A/N: oH SHIT THE AUTHOR IS ALIVE? so it was brought to my realization that I last updated this two years ago...? haha my bad...the way this was supposed to be a trilogy...anyway. Huge thank you to howlingblackwolf for reminding me of my loyal readers waiting for Aria's story to continue. I will do my best to be more consistent.

I am only the creator of my OC Aria and her storyline, PRMF and it's plot is not mine.

Chapter 26: The Return

-Rock Porium-

Aria shifted in her seat uncomfortably, if only her brothers, her sensei, knew what she just revealed to someone she barely even knew. Yeah, Toby seems like a trustworthy guy, but she didn't know him like the others did.

Lee-Lee stood behind Toby as he paced in front of the six of them sat on the stage holding Vida's turntables, Aria with her knees to her chest and her crossed arms resting onto them.

"So, you guys really are the power rangers?" he repeated. The others smiled proudly and nodded their heads while Aria merely rubbed the back of her head. "Okay, uh, Nick is the red ranger…"

"Right." he agreed, rolling his eyes a bit having had to repeat the whole story a few times. Aria was just glad they omitted the part about her ninja background.

"Aria is the uh…the black ranger…and Xander is green, Madison blue, Chip yellow, and Vida is pink…"

Despite her obvious discomfort she looked around at her teammates and couldn't help but feel happy for them, keeping such a big secret from everyone can take a toll on a person – look at how Aria struggled to balance this life with her girlfriends. She may not be the biggest fan of this revelation, but she was glad some burden was lifted from her friends' shoulders.

"And, uh, so Nick and Aria are actually long-lost twins and also the kids of Udonna, the white ranger, and Leanbow, a powerful wizard, who is also Koragg, the guy who's been trying to trash the city, but he's really a good guy, it's just that, nobody knows what happened to him."

The twins looked at each other, Nick laughing at Aria as she put her head over her crossed arms. Nick knew everything going on right now was going against what his sister was taught her entire life and found amusement in her suffering.

"Wow, that's pretty impressive Tob-" Maddie began but was then hushed by eccentric shop owner.

"Now Nick is also…'The Light' – the power to stop evil from taking over…and Aria, again, his twin sister," he repeated as if that was the part of the entire story he couldn't wrap his head around "is the 'Child of Darkness' – the one to either help save the world…or destroy it…"

Aria lifted her head, placed a giant cheesy grin, and held up a peace sign to Toby as he paused to catch his breath and reorganize his thoughts

"Okay and so the bad guys…" he motioned his flailing arms to the two "are looking for those two so they can A.) destroy the light, 2.) convert the Child of Darkness to their side and C.) destroy the world"

"Exactl-" Chip said excitedly

"S-s-s-silence" Toby demanded as he turned to face Lee-Lee, "Now, Lee-Lee's mom, is Queen of the Vampires who really did carry me up, so I guess I can stop seeking professional help now…"

"I mean it wouldn't hurt…" Aria mumble prompting Vida to nudge her a bit

"Sorry about that…" Lee-Lee said shyly as the others chuckled at her expense.

"And, and, and now, the Ten Terrors, are here! Trying to call forth the head honcho himself, y'know…the Master of all evil…and you know what that means…it means you all won't be working your regular hours…"

"To be fair I was never really officially hired…never really got around to doing that…"Aria spoke with a raised hand but was interrupted by screaming outside.

The six rangers snapped their heads to the front door ready to leave but not one of them received a notification that something was going down. At least until Phineas the friendly Troblin came in with a bouquet of onions to which Lee-Lee was more than happy to receive. Leaving Toby confused trying to piece as to why Lee-Lee was dating Xander's uncle…yeah Aria didn't want to figure that one out either.

The six of them doubled in laughter when Aria's phone rang.

"Omg its Head Sensei," Aria mocked, still stifling the giggles from earlier, "what you want fool?"

"Ok note to self never check on you again" Hunter rolled his eyes "You not coming back home this weekend?"

Aria stepped off to the side as she continued her phone call "Oh yeah, we kinda got caught up celebrating rescuing Udonna I figured I should just stay a lil while longer…didn't help I was beat after all that"

Hunter hummed in agreement, he agreed that she had spread herself too thin but after speaking with Dustin not too long ago, he also couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on with her.

"Oohhh is that Dustinnnnn?" Nick teased when he saw his sister off to the side

"No," she protested "It's the other brother now mind ya business"

Hunter couldn't help but feel a little off by that. "The other brother", she's referred to him with that before, Blake too, usually when in an argument or just too lazy to remember their names correctly. But maybe it was because she was talking to her biological brother. Her twin brother. Hunter couldn't help but feel the slightest pang of jealousy for the red Mystic. They always said to each other that blood and DNA doesn't make a family, but as the saying goes, 'Blood is thicker than water'. By all means however, Hunter was more than happy to see his baby sister find her people. He just hoped there was still room for him and Blake.

The Bradleys' conversation was cut short, however. The clouds above them darkened and thunder boomed

"Thought weather said sunny with no clouds" Aria said sarcastically, another Terror was coming.

"Let's go" Nick said running out the door

With a quick goodbye Aria hung up on Hunter and raced after them.

-Downtown Briarwood-

"My name is Matoombo," a deep voice bellowed. It belonged to the giant Terror with black and gold armor and a faceless furry mushroom head. "I am gathering all of your electricity when I have it all, I will return it with a vengeance! My justice will be swift."

"Not swift enough cotton ball!" Nick yelled back in response. All seven rangers appeared, Daggeron and his Solar Streak Megazord, the Five and the Titan Megazord, and finally Aria in her Titan Form hovering above them.

"Dude, where do they find these things man?" Aria gasped at the sight.

"There is nothing you can do," Matoombo bellowed "it will soon be over"

And just like that the skies cleared, but the rangers were far from done

"Not while we're here!" Nick fired back

Xander added fuel to the fire, "Let's get him!"

On cue the three zords summoned their respective weapons and lunged forward to strike. But of course, Matoombo merely had to hold out his hand to create a shield around him, "Not so fast" he taunted before returning his own attack.

With just that single blow all the rangers collapsed to the ground.

"How can he be so strong?" Daggeron demanded, stumbling a bit.

"Stay out of my way and I will not hurt anyone, you have my word" the Terror promised before he turned and disappeared through a spell seal.

"You guys okay?" Daggeron asked, helping the younger Mystics up.

"That's strange," Vida thought aloud "he said he would hurt anyone"

Aria looked at her in agreement "It's a first for me…"

While Nick, ever the hot head, shot up to his feet "Yeah right," he scoffed, "he's lying!"

"Nick's right!" Xander said through gritted teeth, "He wants to destroy the world but not hurt anyone?"

"We better split up and find him" Daggeron suggested "There's not much time to find him."

Without any hesitation all the rangers took off in different directions, leaving Vida and Aria in the middle. The two girls seemed to share the same thought as they nodded and took off running together. This Matoombo seemed different from the other Terrors, and they were going to figure out how…and why.

-Park-

Aria held onto Vida as they flew over town on her Mystic Racer when they spotted Matoombo helping a little boy cross the street.

"There he is!" Aria exclaimed "Better call the othe-"

"No," Vida protested "not just yet."

Though they were unable to hear the conversation the little smiled up at the Terror and rubbed his fuzzy head better running away, leaving his rubber ball with Matoombo. The creature seemed to look at it curiously, as if he had never seen one before. As he began to walk away, still studying the object, Vida landed the Racer as the two girls demorphed. Maybe there was more to this Terror.

"It's called a ball," Vida spoke suddenly, stunning the Terror "it's meant for play."

She cautiously approached him; Aria stood a few steps back, ever on the ready if things went south. But she trusted Vida, and something about Matoombo gave her faith in the Terror.

"Give it here," the pink Mystic said gently as she pried the ball from his hands. She began to demonstrate the any things you could to play with it, bouncing it, spinning it, but when she kicked it, she hit Matoombo straight in the face. The two Mystics held their breath as they waited for his reaction.

After a few seconds, to their surprise, the Terror began to laugh. And not the evil cackle of a laugh, but a joyous one, filled with happiness and wonder.

"Ball…" he repeated slowly, as if getting used to the word.

"Yeah that's right…ball" Aria repeated after him, now coming closer to him and Vida "Except you're supposed to catch it before it hits you in the face."

The Terror laughed again at this information as Vida stepped closer to him.

"You're not like the others are you?" she began slowly

"What do you mean?"

"You don't want to hurt anyone" Aria finished for her friend

"I am Matoombo, Energy Warrior of the Underworld." He introduced himself powerfully

"You're not very evil," the black ranger continued "we just saw you save that child from getting hurt. You have a good heart"

"Heart?" he repeated, again, the word felt foreign to him.

"My name is Vida," she introduced herself "I'm the pink ranger. And this is Aria."

"It's nice to meet you Matoombo" Aria said with a smile as she extended her hand for a handshake. As Matoombo stepped forward to meet her, a green blast fired from elsewhere.

"Watch out girls!" Xander shouted as he rushed in to attack still morphed from before.

"No!" Vida cried

"Xander stop!" Aria added

But of course, he wouldn't listen, he continued his attack on the Terror. Just as he was about to use his MagiStaff Vida grabbed his arm while Aria jumped in front of him.

"Put it down Xander" the black ranger warned.

"Ria, he's trying to destroy our world!" he argued back "Morph already!"

"Put. The. Staff. Down. Now" Vida demanded.

"Why?!"

"Trust us…"

With a groan Xander put his weapon away and demorphed. He glared holes in the girls' head as they thank him, allowing Matoombo to give his introduction once again.

"I am Matoombo, conqueror of your world!" he bellowed, Aria sighed to herself

"See?" Xander said tensely, "He's gonna conquer the world we gotta stop him!"

"No!" the two demanded. The green Mystic looked at them as though they sprouted another head. Vida stepped closer to the Terror.

"If you conquer our world you'll harm all of us. Me, that child you just saved, all of us."

"You can't conquer us without hurting us" Aria added "You don't want that…do you?"

"I must conquer!" he argued

Aria stepped even closer, getting in his face "And I must join the Master. Isn't that right?" Matoombo growled in thought "But yet I am here, fighting for what is right."

However, Matoombo said nothing, he merely tightened his hold on his double-edged staff.

"Fine," Vida spat as she pushed her way between Aria and the Terror "Start with me then"

"So be it" he grumbled as he raised his weapon to her. Vida stood tall with her arms out opening herself to the monster as Aria jumped into her fighting stance. But before she could react any further, Aria noticed a shift in his presence. His blade was shaking. He was hesitant.

"I will do it" He continued, pushing his blade into Vida's chest.

Xander began his gentle approach before Vida stopped him. "V, do you know what you're doing?" he whispered, "And Ria, are you really not going to do anything right now?" facing the black ranger with a little more shock and disbelief. Any other time he'd probably have to talk her down from releasing her dark powers but right now she seemed…normal.

"Ria," Vida begged "trust me on this…please"

With a sigh Aria relaxed and held he hands up.

Before anyone could say anything else a glowing ball of energy came to them causing Matoombo to drop his weapon.

"What is that?"

"The electricity I gathered has returned to destroy this world" he answered

"Please Matoombo, don't do it!"

With a cry Matoombo shot his weapon to the sky and destroyed the glowing ball of electricity.

"Yes!" Vida cheered "Thank you Matoombo!"

"We knew you were different!" Aria laughed, cheering with her teammates and new friend.

However, that celebration was short lived as a purple blast shot from the sky and attacked Matoombo, effectively knocking the three rangers away.

Matoombo rolled down the hill where he was met by two other Terrors, Gekkor and Itassis.

The three rangers raced down to meet him when they saw the three Terrors primed for battle. Without hesitation they quickly morphed, Vida and Xander using their Legendary Armor.

"We have to help him!" Vida insisted as she sprang forward, using herself to shield Matoombo as Gekkor swung his blade down.

Aria and Xander didn't even have a chance to react as they watched their friend crumble before the reformed Terror's feet.

Soon the others arrived, presumably the crystal ball alerted them, just as Vida rolled out of the way and Matoombo and Gekkor began to attack one another.

Gekkor got the upper hand though and prepared for the final blow "It's over! You WILL be the Master's body, like it or not" he sneered

"I've gotta do something!" Vida cried desperately as she swiped Daggeron's Solar Streak card

"Vida no!" her teacher cried. She had none of it, as she punched the card and called on the Mystic Train.

Just as Gekkor was preparing to attack Solar Streak appeared from nowhere and caused the Terror to leap out of the way. Vida snatched Jenji from Daggeron and rushed forward to Matoombo, dragging him towards the train.

"Oh, fuck this…" Aria grumbled as she sprinted forward to help.

"Ri?" She asked

"Whatever you're doing, you're not gonna do it alone…"

And with that the two girls successfully boarded the train and took off, leaving their team stumbling behind trying to catch up to them.

-Train-

"Oh…Daggeron is gonna put me in the cat box for this…" Jenji whimpered to himself as he steered the train to an unknown location.

Aria and Vida guided the wounded Terror through the train and urged him to sit and rest.

"Are you alright?" Vida asked as she kneeled down beside him, her voice shaking with worry

"Yes," Matoombo answered calmly, as if to comfort her "I am much better now."

With a crash the door burst open revealing Gekkor. Aria sprung to her feet shielding Vida and their new friend

"Wanna show us your ticket you overgrown lizard?" Aria spat; her daggers drawn and aimed at the Terror

Gekkor looked past her, focusing solely on Matoombo. "It's over! You cannot escape me or your fate!" he then turned his face to Aria "That goes for you too Child of Darkness, the Master will be pleased when I bring both the traitor AND you to him."

"Bite me." She responded as she leapt into action. Flipping over him as Vida got to her feet and blocked Matoombo, the two girls trapping him between them. Together they did their best to fight Gekkor in the cramped cabin but without the rest of their team they were quickly apprehended.

"For the last time," he threatened the two girls who were gasping for air, "get out of my way."

"Girls, duck!" Matoombo bellowed as he fired his yellow energy at Gekkor.

Aria backed him up, used her ninja powers, and blasted him with black lighting.

Vida followed crying "MagiStaff Energy Vortex!" causing Gekkor to be sucked out of the Train and into the vast nothingness between dimensions.

-Dawn Dimension: Woods-

When they arrived to this unknown location Matoombo seemed to be familiar with it as he confidently stepped off the train and began to lead the two girls through the woods. Vida trusted him whole heartedly and while Aria trusted he would not turn on them she still felt anxious in this new dimension – in her years of spandex suits she has never been to this place. She could not deny however, how beautiful it was. The blue sky was clear, and the bright sun shone down on them, peeking through the tall trees. A gentle breeze blew through the air and whistled through the branches. Soon Aria's anxieties were replaced with a sense of peace.

"It's so beautiful here…" Aria breathed as she took deep breath

"Yes, this is the Dawn Dimension, it sets the mind at ease." Matoombo responded as he looked down at the black ranger. Her shoulders seemed to drop a little as if something heavy was removed from her shoulders. She seemed to be taking in the sight before her, gazing at the hanging vines and swaying trees. Eyes filled with wonder.

"V! Ria!" a voice called, breaking Aria out of this new sense of peace.

"Xander?" Aria responded, looking around before seeing their friend come from beyond the trees, jogging towards them.

A green blast fired at them suddenly knocking Matoombo to the ground. Xander made it to them just in time to make sure the girls were okay.

"Surprise!" Gekkor cackled as he flew down before them.

The three rangers helped Matoombo up as Gekkor began his monologue.

"There's nowhere to run, traitor. Surrender to the Master or be destroyed."

Again, the rangers shielded Matoombo and morphed. The three of them using their MagiStaffs to try and deflect as many of Gekkor's attacks as possible.

"There's too many!" Vida cried

Aria gritted her teeth "One is too many…"

Xander was unable to deflect all of them and soon was knocked to the ground. Gekkor took this opportunity to focus a barrage of attacks on Xander and fired upon him. Without hesitation Matoombo stepped forward and took the hit meant for the green ranger, leaving him stunned and confused.

With Matoombo injured and the others on their way Xander took the opportunity to get them out of them. Reaching for his fallen staff Xander casted a spell and had them disappear in a cloud of dust, leaving an even more furious Gekkor behind.

-Dawn Dimension: Clearing-

"You think this is gonna work?" Vida asked as she looked down at herself, she had disguised herself as Matoombo.

"Of course, it will" Xander reassured

Aria looked her over "Tell that to the pink bow on your ass dude"

The frilly pink bow was the only way to distinguish Matoombo from Vida.

"We just need her long enough to allow Matoombo to get to the Sleeping Lake" he sighed "The others should be here soon." Xander had filled in the girls as to what the Sleeping Lake was. It was the only way for Matoombo to escape being the Master's vessel and allow him to sleep for eternity. Vida had tried to protest it but Matoombo had explained it was the only way for him to be free of the Master. Unbeknownst to Vida and Xander, Aria and Matoombo shared a glance. The two exchanged silent words of understanding leaving Aria flustered but not surprised. They nodded at each other in mutual respect before Vida burst forward to give the former Terror a hug. Matoombo was shocked, unsure what exactly to do. Aria chuckled slightly and motioned for him to wrap his arms around her. he followed, albeit quite stiffly, and gave awkward pats on her back.

"Come on we have to go…" Xander urged

"Right…" Vida sighed. "Goodbye Matoombo…" she said quietly.

"Good luck…" he bellowed before they took off running, trying to draw as much attention to themselves to allow Matoombo to slip the opposite direction without notice.

-Dawn Dimension: Woods-

Xander led the way as Vida and Aria followed after him. Aria constantly checking over her shoulder to ensure the real Matoombo was out of sight and Gekkor was on their tail. When she saw the glimpse of green soar in the sky she knew their plan was working.

"Run faster!" she cried in a fake panic, letting the others know that they were being followed.

Xander peered over his shoulder as he burst forward, pulling Vida disguised as Matoombo forward.

"Come on!"

the trio ran as Gekkor proceeded to fire at them, blinding them with smoke and random flashes of light. They approached a cliff a leapt off the edge to avoid the attacks, landing hard with a grunt. As the three gasped for air Gekkor landed in front of them.

"Play time is over Matoombo," he laughed "now I – WHAT? The pink ranger?!" he exclaimed, eyes falling onto the pink bow behind Vida. "You can't trick me!" he bellowed as he fired once again at the three of them, knocking Vida's disguise off.

Behind her helmet Vida smiled, happy the plan worked "You're a two-time loser; ugly and gullible."

Xander backed her up, getting to his feet, "While you were chasing us, our tall, cotton-headed friend had enough time to get away to the Sleeping Lake. Explain that one to your Master!"

Growling with rage, Gekkor tightened his grip on his staff and fired at the trio.

"Enough of this." Aria spat as she stood up "Bring it!"

She lunged forward with her daggers, hoping to give her teammates some cover as they recover from the attack.

"You're making me angry, black ranger, the Master will not be pleased if I destroy you."

"I'd like to see you try gecko" crossing her daggers across her chest she released her lightning and dark magic knocking him back. When the smoke cleared Xander, and Vida leapt into the air and swung their MagiStaffs down onto him. The three of them gave a valiant effort but it was not enough to defeat the Terror. He easily brushed off their attacks and knocked them all down with a single blow.

"This is the end" he growled menacingly as he stalked his prey when suddenly they heard Nick's voice in the canyon.

"Think again lizard breath!" he called after firing his own magic.

Nick, Chip, and Maddie leapt down to the scene already morphed in Legendary Armor as Daggeron followed them.

"You guys alright?" he asked, helping his sister to his feet

"Been better…" Vida gritted

"Peachy…" Aria breathed through her nose, clutching her sides.

"Welcome to the dance," Gekkor greeted unphased by the number of people, "Shall we?"

In a flash he flew past the rangers and swung his staff knocking them all back a few steps and soon the real battle began. The seven of them surrounded the Terror and attacked from all sides. But the slimy lizard was able evade and counter them all.

"He's too fast!" Xander sighed. The rangers were getting winded, even Aria was struggling to catch her breath. The sun was already going down, how long have been going at this?

"You haven't seen anything yet, here is my full power!" he boasted as he summoned a ball of green energy in front of him. Aria pushed herself in front of the others, hoping to spare them some of the blast when suddenly another figure appeared magically in front of them stopping the attack entirely.

"Dad?" the twins spoke in awe, curious as to where he came from and how he got here

"Leanbow…" Gekkor snarled.

"Good job rangers." She spoke boldly before turning to face his children "Well done…" a warm smile spread on his face. "I'll take it from here."

Leanbow brandished his wand and summoned his powers

"MAGICAL SOURCE! MYSTIC FORCE!" a spell seal appeared above him as he morphed into his armor, the purple of Koragg replaced with the bright red of Leanbow. "Burning heart of fire, Wolf Warrior! Defender of truth!"

"How?!" Gekkor demanded

Leanbow turned to face the twins "Udonna's good magic saved me. The world has been kept whole because of these rangers"

"We're safe because of you…" Xander laughed lightly

"And we're all safe because of Matoombo…" Vida sighed to herself. Aria placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Gekkor scoffed "How sweet, while you continue your love fest, how about I destroy you!"

"Not this time!"

And with that, Leanbow took on the Terror himself. Proving himself to be an even match for the creature.

"In the name of honor, blazing storm slash!" the single blow was all it took for Gekkor to crumble to his knees and disappear in a cloud of smoke. Finally destroyed.

With a cheer they all demorphed before rushing to greet their hero. Vida was not in a mood to be celebrating, however.

"What's wrong V? You should be happy…" Xander teased

"I am…" she insisted "I'm just really gonna miss Matoombo…"

Aria approached the Pink Mystic and linked arms with her, "I'll miss him too." She had to admit, the giant cotton ball really warmed up to her.

All smiles faded fast though when the sky darkened and Aria suddenly reached for her chest, heaving and doubling over herself.

"Baya!" Leanbow cried as he caught his daughter from falling. Nick quickly rushing for her as well.

She couldn't speak as her eyes blackened, and she looked to the sky. To their horror they witnessed their furry friend Matoombo in Titan form wailing in pain as multiple tentacles sprung from his body. Before finally melting away to reveal the infamous Master finally free from his prison.

"I'm here…" he taunted.

"The Master's returned…" Leanbow whispered as he subconsciously tightened his hold on his daughter. He felt his son's hand on his arm as if reinforce the grip on Aria.

"You will perish, and the Child will be your world's fall" he sneered "Take a look into your future…"

Aria screamed in pain as she collapsed to the ground unable to hold herself up despite her family's help. With her head in her hands, images began to flood her head. Her friends laid before her; their eyes empty of life. Her mother and father were next to each other hands reaching out for one another but not quite able to reach. The world around her was gloomy and gray. She finally was presented a reflection of herself. Wild hair, glowing red eyes, bat like wings – the true Child of Darkness.

"Never…" she gritted before looking up at the Master "I'll never help you."

"We shall see" he cackled before he flew off in a flash.

When he was out of sight Nick kneeled down to his sister to ensure she was okay. Slowly her eyes returned to normal, but her energy was depleted. "Shit…" she breathed before her eyes fell closed and she finally succumbed to her exhaustion.

A/N: Thank you again for staying with me and being patient. Next chapter will be out soon...hopefully...