Author's notes - Sorry about the delay! I meant to update the story yesterday. Real life got in the way, as it often does.

Reality, it's a dreadful thing, really. I don't recommend it.

Part Eight

Chapter Two

After a night of homework, laughter and a fair amount of martial arts, Teresa and Sarah were settling in for the night when there was a knock on the door, and Teresa's mother stepped into the room with a tray of cupcakes. The smell of the desserts filled the room.

"Evening girls," she said. "I know it's late, but I thought you might want a snack. Sweet dreams?"

Sarah laughed. "Thanks," she began, about to politely decline when Teresa gave her the slightest of nods. "I'd love one!"

"Me too," Teresa added. Teresa's mother soon wished them a good night and stepped outside.

"I was kinda full from dinner," Sarah said, sitting back on the bed belonging to Teresa and Scott's older sister. "But those were nice."

"My mother comes from a big Italian family," Teresa explained. "When someone offers you food, you don't say no. My grandmother and one of my aunts didn't talk for a month, once, because of a burnt lasagne."

Sarah glanced out the window. "Full moon," she said. "The stars are bright."

Teresa joined her. "I think that one's the big dipper," she said. "Um, ursa major."

"I didn't know you knew the constellations?"

"You hang out with Billy and Brendan enough, you pick up a few things," Teresa said. "I know enough to go camping, but I don't think I could navigate a sailing ship during the Renaissance." She allowed herself a smile. "The sentences you never thought you'd say until you become a superhero."

"Can I ask you something?" Sarah began. "You've been kind of rattled all night. Is everything okay?"

"There was something that happened after school, on my way to the Youth Centre," Teresa began, and she related the story of the two shop-lifters in the gelato shop. "The way Anna said that people weren't worth it. They weren't even kids, they were our age. Why aren't people better than this?"

Sarah tapped her communicator, lying on the night-stand between the beds. "We've been doing this for four years, now," she said. "I could answer that question, but you might not like it."

"I get that," Teresa replied. "But I always used to think that the whole point of this," and she nodded to her own communicator, "is that we're supposed to be making the world a better place." She paused, and shook her head. "Are we?"

Sarah frowned. It was rare to hear Teresa genuinely angry. This must've gotten to her more than she was letting on. "I'm sorry that people are so terrible and stupid," she said. "Maybe you'll feel better in the morning?"

"I hope so," Teresa said furtively, then reached for the lamp. "But thanks for trying to cheer me up."

"Either that, or I'll find those two jerks and beat them up for you myself!"

Despite herself, Teresa grinned. "Good night Sarah."

"Night!"

Teresa's eyes flew wide and she looked around in terror. Even surrounded by the familiar comfort of her room, it took a long time before her heart was beating normally again. Bad dreams were a regular hazard of being a Ranger, but that was something else. She could still recall it, far too vividly. There were eyes, something in the dark watching her. There were the creatures, an army of skittering, scratching little monsters, and when Teresa had escaped outside, she'd found the world on fire. As she sat up, she noticed Sarah standing by the window.

"Sorry if I woke you," Sarah began. "Bad dreams."

"Me too," Teresa said. "What was your nightmare about?"

"It was so real," Sarah said. "I was being chased by these things. I don't know what they were, but there were these eyes watching me, and when I made it outside?"

Teresa's expression fell. "The world was burning."

"Yes! How'd you know?"

"Because I just had the exact same nightmare."

Before Sarah could reply, there was a knock on the door. Scott stepped into the room. "Sorry, I heard you guys talking," Scott said. "I was wide awake, I had a terrible dream. There were four eyes in the darkness, watching me, and then…"

"There was an army of demons and the world was on fire," Teresa finished. Scott froze, and Teresa continued. "All three of us just had the same dream."

"Huh," Scott said. "That's new. You think Zedd's trying another dream-weaving monster? But how would it get to us here?"

"And was it just us?" Sarah asked. "Did someone smuggle a magical artefact into your house? Was it the whole team? The whole world?"

Teresa stepped over to the window. "Guys, do you hear that?" she asked. They all kept quiet. Sarah turned to Scott and shrugged. "I know it's almost four o'clock in the morning," Teresa continued, indicating the clock on the wall, "but where are the dogs barking? Or the food trucks, or newspaper vans, or council workers? It's the middle of summer, so where are the bats? Do you hear any crickets? Something is really wrong out there."

The sound of a television broke the silence, and the three headed around to the kitchen where they found Teresa and Scott's mother brewing a pot of tea.

"You guys up?" Gina asked. "I thought I'd make some tea to calm my nerves. I had the worst nightmare."

Teresa glanced to Scott and Sarah. "We know," she said. "We had it too."

"Wait," Gina began. "All four of us had the same dream?"

"Not just us," Scott said, and turned up the volume on the television.

"… reports are flooding in from all over the coast," the dishevelled newscaster was saying, "about an outbreak of narcolepsy, which isn't usually an infectious disease, followed by what I can attest to as either a terrifying dream, or an intense hallucination. Emergency services have been overwhelmed with calls for help, and we're getting reports of panic and looting in the streets. People seem convinced the world is ending…" Scott switched the television off.

"Everyone in the city woke up from the same nightmare at the same time?" Gina breathed. "This is Ranger business, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so," Teresa replied.

"I better call the hospital," Gina said, and reached for the phone.

"We should try the others," Teresa said. She stepped into her room and returned with her communicator. "Guys, this is Teresa, Scott and Sarah," she began. "Is anyone out there? We've got a problem in the city." The three waited for a reply that never came. "Guys, anyone?" Teresa asked.

"They're probably still asleep," Scott said.

"Yeah, but they should be awake by now," Sarah replied. "Why aren't they?"

After another few minutes, a voice finally echoed out of the communicator. It was Brendan! "Hey guys," he said sleepily. "Why the late call?"

"Were you already awake?" Teresa asked.

"I've been having bad dreams the last couple of nights. Had one before, but it was no different to the others. Ian and Pete are still asleep. You know Ian talks in his sleep?"

"The dream you had?" Scott began. "This isn't usual. Everyone in town had the same dream. There's people rioting in the city about it, right now."

There was a pause. "Seriously?"

"We called everybody, but you're the only one who responded," Teresa continued. "Something's going on and we don't know what. Wake up Pete and Ian. We'll try Zordon."

"You got it," Brendan replied.

Teresa waited a couple of seconds, then tried again. "Zordon, are you there?"

Unlike before, Zordon's reply was immediate. "Yes Teresa," he replied. "To what do I owe the late night call?"

"Something's going on tonight," Teresa said. "But we can't reach anybody."

"We haven't detected anything," Zordon replied, then paused, obviously conferring with Alpha. When he spoke next, they could hear the concern in his voice. "Rangers, something is blocking our sensors. It's like the city isn't even there. You can reach us, but Alpha can't locate any of the other Rangers."

"You and Alpha need to figure this out on your end," Sarah said. "We'll head out and see what's happened to the others."

"Good idea," Zordon agreed. "Keep us posted," and the communicator fell silent.

Gina stepped into the lounge room. "How's the hospital?" asked Scott.

"Coma patients who've been in the ICU for weeks woke up tonight," Gina replied. "The ones who could talk were screaming," and she rested a hand on Teresa's face. "You need to go, don't you? Tell me what to do."

"Stay here," Teresa said. "Lock the doors and windows. Stay inside."

"Please be careful," Gina said. "If your father asks? It is a school night, so can you save the world and be back by sunrise?"

Teresa glanced out the window when something outside caught her attention. "Sure thing," she said, and turned to Sarah and Scott. "Let's go."

Down the street, Luna watched from afar as lights flickered on and off in Teresa and Scott's house. Satisfied that her plan was coming together, she turned away. Three flashes of light suddenly shot past her, and Teresa, Scott and Sarah materialised on the road. Luna stepped back in alarm as the teens closed in.

"Word of advice?" Teresa began sharply. "Don't spy on people who can teleport."

"Who are you?" Scott asked.

Luna recovered from her initial surprise. "I remember when peasants did not dare make demands," she said. "Is that any way to treat your monarch? Still, it pleases the court for you to address me as Luna the midnight queen."

"Court?" repeated Sarah.

"My imperial guards are indisposed," Luna said.

"That doesn't tell us anything," Teresa said.

"My dear," Luna chuckled. "You know who I am! Moonlight is my realm. I am the voice you hear after midnight, reminding you of every flaw, every fear and every failure."

"That's ridiculous," Sarah said. "You can't be everywhere at once."

"Who says I am?" Luna replied. "People have short lifespans but long memories. Is it any wonder you're still afraid of the dark? You know there's nothing in the shadows, but what if there once was?"

"All I got from that is that you're old," Scott said.

The insult didn't land. "Ancient, boy," Luna continued. "None of you understand. But you will. By morning my temple will have risen, and the world as you know it will have ended. The chains have nearly broken, and none of are you are safe." In a glimmer of moonlight, Luna vanished, and the three Rangers were alone.

"You hear that?" Sarah asked.

"The broken chains case," Scott breathed. "That makes sense."

"But it makes this a lot more urgent," Teresa said. "Whatever Luna is doing, she's doing it tonight. We've got two hours before sunrise! You go find Tommy and Billy. Their houses are closest. I'll head to Brendan's place and see what's going on with the boys. We'll meet up at the uni."

"Stay safe," Sarah said. The three Rangers shared a brief hug and then Sarah and Scott raced away. As Teresa turned to leave, she froze.

Luna was standing in front of her. Teresa raised her fists, but Luna chortled. "Please, child," she giggled. "A real queen never loses her composure. Live combat? How pedestrian! I have too much to show you."

"I'm not going anywhere with you," Teresa said.

"That's a pity," Luna replied. Her blue eyes flashed, and she raised her sceptre. "Because I wasn't giving you a choice!"

Teresa tried to escape, but it was too late. There was a flash of blue light, and everything went dark.

To be continued.