Disclaimer: I DONOTown Power Rangers, only the O/C and some setting locations. Events may not be factual to that of the television series.

When Night Falls

With the lights of Orion now a part of the ranger arsenal, Scorpius was enraged! The insect was seeing RED and heads were going to roll. Trakeena, wanting to be taken seriously, knew she had to remain on her father's good side but also make her mark in the dark kingdom. The evil sovereign had her eyes set on capturing the noble ranger princess and…end her. Trakeena singled out Emma during battle and whisked her away by brute force into a desolated area. In order to drain Emma from her real power, Trakeena needed to have her morph into the prism ranger. However that won't come easy.

"A measly turbo ranger is powerless against me!" Trakeena snickered. "Face it, Emma. You are no competition! You are pathetic!" The taunting continued.

Emma's energy was drained from battle even if she used her telekinetic or force field abilities it wouldn't be strong enough, she needed to rest. Even more so after taking a severe direct hit from Trakeena causing her to de-morph.

"Bow to me!" Trakeena struck Emma once more!

Emma, no longer in her power ranger gear managed to conjure a weak force field to protect herself but the impact sent her flying and she cried out in agony.

"Never!" Emma retorted.

"Max would, don't you think?" Trakeena maniacally smirked.

"You bitch!" Emma's eyes glowed purple and a strange phenomenon happened…

Trakeena immediately gasped for air as her neck began to tighten! How was Emma doing this to her?! Since when was the little brat psychic?!

"I c-can't.." Trakeena called upon a few sting wingers and Emma was attacked once again. "You little bitch!" Infuriated by the strangulation, the evil princess was going to strike again!

The last thing Emma remembered was being hit by a couple of sting wingers before falling unconscious. The galaxy rangers were in full panic when they couldn't reach their princess! It was storming out, heavy rain flooded parts of the space colony adding to the panic. Where was Trakeena holding her? What was she doing to her?! Having the sovereign power ranger in the control of Scorpius would ultimately compromise the rangers with defeating repercussions.

"Ow…" Emma softly groaned as she regained consciousness.

Emma rested on warm furs for blankets, a fire burned nearby and her wounds were covered in handmade dressings. The turbo ranger was very weak and exhausted, she was running a fever from the bodily response to said wounds and dehydration. Being so drained her "super powers" were powerless; therefore when she heard footsteps her anxiety quickened.

"Prin-"

Emma flinched before she recognized the husky voice and let out a sigh of relief with the anxiety disappearing.

"Oh thank the universe, it's you." Emma could've sworn she heard him chuckle. "I need to get back to the ship." She tried moving and hissed at the pain.

"You are far too injured and weak, your Highness." The Magna Defender bent down at her level and presented Emma with a bowl of soup and water.

"I feel nauseous." Emma accepted the bowl despite feeling unwell. "Thank you, Magna Defender." She locked eyes with him and smiled weakly.

"You took quite a hit, Emmalee." The warrior expressed concern.

"She needs to rest." Mike's voice echoed in Magna Defender's mind.

"Why are you helping me?" Emma asked.

"I am loyal to the crown." He answered.

"You're not a bad guy, Magna Defender." Emma groaned at the pain in her ribs. "Life just changes us."

"Why the sudden change in perspective?" He questioned.

"I'm turning the page." Emma answered. The pain of losing Max might not go away but it was time to start living again. Emmalee knew Max would want that for and it's something she wanted for herself as well. "I'm setting myself free." One step at a time, not to mention she was going to seek professional help. She didn't want anyone to save her because she was determined to save herself from her own darkness and pick up the pieces of her broken heart and soul.

"I want to be free…" Mike commented.

"It is too late for me but I wish you the best, your Highness." The Magna Defender could feel the tightness in his chest build with Mike's commentary.

"If revenge for Zika is what you seek, then I stand by you." Emma sincerely declared her support and loyalty to the Magna Defender. "I'll still kick your ass if you mess with my friends…but it would be an honor to fight alongside you." She added.

The Magna Defender, amused by Emma's response, smiled and gave her a nod.

"I would have brought you a slice of cake but Damon ate it all." She chuckled, slowly drifting back to sleep.

"It was her birthday?..." Mike's voice said. His tone was different-it was delighted.

The Magna Defender let out an amused chuckle at the comment about the cake. "Get some rest, your Highness." He watched as the young princess drifted into a deep slumber.

Despite the rainstorm the Magna Defender went out to search for medicine and more water to keep Emma hydrated. It was going to be a long night and he wanted to make sure she'll be comfortable. During his hunt Mike was very vocal…a little too curious than usual.

"What does she look like?" For the first time since Emma appeared on their radar, Mike was interested in knowing these details.

"Why so suddenly do you want to know?" The Magna Defender had his suspicions as he too was feeling a closeness with Emma.

"Humor me." Mike was feeling a different kind of closeness to Emma.

The Magna Defender deeply sighed and relented. "She's not very tall, I'd say close to five feet in height. Her hair is long and dark as the night sky, her eyes are a deep chestnut. Emma's complexion is that of golden hour in the evening, pink and red hues when she weeps. Her smile is sweet, bright and kind even when she's blue." He described Emma in perfect detail to paint a picture of her for Mike.

Mike envisioned Emma, "she's beautiful." If only he could see her with his own eyes. "I want to give her a gift for her birthday."

The Magna Defender could feel a strange exhilaration in her chest…but it wasn't coming from him. "Absolutely not!" He won't allow Mike's feelings cloud his judgment. "I know what you are doing Mike."

"Please." His voice softened. "The crystal cave by the grotto, make her a necklace."

"No Mike! That's enough." Magna Defender's remorse heightened albeit protecting Mike's heart. He wasn't going to egg on Mike's budding feelings.

As the sun rose in the morning, the storm cleared and the fresh scent of morning dew along with the rays of light woke Emma. Her wounds in the process of healing and scarring, bruises marking her body caused tinges of pain but it was bearable.

"Good morning, Princess Emmalee." The Magna Defender returned with food and water.

"G'morning, Magna Defender." Emma accepted the sustenance. "Y'know you can just call me Emma." No need for the formality, not to mention she didn't favor being addressed as such.

"You are the princess, are you not?" His tone of voice conveyed some playfulness, much to both Mike & Emma's surprise.

Returning a glance of amusement she giggled and shook her head, "I'll make an exception for you." He did serve the Kingdom after all. "I should return to the ship." After finishing her breakfast she set the bowl down and stood up, hissing a bit from the sting of her bruises and abrasions. "Thank you, Magna Defender. I am in your debt." She smiled, ready to respectfully bow.

Gently placing his hands on Emma's shoulders he stopped her from bowing. The act was kind and respectful and he felt honored, but it was he who should be bowing to her. "You don't owe me anything." He responded before presenting her a small leather pouch.

"For me?" Emma beamed as she accepted the pouch and opened it to see its contents. Inside she found a beautiful necklace of a radiant crystal that looked like a droplet of dew. It was breathtaking! "Wow…it's beautiful!" She concluded this was a birthday gift since the Magna Defender simply nodded in response. "Thank you, Magna Defender." Feeling impulsive with gratitude she wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly.

The Magna Defender didn't know how to respond to the embrace so he stood there and let her hold him. It felt surprisingly…comforting.

"Thank you, Magna Defender." Mike echoed. "If only I could hold her, myself…" He sighed.

Hearing Mike's commentary he acknowledged his sentiments. The Magna Defender wrapped his arms around Emma, returning her embrace knowing Mike would never have the opportunity to do so himself. Feeling his heart tighten and flutter, a sudden electric current-like emotion made him tighten his embrace on Emma.

Emma felt comforted in the Magna Defender's embrace…the feeling expressed through the exchange felt different. He felt different. Looking up to meet where his eyes would be behind his helmet she felt different. What was she experiencing? Why was she beginning to feel like this?

Clearing his throat he let go of Emma and stepped away from her. He was screwed. He was really screwed.

"Take care, your Highness." The Magna Defender bowed and exited the cave.

"Happy birthday, Emma." Mike voiced.

Mike's longing from freedom heightened, but would freedom ever be possible or would it be another illusion like Emma?...