Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, but hey I can dream can't I?

*Italic indicates thought

Chapter Ten: Shadows In the Day

A/N: Ne-how! (Very sure I spelled that wrong.) Here's the next chapter. Sorry it's short. Please review! Pretty please!

"We've all got both light a dark inside of us. What matters is the part we chose to act on, that's who we really are." -Sirius Black

Throughout the rest of the day the rangers kept Antonio in the house and yard.

"We can't keep him in here forever," Lauren said, watching Jayden and Antonio train in the yard.

"We won't," Ji said. "Just for today, and maybe a couple days after that. Just in case."

"In case what? The nighlocks have suddenly decided they want to get rid of him?"

Ji shrugged. "It seems like that's the case. And creating an evil ranger isn't the worst way to do it."

"But why Antonio?"

"Could be any number of reasons. He gives you power ups, he fixes zords when they're broken...he's close to you and Jayden."

Lauren sighed and glanced at the sky. The black circle was still covering the sun, casting a shadow over the yard. Mike and Kevin walked in through the gate.

"Well everyone in the city seems to think this is just some monster scheme," Mike said.

"And they're not worried?" Jayden asked.

"Nope," Kevin replied. "Everyone seems to think it'll get resolved like everything else."

"At least they have faith in us!" Antonio said cheerfully.

"Yeah," Kevin said eyeing him suspiciously. "Have you figured out a way to fix him yet?"

Ji shook his head. "We have no record of this black ranger, so we have no way to know how to cure Antonio."

"Well let's find one fast. He's really getting on my nerves."

"And watch this," Jayden said. He faced Antonio and held up his fists. The gold ranger mirrored him. Jayden aimed a punch for his head. The gold ranger ducked, and moved to the side a bit. Jayden kicked him three times in rapid suggestion, breaking his defenses and knocking him onto his back. Antonio got to his feet.

"Good shoot," he said friendly.

"See?" Jayden asked.

"I don't get it," Mike said.

"Antonio should've been able to take Jayden down, right after he blocked him," Kevin said.

"Thank you," Jayden replied. He turned to Antonio. "Why didn't you?"

The gold ranger shrugged. "I didn't think too."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I just couldn't."

Kevin shook his head. "Weird."

-Light and Dark-

Later that day Emily and Mia were going through the archives, looking for any useful information.

"Find anything?" Jayden asked walking in.

"No," Emily said shaking her head.

Jayden sighed and grabbed a random book. He started going through it, looking for any useful information.

Kevin walked in looking irritated. "Have we found a way to cure Antonio yet? Cause he's getting on my nerves."

Mia smiled. "How?"

"All he's doing is smiling. He doesn't understand that this is serious!"

"What I don't understand, is how it happened," Emily said. "It started this morning, before he met up with the black ranger."

"And..." Mia asked, not understanding.

Jayden did though. "How did he put a spell on Antonio?"

Kevin frowned. He hadn't thought of that. "Maybe he was the shadow Antonio saw last night. And he put the spell on him then."

"But why cast a spell on him that makes him happy, carefree, and literally fearless. Wouldn't they want to do something that would induce more negative emotions."

"That would make them stronger," Kevin said. "Theoretically at least."

"So why do it the other way around?" Emily asked.

Jayden shook his head. "I honestly can't think of any reason."

"Is any of this even useful?" Kevin asked.

"Possibly," Jayden said. "We need to figure out what they're after."

"It just seems so...counterproductive for the nighlocks," Mia said. "Seems like making us happy is pretty much the exact opposite of what they usually want."

"I know," Jayden said. "Just keep an eye on Antonio. I don't know what the nighlocks are planning, but I don't like it."

"You think whatever they did will hurt Antonio?" Mia asked.

"I don't know, but I'm not willing to take any chances."

Kevin nodded. He and Mike were already on top of it. He smiled a little.

Time to implement our newest plan.