The Grimm did not share in the stillness, for they recognized the green stranger only as another victim to tear apart. The horde scrambled for the hill, but the number of shadowy beasts did nothing to deter the new arrival. His only response was a charge of his own, barreling down the hill directly for the wolves at the front of the pack. Since he was armed with nothing but a knife, those who didn't know him well would think him suicidal.

They would have their minds changed once he engaged.

Meeting the first of the Grimm with a boot to the face, Tommy slashed at others with quick strikes and swift jabs. He was a green blur, the tiny dagger hitting like a mighty sword as every slash struck true. Outmaneuvering those who tried to swarm him effortlessly, Tommy somersaulted over an Ursa and ran his free hand across the dagger's length…

…coating the blade in a blazing green fire.

"AI-YAAAAAH!" Plunging the dagger into the earth, Tommy conjured similar green flames that erupted from the ground and consumed a variety of black beasts. He didn't let up on those left unharmed, as his ignited blade dished out more damage than before with each swipe. Cutting a Beowolf across the chest five times before kicking it away, Tommy spun to slice open the throat of another Beowolf before stabbing it through the wound. More green flames poured through until the monster's head exploded in a heated emerald blast.

A deep roar alerted the Green Ranger to a massive Beringel towering over him. Unphased as the beast raised an arm, Tommy reconfigured the Dragon Dagger into a powerful ranged weapon; a model similar to a .50-caliber pistol. With a single trigger pull, a direct shot blew off the Grimm's fist. The monster howled in pain before Tommy fired another few rounds leading from the chest to the head, downing the creature in three shots.

The undeterred beasts refused to flee and continued their assault on the lone teenager. And although he seemed more than capable of handling the creatures on his own, there was still one of him… and many of his enemies. Nobody hesitated for an instant. The group charged into the horde and reminded them of their presence by whittling their numbers with every passing second.

The time for words was not yet upon them, but the Rangers were glad to have Tommy back just as much as he was. But for now, as the reunited Red and Green Rangers locked eyes in recognition, it was time for them to do what they did best: kick monster tail.

The Huntsmen and Rangers cut down the crowd, each one of them acting on instinct instead of thought. Nora smashed a Beowolf's knee and the beast fell right onto Pyrrha's javelin while Ren and Trini strafed around an Ursa, spraying it with bullets. Propelling herself towards it, Yang almost twisted its head backward with a mighty punch, but the blow was effective enough to swiftly kill the beast. Billy and Weiss were a deadly duo both up close and at a distance, the closest Grimm suffering from rapier and lance strikes and the farthest succumbing to ice blasts and sniper shots. The heiress summoned a trail of glyphs that the Blue Ranger sped across, spearing a Beowolf and chucking it aside before throwing more electro-grenades into the mix. Upon reaching the end of his path, Billy spun with a final slash and struck a pose reminiscent of an ice skater finishing his routine, his lance held behind his back. He gave the applauding white-haired girl a bow of thanks, disintegrating Grimm bodies around him.

Holding his own attackers at bay, Jaune kept close to a nearby crimson storm, where Jason and Ruby reduced any Grimm that approached them to pieces amidst rose petals and scorching flames. The red reaper and the Red Ranger moved in perfect synchronization, the force of Jason's roars propelling the petal-bound Huntress faster than ever before while Crescent Rose sliced through fifteen Grimm in five seconds. Flying back to Jason's position, Ruby let him hop onto her scythe before flinging him upwards. Coating Tyrant in bright raging flames, Jason plunged downward and sent any monsters close to him flying with a brilliant red-orange blast that Yang happily cheered at.

Blake and Kimberly were a tsunami of swords, slicing up Beowolves and Ursai with dancer-like movements. Grabbing onto Gambol Shroud, the Pink Ranger allowed the Faunus to spin her around while she held out one blade, the high speed making her move like a wraith that cleanly separated Grimm from their limbs or heads. At her momentum's height, Blake flung the other girl skyward instead of toward the Grimm. Soaring until she could ascend no more, Kimberly drew a volley of red-rimmed arrows and aimed straight down while the horde moved on the lone Faunus… only to be bombarded by an explosive rain.

For those that didn't perish in the explosion, Kimberly landed on a Beowolf while burying her blades in her skull and leaped onto a Beringel, severing its arms at the elbows. The Pink Ranger bounded from beast to beast, decapitating or amputating as she went. The smoke from the previous blasts vanished, revealing the empty space where Blake once stood. The few Grimm who remained focused on the Faunus paused with confused red eyes… until a black blade darker than midnight stabbed a Beowolf through the back and another weapon blasted out its head from behind. She was already moving before the others could react, sprinting through the masses with inhuman speed. Any Grimm that attempted to catch her was met only with rocky or icy duplicates that shattered on impact, the real deal taking the opportunity to land a bullet between their eyes.

Dodging a fist that smashed the earth, Zack rolled behind a Beringel and swung at its leg, his weapon cleaving the limb in two. "Timber!" he cried, leaving the roaring beast to collapse and crush a few of its brethren beneath it. The Black Ranger took off, chopping down any beast that approached him. When a Beowolf rushed him, Zack used both arms to catch the monster in midair and slam it down head-first, cracking the bony mask and snuffing out the red lights in its eyes. Taking a second to strike a flashy wrestler pose, the Black Ranger was jolted back to reality by a Lancer's stinger blast, forcing him to block the next volley of shots with his ax before returning fire with its shotgun mode. After downing one of the big bugs, he broke into another run with the insects on his heels, all while shouting that they weren't big fans of him.

Leaping over a swiping claw, Tommy landed behind a Beowolf and brought his hands together, summoning forth forest-colored flames that gathered between his palms. Bringing it to full strength quickly just as the monster whirled around- its mouth wide open- the Green Ranger blasted the beast point-black in its chest. "AH-YAAAAH!" Refusing to let up, Tommy proceeded to throw fireballs at any monster he could see, hitting them in the heads and legs to stun or stagger them for his friends to finish off. A wolf-like snarl drew his attention and he spun to fireball it in the face…

…but a blonde figure bashed the beast away and the green fireball smacked her in the gut. With a grunt of pain and surprise, Yang hit the ground tumbling. Tommy's eyes went wide and he hurried over to the girl, kneeling near her form in worry. "M-ma'am, I'm so sorry! Are you hurt? Are there any burns?! I can-"

The girl's hair erupted into flames and her eyes shot open to reveal crimson irises, her immediate reaction jolting the boy back in shock. Before Tommy could register this further, Yang fired Ember Celica at the ground to recover, cocking the gauntlets at a pack of Beowolves, Ursai, and a Beringel. "Thanks for the boost, greenie! HRAAAAH!" She charged at the monsters with an echoing roar, unloading the strength of that hit tenfold onto her enemies… while Tommy watched in stunned silence.

"Man, this just keeps getting weirder and weirder."

Trini was quick to join her fellow yellow-clad fighter and twirled into the fray, driving a leaping heel into a Beowolf's face before slicing off its arms, stabbing it in the chest, and cutting outward to finish off the beast. While Yang threw amplified haymakers and explosive bolts from Ember Celica, Trini switched one of her daggers into its pistol mode and charged at another Beowolf that was already reaching for her. Blocking its bulky arms, Trini swept out its legs and fired into its skull, ending it on the spot. One of its packmates moved to replace it, but it was quickly overwhelmed by a steady combination of dagger strikes and pistol shots. Trini drove her dagger into its neck and placed her pistol's barrel in the center of its bony mask, cracking it with a well-placed shot.

Yang grabbed a Beowolf's arm and twisted the limb, cracking it with a satisfying snap. The blonde brawler proceeded to blast holes in the black beast's body and drove a strong uppercut to its chin, knocking the head clean off and leaving the body to wither away. Letting out a triumphant cry with a raised fist, Yang's crimson eyes eagerly searched for her next target. Several likely candidates were already getting burned by a fire unlike her own, as green flames Tommy summoned from his palms swallowed beastly forms and ate away at their ashen structure. The ensuing smoke blinded nearby Grimm, giving the perfect cover for some of the teens to pick shots at them.

Try as they may, the Grimm were anything but infinite. They cared little for self-preservation as their numbers dwindled; primal instincts to kill proved no match for the combined power of Dust and Semblances. They may have been fighting fourteen, but their so-called victims carried the strength of over a thousand that greatly outclassed the creatures of darkness. In no time at all, the monsters went from outnumbering the living things they sought to destroy to being outnumbered themselves…

…until they were nonexistent.

Jason and Ruby freed their weapons from a fallen Beringel, its disintegrating mass rising alongside others. Those bodies faded until no trace remained but the rising black particles; a trace that was gone just as quickly. Everybody sheathed their weapons with quiet breathing, turning their minds to the one that stood out the most.

"Are you guys o-oomph!" Tommy's lungs were forcefully empty when both Trini and Kimberly wrapped him in a hug, warm smiles on the girl's faces despite almost knocking him over. Zack and Billy hurried over with elated laughs leaving them, leaving the Green Ranger swarmed as he was embraced from all sides.

"Tommy! You're alright!"

"Awesome entrance, dude!"

"You have no idea how much we missed you!"

"What in the world was that thing, Tommy?!"

"How long have you been out here?!"

"Guys, guys!" Tommy had to raise his voice to be heard over his friends' storm of delighted exclamations and questions about his well-being. "You're crowding me!" He couldn't resist a smile of his own while his friends broke away, with Zack playfully ruffling his hair. "Ah, we're just glad to have the band back together!"

Tommy smacked his hand away before one more sight crossed his vision. A familiar figure in red stood mere inches away, the corners of his mouth lifted warmly. No words needed to be said between them, and that suited them both just fine. Jason embraced Tommy as if the two were long-lost brothers, resting their heads on each other's shoulders with calmly closed eyes.

"It's good to have you back, Tommy," Jason whispered happily. The Green Ranger slowly broke away, meeting his friend's eyes with his own. "Hey… there's no place I'd rather be."

Jason smiled again and placed a hand on Tommy's shoulder, trying to find the right words through his emotions. "Where the heck have you been, man?"

Tommy awkwardly exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. "I… I don't think you'd believe me if I told you." This earned him an amused chuckle from the Red Ranger. "I dunno, Tommy… we've seen a lot."

"Oh, I bet," Tommy replied, looking around at his friends. "You guys look amazing, by the way."

"Us?" Zack echoed, gesturing to himself before doing the same to Tommy. "Look at you, man! You're rocking it! Those gold pauldrons look snazzy!" Everyone else echoed the Black Ranger's approval, more delighted giggles and chuckles filling the air. Tommy waited for them to calm down before speaking up again. "So… is there anything I missed?"

"Oh, there is so much we need to fill you in on," Trini breathed in exasperation. "I don't even know where to start with this place."

"But first, there's something you need to know, Tommy," Billy spoke up with a serious tone. "Rita is here." Tommy stilled upon hearing the name, turning to the Blue Ranger with concern. "Where?"

"We don't know. We ran into Goldar and Scorpina. Those two are looking for her… and we need to find her before they do. Otherwise, they'll wreak havoc on this world."

"But there's some good news, too," Kimberly countered. "While we were looking for each other- and for you- we found some people willing to help us." She turned to the eight other teenagers who were approaching them. The Pink Ranger turned to Team JNPR first. "Tommy… this is Jaune, Nora, Pyrrha, and Ren."

Jaune and Pyrrha were examining the Green Ranger in admiration, the latter giving him a polite wave. Nora was more enthusiastic in her greeting while Ren just crossed his arms, staring at the boy from head to toe with a thoughtful look. Tommy gave them a welcoming nod before directing his eyes to the other four girls.

"And this is Yang," Trini started, the blonde crossing her arms with a cheeky grin. "Sup, dragon dude?"

"Blake," Zack continued, the Faunus giving him a quiet wave.

"Weiss," Billy said, the heiress nodding in acknowledgment.

"And Ruby," Jason finished, the silver-eyed girl holding up a hand. "Hi… you must be the Green Ranger."

Tommy was taken aback for a moment. "Uh…" Instead of responding to Ruby, he shot Jason a half-confused, half-panicked look. "You told them?!"

"Tommy, relax," the Red Ranger whispered. "I'll explain later, but we trust them."

"How much do they know?"

"Earth, Rita, the Power Rangers… everything," Tommy opened his mouth to retort, but Jason quickly stopped him. "I promise we'll explain on the way."

The Green Ranger took a moment to gather himself. "Well, if you trust them… then I guess I should, too." He finally turned to Ruby. "You good in a fight, kid?" The girl frantically nodded with a happy grin. "Yeah! Totally!"

"Great. You'll need it, all of you," He returned his attention to his teammates. "What's the plan?" Jason was all too eager to answer that. "We head back to Beacon and get you situated. After that, it's time for a witch hunt."

Tommy raised a brow. "Beacon?" Billy was quick to elaborate. "It's a school they go to. They learn to fight monsters as coursework." The Green Ranger spun to the Blue Ranger, his face caught between amazement and confusion. "They have monster-fighting schools here?!" Trini let out an exhausted breath. "Like I said… we've got so much to tell you."

"Tell me about it, Trini," Jason echoed. "I'm getting tired just thinking of what to tell him first." Ruby stepped forward and gestured for Tommy to follow them. "Let's go, everyone. I've got a feeling the professor's gonna like you…"

A small drone hovered through the forest, tailed by two golden-clad figures. The tallest of the two hacked and slashed at foliage while the tailed woman slinked under branches and slid over logs. "Whatever Finster has to say…" Goldar grumbled. "It had better be worth it. I will not explain myself to Adam if we don't return to his side soon."

"The White Fang is leverage," Scorpina told him. "If we're lucky, they'll handle the Rangers for us. Their hatred of humans is strong." Only another growl came from Goldar in response. "For your sake, Scorpina, I hope you're not implying that the masked thick-headed coward will destroy the Rangers himself. That honor belongs to you and I alone in the name of the empress."

"I do not expect Adam Taurus to kill the Rangers, despite his best efforts," Scorpina retorted. "Only to delay them. That way, both of them are kept busy while we search… but even then, we are at an impasse."

"Do not remind me," Goldar grumbled again. "This world is vast, unfamiliar, and expansive. We don't have a clue where to start, and our empress could be anywhere." He spun back to the drone leading them. "Machine! How much further?!"

"On the contrary, my good friend…" a calm voice spoke. "You have already arrived." The Faunus turned to a nearby tree, where a white-haired human figure dressed in scientist's clothing awaited them. The drone hovered to his side like an obedient pet while the man stepped forth to address the two Faunus. "You two are just as glamorous as ever."

Scorpina's eyes were wide. "Finster? You're…"

"...human," he begrudgingly answered. "A distasteful turn of events, but it has its perks. For instance, it has allowed me to remain undetected whereas you… are less conspicuous." Goldar bared his teeth. "And I was believing myself to be hideous. Just how have you managed, Finster?"

"As far as the humans here are concerned, that is not my name," the man explained. "To them, I am Doctor Phineas Steff of the Atlesian Advanced Science Division… and this alias has allowed me to infiltrate a building of great importance to them."

Scorpina moved closer with an interested smirk. "Continue."

"As I'm sure you are aware," Finster began after adjusting his glasses. "This is a world where the Morphin Grid cannot reach, which means that the Power Rangers do not exist. However, this world has a different kind of protector, which they call Huntsmen."

"Huntsmen?" Goldar growled. "What is it that they hunt? Faunus?"

"Not exactly," Finster answered, his fingers dancing across a technological device on his wrist. His drone moved into position before projecting a still image, the contents intriguing Goldar and Scorpina greatly. Within this image was a horde of monsters, unlike anything Finster had ever sculpted. Bodies blacker than the foulest pits, faces and spikes as white as bone, and eyes burning red with pure, untamed evil. "Behold."

Scorpina gasped in awe. "Magnificent…"

"Monsters?" Goldar whispered. "They are what these 'Huntsmen' battle? So… perhaps they are not so different from the Rangers."

"I present to you the Grimm," Finster continued. "Beautiful, are they not? I can think of no better beast of raw malignancy and chaos. Surely, Empress Rita herself would be impressed by them… but alas, these creatures serve no master. They are a wild, uncontrollable force that runs rampant across this world. If not for the Huntsmen, this world would be theirs already."

"These Huntsmen have proven to be a problem," Scorpina added. "Several of them have allied with the Rangers. And while they're not Rangers entirely, they have powers. Unlike any I've ever seen. If we are to destroy the Power Rangers here, we must also deal with them."

"I will explain all that I have learned about the Huntsmen in due time, my friends," Finster promised. "But first, allow me to return to this building I mentioned." He inputted something else into his wrist device and the drone swapped the image out, projecting another one of a splendid structure resembling a fortress tower. "This is Beacon Academy, one of four academic institutions dedicated to training Huntsmen."

"Train?" Goldar repeated. "You mean this world has an army of them?!"

"A rather unofficial description," Finster told him. "But yes. Huntsmen are classified as teams of four named after colors. They are sworn to protect humanity from the, and I quote, 'soulless monsters that plague their world'. That sounds rather prejudiced, don't you agree?"

"With all due respect, Finster," Scorpina hissed. "We've seen our fair share of prejudice on this speck of dust. Are you familiar with a race called Faunus?" The monster-turned-human nodded in approval. "As a matter of fact, I do. Why do you ask?"

"There is a resistance movement known as the White Fang. They seek vengeance on the humans… and we are their newest members." Finster nearly jumped upon registering Scorpina's words. "You mean… an alliance? But what about the empress?"

"The empress is our primary concern," Scorpina dismissed. "If we're to find her, we need something to keep the Rangers and their friends occupied. The White Fang will do our work for us and delay them while we find the empress. And once we have no further use for them…"

"I see," Finster muttered. "An excellent strategy, Scorpina. Does their leader suspect anything?" Goldar was the one to answer this with a menacing growl. "By the time he does, Finster… it will already be too late for him."

A smile crossed the man's face. "On the subject of suspecting nothing, there is something you ought to know. The Power Rangers are utilizing Beacon Academy as a home base as we speak."

"So the Rangers are there?" Goldar echoed. "We should lay siege to the academy at once! That way, we could crush the Rangers and deprive this world of its pathetic teenage defenders!"

"While I do agree with killing two birds with one stone," Finster scowled. "I strongly advise against it." Goldar was on the man in a flash. "Would you care to repeat that, Finster? Or has your mind changed alongside your body?"

"A direct attack on Beacon Academy would result in unwanted attention," an unfazed Finster continued. "We must maintain a low profile during our search for the empress. For now, I am the only one able to access the academy without arousing suspicion."

"Yet another reason as to why I despise humans," Goldar grumbled. "They have it so easy that they have become soft and weak!" Scorpina gave her partner a glance of agreement. "And to place their trust in hormone-crazed, over-emotional youths filled to the brim with anxiety just proves how feeble-minded they have become… just as Zordon foolishly entrusted those on Earth to become Power Rangers!"

"We are all sickened by this fact," Finster groaned. "Yet they are the ones who have made it difficult to conquer a supposedly-simple world. Now, as I was saying, the best position for you two is the White Fang. As much as it pains me to say it, we must go our separate ways for now."

"And as much as it pains me to say it," Goldar spat. "I will do whatever it takes to locate our empress, even if it means obeying that hard-headed idiot. If he had any idea about my reputation, I should be the one giving him orders!"

"How do you plan to stay in contact, then?" Scorpina asked. "This new tool of yours?" She gestured to the drone beside Finster, the man nodding. "Once I have obtained vital information, we will meet back here to discuss further strategy. And if anyone gets suspicious of you…"

Goldar already had a hand on his blade. "Gladly."

"Discreetly," Finster announced sternly. "This is not the time for violence… not yet."

"Very well, Finster," Scorpina said assuringly. "We shall await your new findings. But for now, I wish to disrupt more supply chains. Goldar, let's see if Adam has any more taskings for us."

"Will it help to say if patrol gets boring?"

"Not if we wish to keep rendezvousing with Finster. Let me handle the talking."

"Do not keep us waiting for long, Finster," Goldar told the man before the two Faunus retraced their steps through the forest. After bidding his comrades farewell, Finster turned to take his leave…

…when he spotted an incoming aircraft on approach to Beacon. Silently gesturing to his drone, Finster tasked the machine to run a scan on any personnel onboard. Once he received a proper list of passengers, the man raised a brow in amusement. "How interesting… Hello again, Mister Oliver." Checking his posture and straightening his stance, Finster began the trek back to Beacon. With a snap of his fingers, the drone slipped into invisibility and silently tailed him.

"There's no Morphin Grid here?" Tommy asked quietly as he and Jason walked through Beacon's campus, the Red Ranger solemnly nodding. "Yeah. We can't morph, but that doesn't mean we have no powers."

"Well, that would explain a lot. And these powers… What did Ruby call them? Semblances? How do they work?"

"Through an energy field that surrounds all living things. They call it Aura, and it exists in everything that has a soul. People, plants, animals… the Grimm are the only things that don't have it."

"Those monsters…" Tommy shuddered. "They belong in a Metallica music video or something." Jason gave his friend an approving glance. "Yeah, tell me about it. Those things can be a real problem, which is why there are places like this."

"Schools where students learn to fight monsters," Tommy said. "Should I be impressed or jealous?" Jason just chuckled and shook his head. "Oh, that's not the strangest. This morning, Trini told me the moon was broken. I asked around, but nobody knew how it happened. They have their stories… which is pretty much a big thing around here."

"Your friend speaks the truth," spoke a humble voice. "Stories are something to be cherished here on Remnant… for each myth contains a sliver of truth." Both Rangers turned to see a green-clad older man with a cane approach them, with Jason immediately standing at attention. "Professor. Out for a walk, I assume?"

"I had just received word from Miss Rose that you have finally found your missing team member," Ozpin replied modestly before directing his gaze to Tommy. "I believe this is him?"

"You believe right, sir," Jason answered. "Tommy, this is Professor Ozpin, Beacon's headmaster. Students and faculty alike hold him in high regard. Professor, this is Tommy Oliver, the Green Ranger."

Ozpin bowed his head at Tommy. "A pleasure to meet you at last, Mister Oliver. Your friends speak highly of you."

"I'm sure they do. We have… quite the history."

"I should believe so. And may I add that you have rather impeccable taste in color? It's been said that green is a generous and relaxing color that revitalizes the body and mind, as well as balancing one's emotions." Tommy had an unexpected expression that held a small hint of being impressed. "Oh, well, uh… the person who picked this color for me didn't have that intention."

"You are a fine young man, Tommy Oliver," Ozpin assured. "Whatever path you may have been on before, fighting on the side of righteousness and hope will always be the destined one. Your friends choose to believe, so I do too." He bade the two boys farewell before continuing down the path, leaving the Rangers to their business.

"Well, he seems… nice," Tommy spoke up after watching the man depart. "Is he always that optimistic?"

"Ruby says he makes a great speech," Jason told him. The boys continued their stroll around campus, with Jason giving a tour to Tommy and explaining all the things that separated Remnant from Earth. The Green Ranger was just as amazed as he was upon learning of things like the Faunus, Dust, and the concept of naming weapons. Tommy denied the idea of rechristening the Dragon Dagger, believing it unnecessary for a weapon of that title… although he did choose to name the Semblance that allowed him to wield and weaponize fire.

"Emerald Embers," he said. "That's got a good ring to it."

Much to Jason's secret annoyance, though, Tommy was impressed by Scrolls. "Billy must've had a field day," he laughed, commenting that he could see devices like that being a possibility in Earth's future. The chat continued for a few more minutes, with Jason diving into the various types of Grimm and the four kingdoms. He had heard a few students discussing an upcoming tournament they called the Vytal Festival, which intrigued Tommy.

Time seemed to fly for the boys until they eventually got tired of walking, sitting down on a bench lining their current pathway. While taking a moment to catch his breath, Jason noticed Tommy had gone silent… but not because he needed a break. The Green Ranger looked deep in thought, his hands intertwined as he stared off into space.

"Tommy… you okay?" Jason's calm voice brought the other boy from his thoughts and he looked at his friend. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm good, just… remembering stuff. I dunno what you guys went through, but… mine was a little more complicated."

Jason sighed, the memory of the last time he saw Tommy replaying in his head. "Tommy, that was… a very risky move back in the cave. You could've gotten blown up or… or reduced to atoms!"

"I'm sorry for scaring you guys like that," Tommy solemnly whispered. "But we were out of time and out of options. And… I don't think my idea worked, anyway. Billy said Rita wanted to banish us?"

"Yeah, she did…" Jason answered. "But you brought them here with us. The good news is Rita's still trying to get her bearings and her minions are still struggling. The guys are going to get back to searching soon."

Tommy sighed, a hand going to his forehead. "Rita… you know, for a moment, I thought my plan didn't work." Jason raised a brow in confusion. "Why'd you think that?"

"Because when I woke up, after the blast…" Tommy continued. "I was in chains."

The Red Ranger almost rose from his seat. "Chains? Tommy, what do you mean? What happened to you?" The Green Ranger exhaled, his mind searching for the best way to proceed. "It's… it's a lot, Jason. You sure you wanna hear this?"

"I'm your friend, Tommy," he reassured him. "And I trust you. I'll listen to whatever you have to say." Tommy didn't respond for a second, his eyes darting side-to-side before releasing a breath. "Alright. Um… I thought destroying Rita's staff would stop the spell. Maybe I was too late. Maybe I caused it. All I know for sure is that when I came to… I was seeing darkness. And I was alone."

His head was pounding. Blackness stretched out for miles. The only sound he could hear was his quiet breathing… and something fainter.

"...whe…fi…"

"...supp…nob…kno…"

Tommy's mind was swimming. What happened? Did he stop Rita? Where was he? Where were the other Rangers? Were they alright?"

"...mo…ive…"

Through the slow rise of consciousness, Tommy forced his voice to function while trying to open his eyes. "J…Jason… did we…"

SMACK! Something slapped him across the face. Hard. Tommy jolted awake with a sharp intake of breath, his eyes shooting open alongside his mouth. "Guys!" he cried out without thinking. "What happened?! Did we-" He pulled himself forward… only to feel something tug at his wrists. Something cold and metallic. "Wh-what the…"

Tommy turned to his right arm… and saw a heavy metal shackle chained to it. His breath came out in a quaking gasp as the chain rattled, and he spun to his other arm to see it chained as well. He tried to speak again, but it only came out in a wheeze as the adrenaline faded.

"Wha… what is… where-"

"You," somebody snapped. "Look at me." Tommy's breathing stopped, leaving him in silence yet again. He didn't recognize that voice, but… something about its tone told him the owner was anything but friendly.

"I said," it aggressively repeated. "Look. At. Me."

Now that he was fully awake, Tommy registered his surroundings. He was on his knees, facing a stone floor with his arms shackled at the wrists. Standing before him was a pair of dark high heels on long, slender legs, one of them bearing a jeweled anklet. The boy's eyes slowly trailed upward, absorbing the sight of a red off-shoulder v-necked mini dress with yellow designs. The face of a woman stared down at him, ashen black hair almost blending in with the shadows and leaving a single amber eye the color of fire visible in the darkness. Tommy felt like it was burning into his soul.

"Wh-who-"

SMACK! Another slap made his vision blurry while urging a pained grunt from his form "You will speak…" the woman sneered. "...only when you are spoken to." Tommy groaned as he shook the pain away, his vision coming back to him. The woman bent down towards him, that single eye's blazing glow anything but comforting.

"Who are you?" she asked lowly. "And how did you find this place?"

Tommy blinked. "Wh-what?"

The woman shot out a hand that grabbed him by the forehead, slamming the back of Tommy's head against the wall and causing a sharp pain to flash in his skull. He cried out again while that single eye seemed to burn brighter.

"Who are you?" she growled slowly. "And how. Did. You. Find this place?"

This was a wake-up call. No time to be scared. No time to be confused. No time to think about the others. All that could come later. Right now, this lady needed to know who she was dealing with.

"My name…" his voice was returning to normal now. "My name is Tommy Oliver. I am the Green Ranger." The woman didn't move her hand, nor did her scowl fade. "As to how I got here… well, it'd help if I knew just where 'here' is."

The woman yanked his head forward so sharply that Tommy felt like she was trying to slam him on the floor. Instead, she seized him by the chin and raised his face towards her, that amber eye burning him yet again. "Don't… play this game with me," she hissed, her teeth bared in a snarl. "Your name. Now."

Tommy frowned, unwilling to be intimidated by whoever this woman was. "I told you, it's-"

Another round of pain as the woman slammed his head against the wall again. "Your real name. And no titles. Tell me who you are, how you found this place… and who sent you."

Tommy was the one to bare his teeth this time in the hopes of reflecting the lady's intimidation back at her. "I'm not gonna play your game, whoever you are. You want me to spill? Fine. I'll spill." The woman stepped back, finally releasing him.

"My name is Tommy Oliver. I am the Green Ranger. I can't tell you how I got here because I don't know where I am. And nobody sent me. I was in a cave and-"

The woman snarled and raised a hand to strike Tommy again, this time curling it into a fist. Tommy braced himself for the blow…

"Ma'am?"

She froze, her eye slowly turning away while a seething exhale left her clenched teeth. "What."

"He was armed when we found him," Tommy angled himself to glance behind the woman, trying to pinpoint where the new voice was coming from. It didn't take him long to see someone standing in the shadows… or rather, two someones. The first was a gray-haired young man with pale eyes leaning against a wall with crossed legs, dressed in gray and black while rerebraces and vambraces covered his arms. He was studying Tommy as if he were a dead body rather than a prisoner, a disdainful look in his eye.

The other figure, the one who had spoken, was a dark-skinned girl with red eyes and mint-colored hair. She wore an intricate thin white top and a shallow-cut olive-colored crop top, with white cropped pants beneath brown chaps that attached to a brown belt. This was who the woman turned to, holding out a hand expectantly. The girl reached from behind her back and placed something in the woman's palm.

A green ornate dagger. Tommy had to resist the urge to gasp and redraw attention to himself. The woman's aggression turned to curiosity as she examined the Dragon Dagger, running two fingers along its blade and studying the hilt's piston valves. Now that he was getting a good look at it, Tommy noticed the dagger looked… slightly different. There was no emblem, only an insignia of a green flame in its place and the image of a roaring dragon running down the blade.

"And that's not all," the girl said, prompting the woman to glance back at her. "He was also carrying this." Still clutching the dagger, the woman held out her other arm… and this time, Tommy couldn't suppress the slight gasp when he saw what was placed into it.

It was his morpher.

"I've never seen anything like it," the girl said with bewildered eyes; eyes that turned to the young man. "Mercury, what do you think?"

"I think this shouldn't be happening," he snapped. "This place is supposed to be a secret. Nobody knows about it, which means no one would even think about coming here. And now this guy just shows up passed out at our doorstep? He's an idiot. A dead idiot."

"Well, maybe he got lost. Was he on a ship that was caught in a-"

"Quiet," The woman's tone was enough to silence her on the spot. The only sound Tommy could hear now was the clicking of the woman's heels as she approached him again. Taking him by the chin again, the lady hoisted Tommy to his feet, the chains rattling as he was moved. She then held up the morpher for him to see.

"What is this?" The question was sadistic even though it was silent. Didn't she get it? Tommy didn't get scared easily. Or did she think this was the first time he was captured in a creepy… whatever this place was?

"That…" he snarled in response, narrowing his jade eyes at the woman's blazing amber orb. "...is the very last thing you should be holding right now." The woman gave him no response, only another look at the object. The golden Power Coin depicting a three-toed dragon's claw shone brightly, even in a room as dark as this. After a few more seconds of examination, the woman turned back to her captive.

"Who are these 'Power Rangers'?"

Oh, Tommy was all too pleased to answer that. The small chuckle and the smirk he threw her way made her raise a brow in confusion. "Did I say something funny?" she growled.

"Who are they?" Tommy said. "They are the ones who aren't gonna be too happy when they find out what's happened to me. They'll zero in on my position the second you mess with that thing, and when they do, you're going to regret-"

The woman's hand shot out again, this time tightening around Tommy's throat and squeezing hard, cutting off his words and his breath. "No one is coming for you, Tommy Oliver," the woman snarled, speaking the Green Ranger's name like it was part of a foreign language to her. "They won't find this place, even if they were brave enough to step foot here. And as for you…" Tommy could feel something warm against his neck, almost as if a hot towel was being pressed against his skin. "You are going to die here, forgotten and alone. But before you do, you are going to tell me everything I need to know. Now what is that device? What secrets does it hold?"

The Green Ranger still had trouble breathing against the lady's iron grip, which slightly loosened to give him the air necessary for him to speak. That warm sensation against his throat was also growing as if it was bound to get hotter at any given instant… but it didn't rise any further. Fighting against the woman's strangling grip, Tommy did his best to shoot her a challenging look.

"I… I'm sorry…" he choked out. "Is this… supposed… to be… hurting me?"

The grip was gone in a flash. The woman stepped back, an almost unnoticeable gasp leaving her. Her blazing eyes were alight in inconceivable shock, darting from the Green Ranger's helpless form to her bare hand. That stupefied look on her face lasted for a few more seconds… before a furious expression replaced it and she grabbed Tommy by the face, her fingers digging against his skin.

"Who… sent… you?" She growled, Tommy's face warming up beneath her grip. "WHO?!" Tommy felt like the woman was ready to rip his face off, but the strangest fact was that he was feeling almost no pain. Sure, he could feel the heat coming from the woman's head, but he wasn't feeling anything else. No intense burning, no scalding sensations, nothing that would provoke a pained scream and hot tears. This woman was undoubtedly trying to burn him, that much was true. But Tommy wasn't just thinking about how she could do that… he was wondering why he wasn't bursting into flames or melting away.

And if this lady thought he was just a scared kid, she had another thing coming.

"You think I'm scared of you?" Tommy snapped through the woman's palm. "I've seen and fought far worse than you, Miss Crazy. If you want to do better, maybe you should try something other than giving me the sauna treatment."

"AAAAAARGH!" The woman jerked her arm away with a scream that sounded frustrated and angry, glaring at her hand and her prisoner with bared teeth and a heaving chest. The other two people in the room were just as stunned as she was, as they both stared at Tommy as if he were a freak in a circus show. The Green Ranger gave all three of them a cocky smirk, hoping to irritate his captor some more. The woman snarled at the boy as she stood, but instead of approaching him to dispense more physical torture, she shoved his morpher into the gray guy's hands.

"Take this to Watts," she spat. "Tell him to crack it open. I want to know everything about it the next time I see him." The man silently nodded, tossing and catching the morpher like a trinket before pocketing it. "I'll need his weapon, too," he suggested. "Don't want him getting any ideas." Glaring at Tommy one last time, the woman huffed before silently handing over the Dragon Dagger, spinning on her heel, and marching for the door. "I need to speak with her now."

Hold on… her? That could only mean… of course.

"You," the woman strictly told the girl. "Make him talk. Crack him, bleed him, anything." The girl grinned- happily, not menacingly- in response and nodded. "O-of course, ma'am! I won't let you-"

SLAM! The door crashed closed before she could finish her sentence, leaving them alone in the darkness. "...down," the girl awkwardly finished. Tommy heard more footsteps slowly approaching her in the limited light. "Emerald… look at what he's wearing."

"Green? What's so-"

"That's his color. You don't think…"

Silence. Tommy took the chance to break it. "Yeah, new clothes don't guarantee an attitude adjustment, storm cloud. So don't try it." The young man whirled on Tommy with a sneer and jabbed a finger at him. "None of your damn business!" He stormed out of the cell without another word, leaving Tommy with the girl. A cheeky smirk crossed her- Emerald, Tommy remembered- face and she slowly walked towards the Green Ranger, drawing a green sickle blade.

She was sick if she thought she was gonna enjoy this.

"Alright, boy…" she whispered slowly. "If it were up to me, I'd ask how you were able to resist Scorching Caress. But I'd hate to see Cinder disappointed… so let's start at the beginning. You said your name was… Tommy Oliver, right?" She gently ran her weapon's tip across Tommy's cheek, careful not to draw blood… yet.

"That's right," he said while resisting a wince. "And on the subject of names… Emerald, huh? That's nice." That earned him a chuckle from the darker-skinned girl. "I suppose I can let that slide… besides, you won't be around much longer to remember that. What a waste."

"Yeah, this isn't exactly my first time as a prisoner," Tommy retorted. "So forgive me if I'm not shivering in fear." Emerald just smiled. "Oh, you won't have anything to fear right now… as long as you cooperate." She traced her weapon down Tommy's chest, stopping in front of his heart. "Now… you said you were a 'Green Ranger'. Given how it's not an official Huntsman classification… you must be an elite. Am I right?"

Huntsman… that was new. And if those gold pauldrons on his chest weren't a dead giveaway, Tommy would've thought of something similar. "Yeah, I'm a pretty big deal, Minty, so-"

"Oh, no, no, no, no," Emerald shushed him with a finger to the lips. "You don't wanna do that. It'd be a real shame if I killed you before getting to know you, Tommy. My superiors wouldn't like that. They wouldn't want to, oh, I don't know…" Before Tommy could blink, the sickle turned into a pistol that was pointed directly between his eyes. "...find a bullet in your brain. You can only play this game for so long."

He sighed. "You think?"

"I know," Emerald countered. "That thing I found with your weapon said 'Rangers'. Plural. There's more of you, isn't there? Tell me who they are and I may make it quick."

"Well, I don't have much of a choice here," Tommy relented, a plan already forming in his head. That woman- Cinder, if Emerald was right- mentioned a "her"… and Tommy knew just who she was talking about. He could let Emerald have her fun for a little bit…

"Long story short, they've got a power and a force that you've never seen before, not like your ordinary Huntsmen." Once he got out of here, he needed to know more about them. "They're protectors, keeping the world safe from monsters while keeping their identities hidden."

Emerald raised a brow. "They don't show their faces? Interesting… which kingdom do they hail from?" Tommy didn't have a clue about that question, but it wouldn't help him if he said so. "That's just it. Nobody knows who they are or where they came from… except for you, of course. You know who I am. If you want to know about the others, you'll need to capture them, too. But I've gotta warn you… they won't make it easy."

"Easy?" Emerald echoed with a laugh. "Oh, I'll make it easy. You see, Tommy… I have a knack for it. I'll find them, and when I do I'll have it go the way I want it. They don't stand a chance."

"You're underestimating them already," Tommy countered. He needed to pick his words right. "Like I said, they fight monsters every week. Ordinary people like you are a cakewalk." Emerald just scoffed. "Huntsmen aren't used to fighting people. Just the Grimm. And no Huntsman has ever seen a person like me."

Now.

"Oh, they have. In fact, they know who you're working for, Emerald. They know you're working for the witch."

Silence again. Emerald froze on the spot with her red eyes open in shock and her mouth hanging ajar. When she turned to Tommy again, her voice was shaky. "What… what did you just say?"

"You heard me," Tommy said boldly, rising to his feet as if the chains around his arms no longer mattered. "They know… I know that you're one of her minions, trapped under a spell that makes you a willing servant and compels you to follow every command she gives you. And now I know where she is."

"Stop!" Emerald hissed in a desperate move to hide her fear, placing her sickle against Tommy's throat. "How did you find out?! How do you know this?!" Tommy just glared into her eyes, his jade orbs burning like his previous captor's amber eyes. "Because I once served her, too. I was her loyal soldier, entrusted to dominate the world in her name. But now I'm free… and I'm gonna free you, too."

"No!" Emerald cried, drawing another sickle and crossing them across Tommy's neck. "You can't! This… this is my second chance! My-"

"This isn't a second chance, Emerald, but I can give you a real one," Tommy interrupted. "But first, I want to have a word with your boss right now. So where is she?"

The girl was shaking her head in denial, a tear streaming down her face. "Y-you can't… Cinder, she… I can't do this, she'll-"

"She is just as cruel as her master, and you're deluded if you think any of them see you as a partner," Tommy growled. "Now, I'm gonna ask you one more time, Emerald. Where is she?"

Her breaths were coming in ragged gasps and small whimpers. "I-I can't… I won't-" Tommy was starting to get impatient, making him feel like he was no longer the one in chains. He had turned the tables on her, and now he needed her to crack if he was to save her. He lunged forward at the girl and bared his teeth, putting on his best intimidating voice as she staggered back with a cry of alarm.

"Where is she, Emerald?! Where is Rita Repulsa?!"

Emerald stopped. She was still again, her face frozen. No more tears came down and no muscles moved, her weapons scattered at her feet. Tommy had her right where he wanted her. "You… but… I…" Now all Tommy needed was to see her drop to her knees in defeat and whisper an apology before delivering him to the sorceress. He never relaxed his face, keeping his glare on the girl as she started to shake from fear.

"You… you… YOU BASTARD!"

A jolt of pain shot through Tommy when a fist collided with his face, wiping off the glare. More blows followed, each one rattling Tommy to his core and leaving little time for his brain to comprehend the unexpected turn of events, let alone voice his sudden confusion.

"YOU SON OF A GRIMM, YOU TRICKED ME!" Emerald screeched in anger, hammering the helpless Tommy with a surge of newfound strength. The world spun and rocked around the Green Ranger, spittle and blood flying from his mouth as he collapsed back to his knees. "LIES! ALL LIES! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME!"

"Em… Emerald…" he gasped, his breath ragged and weak. "I can…"

"SHUT UP!" She screamed, driving a foot into his stomach before punching him again to emphasize her words. "I'M NOT A SLAVE! I'M NOT A PAWN! I'M NOT UNDER SOME STUPID SPELL! I NEVER SHOULD'VE LISTENED TO YOU AND YOUR GODDAMN NONSENSE!"

At this point, Tommy was slumped onto the floor amidst a coughing and wheezing fit. Through his blurred vision, he saw Emerald towering above him with clenched fists, her body shaking and her chest heaving. Not from fear, he realized… but rage. More hot tears were leaking from her eyes now as she bent down, grabbed Tommy by the hair, and lifted his battered face to eye level.

"Whoever… you think you are…" she croaked through damp crimson orbs. "I hope Cinder…" She choked back a sob. "I hope Cinder burns you… slowly."

She threw a fist at Tommy's face and everything went dark.

Darkness.

Darkness.

More darkness. An infinite void of nothingness. It remained when Tommy cracked open his eyes and groaned softly, his breathing nothing but tired gasps and tiny coughs. The shackles around his wrists felt tighter than ever now, the only thing holding him in a black abyss. It took all his strength to move even the slightest inch, his shaken brain struggling to recall.

Where did he go wrong? Why didn't it work? Why did the tables turn back on him so quickly? How long had he been out? It felt like hours, but there was no way to know for sure in here. Emerald believed him… he knew it. He saw it in her eyes. But… but then why did she…?

Argh, it even hurt to think. But Tommy needed to, if he was to do anything. If he was to get out of here… wherever here was. But what could he do? Those chains looked strong, stronger than a regular person and maybe even stronger. If only he had his morpher, he could break out of them easily. Both his morpher and weapon had been confiscated, though, so Tommy needed another way to…

Hold on… his brain wasn't hurting anymore. His vision was no longer blurry. And the pain, it was… gone? How? Nothing like that could just heal over like a sleeping foot! And yet, he could move clearly… but tugging against the chains barely did anything. No matter how hard he pulled against his restraints with grunts of effort, they didn't budge. It was beginning to get annoying. Tommy growled again and poured all of his strength into his right arm, yanking as hard as he could…

…and the shackle glowed with a green light.

"What?" Tommy jerked his arm back, the chain rattling from the movement. The green glow within the shackle's metal was warm to the touch, but the warmth faded when the glow vanished and left nothing but gray metal. Naturally, Tommy had questions about what had just happened, but that glow was heat. How did he do it? Let's see… he had yanked the chain as hard as he could… no, that wasn't it.

He had used great effort… he had focused on the task… his mind was dead set on it. Maybe concentration was the key? Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, the Green Ranger took the bindings in each hand and wrapped his fingers against the links.

"Focus, Tommy…"

The Green Ranger poured as much effort as he could into his arms, slowly rising to his feet while feeling his heart pounding within his chest. Before long, something inside him seeped through his form. Something warm. Something protective. Something… powerful. He heard a small hissing sound, felt the chains weaken in his grip, smelled the faint scent of smoke in the air…

With a loud crack that broke the still air, Tommy's arms jolted downward. The boy opened his eyes to see the shackles still attached to his wrists… but the chains were broken, smoldering with wisps of emerald smoke. The other half of those links were dangling like ropes, swaying from side to side. The sight was enough to bring a smile to the boy's face before turning back to his hands, grabbing one of the weakened shackles…

…and ripping it from his wrist before doing the same to its partner. The useless restraints were hastily discarded and he flexed his wrists, clenching them in his hands. Tommy exhaled gently in relief and smirked. "Now we're talking." The Green Ranger crept towards the door and placed his ear against it, listening for any sign of somebody on the other side. When he heard only silence, he slowly pried it open and peeked out…

Tommy was met with a dimly lit hallway illuminated only by rows of tiny flickering candles. The walls appeared to be made of rock and purple crystals that gave the corridor an ominous appeal. The whole place was cast in shadows that looked like they could hold anything that could jump at Tommy without warning. He needed to be careful.

The Green Ranger proceeded with caution down the hall, his body tensed for anything as he carefully crept through the crypt-like corridor. He didn't like this one bit, the place was something out of a horror movie. He needed to get out as soon as possible… but first things first, he needed his stuff back.

His footsteps echoed for miles and his breathing was a hair's breadth away from frantic. It became clear to Tommy that this was not the Moon Palace. Rita was creepy, but not this creepy. Where was he, then? On the moon? Beneath the moon? Underground on Earth? Tommy's eyes darted all around the hallway, drinking in the spine-tingling decorations and labyrinthine design. Speaking of labyrinths, each hallway and passage looked the same to Tommy, which made turns mind-numbingly difficult.

He did not need nor want to end up at a dead end in this freaky place.

At least his whereabouts weren't as strange as his outfit. Gold pauldrons, a jade jacket with black detailing, an emerald undershirt, green stylized pants, combat boots, and was that a hint of green hair dye at the tips of his black strands? Tommy glanced down at his arms, spotting something strangely familiar on his left wrist…

Wait, there was a clicking sound from the intersection up ahead. Panic briefly flooded the Green Ranger's form and he hugged the wall, catching a glimpse of his reflection in one of the violet crystals jutting from the ceiling. While forcing himself not to move a muscle, Tommy glanced into the reflection and found the source of the clicking. Hovering down the perpendicular path was…

…the world's freakiest jellyfish? The thing was covered in bony plates and spikes while six barbed tentacles dangled beneath it. Ugh, it looked super gross, but Tommy couldn't risk it seeing him. The creature moved slowly down a set path, clicking all the while. It was getting closer to Tommy's position, the boy scrambling for ideas. Should he risk fighting it and kill it quickly? Should he bail before it gets too close? He didn't want to think about what those tentacles could do.

The Green Ranger had to resist a sigh of relief when the thing turned around and hovered back the way it came, vanishing into the shadows. Tommy quickly moved past the intersection and kept going straight, returning his attention to his arm. That thing he had seen just before that… that… whatever that thing was showed up… no wonder the device looked familiar! It was his communicator!

Gently pressing down on the device, Tommy dropped his voice to a whisper while glancing around the hall. "Zordon?" Nothing. "Zordon, come in." While he did it a little louder this time, he received no response. "Alpha, do you read?" No high-pitched voice or any "aye-yi-yi"s followed, so Tommy quickly changed frequencies.

"Jason? Jason, it's Tommy. Are you there?" Nothing again. Maybe this place was messing with his communications. Regardless, the other Rangers were probably worried about him. "Jason… if you can hear this, I've been captured. I'm in… a fortress of some kind. It's really dark, there are crystals and candles everywhere… and I'm not alone. There are people here and they have my morpher. I need immediate evac. Jason, can you hear me? Jason?"

The other line was dead. No static, no response… nothing. It did nothing to ease the growing dread in Tommy's heart. Looking back at his current path, the Green Ranger noticed an ornate-looking window that allowed purple light to seep in. Curious, Tommy crept towards the window and peered out… only to have his heart sink even further.

For starters, he wasn't on the moon… because the thing was in the dark sky and was shattered, bits and pieces just hanging there like a plate smashed against the floor. Below the broken natural satellite was something Tommy could only describe as a wasteland. Rocky terrain and dark purple crystals that sprouted like trees covered the chaotic scene all while black puddles dotted the terrain. From those puddles, monsters unlike anything Tommy had ever seen crawled out like animals emerging from a pool. The creatures radiated pure evil with bony armor, black skin, and burning red eyes. Distant roars and howls filled the windless air as more and more of them emerged in various shapes and sizes. From his viewpoint, Tommy came to a conclusion.

"I don't think I'm in California anymore."

"What the devil is this?"

The sudden refined-sounding voice brought forth another wave of fear through Tommy and he immediately dove away from the window. Fortunately, he didn't see anybody down the hall… but the voice had come from up ahead and down a left turn. Steeling himself, the Green Ranger slowly inched towards the intersection and stayed low, trying to make himself as discreet as possible.

"That's what I'm hoping you can answer, Arthur," That other voice… that was the gray guy. Mercury, was it? "This and the knife were what we found on the prisoner. Cinder wants you to tinker with it… and when you see her, you better have an answer."

"Well, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Although… This coin is rather intriguing. I shall see what I can discover about it. And what of the prisoner?"

"Don't worry about him. He won't be a problem for much longer."

Tommy was almost sorry to prove him wrong. He peeked around the corner just in time to see Mercury walking away from him and some other man closing a door behind him. Once the gray-haired man was gone, the Green Ranger quickly approached the door, carefully listening to the man inside. He was already getting engrossed in his work, which means he would be distracted.

Tommy quietly opened the door, careful to avoid squeaking, to see a small lab with a middle-aged man facing a work desk that had various tools placed on its rocky surface. Ignoring the grim designs of various monsters and weapons, the Green Ranger tiptoed inside and moved towards the man, who he could tell was already poking at his morpher. Rising to a stand, Tommy drew back a fist while the stranger muttered under his breath.

"Hmm… no traces of any Aura, but I am detecting traces of unidentified energy. How curious… the boy has a point, I am left wondering as to what in the world this object is. And this weapon… what fool would wield a ridiculous blade such as this?"

"Me."

"What?!" The man spun around in shock only for Tommy's fist to deck him in the face. He slumped to the ground in an unconscious heap, taking Tommy by surprise. He hadn't expected to hit him that hard, only to stun him so he could get him into a sleeper hold. But he could take what he could get. Hurrying over to the desk, Tommy grabbed the Dragon Dagger with a smile and tucked it into a sheath near his right thigh. As for the morpher, he ran a finger over it and nodded after confirming it was undamaged.

"Have a nice nap, gramps," Tommy bid the man as he took his leave. "I'm busting out of this creepy castle… this is a castle, right?" Forcing himself to discard the question, Tommy moved into the hallway and continued his journey through the twisting corridors. The minutes passed by as Tommy trekked through the tunnel-like hallways. A left here, a right there, a double-back once he realized he was getting nowhere…

An exit. He needed an exit… but the front door was a definite no-go and he didn't want to risk any doors that looked like they led somewhere important. But what other way was there? Well, if he could find another way out. A less-guarded exit. But these passages were all the same, completely identical no matter where Tommy turned. Could it have killed them to put up some signs or leave a map lying around? He felt like he was going in cir-

"HYAH!" Something hit Tommy in the side and he was knocked against a rock wall, stunning the Green Ranger. Tommy shook his head and groaned, blinking the dizziness from his eyes. Had he not been careful enough? He should've expected… no, he shouldn't. Anything could've happened at any time, and not even he would be ready for it.

"How did you break out of those chains?! I double-checked to see how secure they were!" The familiar voice made Tommy moan again as he identified a figure dressed in gray and black, the colors almost acting as camouflage. Tommy stared down at his attacker with narrowed eyes. "You should worry less about how I was able to escape…" the Green Ranger told the gray figure. "...and more about what you're gonna say to your boss after I mop the floor with you!"

"Oh, I am," Mercury spat back. "I'm gonna tell her I did her a favor and took care of you for her!" And with that, the boy charged at Tommy with a jumping kick that the Green Ranger easily countered by seizing the other man's leg, throwing it upward, and kicking him away. Mercury recovered easily by flipping in midair and sliding to a stop down the pathway he ambushed Tommy from, turning his gray eyes to the now-sprinting Green Ranger.

The two boys met with a flurry of fists and feet, matching each other step-for-step. Stepping away from a spinning high kick, Tommy blocked several more strikes before nailing Mercury in the side and uppercutting him in the chin. Although staggering, Mercury defended himself from Tommy's next attacks, blocking a high kick with his arm and deflecting another series of punches. When Tommy grabbed hold of him and threw him against the wall, Mercury pushed himself off with a foot and nailed Tommy in the chest with his other leg, sending him into the parallel wall and knocking over some candlesticks. The Green Ranger rolled away from another punch that smashed the wall behind him, getting into a stance and beckoning his opponent.

As the two continued to trade blows and their fight took them down a long hallway, Tommy took notice of Mercury's fighting style. It was mostly kick-based, so… taekwondo, maybe? He wasn't using his hands as much, but he did use them to defend against Tommy's strikes and grapple with him. Speaking of grapples, Tommy had to headbutt him to break free of that struggle and kicked him away, leaving Mercury on his back.

"Stay down if you know what's good for you," Tommy warned. "I'll have you know I'm a black belt, and there's only one person who can keep up with me." Mercury's only reply was a breakdance-esque spin that got him back on his feet, and Tommy could only imagine what another certain guy dressed in black would think of that. Regardless, he swapped blows with Mercury again, giving a solid defense against the gray boy's offense. He was good, Tommy had to give him that. He wasn't letting loose now; Tommy barely had an opening to strike back.

He could only keep up the defensive for so long, but a spinning heel kick from Mercury was enough to break through before Tommy could come up with a good strategy. A follow-up kick to his abdomen sent Tommy through a pair of double doors and the Green Ranger stumbled onto some kind of balcony hanging over an audience chamber. He didn't have time to admire the view, weaving away from another dashing kick from Mercury. The gray fighter came to an abrupt stop before hitting the railing, keeping himself from going over before attacking Tommy again.

Ducking under a high kick and nailing Mercury with a similar move, Tommy weaved away from a few more whirling kicks before socking Mercury with a low punch and landing an uppercut on his head. Shaking it off with an annoyed growl, Mercury wiped at his mouth. "Don't tell me that's all you got."

"Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet," Tommy countered, reaching to his thigh and unsheathing the Dragon Dagger. This time, he was the one to make the first move and slashed at Mercury, but the gray fighter fluidly weaved away from each swing before grabbing Tommy's arm and kneeing him in the side. He wrenched the boy's limb back towards him, directing the dagger towards his face. Tommy simply released his hold on the weapon and caught it in his other hand, surprising Mercury with an upward slash. With his opponent caught off-guard, Tommy wheeled around and slammed Mercury's stomach with his heel, sending the young man over the side of the railing and into the chamber below.

Much to Tommy's surprise, Mercury landed on his feet and spun back to the Green Ranger while taking a few steps back. His eyes offered Tommy a silent challenge, one he was happy to oblige. Taking a running start, Tommy planted a foot on the railing and propelled off, spinning through the air before landing perfectly in the chamber. Mercury engaged him once again, avoiding jabs and slices from the Dragon Dagger before kicking the weapon out of Tommy's hand. With no time to retrieve his weapon, Tommy was forced to defend himself again from a volley of Mercury's next blows. The boy launched an aerial assault of spinning kicks against Tommy's block, breaking it and knocking the Green Ranger onto his back. Mercury immediately went airborne again, spreading his legs to land an ax kick on Tommy, who thrust out his hands…

…which threw a green fireball that smacked Mercury out of the air and made him crash onto the floor with a pained groan. Sitting up in shock, Tommy stared at his palms in sheer awe. "Whoa…" He caught Mercury spinning back onto his feet from his peripheral vision, prompting Tommy to return to a stand in tow. The two fighters circled each other, with Tommy picking up his dagger and returning it to its sheath.

"So your Semblance is fire…"

"And you took it pretty well. I mean, Mercury is the planet closest to the sun."

The boy raised a brow. "The hell are you talking about?"

Tommy registered his opponent's stern yet confused look. "And yet it can be really cold sometimes. Figures." Making a mental note to look into these "Semblances" later, Tommy charged for Mercury while the other boy did the same. This time, he went for the offensive, weaving away from Mercury's high kick and catching his other leg, sending him spinning to the ground by tossing that limb outward. Mercury rolled away from the ensuing slam and Tommy was on him the second he got to his feet, bombarding his defensive stature with several punches and kicks. A jumping kick to the side staggered him and a forward kick knocked him down in front of a crystalline throne on a black dais. Raising a limb, Tommy prepared to keep up the pressure…

…when something wrapped around his arm.

"Wha-" was all he got out before he was suddenly yanked onto his back and dragged through the chamber. He came to a stop in front of another familiar-yet-not-familiar face, who brought a leg down on him. Weaving his body to the side and hopping to his feet, Tommy pulled his ensnared arm towards him and backhanded Emerald across the face, sending the girl sprawling while her kusarigama released its hold on her. Mercury rushed to her side while she stood, both of them blocking the chamber's exit while she glared at Tommy angrily.

"Two on one, Mint?" he called. "Hardly seems fair… for you."

"Maybe I should have killed you in your cell," she shot back. "But I'm gonna fix that." Instead of charging at Tommy, Emerald switched her weapons into pistols and opened fire on the Green Ranger, who swiftly blocked the shots with a twirling Dragon Dagger. Weird, he shouldn't have such reflexes unmorphed! Maybe those spars with Jason were paying off…

Mercury was coming at him again from the left side. Tommy rolled to the right to avoid more gunfire from Emerald and took a swipe at Mercury, who swept out his legs and moved to punch his head into the ground. Blocking the fist with his dagger, Tommy moved to kick out a leg…

…but it didn't budge.

With no time to try again or think about why that didn't work, Tommy settled for a jab at Mercury's face with his free hand and bolted to his feet. He whirled to face a charging Emerald and clashed blades with her, the girl dancing around him and avoiding his counter swipes like a natural. The girl was more elusive than Tommy thought, backflipping away from his strikes and taking shots at him: shots that didn't hurt as much thanks to a shimmering green glow that flickered across Tommy's body. But while the shots did stagger him, Tommy was left wide open for Mercury, who engaged the Green Ranger with more kicks… that had more of an explosive feel to them.

The boots fired out air blasts that interrupted Tommy's attacks and knocked him off-balance while bullets staggered him some more. Now, Tommy had mere milliseconds to react and doge, but those milliseconds were filled by Mercury and Emerald attacking from two places at once. The duo bombarded Tommy from all angles, with a spinning kick from Emerald directing him toward Mercury, who grounded Tommy with one last tornado kick.

The Green Ranger hit the ground hard, his body shimmering with a faint jade light. Groaning in pain, Tommy could barely hold onto his dagger as he sheathed it. Not too far away from him, Mercury smirked. "Now you stay down if you know what's good for you." The satisfied young man turned to his partner. "Didn't expect his Aura to plummet so fast. You want the honors, Em?"

"Gladly," she said, taking a step forward and revealing her blades to Tommy. "Any last words, Green?" She all but spat them out, eager to continue beating down on him as she had done in the cell. Tommy, however, shot a knowing smile as he clambered to his feet.

They had tricks… and so did he.

"Yeah… IT'S MORPHIN TIME!" His cry took the duo by surprise as he whipped out his morpher and held it outward proudly. "DRAGONZORD!" He savored the startled look on Emerald and Mercury's faces as he awaited the instant transformation, muscles poised to strike a ready pose once he suited up. The duo's faces remained locked with wide eyes and open mouths… before their eyes glanced at each other, unsure of what to make of th-

Wait… something wasn't right.

Nothing was different about Tommy at all. His suit hadn't appeared. Actually, nothing seemed to happen with the morpher at all. His body recoiling from shock of his own, Tommy blinked at the morpher in confusion. "Uh… DRAGONZORD!" he called out again, thrusting the morpher outward. No explosion of green energy, no flash of light, nothing happened.

"DRAGONZORD! DRAGONZORD! What…" Tommy didn't understand. Why wasn't it…

"What is he doing?" Emerald whispered to her partner.

Mercury just glared at Tommy. "He looks like an idiot."

No… no, was he too late?! Did that scientist guy tamper with his morpher?! No, he couldn't have, the dude barely had the chance to touch it until Tommy knocked him out…

Hold on… Mercury. He was the one who had the morpher last, before handing it over to the man. Did he…

"YOU!" Tommy shouted, jabbing an accusing finger at a still-confused Mercury. "What did you do to this?!" Mercury blinked perplexedly, his eyes darting to an equally stunned Emerald. "What did I… I-I don't even know what 'this' is!"

"The heck you don't! Tell me what you did to it or I'll-!"

"Don't listen to him!" Emerald shouted to her partner. "He's trying to trick you, just as he tricked me! He's playing us!"

"Playing you?!" Tommy spat back before holstering his morpher behind his back. "Y'know what, if that's what you think this is, then fine! But playtime's over, kids! AI-YAH!" Leaping at the duo with a jumping kick, Tommy hit nothing but the floor as the two scattered in separate directions. They converged on him like predators, but Tommy was more than ready for them and repelled their attacks from both sides. After deflecting Emerald's blades and swatting away Mercury's legs, Tommy leaped in place and struck them both with a split kick. With both of them down, Tommy dashed the open pair of double doors…

…which vanished before his eyes?!

"Huh?! What the-?!" Tommy came to a stop with blown eyes, searching for any sign of his only escape. Much to his dismay, he found nothing. What kind of crazy castle was this?! With seemingly no way out, Tommy spun back to face the two enemies that were advancing on him.

Emerald was the first to draw his attention… when another Emerald stepped out from behind her. Then another. And another. Soon enough, doubles of Mercury were coming out from behind him, too, leaving Tommy confused. What was going on?

They attacked like a mob, swarming Tommy as he used his knife to fend them off. He swiped through an image of Emerald only for the image to disappear when his blade made contact. Mercury attacked next and Tommy ran his dagger through his form… only for that foe to vanish as well.

WHAM! Emerald clocked him across the jaw and darted away, leaving only a copy of her to take Tommy's retaliation. More copies of Mercury advanced on Tommy, making him swipe wildly at them. His weapon hit nothing but air as the images faded before his eyes. Tommy spun around when another Mercury jumped from behind, his heel smacking Tommy in the face.

They were there everywhere he looked. A copy of Mercury vanished when it landed a hit, as did an image of Emerald when he slashed across the midsection. Three Mercuries came at him from separate directions and Tommy nailed two approaching from the sides with another split kick… or he would have if he didn't feel air at his feet. The third knocked him down with a direct kick to his stomach, ejecting the wind from his lungs. The assault continued with the real deals among the swarm of fakes, impossible to distinguish who was real and who was an illusion.

With each whiff that passed through one attacker and each blow that was landed on a distracted Tommy, he felt something inside him burn alongside a wave of growing anger and frustration. The attackers blurred in and out repeatedly and the hits just kept coming, and before long Tommy was being pummeled while his desperate counterstrikes hit only thin air. And as his anger rose, so did that force inside him.

Whiff. Punch. Whiff. Kick. Whiff. Whiff. Whiff. Slam. Hook. Knee. Whiff. Kick. Palm. Elbow. Whiff. Heel. Jab. Stomp. Whiff. Whiff. Whiff whiff whiff punch jab knee kick elbow whiff-

"ENOUGH!" That force exploded outward in a green blast of fire that accompanied Tommy's enraged roar, blasting his attackers into nothingness while two were sent flying back. Tommy's mind cleared in an instant and he stomped towards the recovering Emerald and Mercury. The duo were back on their feet and ready for him again, Emerald focusing on him intensely.

"I said," Tommy snapped like a strict father. "Playtime's. Over." He thrust out a hand and a green fireball slammed into Emerald's midsection. "I don't know what you just did, but it's not happening again."

"No. It's not!" Mercury cried, sprinting for Tommy again only for his kick to be snagged in midair. Tommy spun around and threw Mercury against the wall, running for him before he hit the floor. By the time Mercury spotted him again, the Green Ranger unleashed a torrent of jade flames from his palms that engulfed the boy… who simply leaped through the flames and knocked Tommy back.

Once the Green Ranger turned his eyes back at Mercury, those eyes settled on something other than Mercury's angry expression. Small jade flames ate away at the young man's lower half, reducing the bottom of his pants and boots to ash. Beneath them was not bare skin, but a set of prosthetic legs that reached partway up to his thighs. Mercury looked upset that they were in full view, but it was a thought he brushed away.

"Usually, I'm not one for fighting cripples," Tommy said stoically. "But you? You just made yourself the exception." Drawing his dagger, Tommy set it alight with green fire and twirled the blade in his grip, taunting Mercury with a beckoning finger. He took the bait and charged, the sound of his metallic legs' servos reaching Tommy's ears. Mercury threw several kicks Tommy's way; attacks the Green Ranger easily dodged until snagging one leg in his free hand. With a strong grip on his dagger, Tommy drove the weapon into the limb just above the knee…

"AH-YAAAAAH!" With a firm twist and a sharp slice, Tommy severed the leg in two. Sparks flew from the ruptured joint and Mercury fell back with a scream. The young man immediately backed up in a panic, unable to stand or fight any longer. After shooting the young man a pitiful look, Tommy sheathed his weapon and turned to face down his last opponent… who was staring at him in horror.

"I'm gonna give you one last chance, Emerald," Tommy warned. "Walk away. Now." Emerald hesitated for a moment, looking between him and Mercury… before narrowing her eyes. "No. I'm not walking away. Not from her."

"Then you brought this on yourself," Tommy replied before igniting his fists in emerald flames and striking a stance. "Ai-yah!" Emerald went in guns blazing, her weapons' bullets superheating once they reached Tommy's proximity and hitting him as nothing more than warm puddles of metal. The Green Ranger leaped into the air and spun in a fiery whirlwind, crashing near a backflipping Emerald with a loud cry and attacking with fire-imbued fists that pounded at Emerald's defenses. With each hit, her body flickered with a sharp light until it finally shattered after a barrage of body blows.

Once it fell, Tommy disarmed Emerald of her weapons, grabbed her by the shoulders and spun, releasing the girl in the direction of the open double doors. The girl flew out and hit the nearby wall with a cry, collapsing to the floor. Tommy made his way towards her, noticing the girl struggling to stand and glaring at him hatefully.

"You… you can't leave… you'll… you'll die when you set foot outside."

"That won't stop me from trying."

Emerald lunged at Tommy with one last punch, which Tommy easily caught in his right hand before doing the same to Emerald's other hand. Using his body strength to pin Emerald against the wall, Tommy carefully diverted this new power through his arms as he did to break his chains. Slowly, he watched as Emerald's desperate face began to wince in effort… then in pain as tears slowly leaked down her face… until finally…

"AAAAAAAAAAAH!" Tommy released the shrieking girl and stepped back as she fell to her knees, her dark hands singed and smoldering. The Green Ranger couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret for his actions, but he thought back to their conversation in the cell. Emerald was serving a crazed person willingly and she claimed to have been given a second chance.

"That should keep you from going for your weapons for a while… but it's not enough to kill you," Tommy told her quietly, positioning the crying girl up against the wall. "I meant what I said back there, Emerald. This isn't the right path for you even if you think it is. I hope that one day… you'll find a better li-"

BLAM! Something blasted Tommy from his right and sent him meters down the window-lined hall until he came to a stop on his back. That green shimmer was there again, flashing dangerously this time. Tommy didn't know what that was or what it meant, but it looked like it couldn't last much longer. Forcing his body to stand, a groaning Tommy shook his head with gasping breaths. "Ugh… now what?"

His answer came in the form of clicking heels that almost stopped his heartbeat. He spun to see the woman from earlier coming his way, a black blade in one hand and a glowing orange crystal in the other. The woman paused, glancing at the writhing Emerald with burnt hands and the crippled Mercury, who was meekly crawling towards his severed leg with great effort. After examining her injured comrades, Cinder turned her orange eyes at Tommy…

…which burned again. But this time, Tommy's burned back.

"Cinder," he spoke sternly. "As much as I'd love to kick your butt right now, I've overstayed my welcome. I'm leaving, and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"

The woman clenched the crystal in her fist. "I won't stop until I kill you."

The Green Ranger frowned challengingly. "Get in line." Charging up his power, he threw several fireballs at Cinder, who deflected the projectiles with her blades and tossed the heated crystal at Tommy. The Green Ranger had already spun on his heel and bolted down the hall, keeping his feet off the ground when the crystal exploded behind him. The shockwave from the fiery blast propelled Tommy forward and he hit the ground rolling, charging for a window at the end of the hall. He could hear Cinder mere meters behind him, and for a split-second, he asked himself how somebody could be so fast in heels.

After lobbing one more fireball to stall Cinder, Tommy dove out of the window in a shower of glass and plummeted to the dark, eerie ground below. From what he could see, he wasn't just in a castle. He was in a castle composed entirely of purple crystals and rocks. His mind was racing for a proper way to land without being reduced to a green pancake when something shot past him and cracked one of the violet crystals. An arrow.

Spinning around in midair, Tommy spotted a rapidly fading visage of Cinder drawing a bow in front of the shattered window, taking another shot at Tommy. Weaving away from the projectile, Tommy whipped out his Dragon Dagger and cut down the next few arrows, throwing a few fireballs back to return fire. After Cinder ducked out of sight, Tommy returned his attention to his other predicament… and he got an idea after looking at the passing crystals and his weapon.

Coating his blade in green fire, Tommy stabbed it into a crystal just as he was nearing the ground. The Dragon Dagger carved a massive gash in the crystal, the force slowing the Green Ranger's descent. Once he was at a velocity he deemed safe enough, he released his grip on the crystal, dropped down…

…and landed in a superhero-esque pose with a fist on the ground and his dagger twirled in a reverse grip. His heart was still pounding, but Tommy took the chance to catch his breath and wipe his brow of sweat. "Woo! That was… fun? I guess…"

He strode away from the castle, taking in the sight of the dark wasteland around him. "Now… How am I supposed to get out of here?" The whole landscape looked dead: no sun, no wind, no animals… well, except for one thing.

An entire horde of midnight-colored monsters were charging at him like zombies swarming for a lone human amid an apocalypse. The sight made Tommy groan in exhaustion. "Oh, come on! Can't a guy get a break for five freaking minutes?!" Those things looked tough and there were too many of them. Tommy didn't know how much more he could take right now… he could really use some help.

Wait a second… help!

Tommy's eyes washed over the Dragon Dagger, most notably the hilt and guard that made up its most vital feature. As the wave of blackness closed in on the Green Ranger, Tommy took a deep breath and stared pleadingly at the weapon.

"Buddy… I hope you can hear this," Turning his eyes back to the charging horde, Tommy answered their unified roars with one of his own. "DRAGONZORD POWER, NOW!" Blowing into the dagger and playing the notes that came easily to him, Tommy watched as the music made the monsters come to a grinding halt, ears and heads perked in confusion. It's been said that music soothes the savage beasts, and while several of the creatures- like the ones that looked like elephants and gorillas- appeared to be entranced by the tune, Tommy didn't think that statement held any weight right now.

Tommy continued to play until he noticed that green glow around him flare up. He wasn't gonna stop because of some light, however, and kept going, allowing the music to echo across the lifeless wasteland. With each note that the dagger sang, the green light around Tommy grew brighter and brighter until it swirled above his being, gathering and molding into a massive, ghostly figure…

SKREEEEAAAAAAARGH!

Tommy finally ceased playing as both he and the surrounding monsters took in the sight of what had just appeared before them: a massive construct of a glowing green dragon with majestic wings, four strong talons, a sleek tail, sharp horns, and a deadly-looking tail. The summoned beast bellowed into the night before a pair of emerald orbs Tommy believed to be its eyes landed on the swarm of monsters. With another deep bellow, the dragon inhaled… and released a stream of jade fire that consumed the entire horde instantly. Tommy threw up his arms to shield himself from the sudden heat, his ears swallowed by dying shrieks and animalistic roars. His eyes were squeezed shut for what felt like minutes…

…and when he finally opened them, the monsters were gone. Only crackling emerald flames were left where they once stood. Tommy took a step back in shock… and bumped into something that felt incredibly scaly. The Green Ranger spun around to see the great beast standing before him, smoke exiting its nostrils with a mighty exhale. Unsure of what to do, Tommy meekly held out his hand and fought to keep all nervousness from his voice.

"Uh… nice dragon… nice boy…"

The beast merely grumbled- a sound Tommy could feel, let alone hear- and obediently bowed its head to Tommy, its warm green glow almost mesmerizing. Tommy was quick to calm down as a smile donned his face. "Ha… that's it… good dragon…" Sheathing his dagger, Tommy approached the construct's nape and ran a hand along the creature's skin. It felt… real, like he was touching something rough and smooth at the same time.

It was almost second nature for him to mount the creature and feel it rise beneath him. The great wings flashed open and beat downwards, propelling the dragon skyward and leaving Tommy struggling to hold on. Once he got comfortable with the ascent, Tommy's smile grew wider.

"Ha ha! YES!" He cheered, throwing his fists in the air. "WOOOOO!" His celebration didn't last long… as it was the last thing he did before finally slumping forward in exhaustion. "Phew… ha ha… Hey, buddy?"

The dragon rumbled again like a servant acknowledging his master.

"Take us… take us anywhere but here. Please."

The dragon- his dragon- warbled in response and took off over the dark wasteland… leaving Tommy to slowly black out on its back with a final sigh of relief.

By the time Tommy woke up, he was indoors again. And thankfully, not in the dark with chains on his wrists. The sun was shining and he could hear birds chirping, which was more good news. Gathering his bearings and sitting up, the Green Ranger took in his new surroundings: he was lying in a bed in… some kind of attic? There was a tiny window and a bookshelf behind him, a rug on the floor, and a chest across from him.

Tommy didn't remember much, because passing out from exhaustion can do that to you. Where did his new friend take him? Did the others finally find him? Were they okay? And what about-

"Oh, hey! You're up!"

"Hm?" Tommy turned to see somebody standing in front of a doorway. It was a kid about a few years younger than him; a tan-skinned boy with black hair and hazel eyes wearing a dirty and scuffed white shirt. Orange suspenders held up a pair of olive pants that were tucked into worn, brown boots, and he wore orange gloves while a torn bandage covered his neck. "You feeling al-"

"Stop," Tommy held up his hand. "Before you say anything, please, please tell me you're friendly." The boy paused at Tommy's request and looked around warily. "Uh… I guess you could say that." The Green Ranger exhaled at that. Good. He wasn't in any danger anymore. With that settled, his eyes scanned the room. "Where am I?"

"This is my room," the boy told him. "I was getting ready to do some chores on the farm while my aunt was out, and I noticed you at the edge of the forest. Completely out cold, too. What were you doing out here by yourself?"

Tommy sighed. "Kid… you don't wanna know. Trust me on that."

The boy stepped closer. "You're a… Huntsman, aren't you?"

There it was again. And no mention of the Power Rangers. Maybe Tommy needed to stick with it until he could learn more. "Yeah, I guess I am. You got a name, kid?" The boy perked up at that. "Oh! Yeah, sorry! I-I'm Oscar."

He rose from the bed and held out a hand. "Tommy." The boy was eager to take it in his own and shake it. "You must've been out there for a long time. Never been to Mistral, I take it?" Tommy nodded while trying to hide his rising confusion from the boy. "Got lost trying to find my team."

"Team, huh?" Oscar echoed. "Where do you go, Beacon? Shade? Not Haven since it sounds like you're not from here." It was getting harder and harder for Tommy to keep the questions down, and he needed to find the other Rangers soon. "Uh, I go to Beacon," he randomly chose, much to the boy's delight. "Wow, you must be lucky! I heard they have some of the best professors!"

"Oh, you don't know the half of it, kid," Tommy chuckled, recalling his own mentor in the back of his head. "Listen, Oscar… I hate to keep my friends waiting for so long, and we gotta get back before…" He trailed off. "What time is it, anyway?"

"Early morning, given the sun's position," Oscar answered, leading Tommy out of the room. "If your friends are waiting in the city… then I should warn you, you've got a long way to walk."

Tommy just gave the boy a comfortable smile. "Who said anything about walking?" Oscar looked at him in surprise and confusion. "Wait, you have a ride?"

The Green Ranger just shrugged. "Something like that."

The kid was living in a barn, believe it or not, but Oscar had said it was a quiet life for him. He may not have had one himself, but Tommy left Oscar with a message that he should appreciate the little things while he could before bidding him farewell. He trekked down a dirt road leading to the farm until he made sure he was far from the boy's sight… plus, he needed the exercise after resting. After warming up with a set of stretches, Tommy broke into a small jog and played a quick tone from the Dragon Dagger.

The spiritual dragon erupted from the energy surrounding his body in a flash, snagging the Green Ranger with a talon and flipping him onto its back. The ensuing flight lasted hours as Tommy scanned the continent for any sign of his friends… and where he was. All the while, he was grappling with the many questions flooding his mind. His morpher, these new fire powers, the giant dragon thing he was riding, the monsters… everything.

Speaking of the monsters, they were roaming the land only to stop once the dragon passed over them and proceeded to give chase to the beast like ants running after a grown man. Tommy paid them no mind for the majority of his journey, but once they grew too large in number, he chose to take action and had his new flying friend roast them to the ash they resembled.

But the things were relentless as they chased him across the land. The Green Ranger wasn't too worried, though, as the opportunity allowed him to get used to his new partner and get in some combat practice on the dragon. He used the monsters as living test dummies to gain better control of his mysterious pyrokinesis. Before long, he was able to compact the flames to shoot tiny fireballs from his fingertips and launch waves of it with spinning kicks. Better yet, the Dragon Dagger could turn into a large pistol that blasted away the weaker monsters with ease.

He couldn't wait to show the others.

After dozens of minutes passed, Tommy noticed the horde was breaking off and converging on another spot. Ordering the dragon to take him up and survey the area, Tommy spotted what he was looking for at last: the other Power Rangers.

They had all changed like him. New looks, different-yet-familiar weapons, and new powers from what he could tell. And they weren't alone, as eight other teenagers were fighting alongside them: the "Huntsmen" Oscar had spoken of, no doubt. They were holding their own for a while, making Tommy debate the choice to intervene…

…but the monsters were ruthless. They outnumbered his friends greatly, and a creature shaped like a giant bird pinned them in. At that point, Tommy had had enough and ordered the dragon to set him down before unleashing the beast on the bird. After that, it was a short hike up the hill while playing the Dragon Dagger, summoning the beast to his side…

…and allowing himself a warm smile once the shocked Rangers saw him.

"And you guys know the rest," Tommy finished. Jason sat back in his seat, exhaling as he absorbed the last of his friend's story. "That was… a lot, Tommy. Glad you're okay. Couldn't say the same about the guys who captured you, though."

"I just left them a warning if they ever choose to mess with me again," the Green Ranger told him. "Although, they'd have to go through you first." Jason chuckled before a thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Tommy... about that dragon thing you summoned... was that supposed to be the Dragonzord?"

"Honestly, Jace..." Tommy sighed. "I have no idea. Sounds like it, but at the same time... no? I'm still working it out."

"We can work it out," Jason corrected. "We're not gonna be leaving anytime soon, that's for sure. We've got all the time we need." The Red Ranger rose from the bench and offered his friend a hand. "Anyway, I think that's enough sightseeing. What do you say we go on a witch hunt?"

Tommy took his hand with a smile. "Gladly. If Rita comes across those Grimm things, there's no telling what she could do." The two Rangers strode away from the bench while continuing to discuss their next move…

…unaware of the pair of eyes watching them depart.

Tucked away in a corner, Glynda Goodwitch dialed something into her scroll and waited for the recipient to respond. She did not have to wait long. "Miss Goodwitch?"

"Professor… I need to speak with you. Privately."

In the darkest shadows of the world, Cinder Fall bent her knee.

"I do not know if the boy remains alive," she said quietly. "But in the chance that he is, I will hunt him down. Nobody can be allowed to know what he has discovered, and he must be eliminated as quickly-"

"You need not concern yourself with such an endeavor, Cinder."

The voice was deep despite sounding calm, the owner hidden behind a stone chair facing away from Cinder. The woman bowed her head silently and allowed a sigh to escape. "Emerald Sustrai and Mercury Black have been… incapacitated. It will take them for them to recover. My queen… surely you feel concerned about exposure?"

"There are advantages to this unlikely turn of events," said the voice, its owner staring out at the wasteland beyond. "He remains unaware of your actions at the Beacon Dance, correct?"

"Yes, my queen."

"And is he aware of our quest?"

"Um… no, my queen," Cinder hesitantly replied. "N-Not to my knowledge."

"Then there is nothing for me to be concerned of," whispered the voice. "The boy's story will be dismissed as lunacy. He poses no threat to our plans."

"No threat?" Cinder echoed, unable to keep the surprise from her voice. "Master, his power… surely, he could be entrusted with the power of-"

"He is not," Those three words immediately silenced Cinder. "You know this, Cinder. You know their power and that is not it. The boy is not our concern at the moment… but one remains."

"What concern, my queen?"

"I feel… a presence," the voice whispered. "A faint trickle like a raindrop in a pond. Hidden… yet strong. I do not know what this is… but what I do know is that it must be located. This is your task, Cinder. I am sending you and the others out into Remnant. Find this presence. It is one unlike anything you are familiar with. And once you do… eliminate it."

"As you wish, my queen," Cinder turned and strode out of the conference hall without another word, leaving a pale arm with sick black veins to drum its fingers against the arm of its chair. Once their servant was gone, the voice whispered faintly.

"I know you are out there… and I will be watching."