Nick looked up as the dragon mouth opened and his wife walked in, carrying an unconscious Nym in her arms. Blood spots had leaked through her shirt, and stained more than half her upper shirt, and, even though it had dried, it had rubbed off on Kali's sleeves.
"Mum!" Kali shouted, her voice ringing loudly.
"What happened?" Nick asked. He jumped up and immediately conjured a table for Kali to set the young dragon on.
Kali shook her head. "Aidan grab me a towel, please?" she instructed.
Aidan left the room and returned seconds later. He covered the table top with it, and Kali carefully lay Nym on top. She moaned but didn't wake.
"MUM!" Kali shouted again.
"I'll get her," said Aidan. He turned to leave, stopping only as Nick called out to him.
"Stay here and help your mother," said Nick, scooping up Joe and steering Aviva and Aziva towards the stairs. "I'll get Eithne." He paused next to Kali. "Calm down," he whispered before kissing her cheek.
Aidan turned back to his mother as his father and siblings left the room. "She's going to be okay, right?" he asked.
Kali didn't answer straight away. She was too busy cutting away at the shirt Nym was wearing, deciding that she needed to see the wounds more in order to figure out how to heal them.
"Mum?" Aidan questioned again.
Kali hissed as the wounds came into view. She cut away the remaining fragments of Nym's shirt, leaving the back open and the front covering the young girls modesty. The wounds were deep, bits of wing were sticking out of the wounds, and even they had been sheered. Blood caked both the sides of the wound and the wing tips; it was black in the centre and bright red around the edges.
Kali wished she could say that Nym was going to be okay. She could say that the youngster would survive but be okay was a relative term. Her mother, or maybe Rune Tessler, would understand more, if only they were here.
"FOR GODS SAKE, MUM!" Kali howled.
Eithne walked into the room. "Keep your hair on," she said, breathing rapid. "Nick told me what happened. I was looking for something." She set a large tomb down on another table and skipped through to the contents page. Rootcore was silent as Eithne searched her book, what she was looking for, no one was sure, but they hoped it would help Nym recover.
Aidan cleared his throat and reached for his mother.
"Aidan, I know you're worried," said Kali, catching his wrist as she turned to face him. "But I don't know. She'll survive, but I don't know anything beyond that. We're just going to have to wait." She glanced at the others. "Take a break. I don't care what you do, but I don't want you here. I'll call if we find anything or if anything changes."
"But -" Preston started.
Kali turned to him. "You can't help her," she said. "Go. Now."
The team sighed and filed out of the dragons mouth. Aidan hesitated, his gaze on his best friend, before a gentle shove from his mother had him walking towards the door.
Kali sighed and stared across the room.
"Think you could've been any harder?" Eithne asked.
Pulled from her thoughts, Kali furrowed her brow and turned to her mother. "Hard? You think that was hard?" she asked. "I could have shouted. I could use magic to send them away. But I didn't, I asked them."
"But you didn't give them a choice."
"Like you did with us?"
Eithne raised an eyebrow. "That was different, Kali," she said. "You were in your final days of being Rangers. The Master had risen and was threatening to destroy everything you had worked so hard to protect. We didn't have time to ask if you were ready, or what you wanted to do."
"They can't do anything for her," said Kali. "We don't even know if there is anything we can do. They would just be in the way."
"They could do research. Seven heads are better than two."
Kali shook her head. The team researching how to fix dragon's wings wasn't something she wanted for this team. She had done enough research throughout her time as a Ranger, most of which was useless, and pointless. Plus, she didn't want to expose them to the image that was Nym's back; who knew what kind of emotions that would invoke? Aidan would panic, for sure, and he wouldn't be able to focus on anything other than how he could've stopped Drillion from hurting Nym.
It was exactly what Nick used to do whenever she got hurt. He would always blame himself for not being there, or for not being quick enough, even though she was the one who put herself in harm's way, thinking she was invincible because of her status as the Hellhound.
"Can you fix her?" Kali asked.
"I can try," said Eithne. She looked back at her book. "The ingredients are going to be hard to come by. Some are natural herbs you can find in the glade, others are going to require some dimension hopping. I'll also message Akete, she's healed more than enough magical creatures in her time."
Kali nodded. "What do you need me to do?" she asked.
"Go help you husband settle your children," said Eithne. "I'm going to move Nym to the infirmary."
Kali watched as, with a snap of her fingers, her mother and Nym disappeared from the room. She paused for a moment, leaning against the round table, hair falling into her face as she closed her eyes. The silence pressed in on her from all sides and she took a deep breath.
She's going to be okay, Kali reminded herself. She's going to be okay.
~X~
"How's it going in here, Mick?" Brody asked, entering the workshop that Mick occupied. Kali had conjured it for him back when they had first crashed onto Earth. Laid out on the table before them was their destroyed weapons, or rather, former destroyed weapons.
Redbot held up one of their swords. "They're all fully operational," he said.
"Yes, we managed to repair the damage," said Mick. "They're all good as new and will be at full strength next time you need them."
"Awesome. Thanks, Mick!" said Brody.
"Unfortunately, full strength wasn't enough last time," said Calvin. "Drillion is one of the strongest opponents we've ever faced. If it weren't for Kali and Viera at the end, I hate to think what could've happened to us."
"So, how exactly are we going to stop him?" Hayley asked. "I don't even think Kali knows of a way."
"We could keep training," Brody suggested.
Aidan shook his head. "We could practice until the skies turn purple," he said. "Wouldn't make a difference. Drillion has more brute strength than us."
"The Lion Ship and the Hellhound seemed to have a considerable effect on him," said Preston. "Couldn't we just as Viera and Kali to help us?"
"Viera left after the last battle," said Hayley. "Last I checked, she didn't leave a calling card."
"And mum's not a Ranger anymore," said Aidan. "She shouldn't have to don her ranger suit to fight our battle for us."
"Not for us," said Preston.
"But it would become that," said Aidan. "We'd get overpowered easily and it would be left up to mum to fight." He shook his head. "Besides, she'd want us to try and figure out a way to stop Drillion ourselves before she has to step in."
Preston sighed. He knew Aidan had a point.
"So, what are we going to do?" Hayley asked. She felt like a broken record, repeating the same question over and over again. But no one was able to give a straight answer, it seemed.
Calvin reached for a pin on Hayley's bag. "Hey, where did you get this?" he asked.
Hayley furrowed her brow. "That's not mine," she said, taking the pin. It was shaped like a Lion. The pin had started to glow a light blue. Hayley hissed and tossed it onto the ground. The second it hit the floor and Princess Viera appeared out of nowhere.
The Rangers fell back, fists clenched and raised in defense. Viera was strong, not as strong as Drillion, but still a formidable opponent. But there was more of them than of her, they could take her.
"What are you doing here?" Aidan asked.
"Galvanax shot down my ship," Viera answered. "I crash landed not that far from here."
"Crash landed?" Hayley repeated. "Are you okay?"
Princess Viera nodded.
"We just talking about you," said Brody. "We wanted to say thank you for helping us against Drillion."
"If you can help me get my ship flying again then I can help you defeat him for good," said Princess Viera. "Of course, we'll need help from your Hellhound, her power surpasses even mine."
"So, how can we get your ship back in the air?" Brody asked.
Viera held up a red jewel with a golden clip attached. "This is part of my ship's anti-gravity crystal," she explained. "Galvanax's lasers broke it in half."
"Where's the other half?" Aidan asked.
Viera shook her head. "I'm not sure," she answered. "It could have been destroyed when the ship crashed, or it could have been ejected before or after I landed."
"If it's out in the world then anyone could find it," said Redbot.
"If it's in the magical world then the people know to report anything strange to the patrols," said Aidan. "Mum will be notified and she'll figure something out. But, if it is in the human world…"
"I'll run a scan for alien technology," said Redbot. He headed for the computers.
"The crystal is my ship's power source," said Viera. "Without it, it cannot fly."
Brody looked thoughtful before turning to Mick. "You're the mechanical genius," he said. "Any ideas?"
Mick hesitated and then seized a cloth from the table. "I'm not sure we should be helping her at all," he said, shaking his head.
Viera looked down.
"Mick, how can you say something like that?" Preston asked. He was just as stunned as the others. It wasn't every day that they heard Mick turn down to help anyone, he was always so laid back and one of the kindest people to ever walk the Earth.
Mick twisted the cloth and looked up at Viera with a terrifying glare. "Because she is the ruler of the Lion Galaxy," he said. "It was my home, until the royal family took me and a hundred others and sold us to Galvanax."
"You never told me how you ended up a prisoner on the Warrior Dome," said Brody, staring at his oldest friend with a whole new look of sympathy. He had been kidnapped against his will, but Mick had been sold as a slave.
Mick shook his head. "No, because I don't like to — to think about it," he stammered. "But thanks to her family, I haven't seen my parents in over twenty years."
"I'm truly sorry, Mick," said Viera. "My family can be very cruel. The fact is, I came here to prove that I can rule with an iron fist. But you showed me that kindness is a better way. When I go home, I intend to change things and I will lead everyone the Power Ranger way, but I'll need your help to get there."
The team shared looks. They could understand Mick's hesitation, they would be hesitant to help the person who had ripped them away from their parents, too, but they couldn't turn a blinds eye to someone who needed their help. Their refusal could be what sends Viera back to Galvanax, who would destroy her for her betrayal.
"What happens if you return home and you find that kindness doesn't work for a ruler?"
Everyone turned to see Kali leaning against the closed door at the other end of the room. She had her arms crossed, head tilted as she surveyed the scene before her.
"Mum," Aidan jumped. "Is Nym okay?"
"She's fine. But nothing new to report," said Kali, reassuringly. She met Viera's gaze. "You're Viera Stovena, daughter and heir to the Stovena throne in the Lion Galaxy."
Viera dropped into a bow. "Hellhound," she said. "Your legend is known throughout the Lion Galaxy. You are revered for your power. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Um, thanks, I think?" Kali said, awkwardly. She still found it awkward when people treated her like royalty. Was this how she would be treated if she had taken her grandparents up on their offer all those years ago? She surpassed a shudder.
Viera stood. "How did you know so much about me?" she asked.
"Oh, I got your file from SPD," said Kali, waving a brown folder through the air. "It's still in its small days, but if the information it already has is anything to go by then it's going to be amazing in it's prime. Anyway, the information they provided me with was rather interesting, to say the least."
Viera swallowed nervously.
"Your family sought an alliance with Galvanax," said Kali. "He would come around every year, and they would provide him with refugees - slaves, is the word I would use - and in return he wouldn't ravage the planet. Mick was, unfortunately, one of those refugees."
"And I just apologised for that," said Viera. She felt tears prick at her eyes, being in front of the Hellhound was more intimidating than she had originally expected. Of course, she never thought she would actually meet the guardian of souls. "I'm sure you heard that I plan to go back and teach kindness to my people."
"Which brings me back to my original comment," said Kali. "What if ruling with kindness, doesn't work? What then?"
Viera hesitated. She glanced around at the Rangers, hoping for a little help from them. But none of the met her gaze. She sighed and returned her attention to Kali. "I don't…" she trailed off, shaking her head.
"I recently took over as head mystic after my parents-in-laws," said Kali. "To say it has been fun would be an understatement. I never realised how hard it was to run an entire realm, Udonna made it looks like child's play when I first arrived in Briarwood. And then Leanbow returned and it made considerably easier. Now they are retiring and want me and Nick to take over. I went from being friends with the communities of the Mystic Realm to their ruler, and everything changed."
Viera nodded as she listened.
"Being friends with people is easy," Kali continued. "You can choose sides in an argument. You can choose who to defend and who to leave to fend for themselves. As a ruler, you can't do that. As a ruler, you need to be fair and understanding, but you also need steadfast and indifferent."
The room was silent.
"I can't take sides in arguments anymore," said Kali. "But I also have to provide protection to realms that consider me the enemy. How do you think you will fair if something crops up and you find that kindness can't help you?"
Viera sighed. "When you put it like that," she said, shaking her head.
"Have you been sworn in yet?" Kali asked "As ruler, I mean."
"My defeat of the Rangers was to seal the deal."
Kali nodded. "Well, my advice to you would be to get people to sympathise with your cause," she said. "The only reason I'm good at my job is because I have support and help. My husband is my biggest supporter, and I wouldn't be standing here now if it wasn't for him."
"Does that mean you'll help me?" Viera asked. Her heart swelled in anticipation.
"We can't see what kind of ruler you'll be if you're trapped on earth," said Kali. "But," she added, as the excitement in Viera's eyes brightened. "The choice isn't mine. I wasn't sold to Galvanax. Mick?"
The room turned to the mechanic. He hid his gaze, twisting the cloth again for support.
"Guys, look," said Hayley, nodding at the Prism. Inside was a vision of the Lion Ship.
Mick looked up. He had seen that same vision once before.
"Maybe the prism want us to use the Ninja Steel to turn the Lion ship into a Megazord," said Hayley.
Aidan nodded. "That would make it fly for sure," he agreed.
"Then we'd better get to work on a new Zord star," said Brody.
Kali cleared her throat. "Are you guys forgetting that this is Mick's workshop?" she asked. "What he says goes around here."
The team turned to Mick.
"There isn't much Ninja Steel left," Mick told them. He picked up the container that Kali had stored the Ninja Steel and turned it over onto the table. One slip of steel fell out.
Brody met his friends gaze. "That might be enough for one more star, right?" he asked, hopefully. Now that the Prims had shown them that it wanted them to fix the Lion ship, he was hoping that Mick would change his mind.
"Fine," Brody sighed. "Fine. Redbot and I will get to work."
"Thank you, Mick," said Princess Viera.
~X~
Aidan sighed as he sat at the round table inside Rootcore. Hayley and Calvin had just left to get some food, leaving him, Preston, and Brody behind. Brody was reading a book he had taken from the Rootcore library, while Preston was attempting to focus on homework that was due this week; but Aidan could tell he was just as worried about Nym's progress.
There hadn't been any news since Nym had been admitted to the medics bay. Eithne was working around the clock trying to find something to heal her back and wake her up. She had brought in experts from all over the Mystic Realm, and still nothing was working. They had tried spells, enchantments, potions, herbs, everything known to magical kind, and still nothing was working.
"Maybe it's her dragon side they should be treating," said Brody, looking up from his book. Aidan managed to glimpse the side of it - Dragon Healing. "According to this book, when a dragonborn is injured, then treating the dragon side is more effective than the human."
"Grams would have thought of that already," said Aidan. "I heard she brought in a healer from the Mystic Realm. She's an older woman who was around during the first age. She would have treated Dragonborns before they disappeared."
Brody shrugged and shoved the book across the table. "Maybe in their panic they aren't thinking," he said. "Just go show them."
"What have you got to lose?" Preston asked. He was still staring at his homework, but his body was rigid.
Aidan glanced between them and nodded. He sighed, grabbed the book as he stood, and headed down the hall towards the medical bay.
As he left, the dragon's mouth opened letting Hayley and Calvin back into the base. They were carrying two large pizza boxes between them and a tray of drinks.
"We brought extra for Kali and Nick," said Hayley. "I'm sure they like Pepperoni."
"Any news on Nym or the Lion Zord Star?" Calvin asked.
Preston shook his head. "Aidan's just gone to give some, possible, new information on Nym to Eithne," he said. "As for the Zord, Mick says it's taking longer than normal."
"Well, they better hurry up soon," said Hayley. "What if Drillion turns up before their done?"
Brody seized a flyer from underneath a pizza box. "What's this?" he asked, examining the paper.
"Oh, Victor caught us in town," said Calvin. "He's trying to break the world weightlifting record. Wants us to come down and watch."
"Ambitious of him," said Preston.
The crystal ball chimed. A plume of darkness appearing in the middle of the light clouds. "Um, I think it's coming from the woods," said Hayley. She was still finding it difficult to read the crystal ball.
"It's near the Western woods," said Kali, appearing behind them. She was carrying a sleeping Joe in her arms. "Near the Cimmerian forest. It's where Viera crashed. Drillion is probably going to destroy it. Where's Aidan?" she added, noticing he was missing.
Brody nodded over her shoulder. Aidan had just returned from the medical bay.
"What's going on?" Aidan asked.
"There's dark activity in the Western woods," said Kali. "You and the others need to get out there. But you need to be careful. If it is Drillion, you're down a Ranger and the Lion Star isn't ready yet. Not to mention you're near the Cimmerian Forest. You won't be able to morph if you cross it's boundary line."
Aidan nodded. "Let's go," he said.
~X~
Drillion smirked triumphantly up at the Lion ship. It had crash landed exactly where Madame Odius had said. Now all he had to do was destroy it, and there was no escape thereafter for Viera. He could eliminate her, along with the Rangers, and take full control over the Lion Galaxy, while also maintaining his alliance with Galvanax who would take Earth.
"Hold it right there, fur ball!"
Drillion sighed in frustration. Talking about Power Rangers. He turned and found five of the meddlesome brats arriving from the south. He couldn't help but grin at the fact they were still a Ranger down, it seemed what he had done to the Pink Ranger was as effective as expected. He would finish her after he had dealt with these pipsqueaks.
"We're not gonna let you touch that ship," said Brody.
"Oh, yeah? Don't you remember what happened the last time you tried to stop me?" Drillion laughed.
"Yeah, well, things are going to be different this time around!" Preston called. He glanced at his friends, trying his hardest to hide the nervousness he felt at his proclamation. "I hope."
Brody reached for his belt. "Ready?" he asked.
"Ready!"
"It's morphin' time! Power Stars!"
"Lock in! Ninja Spin!"
Drillion rolled his eyes. "With my new toolbox arm, you don't stand a chance," he taunted.
"We're not afraid of you!" said Brody.
"You will be!" Drillion threw out his left arm, two red spirals shot into the air, spinning faster and faster as they surged towards the Rangers. They bounced off Hayley and Brody's swords but then turned back, like boomerangs seeking their masters.
Brody groaned as he was hit twice, the first one in the gut which lifted him into the air, and the second in the chest which send him backward.
"Brody!" the others called.
He had landed not that far away, slightly winded, but relatively unscathed.
Aidan turned back to Drillion.
Drillion threw out his arm again, unleashing more spinning red shots into the air. They surged, again, towards the Rangers. All of whom did their best to block and bat them away.
"Mick, we need that Zord star!" said Brody.
"It's almost finished," Mick replied.
Preston winced as he hit the ground beside Brody. "Any news?" he asked.
"Nothing yet."
Scrambling to their feet, Preston and Brody shielded their faces as a bright red light shone from Brody's wrist.
"What the -?" Brody questioned. A lion face surrounded by flames had just appeared out of nowhere on his arm. He reached for his helmet and contacted Mick, asking the question that was on everyone's minds.
"I think the Prism has something else in mind first," Mick answered.
"What do I do?"
"Try spinning it," said Preston.
Brody hesitated and then nodded. He pressed his thumb against the side of one of the flames and pushed. "Lion fire, Ninja Spin!" he called.
Flames immediately wrapped themselves around Brody, rising up his legs, over his chest, and down his arms. They burned brightly and when they cleared Viera's lion fire armour appeared in their place. The helmet snapping into place a second later.
"Out of the fire and into the fight," said Brody, "Lion Fire, Red!"
Drillion stepped back after a double table. A flicker of fear on his face. "What?! No! That's impossible!" he howled.
"Not impossible!" said Brody. He clenched his fist as power ignited within him. He sprinted forward and smashed his fist into Drillion's stomach, the armour cracked under the strike and Drillion flew backward into the side of a mountain.
Drillion extracted himself from the mountain and swung at Brody, missing him as the Red Ranger darted to the left.
"Time to use my power ups!" said Drillion, whipping around and firing his new arm at Brody. Multiple tools whizzed through the air, but Brody destroyed each of them in turn with his Lion Fire morpher. With the tools destroyed, he turned it onto Drillion himself.
"Whoa!" Hayley breathed.
"Are you seeing this?" Calvin asked.
"Oh yeah!" said Aidan. "Powerful armour."
"I can't believe my eyes," agreed Preston.
Puffing and panting, Drillion lifted himself from the ground and raced forward. He diverted at the last second and slammed into Brody from the right. "Surprise!" he growled.
Brody pushed the palm of his hand into Drillion's stomach and shoved him back.
"You'll pay for that, Red Ranger!" Drillion vowed.
"Uh-oh!"
"RAHH!" Drillion growled. He raised his drill arm as it glowed purple and shoved it toward Brody. The ground beneath where he stood exploded, but Brody dodged at the last second.
Preston added his element star to his sword. "Let's give him a hand," he said. "By taking away Drillion's!"
The others nodded and charged forward.
"Element star!" Hayley called, throwing herself into a forward roll. She swung her sword toward Drillion. "Metal attack!"
Chains wrapped themselves around Drillion, holding him in place as the other Rangers echoed the same attack.
"Aidan, you're up!" said Preston.
Aidan flipped his Ninja Star to lightning and spun it as fast as he could. He aimed his sword like a blaster and pulled the trigger, initiating a lightning storm above Drillion's head.
"Lion fire slash!" Brody shouted, darting forward and striking down with his sword. Drillion jolted with energy and rocketed backward, his new upgrade disappearing.
"No!" he howled in vain.
"You're finished, Drillion!" Brody said. He attached the armour star to his sword, powering it up with more than enough energy. "Lion Fire flame strike!"
The flames wrapped around Drillion, burning through his armour and igniting his body beneath. He flailed around in agony before exploding.
Unfortunately, the celebrations were cut short as Drillion returned, the formerly destroyed upgrade renewed on his hand.
"Mick, we need that zord star now!" Brody called.
A portal opened beside them, and Kali stepped out. She was fully morphed and holding the newly created Lion Zord star in hand. "Someone call for a new zord?" she asked, tossing it to Brody.
"This is epic!" Brody grinned.
"Viera told you may need some Hellhound assistance to take Drillion down," Kali continued. "Thought you would appreciate me asking first."
Brody stared at Kali. Ever since Nym had convinced Aidan to sing with him during the talent show, he had realised his brother hadn't fully replaced him. He still remembered everything his family had taught him right up to the moment that Galvanax had first appeared, and in learning that, Brody's hatred towards Kali had simmered. He had realised, while singing, that was in fact Aidan he had been angry with, not Kali, but taking it out on her made him feel a lot better than taking it out on his only brother.
The anger and hatred had lightened since then, and both Kali and Brody had formed an alliance. It wasn't as close a bond that Kali shared with Aidan, and both of them were fine with that, but it meant that Kali didn't impose herself on Brody and his leadership skills, and he accepted her mentorship and teachings.
"The Hellhound is a pretty formidable foe," said Brody, nodding. "I could definitely use its strength and power."
"Great." Kali snapped open her Mystic morpher and punched in the familiar three digits. A spell seal appeared above her and she leapt through it, her titan form landing on the other side and towering over the countryside.
Drillion looked up and up, eyes widening in both fear and alarm. "Not this thing again!" he grumbled, remembering how the Hellhound had sheared down his drill arm with no scratches to itself.
"That's not all, Drillion!" said Brody, joining Kali in the newly created Lion Fire Zord.
"Well, this isn't good," said Drillion.
Kali laughed. "You're damn right it isn't!" she said.
"Eat this!" Drillion shouted, throwing out his upgraded arm. Several tools and equipment soared forward but were deflected and destroyed as Kali positioned herself across Brody.
"You're going to have to try harder than that," said Kali. She turned back to face Drillion and reared backwards, slamming her front paws into him and pinning him against the ground.
She leaned down, jaws inches from his face.
"Wait, I want to see what this zord can do!" said Brody.
Kali pulled back, stepping off Drillion, and sitting down as Brody attacked. He slashed and stabbed at Drillion with the Ninja throwing stars in his hands, before placing the two together as the burned brightly with energy. "Lion fire, spin strike!" he called.
The stars sliced through Drillion, but he remained standing. "I'm not done yet!" he shouted.
"Too bad, I am!" said Kali. She glanced at Brody. "An attack from us both should be more than enough. You ready?"
Brody nodded. "Ready!"
Kali stretched as she stood. She then pulled back, jaws opening wide as a fireball ignited at the back of her throat. She unleashed it toward Drillion, watching closely as Brody fired up his sword for the final strike.
"Lion Fire Slash! Final Attack!"
The sword cut through the fireball, absorbing it's heat and power, and then slammed into Drillion. He was cut right down the middle before he exploded.
"Checkmate!" said Kali.
"Shows over, Ninjas win," Brody added.
~X~
Viera smiled as the Rangers returned to Rootcore. She had just finished the grand tour, courtesy of the former Red Mystic, Nick Russell, and was enduring a gruesome Questions and Answers conversation with his three youngest children when they arrived.
"I wanted to thank you all before I left," said Viera, when questioned of how and why she was still there. "You helped me realise that I don't have to be cold or hostile with my people, that kindness isn't a weakness. When I return home, I promise to rule with you all in mind." She turned to Kali. "I also thought about what you said, and I agree, kindness isn't always going to work, but I promise that my punishments will fit the crime. I don't need to act tough in order to be tough. Thank you."
Kali smiled. "Being a leader isn't always easy," she said. "But I believe you will do an amazing job."
Viera beamed.
"We owe you a thank you, also," said Brody. "We could never have defeated Drillion without you."
"I'm glad that my armour and ship have finally been used for good after all these years," said Viera. She looked around at everyone and her smile grew sad. "I'm going to miss you all so very much."
"We'll miss you, too," said Hayley. "But, we know you have important business back home."
Viera nodded. "Just as you have important business here," she agreed. "But, before I go, I have news and a surprise to deliver." She turned her attention back to Kali. "After we created the Lion Zord star, I helped your sorceress, Claire?"
Kali nodded. Eithne had brought Claire back from Silver Hills where she had been attending the SPD academy as their head healer. Her job was to create healing potions to help Nym who was still in a coma due to her injuries.
"There is a potion on my planet that can heal a shifter without reverting them to their basic form," said Viera. "Your realm grows the ingredients in a far superior and potent form than mine, and I'm glad to say it has worked. Nym, should be waking up very soon."
Aidan and Preston heaved similar sighs of relief at the news.
"Thank you," said Kali.
"No, thank you," said Vera, shaking her head. "Nym saved my life. It was only fair that I repaid the favour." She then turned to Mick. "As for my surprise, Mick, if you will." She motioned to the nearest computer screen where a Lion emblem had just appeared.
Mick eased closer. An agonised look of hope on his face.
The image flickered and three people appeared. They looked almost identical to Mick, even if only a little older.
"Mickey?" the woman asked.
Mick choked. Tears in his eyes as he looked from one face to the next. "Mum, dad?" he asked, voice breaking. "Miranda, is that really you?"
The woman named Miranda only looked a few years older than Mick. "Hey, baby brother," she said, teasingly. "It's really us."
"You're alive!" Mick exclaimed, happily. "Uh—I never gave up hope that I would see you all again."
"Neither did we, son," said Mick's dad. "We're so glad to hear that you're okay."
"We can't wait to see you again," added his mother.
"Are you going to come home?" Miranda asked. "Your nephew would love to meet you."
Mick paused as he stared at his sister. "Nephew?" he echoed.
Miranda smiled and disappeared of screen. When she returned she was carrying a little boy on her hip. "His name's Boom," she said. She looked down at the toddler. "Can you say hi to your uncle?"
"Hi, uncle Mick," said Boom.
Mick laughed. He had the chance to see his parents again. His sister and meet his nephew. He glanced at his friends, eager to share this excitement with them only to find their sad, shocked faces staring back. In his moment of excitement he had forgotten they still needed him.
"Mom, Dad, Miranda, I — I will come home, I promise," said Mick. "But, I can't just yet. My friends and I have important work to finish here on Earth."
"You don't have to apologise my little Micklepoo," said Mick's mum, eliciting giggles from the Rangers. "We're just happy knowing that you're alive and well."
"I love you guys!"
"We love you, too," said Miranda.
~X~
Calvin looked back at the others as he led them into the school. "So Victor really thinks he can break the weightlifting record?" he asked.
"He seems to be pretty sure," said Hayley. They found seats near the front and sat down just as Monty and Victor appeared on stage, the former was dressed like a coach and was prepping the latter by cheering him on and encouraging him to always keep moving.
A man in a sharp suit stepped up to the podium. He nodded at the people with him, two sharply dressed people carrying a clipboard and carrying a trophy. They were clearly the judges.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the first man said, speaking into the PA system. "Welcome to Victor Vincent's attempt at breaking the world's weightlifting" record."
A flutter of applause echoed around the hall.
"Today," the man spokesperson continued. "Victor will attempt to lift a staggering two tons, and, if he is successful, I will award our new champion with this trophy as well as a place in our world records!"
Victor cheered himself. This would be is fiftieth trophy.
As the spokesperson welcomed Victor on stage, Monty fitted something to the side of the weights and then walked back to the edge.
Preston slid from his seat.
"Where are you going?" Hayley asked.
"He's got a piece of Viera's anti-gravity crystal," Preston pointed out. "They're cheating."
Hayley grabbed his arm. "It sucks that he is cheating," she agreed. "But if we interfere then it's going to raise more questions. Questions that we can't answer."
Preston slouched in his seat.
On the stage, Victor tightened his grip around the weights and struggled to lift them up above his head. He managed it, but it was clear that the strain was an act - at least to the Rangers who knew the truth.
"He's one it!" the spokesperson echoed. "He's broken the world record. This trophy is yours, Victor!"
In his excitement, Victor released the weights and seized the trophy. Much to the surprise of everyone watching.
"Victor!" Monty hissed, pointing at the weights that were still floating in midair.
Victor's eyes widened and he raced back, holding them up.
"Wait a minute," said the spokesperson. He wandered to the other side and removed the crystal that Monty had fixed. "What's this?"
The second it was gone, Victor dropped the weights. They landed with a crash on the spokesperson's toe, earning a loud, agonised howl of pain.
"Do I still get to keep the trophy?" Victor asked.
The spokesperson glared at him.
"I think that's a no, Victor."
Aidan turned quickly to the sound of Nym's voice. His heart beat faster in his chest and he rushed forward, picking up her in a hug as he spun around. Nym laughed and hugged him back, reluctantly separating as he set her back down.
"You're okay!" said Hayley, jumping up to hug Nym, too. The others followed with Preston holding on a little longer.
Nym smiled at them all as she was finally released.
"Viera was right," said Aidan. "The potion did work."
Nym nodded. "Yeah. Just not as expected," she said.
"What does that mean?" Preston asked, curious.
Nym glanced behind her as a young man with short red hair and blonde highlights stepped forward. He was the same height as Nym, with a scar on his face. He was wearing tradition human clothes, but it was obvious he felt uncomfortable.
"Meet Keahi," Nym introduced. "He saved my life."
Keahi bowed his head at the five Rangers. "It's a pleasure to see you in this form," he said.
"In this form?" Aidan questioned.
Keahi smiled and nodded. "Yes. You know as another name," he said. "My dragon name. Fireheart."