"…Attention students, the sign-up sheets for the World Peace Conference interviews are now available at the office," a brisk voice spoke over the intercom. "If you are interested, come to the office and select the best available timeslot. The sheets will be available for three weeks…"

As she and Kimberly exited Ms. Appleby's class, Trini smiled at hearing the announcement, "I'm totally going to sign up for an interview," she said in an eager voice. "Going to Switzerland would be fun."

"What if you get selected to go?" Kimberly asked. "We can't do without a Yellow Ranger, Trini."

Trini sighed, "I really don't think Zedd is going to try anything for a while," she said in a skeptical voice as they walked down the hallway to their lockers. "It'll take him a while for him to train his Dark Rangers."

"Trini, Zedd and Rita are capable of anything at any time," Kimberly replied in a concerned voice. "I don't know why you think he's going to wait, but all of us have to be on our guard at all times."

As Kimberly and Trini continued walking and talking, Aisha stepped out from behind the soda machines with a stern expression on her face. She had heard Trini saying that Lord Zedd wouldn't strike for a while because his warriors weren't ready, but Aisha knew better; she, Rocky, Adam, and Zack WERE ready.

Attacking Kimberly and Trini in the hallway where other people were coming and going wasn't smart, Aisha reasoned, but she could follow them to where they were alone and vulnerable to trouble. She could also get help and go after the other Rangers as well.

"…Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven, Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty," Jason said, smiling as Malcolm eased his head back down on to a folded towel that was on the floor. "Good job, man."

From the stationary bike he was riding, Billy smiled as Malcolm sat up, "I used to be able to do one-hundred of these three times a day," Malcolm said in a tired voice as Jason offered him a bottle of vitamin water. "I hope you guys don't get in trouble for missing class to help me do my physio."

"We won't get in trouble," Jason replied confidently, never intending to tell Malcolm that he stopped by Dr. Oliver's office a week earlier and asked for help in getting a pass from certain classes so that Malcolm could do extra physio during school with proper supervision. "Billy's got a spare anyway."

Dr. Oliver had done one better; he had gone to Mr. Caplan and convinced him to allow both Jason and Billy to do a few distance learning classes and be allowed to help Malcolm in their spare time.

"Let's see, that's one rep of 30 crunches and one rep of 30 sit-ups done now," Billy said as Malcolm took a few sips of water. "According to your physio schedule that I've memorized, three reps of 10 walking laps are next."

Jason quickly stood up and helped Malcolm to his feet, "Maybe in a week or two, I'll be allowed to start running again," Malcolm said as the two of them walked into the gymnasium. "My dad and I—"

"Hello Jason and Malcolm," Zack said in an aloof tone as he suddenly came into the room with Aisha; both of them were dressed in workout gear. "Are you guys done hogging the workout room?"

Just then, Billy came out of the workout room with three towels in his hands, "Hey Zack, it's been a while since I've seen you," he said in a gentle voice. "How are you doing in your distance studies?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Zack replied aloofly. "Are you done in the workout room?"

Surprised by Zack's attitude, Jason nodded, "We're done," he replied. "What's wrong, Zack?"

"I'm just anxious," Zack replied in a toneless voice. "Aisha and I are going to be signing up for interviews for the Peace Conference. Do you think any of you will sign up for a Peace Conference interview?"

Jason suddenly looked intrigued, "I've been considering it," he replied. "It might be a good opportunity."

"Why don't you sign up, Malcolm?" Zack asked as he took a towel from Billy. "You could use your superior martial arts skills to help people accept the concept of peace a little faster."

Beep-beep-boop-boop-beep-beep.

"Malcolm, would you excuse us for a moment?" Jason asked, realizing that Zordon needed them.

Nodding, Malcolm stepped away from Zack, "I'll just sit on the bleachers until you come back," he said in a tired voice, relieved that he could take a break. "The weight room's free for you, Zack and Aisha."

"We'll be back soon," Billy said just before he and Jason walked out of the gym, leaving Malcolm alone.

As Malcolm walked over to the bleachers, Zack and Aisha looked at each other with menacing grins.

"Ooh, Zeddy, look at that!" Rita shouted as she watched Malcolm sit on the bleachers. "The Power Rangers left that helpless civilian in the hands of two of your Dark Rangers! We can get him!"

Zedd stalked over to the telescope and had a look of his own, "Excellent!" he said in a menacing tone as he gazed at Rita. "With these interviews coming up and the Rangers being presented new opportunities, the world will be vulnerable to attack. I have noticed that Malcolm seems to be very close to and reliant on Jason and the other Rangers for help in overcoming his own demons of loss."

"I say we capture Malcolm and imprison him in a world where he's all alone," Rita said in a mocking voice as she moved away from Zedd. "What if the Power Rangers try to rescue him, though?"

"While Malcolm is suffering in his prison of isolation, we'll send a monster down to the Earth that will be so desperate to find people that it will destroy anything to find them," Rita said in an amused tone. "The Clingy Star will wreak so much destruction on Angel Grove that the Rangers will be forced to defend Angel Grove and leave Malcolm in isolation. In isolation, Malcolm will be at the mercy of the power of darkness."

Zedison stepped forth out of the darkness, "I have contacted Aisha and Zack," he reported in a toneless voice. "I have instructed them to lure Malcolm to where he can be kidnapped without interference."

"Excellent," Zedd replied, deeply proud of how his 'son' was developing. "What an excellent plan."

Rita cackled, "FINSTER, MAKE THE CLINGY STAR!" she shouted. "ANGEL GROVE WILL SUFFER!"

Unaware what Zedd and his new warriors had planned, Skull strode into the gym dressed in workout clothes and saw Malcolm sitting on the bleachers enjoying water from Jason's water bottle.

"Hey Malcolm," Skull said in a fake upbeat voice. "You look good in Jason's clothes."

Malcolm raised an eyebrow, but said nothing; he had few clothes of his own, so he was currently dressed in a spare workout outfit of Jason's and a pair of new sneakers that had been given to him.

"What can I do for you, Skull?" Malcolm asked in a polite voice, as he wanted to be kind to everyone even though Bulk and Skull had tried to beat him up on the first day of school.

Skull sighed, his cheery façade fading, "Bulk's sick with the flu," he said in a sad voice. "Class was so boring without him that I actually paid attention. Do you think you could spot me for a little while?"

"Sure," Malcolm replied, eager to make a new friend. "Do you want to lift weights while I watch and make sure that you're being safe with them?"

Skull nodded just as Aisha and Zack came out of the weight room, "Hey Malcolm, wanna cut class and go for a jog in the park?" Aisha asked in a seductive tone. "Me and Zack wanna show it off to you."

"I can't do any running yet," Malcolm replied gently. "Besides, I was about to help Skull out."

Aisha and Zack exchanged a look, "Skull can come if he wants to," Zack said, knowing that Zedd could use Skull as part of his new Dark Army. "I think Jason and Billy went to the park already, actually."

Malcolm frowned, wondering if Jason and Billy had decided to ditch the weight training and use their free time to goof off in the park, "Maybe I'll go ask Dr. Oliver if he's seen them," he said in an uncertain voice, as something told him that Zack and Aisha were acting strange and not to go with them.

"Doctor Oliver is just an old man and doesn't have power over you," Aisha snapped as she stepped closer to Malcolm and Skull. "Skull can come if he wants, but you should come with us right now."

"Power Rangers, I have gathered you here for a very special purpose," Zordon said as Jason, Kimberly, Trini, and Billy materialized in the Command Center. "As you are already aware, Rita visited Malcolm weeks ago and offered him a coin that would grant him one wish. That one wish was in fact, made."

Jason sighed, "I wondered why Malcolm was so sick when Billy found him and brought him to the Youth Center," he replied softly. "Rita's power must have drained his energy."

"The strength of evil in the Power Coin was very taxing on Malcolm and Rita had hoped to coerce him into making a selfish wish by destroying his home and town," Zordon explained. "However, Malcolm did not make a selfish wish and instead wished for help to come to the decimated Power Rangers."

There was a loud bang and Alpha suddenly came out of a door of light, "Zordon, it's completed," he said.

"Rangers, behold the help that Malcolm wished to come to you," Zordon said. "Turn around."

Jason, Billy, Trini, and Kimberly turned just in time to see a being in a White Power Ranger uniform being lowered from an overhead compartment. The White Ranger silently landed on the ground with grace.

"The power from the Wishing Coin and Malcolm's unselfish wish provided enough power for a new Ranger to be created," Zordon stated. "White Ranger, please reveal yourself to the other Rangers."

The White Ranger nodded and silently removed his helmet, revealing a healthy looking Tommy.

"Tommy!" Billy said in an excited voice. "So this is what happened when you and Malcolm vanished."

Tommy nodded, "I was unconscious for the longest time and when I woke up, I was here being taken care of by Alpha," he said in a tired voice. "Alpha said that Malcolm's wish made the White Ranger."

"We left Malcolm at the school!" Jason said, suddenly remembering that Malcolm needed them.

The alarm suddenly went off, "Rangers, Malcolm and an innocent civilian have been captured by Zedd's Dark Rangers and taken to the Dark Dimension," Zordon said. "However, there is a greater emergency that requires your attention. Zedd has created a new monster called the Clingy Star and has set it loose in the park. The Clingy Star is one who seeks people and will destroy anything that stands in its way."

"What are we going to do?" Trini asked in a concerned voice. "We can't ignore either situation."

"Welcome to my Dark Dimension!" Zedd said in a commanding tone as Malcolm and Skull materialized in front of Zedd's throne. "I am Lord Zedd, Emperor of Evil and this is my queen, Rita Repulsa."

Malcolm glared at Rita, "I remember you," he said in an angry tone. "You hurt Tommy and threatened to kill him if I didn't use your stupid Wishing Coin. Did you tell Zack and Aisha to bring Skull and I here?"

"Ah, the boy has brains as well as a loose tongue," Zedd replied in an amused voice. "No matter."

Rita stepped forward, "I'll give you one final chance to pledge your allegiance, Malcolm," she said in a menacing voice as she poked him with her staff. "If you serve us, you will be set free from here."

"I'd rather be alone for the rest of my life than be a friend to evil," Malcolm replied, utterly disgusted by Rita and Zedd's constant attempts to cause trouble. "I want nothing to do with you and your evil."

Zedd grunted and pointed his staff at Malcolm, "As you wish," he grunted. "Enjoy eternal solitude."

As Malcolm disappeared, Rita turned to Skull and gestured to her crystal ball, "Take a look what fate your friend has chosen for himself," she said, brandishing her staff at him. "Go quickly and look!"

Skull nodded and walked over to the globe; he looked into it and saw that Malcolm was sitting on the floor in a small room that was dark and devoid of any furniture. He looked scared, but also very determined to wait out his isolation in quiet, peace, and whatever time he had to spend there.

"You can join your friend if you won't join my Dark Army," Zedd stated in an aggressive tone.

Not wanting to die or lose his freedom, Skull whimpered and quickly knelt before Zedd and Rita. He wondered if he would ever see Bulk again as Zedd tapped his head with the staff, brainwashing him into believing that he, Skull, was a servant to Lord Zedd and Rita.

Please read and review my story so that I'll feel motivated to post more chapters!