Ok, managed to get this one out in two days.

Been trying to write pieces of it during work breaks and free moments.

this one has a lot of bouncing back and forth on "scene focus."

and for that I apologize.

nevertheless- I hope you enjoy!


"Is everyone in place?"

Tommy leaned against the wall by a vent entrance with Kat and Adam. Adam knew the area where Billy was being kept, and Tommy remembered some of the layout from when he was brainwashed and kept here.

"We're set." Jason stood with Rocky and Tanya, preparing to stand before the front door of the Machine Empire's base.

-PR-

"I'm making my way into the cavern," Kim responded. She looked around with a flashlight, although some of the rocks in the wall gave off their own glow.

"Kim, if there is any issue, contact us immediately," Adam told her. "I have a lock on your location and can have Alpha pull you out."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Kim glanced around, sighing. "Alright crystal…where are you?"

-PR-

"Mondo!" Jason called. "We have come for our friend!"

Mondo looked down at them.

"You are very brave to come here," he told them. "Or very stupid."

Without a word, Cogs started to funnel out of the gate.

"I'm beginning to feel more stupid," Rocky said, lifting his arms in defense.

"We just have to last long enough for the others to reach Billy." Jason reminded him.

"Let's do this," Tanya started to swing at the cog closest to her.

-PR-

"It should be this way," Tommy led the way down the corridor.

They reached the cell that they thought Billy would be in, but he was nowhere to be found.

"He's not here," Kat looked at Adam and Tommy. "Where else could he be?"

"Looking for someone?" Came Sprocket's voice behind them.

The trio turned and lifted their hands.

"Where is Billy?" Tommy demanded.

"Probably still undergoing some testing," Sprocket said, his tone slightly annoyed.

"Where?" Adam pressed.

"Like I would tell you," the little Prince responded. "Cogs? Get them!"

"This is not good," Adam said. "We can't risk them pushing us back into the cell, or we are as good as caught."

"We have to push to the outside," Tommy replied. "Let's go."

-PR-

"Billy isn't in the cell," came Adam's voice.

"Any idea where he may be?" Jason asked, flipping a cog into another.

"Sprocket said he is being tested on," Kat informed them. "But not where."

"Mondo, you forgot to invite us to the party!" Zedd's voice came from above, as he made his way next to the King.

Tengas were added to the mix.

"Zedd's here!" Rocky called to the others. "We are in danger of being overwhelmed!"

"We have some cogs on our heels, but we should be able to get to you…" Tommy responded.

-PR-

Kim heard the struggle of her friends and hesitated for a moment.

You can't do anything to help them as you are, she reminded herself. You need the crystal.

"Come on. I need you to help everyone," she said out loud, squeezing herself farther into the cavern.

"Then help, you will," came a voice.

Kim froze.

"Who's there?"

"My name is Polla," a young woman appeared, bathed in a warm light. "I am the original bearer of the Twilight Crystal. When there were those in need, I would answer their call with my brother, Castor, bearer of the Midnight Crystal. During a great battle we were weakened and split from each other, unable to continue on."

"And you've been here all this time?" Kim asked.

"My brother fell and I could not revive him. I could not continue on without him. Our crystals cannot last long without the other…" Polla looked down, sad.

Kim had to restrain herself from stepping up to this stranger and pulling her into a hug.

"The Midnight Crystal has fallen into evil hands."

Polla looked at Kim, "Then take comfort that the one who bears the crystal will never hold their strength for long."

"Considering the one who has it is a machine, I don't think it upsets them much. But they will come for this crystal too," Kim bit at her lip. "Please. Let me and my friends protect it."

Polla stepped closer to Kim, studying her.

"The crystals are linked. Once you become the guardian of this crystal, you will be connected to the other. I sense your compassion and believe you to be strong enough to pull the crystal back safely."

Kim wasn't sure how she should feel about that.

"Do the crystals only work together?"

"No. But the balance is needed to sustain the energy for a long period of time. If one should fall, the other can revive them…but there are limits," Polla explained.

Kim didn't need to ask what she meant by "if one should fall."

"My brother and I could reign each other in. We could lend our energy, and at times our balance was absolute and our energy untouchable." Polla seemed to be reliving fond memories. Then her face turned sad again, but only for a moment. She looked into Kim's eyes.

"Become the Twilight Ranger, and return the Midnight Crystal back to the light. Do you accept the challenge?"

Kim nodded.

"I accept the challenge."

-PR-

The Rangers were now reunited on what had turned into the battlefield. Cogs and Tengas attacked from all sides.

"We are going to have to retreat!" Jason advised.

"Not without Billy!" Kat declared.

"Jason may be right," Tommy told her, spinning a kick into the Cog that was coming from behind.

"We need to regroup!"

"Getting tired Rangers?" Zedd inquired from above.

"We have to do something," Rocky said.

"I think it's time for round two," The red lord declared.

Mondo held up his hand, the cogs stopping and backing away, the Tenga's following them.

The Rangers regrouped together and eyed the circle made up of the two kinds of foot soldiers that they were now in the center of.

A robotic voice came from behind them.

"It's my turn, Rangers."

They turned to see the Midnight Ranger flipping over the cogs that were in his way.

The Rangers immediately went into a defensive stance.

"Take it from someone with experience," Tommy informed the purple ranger, "'evil' rangers don't last."

The Midnight Ranger didn't respond as he rushed through them, much like the first time, striking them as he raced past. They all fell as he turned to look at them.

"You didn't learn from the first time," he tilted his head. "That's unfortunate."

They struggled to their feet, resuming their defensive poses.

He mirrored them.

-PR-

Polla handed Kim the Twilight Crystal.

"May the power protect you," she blessed her successor.

"May you find peace with your brother," Kim wished back.

She looked down at the crystal as a light purple light seemed to consume her.

She felt a wave of warmth, and some slight dizziness.

She felt strength, but also a sense of unease.

"The Midnight Ranger," she realized. "I can sense him too."

She closed her eyes, seeing her friends through the Midnight Rangers eyes.

Stop… she willed into him.

She could see that he had stopped moving. She tried to connect into his mind to figure out how to reach him.

Stop him.

Help him.

Help…him.

"Guys, I have the crystal," she communicated. "But there's something you should know."

-PR-

Their opponent had stopped, raising both hands to his head, and shaking it as if he was trying to clear it.

"Kim, are you alright?" Adam asked, taking advantage of the pause.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But the Midnight Ranger…"

"What are you doing?" Zedd demanded of his pawn. "Attack them!"

"There's…someone else in my head," the purple ranger replied. He clicked his helmet to open it.

A sound over the communicator indicated that Kim was struggling with something.

"Kimberly," Tommy called through to her. "Are you ok?"

"The Midnight Ranger is…"

"Billy!" Kat called.

The rangers watched as the Midnight Ranger lowered his helmet, revealing that Billy had been in the suit.


...don't pretend you didn't know that was where I was going with this.

I left the overly obvious bread crumbs.

next chapter should be out in another day or so!