Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.

Chapter 35 – Powered by Animal Spirits

Tanaya wasn't the only former villain to go missing that week. From the inner Ranger family alone, Camille and Jarrod, Anton and Elsa, and Karone had all been taken. They'd also had news that Leanbow from the Mystic Force team, and Merrick from Wild Force had also been captured along with a couple non-Ranger friends like Ransik. Kim, Jason and Tommy had also had attempts made on them, but as Thrax was doing the kidnapping, and using his parents' Putties, and even Goldar and Rito, to do it, the attempts on them had failed for Kim, Tommy and Jason knew exactly how to deal with those guys, where the others had not. Karone being the only possible exception who may have gotten away had she not been with her baby daughter and could have fought properly without leaving her vulnerable. It appeared Thrax was going after all former villains who had not just been tricked into fighting the Rangers, which would explain why Blake and Hunter as well as Ryan weren't captured, but rather had actually had evil surge through them, even if it was only for a very short amount of time like in Kim and Jason's case.

Kira and Connor had immediately headed to the Command Centre upon hearing the news of their family members' capture, and once the appropriate condolences to significant others, show of rage at the capture, and show of determination to save them had been observed, they then teleported to Ocean Bluff, landing directly in the loft. They'd assumed, and correctly so, that with two of their own gone that JKP would not be open for the moment, and so found everyone waiting in the loft, including one they hadn't expected.

"Lily!" Kira cried, rushing to her friend's side. "You're not with Jarrod?" Lily shook her head and burst into tears, though given her face had already been tear streaked she guessed that Lily had been crying for some time.

"He left me here, said it wasn't safe with Thrax and other villains around." She said through her tears. "I can feel him but barely."

"It'll be ok Lily, we'll get him back." Kira assured her friend, feeling her own anger over the situation rising, hitting home more this time because they were dealing with mates being separated. She knew that if she and Connor were in Jarrod and Lily's position, she would have gotten Connor back already, taking out anyone that got in her way. She knew Lily wanted to do just that, but the difference was that Kira had an ultimate power where Lily did not, so for the elder Cheetah to go against that mass of villains would be suicide, for both her and Jarrod.

"How you holding up Case?" Connor asked the Tiger, having gone to his side while Kira comforted Lily. Casey and Camille had gotten together sometime during that first year after Dai Shi had been defeated. Things had steadily progressed and the two had gotten engaged a few months ago. Camille and Jarrod had breezed through their re-training at Pai Zhuq, moving at a pace that their Masters deemed appropriate. Masters Phant, Finn and Swoop had taken over training the two, giving a perfect blend of allowing the two the time they needed to heal by starting over again while still raising them quickly from the level of Cubs. Lily had gained her Master's Stripes a few months after returning to the Academy and joined Kira in her teaching, Lily's trust in the importance of meditation making up for Kira's lack thereof, while she waited for her mate to finish his training. Just over a year after they'd been freed from Dai Shi, Jarrod and Camille also earned their Master's Stripes, Camille remaining at the Academy with Casey while Lily and Jarrod then took off for a bit to just have time to themselves, before they too returned to the Academy, though lived in Ocean Bluff.

It was around that time that Dom and Fran had returned from their backpacking trip through Europe, and Pai Zhuq gained its newest student. While they'd traveled, Dom had taught Fran the basics of Pai Zhuq and she'd been able to release her Animal Spirit, even if it had been due to a power surge and her Badger Spirit did not make another appearance until a few months after she'd officially started training at the Academy. Fran was very happy with her Badger Spirit, knowing badgers to be creatures who burrowed underground, not liking to be out in the open, like Fran and her mountain of books, but who had close familial ties and who could turn quite vicious and dangerous should their family be threatened. She had progressed in her training and was now on the verge of becoming a senior student. Theo and RJ had continued to run Jungle Karma together and had opened a few more restaurants across the country. Flit had become a top notch employee and remained at the Ocean Bluff location with RJ while Theo managed and made the trips to the other locations, though he stayed in Ocean Bluff as much as possible, visiting the other locations only a couple times a year. All three remained bachelors, though they'd gone out on dates here and there, and were quite happy with that fact for the time being.

"What I don't get is why Thrax would take Jarrod and Camille in the first place." Said Connor. "Neither of them had been turned evil like the others. Camille wasn't even turned she was evil only cause she knew nothing else for over three thousand years. And Jarrod had been possessed, not brainwashed, he hadn't actually been turned evil, his spirit had just been supressed and Dai Shi had used his body for evil. If Thrax is so powerful that he can bring back all this past evil, why not just give Dai Shi his own body back?"

"Because fighting two of our own would tear us apart." Said Kira and Connor smacked himself for not thinking of that himself. "We don't want to hurt either of them, and Casey probably won't even be able to fight Camille in the first place. They may not have a true mate bond, but they are mates."

"I'll fight her." Casey mumbled, earning crazed looks from those around him so he elaborated. "When you told us past evil was being resurrected we all knew Dai Shi would probably come back, and Camille thought there was a possibility they'd take her and she'd actually be turned evil this time. She made me promise not to let her destroy anything or anyone, even if it means I have to fight her. We're going to get her back." He said with absolute confidence. "And when we do I really don't want to face her wrath just cause I didn't want to give her a couple bruises or ruin her pride." He shuddered and Connor and Dom shuddered with him. A fact about Ranger women, and those in the Ranger universe even if they'd never donned the spandex, that seemed to be universal was that they were all strong minded and opinionated, and had their men completely whipped and terrified of ever truly angering them.

"Jarrod was the same." Lily said. "Not in the telling me to fight him, he knows our bond makes that physically impossible, but rather he figured he'd be drawn into it somehow. We weren't really surprised when Dai Shi's spirit came for him. I just never thought he'd leave me behind…" She began to cry again and Kira held her that much tighter, unable to even contemplate not being with Connor. Once everyone, though mainly Lily, had calmed down, Kira and Connor presented the Masters with a gift.

"We had Alpha make them." Connor explained when they opened the case to reveal their own Solar Morphers. "They're the same ones you used for the final battle, or what we thought was the final battle, against Dai Shi, except these are permanent. I've got mine too."

"We're not stupid enough to think you'd sit this one out, even if you controlled the Spirit Rangers." Kira said. "Of course that option is still available to…yeah I didn't think so." She didn't even finish her sentence for the look all three Masters sent her clearly told her it was unnecessary. She and Connor then turned to Fran and handed her a Morpher as well.

"We don't exactly know where you are in your training." Kira said. "The Morphers are powered by your Animal Spirit, and it takes a great deal of power to do so, but if you, and your Master, think you're ready, it's yours." Fran took the Morpher then turned hesitantly to Master Finn. He had taken on the duties as her primary Master, not believing Dom to be the best candidate given their relationship, and wanting to see to it himself, genuinely liking Fran, and deeming it an honour to teach his former student's mate; a feeling that was reciprocated by Fran.

"I'm not exactly sure." He said truthfully, and Fran nodded in agreement, having been of similar thoughts. "Your Animal Spirit is powerful, I have no doubt that it could power the Morpher, but sustaining it is another question. Battles can take a long time, and you have not achieved the level in your training where you and your Spirit are constantly in harmony. Without that, the Morpher may work for a short period of time, but not for the length of a battle."

"And if it doesn't I only become a liability." Fran said.

"Hold on." Said Casey. "Why would Fran have any trouble sustaining the Morpher? I didn't, and she's almost a senior student, where I was a Cub."

"I'd say there's two reasons for that." RJ said. "Firstly, you have an extremely powerful innate ability with your Animal Spirit."

"It's what let you send Jarrod flying that day without even trying." Lily added.

"And secondly,"

"You knew a desperation that Fran doesn't." Kira said. "Animal Spirits operate a great deal on emotions and when Dai Shi was first released there was no one to fight him. You, and your Animal Spirit, truly felt that if you did not make this happen, if you didn't become a Ranger, then Dai Shi would win, and Earth would fall."

"Even if Fran's mind tells her that becoming a Ranger could only help the cause, the fact remains that she knows there are other Rangers to fight Dai Shi." Master Finn continued. "That desperation isn't there, and wouldn't appear unless we were all destroyed."

"And we mean all. She knows the other Rangers, knows they'll come and help, She'd have to be the only possible Power Ranger left to sustain the Morpher before she's truly ready." Said Connor.

"But she will sustain it." Kira hastened to assure them, especially Fran. "Like Master Finn said, there's no doubt she's strong enough to do it…it just might not be this time around." Fran smiled at her friend, knowing exactly what she was trying to do.

"It's ok guys, I know I may not be ready." She said. "I fully accept that and I know that some day I will be strong enough. Just the fact that you trust me with a Morpher…"

"Of course we trust you! We trust you with our lives! You're family Fran, we love you!" While Kira had inherited her mother's kind heart, she'd also inherited her father's aversion to 'mushy moments' as he called them. Like Tommy, Kira preferred to hide those moments behind fact, nonchalance, and even sarcasm, so the fact that she made that heartfelt statement, followed by a hug and even the shedding of a tear, was a sight for all those gathered.

"Thanks…" Fran mumbled, awkwardly patting Kira on the back as she looked to Connor for an explanation, though he merely shrugged, letting them know it was nothing to worry about, opting not to say 'she tends to get emotional just before she goes into heat.' With that, they chalked the rare and odd moment up to the high emotions circulating along with the fear of the current situation, and promptly let it go. Though part of that may have had to do with the alarms suddenly blaring throughout the loft.

"Haven't heard that sound in five years." RJ muttered as they all turned towards the TV screen. Sure enough, Rin Shi were terrorizing the city, with Camille and Jarrod/Dai Shi not far behind them.

"Looks like the whole gang's back together." Casey muttered disheartened, seeing Camille once again looking like the evil villain she once was.

"Yeah, and they brought some old friends." Theo added seeing that the Rin Shi weren't the only monsters around, the Overlords had returned as well.

"We can take them." Said Dom. "We're stronger then ever." The others agreed and made to run out the door before turning back towards Lily and Fran.

"I'll watch over her." Fran said, putting an arm around Lily who was glued to the TV from the moment Jarrod had shown up.

"Watch over yourself too." Dom said, bending to give his mate a kiss before the Rangers actually did run out of the loft and headed downtown.

"Hey!" Casey called to Dai Shi when they appeared on the street behind him. Dai Shi turned and a snarl graced his face.

"So, you have shown up." He said. "No matter how many you are, you shall not defeat me this time. You only succeeded because my host helped you, but not this time."

"I'm sure Jarrod will be helping us a lot, especially when he hears about the horrible shape his mate is in." Connor growled, not liking this guy on principle, but it was also personal for he was separating two true mates, who happened to be Connor's friends. At the Lion Ranger's words, Dai Shi grabbed his head as Jarrod fought against him with a vengeance. No matter how powerful a force, the bond between mates could not be stopped if the other was in danger.

"She's not in danger." They heard Dai Shi growl, no doubt speaking to Jarrod. "I can sense her as you can, she's upset, but in no danger." Eventually the added power Thrax had given Dai Shi was able to push Jarrod down once Dai Shi made him see that Lily really wasn't in any danger. The arch-enemy then turned his sights on Connor, looking less then impressed.

"A ploy like that will not work again." He said. "And I shall destroy you first for even trying it!"

"Bring it." Kira hissed, taking a step forward in front of Connor.

"Gladly." He hissed back before nodding to Camille who gave the orders.

"Rin Shi prepare for battle!" The Overlords too prepared, though they received no orders. Dai Shi was more powerful then them now, unlike last time, but they were still formidable opponents, and so Dai Shi was content to let them do as they wished so long as they destroyed the Rangers.

"Pai Zhuq! Order of the Claw!" The Rangers cried in return, holding aloft their arms, their Master's Stripes in plain view. Then, not giving the Rin Shi anymore time to prepare, they all pulled out their Morphers.

"Jungle Beast, Spirit Unleashed!"

"With the Strength of the Tiger! Jungle Fury Red Ranger!"

"With the Stealth of the Jaguar! Jungle Fury Blue Ranger!"

"With the Speed of the Cheetah! Jungle Fury Yellow Ranger!"

"With the Courage of the Wolf! Jungle Fury Wolf Ranger!"

"With the Power of the Rhino! Jungle Fury Rhino Ranger!"

"With the Spirit of the Shark! Jungle Fury Shark Ranger!"

"With the Spirit of the Bat! Jungle Fury Bat Ranger!"

"With the Spirit of the Elephant! Jungle Fury Elephant Ranger!"

"With the Spirit of the Lion! Jungle Fury Lion Ranger!"

Fully morphed, the Rangers wasted no time in charging their enemies. Finn, Swoop and Phant dealt with the Rin Shi while RJ and Dom took on Camille. Casey, Kira and Theo each took on an Overlord, while Dai Shi had kept to his word and gone after Connor. Kira was fully intent on holding true to her own word and dealing with Dai Shi herself if he so much as left a scratch on her mate, but Connor never gave him the chance.

"A lot has changed in four years." Connor growled to his opponent, who had morphed into Jarrod's Lion Armour.

"You are stronger." Dai Shi grudgingly admitted.

"Stronger then you'll ever know." While Connor was alluding to the prophecy, which they had to assume Dai Shi knew of for Jarrod had and Dai Shi now controlled him, he did not necessarily have to be alluding to anything beyond the obvious. When their battle allowed for them to take in their surroundings, both Connor and Dai Shi saw that the Rin Shi had been defeated easily, no surprise there, but were also just in time to watch the Overlords be easily defeated, relatively speaking, thus making the Rangers more powerful then Dai Shi ever suspected. With only himself and Camille left, Dai Shi pulled back, ready to watch the show as the Overlords grew big.

"Animal Spirits unite as one!" All nine Rangers called, their Animal Spirits leaving them and forming the Zords. However, instead of then forming the Megazords, their Spirits gathered together, each Ranger joining with their Spirit, and stood facing the Overlords, the Rhino pawing the ground as if preparing to charge, which was exactly what they were going to do.

"Stampede!" They called together, sending their Zords rushing at the Overlords, de-solidifying just before they hit them, making the hit one of pure energy and power rather then a physical one, which also made it that much more effective; the Overlords didn't stand a chance. Having been brought back to life for no more then twenty-four hours, Grizzaka, Carnisoar, and Jellica were once again sent to the Spirit World, though how they had escaped when the Masters had cast their powers to ensure such a thing never happened again they didn't know, they assumed it had something to do with Thrax. When the Rangers returned to the ground, having summoned their Spirits back to them, it was to find Dai Shi and Camille gone, neither of them having wanted to stick around to watch their defeat. It was with both light and heavy hearts that the Rangers returned to the loft. Light because they'd defeated three of their toughest enemies with relative ease, meaning they were a lot stronger then before, but heavy because of the situation as a whole. Lily had a small, sad smile on her face when they came in and she thanked Connor for having brought Jarrod out for that moment. Though Dai Shi had remained in control, Jarrod's stronger presence had allowed their bond to open more and for them to speak for a brief moment, which did wonders for both of them.

"Flit went back to giving play by plays." Fran commented when things went silent for awhile.

"I can't help it, it's what I do." Said the man in question who was rifling through the fridge. "But what a battle to witness!"

"I'm sure it was Flit." Said RJ, cutting him off before he could get going.

"So now what do we do?" Dom then asked. "I doubt Dai Shi's gonna just give up."

"We stay and fight." Said Lily.

"Lil-" Theo started but was cut off.

"I'm not going to fight him myself, T." She assured her best friend. "I may not be able to go out into battle, but I'm not just gonna sit around crying my eyes out waiting for him to come back."

"Well you're welcome to stay here Lily." RJ offered, though he ultimately knew it was unnecessary, members of their group randomly crashed at the loft when they felt like it and RJ had no say in it, though truthfully he didn't want one. After a year of living in close quarters with all of them, it was weird to go back to the way it was so he encouraged their presence at JKP, and in the loft, whenever possible.

"Thanks RJ."

"Unfortunately Kira and I can't stick around for long." Connor said. "There's other teams that need our help."

"Not to mention Mesogog is bound to show up at some point." Kira muttered.

"Damn, I'd forgotten about him…though not really since Thrax took Anton and Elsa."

"I know the feeling. Unfortunately the return of Mesogog means that we're pretty much stuck in Reefside." Kira explained. "We're on two teams of Rangers, and without us, there's only three Dino Rangers, but seven of you. But you call us if you need us. Especially if you need the Zords. I can send the Cheetah in from Reefside if I can't actually join you guys at that time."

"Unless we're with another team we'll be at Tommy and Kimberly's." Said Connor. After nearly ten years Connor had finally, a few months ago, stopped calling them Dr. and Mrs. O and started using their first names. This had occurred after Eric had asked why Connor spoke to them so formally when he's known them longer then Eric himself had known his own parents. Everyone had balked at that question, for the truthful answer would be because you just felt the need to be formal with them when you returned their teenage daughter home the next morning after a night of sex cause she was in heat when you knew that they knew what had taken place. However, instead of explaining that to an eight year old, Connor had merely said that Eric was right, it was stupid and had begun calling them by their first names. While initially Tommy and Kim, well really just Tommy, wanted the formality back, they wouldn't fault Connor's answer when given the alternative and so had gotten used to it.

"We know how to contact you." Said Master Phant. Connor and Kira nodded before joining the group down in JKP for a night of pizza and just spending time all together like they hadn't been able to do in awhile, even if two of their number were missing. Kira and Connor stayed for a few days and fought alongside the Jungle Fury Rangers one more time before they were indeed called away as they'd predicted. This time to a state of the art command centre in the bowels of a mansion on the outskirts of San Angeles.

A/N - Fran's the Badger! And she has a Morpher! Though whether we'll actually get to see her use it, or if it'll just be implied she uses it at a later date I truthfully don't know yet.

These chapters are feeling kind of like an actual episode of Power Rangers to me in the sense that they're kind of short, and a bit rushed. More specifically they feel like "Time for Lightspeed" the Lightspeed/Time Force one episode team up that had so much potential if only they'd spent more time on it.

Now I'm not saying I dislike these "tribute chapters" as I'm calling them, and they are pretty much fulfilling the purpose I gave them of touching base with each team of Rangers and giving them the spotlight for a bit (even if Kira and Connor still have major roles). I never intended these chapters to delve deep like the rest of the story, though I am now getting slightly concerned that I'm not delving deep enough and these chapters are just superfluous (a big word to mean unnecessary or redundant). If you've got an opinion on this let me know!

Review please!