dustin had apparently caught his second wind. "Dude, can I just tell you that that battle was wicked sick!" he exclaimed, grinning at the blond warrior. "Luke Skywalker has nothing on you, man!"

Mithrandos cocked his head. "Who?"

Explanations were cut short when Cam came up beside him. "I'm going to head to Ops. I can teleport the sarcophagus into the Zord Bay from there, since that would be the safest location for it for now. That way we all have some time to get cleaned up, and I also want to go over the energy beam calculations one more time before we try to send you back."

Mithrandos nodded in consent, and after the Green Ranger had streaked from the clearing, the Guardian regarded the rest of the assembled Ranger team with obvious approval. "You have mastered this storm with uncanny bravado, my friends," he said, clasping Shane's shoulder who happened to stand closest to him.

"Hey, storms are our specialty," the Red Ranger grinned.

The sarcophagus began to shimmer, then disappear. The ninjas took that as their cue and filed out of the forest clearing, heading back to their headquarters at a leisurely gait. The Wind ninjas led the way, the Thunder ninjas brought up the rear.

"I wish to compliment you on your bravery in battle, Milady," Mithrandos said, falling into step with Tori. "Your courage was truly exemplary. And may I also say that blue is a very becoming color for you..."

Only a few steps behind them, Blake stared at the backs of the Water ninja and the Ithrandarian Guardian, trying hard not to let the stare disintegrate into a glare when suddenly Hunter's low voice sounded from right beside him.

"You're glad he's leaving soon, aren't you?"

Blake cast his brother a side-glance and saw him grin when he took just a fraction too long before he protested, "What? No, 'course not, I mean…"

"Dude, please. This is me you're talking to." Hunter wasn't deterred when Blake didn't reply. "He's getting you worried, isn't he, bro?"

"I'm not worried."

Hunter just gave his brother a wry look from under a raised eyebrow until Blake rolled his eyes.

"All right, yes! I mean…The way Tori looks at this guy...She keeps on blushing, man, blushing!"

"Yeah, so?"

"So?" Blake snapped, "In all the months I've known her, she's never blushed, Hunter. And now she blushes at him."

Hunter scratched his neck in apparent contemplation. "Well, he's handsome, he's gallant, he talks like the elf-guy from the Lord of the Rings movies – girls dig that, man." He shrugged. "And what's the big deal about the whole blushing-thing anyways?"

Blake kicked at a small rock on the ground. "I just don't want her to blush at him," he said. The rock landed in a nearby bush. "I want her to blush at me," he added in a small voice.

"Ah, now we're getting somewhere!" Hunter flashed his patented lopsided grin. "You know, you could make this whole thing so much easier on yourself." That earned him another dark look from the shorter Bradley.

"And just how, exactly? Grow my hair long and study Middle-Earth speech?"

The Crimson Ranger grimaced. "God, no. You would probably look ridiculous with long hair – but finally asking Tori out on a formal date sometime before the end of this century would be a good start." He put his hand on Blake's shoulder when the Navy Ranger gave an audible sigh. "C'mon, Blake. It's not like it would surprise anyone. Everybody already knows that you two are into each other."

Blake looked away from his big brother and up into an afternoon sky as blue as Tori's eyes. He thought for a long moment, then nodded to himself and faced Hunter once more.

"All right, maybe you've got a point. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna ask her out!"

"Right on, bro!" Hunter slapped him affectionately between the shoulder blades. "Courage, my man. It'll pay off. You'll see."

Blake only let out another deep sigh.

Farewells…

With Luthien safely stored in the Zord Bay, the Rangers and Mithrandos finally had the opportunity to sit back and decompress from the events of the past few hours. It was quickly decided that showering and resting to replenish their zapped energies were the top two spots on the To-Do list and all the non-resident Rangers headed out to their respective homes with promises to return again first thing in the morning.

Mithrandos politely declined Cam's offer of Ninja Ops' shower and instead washed off the grime of battle with a bath in the pond by the holographic entrance. That night, for the first time since his arrival on Earth, Mithrandos slept.

When the Rangers returned to Ops the next day, the Guardian was at the command center table, scrubbed and clad in a clean white uniform. On the table before him was one of several scrolls, undoubtedly provided by Sensei, and Mithrandos was busily filling the parchment with lines of tight, cursive writing.

"It is an account of the events that passed here," Mithrandos answered their quizzical gazes.

He reached for the scroll next to him, presenting it to Shane. Unrolled, it showed a pencil sketch of the six ninjas and Sensei Watanabe.

Shane was impressed. "Wow, this is beautiful. It looks just like us!"

Mithrandos acknowledged the compliment with a small smile. "I thought that not only your deeds but also your likenesses should be immortalized in the lore of Ithrandar."

Dustin elbowed Shane, his face split into a wide grin. "Dude, we're gonna be heroes in stories told to kids in another dimension. How cool is that?" He leaned towards Mithrandos conspiratorially and lowered his voice to a stage whisper. "Just make sure you put in there that the Yellow Ranger was the coolest one of all and saved, like, everyone from certain death."

The Great Yellow Ranger's teammates promptly retaliated with mock-outraged cries and a series of playful shoves and slaps.

Mithrandos laughed. "Well, the account has already been written, but I will make sure to point out your outstanding heroic deeds to the children whenever I do recount the lore, Dustin."

At that moment, Cam came strolling towards them from the direction of the Supercomputer. "Well, all the preparations are made," he said. "All that's left is to teleport the sarcophagus back to its original spot and send out the zords. We can pretty much give this a shot whenever you're ready."

"I am," the Guardian said solemnly.

Hunter turned to Mithrandos. "You sure you don't want to hang around a few days longer?" he asked. "We could just leave him -" he inclined his head towards the door leading towards the Zord Bay. "- down in the cave and be off to the moto track. I bet we could teach you to ride a 250 in no time."

Mithrandos smiled, but shook his head. "The offer is tempting, Hunter, but I am afraid it would be too perilous to remain here any longer than necessary. Lothor could make another attempt at freeing him once more. I cannot risk that.

"Besides, I am eager to return to my world," he added. "Albeit, good fate willing, my eyes will not look upon the familiar hills and valleys of my home for many more lifetimes yet to come."

The Guardian gathered up the scrolls and rose. His farewell from Sensei Watanabe took a few minutes due to repeated expressions of gratitude and multiple bows, but once ready, Cam initiated the teleportation of the sarcophagus and the seven warriors were off in multicolored streaks and silver sparkles.

Back at the glade, the stone crate was waiting in the exact spot of its arrival on Earth.

Mithrandos checked the seal across the sorcerer's side once more before he turned to Cam. "So…how do you plan to accomplish the feat of returning us to Ithrandar, Cam?"

Cam scratched the back of his neck. "Well, it won't be much use to get into the technical side of this, so let's just say that we are going to utilize the help of some mechanical friends to produce the amount of power necessary for your trip back.

"The chances are good that the beam will take you back to Ithrandar, but they're not a hundred percent," Cam felt the need to point out. Mithrandos, however, only looked at him for a moment, then shrugged.

"What is there ever, in life?" A quick, affectionate pat on the technician's shoulder later, he added, "I have known you but for a few days, yet I have come to respect your skills, son of Kanoi, both as a warrior and a man of the mind. Therefore, if you say that the chances are good your beam will take us back to our realm, I trust you."

Cam's expression turned awkward at the other-dimensional warrior's unexpected praise, but luckily for him the moment was cut short when Shane jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "Speaking of our mechanical friends, by the way…Here comes the cavalry now."

Mithrandos turned with the rest of the team towards the direction of the approaching engine sounds – and promptly blanched when he saw what was coming to a halt between and above the tree trunks at the edge of the clearing. His hand reflexively went towards the pouch on his belt.

"Don't worry," Cam reassured him. "They're on our side."

Eyes wide and mouth open, Mithrandos stared in disbelief at the half dozen huge, color-coordinated machines. "By the magic of The Light," he stammered. "What are these…things?"

Next to him, Hunter folded his arms across his chest, grinning at the utter astonishment on the usually so composed Guardian's face. "Actually, they'll be one really big thing in a minute," he said. "Watch."

In cue with that last word, the six zords began to rearrange themselves, maneuvering around each other, detaching pieces and attaching others, until they had formed what Mithrandos recognized as a humanoid form, at least as far as a torso, two legs, two arms and a head were concerned. Nevertheless, it was so alien-looking to him, not to mention so intimidating in its enormousness, that he was not embarrassed at the instinctive anxiety this thing evoked in him. He knew it showed on his face, yet he could do nothing about it. Not as long as he was staring up at this giant.

"We call it the Hurricane Megazord. A robotic machine that aids us in fighting Lothor's monsters. It is the only device powerful enough on this world to generate the energy beam needed to send you back home," Cam explained and the technician's assertion soothed the blond warrior's disquiet somewhat.

Dustin came abreast Mithrandos, and with his hands on his hips, the Earth ninja looked up at the huge machine with obvious pride. "See it as our trusty metal pet. You have pets in your world, don't you?"

Mithrandos pointedly looked at Dustin, then back at the Megazord. "I had a pet squirrel once."

Dustin grinned. "Welcome to our world."

Still staring at the mountain of multi-colored steel, Mithrandos said, "It will take much thought before I can even begin to find the words for my journal that will suitably describe this magic."

Cam didn't even bother to correct him anymore.

When the Guardian managed to finally tear his gaze away from the Megazord, he looked thoughtful for a long moment before he faced his six friends. "Ninjas, you have rendered me a great service," he said. "Too great to ever be properly repaid, I fear."

Shane waved it off. "Don't worry about it, man." The others seconded him by means of nods and similar gestures.

"But I do!" Mithrandos reached inside his pouch and brought forth a smaller leather sac. From it he shook something into his cupped hand. When he approached the Rangers, a glow could be seen emanating from his palm. Solemnly, almost ceremoniously, he pressed something resembling a bright pebble into each ninja's hand.

It took Cam a moment, but once he recognized what he was holding, his eyebrows climbed up to his hairline; it was an expression that was pretty much mirrored by the Wind and Thunder Rangers as well.

In his palm lay a pyramid-shaped gem the size of a small marble. The sunlight reflected off its clear, crystalline surface with such brilliance that it seemed to bathe his hand in multi-prizmed light up to the wrist.

"Ithrandarian diamonds," Mithrandos elaborated. "The Guardians use them to enhance the strength of their blades by inserting them into the hilt of their weapons. The power boost is temporary, but very effective. I had no use for them during the battle, for they would not have made a difference in Luthien's case; it would have been like throwing pebbles at a dragon." Mithrandos paused. "I am aware that it is a pathetically inadequate token for your invaluable aid, but I am afraid it is all I have to offer." He shrugged. "I traveled light, you see?"

"Dude…this is way too precious. We can't take those!" Shane protested, but Mithrandos was steadfast.

"I insist." He then gave them all a sad smile. "Although the task was grim, I have spent a joyful time among you, my friends. I believe I shall miss you all."

He then turned to Cam. "Cam, I would ask you to render me one last service."

"Sure."

The Guardian produced a glowing crystal from his pouch. "Take this. Within it is contained the sleep spell of The Light intended for me. It will revert my body and mind back into the charmed slumber I crave. Once the spell has been cast, the magic seal across the sarcophagus will then extend to my side."

The technician nodded as he received the crystal from Mithrandos. An almost awkward moment of silence followed, now that the actual moment of leave-taking had arrived.

Cam broke it when he turned and addressed his friends. "All right, you guys power up the Megazord," he said in a quiet but firm voice. "I'll be there in a minute,"

Tori took a step towards Mithrandos. "It was nice knowing you," she said almost shyly.

Mithrandos smiled fondly as he reached for her hand. "And you, Milady! I shall make sure that the loremasters of Ithrandar sing praise of your bravery in battle." He kissed the back of her hand, then stepped back and bowed to her. "Farewell!"

Cheeks coloring yet again, Tori smiled and inclined her head in return, but said nothing further.

Dustin cracked a smile and put his hand to his head in a two-fingered salute. "Take care, Mith." He was echoed by several other voices.

"See ya, buddy."

"So long."

"It's been real, man."

Mithrandos bowed formally to them all, and a small grin played around the corners of his mouth when he straightened up. "Fare well...dudes."

The ninjas raised their wrists in unison to morph, waved one last time, then disappeared in multi-colored streaks into the Megazord.

Cam was the solitary member of the team staying behind. When he turned towards Mithrandos, he found him already standing inside the sarcophagus, gazing down at Luthien's sleeping form once more.

"In sleep he is beauty personified, but awake he is a menace unfathomable," the Guardian said quietly.

Cam couldn't help but think back on the conversation they had had in the woods a few nights ago as he regarded Mithrandos. "You...still do love him, then?"

Mithrandos inhaled, holding his breath while he closed his eyes in apparent contemplation, then let it out in one long exhalation. When he did open his eyes, they were on Cam. "It is not love I feel for him any longer. However, our destinies are inextricably entwined. We are bound together until he ceases to exist and frees me thus from my oath. I am a Guardian of The Light, he is the very evil that threatens all I stand for." Mithrandos finished his summary with a shrug – and suddenly Cam understood.

"It's almost like he defined the meaning of your life."

Mithrandos' expression softened and his lips changed into a tiny smile. "So you understand. I would have thought thus from you," he said while he cast Cam an approving look. "I shall miss you, my friend. We may be from different realms, yet we are not so unalike. We both have our burdens to carry, and we both tread strange paths full of peril for the safekeeping of our worlds."

Mithrandos reached out and clasped both of Cam's wrists in what Cam assumed was a customary farewell gesture in Ithrandar, so the samurai clasped the Guardian's as well.

"Fare well, Cam son of Kanoi," Mithrandos said gravely. "The time of our parting is at hand. Spirits willing, we will not meet again, but be assured that memories of you and yours will forever be cherished in my mind. Ithrandar shall know the names of the Power Rangers and the lore of their courageous deeds. I will make sure of that."

He pressed Cam's wrists and Cam returned the gesture before they broke apart and Mithrandos settled himself inside the sarcophagus.

Cam lowered himself onto one knee besides the crate. Having witnessed from afar how Mithrandos had smashed the first crystal against Luthien's forehead yesterday, he needed no further instructions in the use of the one he was currently gripping.

The Guardian closed his eyes, folded his hands across his chest and let out a deep breath. Cam took that as his cue.

"Sweet dreams, Mithrandos," he said just before he shattered the gem against the pale forehead. Warm light washed over the Guardian and Mithrandos' body relaxed into the magically induced sleep.

The force field sizzled, then began to spread until it encompassed the entire width of the double sarcophagus. Cam watched for a moment longer before he slowly rose.

"Sleep well together," he said in a low voice, then turned to join his comrades waiting in the Hurricane Megazord.

The send-off…

Cam hadn't even fully sat down in his cockpit seat yet when Dustin's helmeted head flickered onto his video screen. The Yellow Ranger was holding his diamond between two gloved fingers, and it didn't take much imagination for Cam to picture his teammate's excited expression behind the darkened visor.

"Dude, I seriously think Mithrandos just made us all millionaires!"

The sentiment was repeated in various forms by the other Rangers, but for some reason, Cam couldn't seem to find it within himself to join the ebullient chatter. He instead called up the uploaded algorithm for the reverse energy beam on his screen and initiated the power-up sequence.

"All right, girls, put your best friends away for now and let's focus on the task at hand," he ordered and was actually surprised when no mock-exasperated replies came in return

"Yo Cam, you sure this is going to get him back to the right destination?" Blake wanted to know.

"According to the computer, it should. All this -" the technician indicated the rows of mathematical formulas on their zord screens. "– rides on precision. So because we have put the sarcophagus back in the exact same spot from its original impact point, it should logically be transported back to the exact same spot it disappeared from back in Ithrandar."

"And if not?"

Cam rolled his eyes. Of course Shane had to play devil's advocate.

"Well, I guess worst case scenario is that Mith is stuck here for the rest of his life and we'll have that Darth Vader impersonation sleeping in the Zord Bay for the next two hundred and fifty years," he answered.

Wisely, no one mentioned the other alternative of complete molecular incineration.

"Hey, it might be fun having Mith stay here," Dustin's voice came across the comm. system. "He could be the White Ranger if we ever get our hands on another morpher."

Someone snickered, but the only thing that came into Cam's mind was that, should that come to be the case, Ninja Ops would be mighty crowded in the future.

The digital display gauge was steadily climbing towards the target number. Before long, the Megazord's entire structure began to shake from the effect of containing a heretofore unprecedented amount of energy within it. Soon, the Rangers were bouncing in their seats with the increasing vibrations.

"Uh, Cam..."

"Almost there, guys," Cam cried. "Get ready."

Just when the Green Samurai Ranger was getting seriously worried about the structural integrity of their battle robot, the LED display suddenly began to flash in bright red numbers. Target number achieved.

"Now!"

Six hands simultaneously pressed their consoles' laser buttons, and from the chest of the Hurricane Megazord shot a multicolored energy beam of a girth they had never witnessed before. The recoil from the volley would have knocked the huge robot backwards if Cam had not had the presence of mind to have it hold on to the sturdy trees flanking it on both sides.

The stone crate and everything in its immediate vicinity erupted in a flash of such incandescent brightness that even behind their visors, the Rangers were forced to squint. The moment he could see enough to make out the console before him once again, Cam initiated a scan of the impact area.

"Did it work, Cam?" came Shane's urgent voice through the helmet comm link.

For once Cam was glad he couldn't retract his visor. At least he didn't have to worry about the doubt on his face. As long as he sounded confident, kept the uncertainty out of his voice, he could make the others believe that he was sure the beam had worked and Mithrandos was by now safely back in Ithrandar. "Yeah, I think it did," he said, his eyes glued to the readout of the perimeter scan.

God, please let it be true!

"Let's get down there and check," Hunter suggested and Cam didn't protest. Readout or no, he needed to convince himself with his own eyes as well.

They touched down a few yards from the Megazord and together they warily approached the transport site, demorphing along the way.

The sarcophagus had vanished along with every rock and piece of shrubbery around it. Cam scanned the ground carefully with his eyes. The others did likewise.

"Well, there's no debris," he said after a long moment. "That's a good thing."

"Yeah, but still…how do we know it actually worked?" Dustin asked somberly. "It's not like he can send us an 'all is well' card from Ithrandar."

Cam stared at the bare spot of earth before he answered in a low voice, "We don't."

He looked up and saw the Rangers looking back at him. He could offer them no reassurance. All he could do was stare back at his friends and the expressions on the Wind and Thunder ninjas' faces all said the same thing. 'Let's hope it worked.'

The six teens stood unmoving, staring, remembering – and hoping – for another long minute before they finally turned and made their way slowly through the forest and back to Ninja Ops.

TBC…