Inside the lair, Camille walked over to the prisoner, kneeling down before her. She, unlike everyone else remembered how everything had truly happened. She knew Dustin had actually saved Kaylee from the closet, and he had actually been under Lothor's spell when he attacked her. She also knew that Kaylee had originally managed to escape the lair with her daughter. But to Kaylee, those weren't memories at all. They were gone, never to return. Dustin was a cold-hearted man she foolishly fell in love with and trusted.
Now, she was chained to a wall, on the brink of death. The man she loved was allowing his mistress to taunt her. Still, she didn't give up. She remembered what Dustin had told her four years before.
Kaylee, no matter what I end up saying after all this, I love you, okay. I would never willingly hurt you.
"How does it feel to lose, Green Ranger?" Camille smirked, pushing Kaylee against the wall. Kaylee looked up at Camille. Her eye was still swollen and she could barely see, but that didn't stop her from glaring.
"I don't know what you and that bird brain have done to us, but that is not the Dustin I know!" Kaylee yelled, pulling on her restraints.
"How long will it take before you realise, Dustin loves me? He always will. You're just nothing."
"Lies!"
"It once was," Camille admitted, smiling madly. "But now, it's the full on, honest truth. This man would kill you in a heartbeat. He's just waiting for the right time."
"Shut up!" Kaylee yelled, finding the strength to thrust herself forward, pushing Camille back. She was stopped by her chains before she could do any real damage. Camille laughed, standing up just out of Kaylee's reach. She grabbed a small bracelet and attacked it to Kaylee's wrist.
"If it were up to me, I would kill you right now," she twisted the bracelet, causing it to spark. Kaylee screamed in pain as she fell to the ground.
"Goodnight, Green Ranger."
-----Jungle-Fury-----
Lily walked up to a clearing in a forest and spotted a small cabin. She walked up to the door and knocked.
"Hello?" she called, looking inside. When no one answered, she opened the door and walked in, "Anyone here?"
"Yes," a voice answered, making Lily jump. She turned around and spotted an older man, sitting in a corner, watching her.
"Creepy," she whispered to herself, before approaching him. "I'm looking for Master Phant..."
"I was once known by that name," the man said. "Why do you disturb my solitude?"
Lily bowed, before running over to the Master. She dropped before him, looking up desperately.
"I really need your help," she said.
"Pertinent child! You're not allowed here! Leave me be!" Master Phant barked.
"I'm not a child!" Lily frowned, standing up. "I'm a student! The order of the Claw..."
"I see... well that's of no matter to me," Phant sighed.
"Really? Then I guess it doesn't matter that Dai Shi has escaped," Lily turned to leave, with a knowing smirk. Master Phant jumped up, grabbing her shoulder and spinning her back.
"What?" he frowned, "It cannot be!"
"It's true," Lily said, "and I'm one of the new guardians trying to stop him."
"That's unfortunate... but there is nothing I can do to help you," the Master sighed, turning away from Lily.
"Yes you can," she nodded. "I need you to teach me how to use the Mace."
"I... I haven't even looked at it in years," Phant frowned. "But it's the weapon of a warrior... not a useless old man!"
"If you were so useless, would Master Engel have sent me to be trained by you?"
"M-master Engel?" Phant asked, looking at Lily in shock. "She lives?"
"Yeah," Lily nodded. "My friend is in danger, and she thinks the only way we can save her is if we get more power! She wants me to tackle Dai Shi and Camille on my own... but I can't!"
"Foolish child, no one can!" Phant yelled.
"Please, master... you have to train me..."
"I will not allow myself to train a child for such a stupid plan!"
"I'm not a child!" Lily yelled. "Dai Shi's kidnapped one of my best friends! You don't understand just how important it is to get her home! Please!"
"NO!"
"FINE!" Lily screamed, grabbing Phant's hand and closing her eyes. "I didn't want to have to do this."
Phant felt himself being pulled into a dream world. There, he saw memories locked away in Lily's mind. What confused him were that they were not her memories, but those of her friend.
When he was brought back to reality, he looked down at Lily.
"Please, Master," she begged, letting go of his hand.
"You possess the gift of the heart," he breathed. "You can see deep inside their minds. It would be dangerous to face Dai Shi with such a blessing, and a curse."
"Master, it's not Dai Shi we're facing anymore," Lily whispered. "It's Dustin."
Phant thought about the memories. Dustin was the man her friend had loved; the man who turned his back on her.
"You're in too high over your head, girl," Phant sighed. "You cannot help your friend."
"Maybe I can't," Lily frowned, turning away. "But at least I'm going to try... with or without your stupid mace!"
"You're going to get yourself killed, girl!"
"I don't care," Lily said. "It's better to have tried and failed, then to have never tried at all."
"I did try," Phant frowned, "When I was a master, I had a purpose! Then they put me out to pasture... what do I have to live for now?"
"Master Phant... you're a great Master," Lily assured him.
Master Phant turned away from her and left. Lily growled, storming out of the house.
As soon as she stepped outside, she was met with Camille.
"Pretty Ranger wants to get her friend back?" Camille teased.
"What have you done with Kaylee?" Lily yelled, dropping into a fighting stance.
"Kaylee is none of your concern," Camille assured the dancer. "She will never return to you."
"Guess again," Lily smirked. "Jungle Beast, Spirit Un-"
Camille attacked before Lily could finished, knocking her into the wall of the house. Master Phant watched from his window and scoffed.
Just as he was about to turn away, he heard Lily scream in pain as Camille grabbed her arm and twisted it. The chameleon lifted the yellow Ranger into the air and threw her down.
Phant growled, turning to the box where his mace rested peacefully.
"Foolish cub," Camille laughed, standing over the yellow Ranger. Lily rolled her eyes. She might as well start counting how many times people called her foolish in one day. "Did you really think you could stop me?"
Suddenly, an elephant roared in the distance as a spirit appeared from inside the house. It charged over to Camille, throwing her away and standing protectively in front of Lily before fading.
"Get away from my student!" Master Phant yelled, coming out of his house with the Jungle Mace in hand. Lily smiled, looking up from her position on the ground.
"Uh-oh," Camille frowned, turning to run.
Master Phant swung his mace around, before throwing the ball over to Camille. The chain wrapped around her feet, tripping her.
As Camille struggled to free herself, Lily ran over to her. She grabbed Camille by the shoulder and rolled her over.
"Where is Kaylee?" she growled.
"Dead," Camille smirked.
"Like I believe that," Lily frowned. Camille finally freed herself and pushed Lily away before disappearing.
Master Phant caught Lily in his arms before she hit the ground.
"Ready for your lesson?" he asked.
"What about not having a purpose, what about being an old man?"
"This old man still has a few lessons up his sleeve."
"But I thought it was too dangerous to try."
"Better to have tried and failed, then to have never tried at all," Master Phant smiled, looking down at the stubborn girl in his arms. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Kaylee is like a sister to me," Lily nodded. "I would do anything to bring her back."
-----Jungle-Fury-----
"That's right, swing... and throw!"
Lily did as she was told, finally taking out the last bale of hay in the yard. Master Phant smiled at her as she pulled her mace in, beaming with joy.
"I did it!" she cheered.
"And not a moment too soon," Phant nodded. "Now go, save your friend... you have the spirit of the Elephant protecting you now."
Lily ran off, before stopping in her tracks. She barely reached the end of the yard before turning to Master Phant.
"Think this old man still has it in his to help a foolish girl?" she asked. "After all, I can't face Dustin and Camille on my own."
Phant nodded, picking up his own mace and following the girl.
-----Jungle-Fury-----
Kaylee looked up from the ground and spotted Dustin on his throne. She coughed to clear her throat from the blood, before calling out to him.
"D-Dustin..." she sounded weak, and she wasn't sure Dustin heard her. But when his head snapped in her direction, she continued. "This isn't you... I know it's not... you would never hurt me."
Dustin didn't say a word. He looked down at her sadly.
"Dustin, please... stop this."
"I can't, Kaylee," Dustin whispered, turning away. "It's stronger than me..."
"No it's not!" Kaylee argued, struggling to get to her feet. "You can control it! You once told me..."
"Forget what I told you!" Dustin yelled, marching over to Kaylee. "It was a lie!"
"No..." Kaylee shook her head, grabbing Dustin's hand in hers. "It wasn't... you would never hurt me... I know it... I know the real you!"
"This is the real me!" Dustin screamed, ripping his hand away, connecting with her bruised cheek. Kaylee was pushed to the side by the hit as tears burned her eyes, but she didn't give up.
"Dustin... you have to remember..."
"You can't even remember what really happened!"
"I know Carnisoar did something to us... something to make us forget! Please... stop this."
Dustin looked down at her. He could see the pain in her eyes as she looked at him. She really believed he could be good... that he could fight whatever power was telling him to hurt her.
He suddenly dropped to the ground, tears in his eyes, "Kaylee, I'm so sorry... I can't fight it," he cried. "Move on... get out of here..."
"Dustin..."
"I'm evil... bad to the bone... nothing can stop it from taking over!"
Dustin reached for her chains and unlocked them.
"If nothing can stop it, why are you letting me go?" Kaylee asked, staying by his side even when the chains around her wrists were removed. "Why are you being so kind?"
"I'm not," Dustin turned away. Kaylee reached up, cupping his cheek with her hand. She gently forced him to look over at her.
"Carnisoar and Camille left you with a heart," she whispered. "You still have a chance to do what's right... Dustin, I believe you can fight it."
"I can't!" Dustin yelled, throwing Kaylee back into the wall, causing her to whimper in pain.
Camille returned to his side, and he pulled her in close, holding her in his arms. The chameleon looked down at Kaylee, shaking her head.
"Did you really think you could break him?" she asked. "Did you truly think you can erase what has been done? Dustin tied you up and locked you in a closet... he willingly fought against you... he attacked your own child!"
"Sammy?" Kaylee asked. Because of the memory changes Carnisoar made, Engel never got the chance to tell Kaylee her daughter was still alive in the spirit world. "Leave her out of this..."
"She's still alive, princess," Camille grinned, kneeling in front of Kaylee. "Too bad she'll never see her mommy again."
Camille pulled out her Sais and held them to Kaylee's throat. Dustin watched as she did this, smiling.
"Don't..." Kaylee cried, trying to pull away, but she was already against the wall.
Suddenly, the doors to the throne room burst open, before Dustin and Camille were knocked over by the ball end of a mace.
Master Phant and Lily stood at the door, glaring at the two villains.
"Oh look, a retired old man and a cub," Camille laughed, getting into position. "This should be fun."
Master Phant smiled as he stared down the chameleon, "Lily, if you don't mind, I think I would like to battle her myself... go help your friend."
"But..."
"It's what you came here for, isn't it?" Phant asked. Lily nodded, putting her mace away before running over to Kaylee, while Master Phant distracted the chameleon.
"Are you okay?" she asked Kaylee, knowing it was a stupid question. Just from the looks of it, she could tell Kaylee was far from okay.
"I'll be better once my powers get a chance to work," Kaylee smiled. She looked over at the master and the mace. "What?"
"I have a lot of explaining to do," Lily said. "I'll warn you though, it all starts with an Angel."
"What?"
"I'll explain on the way home... come on!"
Master Phant landed a powerful blow on Camille's ribs, shattering quite a few of them, before Lily ran over to him, touching his arm. She saw images of when he used to fight for the Pai Zhuq and smiled. He was happy once more.
"I'm sorry to ruin your moment, Master... but we have to go," she said.
"No problem," Master Phant nodded. "My job is done."
He made his way over to Kaylee, helping her up and out of the temple.
-----Jungle-Fury-----
Phant and Lily made their way inside JKP after hours, running into Fran who was just on her way out. Unlike the Rangers, Fran's memories had been altered in no way, because she didn't have a history with Dustin or Kaylee, and had no idea of their Ranger duties. So when she saw Kaylee being carried into the store, with more injuries then when she had last left, she gasped.
"What happened?" she asked, running over to Kaylee.
Lily was at a loss for a moment.
"Um... she's had a really bad day?"
"You think?" Fran frowned. She noticed Phant and frowned. "Okay, another stranger?"
"He's my grandfather," Lily said, coming up with a believable excuse this time.
"Sisters, grandfathers... soon the Power Rangers are going to walk in here!"
Lily had to hold back a smirked before making her way past Fran; "I'll explain it all to you later!" she called. "I kinda have to take care of Kaylee!"
"Ya think!" Fran called after the dancer, rolling her eyes. She grabbed her bags and walked out.
Phant helped Lily take Kaylee to the loft. As soon as the three walked in the room all eyes were on them.
"Kaylee!" Tori and Kira called, running over to their sister. They stopped before they could give her a hug, seeing as she looked like even the lightest feather touching her skin would hurt her.
"You're okay!" Kira smiled.
"Define okay?" Kaylee frowned, before it turned into a smirk. "I will be."
She was taken to RJ's chair for the time being, having been granted a special once in a lifetime chance. RJ offered to clean her wounds, but Kaylee nodded.
"I got it," she told him, showing his how her powers were already doing their job. "I should be fine in a few days."
"If you insist," RJ said, backing away.
When Kaylee saw Master Engel, she was reminded of Lily's promise in the temple.
"Lil... explain please!" she called. Lily laughed, coming to her side.
"Okay, when you were gone, Master Engel showed up..."
-----Jungle-Fury-----
When everything was back in order at the loft, Master Phant grabbed his stuff to leave; but before going he had one more thing he had to do.
He approached Master Engel, who was meditating on the training mat while the others were in JKP. He made no noise as he came up behind her. Even so, Master Engel still sensed his presence and turned around. She patted the ground in front of her, inviting him to take a seat. Phant bowed before accepting.
"So... you're really alive?" he asked.
"My daughter was in danger, I had to come back to help her," Engel nodded.
"It's a good thing you did," Phant said. "Even if the other guardians are half as determined and powerful as Lily, they're still going to need help."
Engel nodded, looking over at Phant.
"They'll need masters like you," she said. "You've done all you can, but please, don't distance yourself from us..."
"Hey, this old man still has a bit more left in him," Phant laughed.
"Good, because this battle will not be easy. The Rangers... they don't remember the truth."
"What is the truth?" Phant asked.
"Carnisoar has blinded Dustin from his memories by altering them. Because he's changed the past, he has changed the present. Fortunately, everything is back to normal..."
"Lily seemed to explain everything pretty well," Master Phant laughed.
"Yes, everything from who I was, to her own powers," Engel nodded. "I'm not concerned about what they do remember though."
"It's what they don't," Phant finished.
"It's what Dustin can't remember," Engel corrected. "I'm not worried about Kaylee. Sooner or later her memories will return. She'll remember being saved from the closet, Dustin under Lothor's spell, and she'll remember being saved By Sammy..."
"How?"
"She's been indirectly affected," Engel explained. "Sooner or later, her Leopard will remember the truth.
"I would rather it be sooner," Lily commented, joining the two Masters on the floor. "I remember everything... Sammy... Kaylee freaking out after the first memory change... her sudden disappearance... it's all come back..."
"You have more power now, Lily," Engel said, turning to the young girl.
"Will the other remember?" Lily asked. "Tori's pretty worried about Kaylee... and Kira' really beating herself up about this..."
"They too will remember," Engel assured her. "With a little help."
Lily nodded, getting up from the mat and dusting herself off. She turned to leave, before turning back.
"Master... why did you send me after Kaylee?" she asked. "Why not Casey... the leader... or Theo? He's been at the Pai Zhuq longer than me..."
"Lily... I sent you because you were the heart of the team," Engel smiled. "I've told you before... the cheetah is special... do not take advantage of your bond with Kaylee. One day, it may save her... and Dustin."
Lily frowned at the Master but didn't question it. Masters who were alive were confusing enough; she didn't want to know what it would be like to listen to a Master who had been dead for ten thousand years.