Evening Falls
by Susan Zell

The night passed quietly much to the surprise of everyone. The warriors awoke slowly. Tommy who had had the final watch stared out over the serene landscape, the majestic monolith standing before him on the far side of the temple grounds. The air had cleared and smelled sweet again brought in by the distant ocean.

Suddenly a falcon landed near him. At first, Tommy was startled. He had never seen one so up close before, especially a wild one. He knew instinctfully it was his animal spirit. Its huge orbs intently regarded Tommy. It was unnerving. Abruptly, its head swiveled to stare into the distance.

Equally without warning, Tommy's line of vision shifted. One minute he was looking at the falcon, the next his vision centered on a point miles beyond the temple and close to the monolith, a place he couldn't possibly see with human eyes. The clarity and the depth were staggering. He collapsed to his knees with a sudden cry, yet what he saw in his mind's eye actually exhilarated him. The demons began to depart from the camp making a beeline straight for the temple. A strange, unfamiliar battle lust rose in him. He longed to spread his wings and step off the ledge to fly directly towards his enemy. But before he could do so the link was broken as the Falcon took to the air screeching loudly. Tommy blinked and gained his feet slowly as the others came running up.

"Tommy! What happened?"

Tommy recognized Kimberly's voice. "It's alright, Kim." He took a deep steadying breath shaking off the effects of the link. "They're coming."

A chill swept through Aisha. She looked around in alarm. "Where?"

He pointed. "Beyond that valley."

"I don't see anything." Rocky squinted into the distance.

"They're there. Trust me. We need to get ready." The Rangers all looked at him dubiously for a moment and then took him on faith. Tommy was rarely wrong. They departed quietly while Tommy sought out Dulcea. He found the warrior near her temple almost as if she were waiting for him.

"That was your doing, wasn't it?"

Dulcea nodded. "I wanted you to understand what it is like for Billy."

"Can he see like that?"

"No, not like that. The Falcon's prowess lies in his keen sight, his mastery of the air, his fearlessness in battle. If you were blind or your limbs broken there is little he could do to help you. But the Wolf relies on all his senses, not just his eyes. Billy might not be able to see as he once did but so long as the Wolf spirit is with him, he will see in other ways. It is a wonderful gift."

"I don't doubt that Dulcea but it also changes you. Billy wasn't Billy last night."

She shook her head. "No, sometimes he is the Wolf just as you were the Falcon for a moment. Their emotions and their personalities are just as capable of exerting control. It takes an act of extreme will to remain on top. Billy has that will."

Tommy turned away for a moment. "I've already decided. Billy can fight with us. I trust him and I trust you." He looked back at her, his voice low and almost sad. "I never realized how little we know about what it means to be Ninjetti."

"Hopefully, there will be time to teach you." She smiled. "Come, let us prepare for battle." There was a hint of anticipation in her tone.

Tommy remained rooted to the spot. He had also decided on a change of plans one he was sure she would not like.

"We have some time before they get here and this time I want to take the battle away from the temple, away from you. We're going out to meet them before they reach the temple."

Dulcea's eyes narrowed in anger and but then she looked away knowing he was right. She was the target. "You can't fend them all off."

"No but Billy and Kimberly worked on erecting a force shield over the temple. I'm hoping it will hold if any of them get through. We need you to stay here."

Tactically, Tommy was correct and as a warrior herself she acknowledged it even though it went against every fiber of her nature. "I will do it. Good luck Rangers."

Tommy smiled wryly. "We're gonna need it."

The Rangers moved through the forest at a fast clip. Billy seemed to handle the excursion easily, his loose-limbed lope was effortless and ground-eating. Tommy half expected him to drop to all fours and run like spirit's name sake. The others jogged with little complaint knowing the urgency of their mission.

Tommy wanted to be away from the temple and the monolith when the battle began. He looked back towards the spires of the temple silhouetted in the distance. He halted. They were far enough. "We wait here," he told them. "Rest while you can."

The Rangers all dropped to the ground and tried to relax and conserve energy. Billy was intentionally the farthest one away, still struggling with the consequences of his actions last night. Tommy walked over to him and sat down. Billy didn't even raise his head to acknowledge his friend.

The two young men said nothing for a while. Finally Tommy could stand it no longer. "Dulcea explained it to me, Billy. It wasn't your fault last night."

Billy's voice was barely a whisper. "Yes it was, Tommy. I wanted you to believe me so badly that I was willing to do anything to make you see I could handle myself. I willingly let the Wolf take over just so I could win." He turned haunted eyes towards Tommy. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Tommy nodded. "But you also knew when enough was enough. You took back control and according to Dulcea that is no mean feat." He grinned crookedly. "Just remember who your friends are out there today. Only go after the big rock guys, okay?"

Billy gave a soft chuckle. "I will. Luke warm yellow is good. Boiling hot white is bad. Got it." He drew in a deep breath that shook a little.

"You're not nervous are you?"

Billy shrugged. "I don't know. Something feels wrong but I don't know what it is. I felt it last night when I came out the Wolf's attack. It was like I caught of glimpse of something important but I can't remember what it was."

Tommy's eyes narrowed. "Is the Wolf keeping something from you?"

"No, I don't think so. It was just something I saw in the back of his mind, something even he didn't realize."

"Well no use worrying about it now. Just relax. We'll be in the thick of it soon enough." He stood up to leave.

Billy reached out a hand. "Tommy. Thanks for trusting me."

The White Ranger grabbed his hand. "Anytime bro. Glad you're with us."

The next forty-five minutes crawled by. Suddenly a slow roar could be heard on the wind. The sky began to darken. "This is it people." Tommy stared into the distance.

Billy moved to stand beside him. He could smell the brimstone from the demons already. "They're close," he said. Suddenly, he could feel their heat radiating before them. "Nine, one and three o'clock!" he shouted. The Rangers didn't see anything through the trees but took up positions anyway and were grateful that they did for exactly where Billy pinpointed the creatures emerged.

Adam, Rocky and Aisha ran to meet them and the battle was joined. Tommy, forever watching the skies, saw five more swoop down from above them. With a warning to his teammates, he dodged a blast. Billy and Kimberly darted aside as the demons landed and attacked.

Adam grabbed the raised arm of his first opponent and delivered blows to the creature's midsection and head. It staggered back groping for Adam with its free hand. Adam ducked under it and snapped out with a kick at its legs. It disintegrated before his eyes. Unfortunately two more came to take its place.

Aisha and Rocky were back to back covering each other. Their furious punches took out their respective demons only to reveal two more behind them. They cartwheeled away to opposite sides as twin blasts from the creatures crossed the spot where they had been. The two new demons were unlucky enough to be in the path when the beams passed each other. With stony expressions they exploded.

"Yes!" Rocky exclaimed with delight then ducked under another assailant's attack.

Tommy meanwhile gained some altitude near some boulders and quickly picked out a target. Leaping into the air he shouted, "Ninjetti Corkscrew Kick!" Wrapping his arms tight to his chest, he twisted his shoulder to the left and the rest of his body followed, spinning him like a top straight towards the chest of the largest demon. This time there was no glib remark, only a sense of relief when the monster exploded. He had found there was little that could stand up to that maneuver.

Billy's eyes were closed as he reached out with all his other senses. He located everyone's positions easily. When three of the lumbering behemoths approached him he flared a brilliant blue and with just a finger's touch decimated them. Even Billy was surprised. Where it was taking some of the others up to three hits to destroy their opponents, he could inflict complete annihilation with one effortless blow.

"Way to go Billy!" Adam called out to him.

Billy didn't have time to revel in his own victory. Another cadre of demons rushed him. He waded through them as easily as before. They didn't seem to be afraid of him. Either they were too stupid or something more powerful than fear propelled them towards their demise. He concentrated on where his next target was, opening wide with all of his faculties. He caught a whiff of something his subconscious found terrifying. He tried to locate it but couldn't.

"Tommy, we've got something new coming our way!"

Tommy spared him a quick glance. "What is it?"

"Unknown. But it isn't good." Billy desperately tried to tie it down but it was proving more difficult than he thought.

"Where is it?" Tommy demanded looking around.

Suddenly, Billy caught a flash of intense heat building directly over Kimberly. "Kimberly, above you!"

To her credit, she didn't look up but dove to her left just as a flash of flame erupted where she had been standing. The fireball blazed reaching high into the air and producing a massive plume of black smoke. A red cloaked figure emerged from within. It was incredibly tall, well over twice the height of a man topped with two long spindly horns. It's animalistic face was long and angular. It could barely be called human yet something was vaguely familiar about it.

Aisha let out a gasp as she remembered when she had last seen it for real. It was almost exactly like the skeleton they had found upon their initial journey to Phaedos. It's dried bones had practically scared her to death back then and it sometimes still invaded her nightmares now.

The figure's eyes looked at each of his colorful adversaries coming at last to rest on Billy. His eyes lingered for a moment and then a flash of something akin to shocked recognition seemed to flare for a moment.

Billy of course couldn't see it but Tommy had. He landed another crippling blow to the last of the stone demons to try and attack him. It fell back crumbling into oblivion. Tommy turned to the recent arrival. "Who are you?"

The figure tore his attention from the Blue Ninjetti Warrior to briefly regard Tommy. He gave a small bow. "I am called Morag." He smiled wickedly. "Where is Dulcea? It's not like her to not come and greet me herself."

"She's safe." Tommy pointed at him. "And she'll stay that way. You'll never touch her if we have anything to say about it."

Morag sighed with boredom. "And who are you to deny me my prize?"

"We're the Power Rangers!" Rocky stated with pride coming forward to stand by Tommy, his own demons lying in broken rubble behind him. The attacks had slowed as soon as Morag had appeared.

Morag's eyes narrowed. "Zordon's whelps? I should have known Dulcea would call him."

"Why don't you just leave now and save yourself the embarrassment of losing," Aisha chimed in.

Morag cast her a hateful glance but then smiled. "I don't intend to lose. Not when the war has taken such an interesting turn." He glanced back at Billy. As if his words were a signal, the demons surged as one towards the Rangers. All except Billy.

Morag pointed at Kimberly and a heavy chain snaked out from within his sleeve and coiled around her.

She screamed as much in fear as in pain. "Tommy!"

But Tommy was buried under the furious attack of six demons. The other Rangers were in similar predicaments.

Surprised that he alone remained unassaulted, Billy ran towards Kim but before he could reach her the chain recoiled and yanked the Pink Ranger into the arms of Morag.

"NO!" Billy shouted.

Morag grinned maliciously at the Ranger. "Why don't you come here and take her from me, whelp, if you dare."

Billy felt the Wolf spirit in him try to flare but he held it in check. He needed a level head right now. Kim's life depended on it. He slowly approached Morag.

"Let go of me you sicko excuse for an antelope!" Kimberly tried to kick out at Morag but he shook her like a rag doll. She cried out in pain. Morag quickly reached out with his other hand to grasp her throat effectively cutting off her oxygen supply. His strength was more than capable of penetrating the suit.

Billy's sightless eyes missed the fact that Morag was watching his reaction closely. However, his sharp ears picked up Kim's strangled cries and he ran forward leaping into the air to attack. The blue flame again insisted it rise. This time Billy granted it's wish eager to rip into Morag. He understood only seconds later that the Wolf spirit was trying to warn him.

It was too late. Billy felt rather than saw the energy blade which materialized in Morag's other hand arc towards him. A trail of solid red flame sliced through his midsection. Billy's horrible scream of agony resounded throughout the forest amidst Morag's triumphant laughter.

A barely conscious Kimberly felt the chain fall away from her as slumped to the ground. Billy's cry echoed in her pounding head as she tightened aching muscles in order to look up. She was the sole witness to the blue force of the Wolf being flung out of Billy by the sword's edge. It flew through the air to disappear into the trees, it's howl fading to nothingness. The brilliant sapphire light that had lit Billy exploded upon the Wolf's separation and when it dissipated an unmorphed Billy collapsed on his side, limp and lifeless.

"BILLY!"

Infuriated by Morag's laughter, the heat of rage boiled up inside her. She launched towards him striking viciously. Taken aback by the slight figure's furious attack he stumbled flailing his arms out in an attempt to ward her off.

Kimberly used every ounce of strength remaining to exact vengeance on Morag and it was very effective. It kept him on the ropes long enough she hoped for the others to come and help. Suddenly, Morag's chain appeared again from his hand and he swung it towards Kimberly. She was prepared this time and dodged it's chilling grip, hearing it slice the air above her.

But Morag achieved the breathing room he wanted. A sick smile slit his face. "I'll be back." He looked towards the lifeless Blue Ranger." "Unlike some others." With another flash of fire, he stepped into the flames and disappeared.

Once his portal closed the demons retreated back into the forest or the sky and the Rangers had only to deal with the last of the straggling creatures. Kimberly rushed to her fallen teammate sliding to her knees beside him. Terrified of what she might find, she reached out a hesitant hand to his neck. There was no pulse! Gasping, she began to shake.

"...no, no, no..," she murmured tears filling her huge eyes.

Tommy and the rest of the Rangers ran up to them. Fearfully, they took in Kimberly's horrified expression. She stared up them. "He's....he's dead."

They stood there in shock. Finally Adam slid to the ground his arms falling limply to his sides. He couldn't believe it. "He can't be," he said numbly.

Tommy reached out a hand and felt the truth for himself. He closed his eyes against the pain of his grief and tears leaked out. "Oh god, Billy..."

Rocky grasped Tommy's shoulder pointing towards the woods. "Look there!"

They all turned to stare. The Wolf spirit emerged. It was hurt staggering towards them out of sheer will. Falling once, it struggled to stand. Aisha moved towards it but Tommy stopped her.

"It needs help," she cried.

"It wouldn't do any good. It's a spirit. We can't even touch it." They watched as it struggled to its feet, practically crawling the last few feet to them.

The Rangers parted to let it get to Billy. With a final shudder it collapsed onto him, the Wolf's limbs splayed in the same position as Billy's arms and legs. The lupine spirit melted into Billy and a faint blue flame flared across his pale features. Suddenly, Billy's chest expanded with an intake of breath.

"Billy!" Adam called out.

Billy became aware of being awash in blue light when prior there was nothing but absolute oblivion. All his senses had shut down leaving him isolated and lifeless. It was terrifying, worse than being blind. He finally heard someone call his name and he jerked upright reaching out to touch someone, anyone just to prove to himself that he was alive. One by one his senses returned and he almost wept with relief. But they were not what they once were. Something was wrong, terribly wrong.

Tommy grabbed Billy as he came up. "We're here, bro."

"The Wolf..." Billy gasped.

"He's okay. He's with you again. He came back."

"I felt him ripped away." Billy's fumbling hands reached for his chest but Kim batted them away.

"Let me look." She fully expected to see a substantial gushing wound but instead there was only a deep scratch across his ribs. She looked in surprise at Tommy. "Morag's sword nearly cut him in two," she whispered. "I saw it."

Tommy didn't know what to make of what had just happened but maybe Dulcea would know. "We need to get him back to the temple." They were too vulnerable out here. "Billy, can you stand?"

Billy nodded and weakly gained his feet but not for long. His head started reeling and he couldn't catch his breath. He fainted seconds later. Adam caught him before he sank to the ground and gathered him in his arms. Adam looked at Tommy in concern.

Tommy nodded reassuringly though it did little to calm himself. "He'll be alright." He regarded the others. "Come on, let's get moving." They make their way as quickly as possible back to the temple though evening fell long before they arrived.

Dulcea was there to greet them, her eyes filling with concern. "What happened?" She gently took the still unconscious Billy from Adam, moving closer to the fire already blazing into the night.

Tommy briefly explained what Kimberly had witnessed as Dulcea checked the limp Ranger.

"How long were they separated?" she asked.

Tommy slowly became more nervous. "Two maybe three minutes. The Wolf returned to him pretty quickly."

Relief passed through Dulcea and she nodded at the rest of the Rangers. "That is good. Billy was very lucky. To have one's spirit guide ripped from you like that is to feel your very soul torn away from your breast, like a limb being severed. It's as close to death as one will ever experience." Her eyes slipped closed for a moment almost in remembrance. "It is not something one forgets so easily."

"Dulcea, the villain we're fighting is named Morag. Do you know him?"

Dulcea's face paled and her eyes snapped open, her voice was but a whisper. "Morag." She shuddered and then as if it was the same motion drew in a deep steadying breath, anger pushed aside her shock. She stared intently into the distance towards the tall monolith. "I had forgotten about him. If he accesses the Great Power than Phaedos would truly be lost." She regarded each of them. "And the universe would follow."

Tommy stepped closer to her. "That's not going to happen Dulcea. We swear it."

All the Rangers agreed and Dulcea was visibly relieved though she expected nothing less from her Ninjetti charges. Zordon had trained them well. They fought with honor and conviction. She had previously questioned Zordon's wisdom in recruiting near children in his efforts to safeguard the earth and beyond but she also saw that he chose his champions wisely. Such wisdom and devotion were rare in the universe and to find six extraordinary teenagers who exemplified such courage was indeed a miracle.

"What's his connection with you?" Tommy asked still trying to understand today's attack.

Dulcea was silent a moment and Tommy wasn't sure if she was going to answer him. "Morag was a student of mine, a great Ninjetti warrior."

"A Ninjetti?" Kimberly repeated as shocked as her compatriots.

"He was the greatest of my pupils..." She smiled at them. "Until you six came. Morag was destined to be a force of good."

"What happened to him?" Rocky asked. "Because he's a twisted SOB now."

Dulcea's face fell heavily. "I killed his brother."

Aisha stepped forward. "The bones on the beach."

Dulcea nodded. "His brother, Saru, was an evil warlord, intent on taking over the universe. I trained Morag in all things Ninjetti to defeat his brother and restore peace to his home planet. Though Morag never tried for the Great Power. We did not think it necessary and Morag has always showed a fear of failure, of not being found worthy. It was his one greatest weakness. Eventually, Morag left for home yet it wasn't soon after that Saru came to Phaedos. He knew things he should not about the Ninjetti. Things only another Ninjetti would know."

"Morag told him?" Kimberly asked.

Dulcea shrugged. "I do not know. Perhaps. But I could not let him access the Great Power and he would not accept defeat."

"You'd think Morag would have been relieved. To fight your own brother is not an easy thing," Adam pointed out.

"Morag truly loved his brother. When Morag returned home Saru quickly surrendered but he only pretended to accept the ways of peace knowing full well he could not defeat a true Ninjetti warrior. He needed more power. He came to Phaedos to get it. But his heart was still black. Morag has never forgiven me for he believed Saru had been redeemed and had to come to me for training." Her eyes closed. "Morag has taken the mantel of his brother now and is more dangerous than Saru ever was. Revenge is a much stronger motive than mere greed."

Tommy came forward grasping her thin shoulder. "You did what you had to do."

Eyes hard, she looked up at him. "I know that. I do not regret my actions, only the repercussions."

He nodded in understanding. He looked down at Billy. "During the battle, Morag seemed to be centered on Billy. Any idea why?"

She glanced over at the unconscious young man. "On Billy—?" her voice drifted for a second and then she rose quickly to face Tommy. "I think the temple may hold the key. I had not thought of it before but events are progressing along too similarly for it to be just a coincidence. Let me show you the inscription in the Wolf's Temple."

"Inscription?" Aisha asked in amazement.

"A portion of each temple relates a prophecy." Dulcea grabbed a nearby torch and lit it. She nodded at Kimberly. "Stay with Billy. We shall return soon." Then she moved off towards the left and soon they all entered the catacombs in Billy's spirit temple, heading beneath the planet's surface.

Intricate carvings lined the interior walls as beautiful as any Egyptian tomb, filled with the images of wolves and Ninjetti warriors battling an array of demons and monsters. After a few moments, Dulcea paused at a life size figure of a Ninjetti warrior, her hand touching it reverently, her long fingers trembling. The Rangers paused with her watching her actions closely.

"His name was Pinscett. He was the greatest of the wolf Ninjetti... and my husband."

"You were married Dulcea?" Rocky blurted out in astonishment.

"We never knew," Aisha whispered her eyes staring at the handsome painting. The man's hair was long and blonde and swathed in the brilliant blue of Billy's color. The man's eyes seemed centered on Dulcea. A rush of shivers assaulted Aisha.

"There is so much you don't know. He was the Master Warrior of Phaedos before me. I took up his mantel when he passed on. Pinscett was the last of the Wolf Ninjetti warriors. The Wolf could find no other warrior worthy of his spirit." Dulcea's hand stretched down further into the tunnel towards another painting, one they instantly recognized. "Until William James Cranston." She smiled her voice filled with emotion. "I so rejoiced when Canis the Wolf chose his new successor. It had been so long." Her eyes shined in the flickering light with barely shed tears.

"How old are you, Dulcea?" Adam asked still looking at Pinscett's portrait, suddenly realizing that it was ancient.

Dulcea smiled at Adam. "Very old."

"Well, you look great," Rocky commented under his breath. Adam nudged him in the ribs.

Tommy brought the conversation back to the reason why they were here in the first place. "But what does this have to do with Billy?" He still didn't see the link between this new information and Morag's attack on his friend.

"It has everything to do with the Wolf Prince," Dulcea said. "An ancient prophecy resides in this temple which has spanned the course of a millennia and to this day remains unfulfilled." She turned to face the Rangers. "I believe Billy is the one the prophecy speaks of."

A gasp of shock ran through those present.

"I don't hold much with prophecies," Rocky scoffed. "It's too much like believing in the Psychic Friends Network." There were some nervous smiles directed towards Tommy.

Their leader remained stoic. He had first hand experience with such things. He himself had been part of Zordon's prophecy to become the sixth Ranger and they all knew it.

Dulcea walked further down the long hall. Shocked, the Rangers saw images of themselves on the wall, their search for the Great Power and their "struggle" to become Ninjetti warriors. They saw a figure unmistakably Billy. Above the figure was carved the name William James Cranston in a magnificent scrawl. Images of wolves were entwined across it's surface bound around a huge replica of Billy's power coin.

The Rangers were caught up in the beautiful drawings but Dulcea continued to walk further into the catacombs. The walls grew bare suddenly as they raced after her. Finally they came to the end of the hall, on its facing wall was a scroll written in ancient text. Dulcea translated a verse for them.

Below the inscription there was a painting and it was even more disturbing. The temple stone was painted black with a brilliant red sun burning in the center. A dark figure's outline could barely be seen round the ruby sun, blue energy was dispersing around its edges, fading away into oblivion. At the mysterious figure's feet were smaller characters that could only be Rangers, red, blue, yellow, pink and green framed against the depths of space. Their helmets were removed but their faces looked nothing like the present incarnations.

Aisha was the first to notice the differences. She looked at Tommy. "There's no longer a white ranger, Tommy."

He nodded, disturbed. Clearly these were not the Rangers they knew. One figure was a muscular black man with close cropped hair. In fact, none of the figures on the wall looked like them at all. It was an entirely new team. What could have happened that they would all be gone? Surely one of the original team would have remained to guide new members.

It was Adam who finally voiced his fear. "What happens to us, Dulcea?" He raised haunted eyes to her. "Do we all fall in battle sometime in the future?"

She shook her head. "I do not know, Adam. The future is, as always, a dark and murky realm. It could be many different things. There is no way to know." She gestured to the painting. "This may come to pass; it may not." She studied the prophecy. "All I can tell is that at some point in history, the Wolf's vessel will become a pivotal focal point, a being of immense power through a fabled talisman. He alone will guard the universe from the ultimate evil."

A shaft of fear pierced Tommy. Dulcea said the universe not just the earth. Somewhere along the line the stakes would be raised much higher than any of them ever expected. He pointed to the dissipating, blue mist around the red sun lost in the sea of black space. "And you think that this is Billy?"

Dulcea nodded. "It is the Spirit of the Wolf. A Wolf Ninjetti Warrior will undergo many hard trials before he gains the talisman. Morag knows this prophecy. If he suspects that Billy is the One, he will try and destroy him quickly before the ultimate power can be gained. It would make the his efforts much easier in the future."

Aisha frowned. "But this prophecy could be centuries into the future. It might have nothing to do with us."

"That is true, Aisha," Dulcea agreed. Then she sobered. "Or it could be tomorrow."

"Billy's not up to fighting in a major battle," insists Tommy.

Dulcea's voice was hard. "He may not have a choice."

Adam exploded. "Of course he has a choice! We're here and we're not going to let him fight alone!"

"You may have no say in the matter. Divination speaks otherwise." Dulcea strode past them up to the surface once again. The hall grew darker as Dulcea moved farther away from them, the glow of the torch fading with her.

The Rangers all stood still staring at the presage, a burning cold dread seeping into each of them. They looked morosely at each other in the deepening gloom and then finally they turned to follow her.

Dreams assaulted him from the darkness. Glimpses of familiar places warped into hideous nightmares. Comforting lights in a sea of machines blinked at him and then burst into exploding debris as the ground shook beneath him. A metallic red and yellow figure moved out of the shadows and he knew he had to protect it. He threw himself over a console and stabbing pain coursed through him as it erupted into a fiery electrical storm. His strength ebbed away and he slumped to the ground. He stirred and raised his hands to stare at them only to see them whither before his eyes. He screamed as his ancient parched skin stretched thinly over his bones and began to fall away to reveal ....

Billy moaned and Kimberly shifted to look at him. He was trembling. She lay down beside him and wrapped her arms around him. "Shhh. Billy, it's okay." Kimberly own voice broke. She was so afraid for Billy. He had endured so much. "Please wake up."

With a cry, Billy jerked awake, the dream still trying to hold him. He felt tears on his cheeks. He blinked several times but the darkness still persisted. Terror welled up inside and he fought it down for what seemed like the hundredth time. He struggled to remember where he was. He could feel someone beside him, a soft voice whispering in his ear.

Kim. He exhaled shakily. He could smell her sweet skin and her silken hair.

"It's alright, Billy," Kimberly soothed. "We're at the temple." She pulled the blanket tighter around him.

He relaxed stifling a muted sob, trying to shove the disturbing thoughts from the dream aside, trying to pretend that they meant nothing other than his subconscious playing games with him.

Kim felt him shudder and she instinctfully did what she always did when she quieted her fretting nephews. She recited a story she had once read to them.

"Let me tell you of wolves, the very first wolf to walk the earth. The Inuits of the Canadian North called him Amarak, the spirit of the wolf. He was created by....."

Billy listened dimly to her soft comforting words, letting the nightmare pass and instead clutched images of loping wolves and pristine forests. He drifted into a peaceful slumber thinking of his mother who used to wrap her arms about him as a small boy keeping him warm and safe when the harsh world outside his lab caved in on him. It was something he missed more than he could say. He could almost hear her voice again, his small hand fitting easily into hers.

Minutes passed and finally Billy's breathing was not so ragged. He was finally sleeping peaceful. Kim slipped a lock of his hair away from his face then eased herself up to her feet just as Dulcea and the others emerged from the temple. She could tell by their demeanor that whatever they found in the temple did little to comfort them. A cold wind whipped across the temple and she wrapped her arms about herself as Tommy came up.

"How is he?" Tommy inquired.

"I think he's resting. I'm worried about him," she told him honestly.

"So am I." He glanced back sadly towards the Wolf's Temple.

"What did you find out?" She didn't like the pained expression that Tommy refused to relinquish.

Tommy's voice was low. "Billy's got a hard road ahead of him. The prophecy claims he has to fight Morag alone." He looked down at the suddenly small figure sleeping curled up on the ground. He put his arm around Kimberly and led her away towards the other side of the temple. "Come on, I'll fill you in on what Dulcea showed us."

A brilliant dawn crested over the distant horizon and the only one who was awake to see it was unable to appreciate its splendor. It filled the sky with shades of lavender and saffron streaked as if from a painter's brush. Meditating after yesterday's ordeal, Billy faced it but saw it in a completely different way. It was in thermal hues, beautiful in its own right but still different. He glanced back towards his sleeping friends wishing he wasn't such a burden to them.

He raised his eyes to where the temples lay behind them. The sun's rays were slowly warming the stone faces and he could see the dark cold openings within that led deep beneath the ground. Canis had shown him the prophecy in his mind's eye. He hadn't asked for it but Canis had shown him anyway, seemed to think it so very important. What Billy had 'seen' didn't make him feel much better. Though in all honesty he felt physically better then he should and he knew it. The Wolf Spirit had somehow regenerated during the night and had passed that health onto him. He hoped it would last.

Billy returned his gaze toward the sunrise and the monolith. It was apparent that his destiny lay there, but his friends' destinies did not. The blackness in the temple painting could be the blindness he was now experiencing and the red sun the scarlet garb of Morag. The prophecy indicated that he should fight Morag alone, that if his friends joined him, something terrible would happen to them. He was to protect the pack. To Billy that meant his friends. They were as close to his 'pack' as there had ever been. He wouldn't fail them now, not in this.

He looked towards them one last time, their thermal auras marking them distinctly. He cared for them all very much and he'd be damned to let anything happen to them if he could prevent it. He said goodbye privately knowing that if he woke them they would not let him go, but he had a feeling he wasn't coming back. He drew in a deep breath and struggled to think of something fitting to say but nothing came close to expressing his feelings. Instead, he turned and followed the same path to the monolith that they had once walked a year ago. It seemed like ages suddenly.

A figure stepped from the shadows near one of the temples. Dulcea watched the Blue Ninjetti Warrior leave the safety of the grounds but said nothing to stop him. It was decried that he face his demons alone. A blue mist swirled faintly around her and her eyes closed at its gentle touch. Her next breath shuddered as she whispered, "I know." The mist caressed her once more and then faded away into nothingness as a single tear formed in Dulcea's eye.

An hour later, the Rangers awoke. Adam was the first to notice Billy's absence. A quick survey of the temple grounds established that he wasn't there.

"We've been breached," Rocky concluded immediately.

But Tommy had already considered that possibility. "No. They wouldn't have been that subtle." Where the hell could he be? Then he remembered his friend's self sacrificing offer in the cave that first night and he knew where Billy had gone. He cursed. But how had Billy known about the prophecy?

Aisha was standing near the cliff's edge fighting the dread that maybe Billy had taken a bad step when she called out in alarm to the others. "Look! The monolith!"

The huge monument was besieged by thousands of demons. From it's base exploded blasts of blue and red in a fiery display.

"Oh my God," Kimberly whispered.

Tommy caught sight of Dulcea who sat quietly on a boulder facing the monolith. It looked like she had been watching for hours. Anger flared across his face. "Dulcea! Why didn't you wake us?"

Dulcea turned slowly to look at them her face impassive. "There is no other way. Everything must follow the path of the prophecy."

"What a crock!" Adam shouted, furious at Dulcea's acceptance of what she deemed fate. "That prophecy may not be about today! It could be years into the future!"

Aisha's voice was lower but no less angry. "You had no right to make Billy believe that it was about this very moment. How dare you tell him such a thing."

"I didn't," Dulcea admitted calmly. "The Spirit of the Wolf most likely did. Canis has always believed it be so. He believes Billy is the One."

Tommy swore and then assembled the Rangers beside him. "It's Morphing Time!" As one they morphed. Once clad in his white armor, Tommy approached the Master Warrior.

"It doesn't matter if he believes or not. Billy shouldn't have to do this alone. We're a team, Dulcea. Regardless of what fate has in store for us, we are a team. We fight together." He strode to the edge of the temple to the footpath leading down. The others followed him. Then he spun back and regarded her, his disappointment evident. "You should have told us, Dulcea." And then he left, racing to the battle with the others on his heels.

Dulcea stood, her usually stoic face contorted with rare emotion. "I know," she whispered.

Twenty minutes prior, Billy stepped into the clearing. Canis guided his steps over unfamiliar terrain. Billy had found a compromise which allowed Billy access to the Wolf Spirit's thoughts without being overwhelmed. So long as they both refused to let their emotions flood the other it was easier to remain separate but still one.

He had walked for miles and through the last couple he had sensed the presence of Morag's minions but none of them had made a move towards him. In fact they moved out of his way purposely clearing a path which Billy obligingly followed. He knew where it would lead.

As soon as he entered the clearing by the monolith, memories washed over him. Even with the threat of his upcoming battle, it didn't stop his mind from flashing back to the moment he was infused with the spirit of the Wolf for the first time. It had changed his life, his perceptions. It was as if he had stepped from the shadows of doubt and basked in the glow being a part of the pack—he caught himself—a team. It seemed Canis' thoughts were still infringing slightly.

Billy smelled a familiar scent and turned as Morag strode down one of the rough hewn paths that curved around the side of the monolith. His long spindly legs easily traversing the high steps. Morag leaped to stand in front of Billy, his long cloak fluttering to the earthen floor. He stared down at the boy and his long jaw split into a wicked smile. "What a wonderful surprise. Did Dulcea send you?"

That took Billy by surprise. "No," he said. "She did not. I came on my own."

"Of course," he mocked and turned to walk up to the face of the monolith where the stone gargoyles the Rangers fought so long ago had once rested. Their sockets were still empty. "Walk with me cub," Morag insisted.

Billy complied but kept his distance from the huge thin creature, his senses tuned to any aggressive actions.

Morag's long bony hand with his long, almost delicate fingers gestured to the stone. "So close and yet so far," he murmured almost to himself. He regarded the boy to his right. "Do you believe in fate, cub?"

Billy shrugged. "I believe that life is what we make of it. That it is made up of divergence points and depending on your decisions at these points, to go right or left, affects you forever. But that someone leads you down these roads? No, I don't believe that. Life is more precise than that, more bound by hard facts than fanciful beliefs. Only you can make something happen, only you can change those things. That is cold hard logic."

Morag looked at him curiously. "You speak like a man of science."

Billy raised his eyebrow at Morag's accurate tag. "I know both sides. Both prophecy and science. I expect that there is a balance between the two."

"My brother thought as you. He believed the universe was what you made of it. He wanted more out of life, wanted it all, but that witch stopped him, murdered him." He spat out the last.

"From what I heard your brother was evil and Dulcea did her duty in stopping him from acquiring..."

"He was not evil!" Morag shouted spinning back towards Billy.

The Blue Ninjetti stepped back instinctfully even though Morag's reaction was what he had intended.

"He was there to learn!" Morag continued. "To become a Ninjetti!"

Billy's voice remained calm. "Dulcea speaks of it differently."

"She lies! My brother was reformed!"

Billy shrugged noncommittally. "Most likely no one will ever know the truth."

"I know the truth and that witch has manipulated you, made you believe whatever she wills. I'm sure she has told you the Wolf's prophecy."

Billy nodded. It didn't matter that the information had come from Canis and not Dulcea.

"And do you believe it cub?"

"I suppose it is possible for someone to glimpse the future. But it is also a matter of interpretation. Any number of moments in history could fit the bill."

"But she has you believing it, doesn't she? That the time of the prophecy is now. That is why your are here."

"You believe it also or else why target me?"

Morag looked Billy intently up and down. "She is a cunning witch," he slurred.

Billy smiled thinly. "I've been called cunning once or twice myself. I don't take it as derogatory."

Morag's eyes narrowed to slits, a raised vein of rage throbbed along his skull. "Dulcea has brainwashed you well. She has foretold your death at my hands, sent you to me, and still you defend her."

"Perhaps because I'd rather believe in someone who has taught me nothing but honorable values than someone who leads an army of vengeance against a single woman."

"Not vengeance but justice! She does not deserve the mantel she wears!"

"It's too fine a line of distinction for me to accept. But even if it was but a mistake on her part and your brother died innocently, it does not warrant your actions. You were... are Ninjetti and you are out for power not blood. It is a poor guise you wear, Morag. Dulcea's not fooled and neither am I."

"I'll not stand here and be judged by one of that witch's whelps!"

Billy cocked his head and switched tactics. "You seek the great power don't you? I know of a way."

That turned Morag's rage aside. "I'm listening."

"The spirit of the Wolf resides in me. I know his secret of the Great Power. I'll give it to you if you can best me in battle. Just you and me."

"And if I lose?"

"You forget your blood feud with Dulcea and you leave here never to return."

"Just like that," Morag sneered.

Billy nodded. "Just like that."

Morag laughed. "You have balls, whelp. I'll give you that." His eyes narrowed. "And you remind me of your mentor. It will be a pleasure to make you suffer." His arm snapped out and the deadly chain rushed towards Billy from beneath Morag's scarlet cape.

Billy swiftly cartwheeled out of its way. The shaft on the end embedded itself into the stone behind him. Morag pulled it out easily and in a blink of an eye sent it out again. This time the shaft sliced through Billy's suit creasing his flesh. It began to burn immediately. Billy only gave it an instant's notice as Morag leaped, closing the distance between them. Morag's sword suddenly appeared and it arced towards him.

A flash of fear enveloped Billy and he scrambled away from the deadly weapon, the memory of his last encounter all too vivid. Ironically it was more Canis' fear than Billy's and the young man had to fight to keep the Wolf Spirit's panic from overwhelming him. Billy ducked under the sword and rolled to his feet behind Morag. He leaped high into the air aiming a devastating side kick at Morag's head. It connected staggering the tall creature back into his minions.

Morag stood slowly wiping at the blood that dripped from the corner of his mouth right below his ear. The stone creatures behind him moaned and tried to surge forward to attack Billy but surprisingly Morag raised his hand halting them. The last thing Billy expected from Morag was a sense of fair play.

Morag pointed out away from the monolith. "Make sure the whelp's friends do not interfere. Go!" The beasts lumbered off into the forest.

"My friends do not know that I have come here," Billy told him.

Morag scoffed. "They will soon."

With his enhanced vision, Billy saw Morag's muscles flame red as they tightened in anticipation of his leap. Morag attacked again, jumping with incredible agility and reach on his spring-like legs and landed right beside Billy who couldn't scramble back quickly enough. Morag backhanded him across the face and sent him spinning to the hard ground.

Billy tried to shake away the numbness that seeped into the area of impact but then he sensed another blow coming and he rolled out of the way just as an energy bolt seared the ground where he had been. Billy rose and performed an intricate hand motion and blue energy flared from them and he sent it speeding towards Morag.

Morag leaped aside and with both arms outstretched towards his adversary, fired twin bolts on either side of Billy who whirled to avoid the first one but caught a glancing blow from the other.

Staggered, the Blue Ninjetti Warrior fell to his knees. With Canis screaming in his head to move, Billy twisted out of the way seconds before Morag landed beside him. Billy scissor-kicked his legs spinning his body like a top on his shoulder to bring him to his feet more quickly. When he came out of it he connected a withering kick to Morag's unprotected knee. Morag screamed in agony and fell beside the crouching Billy.

The Blue Ninjetti warrior shakily gained his feet. He blinked as he felt something warm and sticky drip into his left eye. It was blood from the smell of it. Morag's backhand had opened a cut directly over Billy's eye. He couldn't tell if Morag had long nails or was just wearing something on his hand but either way Morag's strength packed a wallop. Billy wiped the blood absently away watching Morag rise again though he was hunched over and gripping his leg.

Billy almost smiled except that he was too tired. "Had enough?" he asked breathing heavily.

The bellow of Morag's pure, unadulterated rage enveloped Billy and he waited for the follow- up attack to begin. He didn't wait but a second as Morag rushed towards Billy, drawing his sword once again from beneath his cloak, bristling with red energy and burning with red flames.

The Rangers meanwhile raced to the Monolith, each minute seeming like hours. They could no longer see the signs of battle due to the heavy foliage but they didn't slow their pace. They couldn't. Billy's life was at stake, as was the fate of Phaedos.

Tommy was in the lead and barely caught the faint movement to his right as one of Morag's creatures attacked. He slipped slightly in the heavy carpet of decaying leaves littering the ground as he tried to stop his forward momentum but to no avail. The beast connected with a powerful swing of his arm and Tommy went flying.

The rest of the Rangers slid to a halt and took up defensive positions.

"Tommy!" Kimberly cried out as the White Ranger's body disappeared into the lush green of the forest.

"Here come the rest of them!" Adam cried spinning around to realize they were surrounded.

Soon each of them had a duo of opponents. Kimberly defended herself though she was distracted by Tommy's absence. Every fiber of her being cried for her to go to him, to find out if he was okay but she also knew she couldn't leave the rest of the team yet. The battle was too intense. They couldn't be split any further.

She almost gave a cry of relief when she heard Tommy's battle cry seconds before she saw the white blur of his body as he erupted from the woods. His arms struck critical points on the opponent to Kim's left and the creature shattered with a scream. Her's followed quickly after. She turned to him, his tall white frame towering over her.

"You weren't worried, were you?" he quipped more to allay Kimberly's fear than anything else.

She bit back a sob and then responded in kind. "No, were you gone?"

He grinned at her strength though she couldn't see it. "Let's help the others."

She nodded reaching out briefly to touch him just once for her own piece of mind. Then they battled side by side stronger together then they were apart. The creatures didn't stand a chance.

Morag rushed Billy who blocked the sword stroke and then barely dodged the energy blast that followed after it. He kicked Morag away. At least he didn't have to worry about Dulcea, but didn't have time to consider more since Morag was bringing the sword at him again. He ducked under the swipe, and narrowly escaped a reversed strike from the hilt. Morag swept past him, his long cloak fluttering behind. Billy closed the space and grabbed the cloak as it went by. He yanked hard and Morag fell backward slamming into the ground, his weapon skittering away.

Billy wrapped the cloak around Morag's upper torso from behind, tightening it and pinning his arms. "Do you yield?"

Morag's answer was a snarl, as he twisted violently in an effort to free himself. Billy hung on with all his strength as Morag's body bucked. Both of them winded and aching now, Billy asked his question again. "DO YOU YIELD?"

RELEASE ME!" Morag thundered. He whipped out the chain from his lower arm, the only portion still free of the cloak, and with a flick of his wrist sent it slamming towards Billy.

Billy ducked his head at the last minute and caught the impact on his shoulder. He grunted in pain but didn't release his hold. He used his own body weight to hold onto Morag preventing his arm from striking with the chain again. "It's over," he hissed in Morag's ear. "Surrender!"

Morag resisted for a moment more and then sagged. "Alright," he gasped. "Release me."

"It's over," Billy slowly eased his weight off Morag. "I've won."

Morag rolled away from Billy and with a seething force tore off the binding cloak. His face was a mask of rage as he stood up.

Billy followed slowly and yet never took his eyes off Morag. "Leave Phaedos, Morag. Don't come back."

"Believe me, whelp. I won't." His mouth twisted into a horrible grin. Suddenly, Billy felt himself grabbed from behind. Two gargoyles had come up close while Morag and Billy had wrestled on the ground. Their steely grip almost bent Billy's bones to breaking. He cried out.

"I won't need to come back to this pathetic planet after I've gotten the Great Power," Morag explained. "For I'll destroy it once and for all before I leave this system." He approached Billy.

Billy kicked out at the gargoyle to his left but the beast took the blow and then landed one of his own on Billy's unprotected ribs. Despite the thickness of the suit, his breath left in a rush as he doubled over gasping.

The other gargoyle reached over and brought Billy's head back up. Billy gritted his teeth as he stared up at Morag's towering form above him.

Morag's cruel lips curled back into a sneer. "Now whelp, give me what I seek."

"Never!" Billy struggled against the grip of his captors but he was too weakened to break free. He ceased his struggles and then prepared himself for what was to come. He forcefully shoved Canis' spirit as far away into the recesses of his mind as best he could and hopefully protect him when Morag's attack came.

Morag lifted his hands to the darkening sky above him and they crackled red with flaming energy. "You will give me what I want Ranger and when I'm finished you will be nothing more than a smoldering shell."

Billy tried to avoid the agony that was coming but the gargoyles grip on his body prevented it and Morag's blazing hands fell on either side of Billy's head. The scream that bubbled up from his throat became a force that ripped through him with no control. He was on fire both his flesh and his mind. Everything turned red within the blackness. When the pain became so unbearable he fell deeper into the darkness, a sudden welcome refuge.. He could hear Canis' howl become his own as he followed him into the abyss.

The rest of the Rangers burst through the woods and what greeted their eyes made their hopes flee into despair. Morag had defeated Billy and was now killing him. Billy's scream was horrifying, his blue energy dissipating into the air like escaping vapor from a ruptured vessel, slowly becoming overwhelmed by the villain's red flame.

"It's the prophecy," Adam gasped out.

"Oh my god," Aisha breathed.

Tommy was the first to recover and waded into the sea of minions that separated them from their dying teammate. "Come on!" he shouted

Each Ranger, renewed by fear and desperation, struggled to reach Billy but were held back by the sheer numbers of their enemy. It became more of a brawl than a battle. They tried everything to gain the upper hand. Billy didn't have much time.

Adam was grabbed around the waist from behind. He wasted no time and slammed his fist backward into the monster's forehead. It drew back, releasing him and then Adam slammed his knee into its midsection, throwing it into a forward roll that took out two of its brethren in front of them. However, three more rose to take their place. He attacked swiftly landing a powerful blow on each of them, shouting, "This. Isn't. Working!" as each blow fell.

Kim was having the same problem. Their energy levels were running low. They had been fighting for too long and for too hard. Even morphed their strength was slowly being drained. They were exhausted from the constant battles.

A gargoyle rose in front of her and she couldn't escape. It's gaping maw opened to elicit it's stream of fire and Kimberly braced herself. She wouldn't be able to avoid it this time.

Suddenly, a flare of pink energy grew up in front of her, placing itself between her and the creature. The gargoyle's stream of flame hit the energy and stopped as if hitting a solid wall. Kimberly flinched anyway, still able to feel the heat from it's close proximity. It was then that she got a good look as to what stopped it. It was the Spirit Crane, it's wings outstretched and beautiful. It gathered the flame in it's canopy of feathers and with a single move, closed it's wings and threw the fireball back at its opponent. The gargoyle erupted into flame and vanished.

Slipping out of earth came the four remaining spirit animals, they were magnificent and beautiful, rising beside their associated Ranger like totems of worship. And adore them the Rangers did for the spirits renewed their counterparts and the group fought on as never before and soon the tide of battle shifted. The minions fell back and a path was cleared.

Tommy was the first to spot the opening and ran through towards Morag. Running full tilt, he slammed into Morag, breaking his hold on Billy. It was like hitting a brick wall. The flames surrounded him as well for a moment and Tommy felt himself black out as he fell to his hands and knees with a cry. Stunned and confused the huge creature stumbled back, shaking his head angrily.

Adam and Rocky attacked the two gargoyles holding Billy. With well placed blows the Rangers shattered the creatures into dark ash.

Billy, released now from his captors, slumped to the ground. The color of his Ninjetti suit was now a charred black, smoldering as if it was burnt. Aisha rushed quickly to his side, removing what was left of his cowl. The flesh on either side of his face was blackened. "Come on, Billy. Don't die on us here," she ordered the still youth with a strained shout.

Morag, regaining his senses, reached down and plucked Tommy from where he had fallen. "I have had enough of this!" With a sweep of his arm, Morag flung Tommy aside. Kimberly was there to catch him but his weight brought her to the ground. She cushioned him as best she could. Helping him stand, they moved to where the others had gathered around Billy.

"I have what I need," Morag announced with a smile. "The secret of the Great Power is mine! Now I will be the most powerful being in the universe! And Dulcea will bow to my will!"

Tommy was stunned. _How? How did he get the secret?_ Then he knew. Canis. He must have had the code as well.

The rest of the Rangers screamed as one in defiance and prepared to fight but a fumbling hand stopped Tommy. The leader of the Rangers glanced down in surprise. A half conscious Billy reached up and grabbed Tommy's arm, his once sapphire eyes now a dull, lifeless grey.

"Let him...."

"What?!" Tommy cried.

"Let him open the portal."

"You're delirious! If he gets the Power we'll never beat him!"

"Tommy! It's over. He's won. We had a deal."

There was something in Billy's grey eyes, becoming more like honed steel, something Tommy had never seen before. Unnerved, the White Ranger still trusted him and relented.

Morag's laughter was loud. "Honorable to the last," he mocked. "Watch them," he commanded the remnants of his army. With confident strides he approached the monolith. His long spindly arm reached for what was rightfully his, chanting the key which he had ripped from Dulcea's stripling. The stone felt warm and alive as he knew it would be. An energy spike flowed from within the stone and crawled up his arm, enveloping him, swirling around him as if a sentient serpent.

"God, Billy, do you know what you've done?" Tommy said quietly watching with dread.

Billy was silent. His arms trembled upon the ground and Adam was quickly there to hold him up.

"YES!" Morag's voice was thunderous. "THE GREAT POWER IS MINE!" Encompassed almost completely, Morag tried to remove his hand from the stone. It was then he knew something was wrong. His hand had melded to the rock. He couldn't pull it away!

The energy continued to pour into him and it began to burn. _Too much. It was too much!_ Morag screamed but no words could come out only energy fled from his mouth and it impacted onto the monolith which drank it back in eagerly. His flesh began to incinerate from his bones.

The Rangers watched both in victory and in horror as Morag was vaporized before their eyes. The minions milled about and then stumbled away in fear now that their leader was dead. The head was gone from the beast and the body was no longer a concern. They disappeared into the trees as Morag's ashes drifted on the wind.

"What the hell just happened?" Kimberly turned to the others, stunned to find they had won. "Did the Great Power reject him?"

Tommy stared down at Billy who's every breath was strained but his eyes were bright with victory. "He didn't have the key, did he?" the White Ranger asked though he knew the answer before Billy shook his head wearily.

"I knew Morag would not fight with honor and that he would not leave until he had what he wanted. The only way to stop him was to kill him which I couldn't do, so instead I let him have a key."

"Just not the right key," Adam added quickly coming to the same conclusion as Tommy.

Billy smiled thinly up at his friends. "Exactly. I concentrated on a false entrance code. One that would definitely not work. I had to hope that he didn't realize that I was bluffing the entire time."

"Billy, you're positively cunning," Aisha said with a grin.

The young Wolf Prince shrugged. "So Dulcea keeps telling me." A wave of pain washed over him and his lips twisted into a grimace as he touched his burns gingerly.

Tommy sank down to his knees beside his teammate. "Billy, where's Canis? Your suit—" he reached for the darkened cloth but didn't touch it. Then he looked up into the other's face. "Your eyes, they're grey, man. Are you both okay?"

Billy became fearful for a moment. He searched his consciousness for Canis and finally found a flame that was so faint within him that he felt it would flicker and die away at any moment. He called out to the Spirit with his mind but there was only silence. Morag had drained so much from both of them.

"I don't know, Tommy. I can't see anymore. I'm really blind again but I can still feel the Spirit is with me. Just depleted, maybe for good. I just don't know." He fought down the sense of panic that tried to rise within him.

Tommy sensed it and dropped the matter. "Don't worry about it, bro. Dulcea will know what to do. Let's just get you back to the temple. God knows we could all use a rest." Tommy and Adam reached down and each grabbed an arm, hoisting Billy to his feet.

"Your suit, man," Rocky grimaced poking at Billy's decimated uniform. "It's ruined."

"Hope Dulcea has a spare. Otherwise, I guess I'll be the Burnt Ranger from now on," Billy jested though the effort cost him.

To Billy's left, Adam got a good look at Billy's burns on either side of his friend's face. He exchanged a worried glance with Tommy.

Tommy was silent for a moment though his own fears were racing but then the leader in him took over. "Everything will be okay once we get to the temple." It quieted the others as he had planned and drew their attention now to the matter at hand. Getting home.

It was a long trek. They stopped periodically to rest, not just for Billy's sake but for everyone. Every bone, every muscle ached in ways they had not thought possible. Rocky joked about setting up a lottery to see who got time in the Morphing Grid first upon their return home and it eased some of the tension though each Rangers' thoughts flew swiftly to Billy. They would each give up their winning lottery ticket to their teammate. He needed it more than they did.

It was dark by the time they reached the temple's base and the last hill to the temple's summit nearly did them all in. They walked up almost rotely and an hour later, with exhausted, blank faces, they crested the peak. Dulcea was standing there waiting for them. Aisha stumbled wearily and Dulcea caught her and lead the Yellow Ranger to the fire. The others gathered to collapse around her.

Dulcea's eyes were shining bright with pride. "You have won victory for Phaedos and the Great Power. I am proud of you. Truly you are Ninjetti. It will be a battle long remembered."

Tommy nodded, a flush of victory easing away some to the aches. "It was a battle worthy of the record books, that's for sure."

"I just hope I don't have to relate it to anyone. Right now I'm too tired to even be famous." Kimberly fell to the ground with a groan.

"I'm so beat I can't even remember everything that happened," Rocky moaned, stretching his legs out and wishing he hadn't. "Ouch."

Dulcea had been ready for them for hours, first aid herbs and bandages were nearby as was food and water. She steadily examined each of them in turn though it didn't take long to determine who was worse off.

Billy, now unconscious, slumped to the side of Adam who gently cradled his wounded friend. How Billy had made it all the way back to the temple amazed everyone.

Kimberly stood and gathered up a few things. "I'll take care of the rest of us, Dulcea. You see to Billy. I think he's beyond what we can do for him."

"If you have some sort of healing magic, he's gonna need it," Aisha pointed out.

Dulcea smiled gently. "There are Ninjetti healing methods," she consoled, knowing instinctfully what they needed to hear. "They will not heal major wounds but they will stop the pain and help the body to heal itself in time."

She watched them all breathe a sigh of relief. _They care so much for each other,_ she thought. Living for so long by herself, she had forgotten such things were possible in the world. These youths, still so much like children and yet with souls as old as Phaedos itself, instilled in the Master Warrior a sense of hope again. Something that had become so jaded within her over the years. These young people embodied all that Guardians of their world should possess.

She laid gentle hands on Billy's burns. The rest of his wounds seemed minor in comparison. The blackened and raw skin was terrible to behold. She shoved away her curse at Morag's sadism and instead began to recite the chant of healing and regeneration. A soft white light poured from her hands and with her head lowered in concentration she passed on what healing energy she had to the Wolf Prince.

At Dulcea's touch, Billy roused. The pain was fading. He opened his eyes and was startled for a moment again to find himself still enveloped in all too familiar darkness. However, at its edges a white light formed, soothing away his pain like a salve. It was calming and warm. He relaxed as he heard Dulcea's sing song chant beside him. He became aware of being wrapped in a cocoon of energy which, like a gentle wind on a glowing ember, stroked the faint blue flame within him. It slowly grew in strength and Canis' reassuring thoughts began to merge once more with Billy. They were both weak but together they held onto each other. Separate they were lost but as one there was hope. Together they slipped into a healing sleep.

Two days later, the Rangers except for Billy were strong enough to be performing an ancient Ninjetti kata with Dulcea atop the temple's highest peak. Each move by the Rangers were more lithe and graceful than the next. From it, they felt the flow of energy move through their limbs, focusing in their extremities, giving each the power to expel it if they wished with but a single touch. The ripple of colored energy moving across each of them was like a wave upon the ocean only this time they could control its direction and its force. Dulcea had taught them something wondrous.

_Just wait till Zedd and Rita get a load of this new move,_ Rocky thought cockily.

At the exercise's conclusion, Dulcea straightened and then bowed to her pupils who reverently returned the motion. "You have done well. Rest now," she told them. "Tomorrow you leave for Earth and you will take with you a small part of the knowledge entrusted to Ninjetti warriors of Phaedos."

Aisha grinned. "I can't believe how quickly you were able to teach us that." She could still feel the powerful energy tingling within her fingertips.

Dulcea inclined her head. "It was the pupil's willingness to learn that made it so easy." She took in each Ranger by turn, her eyes glittering. "It is my hope that you all shall return one day and let me show you more of what it means to be a true Ninjetti warrior."

Tommy stepped up beside her. "We will, Dulcea. I promise you that."

Pleased, she nodded. "Then I am content." She donned her cloak against the chill in the fading light and strode down towards the center of the tableau, confident that Zordon would send them one day to her to complete their training.

"I wish we could stay," Kimberly said almost wistfully, gazing at the gorgeous sunset.

"I do too. I have a feeling we still only know a fraction of the wisdom she could pass on to us." He glanced at his watch. "I'm going to check in with Zordon and Alpha. Go over last minute transport coordinates and such." They had found the machines Morag had used to disrupt communication and transportation at the summit of the monolith. With a few well placed blasts from their weapons, Phaedos was completely free again. Tommy turned to Kimberly. "You go check on Billy. He better be resting instead of exploring his damn temple again." There was a miffed tone in his voice. "You'd think he'd know better."

Kim snickered. "Yes, father." She kissed him quickly and then darted off down the rocky slope towards the Wolf's temple before Tommy could manage a comeback.

Tommy frowned and then shook his head. He was glad Billy was feeling better but the Blue Ranger was still blind even with Canis inside him. Dulcea said it would be awhile before either of them were back up to speed. Billy was just coasting off a feeling of euphoria thanks to the transfer of Dulcea's energy. It had revived both Billy and Canis but they still had a lot of healing left to go. The burns were already regenerating and though they still looked terrible, they were better than they were just days ago. But Tommy also knew Canis would not becoming with them and soon Billy would be on his own again.

A stab of sympathy went out to Billy. He knew that after days of relying on Canis' extra energy, the spirit's absence would be a tremendous shock to Billy's already fragile system.

With a flash of determination, Tommy decided that Billy was checking into a hospital as soon as he was off the Morphing Grid. The blindness still worried all of them. He had hoped that Billy's sight would have returned by now, especially after Dulcea's ministrations but either the swelling was still there or the blindness was now permanent. Either way, it was too dangerous to ignore further. He only prayed that the doctors on earth could help Billy.

And if they couldn't...? Tommy rubbed a hand over his face, gazing at the sunset before him, something Billy might never see again. It only showed how much one takes these small things for granted. With a sigh that belayed his weariness, he lifted his communicator and called home.

It was the last night on Phaedos. It was peaceful, save for the hundreds of insects and other night creatures that inhabited the planet. It reminded Billy of the nights he stayed with his Aunt and Uncle in the mountains above Angel Grove. He realized that it had been years since he had seen them. He was suddenly ready to go home.

Billy walked slowly to his temple. Canis asked him to do so. Kimberly had just finished checking on him a few moments ago, and once satisfied that he was doing well, left to go to sleep herself. Tomorrow would be another long day, draining and stressful.

Billy's color had returned, his eyes their normal brilliant hue of blue even though all he saw was darkness still. His body felt tired but his mind was active and alert and trying desperately to make sense of everything he had learned here on Phaedos, especially his future or perhaps his lack of one. It was not an easy thing to shoulder all of a sudden.

He had been replaying the image and the verses over and over in his brain, searching for clues but it only raised more questions than answers. Billy tried hard not to let his frustration and apprehension consume him.

The minute he entered the Wolf's temple, however, he became more at ease. He could sense Canis increase in his strength and Billy felt his own energy grow with it. Billy had learned quickly that he felt better inside the temple walls. There was an immediate sense of energy flowing into him from the very ground itself. It called to him even when he was asleep. It talked to him. Nothing which he could accurately remember, but there was a sense of a multitude of voices. He was welcome among them, a member of their family, their pack.

Much to his friends' disconcertation, he found it difficult to stay away from the temple. He trailed his hand down along the wall as he walked deeper into the tunnel. His bare fingertips soon sensed the artwork etched upon its surface. At the portrait of Pinscett he paused and ran his sensitive hands over the face of his ancestor. It was uncanny how similar in appearance they were.

Eventually he moved on towards the end of the temple where the prophecy stood. Inches from the wall his hands lifted to trace the images with his hands. At the picture of the red sun, a tremor coursed through him. He stood there for hours trying desperately to find an answer to his questions. So absorbed was he that he failed to hear Dulcea enter and stand behind him, her expression pained and sad. With a heavy heart she watched the young Prince try to make sense of his future.

Billy's body began to glow a soft blue as the Wolf Spirit flared a final time before relinquishing his hold on his kindred. Like a heavy fog falling to the ground, Canis' spirit left Billy finally to service his own wounds disappearing down into the earth.

Dulcea sprang forward to catch Billy as he slumped against the wall, his breath a strangled gasp. The departure of Canis was abrupt despite how hard the Wolf Spirit tried not to be. It was like a switch had been turned off and the residual energy from the Wolf left with him.

Billy struggled to straighten. He would make it the rest of the way home on his own. The Spirit had done more than enough. Canis had been there throughout this ordeal, Billy could ask no more of him. However, he was both surprised and grateful that Dulcea was there to help him.

"Thank you, Dulcea." His voice was soft and weary.

She slipped his arm around her thin but always so sturdy shoulders. "It is my honor, Wolf Prince. You have done much for Phaedos and for the Wolf Clan."

"They've done more for me." He tried to smile but failed. His hand still lingered on the wall. "Will I ever see again, Dulcea? Is the darkness in the prophecy this blindness I know now?" Billy asked fearfully.

"I do not know, Wolf Prince. I do not know."

"I'm frightened Dulcea." Billy admitted. "It's a difficult thing to bear, this knowledge of one's future."

Dulcea attempted to allay his uncertainty. "This may not be your future. The Blue Ninjetti Warrior in the drawing might not be you, young William. It could be your predecessor."

"Then I feel sorry for him. For all of them. A hard road lies before them."

"A hard road is borne by every defender against evil. It's what makes a warrior's heart strong."

Billy was silent for a time. Finally his hand fell away from the wall. "Escort me to the edge of the temple, Dulcea. Near the monolith. I want to feel the sunrise on my face once more before I leave Phaedos."

"Of course, my prince."

Billy laughed. "Why do you call us that? We're not royalty."

"Oh but you are," Dulcea assured him as they began the steady climb back out of the temple. "The Wolf lineage is one of the oldest on Phaedos. You should be honored."

"I am." Billy hesitated searching for the right words. "It's made me feel whole. My entire life changed when I received the Wolf's Spirit from you that day. I'll never know such completeness again."

Dulcea's eyes glistened with emotion. "You sound so like my husband. He felt the same way about the Ninjetti spirit."

"Tell me about him Dulcea. I'd like to know my heritage."

"And so you shall," Dulcea said, a joy unlike any other she had known in ages enveloped her. There was much to tell her charge, much he had to know.

The two walked back to where the monolith filled the night sky and they sat together as Dulcea began to relate the long lineage of the Wolf Clan. It lasted well into the night. Billy was not sure he stayed awake through it all but his thoughts were filled with swift warriors, cunning wolves, and daring victories against the forces of evil.

Dulcea stayed with him through the night, her voice soft and melodious. Billy's eyes were closed as the sun finally broke over the peak of the monolith. It bathed his face with warmth and light.

_Light—?_

Slowly Billy opened his eyes. The blurry image of the monolith filled his vision. He blinked several times into its glare.

He could see!

He straightened turning to Dulcea, her beautiful face swimming before his newborn, watery vision. "Dulcea! I can see!"

She laid a hand on his shoulder. "That is wonderful news, Wolf Prince."

Tommy and the others, awakened by Billy's shout, approached rubbing sleep from their eyes.

"What's up?" asked Rocky, stifling a yawn.

"The swelling must have gone down. I can see again!" Billy shouted rising to his feet.

With ecstatic cries the Rangers rushed forward surrounding him.

"That's great, Billy!" Tommy offered with a grin, relief flooding him.

A whoop of sheer joy burst from Adam as he pounded Billy's back.

The Blue Ranger turned elated back to Dulcea. "I guess the prophecy was wrong, right Dulcea?"

She smiled at him. "It appears that way, young Prince." But there was something in her eyes that everyone missed in the excitement. Her smile faltered for a moment and then slowly regained strength. For now, there was little else she could do. Someday, she would tell Billy more but for now he must find his path on his own, and who knew, perhaps he would choose a different path than the one foretold. Perhaps the rest of the prophecy was meant for another Wolf Warrior. With all her heart she hoped so for all their sakes.

But until that future became more clear, the Ninjetti Warriors of Phaedos would have a celebration. They had even more reason to rejoice now that their teammate would fully recover. The last few hours the Rangers remained on Phaedos would be happy ones.

Dulcea clapped Adam and Billy on their shoulders. "Let us prepare a feast in honor of our good fortune and then we will—how do you say it?—party?"

Rocky whooped. "Yes! Bring on the food! I'm starving!"

"What we need are some good tunes to listen to!" Adam said laughing.

Billy grinned. "I think I can take care of that. The force field generator also doubles as my CD player and I don't think I took out all the music CD's from my pack before we left."

"Billy, you're a genius!" Aisha shouted landing a quick kiss on Billy's cheek.

Rocky high-fived Adam. "Phaedos is going to rock today!"

Dulcea watched the teens with perplextion. "What do you mean—rock?" She glanced down at the stones beneath her feet.

Laughing, the Earth's Power Rangers and Phaedos Ninjetti Warriors pulled Dulcea towards the temples.

"We'll show you, Dulcea," Kimberly announced with a gleam in her eye. "Phaedos may never be the same again!"

End