Chapter Text

******************* Warehouse district***********************

Bulk covered his face as the wooden door smashed apart, sending splinters all around. Standing in the moonlight was the Nightmare that had once been Billy. And it truly was a nightmare to behold. Blood dripped from the razer sharp teeth that jutted from the upper lips. The horn was deep purple instead of the calming blue it had been before. Fur that once was glossy was now matted in clumps, dirty and wet. He smelled horrible. Red eyes rolled in the face finding Bulk. Every time he saw the unnatural beast, it was more powerful, more wild animal and more terrifying.

For a moment Bulk could only stare before speaking. "Hey Billy, been waiting for you." Even as he spoke, the monster began to approach him, seemingly confused. Humans ran, humans screamed but not this one. This meal just stood waiting. The beast sniffed and sniffed again looking around. It eyed the chain net above it, following the rope back down to where it was near Bulk before locking eyes with the honorary ranger.

"Always were the smart one." Bulk said moving away from the trap trigger. "But I think you know I don't want to trap you. And I think you want me."

The Nightmare gave a gentle head shake before coming closer. Clearly Bulk was on the menu but not in the way one in Angel grove would expect. At least not yet.

Bulk carefully popped the cork of the small vial he held in his hand. "Ready when you are."

************************ Endless darkness***************************

"Always were the smart one..." The words echoed in this dark place. Spoken by a voice he knew... or thought he knew? It had been so long... he... he was Billy... but that single thought was one of the few he had left. Darkness, darkness, darkness... and Billy. In silent entombment.

He had long stopped moving, curled up on the floor of the dark but that voice... it made him move. He had stopped looking out the... what were they called? They showed things happening but always bad, bad and scary things.

Yet he looked now, like a confused child, until a spark of blue seemed to ignite in him. His face stirred in recognition. "B...Bulk?" The sound of his voice startled him as he watched. Bulk yes, that was his persons name, Bulk was his... friend? ... He had been someplace bad with Bulk and Skull and... Kimberly! Billy's eyes went wide as memories filled him. Warm, gentle and strong. How could he have forgotten his best friend? "Bulk! Get out of there!" he screamed at the image, praying that somehow Bulk would hear him.

The beast moved forward, grabbing Bulk by the shoulder, seemingly ready to tear him apart. "No... please..." Billy begged the darkness, tears slipping from his blue eyes.

The Nightmare gave no inch but took violently, forcing its mouth onto Bulk's. Billy covered his eyes, not wishing to see Bulk's face torn off by monster fangs. When suddenly... it was less dark...

And getting brighter by the second...

******************* Warehouse district***********************

The Nightmare screamed, clawing at his throat, thrashing about, knocking over boxes as it back pedaled away from Bulk.

The human wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Small bits of shining liquid there. "Weren't expecting that, were you!?"

Hate burned in the beast's face at it realized what had happened. How it had been tricked. Clever human. It turn on Bulk, claws ready to tear him apart. Claws that suddenly melted into hands... human hands. The Nightmares screams died away, as its form melted like snow off of Billy's naked body. Bulk caught him before he collapsed fully and gently maneuvered him to the floor.

Billy was a mess. Mostly skin and bones, bruised and bleeding. For a moment Bulk wasn't even sure he was breathing. "Billy, can you hear me?"

Blue eyes fluttered open. "Yeah I'm here... not for long though... I can feel it. I'm... dying." The words hung in the silence before Billy continued. "Bulk tell the others I'm sorry... that...I..."

"Shut Up! You ain't going without a fight nerd! I won't let you! Bulk to Zordon. I've got Billy, I need transport to medical now!"

"Teleporting now."

Billy felt warm light filling his body as the whoosh of the teleport felt like home.

*************** Downtown Angel grove***********************

"Tired yet Rangers?" Ooze laughed from his seat on the hood of a car. "I can't wait for you to become part of my army of ooze. Haha!"

"Don't count your chicken yet Ooze." Tommy quipped back but he knew it was false bravado. If something didn't happen soon, they would have to retreat... again.

And he was getting pretty tired of running away.

"Tommy!" Rocky shouted. Couldn't the leader of the power rangers see they were almost at there limit? It was a small miracle no one had been bitten... yet. But they were getting slower, each attack wearing them down.

"Not this time Rangers, you will not escape me. I will destroy... AHHH!" Ooze suddenly screamed clutching at his head as if it would split into two. The zombie tengu collapsed into piles of bones, feathers and rotten flesh. "No, no, no! My pet! My Nightmare!" Ooze suddenly looked pale, as if a great deal of his energy was lost.

Tommy knew an opportunity when he saw it. "Alright gang, on me. Let's finish this. Power weapons."

The others nodded firmly. "Right."

"No this will not end here! It isn't over rangers! Not by a long shot!" Ooze growled vanishing in a flash of purple light.

"Well that could have gone better." Adam said gazing up.

"Is anyone hurt?" Rocky asked. He watched all head shake no and let out a sigh of thanks at that. Zombie rangers was not something he wanted to think about.

"What do you think happened?" Aisha asked.

"No idea but..." Tommy was interrupted by the communicators going off. "Tommy here."

"Rangers return to the command chamber at once." Zordon's voice was sad yet commanding. "It's Billy."

So many emotions crossed each of the rangers as Tommy replied. "On our way."

******************* Command Chamber*************************

"I don't see why Ninjor locked us out." Bulk frowned, making a fist against the metal wall. "We should be in there with him." Bulk turned to face Zordon.

But it was Skull who answered softly, pointing at the blood on Bulk's shirt. "You saw how bad Billy was... maybe Ninjor just wants to..."

"Wants to what Skull? Spare us the pain? I...it's not fair. It's not fair..." Bulk was shaking with emotions when he felt something warm touch his back.

"It will be okay." Kimberly words were soft but her voice unsure even in her reassurance, as she looked between her friends and her 'father' figure.

Bulk rounded on her. "He's your best pal Kim. I would think you would be a little more worried."

Kimberly snorted. "I am worried! I am so worried I feel sick but... we've got to trust Ninjor." She locked eyes with Bulk, refusing to look away first. A long moment of electrified silence filled the air.

Bulk dropped his gaze. "Sorry Kim. I shouldn't be taking this out on you. We're family now but it's just..."

"I know Bulk. I know." Her eyes held such a gentle softness of understanding, he was about to ask her what exactly she knew when the other appeared around them.

Voices of worry, words of concern, filled the space between the humans and Zordon. He let them all speak, worried and at once. But it was finally Tommy who spoke. "Zordon please, what is happening?"

Zordon's face shown with a sadness the rangers had not seen before. "Billy is facing one more test."

"Hasn't he been through enough?" Bulk challenged, much to the surprise of everyone there.

Zordon took no offense at his tone. "I am sorry but this is the way things must be. Wait, hope and trust in the powers of good."

Silence fell over them. Kimberly clasped her hands together in a whispered pray to the universe. Adam put his arm around her and spoke softly as he pulled her into a hug.

Tommy was about to interrupt them, he wanted to comfort Kimberly, when a hand slipped into his. Katherine held his hand tightly as tears dripped from her blue eyes. Without thinking Tommy drew her to his chest.

It was Justin who spoke. "Zordon, this test. Does it have to do with Dulcea dying?"

"Yes young Justin."

"Wait, Dulcea is dead?" Rocky asked. Very confused and alarmed.

"Not dead but, not the same as she was." Skull replied, feeling quite small as all eyes turned to him. "She um... became light? And um... little help Zordon?"

"Skull is right. Dulcea has made a great sacrifice." And Zordon explained what had transpired.

*********************** Command Chamber, Medical********************

"Billy, you must open your eyes." A voice he knew spoke as something cold touched his forehead.

Billy struggled to do as the voice asked, momentarily frightened by the blue form in front of his face.

"Shh it is only I, the great Ninjor. Be still Billy." Ninjor hushed him, soothing away any fear.

"Where am I?" Billy asked.

"In the command chamber. You are fully human again." Ninjor brought over a mirror for Billy to look at himself. Yes he was human once more, "but... " Ninjor continued, "You are dying."

Billy tried to nod but the motion made his head swim. He chose instead to remain still. "I know. I can feel it. Funny, I thought I would be afraid to die but I'm not. May I see Kimberly before my time comes? I'd like to say goodbye." He sighed deeply, feeling more of his energy, his life force, edge away. "Though, perhaps given how beat up I look, it would be best I pass away alone."

"I don't want you to die Owl." Ninjor replied, "And neither does Dulcea." he held up the glowing vial that seemed to dance and call to Billy.

"What is that?"

Ninjor chuckled, "You mean who is this. This is Dulcea's essence of life, extracted and concentrated."

Billy struggled to sit up, his heart racing. "But that would mean..."

"Yes. She is gone, at least as you knew her. She named you before she went. Billy you are the Owl, knowledgeable and wise."

"The owl." Billy felt comfort in that. As if part of him now felt whole.

"There is more. This light can be used to create a ninjetti spirit. Billy you will die someday but it does not have to be today. Will you accept the life Dulcea has freely given for you and become Ninjetti? We need you."

Billy did not hesitate. "Yes."

Ninjor smiled as he cracked the vial open, the light covering Billy's body like a blanket. "Then so be it. Awaken renewed and ready to fly. Silver owl of the ninjetti."