Chapter Six

"Trini's Request"

Trini crept into the kitchen, shuddering throughout her body with each breath. Richie turned from the boiling pasta, greeting her with a nod before stirring the sauce again.

Trini smiled, yet her eyes still tingled with dry tears. Crusted layers of dry salt lined her nose and cheeks, aging her more beyond her graceful prime. Her bawls no longer relieved her pain. It remained—immune to evisceration like a crater in the sea.

She wanted to confess her feelings to someone other than a power ranger, even though she knew she would be breaking Zordon's third Ranger rule: Keep your identity a secret. No one may know you are a power ranger. She had lived by that rule ever since after her first ranger battle. Her sense of honor, duty, and responsibility had always prevailed to preserve the greater good.

Yet she could no longer remain silent or inactive. She had been forced to be so for six years. Release and solace would never be hers as long as apathy governed her mind. Even her death would cause pain for her friends, adding more weight to her shame. Instead, for the first time in eight days, her path glistened with clarity.

She could tell Richie. He had proven himself already by taking her in and respecting her wishes of privacy. Trini knew Richie would honor her identity. Of the people she had met in her life, he had exemplified all of the Power Ranger qualities: Honor, Courtesy, Integrity, Compassion, Benevolence, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Loyalty. If given the opportunity, he would have made an extemporary Power Ranger.

"Richie?" she said with a half quiver in her voice, as she headed to the table.

"Hmm?" he responded, looking up at her. "What's up?"

"I have something I need to tell you," Trini said, sitting down at the kitchen bar.

Trini drew in a long deep breath in hopes of quieting her anxiety. Unfortunately, her anxiety remained rooted and tangled within her heart. Stepping beyond her hesitation was close to impossible from her standpoint.

No more than six feet away, Richie raised his eyebrows in earnest curiosity. "Are you going to tell me why you are here instead of with your friends?"

Shaking, she nodded. "Yes."

Back in his vision quest, Zack had been climbing for at least half an hour and already he was getting tired. He had climbed huge rock mesas in Nevada but this Monolith was in a league of its own.

Obviously, the task was daunting, which Zack had attacked with relish and excitement. Challenging himself in such tasks had dominated his life the past five years. Exceptionally proud and glad of where he was, rising the bar of his abilities—pushing the envelope—had filled a calling that roared with yearning. While he did not consider himself a "superman" his studies into personal fitness had created a yearning to find out what the human body was capable of.

This task fit the bill. While roots, branches, and stones and clefts helped him along the way, several times he had to burrow his way into the very side of the Monolith, inching himself up bit by bit. Sometimes there were no clear stones and he had to claw his way up, literally digging his fingers into the Monolith's surface, and pushed himself up.

Groaning and gasping as his hands cracked and slit open, he kept going. My friends are counting on me, he said, shaking dissuasion from his mind and climbing higher—never looking immediately down. As the mountain side sloped outward and back, he dug into the ground, clinging to the foundation of this former house of power.

Yet as he ascended, power grew within him. He had long passed the stray vine or root for assistance. It was now his will pitted against his exhaustion. Wanting to look up also, he forbade it, binding his vision to the front and anything immediately above his head. By focusing on and in the moment, he was barred from fueling his apprehension or so he thought.

Not carrying a watch, Zack had no clue how long he had been at this. Fatigue began to set in his arms as aches grew from his back. Now and then he darted to his immediate surroundings, disappointed only to find more sand and dirt yielding no crevice large enough or cliff to rest on. However, he reminded himself that had he been given the option to rest, he would have had climbing gear and have been able to hang in midair.

This was a test of endurance, perseverance, and loyalty to his friends. Zack understood this. He needed to be a fully energized power ranger not a leech. Jason had taken too much from them already before a full day had passed. It was time to turn the tide in this. While their defeat over The Skunk, had been gratifying, all of the rangers knew that they needed to be whole in order to win this struggle.

Refueled with the fire of passion, he grabbed a stone. His hand slippery with fresh blood and dirt, he slipped lost his footing, dangling with one hand perched on a three inch deep stone.

On Mt. Rogers, Sean kicked a tenga away from Zack's body for the fifth time. While fatigue consumed his body, he had raised his mind above it, channeling energy and support from the air, ground, and life around him—even minute amounts from the tengas. Through all six senses, he was aware of and anticipated each of the tenga's assaults. With a mastery of Martial Arts that reviled that of S.E.A.L.S., he reduced many of them to unconsciousness. Within moments none remained standing. Exertion waning on his body, he mustered his outward and inner composure without yielding any signs to his enemies. Instead he glared at the four of them, patiently awaiting their next move.

Goldar and Scorpina launched forward, Goldar attacking from above while Scorpina attacked from the ground. Leaping into the air, Sean twisted and punched both of them at the same time while simultaneously transforming into his Ninjetti attire instead of his full ranger costume. The boost of power from the transformation knocked both of them to the ground.

"You bore me, Lord Zedd, with these antics," Sean said as Goldar and Scorpina crawled to their feet. "Or perhaps I am too old."

"Enough of this!" snarled Lord Zedd, charging his staff and then unleashing a storm of lighting at Sean.

"Ninja ranger beams, now!" Sean brought his hands together in the shape of a hand gun, pressed them into his chest and then extended them outward, unleashing a web of green energy at Zedd's attack, stopping it but not canceling it. Instead the two of them stood grounded in both form and resolve—unrelenting until the other yielded. Zedd continued pouring energy into his staff, refusing to lose.

Taking the hint, Rita blasted red lighting from her staff as well. Scorpina fired several fireballs from her armored hand as Goldar shot a flurry of eyeblasts at the energy web. Energizing their swords, they crossed them and unleashed a continuous fiery blast also.

Sean maintained his position, calling forth support and sustenance.

Back on Phados, Zack hung for his life forgetting that he was in a vision quest. Air touching his toes, he caught a glimpse of the Neola Jungle's canopy a mile and a half below him.

"Whoa, shit!" he yelled, tearing his vision away from the height to the Monolith's side. Noticing another crevice beside his other hand, he seized it, gripping the dirt below him with his toes. Safe for now, he expelled large gulps of air, releasing his stress. Unable to rest completely, he gathered his wits again and looked for a higher crevice or stone to grab. None appeared. Zack snapped his vision around again, and then swept along the same path after remembering patience, subsiding his panic and annoyance. However minute tingles crept into the edges of his fingers as nerve impulses fought through numbness, added more pressure to him. Motivated, Zack tried to find another path. There was none.

"What?" he snapped, his frustration boiling underneath his skin. "You have got to be kidding me! I need to help my friends. How am I supposed to do that if I can't finish this!?" he screamed, slipping. Gritting his teeth, he dug deeper into the Monolith. Frustration blinding his wisdom, he looked straight up. The summit was no more than half a mile away. Defeat crushed over him. Closing his eyes, he bowed his head in shame, hitting the dirt in front of him with his forehead. "I failed," Zack sighed.

"This is the point you needed to reach, Zack," an open throated and resonat voice said from above.

"What?" Zack looked up.

Above Zack was the golden ghost of a male adult lion, clutching the Monolith with its claws. "You were never meant to reach the top; you aren't ready," it said. "Instead, you were forced to see your limitations."

Zack blinked and gawked. "I—I don't… understand." He stiffened his hold on the turf, numbness setting into his toes and shins now.

"In order to fight this war, your friends and you must use more than what you've used before," resumed the Lion. "Otherwise this struggle will be impossible to quell. While Sean is incredible, he cannot do what is outside his capacity. Only as a team, will you win."

Zack continued gapping at the Lion, bewilderment and understand churning within him. "What should I do then?"

"Accept me."

Zack shut his eyes and cleared his mind, forgetting his pains. "I do."

Rearing its head, the Lion roared and leapt into Zack's chest, golden rays shining from Zack's torso.

Back on Earth, sweat formed along Sean's brow as he maintained the defensive energy web. Powerful and disciplined though Sean was, Jason's side had more power charging their attacks whereas Sean had no other source of power except himself. Nevertheless, he funneled all of his focus and energy into one task: protecting Zack.

Yet there was a problem. Sean did not have enough spare energy to use as power. Unsure of what the consequences to Trini and Zack, Sean had refused to morph. However, in order to save Zack's life, he would have to delve deeper into his reservoir. Because his powers were tied to his life force, he knew what he was asking of himself. He did not flinch. There was no time to call for help and he could not spare the energy to do so. Trusting in the greater good, he tapped into the surface of his ranger powers. His web pushed back Zedd's combined blasts a two feet.

Digging into the ground, Zedd smiled behind his mask. "Now, we're getting somewhere," he seethed with glee. With a defiant yell, he intensified his lightning storm.

Rita poured a bit more of her magic into her blasts, transforming her continuous lightning bolt into a blood red energy beam.

Goldar and Scorpina dug a bit more into their reserves. However, their fatigue limit loomed nearby. Worry ebbed at them but if they could tire Sean out any further, it was worth it.

Around all of them, the atmosphere crackled with unresolved energy. Zedd did not care. If killing Sean was the only way to get to Zack, then he would do it.

Sean maintained his position, freeing his mind through meditation. This was a battle of wills and might between him and Lord Zedd. While impressive, Rita's magic was not in the same category as Zedd's. Even if all three of his minions dropped out, Zedd would keep going. Sean neither worried nor contemplated this, but accepted it.

Meanwhile back in the Power Ranger Lair, Haley was still nowhere near cracking through Zedd's force field. According to her calculations and studies, it seemed to be self sustaining, drawing power from the momentum of the energy darts. She knew the force what was necessary to neutralize it, but had no equipment to do it with.

Needing a ten second break, she located Sean's energy pattern and pulled up where he was. Awe consumed her. The readouts she was getting at the levels of energy being unleashed were astounding. For a complete moment she forgot about the force field.

"I'd hate to see Sean when he's fully energized," she muttered. Suddenly, she noticed Zack lying behind Sean. Immediately, she pulled up a wide shot of the battle in the park while opening a communication channel with the rangers. "Guys, we have a problem."

Knocking a putty aside, Tommy brought his communicator toward his mouth piece. "Any news on the force field?"

"I'm sorry, Tommy, but this is way out of my league," she apologized, guilt filling her stomach.

"It's okay, Haley. I know you've never dealt with sorcery before." He ducked from a ball handed putty's attack and side kicked him backwards.

"I know. But Sean is engaged in an energy dual with Goldar, Scorpina, Rita, and Zedd. And the readings don't look good. If this keeps up, they could unleash a lightning storm that could destroy the entire area. And for some reason, Zack's unconscious."

"Can you teleport Zack out of there?" Tommy asked.

"No. We don't have the equipment for it. I can't even neutralize this force field and I know what needs to happen."

"Haley, what is it?" Billy asked.

"Stop the spinning of the energy darts. It's the only thing I can think of."

"Thanks, Haley!" Billy replied. "If we can't teleport out, we might be able to teleport to the edge."

"Go for it, Billy!" Tommy ordered.

On one of the monitors, Haley saw Billy teleport away. "This has to work. Kimberly, behind you!"

Across the State, Richie remained cemented to his chair beside Trini, his face hanging open in shock. For five minutes he resided there, stupefied— incapable of transitioning his thoughts into words. However, only stray words and terms floated around his mind, making it even more difficult for him to speak.

Beside him, Trini watched him intently with a stone face, waiting for him to respond. He had taken the news fairly well that she had used to be a Power Ranger. However, when she explained that Jason was now the Monarch of Evil and that he had raped her, Richie's kind and compassionate demeanor had almost fully crumpled under her tail's weight.

Richie took in another deep gulp of air. "So…" he finally said, "You….you have to kill your husband?" he asked, struggling to understand the gravity of the situation.

"If it comes to that," Trini replied, her voice quivering with suppressed emotion.

Richie scanned her face, narrowing his eyes.

"Man," Richie sighed, "I almost don't want to believe that."

"Believe me," Trini said, "As much as I tell myself it isn't, it is."

Richie got up, walked over to the sink, grabbed a tall glass from the nearest cabinet, and filled it within a centimeter of the top. Bringing it to his lips, he gulped half of it down.

"How long have you been an empath?" he asked after draining half of his glass.

"Apparently almost seven years," Trini replied, bringing a hand to her forehead and massaging her temple. Her eyelids drifted together. "I'm a bit hazy on the details."

Richie regarded her, cocking his head to the side. Here was the woman that had occupied his thoughts ever since he had first met her over a decade ago. He had always intended on asking her out, but was too shy to do so. Therefore, he had settled on exchanging flirty, romantic stares with her from time to time. Now, as he regarded her thoughts of the two of them getting married and raising a family flashed in his mind in a blur of snapshots. He imagined a life where an evil Jason did not exist.

However, a question bloomed within his fantasies, its scent blowing him back to reality.

"Why did you tell me this, Trini?" he asked, refocusing his eyes upon her.

Trini narrowed her gaze upon him. "I have a favor to ask you."

"What is it?"

Trini drew in a deep breath. "I want you to take my place," Trini said.

Richie blinked a few times, pinching his eyebrows together. "Your… your place?" he asked.

Trini reached in her purse and withdrew her power morpher. Richie's eyelids shot into his eye sockets.

"I want you to be the Yellow Ninjetti Ranger," Trini said, holding her morpher to Richie.

On Mr. Rodgers, Sean channeled the raw energy into him, recycling the power flow. Unfortunately, his endurance ebbed a bit. Focusing again, he maintained his resolve and continued pouring power into his web. He could not engage in a hand to hand battle if the web broke.

There was only one choice left. He would sacrifice himself in order to maintain Zack's defenses, trusting in the Greater Good.

Suddenly, rich golden rays shined from behind him. Power sprouted within Sean's mind, and then through his life force. Energized, he strengthened his defenses. In the corner of his mind, he sensed Zack's spirit return. "Zack!" he cried.

Behind Sean, Zack rose to his feet, radiating inner strength and energy. Already morphed in his ranger attire, he rushed over to Sean.

"NO!!!" Rita screamed, fury building within her.

"Sean!" Zack cried.

"I can't hold this back for long," Sean admitted, his voice strained from slitting his concentration. While Zack passing his trial had relinquished a third of Sean's power back to him, Sean's body could not handle the increase of power now surging through him.

Words escaped Zack in his terror.

"You want me to be a power ranger?" Richie exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting into the ceiling.

"Yes," Trini said. "Richie, my friends could today—now. I can sense the battle in the park."

"What battle?"

"Turn on the news."

Richie grabbed the remote, turned on the kitchen TV and turned it to a local news channel. "For those just turning in, we are continuing our live coverage of the battle fought inside of Angel Grove Park between the power rangers and a group of putty hybrids. Many long time citizens will recognize the characteristics of the infamous white Z putties and the gray putties that preceded them in previous years. Another curious element is the impenetrable energy field surrounding the entirety of the park. As the Power Rangers fight desperately, they seem to be fighting a losing battle against larger numbers." Richie flipped the channel, seeing another story covering the Park.

"Richie, you have to help them," Trini said.

"I want to," Richie said. "I can't—I don't know what to do!"

"We didn't either when Zordon chose us," Trini replied. "But he knew that we were the right ones for the job just as I believe in you. You'll be able to help them more than me. The rangers have to be at full strength, and my contribution would weaken that strength."

"Maybe you need more time?"

"There is no more time," she said grimly. And for the first time, a fire burned behind her sunken eyes. "My knowledge and acceptance of that means that the earth is now open to attack. My friends need all the help they can get if they're going to defend this planet."

"They've done it before," Richie interjected.

"Not from an empire like this," Trini pointed out. "Please, Richie."

Hesitation seized Richie as he stared at it, allied with indecision. And then he looked at Trini. It was impossible for her make up a story this elaborate for a hoax. Richie took the morpher, feeling the weight of responsibility as he stared at it. After a few seconds, he blinked and did a double take. Then, remembering what Trini had said about power coins, he cocked his head back at her. "It's empty."

"I know," she said, withdrawing a golden coin about twice the size of a quarter with the emblem of the Bear engraved on its surface from her pocket. "Hold the morpher out for me with both of your hands."

Richie did so.

Trini lifted the coin to her eye level, an invisible bridge linking her memory, sense of self, and, heart, and soul to it through her eyes. Nostalgia poured into the vast caverns behind her skin as memories of when she was a power ranger washed over her.

How much more will I have to sacrifice before this is done? she thought. To save this planet, I'd sacrifice my life but I don't have the heart to go through it. Forgive me, Bear—Zordon. As she accepted her responsibility, her power coin glowed and then shined, almost blinding both of them. The distant growl of the Bear echoed from it, filling the room.

"What was that?" Richie asked, transfixed by the coin.

"My sacred animal. I passed my trial." A smile sprouted from her withered face, cracking through the chains of her depression.

Richie looked at her. "Trini, if you've now earned the right to be a power ranger again, than fight with your friends."

"The Power is mine because I know I cannot use it now," Trini responded. "One day, I will take it but for now, it is yours. Ritchie, my friends will die if you don't help them."

Realizing he was stalling with excuses, he nodded, having known his answer already. "I'll do it."

She smiled, happiness warming her core for the first time in days. "Then take this coin, and be a power ranger," she said, putting her coin into the morpher.

Immediately, it shined bright yellow, and engulfed Richie in its light and then receded back into the morpher. Richie gazed at it. The emblem of the Bear had not changed.

"I guess your sacred animal is the Bear also," Trini surmised. "Thank you."

Richie stared into her eyes, saturated with pride and awe. In his eyes, he told her he would not fail her and she understood, having not lost her empathy. Taking off her communicator, she handed it to him. "Go. Help my friends."

He nodded, backing up while putting the communicator around his wrist. "How do I make this work?" he asked, referring to the morpher.

"Hold it in front of yourself and say, 'It's morphin time' and then 'Bear Ninjetti Power'."

He nodded. "Okay. It's morphin time! Bear Ninjetti Power!" And through the swirl of light he transformed into the Yellow Ninjetti Ranger.

Through his fatigue and strain, Sean sensed the light of Trini's power brighten and leave him, dependent entirely on itself. Relieved that he no longer needed to be the bearer of her powers, he embraced his immediate present and morphed into his ranger form. Not yielding to despair, he questioned what to do now. As long as Zedd continued pouring power into his blasts, Sean could not cancel it out. Plus, the atmosphere was growing more unstable. If Zedd did not let up, they could all be destroyed.

"Zack," Sean said. "The others are still at the Park. Go there and help them."

"Let me help you."

"This… is beyond your level of experience. If you don't leave now, you won't be able to soon."

The finality was clear. Zack agreed. "Take care of yourself." He teleported away.

"You let him get away!" Rita shrieked.

"Shut up and kill him!!!!" Zedd roared, abating his barrage and charging forward at Sean.

Goldar and Scorpina sank to their knees, winded beyond past experience.

Rita however, did not move, gob smacked by Zedd's fury—no, rage. Fearful that she would hinder their efforts, she remained on the side.

Meanwhile, after dissolving his web, Sean launched a concentrated force of chi at Zedd. Lord Zedd dodged it and swung the Z of his staff at Sean's head. No time for weapons, Sean blocked with his forearms. The force knocked him back and Zedd's second swing on the other side with the bottom of his staff knocked him back as well. However, in the instant Zedd spun around for another staff attack, Sean spun in the opposite direction and slammed his heel into Zedd's side. Zedd tumbled onto the ground.

"You lost, Zedd," Sean said through heaves of breath. "The chains on my life force are dissolved!"

Goldar leapt forward, preparing an overhead slash at Sean. Grabbing his Dragon Dagger, Sean parried the blow, backed away and kicked Goldar back a couple of feet.

Scoffing, Zedd stomped to his feet. "We still have you!"

Feeling the weariness possess his body once more, Sean silently sighed, accepting the limits of his body. Regardless, he would endure.