Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, but hey I can dream can't I?
*Italic indicates thought
Chapter Fourteen: Busted
A/N: greeting good people! I brings another chapter fer ya! Yay! Please, please, please, please, please review!
"We've all got both light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we chose to act on, that's who we really are." -Sirius Black
When the rangers got back to the house Antonio went to see Ji while Kevin dragged Mike into his room.
"What's up?" the green ranger asked.
"Did you not just see what happened out there?!"
"You mean the black ranger trying to kill Antonio?"
"No...Well yes...that's not what I was talking about."
"What then?"
"Every time Jayden hit the black ranger Antonio was in pain. He might as well have attacked Antonio."
Mike thought about this. "Now that you mention it, yeah."
"We knew the dark ranger was connected to Antonio, but not like that."
"This is getting weirder and worse by the minute."
"I know."
"Kevin, we really have to tell Lauren and Jayden now. This is getting serious." Mike wondered when he'd become the voice of reason.
"Not yet."
"When then?! When Antonio's dead?!" Mike asked.
"We want tell-"
"What can't you tell us?" Lauren asked from the door.
Mike turned around slowly. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to know you two are in a lot of trouble. Come on," she said qeusturing that they should follow her. They trailed behind Lauren. They gulped when they saw Jayden and Ji sitting in the living room.
"What's up?" Jayden asked when they walked in.
"Mike and Kevin have something they'd like to share with us," Lauren said sitting next to Jayden. "Go on," she encouraged them.
Mike glanced at Kevin, giving him a 'you're going first, because this was your idea' look.
"Um...we may know some things about...Antonio and the black ranger that we haven't been sharing with you guys."
"Start sharing then," Jayden said.
"A couple of nights ago Antonio met with the black ranger. They talked a little bit, then the black ranger let him walk away unharmed."
"How do you know this?" Ji asked.
"I may have followed him."
"Why?" Lauren asked.
"Because I didn't think it would be a good idea to let him go alone. I figured out Antonio has some kind of connection with the black ranger. Anyways, he didn't attack Antonio or anything. And earlier, I noticed that..."
"That?" Lauren asked, giving Kevin a 'keep going' gesture.
"Whenever Jayden hit the black ranger, Antonio was getting hurt too. Think about it," he said quickly before Jayden could object. "The moogers barely touched him. All of his injuries were consistent with where you hit the black ranger."
"I think I would've noticed-"
"No. You didn't. You were too busy trying to make sure the black ranger didn't kill Antonio," Mike said.
They didn't say anything for a minute. Lauren caught Jayden's eye. Mike started sliding backwards. "Get back here," Kevin said through clenched teeth.
"You two..." Jayden began. "I just...I don't know what to say."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Mike asked.
"It's a, 'You boys are in a lot of trouble' thing," Ji said. "First of all, what in the world possessed you to keep this information to yourself?"
Mike pointed at Kevin. "It was his idea."
"Hey!"
"It doesn't matter who's idea this was," Lauren interjected. "While it was kind of you guys to look out for Antonio, keeping information like this to yourselves is..."
"It borders on betrayal and aiding the enemy," Jayden said. "As the leaders of this team we need to know when someone is a specific target. This is the information we've been racking our brains trying to figure out, and you boys have been keeping to yourselves!"
"Jayden's right," Ji said. "It's was very irresponsible of you, no matter how noble your intentions. Antonio's safety is at stake here. As is his life. This information can help us keep him safe."
"Yes Ji."
"Yes Ji."
"We appreciate you guys looking out for Antonio," Lauren said. "But next time, just let us know."
"Ok."
"Ok."
"Good," Jayden said.
"But what now?" Kevin asked.
"Go get the others," Ji said. "I have an idea."
-Light and Dark-
"What's up?" Antonio asked tilting his head to the side, smiling.
Jayden shook his head. Obviously the encounter earlier hadn't taken the spell off of him.
"As you all may know, or not know," Ji began. "The nighlocks are after Antonio. Apparently they're trying to get to him through the black ranger. So, until we can catch him, and figure out how to destroy him, Antonio you are to remain behind the protection symbols. That means no leaving the yard or house. Understand?"
Antonio nodded, feeling the severity of the situation. "Ok."
"What about battles?" Lauren asked.
"Given the fact that anything we do to the black ranger will happen to Antonio, he will stay here during battles. Hopefully the protection symbols will disrupt whatever spell the nighlocks are using to connect Antonio to the black ranger."
Jayden nodded. Nobody had a better idea, so this sounded like a pretty good plan.
"Don't feel to bad," Mike said patting Antonio on the back.
"So I can't go fishing?" the gold ranger asked, looking confused.
"Yes," Ji said.
"Don't worry," Emily said reassuringly. "We'll catch this evil ranger soon and then everything will go back to normal."
"I hope so."