"How nice of you to bring me the gift of your legend powers," Imperius laughed.
The rangers, having been captured and dragged down to the underworld, were now trapped. Struggling to get away, they glared at Imperius.
"You're not getting anything from us," Vida growled.
"Oh, it's not for me," Imperius responded. "It's for the Master."
In the circular depression in front of them, an eye suddenly appeared. A low rumble, like a growl, accompanied it. The rangers stared in shock and horror, still trying to break themselves free.
"That's the thing Leanbow sacrificed himself to defeat," Nick exclaimed.
"Leanbow?" Koragg muttered, studying them.
Imperius shook his head.
"That name is not spoken here," he snapped, done gloating. "Now you will give the Master the power to rise up and conquer."
He pointed at them and the rangers gasped in pain as their power suddenly started draining from them. They cried out even as they tried to resist, but to no avail. And, as power drained from them, the presence of the Master grew stronger.
"How delightful!" Imperius exclaimed.
Off to the side, Leelee watched in concern as she stood by her mother. The rangers had been promised to her as pets once their power was gone. They had all been shocked to learn that Leelee was Necrolai's daughter.
"They'll be alright, right?" she asked anxiously, glancing at Necrolai.
"Of course," Necrolai reassured her.
"The Master will soon rise," Imperius intoned, watching the proceedings in glee.
Koragg shook his head, not happy with how things were actually going.
"They cannot defend themselves," he said disapprovingly. "There is no honor in this defeat."
"Stop that foolish babbling!" Imperius ordered. "This is our day of victory! This is the end of the Mystic Force."
The rangers were getting weaker as more and more power drained from their bodies. Then there was a bright flash of light.
"Stop!" Udonna cried, appearing in the room.
Her spell cut off the drain on the rangers' powers, though they were still trapped in place.
"Udonna!" Madison exclaimed, panting.
"How touching," Imperius sneered, blocking the ineffective spell she cast at him. "The sorceress comes to save her little rangers. Now you'll feel the wrath of the master."
Behind Udonna, red streaks of magic burst from the gateway to the Master. The magic latched on to the sorceress and she cried out in pain.
"No!" Vida cried.
All of the rangers watched in horror as Udonna writhed on the ground in pain, the magic of the Master slowly killing her. Koragg was watching Udonna, shaking his head. But no one had noticed he was suddenly behaving very oddly.
"Behold her destruction," Imperius laughed.
"No!" Koragg shouted, leaping forward. "Udonna!"
He broke the Master's hold on her with his sword. The breaking of the spell freed the rangers as well and they collapsed to the ground. Lights flashed and glowed around Koragg as he stumbled forward a few feet. But as he straightened up, he was no longer Koragg. Someone else was standing where the Master's loyal servant had stood. Turning, the man looked at Udonna and the rangers.
"What?" Imperius cried in shock. "No! It can't be!"
"Who's that?" Xander asked.
"Leanbow?" Udonna breathed, answering Xander's question as she stared at the man in shock.
The man, Leanbow indeed, nodded.
"I don't know how to explain," he said. "But it's true. I am alive."
"This is unbelievable," Madison gasped.
"No, this is one of Koragg's tricks," Nick growled.
Imperius threw off the shock of seeing Koragg turn into Leanbow and turned on the rangers again.
"Leanbow survived but not Solaris Knight!" he cried. "Now, to finish what I've started!"
He went to attack the weakened rangers and Udonna, but Leanbow got in the way, casting a spell to take them out of the dark underworld. They found themselves in another dimension. It was a dry landscape, rocks dotting the area.
"We'll be safe in this dimension for a while," Leanbow said, turning to look at the rangers.
They all eyed him warily, not sure what to think.
"Okay, am I the only one confused by what's going on here?" Xander asked, looking at the others.
They shook their heads.
"I'm a little mixed-up myself," Vida frowned.
"Let me get this straight," Chip said, steping up. "Leanbow was Koragg, and Koragg was Leanbow, and one of them—or both of them—just saved our lives."
Leanbow nodded. But Nick scoffed, pushing forward.
"Wait, wait, wait," he said shortly. "This is the same guy who's been trying to toast us for months. How can we trust it's really Leanbow?"
Leanbow sighed, bowing his head.
"You're right," he admitted. "I don't blame you for not trusting me."
Udonna started shaking her head, moving forward. She was still looking at him as though she was afraid he'd disappear again in an instant.
"I trust you," she said firmly. "I know it's you. What happened?"
Leanbow took a deep breath, moving to sit on a nearby rock as he told his story. The rangers sat down, too.
"My tale is so incredible I'm not sure I believe it myself," he said, shaking his head. "It happened in the last battle of the great war."
Udonna nodded.
"You closed the gates to the underworld and we all thought you were gone forever," Udonna said.
"Yes, but that's when the story just begins," Leanbow explained. "My plan worked and the Master was sinking down into the depths, but he used the last of his dark magic to take me with him and turn me into Koragg, the Knight Wolf. His most obedient soldier. I had no memory of my previous life. Everything I did was for the Master."
The rangers frowned. His story did seem unbelievable. All of them stayed back, not ready to accept his word quite yet.
"But you remember now," Chip said suspiciously.
Leanbow nodded.
"It must have been the virus that infected my titan mode," he said. "It began to break the memory spell."
A couple of the rangers nodded hesitantly. They remembered that fight and how his zord had fallen, but it was still difficult to believe he might actually be on their side.
"Then you must remember how many times you tried to destroy us and Udonna, your own wife," Nick spat. "You almost destroyed her, and then stole her snow staff. Does that ring any bells?"
Leanbow sighed, bowing his head again.
"Yes," he said gravely. "I remember it all. And I cannot tell you all how sorry I am…"
"Nick," Udonna said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "No one could withstand the full power of the Master's dark magic."
"If there was any way you could forgive me," Leanbow said, looking at them pleadingly. "All of you…"
Udonna smiled.
"Of course, I…" she cut off, collapsing.
"Udonna!" Nick exclaimed, catching her.
Leanbow, who had leapt back up, hurried to her side.
"You're injured," he said in surprise.
Udonna nodded, wincing in pain.
"I… used the book of dark magic to get to the underworld," she said slowly. "I'm afraid I'm as vulnerable as any human now."
"You shouldn't have done that," Leanbow sighed.
But they were interrupted by a nearby explosion that rocked the ground.
"Imperius has found us!" Leanbow exclaimed, glancing at Udonna. "I'm sending you back to Rootcore."
She shook her head, clinging to him.
"Oh, no," she said. "No. I don't want to lose you again."
"You're in no condition to fight," Leanbow said, not budging.
"For once we agree," Nick said, glaring at him. "Send her."
Udonna sighed, but nodded. Leanbow took a step back from her and uttered a spell. Udonna disappeared from sight as the rangers turned their attention back to the pending fight.
"There you are," Imperius cried. "Get them, Chimera!"
"My pleasure!" Chimera hissed.
Imperius, Necrolai and Chimera—the creature formed from the souls of every opponent Leanbow had defeated—strode toward them. Leanbow stood in front of the rangers, prepared to join them in the fight.
"Ready yourselves!" Leanbow said to them. "Aaahhh!"
He cried out in pain, dropping to the ground. But the rangers didn't have time to worry about him for the moment.
"Let's do it!" Chip exclaimed.
"Magical source, Mystic Force!" they cried.
As they attacked Chimera, Necrolai grabbed Leanbow.
"I always knew you couldn't be trusted," she hissed. "Come! You have an appointment with the Master."
The rangers, struggling against Chimera, fell back. Several of them hit the ground, panting as they got back to their feet.
"Leanbow!" Vida cried as they disappeared.
"Stop!" Xander exclaimed.
But it was too late. Leanbow was gone.
"We don't need him anyways," Nick growled. "We'll beat him ourselves! Power of the Phoenix!"
Nick attacked Chimera, but was thrown backward. He hit the ground hard, rolling. The other rangers ran to help him.
"Nick!" Xander exclaimed, dropping down next to him. "Get up!"
Before the rangers could get back up, Chimera attacked again. But the attack was thwarted by another spell. They turned to see a familiar figure charging out of a dimensional portal on a unicorn.
"Now what?" Imperius cried.
"Daggeron!" Nick exclaimed in relief.
"But I destroyed you!" Imperius shouted.
Daggeron stopped next to the rangers. Chip was the first one to his feet.
"Oh, cool!" he said, limping forward as Daggeron dismounted.
"Rangers, the unicorn's name is Brightstar," he explained quickly. "She can travel through all dimensions. If you run into trouble she can combine with your megazord. Now hurry!"
He put himself between Imperius and the rangers, throwing up a shielding spell to protect them from Imperius' dark magic. Brightstar's horn glowed and suddenly the rangers and the unicorn were gone.
"You won't get away," Imperius growled. "Chimera!"
Chimera vanished as well, leaving Daggeron to face Imperius.
The rangers found themselves in yet another dimension. They took a moment to try and recover, looking around warily.
"I can't believe Leanbow—" Nick started to say.
But they were interrupted by a loud roar as the ground shook. Chimera had found them—and now he had grown to a towering size.
"Here we go," Xander said as they spun to face him.
"I got this one!" Nick exclaimed, leaping up onto Brightstar's back.
"Nick, wait!" Madison cried as he took off toward Chimera.
"What are you doing?" Chip exclaimed. "We can't use the manticore!"
But Nick didn't stop.
"But I can still make a megazord!" he shouted back. "Come on!"
Using Brightstar as Daggeron had said, Nick combined his Phoenix zord with the unicorn to form a new zord. He charged into battle with Chimera. But Chimera was not an easy opponent.
"Over here!" the other four cried, flying in with a second zord to distract Chimera.
He grabbed their zord. Flipping it, he slammed them into Nick and then blasted both zords, sending them flying. The other four lost their forms, leaving Nick to fight alone again.
"This one is as stubborn as Leanbow," Chimera said, talking to itself. "Let's take our revenge on him! Yeah, crush him!"
The different heads on its body agreed with each other. Nick shook his head.
"I'm nothing like him!" he snarled, charging back into the fight.
But he was thrown again and sent crashing to the ground.
"Get up and fight!" a familiar voice growled.
The rangers looked to see Koragg in his zord form standing there. Leanbow had been turned again.
Back at Rootcore, Clare was trying to tend to an injured Udonna. As she came back in the room, she saw Udonna up and moving toward the mystic globe.
"Leanbow!" she cried, stumbling.
"No," Clare said, rushing to her. "Udonna, you need to rest. Please."
But Udonna was determined and brought up a view of the fight.
"No!" she exclaimed. "They've turned him back to Koragg."
Taking hold of Udonna, Clare gently guided her to one of the couches to lie down.
The rangers stared at Koragg in shock—betrayed despite never fully committing their trust to Leanbow.
"Koragg!" Nick shouted. "I knew you were lying!"
"Let this be our last fight!" Koragg growled.
"Fine, but after I finish this freak!" Nick snapped, spinning to face Chimera again.
"Never!" Chimera shouted, shooting a spell at Nick.
Nick blocked it with his sword. Summoning all the energy he could, he started shoving the dark magic back toward the creature. He broke the spell and launched an attack of his own.
"Final strike!" Nick called. "Yeah!"
Chimera fell and Nick turned to face Koragg, ready to fight to the finish this time. They fought hard and after a hard strike, both lost their zord forms.
"This isn't over," Koragg snarled, getting to his feet.
"Whatever you say!" Nick snapped back, getting up and charging back into the fight.
They fought with their swords, neither one ready to give up. The other rangers, back on their feet now, moved in closer.
"Nick!" Vida exclaimed as they all watched.
The fight continued.
"Is that all you've got?" Koragg scoffed.
"Hardly!" Nick snarled.
The two fighters were near to matching each other in skill, neither one taking an immediate advantage.
"They're a pretty even match," Vida said in surprise.
"Like they can anticipate each other's moves," Xander said slowly.
Then Koragg got an advantage on Nick. He knocked the sword from Nick's grasp and sent him flying. Nick hit the ground, pushing up on his elbows as he glanced over at his sword. With Koragg still armed and standing over him, there was no possible way for him to reach his sword in time. The other rangers watched in horror.
"You don't have a chance without your sword," Koragg said, pointing his own blade at Nick. "Now, pick it up. I won't fight an unarmed opponent."
"You got it!" Nick exclaimed, racing to his sword.
He took it back up, facing Koragg. Nick's anger was more obvious now than ever. But Koragg didn't immediately move to attack.
"You're too angry," Koragg said, studying him. "You must learn to control your emotions."
"There were so many times you could have destroyed us and you didn't," Nick said. "Tell me why!"
"I know why," Madison said from the sidelines. "Because there is a part of him that is still good."
"Part that's still Leanbow," Xander added.
Koragg and Nick just watched each other for a moment, neither one making a move.
At Rootcore, Clare had coaxed Udonna into lying down and resting. She was fussing over her as Udonna mourned Leanbow's return to Koragg.
"The master has control over Leanbow again," she said sadly. "Either my husband will destroy the rangers, or they will destroy him. All is truly lost."
Clare shook her head.
"Don't talk like that," she said firmly. "You were the one who said that, if you believe in magic, then anything is possible."
"But my magic is gone," Udonna sighed.
"You may not be a sorceress anymore," Clare said, laying a red blanket over Udonna. "But you will always be magical."
Udonna frowned, looking at the blanket in surprise. She sat up, staring at it in her hands.
"This blanket," Udonna said, glancing up at Clare. "Where did you get it?"
Clare looked at her in confusion.
"From Nick's backpack," she answered. "I'm sure he won't mind if we borrow it."
Udonna smiled, getting back to her feet and hurrying toward the door. Clare spun in surprise.
"Wait!" she cried. "Where are you going?"
"I do believe!" Udonna said, pausing at the door. "I believe in magic!"
Clare laughed, smiling as Udonna left.
The respite in the fighting didn't last long. Nick and Koragg charged each other again, neither one holding anything back. But Nick, already weakened from being drained of his legend powers and fighting Chimera, was starting to slow down.
"No rest," Koragg growled, not giving Nick a chance to orient himself.
As Nick charged again, Koragg caught him with a strike to the leg. Nick fell to the ground. He started to push himself up with his sword, but he was exhausted.
"Leanbow exists only in memory," Koragg growled. "I am Koragg now and forever. Wolf attack!"
The attack struck Nick, too wearied to dodge it, straight on. The resulting explosion sent him flying and he hit the ground hard, de-morphing. As he groaned on the ground, Koragg stalked toward him.
"You have fought with honor," said Koragg. "But now the battle is over."
Nick pushed himself backward, one arm wrapped around himself as he panted, looking up at Koragg as he moved in to finish the fight.
"Since you have proven to be a worthy opponent," Koragg continued, reaching Nick and putting his sword to the red ranger's throat. "I will grant you a swift end."
Drawing back his arm, Koragg started to swing toward Nick. The other rangers, too far away to stop it, ran toward them anyways.
"Leanbow, stop!" Udonna shouted, appearing out of nowhere. "Don't do it!"
Koragg froze, turning to look at her in shock. Udonna ran forward and grabbed his arm, shoving it down. Nick looked up at her in surprise as the other rangers came to a halt, not sure what to do.
"This is Bowen," Udonna said, glancing between Nick and Koragg. "Your child. Our child."
Nick's eyes widened as the other rangers gasped.
"What?" Koragg hissed.
"What are you saying?" Nick asked, shaking his head as he started to get to his feet.
Koragg made no move to attack, struggling with himself as Udonna stood ready to stop him again. She smiled as she turned to look at Nick.
"You were with me all along and I never knew," she said softly. "It's truly magical."
Koragg shifted, sheathing his sword. Hesitantly, he reached a hand out toward Nick.
"My—my son?" he stammered.
Nick drew back, confusion playing across his face. Koragg, shaking his head, stepped away, not taking his eyes off of Nick. Groaning, Leanbow once again threw off the armor of Koragg. He was free again. The rangers sighed in relief.
"And I thought my family reunions were weird," Chip said, shaking his head.
Now that there was no longer an immediate threat, Udonna turned back to Nick.
"I am your mother," she said again. "It's true, Nick. I knew there was a reason you came to Briarwood. It was to fulfill your destiny: the greatest wizard of them all."
Nick chuckled faintly, still in shock over the revelation.
"This is gonna take a little while getting used to," he finally said.
Udonna and Leanbow both smiled. But then the ground started shaking and several large red tentacles burst from the ground. The Master was rising.
"Come on, rangers!" Vida exclaimed.
They started to move forward.
"No!" Leanbow said, casting a spell to keep them away. "This is my battle. I must finish what I started."
The rangers couldn't move closer, so all they could do was watch as Leanbow walked toward the Master alone.
"Ancient mystic mode!" he shouted.
"No!" Nick cried.
"You can't!" Vida shouted.
"Leanbow, don't!" Udonna begged.
But he didn't pause, charging in to fight the Master as he rose.
"Back to the depths, foul beast!" he said.
"No!" Vida shouted again.
"Leanbow!" Udonna cried.
They watched as he used his power to force the Master back down below the ground. They listened to the fight they could no longer see. Then they heard Leanbow shout to them from the pit.
"Power rangers! Carry on my legacy!" he cried, his voice far away.
The rangers watched in shock. He was gone. Then five streaks of power flew from the pit—the legend powers returning to the rangers.
"Our legend warrior powers—they're back," Xander said.
"But Leanbow is gone…" Udonna said slowly, still clutching Nick's blanket.
By the time they all got back to Rootcore, Daggeron was waiting for them. He told them what had happened after they separated—that he'd fought in bound battle with Imperius and won. Another of their enemies was destroyed. Most of the rangers, exhausted from the long day, said their goodbyes and headed home for the night. But Nick lingered—too much on his mind to try and sleep at the moment. As he sat on the steps, staring, Daggeron sat down next to him to talk.
"Imperius may be gone, but his departure is just the beginning of our journey," he said, looking at Nick. "Your father said many times—"
"Wait, wait, wait," Nick interrupted, shaking his head. "You're telling me this like I care about him. Please. He may have been my father, but I just spent the last few months stopping him from destroying the world."
Daggeron sighed.
"And the world would have been destroyed if he hadn't—" Daggeron started to argue.
But Udonna walked in and they both stopped, quickly getting to their feet.
"That's what I like to see," she smiled. "Everyone happy and enjoying the day. But, Bowen, didn't I ask you to clean this place up?"
Nick sighed.
"This is great," he muttered. "I finally found my real mom and two seconds later I'm getting chores."
Udonna raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, you are," she said. "I want this place cleaned before your father comes home."
Nick frowned. Daggeron glanced between the two of them and then turned, heading out of the room.
"I think I'll go feed Fire Heart," he said as an excuse.
Once they were alone, Nick turned to Udonna.
"Uh, mom?" he said hesitantly.
Udonna smiled, turning to look at him again.
"Leanbow's not coming home," said Nick.
Udonna shook her head.
"Don't be ridiculous, of course he is," she insisted.
Nick gave a look of complete disbelief.
"No, I have not lost my senses," she said. "If you'd have asked me yesterday I would have given you a different answer. Yesterday, I thought that both you and Leanbow were both lost forever. But I'd forgotten that magic works in many ways—not just waving a wand, but also in ways of the heart. So, yes. I don't know how or when, but Leanbow will be coming home. Now, clean up this room."
Shaking his head, Nick shrugged and got to work.