A\N: To my unsigned reviewers, again, no logging in means no reply, because I check my email before I get coffee and forget anything you've said. Sorry. However, thank you for the compliments and some inspiration. And I am going to pin Ilion-Aria's post on my wall, because it inspired this, and she gave me a Tommy bodyguard, so blame her. *ducks behind Tommy*

The Rangers aren't in their homes.

They aren't in the park, on the beach, in any of the various meetings of world leaders, or hiding out somewhere. As far as I can tell, they've vanished off the face of the Earth.

And I'm starting to worry.

Where are they? Why aren't they doing something? Alien warships are poised over their home planet and have just declared that they want to kill them-Jason at least is ready to take them on, it's his nature, and the rest of the Rangers are just as bad. So where the hell did they go?

"Rita?"

I turn to Tommy. At least I know he's safe. "What is it, ni'in?" I ask, sighing in exhaustion. I'm using far too much power.

"Where's the others?"

I wince. Tommy's standing with his arms awkwardly wrapped around his stomach, clearly terrified, his voice a whimper. Every single part of my heart goes out to him, and I stand up, walk over, and give him a hug.

It's a mark of how terrified he is that he doesn't pretend to be embarrassed, but hugs me back.

"I don't know, ki'o." I admit softly. My son. Yes, if you don't know what I'm saying I can get away with calling you my son. "But I'm going to find them. I promise."

Tommy won't admit it, but tears start trickling down his cheeks. He rests his head on my shoulder, turning his face down so no one else can see his tears.

"Tommy, listen, honey." I say. "It will be okay. Understand? It will all be all right. I promise." I'm making a lot of promises today.

"But what if it's not?" Tommy whispers, his voice nearly breaking into sobs.

"Then we'll just fix it, won't we?" I tell him, trying to smile, to be strong for my son. "Okay. Come on, ki'o, let's find something for you to do. Why don't you go and help Finster? You know what monsters don't work, you can make sure none of these new ones have those flaws."

Tommy straightens and quickly wipes his eyes, nodding and heading off.

I turn back to the telescope.

The only place I haven't checked is Zordon's lair. And with Tommy gone, I think it's safe to.

I take a deep breath, pray I'm wrong, and look.

At first sight I sigh. Okay. They're not in the main chamber with Zordon. Unless they're hiding in their quarters, they're not...

...Wait. Zordon's not there.

My heart drops.

I check the Ranger's quarters. Nothing. They're empty.

Then I look deeper.

No. No no no. No, tell me I'm seeing things, please...

"Zordon, please!" Kimberly screams, fallen to her knees. Jason pulls her up and into his arms, screaming as well, "Stop it! Zordon, stop hurting her!"

No.

My heart nearly stops beating.

No.

Not them. Not my children.

No.

I shove the telescope away, on my feet before I know it. The screams, the tears flowing from Kimberly's eyes, the way the other Rangers were all huddled against the wall, too frightened to resist, Trini's eyes already dull from Zordon's mental attacks...

They're children.

And you know what you have to do, don't you, Rita?

No. Shut up.

The voice continues, ignoring my plea. There's a way. There's always a way. And you know what this way is.

No! I can't do that! I can't go back...not now. Not ever.

Who says insanity has to control you? Just reach out. Take the power in front of you.

And in the end? If I survive the battle with Zordon? Or even better-what happens when I run into the Rangers? They could die, by my own hand! I won't do that. Not when they've just learned to trust me.

But if you don't, they'll die anyway.

My gaze is drawn to my telescope, then my hands.

Can I really..?

You don't have a choice.

"Rita?"

I turn.

Tommy's standing in the doorway. "Kim's screaming." He informs me numbly. "Again."

"Again?" I ask, frowning.

"When I hurt her." Tommy says, looking away. "When I was Green Ranger. And evil'n stuff. I hurt her."

I sigh. "That wasn't your fault, Tommy."

Tommy looks up sharply.

Then it hits me. Out of all the things that could mess up a Shade, which one would hurt Tommy? More specifically, which one would have that reaction?

He's messed up because he doesn't know good from evil.

I sigh and glance at Earth. No, this can wait a moment. When I'm...when I've done this, I won't have time to help Earth. Tommy and his friends will be on his own.

I study him.

Is he ready? I've Seen his destiny. He'll become a great leader and a powerful warrior. Is he ready to begin now?

Yes.

The answer isn't the little voice in the back of my head. It's something deeper.

A mother's knowledge.

I pull two chairs up with a flick of my hand. "Sit down, Tommy." I say. "I want to talk."

Tommy twirls the chair around and sits so he's straddling the back of it. I roll my eyes. Teenagers. "Sup?" Tommy asks.

"I wanted to apologize." I say, praying that I'm right about this and not just wasting time.

"For what?" Tommy asks, frowning.

I nearly use the same phrase as his friends, 'turning him evil', but then I realize that's the wrong one. "Forcing you to hurt your friends." I say, trying to tread a fine lines. "To do a job you weren't prepared for and was mine in the first place."

Tommy stiffens.

"You turned me evil." He accuses coldly.

"No, Tommy." I tell him. "Good and evil are actions, not people. Even Zordon has good in him. But that doesn't mean his actions aren't wrong."

Tommy stares.

Found it. The core issue...I can even sense his powers calming.

Perfect.

"You...think that good and evil...aren't Dark and Light?" Tommy asks.

I nod.

"Zordon says they are."

"Zordon," I point out dryly, "Is the man who tortured you because he thought you might still be under my influence."

Tommy considers.

"You are not evil, Tommy." I tell him gently. "No matter what I ever did to you, you are not evil."

"Anymore."

"No!" I take his hand. "Tommy, look at me." The boy's gentle brown eyes look into mine, a child seeking reassurance. I'm glad to give it. "When you hurt your friends, that was nothing to do with you. That was me. You were not evil, do you understand? You did nothing wrong. I did. I hurt you, and I am so, so sorry I did."

Tommy blinks.

"You are a good person, Tommy, and a wonderful young man. You're going to grow into a fine warrior and human being, and I'm very proud of you. I never, ever should have made you do what I did." I tell him.

Tommy's gaze stops being surprised and turns almost hurt. "You're...proud of me?"

"Yes." I tell him.

He processes that for a minute, all the old scars and wounds suddenly faced with the realization that it's not his fault. And, hopefully, that if what happened wasn't his fault, that means that he was not 'evil', and therefore 'good' and 'evil' do not correlate to Dark and Light energies.

"Rita?" He asks suddenly. "What's Dark?"

I could dance for joy.

"Dark," I say solemnly, holding myself in, "Is night, subtlety, female energy, art, beauty, and compassion. It is everything that requires thought. Your friend Billy is a Darkling."

"Billy?" Tommy asks in surprise.

I nod.

"And Light?" Tommy asks.

"Light is heroism, courage, stubbornness, raw power, masculine energy." I tell him. "It's what can be done by brute strength or simple emotions. Kimberly is a Lightling, and so is Jason."

Tommy considers that. "And what am I?"

"You, ki'o," I say with a smile, "Are a Shade. Just like me and Trini. We can draw on both Dark and Light energy, but we usually work with a mix. That means while everyone who uses the Power is working with black-and-white morality, we're different. We know that not everything is 'good' or 'bad'. We know that sometimes, things just are."

Tommy considers again.

"So...I'm not evil?"

"No." I tell him. "You never were."

Tommy stays still for a moment more, then reaches out and takes my hand.

A small thing, that. But somehow, it's the only victory I've ever had.

I could hug him but I don't. He's a teenaged boy-he hates hugs. And as his energies calm, I realize that now he'll be okay, that it truly will be all right.

And my plan forms in my mind.

"Tommy," I say as gently as I can, "I can't tell you what to do. But if you're willing to help me, I think I might know how to save your friends."

And, proving that Zordon might be an ass but he can choose warriors rightly, Tommy's head snaps up.

"I'm in."