When the rangers left the village, they were seven strong.

Now…just the core remained as the five arrived back at said village. The people came out to greet them and welcome them back.

Most of the rangers were happy to see everyone again, shaking hands, smiling and whatnot.

Nazu, however, could only give a small smile, while Azu was just…lifeless. Slavi was first to notice that she was only responding with one or two words when she had to.

Slavi had tried to offer her comfort, brushing her hand against Azu's, trying to offer it…

But while Azu initially seemed to accept, she seemed to bring her hand back.

Slavi frowned.

Did…did she do something wrong?

Azu…she was clearly upset…

As if sensing that, Azu grabbed her sleeve gently, shaking her head at her, as if reading her thoughts. Slavi recognized that while she's not the cause of this, it seemed she can't help either.

Time seemed to be a blur for Azu, everyone's voices might as well being muffled, the loudest things she could hear being the words RyuKabuto said to her…

And next thing she knew, she was sitting at a table along with the other rangers and the village leaders and mystics.

Yukina herself seemed saddened after having heard what happened with the Bros, in particular RyuKabuto.

All the while…Azu was silent.

Greybeard stroked his facial hair. "It is…regrettable, what ended up transpiring with the brothers. My condolences." He told them, showing a bit of empathy for them for the first time anyone could remember since they first got to the village.

"...I still can't believe it…they'd always been more focused on justice than anything. Sure, they…they took a leave of absence for a bit since those two incidents but…I…I never thought…" An upset Ziga said, thinking of her two former allies.

Andah put a hand on Ziga's shoulder. "Z…" She tried searching for something, anything to say to comfort her mantis…but nothing came to mind. She sighed, rubbing her shoulder.

"If it helps, lady Ziga…" Yukina spoke up. "I do not believe they are too far gone. When I spoke to them…they showed signs of hesitation…their wills on what turned out to be this…they weren't as strong as they'd have liked to be. It might be possible to bring them back."

Ziga sighed heavily. "... One can hope…"

Nazu looked over at Azu with concern, his red ranger giving him a look saying 'not right now.' He nodded, choosing to respect her wishes, Slavi looking at her with pity.

The red ranger only faintly noticed as everyone continued talking, agreeing to spend one more night at the village before leaving.

Later on, Nazu had his shirt off in his quarters, checking his body for anymore damages from the fight when suddenly, there was a knock on his door.

"Hey M-" Nazy started as he opens the door, then looked and saw Matti wearing a familiar dress. "Youuu still have that?"

Matti was in a black and blue cocktail dress, a slit for her left leg, a generous deep cut, as well as heels in similar colors, smiling. "I thought I'd surprise you before you left." She hugged him. "Besides, you seemed like you needed it."

"W-well I'm certainly surprised. C'mon in."

Matti walked in, twirling in the dress, the fabric billowing around her, showing more of her legs, the smirk on her face letting Nazu know his blushing face was exactly what she intended.

"You look…. You look exactly how I remembered." Nazu smiled.

Matti smiled back, a look of pent up affection and love in her gaze. "Thanks. You look good too."

"Well… I try to stay in shape."

Matti traced his muscles with her finger. "You've done a good job."

"Thanks… So uhmmmm you were serious earlier?" Nazu asked, blushing.

Matti nodded. "If you're good with it. I…I know we didn't end things on the best of terms, any of us, but…I do love you guys…and…I do wanna try again."

"I'll have to talk to Shiro but… She's missed you too…"

Matti sagged in relief, smiling widely. "...you have no idea how happy that makes me…"

"So just to warn ya, the portal goes directly to HENSHIN HQ… There's a lot to get into."

"So, lots of guns pointed at me when we get there and they see some stranger instead of those two beetle guys you came here with?" Matti quipped.

"... Yeah…"

Matti giggled. "It's ok." She draped herself over him. "I have a big, badass blue ranger to shield me." She teased, kissing his cheek.

"I…" He blushed. "Thank you…"

"For what?"

"Our talk before we left the village. Helped me remember my reason to fight. We uh…fought against the Beetle Bros, turns out they're people who have vendettas against Azu and me…RyuKuuga…was someone from that day. There were a couple times after I realized who he was that I thought of just giving up, but…part of what helped me keep going was your words."

Matti smiled, leaning into him. "Awww."

Nazu chuckled and leaned back into her.

"So…I know we should hold off on anything more until Shiro says it's ok…but, is a peck ok?"

"You say that after kissing me twice before I left the village."

"One of them was for Shiro!" Matti argued, puffing her cheeks out.

"Hehehe, sure~"

Matti smiled, kissing his cheek.

They both couldn't wait till Shiro could join in…

Ziga and Andah were in their own quarters, the green ranger swinging her legs and arms.

"Wow. I was really damaged in that fight, all of us were. I know it was quite the trip down but…I'm still feeling like I just got updated into a fresh new body!" She grinned, doing some flips. "How about you Z?"

"... Z? Really?" Ziga asked with a raised brow.

"Pet name!" Andah answered, smiling sweetly.

"... I guess there are worse options." Ziga said with a smirk.

Andah giggled, kissing her cheek, hugging her. "You alright?"

"... I'll be okay." Ziga hugged back.

Andah smiled. "Good."

She was then punched across the shoulder. "Ow!" She looked over to Ziga. "What was that for?"

"...don't do that again…" Ziga whispered.

"... Z she might've killed you."

"You might've been killed too!" Ziga snapped at her.

"I can be backed up and remade!" Andah replied loudly. "Besides, would you really rather you have died, and Amy lost you? Before you had a chance to properly talk?"

"NO! I would've preferred no one be in that position at all!"

"Well we were there, anyway. She wasn't gonna let us go easily, so at least one of us had to stay behind to make sure others could get away, and no one knew we'd be saved by those three schmoes getting us the Heart." She put her hands on Ziga's shoulders. "Like it or not, Z, I and others care about you, and I'm not gonna let someone die if I can prevent it." She looked down. "Not again."

Ziga paused, realization flowing through her. "..." She looked down. "I…I'm sorry, I…I didn't mean-"

"... I know, and I appreciate that you don't want me to die either. All we can do is our best, yeah?"

"..." Ziga nodded. "I just…you know I used to be a soldier…I just…when it seemed like you were about to…I…I couldn't help but remember…" Her hands shook.

Andah took her hands… "Neither of us are gonna let the other die. That's a good thing."

"I know…just…" Ziga squeezed her hands gently, trying to focus and stop her own shaking, sighing quietly in relief when Andah rubbed her thumbs over her hands. "...I'm sorry."

"It's okay, c'mon, you look like you need a drink." Andah grinned.

"...do you mean an actual drink or me going down on you?" Ziga raised an eyebrow.

"Oh c'mon I'm not that bad!" Andah puffed her cheeks.

"You're right, Slavi exists." Ziga quipped, the two laughing.

"I'll be right back." Andah got up to get drinks.

Ziga sat down on the bed, smiling.

Azu stared blankly out the window in her room, the fight with her counterpart flashing through her mind.

She remembered it…just as she remembered everyone who died or suffered at her hands…their faces etched into her mind.

Ayame Hikari…

She shook at the thought of that face and name, her 'heart' aching at this.

Outside, Slavi stood at Azu's door, thinking of whether or not to go in.

She thought of how Azu walked off after the meeting, her expression still fresh in her mind…

And she decided to back off.

It could wait until they got back…she looked like…

She needed time for herself.