Zedd never felt so mortal in his long life; he was tired, sore, and pain was radiating from every inch of his unique body. He didn't even have enough power to return to his Moon Palace; he had sent out a mind message to Zedison, instructing the boy to come and rescue him from the dark side of the moon.

Fortunately, Zedd didn't have long to lay on the surface of the moon in waiting; he could feel Zedison approach even though it was too dark to see anything, "Father?" Zedison's voice suddenly spoke.

"Zedison, I am too injured to make it back to the palace without help," Zedd croaked, his voice fading with every syllable. "I had a productive quest, but I paid a heavy price for the information I gathered."

Zedison gave a nod, "I shall assist you, Father," he replied darkly. "Mother has been anxious to see you."

The sound of buzzing woke Jason from his restful slumber and he lifted his head only to find Malcolm's side of the room bare and his cousin's bed empty and made. A large note sat on top of the comforter.

Frowning, Jason quickly got out of bed, walked over to Malcolm's bed, and picked up the note.

Jason,

Recent events have given me a lot to think about and if you get chosen for the Peace Conference, I want you to go and do the best you can for world peace. I shouldn't mooch off your family and make it difficult for them any longer than I already have. Your parents don't need to waste any more time trying to fix me, nor do you. The whole experience with Zedison and Rita made me realize that I've been too dependent on people ever since my parents were killed and the dependency needs to stop today.

I got up early this morning, packed my things quietly, and decided to go to the Angel Grove shelter until I can somehow save up enough money for a bus ticket back to what's left of Crystal Valley. I'll make a new life for myself and since I'm no longer a Ranger, I am pretty much useless to everyone in the area.

I'll still attend Angel Grove High and finish as much schooling as I can before I can save up the money…

Too shocked to read any more of the letter, Jason folded it and put it in his pocket; he would take the letter to the Command Center for Zordon and Alpha to read before talking to his parents. Malcolm might have physically healed from the weekend at Dr. Oliver's cabin, but he was far from emotionally okay and didn't feel like he had anyone to confide in about that.

Jason sighed and lifted his Communicator, prepared to contact Zordon, Alpha, and the other Rangers for a quick meeting.

Reporters waited in the street, anxious to grab interviews with the chosen students once the names were formally announced. Even though it was just barely sunrise, students, teachers, and parents were already crowding the adjoining Youth Center to see who the interviewers had ultimately chosen.

Among the crowd was Tommy, Kimberly, Rocky, Aisha, Billy, Trini, and Zack; they were hoping that Jason, Malcolm, and Adam would join them later for some hang out time. For now, though, they and everyone else in Angel Grove were very anxious to see who had been chosen for the Peace Conference.

Although everyone's focus was on the TV, Ernie was busy hanging up black and orange streamers, paper pumpkins, and other little festive decorations in preparation for the Halloween party that would happen later that night. Bulk and Skull were reluctantly helping although they kept half an eye on the television.

"…The three students from Angel Grove High who will be attending the World Peace Conference in Switzerland have been chosen," a newscaster's voice suddenly said, causing everyone to look at the small television that was on the counter of the Juice bar. "The three students are Trini Kwan, Zack Taylor, and Rocky DeSantos. These three students are to be congratulated for their work…"

Kimberly smiled at Rocky, Trini, and Zack, "Congratulations, you guys!" she said in an excited voice.

"I didn't think I stood a chance until Mr. Caplan let me stay for that meeting," Rocky replied in a gratified voice, truly excited for the opportunity. "It's too bad that Jason withdrew his application last week when he was given another chance to be selected. Mr. Caplan is now wondering why exactly he withdrew…"

Tommy and Billy exchanged confused looks, "Jason withdrew his application?" Tommy asked, wondering why Jason didn't go for it if he could have gotten chosen. "He didn't tell any of us."

Before Rocky could reply, there was an odd beeping sound, "Oh, do we really have to answer that?" Trini whispered in a tired voice. "I'm sure many people will want to congratulate us for this."

"You can stay here if you want, Trini," Kimberly replied gently. "We'll call if we need you there."

Trini nodded and turned her attention to the crowd as Tommy, Kimberly, and Billy left the common area and retreated into a side hallway that was thankfully empty. A moment later, after learning they were needed they dematerialized.

Ignoring the bright sunshine filtering in through the high windows of the Angel Grove Shelter, Adam locked the room that was no bigger than a closet, but had served his needs well for nearly a year, and strode out into the common area. He was wearing jeans, boots, and an old black shirt that day; it would help him be able to try and find work or to see if he could do any odd jobs around the city for pay. The room was small, but it fit his need for safe privacy.

His eyes wandered over the few beds that contained people who were either homeless because of some tragedy, running from bad situations, or just needing a place until they got back on their feet.

Most of the beds were empty, but one suddenly caught his attention; Malcolm was sleeping in one of the beds that had a loaded duffel bag and a filled box underneath it. He looked like he had been crying for hours.

"Malcolm, are you awake?" Adam asked as he walked over to the cot where Malcolm lay asleep.

Malcolm let out a groan and opened his eyes, "Adam, what are you doing here?" he asked in a groggy voice, not at all pleased to see Adam hovering over him. "Did Jason find my note and send you?"

"Um, no," Adam replied nervously. "Why are you here at the shelter and not at Jason's house?"

At the mention of Jason, Malcolm scoffed and sat up, "What's the point of me staying there if Jason's going to Switzerland and his parents only have guardianship of me?" he asked in an irritated voice. "I don't really have any family, Adam. I'm seen as their orphan nephew and a dependent freak."

"You don't know for sure that Jason got picked," Adam replied nervously as he sat on the empty bed next to Malcolm's. "Thousands of students applied and there might have been better applicants."

Malcolm sighed, "I really don't think so," he said in a hopeless voice, realizing that Adam had no idea what letter was being referred to. "I wrote Jason a letter this morning, packed my stuff, and left because not being able to go to the Peace Conference or to be a Power Ranger anymore is depressing me."

"I thought Alpha took your Morpher so he could fix it?" Adam asked. "Do you still have your Coin?"

Suddenly feeling very ashamed of his anger, Malcolm shook his head, "It was cursed along with the Morpher and they're both under repair," he replied weakly. "I can feel the effect that it's had on me."

"A Morpher has nothing to do with how you're feeling inside," Adam replied in a gentle, yet very firm voice as he gazed at his friend. "You feel hurt because you were rejected and it's okay to feel hurt."

Once arriving, all had morphed and Jason had then been asked to wait in the Chamber of Light with only Alpha for company while the other Rangers had given Zordon a complete account of recent events.

"…Jason, thank you for waiting in the Chamber of Light with Alpha while I talked with Tommy, Kimberly, Billy, and Trini," Zordon said as Jason followed Alpha out of the hidden chamber after being instructed to wait there for a time. "While the note Malcolm left is very serious, I guarantee that he is fine."

Jason frowned as Billy handed the note to him, "If you have your doubts, Rangers, take a look in the Viewing Globe," Alpha instructed, feeling like not everyone believed Zordon. "He is all right."

Jason, Kimberly, Tommy, Billy, and Trini gathered around the Viewing Globe and saw Adam and Malcolm sitting on cots at the Angel Grove Center, talking quietly. Malcolm was gravitating between bursting into tears and throwing up while Adam remained calm. The five Rangers watched as the door to the shelter opened and Aisha came into the shelter looking very concerned. She hugged both Malcolm and Adam.

"Zordon, now that I've been selected to go to the Peace Conference, I worry," Trini suddenly spoke up as she looked away from the Globe to their mentor. "With Malcolm's instability, I wonder if he can carry on in his current position as the Black Ranger. Maybe someone else should be chosen to take his place."

The images from the viewing globe suddenly faded, "Trini, in light of recent events, I have contemplated assigning another to be the keeper of the Black Ranger Powers," Zordon said. "However…"

Without warning, Adam, Aisha, and Malcolm materialized in the Command Center, "It is good of all of you to join us," Zordon said, turning his attention to the three new arrivals. "As you may or may not be aware, Trini was selected to attend the World Peace Conference and we are now in need of a new Yellow Ranger. However, in light of recent circumstances, I have decided upon three new Rangers."

"Congratulations," Malcolm replied, forcing himself to hold back tears as he looked at Jason. "I knew for sure that you'd be picked to go to the Peace Conference. There's nobody else I would have expected…"

Swallowing hard, Malcolm sighed and went quiet, "Malcolm, there's something you should know," Jason replied softly, putting an arm around his cousin. "I withdrew my application at the last minute and I explained that I needed to care for the important things in life right now, which includes all my family."

"Jason is telling the truth, Malcolm," Zordon cut in. "His sacrifice is great and yet it cannot even measure against the personal sacrifices you have been forced to make in the last few months, which is why I have summoned you all here. The sword Malcolm used to destroy Lord Zedd's staff has been identified by Alpha as nothing other than the Sword of Light; it has the capacity to transfer powers from older Rangers to newer Rangers. Alpha, please bring Tommy the sword so the ceremony can begin."

Alpha nodded, hurried into the Chamber, and came back less than a moment later with a large golden sword. He immediately handed the sword to Tommy and then hurried over to the computer consoles.

"Tommy raise the sword above your head," Zordon instructed. "The new Yellow Ranger will be none other than Aisha and the Black Ranger will now be Adam. Both have proven themselves worthy."

Tommy nodded and raised the Sword of Light above his head. Power immediately shot out of Zordon's tube and clothed both Adam and Aisha in the Black and Yellow Power suits. Malcolm sighed, but he felt at peace about what had just happened, especially with Jason there to support and keep him sane.

"Bye guys," Trini said right before she was teleported out of the Command Center. "Catch ya later."

Tommy, Billy, Adam, and Aisha all gathered together, but Kimberly looked at Zordon, "Zordon, I thought you said there were going to be three new Rangers?" she asked, confused. "Who's the new Ranger?"

Before anyone else could speak, a Power Coin suddenly materialized in Malcolm's left hand, "Malcolm, I have watched you conquer many undesirable situations with great courage and although you are unable to hold the Black Power because of Zedison's curse, I see no reason why you have not earned the gift of holding a power," Zordon said as Malcolm looked at the Coin. "Alpha, bring him his instruments."

"Congratulations," Alpha said as he brought a Communicator and Morpher over to Malcolm, both of which were a dark shade of orange. Malcolm stared at the items for a moment and looked at Zordon.

Zordon smiled, "I know that you do not understand my decision completely, but your ongoing courage has shown me that you continue to be worthy of being a Power Ranger," he explained. "Your Power is from a dinosaur called the Velociraptor, your color is orange, and you will control the Velociraptor Lightning Zord. There is no need to use the power right now, as Zedd and Rita have been surprisingly silent as of late. However, there is still work for you to accomplish with the help of family and friends."

"Yes, I know," Malcolm replied softly as he put the new Communicator on his wrist and pocketed his new Morpher. He then turned to Tommy, Kimberly, Billy, Aisha, and Adam and they all smiled at him.

Tommy cleared his throat, "No matter what happens, gang; we're a family," he said in a firm voice.

The faint groan of her husband caused Rita to hurry into the throne room only to find Zedd lying on the floor with an unmasked Zedison kneeling next to him. She saw a small keychain-like orb clenched in his right hand, but said nothing about it and instead turned her attention to her badly injured husband.

"Rita, I killed Master Vile," Zedd croaked in a quiet voice as he struggled to stay awake. "He held the secrets I needed to destroy the Power Rangers, but he would not give them to me…so I took them."

Rita gasped, "You murdered my father?!" she asked in a horrified voice. "Did you HAVE to kill him?"

"He was going to kill me because I married you," Zedd replied in a faint voice. "I took the secret of Ivan Ooze's burial chamber and also the Orb of Doom from him after he died. I barely escaped with my life."

Nodding, Rita looked to Zedison and then back at her husband, "Shall I go and open the chamber?" Rita asked in a curious voice. Zedd weakly shook his head, coughed up some blood, and sighed deeply.

"You will need help and your help will need to be from a civilian," Zedd replied weakly. "The chamber is in Angel Grove, but it will need more than one person to open it. I dare not go myself and I need your mother to take care of me here. I trust that you will select a civilian worthy of being trained in evil?"

Zedison nodded and got to his feet, "I will," he said, bowing to his parents. "I will not fail either of you."

As Zedison walked out of the chamber, Zedd succumbed to unconsciousness and Rita screamed.

"There you two are!" Helen exclaimed in a relieved voice as she entered the Youth Center and saw Jason and Malcolm sitting at a table near the counter with Tommy, Kimberly, Adam, Billy, and Aisha. "Your father's just parking the car and we brought you two the costumes you left at the house this morning!"

Jason smiled, got up, and walked over to his mother, "Mom, can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked, intending to show his parents the note, which had been modified to omit any mention of Rita or Zedison, and talk to them about Malcolm running away. "It's sort of really important."

Helen smiled, "Come out to the car and you can talk to both your father and I out there," she replied.

As Jason left with his parents, Malcolm sighed and quickly got up from the table, "I'd better go get my stuff from the shelter," he said in a nervous voice. "I have to pretend everything's fine, that I'm the perfect child, and that I was just kidding about everything. My aunt and uncle think I'm recovered from what happened, but I'm not. There's a lot about me that they don't know…they can't know."

"Malcolm, what are you talking about?" Aisha asked in a concerned voice. "You're doing fine."

Malcolm sighed, "My parents loved me, but they never knew that I hung out at the dojo all the time in Crystal Valley because I had no friends," he replied. "I would constantly get beat up, robbed, or teased at school because I was so good at my classes and spent my free time helping my parents at the dojo."

"I can understand that," Adam suddenly cut in. "Trying to deal with bullies is never an easy thing."

Suddenly looking uncomfortable, Malcolm shivered, "They found out not long before the accident and that's why we came to Angel Grove," he replied. "My dad was going to talk to Jason's parents and see if I could finish high school out here where I'd be safe. I suddenly don't feel like being around anyone."

Before anyone could reply, Malcolm quickly hurried behind the counter and into the kitchen. Tommy could overhear him asking Ernie if he could use a hand doing things in the kitchen or with the dishes.

"Do you suppose Zedd or Rita put a spell on Malcolm to make him seem like he's not confident?" Billy asked in a confused voice, deeply concerned by Malcolm's behavior. "Maybe we should talk to Zordon about this, as if Malcolm's under a spell, he shouldn't be holding a Power Coin until he's free of it."

Adam suddenly looked annoyed, "Just give him some space," he commented. "He'll be just fine."

"Guys, what are we fighting about?" Kimberly suddenly cut in, her tone full of concern. "We should be thinking of how to unite ourselves as Rangers. Let's think of how we can help Malcolm feel better."

"…You're right, Kimberly," Tommy said as he smiled at Kimberly. "You've always got good ideas…"

As the light faded from the palm of his hand, Zedison gazed at the mortals he had encountered while hanging around the Angel Grove airport looking for any potential candidates to help him fulfill his father's mission.

Not long after arriving, he had encountered two young ladies with blonde hair who had just gotten off a plane from Los Angeles; he had approached the ladies asking for help and directions. The two ladies had only met each other after sitting next to each other on the plane, but already felt like they were friends

The ladies, who had introduced themselves as Katherine Hillard and Laura Hammond, had quickly taken the bait and had quickly found everyone around them fleeing, "…So you see, ladies, I have quite a predicament on my hands," Zedison said as he extended his hands towards them. "There are amazing opportunities for you if you just come with me. All happiness and glory can be yours if you help me."

"No thanks," Laura quickly replied, immediately earning a blast of magic from Zedison so powerful that it sent her to the floor in the midst of the fleeing crowd. Katherine took a step back, but said nothing.

Zedison took a step towards Katherine and grabbed her wrist, "You'll do nicely," he said, immediately taking her ability to speak away with a wave of his hand. "You'll eventually be a lovely replacement for that goody-two-shoes Pink Ranger. You'll have to be trained in evil by my mother first, of course."

"Please, have mercy," Katherine pleaded in a scared voice. "Why do you want to harm me?"

Zedison chuckled, unaware that Trini, Rocky, and Zack were just entering the airport with their luggage and were witnessing the entire fight and were unsure of what to do, "Oh, my dear Katherine, I will show you mercy," he said in an amused voice. "You will have only the memories that my mother gives you."

"Stop right there, Zedison!" Trini yelled her instincts as a former Ranger kicked in. "You're toast!"

Immediately recognizing Trini and Zack, Zedison cackled and brandished the staff full of Malcolm's energy at them, "What do you plan to do, Powerless Rangers?" he asked in an amused voice as he shot magic at the two of them and Rocky, immediately causing them to vanish. "None will remember this."

"You…monster," Katherine whispered as she suddenly collapsed to the airport floor unconscious.

Zedison cackled, gazed at Laura's unconscious form menacingly, and quickly vanished with Katherine before anyone who fled decided to come back. There would be time for proper revenge later on and, in the meantime, none would have memory of this encounter and Katherine Hillard could be trained in evil.

"Mother, I have returned with a worthy candidate to help open the chamber," Zedison said as he carried the unconscious Kat into the Moon Palace's throne room. "There were two of them, however…"

Rita scoffed and came out of the room where Zedd was now resting comfortably, "I saw the whole thing through the telescope," she replied in an annoyed voice, her look of frustration suddenly turning to one of pure joy as she saw the beautiful girl in Zedison's arms. "Oh, she's perfect to train as a daughter!"

"Yes Mother," Zedison replied in a toneless voice as he lay Kat at his mother's feet. "She is perfect. Her name is Katherine Hillard and she is missed by none."

The stress of Zedd's condition no longer bothered Rita, at least for the moment; she smiled and waved her magic wand at Katherine, muttering a chant under her breath. Katherine's clothes were immediately replaced with a dark red gown that was similar to Rita's, but the young girl remained unconscious.

"Once she is trained, you and her will accompany me to Ivan Ooze's burial chamber in Angel Grove and we will unleash Ivan Ooze as your father wanted," Rita said in a commanding voice. "If your father is well, he will join us and we will unleash Ooze so that he can help us to finally dominate the world!"

Zedison nodded, but frowned, "Mother, the Power Rangers will intervene to keep the peace," he commented in a concerned voice. "The world also is busy with some sort of Peace Conference."

"We plan to use Ivan Ooze to disrupt the Peace Conference," Rita replied nastily. "As for the Power Rangers, your father has the Orb of Doom and will use Ivan Ooze's power to destroy the Rangers."

Even though she couldn't wake up, Katherine heard the words 'Orb of Doom' and thoughts of dominating the Power Rangers herself suddenly filled her changing mind; once she had her strength back, she would pretend to serve these weirdos willingly and then take the Orb of Doom to cause doom.

Fortunately, before Rita or Zedison had any idea that she had eavesdropped while semiconscious, Katherine found herself teleported into another chamber; the transformation would soon be final.

While she lay in the chamber that would turn her evil, Kat suddenly had a thought of Laura and wondered if she was okay. The chamber suddenly vanished and she found herself in a dark chamber with a fog covered floor, facing a blue being that was completely clothed in gold armor and looking angry.

"It seems you need to learn humility before you can be trained to rely on the forces of evil as your guide, Katherine," Goldar said in a menacing voice as the frightened Kat assumed fighting stance. "May you learn this lesson well.

Please read and review!