Author's notes – there's a brief mention of the Forest of Eternal Light in this chapter. The forest was casually mentioned during an episode of Power Rangers Zeo and then never mentioned again, but I like the idea of it a lot, so my Rangers have visited the forest a few times, by this point.

Part Eleven

Chapter Two

The dreams had come back.

Brendan slumped on the side of his bed and ran his hands through his tangled curls, struggling to raise his head. It had been another restless night. He felt heavy and exhausted.

The nightmares had been an on-and-off companion for more than six months, ever since the morning in Normandy where the Rangers had fought He Who Devours Truth. The late night meeting in the Command Centre must've flipped a switch in his subconscious or something. Billy and Trini would know, if he remembered to ask. The nightmares always began the same way. There were people in danger on all sides, but he froze at the voice in his head, a scratchy, inhuman voice that nobody else could hear. It reminded him of secrets he'd never confessed to anybody. Lies he couldn't admit to, and shameful failings he'd never confronted. He was helpless as he was consumed by something monstrous. He watched his friends fall, one-by-one, and the lights of the world were snuffed out like a candle.

And it was his fault.

Brendan glanced to his communicator, lying on the chest of drawers next to his bed. For half a second, he hoped the world wouldn't need saving today, because every time the dreams returned, there was a part of him that couldn't stand to be around his friends. Feeling even worse, he wrapped the communicator around his wrist regardless, and headed out to start the day.

His mother and sister were in the kitchen having breakfast, with the television playing the morning news.

"Morning," he said half-heartedly.

Mrs Watts looked up and noticed the bags under Brendan's eyes. "Did you sleep okay?" she asked.

"Bad dreams," he replied.

"Well it looks like it's going to be a beautiful Sunday," his mother smiled. "Have some breakfast. You'll feel better."

Brendan nodded, and glanced to the TV across the room. The newsreader had a NASA symbol behind him and was talking about UFOs. Brendan knew he should've been paying attention, but it was still too early. Apparently there had been a spike in UFO sightings all over the world?

Until the footage changed. The newsreader's face began melting like it was made of wax. Brendan recoiled in alarm. He wasn't looking at grainy footage of lights in the sky anymore, but sweeping shots of shattered cities and buildings on fire. People were running and screaming, and the shadows around them seemed to roll and boil with nameless, shapeless horrors. Brendan gasped. His mother and sister turned to see what had caught Brendan's attention, and he looked back to the television to see the newsreader calmly informing his viewers about a "gems of the desert" exhibit opening soon in a British museum.

"Did you guys see that?" Brendan asked.

"It's official," his sister murmured. "He's cracked."

Brendan looked around the room. "I'm sorry, I thought I saw…" but his voice trailed off. "I think I'm still asleep," he said finally. Keeping one eye on the television, he sat down and ate breakfast. He'd just finished when his communicator chimed, the familiar six-note tone echoing through the kitchen. With an uncomfortable knot in his stomach, be pushed back from the table, headed to his room, and raised his wrist.

"Hey Zordon," he began. "What's up?"

"Brendan, I'm sorry to call so early," Zordon's voice crackled through the communicator, "but something has come up. I have a favour to ask."

"Is it the Shadow King?" Brendan asked. "Any more luck with the records from Dragon Island?"

"Unfortunately not," Zordon replied. "But there might be something else. This morning we received an odd message from Madison Rocca in Briarwood."

"The Mystic Force Rangers need help?" Brendan asked. "Is everything okay?"

"It doesn't sound urgent," Zordon replied. "But it is something I would like you to look at. Head to Briarwood, meet Xander Bly outside the city and investigate further. Alpha and I had to send the senior team on a separate mission to New York City this morning, but we can certainly contact the rest of the junior team if you need assistance."

"No," Brendan replied quickly. "I got this."

There was a pause. "Not even Ian?" Zordon asked.

"Don't worry," Brendan replied. "This doesn't sound like a huge thing." He paused. "I know the sheer amount of magic in that town messes with our powers, so I'll saddle up and take one of the robots."

"Brendan," Zordon began, an odd tone in his voice. "Forgive me for prying. Is everything okay?"

"Just peachy, big man," Brendan said softly, but even he couldn't hide the sarcasm in his voice. "Just peachy."

"It happened a couple of days ago," Xander began, as the handsome Green Mystic Force Ranger led Brendan along an old trail through the forest. "Well, correction, we noticed that it happened a couple of days ago. Given the amount of traffic between Briarwood and the Mystic Realm, it had to have been pretty recent. Chip and I didn't think it was a big deal, but Maddy was worried it might be the first part of something bigger. So we thought we'd call you guys in."

"It's good you did," Brendan nodded, a few steps behind. Xander was wearing his cloak, and Brendan kept expecting to see the cape get snagged on a branch. But every time Xander took a step, the cape seemed to naturally twist out of the way. Or else, the stems and branches were letting Xander pass unscathed. "We almost there?"

"Just ahead," Xander replied. "You nervous?"

"Magical forests freak me out," Brendan replied. "You should try visiting the Forest of Eternal Light. You'd think it was a nice place, but I don't recommend it."

They soon stepped into a small clearing. The trees facing them were almost identical to the ones behind them. "Until last week, this was the entrance to the Mystic Realm," Xander continued. "Now? It's sealed shut. Nobody can get in or out. We can't contact anyone on the other side. We didn't get any messages asking for help. We're cut off from Rootcore. It's like the entire dimension isn't there anymore. And the Mystic Realm's influence is fading. We can't even travel by tree. Although we're getting a lot of exercise."

Brendan smiled. "And Clare?"

"On this side of the barrier when it shut, thank goodness," Xander replied. "She's tried every spell she's got. Not even Daggeron's train can get through, and that thing is designed for cross-dimensional travel. Check it out," and Xander walked towards the trees opposite. As he reached the centre of the clearing, the air shimmered around him, and he was suddenly walking back towards Brendan, completely changing direction without missing a step.

"Whoa," Brendan murmured. He picked up a stone and threw it for the centre of the clearing.

"Uh, duck," Xander called, and Brendan dropped his head as the rock came flying back towards him on the same trajectory. "Chip almost knocked himself out doing that."

Brendan stepped closer to the barrier. "So this portal to the Mystic Realm has been here for, like, ever," the Aqua Ranger began. "It must've taken a lot of power to seal it shut like this. You thinkin' supervillain?"

"There's no point," Xander shrugged. "Nobody was on our radar with that kind of power. And everyone was getting on so well. Did we do something wrong? Are they mad at us?"

"You never know," Brendan replied, then thought of his dreams. "Maybe they're afraid. I'm guessing this is more of an end-of-the-world situation."

"And haven't we seen enough of those?" Xander asked.

"You ever think it might be our fault?"

"What do you mean?"

"Like, maybe the world wouldn't always be in danger if we were better at this thing, you know," Brendan replied. "If we were stronger, if we were smarter."

Xander rested a hand on Brendan's shoulder. "Mate, I'm getting the feeling that you're talking about this with me so you don't have to confess something horrible to your friends who know you better and would be better suited to talk you through it anyway."

Brendan stared at the Green Ranger. "Where did that come from?" he asked.

"Someone left a psychology textbook in the Rockporium a little while ago," Xander replied. "I read it to impress girls. Only understood half of it. Did it work?"

Brendan tilted his head. "A little."

"Good," Xander nodded. "Now talk to your friends! Fair dinkum, the world's in bad shape if I'm giving life advice."

"I will, I promise," Brendan said. "I should get all this back to the others."

"I'd call ahead," Xander began, and held up his mystic morpher. "But there's barely enough juice in this thing to do a card trick."

"You guys lose your powers too often," Brendan said. "Just making the observation. Give you a ride back into town?" Brendan nodded to the Dilophozord, standing patiently by the edge of the forest, visible through the trees.

"In your giant aqua Dilophosaurus robot?" Xander asked. "Yes please. But only if I get to push all the buttons."

"No."

To be continued.