A\N: JW Apparel, if you don't log in I can't reply to your review. Sorry. :( On the other hand, your concerns will be addressed here...keep an eye out for 'em! And to all my wonderful reviewers-enjoy! :)

A\N 2: Um...sorry? *ducks flying objects* I was REALLY busy! I'm back now! *holds up chapter as a shield and runs away*

I have negotiated peace between the Council of Light and the United Alliance of Evil. I have negotiated the main factions of the UAE into using a single language. I have negotiated the UAE into signing a law dictating standardized, high-quality education for all children and remedial education for adults. I have even negotiated universal health care for UAE citizens.

But negotiating the energy streams of a teenager is still the hardest fight I've ever had.

That is not in the least, I muse as I try another approach, because teenagers are inherently stubborn.

Tommy's clinging to something. What that is, I'm not sure. It's at the heart of this conflict, though. As the Dark and Light energy rage around me, I seek deeper, trying to ignore the fact that not only is it incredibly chaotic in Tommy's head, it's slightly ironic given the battle he's become a pawn of. Or perhaps symbolic...he is a Shade, after all.

And then something hits me in the head.

I count to ten. Then I return enough to say, without opening my eyes, "The next person who throws something into my general vicinity, whether it hits me or not, is going to find themselves dealing with an oversized Goldar in downtown Angel Grove."

Someone-Zack, probably-mutters a sheepish apology, and they go back to whatever they were doing.

They really are trying to be good, I muse irritably, but they're incredibly active teenagers. Playing soccer with a bit of paper is actually the best I'm going to get out of them.

After this, I'm taking time off.

I smile as the idea hits, beginning to search through Tommy's energy streams again. Hmm...perhaps Scorpina and I could go to Ni'ani'a. Now there's a lovely planet, all lush and green with wonderful spas. Maybe I should invite Luna, too. A girl's day out sounds ideal.

First, however, Tommy.

I'm halfway through his energy streams, again, when something hits me, again. I open my eyes and see...Trini. Holding a plate of food.

I look around.

The Rangers are asleep, lounging on chairs (Jason and Billy), the foot of Tommy's bed (Kimberly), and even the floor (Zack). Zack also seems to think Jason's ankle is a stuffed animal, from the way he's clinging to it. That boy is bizarre. Amusing, but highly bizarre.

"Rita, you need to eat."

I frown at Trini, then settle back into normal time. "Yes. Probably." I wince at my hoarseness. "Thank you, Trini."

"What were you doing?" Trini asks, perching next to Tommy as I try to have better table manners than a rabid petrabear.

"Find the source of the conflict. It's...difficult." I admit between mouthfuls. "I don't totally understand the symbols I'm seeing."

"Which ones?" Trini asks.

I shake my head. "You should sleep. It's late." I should probably send them to their own houses. They can always come back tomorrow.

"I want to know." Trini insists.

I smile. "No, ni'in. Tomorrow. Tonight, you and all the others need to go home. Trust me, sleep is more important than studying sometimes." Although that's probably the last time you'll ever hear me say that.

"Ni'in?" Trini repeats, frowning.

"Little one. Sweetheart. Something like that." I reply, walking over to my stalv. "The direct translation is 'little female', but it's gender-neutral." Trini nods again. She'd be a good Witch. I should introduce her to Luna.

But tomorrow.

I look over the Rangers, then shut my eyes. "Merry met, Trini."

"Until tomorrow." Trini says a bit firmly. Small wonder she can boss around the Red Ranger.

I smile and wave my stalv.

The power surges from me and easily sends the children home. I look at Tommy and smile fondly. He's still under.

I sigh and head out to my balcony.

A swift check reveals all as it should be: children in the right homes, parents not worried (although I'm starting to see why-most just don't give a damn), and Zordon with a giant-ass hole in his shields and sending Alpha V running around screaming about the malfunctioning electronics. I snicker a bit at that, pleased at my handiwork.

Then I turn and head for my own bed.

Psychics, Witch or no, tend to need a good deal more sleep than normal for their species. I'm no exception. My rest is light, irritated by dreams, and long to make up for the lack of depth.

And so, of course, it was interrupted.

By Zordon.

I dragged myself out of bed with only half an idea as to why before seeing Goldar and Scorpina yelling at a very tired-looking projection of Zordon. I remember my earlier blow and smirk. The memory is better than coffee.

"Zordon!" I say cheerfully. "Recovered yet?"

"WHERE IS MY GREEN RANGER?"

"Asleep, nimrod, and if you ever do a single damn thing with your telepathy involving those kids again I'll take your tube and shove it up your ass." I snap, my mood darkening instantly. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"THAT I WISHED TO BE SURE NONE OF YOUR INFLUENCE REMAINED. APPARENTLY I WAS TOO LAX." Apparently...that's it, I'm finding a way to kill you before Tommy goes anywhere near you again.

"He's a child, you pompous twit!" I snarl. "You do not ever mind-scan a child! Ever!"

"AND YET YOU DO SO REGULARLY."

"Because, unlike you, I have this little thing called training. Have you ever tried it, Zordon? Or is being intelligent an insult among mutated freaks of nature?"

Zordon, ever-sensitive of his bizarre form of dwarfism, goes silent.

"For your information," I continue, trying to rein in my temper, "Tommy is suffering from alshiva. I'm sure you know what that is."

"AND WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS AT THE ROOT OF THIS...ISSUE?" Zordon asks coldly.

"I have no idea. Your Power Brats were up here annoying me the entire time I was trying to work!" I snap, then take a breath. "I am going to go sleep. Tomorrow, kindly take your Rangers and train them. Do something with them. Take them on a goddamn field trip. Just get them to stop bothering me! And whatever the hell you did to Tommy-"

"AND WHAT, EXACTLY, MAKES YOU THINK I DID SOMETHING?" Zordon asks acidly.

"Who else would have?" I screech.

"PERHAPS THE WOMAN WHO ORIGINALLY ENSLAVED HIM?"

"I was trying to save him, you idiot! And if you hadn't decided to lock me in a zarking dumpster-"

"IT WAS A FATE YOU BROUGHT UPON YOURSELF."

"Oh, bullshit, that was part of a fight, Fate had nothing to do with it."

"YOU ARE A WANTED CRIMINAL. CAPTIVITY WAS GETTING OFF LIGHTLY."

"Lightly? Lightly? When I betrayed every single value I possessed because I was driven insane? That was 'lightly'?"

"What the hell are you two talking about?"

...Aand now Tommy's awake. Wonderful.

I look at the boy and sigh. "Nothing. Go to bed."

"TOMMY." Zordon says.

"Zordon?" Ouch. Please, Tommy, project the image of a small, prickly, and highly angry animal more loudly, I think I still don't have a migraine.

"Enough." I say, settling the fight before it starts. "Tommy, bed."

"I'm bored." Tommy mock-whines, still glaring at Zordon. "I was sleeping all day."

"Then go annoy Goldar." That seems to shut you up. What was it that one Earth author said? Parents aren't interested in justice, just in quiet? I think I'm starting to understand that...

"No. I want to kill Zordon."

"That's not Zordon. That's a hologram. And you're sixteen, you're too young to kill people." No, monsters don't count, they aren't really sentient.

"So when am I allowed to kill people?" Tommy snaps, still glaring.

"Eighteen. Go to bed."

"I kill monsters."

"They aren't sentient. And they don't bleed everywhere." Why am I having this conversation? Oh, yes, because I bonded to the boy. Rita, next time you feel the urge to do a mothering spell, remember this. It will save you a lot of headaches.

"Zordon's a monster."

"No, Zordon's an Eltarian with dwarfism and an undiagnosed mental illness. He is also on Earth. You are on the moon, which means you cannot kill him because of simple logistics."

Tommy finally turns and looks at me. "But I wanna!"

I sigh and point at the door.

Tommy snorts and heads off, adding a rude hand gesture to Zordon. Or possibly Goldar, who's been watching this exchange with apparent amusement. I turn back to the hologram, sighing. "Go away." I tell Zordon shortly.

"I WANT TOMMY BACK."

I tell him to do something I'm pretty sure Tommy can't hear, otherwise I wouldn't say it. Then I turn, storm out, and nearly walk into Tommy, who was hovering in the hallway.

"That was awesome." Tommy says with a very large grin.

Damn. "You," I inform him, pointing a finger and smiling, "Are never to repeat that, got it?"

"Yep!" So the others are hearing about it first thing in the morning. How wonderful.

"Good. Go find something to do. Don't break things and don't get in fights with the monsters." I tell him, then turn for bed.

KABOOM!

The entire room shakes, and I fall to the ground. What the-

Tommy curses like a sailor, his nose broken somehow. How the hell did he do that? I should lock him in a padded room or something. Honestly, boys. I stand and wave at him, healing the nose. What in the name of a thousand hells is going on?

Goldar runs out and nearly into me. "My Queen! Someone's attacking us!"

I sigh and head for the throne room. "Goldar, when you report to me identify attackers!" I snap. Wonderful, there are warships filling the sky. I study them carefully. Eltarian make, even better.

I wave my hand.

Zordon reappears. "What the hell is going on?" I demand without preamble.

"ELTARIAN CITIZENS ARE ALLOWED TO CLAIM PLANETS FOR ELTAR."

I blast the screen apart.

"He's on Earth and you're on the moon." Tommy drawls, smirking.

"Do as I say, not as I do." I shoot back before glancing around. "All right, Finster, go start making monsters. Baboo, Squatt..." I see the duo have returned from their week-long trip to a dump and grimace. "Go clean up, then get me some coffee and help Finster. Goldar, Scorpina, stay nearby."

"What're you gonna do?" Tommy asks, a little boy asking what Mommy does at work all day.

I smile. "Bring in the Rangers."