Advent of the Rangers of Light – The Transdimensional Archives

Disclaimer: I dont own the Power Rangers. They belong to Saban, along with anything youve seen in any of the shows. I do however own Sedra, Locan, the DarkChylde/Anathema, Ahzza and Zarian/Josh . And anything else you havent seen on the show. Im not doing this for profit. Im not getting paid for this. This is for entertainment only. If you would like to use any of my characters, please let me know. Thanx.

Authors Notes: In this timeline, T:APRM does not happen. This is the eighth story in my Ranger of Light series. If you havent read the other seven, you might want to, or youll be lost. 🙂 If you like this, please let me know. This series has kind of become my little baby, and of course, my muse thinks so as well. 🙂 Id like to thank all the people on the message board who have helped me out by answering numerous questions. And a special thanks to all of those who have been keeping up with this series, and sticking with me through this. This is for you guys, and you know who you are. 🙂 And a very Special thanks to K. Kat for baring the brunt of beta reading this monster for me. 🙂

Ranger of Light Saga by Cinders

Part Eight: Advent of the Ranger of Light

The light cannot exist without the Darkness,

And the Darkness cannot exist without…THE LIGHT!

Ahzza watched as the confused taxi driver collected his fare from Billy…Zarian, then drove away. She had to smile when she saw the look of confusion on the drivers face when he was asked to take them out of town and drop them off in the middle of nowhere. Even she had been surprised by the latter.

"What are we doing way out here?" Ahzza asked, gazing around at the rocks, sagebrush and Joshua trees, many of which peppered the desert landscape around them.

"Billy has a better place for us to hide. A place where only he, Zordon and Alpha know of."

"Um, maybe youre receiving some mixed up information. Does it look like there is some place to hide out here?" Ahzza questioned, spreading her arms wide to indicate everything around them.

"No, I dont. But we have to trust him."

"Oh, all right." Ahzza gave in, following Billy…Zarian into the desert.

It was still very confusing, trying to remember that it was Billys body, and that Zarian was inside. Especially when she was looking at him, seeing Billy and hearing Zarians voice come out of him. She wondered, for a moment, how Billy was doing.

Quickly, she picked up her pace to catch up with Zarian. "Is Billy okay?"

"Hes feeling stronger, though hes still confused. Im giving him some of my life force, so that he can heal faster. So, hes doing a lot better."

"David saw me in the hospital, and saw you…Billy, walk out of the hospital room."

"What did you tell him?" Zarian didnt look at her, and she was glad, she was already nervous about what she had told David, to begin with.

"I just told him that I had to protect Billy from Sedra, and myself as well. That wed both be alright." She had wanted to tell Zarian the truth, that she had told David who she was, but she couldnt bring herself to do it.

"Does he know about who you both are?"

"I-I think he has some suspicions, but… I didnt tell him anything." Oh, how she hated doing it. The last thing she wanted, was for Zarian to be angry with her. She knew that David wouldnt tell anyone, she trusted him more than anyone. And the way he had looked at her in the hospital, she couldnt have lied to him even if she had wanted to.

"Good. The less they know, the better. Sedra will basically leave them alone if shes pretty certain that they dont have any information to give her."

"Thats what I told him. And that he should just trust me… us."

"Were here," Zarian stated, looking down at the ground.

Ahzza looked around, and saw nothing more than there had been when they started out. "Okay, I give. Wheres here?" She asked, as she continued to look around. Had she missed something? An extra large cactus or something? She watched as Zarian moved to a nearby stone. Upon hearing a loud click!, the stone at his feet began to rise up from the ground. Ahzza stared in surprise when she saw that the stone was suspended on some type of pedestal. When it finally came to a stop, about chest high, Zarian pulled open the top of the stone to expose a small computer screen and number pad.

"What is that?" She asked, interested.

"Its the way into what Billy calls the Construction Core." That answer just created a whole new list of questions that began to race through her mind. But, no matter how badly Ahzza wanted to ask them, she knew that now was not the time.

Carefully she watched in confused curiosity, as Zarian leaned over the device. A small, red light shot up into his eyes. Ahzza gasped in surprise, but when Zarian didnt try to move away, or seem surprised, she relaxed. Zarian remained bent over the device for several moments before the light disappeared and a small electronic voice was heard.

"Retinal scan complete. Authorizing entry for Cranston, William J. 927-48-3301. Please place thumb to screen… "

Ahzza watched as Zarian placed his thumb to the screen, the same red light coming back on and moving below his thumb. Once more the voice came on. "Access granted. Press button for teleportation." When Zarian didnt press the button, Ahzza moved forward.

"Whats wrong?" She asked, nervously.

"Billy says, that for you to enter the Construction Core, you must have clearance."

"What? Well, how do I get clearance?" Ahzza wondered. She glanced nervously around the area. Theyd been out in the open far too long. Sedra and Locan would find them soon.

"Come and stand over here." Ahzza did as she was instructed, standing before the same device that Zarian had been bent over just moments ago.

"Now what?"

"Lean forward, and hold perfectly still," taking a deep breath, Ahzza did as she was told, looking down at her own reflection in the dark screen. "Look directly at the screen, and dont move your eyes."

"Okay." Ahzza could hear movement next to her, and she had to fight to keep from looking.

"This should only take a few seconds."

A bright flash of red light shot up into her eyes. Trying as best she could to hold still, she fought to keep her eyes open against the torture of the bright light. Then, suddenly, the light was gone.

"Okay, you can stand up now." Ahzza leaned back, stepping away, while Zarian kept tapping away at the key pad. "I need a set of numbers that I can use for a code."

"Um… 392-97-7841." She watched as Zarian typed them into the device.

"Okay. Now, you need to put those numbers in again." Zarian stepped back to allow Ahzza access to the key pad. "As soon as you put the numbers in, press your thumb to the screen. When its finished scanning, press the red button, then we can enter."

Ahzza moved quickly to the device, repeating the numbers over and over in her head.

"3… 9… 2… 9… 7… 7… 8… 4… " An explosion shook the ground, knocking Ahzza off of her feet. Ducking her head she waited for the rain of dirt and rocks to subside. Risking a glance, Ahzza gazed around for Zarian, only to find him getting to his feet next to her. "Whats going on?" She asked, struggling to her own feet.

"Weve got unwanted guests," Zarian said, venom lacing every word.

"That hurts my feelings," Came a deep voice from the receding dust. Ahzza recognized the voice, a voice she had hoped to never hear again. But, her fear became two-fold when the large, dark figure of Locan emerged from the dust. "After all weve been through, human."

"Ahzza, get behind me and finish the procedure," Zarian yelled, moving between her and Locan. Ahzza leapt to the device, reaching out her hand to enter the last number, but another hand; from out of nowhere, grabbed hers before she could press the button. Gazing up, she came face to face with an enraged Sedra.

"Hello… friend." Sedra spat.

"Christie was my friend, but that also makes her my enemy, because she is you." Ahzza growled back.

"I can respect that. Now we have the Light and the Wolf."

"What? Youre wrong. I may be the Light…"

"Enough! Your lies wont work on me," Sedra growled. With a twist of her wrist, a flame appeared in her hand. When it disappeared seconds later, Sedra held a familiar blue notebook in her hand; Ahzzas journal.

"Wh-how?" Ahzza pulled away from Sedras grip, tossing her backpack down on the ground. Behind her she could hear Locans taunts, though he didnt come any closer to them.

Quickly, Ahzza dug through the contents of her park. "It wont do you any good, its not in there," Sedra announced.

"How did you get it?" Ahzza demanded.

"Locan. He found it on the floor of the cave where you were hiding for the past two months." Ahzza couldnt say anything. It was all her fault. "Everything I needed to know, is written on these pages. I guess… I should thank you for it, but I do have a reputation to uphold."

Sedra reached out for Ahzza once more, but this time the surprise was on her as a bolt of electricity shot out from Ahzzas uplifted hand, wrapping around her, holding Sedra fast.

As Ahzza rose up to finish the procedure, a roar from behind her notified her of Locans attack. Spinning, she saw Zarian raise his hands up in front of him, both arms together. At the motion, the dirt and rocks at his feet began to shake, then suddenly they lifted from the ground, rising up in a column, stopping Locan in his surprised steps.

In one quick motion Zarian spread his arms out wide, turning in a 360 degree circle. The column of dirt and rocks spread out into a wall that surrounded them.

"Now," Zarian yelled above the crashing sound of the dirt. Ahzza spun around and pressed the last number into the key pad.

"1!" Slamming her thumb down on the screen, she watched as the same light washed over her thumb, as it had with Zarian. The electronic voice was barely a whisper above the noise.

"Clearance for Trueheart, Ahzza 392-97-7841, approved. Access granted. Press button for teleportation."

Ahzza turned to look at Zarian, who still held out his arms. Through the wall she could barely hear the roars of rage from Locan, or the threats from and enraged Sedra.

"Do it! Now," Zarian commanded. Ahzza turned her gaze back to the panel. Looking at the red button, she hesitated, then as if her hand had a mind of its own, it pressed the button.

<hr>

Sedra felt the dirt circulating through the air, stinging her skin and whipping her hair around her. The bolts of electricity that had held her vanished as soon as the wall of dirt and rock appeared, leaving her weak and drained. She watched as Locan tried to penetrate the wall, slicing at it in rage with his sword. When the attempts failed he began to circle the wall, trying to find a weak spot. As he disappeared from her view she tried to get to her feet, but a sudden stabbing pain wrapped itself around her abdomen. Dropping to her knees she drug in a deep breath, feeling the pain tighten around her. She gasped, fighting back the scream that tore at her throat. Then, as suddenly as it came, it was gone.

Locan emerged from around the column of dirt to find Sedra kneeling. Quickly he raced to her side; his prey, wrapped inside of the columns safety, forgotten.

"My Queen! What is wrong?" Locan yelled over the noise, as he knelt beside her.

"Its the DarkChylde. Its nearly time," Sedra smiled up at him, an evil glint in her eye. Carefully, he helped her to her feet, as a sudden rumbling began to shake the ground.

Locan looked up at the wall to see it plummeting to the ground. Quickly, he grabbed Sedra, pulling her into his huge embrace, sheltering her with his body, as he ducked over her to cover her as completely as he could.

He had just bowed his head, as the ground shook violently, threatening to knock him off of his feet. A billowing cloud of dirt, dust and rocks washed over them like a tidal wave. Then all was silent. Cautiously, Locan gazed up.

A remaining cloud of dust began to drift away, revealing a huge mound of rock and dirt. Slowly, Locan stood, holding Sedra steady, as he looked around them. Her gasp of pain brought his attention back to her.

"Where… are… they?" She demanded from between clenched teeth, her brow furrowed in pain.

"Gone," Locan stated the obvious.

"No! How can that be?" Sedra sagged against him, her breath steady once more.

"It doesnt matter, now. The power will be ours soon. The DarkChylde is the only being who will be able to take the power away from them, or destroy it."

"I wanted that power!"

"It will be yours soon enough, my Queen."

"I suppose you are right. We must get back to the castle, its nearly time," Sedra stated, her voice weary.

"Yes, my Queen." In a flash of flames, the desert outside of Angel Grove was silent once more. Any sign of anyone having been there… gone, as the wind gently shifted the new mound of dirt.

<hr>

Ahzza landed hard, the air rushing from her lungs and her head throbbing. Struggling through a haze, she tried to look around as she gasped for air. A small cloud of dust had been teleported along with them, and even now it was beginning to settle around her. A voice, sounding a long way away, came to her as she felt hands and arms helping her to her feet.

Finally, her lungs allowed the air back in and she began to cough.

"Are you alright?" Came Zarians voice, but it was Billy who was standing there, looking down at her. It took her a few confused minutes to get her barings, and remember that Billys body was running on Zarians life force.

"Oh, fine. I always welcome pain. How do you think I am?" Ahzza bit out.

"Sarcasms there, Id say you are fine." Ahzza glared at Zarian, only because she didnt have enough air in her to laugh.

"Where are we?" She asked, trying to penetrate the darkness surrounding the area of light they were standing in.

Zarian moved into the darkness, his voice echoing around them. Ahzza listened to the echo and knew that, wherever they were, it was massive.

"Billy says that its called the Construction Core. Says this is where he stayed while working on the Turbo vehicles for the Rangers."

"Construction Core, huh?" The words alone brought images of junk yards into her mind. Piles and piles of old rusty and worn cars. Scraps of metal everywhere, tangles of wire hanging from the useless bodies, and most of all grease and dirt. Ahzza grimaced at the thought, sniffing the air for the unwelcome smells.

A loud thump!, filled the room, as the lights suddenly came on, bathing the room in a soft, comfortable glow. Gazing around, Ahzza was amazed to find that the Core actually resembled the Power Chamber in many ways. Several doors lead from the room, and it was through one of these doors that Zarian was disappearing.

"Wait," Ahzza called out. Even though she wanted desperately to check everything out; her curiosity pricked, she ran after Zarian, ducking down the dark corridor behind him. At first she couldnt see anyone, the light here much dimmer. A slight movement ahead caught her eye, "Zarian. Where are you going?" Ahzza called after him, as she followed him down the dark hallway.

"I need to get Billy to the med-bed. The sooner I can get him there, the sooner hell be able to heal," Zarians reply drifted back to her.

Ahzza quickly caught up with him as he entered a large room at the end. As soon as they stepped into the room, the lights came on. Around them were positioned four different med-beds; a group of computers along the left side of each one. Other than that, the room was bare.

She continued to gaze around at the curious beds as Zarian moved to the closest one. Wanting to know what was going on, Ahzza moved to his side. From her vantage point she watched him press a series of buttons on a control panel that arched over the bed. Slowly, lights began to flicker to life on the control panel, as well as lights within the bed, itself. She watched as Zarian pressed a small lever, then begin to lift the arching control panel up. As soon as it clicked into its upright position, Zarian slid up onto the bed and lay back. Reaching up, he pulled on the panel. Releasing it, it moved back into place, making an arch over Billys, now bared, chest.

For a time Billys body grew still. As panic started to fill her there was a flicker, like that of heat wave, over Billys body, then it was gone. Zarian materializing next to her. She continued to watch the still form, seeming somehow paler now that Zarians life force wasnt within him.

"Will he be alright?" Ahzza asked. Zarians life force had restored some of Billys color, but he still looked haggard.

"He will be, after hes spent a day or so on the bed. But, as for his mental recovery… "

"Mental?" Ahzza turned Zarian to face her. "What do you mean? What did they do to him up there?" She demanded.

"I think it would be best that Billy tell you, when and if he can. All I can say is that its going to be hard for Billy to adjust, as well both have to have some patience and understanding."

"That makes me feel a bit better," Ahzza sighed, looking down at a sleeping Billy.

"Im sorry. Thats all I can offer." Zarian turned back to the med-beds control panel. As soon as hed tapped in the code for Billys bio-rhythms a voice could be heard.

"Scan shows that Cranston, William J., has a bio-rythumn 40% below normal. Estimated time of recovery will be… two days." As soon as the voice stopped, the lights on the med-bed began to fluctuate, and a web of light stretched out over him, wrapping him in its healing powers.

"Now what?" Ahzza wondered aloud.

"We keep an eye on him and the situation, and hope that we can join the two halves of the power soon."

Zarian turned to leave the room, his footsteps silent in the corridor. Alone with Billy, Ahzza moved to his side and gazed down at him.

"Theyll all pay for this, I swear."

<hr>

After the confrontation with Sedra at the hospital, the Rangers left, heading a safe distance from town so that they could teleport to the Power Chamber and inform Zordon of all that had transpired.

Kim had settled on riding with Tommy, Adam and David, in Davids Jeep, while Jason caught a ride with Kat, Rocky and Tanya in Kats car.

As they headed out of town, Kims attentions were distracted by her thoughts about Billy. Would nothing in their lives ever be normal again? After having been a Ranger once, were they always destined to be targeted by the forces of evil? Theyd tried for two months to get Billy back, just to have him ripped away from them again. Then a horrifying thought came to her then…

"How can you all be so calm about Billy being in the hands of a stranger? If anything, he should have gone back to the Power Chamber with us, so that we could help him recover," Kim stated from the back seat, raising her voice to be heard over the sound of the wind and traffic.

Tommy turned in his seat, the seat belt digging into his shoulder. He looked at Kim, seeing a completely different person than the one he remembered. Her feelings for Billy were not only evident in her words and actions, but in the tears shed been shedding for the last two months. Why hadnt he seen it before?

"I know youre worried about him, Kim. We all are. But, you have to trust us. Hell be alright. Ahzza isnt a stranger, shes my and Davids adopted sister. If we cant trust her… and Im assuming her friend Josh is with her as well; then who can we trust?" Tommy asked, a thought coming to him. Hed have to talk to Zordon about finding out more about this… Josh White guy.

"Im not saying Ahzza is untrustworthy, its just… "

"Just what?" David wanted to know. Ahzza, since she had been with him and Sam, had never given them a reason to believe that she would lie or deceive them.

"Its just that… well, Christie; Billys friend, ended up being Sedra, as you said David. What if Ahzza really wasnt… Ahzza? Or Josh wasnt really, Josh?" It made sense to them all, terrifying sense. Tommy looked questioningly at David, who returned his uncertain look.

"Th-thats impossible. If Ahzza was really Sedra in disguise, then why was Sedra trashing Billys hospital room when we found her?" David questioned.

"True. If Sedra had Billy she wouldnt have been there, let alone be asking us where he was. Were just going to have to have a little blind faith on this one. Trust that Billy is in good hands. Weve got other things we need to worry about right now. Like how long we have, to get prepared, before we have to face the DarkChylde. I doubt the Powers of Light are going to show up anytime soon, to help out," Tommy sighed in frustration, at his own words.

David kept his eyes on the road ahead of them. He hated knowing things that he couldnt tell the others, especially something this important, but he had promised.

The conversation died away leaving them in silence, the sounds of the wind, tires on the road, and traffic filling the air around them. Thats why they didnt really pay much attention to Adams voiced observation, at first.

"Looks like theres a really big dust devil in the desert outside of Angel Grove."

"What?" Tommy asked, a moment later.

"Dust devil. Over there." Adam pointed to the desert outside of town.

That ones huge. Ive never seen one that big before," stated David, as he tried to crane his neck around to see the dust devil, as well as keep his eyes on the road.

"Neither have I. Pull over," Kim commanded, feeling a deep sense of dread come over her all of a sudden.

Kat, from inside her car, watched as David and his group pulled off to the side of the highway. Puzzled, she slowly pulled off behind them, waiting for the traffic to pass so that she could climb out of the car, safely.

"Maybe hes having car trouble," Rocky wondered, as he got out of the car on the passenger side, followed immediately by Jason.

As soon as David brought his Jeep to a stop, Kim slipped out of her seat belt, stood up on the seat to try to get a better view of the dust devil.

"Whats wrong?" Came Rockys voice from next to Tommy. Tommy looked around to see Rocky and Jason standing next to him. A quick glance out the rearview mirror, showed him that Kat and Tanya were making their way to the Jeep as well.

"Kim asked us to pull over. She seems to think that something isnt quite right with that huge dust devil," Adam said, pointing in the direction Kim was looking.

All eyes turned to look at the huge dust devil. The dust that it was made up of was thick, making it appear very dark. Suddenly Kat spoke up from where she stood at the back of the Jeep.

"It isnt a tornado, because there are no clouds, but that is, definitely, no dust devil, and its not a sand storm either."

"What is it then?" Jason questioned.

"Im not sure. If it was a dust devil, the sand and debris would be swirling in a spiral, but it just seems to be moving in an up and down motion."

"Maybe youre wrong, and it is a sand storm," David hoped.

"Its not possible. Its not moving, and has anyone else noticed… theres no breeze?" Everyone grew quiet, and gazed at the wall of sand.

"Sedras up to something. Lets get over there, quick," Tommy commanded, immediately contacting Zordon.

"WHAT IS WRONG, TOMMY?" Questioned Zordon from Tommys communicator.

"There is a wall of sand in the desert, outside of town. We think that Sedra may be up to something. Were on our way to check it out. Do you and Alpha have any idea what it might be?"

"OUR SCANS INDICATE THAT SEDRA IS, INDEED, THERE. BUT ITS NOT HER POWERS THAT ARE CAUSING IT; AND OUR SCANS CANNOT PICK UP AND LOCK ONTO THOSE THAT ARE BEING USED."

"Thanks, Zordon. Well keep you posted."

"GOOD LUCK, RANGERS. MAY THE POWER PROTECT YOU."

Tommy looked up at the wall of sand just in time to see it collapse, sending a rolling wave of dust across the desert. "Step on it. Zordon said that Sedra was definitely there," Tommy said, looking back at the worried Kim.

<hr>

No sooner had Sedra and Locan appeared in the castle, then she dropped to her knees. The pain wrapping around her body, excruciating. Sedra had always been one who loved to cause pain and suffering, never one to fall victim to it.

Growling, she let Locan help her to her feet. As she began to talk, the largest of the pains shot through her body, ripping a scream from her blood-red lips. Finally, the pain subsided enough for her to growl out a few words, "Hes going to die, for doing this to me!"

"My Queen. You wanted him to do this to you," Locan stated, picking her up in his arms, gently.

"Just shut-up and take me to my quarters." Locan nodded, carrying her down the corridor to her room.

<hr>

The dust was still swirling around, in the light breeze that was blowing in the openness of the desert, as eight figures arrived at the location where the wall of sand appeared to have been.

As they walked further from the vehicles, they came upon several Joshua trees that were half buried by a fresh mound of sand and rocks.

"Theres no one here," Tommy reported to Zordon.

"APPEARANCES CAN SOMETIMES BE DECEIVING. BE ON GUARD, RANGERS."

"Right, Zordon."

"What do you think Sedra was up to?" Tanya wondered, scaling the mound.

"I dont know. Zordon said that the wall of sand wasnt created using her magic," Tommy responded.

"You dont think there might be someone else whos vying for the powers, do you?" Rocky questioned. The idea was always a possibility, where evil was concerned. Theyd learned well from past experiences.

"I dont know Rocky. I just dont know," Tommy admitted, looking cautiously around.

<hr>

Ahzza came to stand beside Zarian, who stood in the center of the Construction Cores vast room. Slowly he gazed around at all of the computers and consoles that lined the walls, as well as the large screen above the main console.

"So, this is where Billy created the Rangers Turbo vehicles. This boy is quite extraordinary. His destiny is greater than he ever imagined it would be." Zarian stood in awe of Billys intellect.

"How is the merging of the Powers suppose to happen? I mean, how does it work?" Ahzza wondered, knowing they had little time in which to bring them together, and she had to admit, she was a little scared of how the process might work.

"There are words that must be spoken. Then, one of you will loose your powers. It will then converge within the other, manifesting itself into one being."

"It… it wont hurt, will it?" It sounded painful to her, and she felt a great deal more fear about it.

Zarian turned to face her, a man who had begun to seem like a father to her. He smiled and looked down into her worried face. With a gentle hand on her shoulder, he comforted her worries. "No. It wont hurt." Ahzza sighed in relief. Questioningly, she looked up at him.

"After all that Billy has been through, will he be able to do this?"

"Hell have to be."

Ahzzas thoughts began to dwell on her life before Sam Trueheart, and all the reasons she had not to trust anyone, ever again. How long and hard it was for her to trust anyone again. Would it be the same for Billy? She hoped that it wouldnt be like that for him. She had been so much younger then. Billy was older, and had time to learn who he could and couldnt trust. They couldnt afford for Billy not to be able to trust them.

Sighing deeply, Ahzza began to look over the consoles in the main room, trying as best she could to get her mind on something else.

<hr>

Darkness surrounded him, wrapping him in its cold embrace. Every now and then, as he traveled trough the dark, there would be quick flashes of light. Lightening? Hed wait for the answering call of thunder that never seemed to come. Where was he, and why was he alone? He tried to call out to someone, anyone, but his own voice was the only one that answered back, sounding more lonely than when hed first called out.

Feeling cold all over, his body beginning to shake, he reached around him to pull his shirt or jacket closer, only to find that he was completely naked. Suddenly, like a train, the memories suddenly came roaring back to him, flashing through his mind; freezing the blood in his veins.

A battle that ended with his imprisonment. Pain, pain wrapping all around him, numbing his back, his mind. Whispered words of temptation. A small feeling of safety. Then there was a voice, words of love spoken in the heat of passion.

In a sudden burst of light, Billy saw a face before him, smiling. As he reached out to touch it, the face seemed to distort, metamorphosing. When the image became solid once more, Billy pulled back, deep fear gripping his heart.

Sedra!

Hed been betrayed! He tried to move away form the image, to escape into the surrounding darkness. But he couldnt move. The image began to take full shape. No longer was it just a bodiless head, but her whole form. As he stood frozen to his spot, and vulnerable in his naked state; Sedra stalked him, circling like a vulture around its prey. Then suddenly she stopped, Coming to stand before him, she placing her cold hands on his bare skin, moving them slowly, seductively over his body.

"Its time. Our child is being born as we speak. Come Billy, rule with me at my side. Be her father," Sedra whispered seductively.

"Never," Billy spat out venomously, as his body shuddered.

"We are linked, you and I. Always in your dreams, in your thoughts; Ill be here. You can join me willingly, or… " Striking out, Sedra pulled her sharp nailed fingers across the hard plains of his chest, laughing at his wince of pain. "You now bare my mark. You are mine, and mine alone. No one but I, will posses you. Youll come to me… soon." Immediately Sedras image disappeared as Billy cried out in despair.

<hr>

Sedra threw her head back, releasing a scream of pain. Locan watched on, restlessly pacing the room. Sedra lay propped up on the bed, her body writhing in agony, as the DarkChylde struggled to enter the world and its destiny. Sedra had grown quite pale, her white hair tangled and damp from the sweat that poured from her creased brow. Locan had offered to help her but shed only glared at him. A glare that told him that if he didnt keep his distance, hed be dead. So that left him to watch over her from a distance. He watched helplessly as her swollen abdomen seemed to ripple with the life inside of her.

When Sedras eyes closed and she grew still, Locan began to worry that the product of the mating between her and the human had killed her. That shed bring forth the DarkChylde at the cost of her own life. But as he neared her, he could see the slight rise and fall of her chest, and small movements of her lips, as she seemed to be talking to someone whom only she could see.

As he watched, she remained like that for several more minutes before her eyes flew open and a piercing scream filled the air. Arching her body up from the cushion of her bed, Sedra twisted her pain wracked body, doubling over. From between her firm thighs she withdrew the screaming, squirming mass of pink flesh that was to be the DarkChylde. Evil laughter, like none that he had ever heard before, came from Sedra in that moment, as she wrapped her arms around the squirming, screaming infant.

Without warning, a deafening roar, rippling through space, rocked the castle. Dust and stones rained down from their aged places in the ceilings and walls. Accompanying the roar was a bright flash of light. Locan watched on, as Sedra climbed unsteadily from her bed, her body still weak from the birth. Slowly, she made her way toward the balcony. A supernatural breeze seemed to come from nowhere, whipping the long strands of her white hair all around her, like arms embracing a lover.

From her lips came words that Locan had never heard before. Curiously he watched, mesmerized by her actions. From out of nowhere, a bolt of lightening appeared, arching over the balconys edge, wrapping around Sedra and the infant. Locan rushed forward, determined to protect Sedra and the child at any cost, even if that cost was his own life. As he drew nearer, the bolt of lightening leapt forth, knocking him back against the wall. The force pushing all of the air out of his body with a thunderous roar.

Then, as suddenly as the bolt had appeared, it disappeared, leaving Sedra and the baby, in a silent heap, on the stone floor of the balcony. Still fighting for air, Locan raced to Sedras side; both she and the baby unnervingly quiet and still. Carefully he lifted them both up in his arms, noticing for the first time, the barely visible signs of breathing causing her chest to rise and fall. As he moved them back to the bed, he caught a small glimpse of movement from the baby, as well. Laying them gently on the bed, he dared to breath her name, "Queen Sedra… "

Slowly, Sedras eyes fluttered open, a smile curving her lips. "The Darkness has embraced her, Locan. She is indeed the DarkChylde. I shall name her… Anathema." Carefully, Sedra pulled the newly squirming child against her. The Powers of Light, within her grasp.

<hr>

The teens had given up in the search for the cause of the wall of dirt. They were completely alone in the desert. There was no one else there, anywhere.

"What would anyone want way out here in the middle of nowhere?" Jason wondered, as he kicked at a large stone.

"Who knows what reasoning Sedra has for doing the things shes been doing," Adam replied, uninterested.

Tommy did a quick look around before contacting Zordon, "Were teleporting in, Zordon," Tommy announced, looking at the worried looks on his friends faces.

"VERY WELL, RANGERS. WE AWAIT YOUR ARRIVAL," Came Zordons even voice.

Tommy had just enough time to nod to the others, and prepare to teleport when, without warning, all hell seemed to break loose. All around them the ground began to shake. Taken off guard, the Rangers toppled to the shifting ground, like dominoes. Earthquakes were not unheard of around the area, and the Rangers decided it would be safer to wait it out.

That was, until a savage wind started to roar, threatening to blow them miles away from Angel Grove. Quickly they grabbed onto anything heavy that they could find. Instantly the sky began to grow dark; thats when they realized that it was no earthquake that they were dealing with. As they tried to get to their feet, the sky became as black as pitch, throwing them into a darkness like nothing they had ever seen before. A deep thunderous rumble, filled the air, making any talking almost impossible.

Kim tried to find her way toward Jason, remembering where he had been before it had turned dark. Groping around, she bumped into someone. Immediately she wrapped her arms around them for support. The hard muscle beneath her hands told her that it was one of the guys, which one she wasnt sure.

"Whats happening?" She cried over the noise. The strain burning her throat.

"I dont know!" Came the reply, which she could barely hear.

"Rocky?"

"Yeah!" Kim held onto him more tightly, feeling his own arms grip her strongly around her shoulders.

"Where is everyone else?" Kim called to him, her screaming voice coming out as nothing more than a whisper among the turbulent wind.

"I dont know where they are! Youre standing right here with me, and I can barely even hear you! We need to teleport out of here! Im going to try to contact Zordon; hang on tight," Rocky instructed her as he released his grip on her to bring his communicator as close to his mouth as possible. "Zordon! Alpha! Come in!" When there was no response, Rocky pulled the communicator away from his ear, and called once more into it, his voice filled with desperation.

When he felt Kims grip on him slip, he quickly reached out, wrapping an arm around her to hold her tight. Suddenly; slightly more than a whisper, came the static filled voice of Zordon from his communicator, "HANG ON, RANGERS. WE WILL HAVE YOU OUT OF THERE SOON!"

"Please hurry," Screamed Kim, terror evident in her voice. Before she had time to wonder how long theyd have to wait, she felt the familiar tingle of teleportation as they disappeared from the middle of the chaos.

<hr>

Ahzza and Zarian raced down the corridor to the medical room where they had heard loud screaming coming from. As they neared the door the whole place began to shake, throwing Ahzza into Zarian. Together they crashed to the hard, stone floor, trying desperately to get to their feet. The lights around them began to flicker on and off, the screams continuing.

"A fine time to have an earthquake," Ahzza declared in annoyance. When she saw the seriousness in Zarians face she knew that it was no ordinary earthquake. Before she could question him about it, she could hear the sounds of weapons being fired behind the door of the medical room where Billy was.

"There was no way that Sedra could have gotten in here! Was there?" she found herself questioning silently, as she looked at Zarian who was already struggling to his feet and the door.

"Whats going on, Zarian? This isnt a normal earthquake, is it?"

"No!" Arriving at the door, Zarian tried to push it open, all the while trying to keep his feet under him. But the door wouldnt budge.

"Then what is it?" Ahzza demanded, as she joined him at his side. She had a pretty good idea, which could mean only one thing… and she was hoping that she was wrong.

"The DarkChylde has been born," Zarian finally answered. She wasnt wrong. Closing her eyes, Ahzza tried to fight down the sudden despair that she felt; to dig deep down inside of herself for the few remaining threads of strength that she had left.

"Will the Powers of Light be able to defeat it?" Ahzza asked, helping Zarian as he tried to open the door. From behind it came the muffled sounds of words, and more weapon fire.

"Its possible, but we have to merge the Powers first," Zarian said, as he put his shoulder to the door one last time.

As suddenly as it had all started, it stopped. Ahzza and Zarian stood in the corridor, quietly gazing at each other. From beside them, the door swung slowly open. Cautiously they stepped into the room.

The room was trashed. There were burns on the walls from blaster fire; but all was quiet. A new fear gripped Ahzza in that moment. Where was Billy? Did Sedra find some way to get in and take him again?

Without a second thought, Ahzza rushed further into the room, looking everywhere she could think of for him. A sudden blast and accompanying explosion beside her caused her to drop to her knees behind one of the overturned med-beds. A quick glance at the door showed her that Zarian had taken refuge behind the doors edge.

"Are you all right?" Zarian called.

"Yeah. Where did that come from?" Ahzza tried to still her rapidly beating heart.

"The far side of the room, but I cant see anything."

"Billy! Its me, Ahzza. Are you all right?" She had to know who was in the room firing at them, and if Billy was okay. "Billy? Answer me!"

"Leave me alone! Go away," Billy shouted from his hiding place; Sedras voice continuing to mocking him from inside of his head.

"Ill never leave you alone. We are linked, you and I. Ill always be with you. Youll never be free of me."

Ahzza looked once again at the entrance, and Zarian. Quietly she mouthed, "Is Billy in here alone?" She watched as Zarian looked cautiously around. Nodding his answer, Ahzza turned back.

Taking a deep breath, Ahzza stood up from behind the shielding med-bed. She felt so scared and nervous, that her legs had begun to shake uncontrollably, threatening to give out from under her. At the sound of Billys warning, she would have nearly fell if it hadnt have been for her grip on the med-beds edge.

"You wont trick me a second time. Im wise to you now. You can pretend to be anyone you want, but I know… " Ahzza watched Billy rise from his hiding place between the far console and the wall. She couldnt help the gasp that escaped her when she saw the wildness in his eyes, the blood on the front of his shirt and the blaster pointed right at her. "Where had the blood come from?" she wondered, silently, for a brief moment.

"Billy, put the blaster down. I promise I wont hurt you. Im your friend… Ahzza Trueheart. Remember me?" She watched the blaster waver in his hand, a look of confusion washing over him, but before she could let out the breath she had been holding, the wild look returned and the blaster was once again pointed steadily at her.

"I wont fall for it again, Sedra. The game is over! You showed me your true self in the hospital. You had me believing that you were my friend. That I was risking my life, sanity and very soul, to protect and save you. But you werent Christie at all; if she had ever really existed. So if you take one more step toward me, I wont hesitate to pull the trigger."

A sound from behind her caused her to turn slowly. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Zarian slowly moving into the room behind her. Carefully, making sure that neither of them made any sudden movements, she shook her head, "No, Zarian. We have to make him trust us," she whispered. Zarian nodded, and retreated back out the door.

"Who are you talking to? Locan, if thats you out there, then face me! You werent afraid of me when I was unarmed. Face me you bastard," Billy yelled.

"Billy, its not Locan, its a friend… " What was the name shed given Zarian when everyone had met him that day, two months ago? "Josh White. Remember him?" Slowly Ahzza made her way toward him, inch by agonizing inch, "After the battle, he and I came with you and your friends to the Power Chamber. Everyone showed us around. Zordon made us promise to never reveal you and your friends true identities," she saw Billy start to waver. It was working. She had to keep giving him information that only she would know.

Billy tried to keep from trembling as he kept the blaster aimed at who he thought he saw as Sedra. But something was wrong. The image standing before him seemed to waver back and forth from one person to another. But the voice remained that of Ahzzas. She was telling him things that only Ahzza would know. Oh, God! How he wanted to believe her words. To know that he was finally safe and that the pain, humiliation and deceit, was finally over. But, he couldnt take any chance.

"Please, Billy. Remember it. Um… you came to the reservation, before we all started classes at AGU. My adopted brothers, David and Tommy, brought you to speak to Sam Trueheart… about some dreams that you were having. Thats where I first met you," Ahzza continued.

Pictures flashed in his mind, of a time that seemed ages ago. Could he trust her? Did he dare?

"Come on, Billy. Let me help you." Ahzza was just an arms length away from him, now. If she made a wrong move, or he decided that she was lying to him, she was dead. When the blaster began to lower, Ahzza sighed letting the tension that held her shoulders stiff, slip away. With relief on her face, she turned to glance quickly at Zarian. When he pointed behind her and surprise filled his eyes, Ahzza turned back to face Billy just in time to see him close the distance between them in one, quick move and place the barrel of the blaster to her forehead.

"How easily your lies come out. Do you really think Id fall for it?"

With the cold biting steel of the blaster pressed painfully to her head, Ahzza could feel herself blanking out. What could she tell him to make him believe her? She felt sick, and the pain of thinking made things seem worse. She was terrified. Shed never been this scared before. If she let him see how scared she was, she would be dead.

Holding back her trembling and tears, she looked deep into Billys pale, hazel eyes. "You were chosen, by Zordon, as one out of five teen to be the first team of Power Rangers. You were the Blue Ranger, whos guide was the Triceratops. Almost two years later you found yourself on the planet Phaedos. There you received a new spirit guide, the Wolf. You remained a Ranger until the team was ready to receive their Zeo powers. You gave yours up to Tanya." It had to work.

Billy continued to hold the blaster to her head, his hand starting to tremble, finger on the trigger. Ahzza could feel a trail of sweat run between her shoulder blades and down her back. When Billy cried out, Ahzza saw his finger twitch on the trigger. Squeezing her eyes, she gave herself over to the death that was sure to come. It had all been for nothing. All of it: the battle, the fear…

The blast never came. Ahzza slowly opened her eyes; the barrel of the blaster gone from her forehead. When she glanced around, she found that Billy had backed away from her and was leaning against the wall, eyes down cast, and blaster aimed at the floor; his hands were shaking.

Carefully, she moved to Billys side, bending slightly to take the blaster from his slack fingers. At first his hand tightened around it. Gently Ahzza placed her hand on his arm, trying the best she could to reassure him and keep herself from breaking down.

"Sedra cant get to you here. We wont let her." Billy finally released the blaster. Carefully she placed it on the console behind her. Well out of Billys reach.

"She… shes inside of my head. Shell never let me go." Billy looked up at Ahzza. Pain, fear and defeat filled his weary eyes. Had Sedra truly broken him? Could they bring the powers together with him like this, or were they all doomed?

Ahzza shook her head, holding back the tears that welled up behind her eyes. "Well find a way, Billy. I promise." Ahzza watched as his eyes closed, his body sliding slowly to the floor. Beside them Zarian reappeared, his hand placed carefully over Billys eyes.

"Hell sleep, without any dreams, for now. He knows we wont hurt him. The first step has been taken." Ahzza just looked at the silently slumbering, Billy. She never noticed when Zarian moved away from them. Finally unable to hold back her tears any longer, she wrapped her arms around Billy, embracing him in a hug that she promised she would never let go of. Letting all of her emotions bubble to the surface, she began to cry. Months worth of frustrations and fears running in rivers down her cheeks.

Silently, Zarian watched them from the entrance of the medical room. It was only the beginning of the slow battle that was yet to come. Quietly, he turned on his heel and made his way down the corridor, leaving the two alone.

<hr>

The group of Rangers materialized in the center of the Power Chamber just as the structure became still once more. Kim looked around, from her place in Rockys arms, for the others. Tommy was laying on his back just a few feet away, David standing next to him. Kim was surprised with how close they had been to them, and yet they had been unable to hear them or see them. Quickly she located the others. Adam and Kat were huddled together in a kneeling position, a few more feet away, and a few feet from them, Jason was getting to his feet, brushing the dust from his clothes. When she spotted Tanya, she began to worry.

Tanya was kneeling on the floor, head down against her knees with her arms wrapped tightly over her head. When Tanya finally unwound herself, Kim let out a sigh of relief. Everyone was accounted for, and they were all safe and unharmed.

Getting to his feet, Tommy moved to stand before Zordon, "What was all of that, Zordon? Whats going on?" The others joined him. They wanted some answers just as much as Tommy did.

"OUR DARKEST DAYS ARE UPON US, RANGERS. THE DARKCHYLDE HAS BEEN BORN," Zordon stated, and for the first time, the fear was quite evident in his voice. Hearing that fear, their fear, stated so intensely in their mentors voice, they knew that they were truly doomed unless the Powers of Light were brought together, and soon.

"Is there anything we can do, Zordon?" Tanya asked, trying to find a spark of hope in the encroaching darkness.

"PREPARE… AND PRAY." Those three words scared them more than if hed just told them that there was no hope at all.

"Zordon, Billy left the hospital just before all of this happened. Can you locate him?" Kim asked, apparently being the first one to pull her senses together.

"Ill get right on it, Zordon," Alpha stated, as he shuffled away to a nearby console.

"WHAT HAPPENED?" Zordon asked.

David stepped up beside Tommy. "My adopted sister, Ahzza, was at the hospital. She said that they were there to get Billy. She said that Sedra would be after him, and that they needed to protect him. Shortly after she told me this, Billy walked out of the hospital room as if nothing had happened to him, and checked himself out of the hospital as AMA."

"AMA. AGAINST MEDICAL ADVISE. WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE?" Zordon questioned.

"It was Billy who walked out of the room, but it wasnt Billys voice when he spoke. Ahzza told me that I needed to trust her, and when the time was right she would tell me everything."

As everything grew suddenly quiet, the call of Alphas voice caused everyone to jump. "Oh aye, yi, yi! I cant find Billy anywhere."

"No! This cant be happening. Not again. Damn you, David! How could you just let him walk away?" Kim accused, beating a fist against his chest.

"RANGERS, CONTROL YOURSELVES! WE NEED TO STICK TOGETHER, NOW, MORE THAN EVER." Kim tried to wipe away the tears from her eyes.

"I-Im sorry, David."

"I understand, Kim. Its alright."

"What about this guy, this… Josh White, who was always with Ahzza?" Tommy queried. "Can you look up any information there might be that can tell us about him?"

"I WILL LOOK INTO MY DATA BASE," Zordon said, as he grew quiet.

Before them, on the viewing screen, images began to flash by randomly. At first slowly, then rapidly. After a few moments the screen became blank. Slowly, like two pin points of light, images began to fill the screen. The first one, that of a large, white man with thinning black hair and a beard. He seemed to be nearly fifty years old. The second was that of a small child, no more than ten years of age.

"THESE ARE THE ONLY JOSH WHITES IN THE PUBLIC FILES."

The Rangers continued to gaze upon the unfamiliar images, a deep seeded fear beginning to rise up within them. Sedra had fooled Ahzza as she had fooled Billy, and now he was in the evil Queens clutches once more.

"Is it possible that Locan took another form, like Sedra had done?" Kat questioned.

"IT IS POSSIBLE , BUT NOT LIKELY. YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT THIS… JOSH WHITE WAS HERE, INSIDE THE POWER CHAMBER WITH ALL OF US. IF IT HAD INDEED BEEN LOCAN, THEN HE WOULD HAVE SHOWN US HIS TRUE SELF THEN, WHEN OUR GUARD WAS DOWN. ALPHA, BEGIN A SEARCH OF THE UNIVERSAL FILES." Up, on the screen, a picture of Josh standing beside Adam in the Power Chamber, appeared. Beside it, images began to flash once more.

Minutes turned into hours, as they awaited the identification of the man they knew only as Josh.

"I remember something," Adam stated. "He seemed unusually interested in Billys uniform. But thats not the weird part. He also asked if Billy had any shape shifting abilities."

"I found him," Alphas electronic voice cut in, "You wont believe this."

Beside the picture of Josh in the Power Chamber, there appeared another picture of him. In this picture his hair down and he was dressed in deep green robes. Gasps from the Rangers filled the room.

"Wh-who is he?" Kim stuttered.

"Rangers, I would like to introduce you to Lord Zarian. Guardian of the planet… Earth, and protector of the Powers of Light."

<hr>

Billy sat alone in his room in the Construction Core. It had been two weeks since his confrontation with Sedra, in his dreams, the same dream that had left him with a pentagram scratched deeply into his chest; her mark. And two weeks since his face off with Ahzza, the latter still causing him some guilt. He couldnt believe how close he had come to killing her, all because of his fears. Fears that had begun to become extinguished by Ahzzas patience and Zarians wisdom and kindness.

He had been surprised; to say the least, by the identity of Ahzzas friend Josh. That he was actually the Guardian of the Earth, as Dulcea was Guardian and Master Warrior or Phaedos. Because of this, Zarian was able to help him better understand everything that had happened, and would happen.

But, in the long run, nothing that Zarian had said, or the comfort that Ahzza offered, could ease the disgust he felt for letting Sedra trick him into planting his seed within her womb. How could he completely trust anyone again? The greatest reason he had for the little trust he had in Zarian, was the spell Zarian was able to cast over him to keep the dreams at bay. Though Sedras voice could still be heard, mocking him, it was quieted to a point where he was able to ignore it for the most part.

But the most surprising thing to him, was the Powers of Light. He had known that Ahzza held the Light powers, but he had no idea that he held the powers of the Wolf. How he had worn that emblem proudly into battle, after receiving it on Phaedos, never realizing that it came with a greater destiny.

At first, when he&amp