The Hellhound's Return

Light Source, Part II

Kali blinked and then shook her head. That was weird.

"You won't stop me," said Hekatoid. "When my babies fall -"

"Anyone ever told you that you shouldn't make promises you can't keep?" Kali asked. She indicated with her head to something behind Hekatoid, and he turned just in time for Nick to kick the jar with their powers from his grasp.

Nick plucked it from mid-air and landed beside his best friend. "Got it!" he announced as the others regrouped around him. Without waiting, Nick opened the lid and their powers returned, flooding them with the familiar warmth and energy.

"It doesn't matter!" Hekatoid yelled.

Maddie shrieked as a frog landed on her shoulder, and she hastily brushed it aside.

Looking up, the Rangers gasped as thousands of frogs rained down from the clouds.

"Fall, my children!" Hekatoid bellowed.

Suddenly, the frogs froze and shattered as they hit the ground.

"What?" Hekatoid yelled. "What happened?!"

"They froze," Daggeron murmured.

"That's right."

The team spun around and found the White Ranger standing behind them, her snow staff in hand. "I thought you could use some Snow power," she said.

"Aw shucks!" Hekatoid whined.

"Udonna!" Kali gasped.

Nick laughed and run to his mother's side. "You're back," he said, smiling.

Udonna merely nodded. "Ready?" she asked.

"Oh yeah!" the team agreed.

"Legendary Source, Mystic Force!"

Galwit Mysto Neramax!

Despite his obvious fear, Hekatoid growled and glared at the team. "You won't stop me! I'm a terror!" he bellowed. He puffed out his cheeks and fired more blobs of tar at the team.

The rangers blocked them easily using their magic and Lion Staffs, while Udonna leapt into the air and fired her icicles at the Hekatoid.

"Rangers," Udonna said, landing and turning to her students. "We need to combine all our powers."

"Not a problem," the team agreed. They held up their staffs and spun the dial from code two, before joining them at the tips. "Legend Warrior, United Formation!"

Hekatoid howled as the combination of seven rangers powers hit him full in the chest, causing him to implode.

The team cheered at his defeat as Udonna snapped her fingers in victory.

"Mystic Force!"

~X~

Upon the return to Root core, Kali spotted a familiar face near the Dragon's head and broke away from the group as they grew closer. "Claire!" she called, pulling the young apprentice into a fierce hug. It was no secret that Kali had been worried about Claire since she had initially left to find Udonna, and the call that morning had only made things worse.

Claire pulled out of the hug. "I thought you'd be mad at me for leaving," she admitted.

"You scared me," said Kali. "But I'm also really proud of you. It takes courage to do what you did, and not many people would have done that."

Claire smiled and Kali hugged her again. When they parted a second time the others had finally arrived and took their chance to congratulate Claire and welcome her home. Meanwhile, Kali drifted over to Udonna, Daggeron, and Nick.

"Welcome back, Udonna," said Kali, hugging the white sorceress. "It's been tough without you."

"So I have heard," Udonna said. "But, you still managed to pull together and work as a team."

Kali nodded and cast a glance at Nick. "It's like my brother Joe used to say - 'what happens off the battlefield, stays off the battlefield. If you let it interfere with your teamwork then you deserve to lose'." she said.

"Wise words," said Udonna, smiling.

"What's she doing here?" Nick asked, causing Kali's attention to turn to him. He was staring over at Phineas as the Troblin laughed and joked with LeeLee.

A flicker of fear crossed LeeLee's face and she stepped back as Nick approached her.

"She's with me," said Phineas, grasping LeeLee's wrist.

"And me, too," Claire agreed, taking LeeLee's other hand.

"She's trustworthy now, Nick," said Udonna, calmly placing her hands on her son's shoulders. "She's one of us. It's because of her I was rescued."

"Don't worry," said LeeLee, sadly. "I understand."

Kali looked from Claire to Phineas and then finally settled her gaze on LeeLee. "That's why we couldn't find you today," she said. "Why Toby closed the store. Because while we were off losing our powers, you were out there saving Udonna."

LeeLee nodded.

"What are you thinking?" Nick asked.

Kali met his gaze and shrugged. "I'm thinking that she did a better job than we did in getting Udonna back," she said, making the others chuckle. She smiled and looked up, meeting LeeLee's gaze. "But, at the end of the day, I trust Claire, Phineas, and Udonna, and if they say that you're trustworthy then who am I to disagree?"

LeeLee smiled, but it faltered slightly as Nick looked back at her.

"Come here then," said Nick, sliding an arm around Kali and drawing her to him. "Can't have a group hug without the whole group."

Kali smiled and slipped her hand over Nick's shoulder, resting her head on it as the others joined them. She watched as LeeLee slipped her arms behind Phineas and Claire, and glanced up at Nick as he pressed a small kiss to her hairline.

There were still a few things they needed to get out in the open and discuss fully, but right now all that mattered was being with their friends.

Their family.