Chapter 5 - Something Wicked .2

Taran Goldsmith walked into the Youth Center, rubbing his neck. He had a kink in it. Instead of staying in Fey's nice hotel suite she book, he took up residence on Tori and Dawn Feather's couch. It was not meant for a man of his size. He wasn't exactly huge, but neither was that couch. Tori had objected, but he wasn't to be budged. He transferred all his UC Angel Grove to keep and eye on her and he couldn't very well do that from a hotel.

He stopped short and looked around. How the hell did they get overnight window replacement?

Autumn was wondering the same thing. She served a few midmorning customers, still marveling over the windows. Rei, she knew, had something to do with this. The other girl had left a note that morning that she was looking for someone and she'd be back later. She smiled as Tori's blond haired 'brother' sat down at the counter. He was still so shiny. Beyond even spooky aura stuff, he was just nice to look at. "Hi. Can you get you something?" she asked with a smile.

"Espresso," he said. Then he smiled at her. It was slow in coming, but well worth the wait. It was wide, honest and bashful. It was as shiny as his aura.

Autumn nodded. "Sure thing," she murmured and turned away quickly to make the espresso.

Sora eased his way into the Youth Center. He was tired of feeling like a load of bricks had been dropped on his head. Waking up sprawled in the middle of his living room floor made him realize it was time to quit playing chicken shoot and come where he was told and wait to be contacted. If what he suspected was happening was really happening then he needed help. Power Ranger help.

He sat down at the counter. He returned the blond guy's friendly nod with a weary one of his own.

Autumn served Taran his espresso. She took in Sora at a glance. When Lani had described the man from the park, she thought it may have been the guy with the badly drawn map from a few days ago. His aura was shiny yet something was murky just beyond her sight. She didn't quite understand what that meant. He also looked like Billie after a week of no sleep and living on caffeine shakes. She offered him a friendly smile. "Hi. Can I get you something?" she asked him.

"If y'have oolong, that would be brill," Sora said and yawned, rubbing his face.

"Coming right up," she said and began making the tea. She had instructions to feel him out. Well, her job gave her the perfect opportunity for that. "I'm Autumn, by the way," she said with a warm smile.

"Sora O'Keefe. Er, yeah. Don' ask. My family is complicated," he said with a small smile.

Autumn chuckled. She heard Tarn give a small snort.

Sora glanced at him with a questioning brow raised.

"Oh, sorry. I just...understand completely," Taran with a sheepish smile.

Sora nodded. "Then here's to complicated families," he said and raised his cup of hot tea. With a slight smile Taran raised his cup of hot espresso. Autumn smiled and went to wait on someone else.

-x-

Widow came awake the instant she was no longer alone. She sighed. "I'd like being intruded upon much better if you were your brother," she declared with a yawn and sat up, stretching. "Excuse me for sleeping in. The last few days masquerading as a goody two shoes moon sprite was exhausting," she said and got to her feet. A puff of smoke and she was dressed in formfitting black, with a beret, black framed glasses, and her hair pull back at her name. "How may I help you, dahling?" she asked Zita curiously.

Zita grimaced. "Please, don't call me dahling," she said. Her eyes lit up mischievously. "I wanted to talk with you a bit. I have to admit I was rarely impressed with how you handled my brother," she stated.

Widow shrugged. "The trick with men is not to let them get the upper hand. As my future husband, he needs to realize that now," she declared.

Zita raised her brow at that statement, but she had more pressing interests than her brother's love life. "I want a look at that pet firefly of yours," she said with a giggle.

Widow was vaguely suspicious of Zita's motives, but she didn't mind showing off her own deeds. deeds. She held out her hands and the bottled goddess appeared. "Isn't she peaceful when she sleeps?" she said with a small frown. She suddenly grinned wickedly and tapped the bottle. Immediately the sleeping goddess became agitated, frowning in her sleep. "Nightmares are such lovely things, aren't they?" she commented absently, watching for a moment.

Zita grinned as well, admiring her handiwork. "We'd heard the rumors of someone destroying the Sol Reaver's Command Ship. I'd like to know what really happened and not just the whispers here and there," she prompted.

"I befriended her. I posed as a displaced moon sprite mad at you here on the palace for having driven all creatures of good away. She was so sympathetic, poor thing. So guiless, so good. Never once did she suspect that as soon as she gave me refuge on the ship, she would be trapped in a bottle, I would steal her Reavers' powers and self destruct the ship. It's all Tarantules' fault really. If he'd just stayed in Kansas and been a good little farm boy, I never would have bothered with such small annoyances," she didn't take her eyes away from the bottle and the sleeping goddess as she spoke.

Zita smiled wryly. "That must have been fun, if exhausting," she remarked. "I know about your brother. Roki, poor dear, is a tad myopic. He's always doing and experimenting. I'm always listening and learning," she said musingly. "But surely you want more revenge than merely stripping him of his and his precious Reavers' powers," she added. She wasn't sure if she liked or detested this woman. She had to respect her, though. She was immersed in the dark arts and was blatantly powerful and devious.

Widow shrugged. "I'm not doing it for revenge. Tarantules would never do -anything- to warrant such a thing, especially to his evil family. We are his family," she gave an annoyed sigh. "Unfortunately Mother and Father seem to ignore his existence and leave him be, but that's just not fun. Making his little human existence miserable is just too delightful," she declared with wicked glee.

She tapped the bottle. "Besides, as long as I have, as you say, my pet firefly here, his misery continues. It's quite distressful that he can't figure out what's happening," she added with a mock sympathetic pout for her brother.

Zita nodded. "So, why is he in Angel Grove?" she asked suddenly.

Widow's face darkened. "What?" she demanded. She stomped a foot and drew a circle in the air. "I spy, with my little eye, Tarantules," she intoned. The air shimmered and a viewing portal opened up revealing the image of Taran and Sora at the Youth Center. "There he is," she said and made a face. "Isn't he just so...handsome?" she spat. "He must be watching over the remaining Reaver," she grumbled and waved the portal away.

Zita was livid. What was Sora doing there? "Excuse me. I have to do some research. That one with the messy hair and pretty face is a pet project of mine and he's refusing to cooperate," she said with a snarl.

Widow nodded. "If you need any help, just let me know. I believe I'll go help your brother locate his missing monster," she declared and finally sent the bottle away.

Zita nodded and disappeared in a puff of purple smoke. Widow disappeared in a puff of black smoke. The moon rats thought it was pretty.

-x-

Billie and Danny went to the Command Center after school. "Ok, Beez. We have something to discuss with you," Billie stated

"You, too, Dr. Bill," Danny added.

Both Beez and Billy looked at them curiously. The unfurled several blueprints they'd been working on for several days. They were highly detailed plans for building an android shell with a brain and nervous system that worked almost like a humans.

"I do not understand," Beez said.

"We want to build you a new body. One that allows you to be able to leave the CC if you need or want to," Billie explained. She went on to explain various other upgrades and specifications, including emotions, integration into the Command Center's central computer.

"However, we're a bit hindered when it comes to the plasma and skin substitute," Danny added.

"Nodroz Corporation will have the supplies you need," Beez explained.

"Really?" Billy asked, surprised. He didn't think an Earth company had such supplies.

"I'll will place an order. How much do you need?" Beez asked.

"I thought Nodroz was a plastics and fuel company. Eh, guess that makes sense. I don't think we can afford it though," Danny said thoughtfully.

"Order has been placed. Do not worry, Danny," Beez assured him.

Billie, Danny and Billy all shared a look. "Well, we'll go get started with what supplies are here," Danny stated. Billie nodded and they took their blue prints and went to take over Alpha 5's lab again.

Billy chuckled. "If you need help, let me know," he called after them. They muttered something that sounded like an affirmative. "What do you think, Beez?" he asked her.

Beez has rudimentary emotions. Her eyes glowed warmly. "I am, happy," she said. Billy grinned at her.

-x-

Lani walked into the Youth Center without her friends. Holly had been awfully busy helping her dad with his work project lately and Manny was helping her grandmother make tamales today. Supposedly, she was supposed to bring Lani some when they were through. Abby Vallertes made tamales twice a week to fill orders taken in previous days. Manny didn't always have to help, but one of Abby's friends that usually helped was ill.

Lani glanced around, seeing who all was there. She spotted Chloe sitting with Nathan and Wood. She gave a bemused smile. "This is an unusual sight," she said with a smile and joined them.

"And you're joining us isn't unusual?" Chloe asked with a raised brow and sucked on her straw.

"Danny and Billie are doing something for our friend Bea," Nath explained, using a name they decided they could use to talk about the android girl. "We were considering going to join them but then we decided we wouldn't get any of it," he added with a grin.

"Yeah, Danny is the only freak of nature genius in our family," Chloe added.

"Where's Tori? The two of you are usually inseparable," Lani remarked innocently.

Chloe wasn't the one who answered her. "Probably off with her so-called brother from Kansas," Wood muttered.

Lani didn't miss the smile Nath hid by sticking the straw of his smoothie in his mouth. "What?" she asked.

Chloe grinned. "Tori's hanging with this old friend of hers she met a cheer comp when she was in junior high. They've kept in touch for years. Now he's come to Angel Grove," she explained. She grinned and leaned in close. "He's also very attractive, which is why Wood's nose is out of joint," she explained in a whisper.

Wood sent her a glare even though he didn't hear what she said, he knew Danny's sister well enough to guess.

Lani shook her head at them. "I think that's my cue to order something to eat. Family training at five. Fun times," she muttered and rolled her eyes. She moseyed up to the bar, pausing beside Tai and Rex who were in conversation with Autumn.

Winter smiled at her. "What can I get you?" he asked.

"Grilled chicken salad with raspberry ice tea," she said, and nodded toward the trio. "What's up over there?" she asked.

"Autumn saw that guy who was looking for the Power Rangers," he answered quietly.

Tai glanced over at them and nodded. "Autumn was just telling me her opinion of him," he explained.

Autumn nodded. "I think we should hear what he has to say," she explained. "I'm just not sure how to go about it without giving away the big secret," she added and chewed on her bottom lip.

Lani considered it. "Maybe we could teleport him to the CC and have someone speak with him," she glanced around, "morphed," she added in a low whisper.

Tai nodded thoughtfully. "That's not a bad idea, but I hate the thought of someone harmful getting into the CC," he added.

"Hey, I told you, I don't think--"

"It's ok, Autumn. We know, you don't think he has an evil aura," Rex said with a smile. "But you know the saying, better safe than sorry," he added.

Autumn sighed. "I know, I know," she sighed. She also really worried about Rei. She hadn't returned yet. Autumn knew who she was looking for, she just didn't know why. It worried her greatly that the other girl was actively searching out the Skeleton Ranger.

"Well, what about a containment field?" Winter questioned, showing that he'd been listening while he worked.

Lani glanced at Tai to see what he thought about that suggestion. "It sounds good to me, if the Blues can pull it off," she offered.

Tai nodded. "I'll speak with them about it," he said and while he couldn't quite get the nerve to fully smile, his face softened slightly. Lani took that as a good sign.

-x-

Widow lounged in Roki's throne while he was using his telescope to look for Wormster. "Ready to quit being stubborn and ask for my help? I've actually been thinking, I could use this monster to make a point," she declared.

"What kind of point would that be?" Roki questioned, frustration making him more sardonic than ever.

"I believe it would be a point about Tarantules," Zita said as she came into the room. She was every bit as ill pleased as Roki. "I'll ask for your help, then. Find the monster so we can cause a little chaos," she suggested.

Roki grunted and kicked the base of the telescope. "Yes, yes, fine. I admit defeat. I ask for help," he said and eyed her. For whatever reason she felt it necessary to lounge on his throne wearing a black bunny suit, which only distracted him more.

Widow got to her feet and puffed a change of outfit, wearing a black lab-coat and thin chic glasses. She drew a circle in the air. "I spy with my little eye, Wormster," she stated. The air shimmered and a viewing portal formed, showing the monster hiding in a sewer with stray dogs around him.

Roki scoffed. "Finster should be ashamed of himself for this one," he declared.

"I spy with my little eye, Earth Reaver." The view changed to show Tori Williams heading toward the Youth Center. She did not look too pleased. "Have your monster attack her," Widow suggested. "I'm eager to complete my set," she said with a kittenish smile.

Roki inclined his head. He disappeared in a puff of gray smoke.

Zita smirked. A puff of purple made her combat suit appear.

"Ooh, I like that," Widow stated. Another puff of black smoke made a solid black version appear. "Shall we take our seats now?" she asked.

Zita smirked. "Yes, let's," she agreed and the two of them puffed away.

-x-

Tori was not a pleased person. First thing after school she went to Fey's posh hotel suite and listened to them all try and boss her around. Well, she got fed up and left the lot of them, even Taran. Oh their intentions were good, she knew that. It just wasn't the only thing wrong.

The worst thing seemed to be that Wood was mad at her. She didn't like that one tiny bit.

She stopped short when a monster appeared and began shooting worms on people. "Yeah, like I'm going to be able to ignore that," she muttered.

Zita stood on a building near the scene with a large black widow on her shoulder. Widow was waiting for her moment to make a dramatic entrance. Roki appeared beside them both. He wore a gray and blood red battle suit with smaller spikes than Zita's flashy ones. "Damn monster," he muttered.

-x-

The new alarm system in the Command Center was working perfectly. Alarms went off as soon as Wormster reappeared from hiding. "Ay yi yi. Contacting Rangers," Beez announced.

-x-

Tori pulled out her cell phone and it changed into a communication device. "Taran. I have a situation here," she said.

"Stay out of it, whatever it is," Taran told her over the communicator, even as he began running from the room at the hotel Fey had just arranged for him.

"Stop trying to baby me!" she said. She cut of communication.

Rangers began appearing until all of them surrounded Wormster. Z Putties appeared as well.

Tori had to help. She couldn't not. She took off the white crystal she always wore around her neck. "Spirit of Earth!" The crystal glowed, engulfing her in light, turning her body iridescent and translucent as a white and gold power suit formed around her. A helmet and a cape were the last things to form.

Widow inwardly smirked as the White Reaver revealed herself.

The femme Black Ranger was taken aback as the girl in white joined the fray. "I hope your on our side, whoever you are," she said and summoned her Power Axe.

The White Reaver nodded curtly. She knew that voice, though it was distorted and hollow from inside the helmet. No way! She'd handle the fact that her best friend was a Power Ranger later. "Fans of Earth!" Twin, bladed fan appeared in her hands as she began cutting down Z Putties.

Taran finally made it to the location of the battle. "Dammit," he cursed when he spotted the White Reaver. He also saw Roki and Zita watching nearby. He scowled. Things were not looking good.

Widow cackled silently to herself. The spider that she was vanished in a puff of black smoke, only to have her reappear more or less in between the battle and Taran. She smirked evilly. "The key players have arrived," she declared. She blew a kiss in Taran's direction. "Hello, brother dear," she greeted mockingly.

Taran paled. "Widow? What?" He took in her self satisfied smirk. All the key players? What did she mean by-- "It was you!" he declared, and mentally staggered. It was amazing how much it could hurt, being the only Good amidst an Evil family. "They wouldn't have let you interfere!" he denied loudly.

Widow merely shrugged. "Not intentionally, no. But, like I've always said, what Mother doesn't know won't hurt her," she said. "Have the monster attack the White one!" she called to the Repulsas.

Roki gave a nod. He made a jerking movement with his fist. Wormster turned his gun on the White Reaver. He fired, but she whirled, bringing up one fan to block the worms.

"Hey! Who the hell is that evil chick?" the male Black Ranger wondered even as he smacked a Z Putty with the end of his Scythe.

"How dare you!" Taran shouted at Widow.

Widow flicked a non-existent piece of link from her shoulder. "Dear, brother, I am Evil. I don't need a reason to do evil. It's just the way things are," she declared nonchalantly. She was rather enjoying herself, seeing his shocked expression.

"The question is, who the hell is the nut job shouting at her?" the male Red added, meaning Taran.

Wormster was intent on getting to the White Reaver.

"No!" Taran shouted, unaware he was being called a nut job. He started to rush into the fray.

"I don't know who she is, but the monster wants her. Wood, Nath, Chloe, close ranks around her," the male Red ordered, using and internal helmet communication.

Widow smirked at him. "You stay out of it. You're powerless," she taunted.

Taran glanced at her coldly. These two siblings, son and daughter of Goldarr and Scorpina did not get along. They never have. Things happened when they were children that resulted in Tarantules turning Good. His parents sent him to Earth where he was adopted by Kent and Lainie Goldsmith. They gave him their name and shortened his to Taran.

"Not completely powerless," he said and pulled a leather cord from around his neck. He always wore it and the Red Reaver Crystal. Being held by the cord was a golden coin with a stegosaurus embossed onto it.

Widow's eyes widened. "Where did you get that?! That's father's most prized possession!" she snarled and reached for it.

He was already out of her reach, jumping back and landing easily a few feet away. "It was a gift. Father sent it to me when I turned eighteen," he said. "I think I've finally figured out how to use it," he added musingly.

"That guy have a Power Coin?" the male Blue demanded.

The male Yellow was trying to make his way quickly to the White Reaver, but Z Putties were preventing him.

Taran held up the Coin. It dissolved into his hand.

"No!" Widow shouted.

Golden cuffs fully formed. "It's morphin' time!" He crossed his wrists. "Stegosaurus!" He morphed into a gold and white ranger with a shiny golden helmet reminiscent of the dino. A large mace appeared in one hand.

The White Reaver, reeling from this evil dog calling Taran her brother, was knocked for a loop when he turned into a Power Ranger.

Widow cursed and made a large sword appear in one hand. She rushed forward, using her preternatural abilities. He blocked her.

Wormster took advantage of the White Reaver's distraction and knocked her flying back. She landed hard on the ground. Her transformation failed. The Pink Ranger managed to get airborne as made his way over to her since the femme Black Ranger and the Yellow Ranger were still trying to get to her. "Tori!" the Yellow shouted.

Widow jumped back and gave a smirk of delight. "It's mine!" she cackled and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Roki and Zita shared a look. "Let's go have a look at this power of hers," Zita suggested.

Roki nodded. "Destroy the Rangers or be destroyed!" he ordered Wormster. The two of them disappeared.

The Gold Ranger pushed his sister from his mind and used his giant mace to barrel through putties. He brought the instrument against Wormster's face as he was preparing to fire again. "I told you to stay out of it," he told Tori. She gave him a mulish expression.

The Pink Ranger was grinning behind his helmet. "Hey, Tori," he said to get her attention.

She turned so fast she almost got whiplash at the sound of Nathan's voice. "Wha--" He took her hand and placed a piece of metal in her hand.

"Pterodactyl," he told her.

Her eyes widened. "Pterodactyl!" she said firmly. Pink energy spread from him to her, forming metallic pink cuffs around her wrists before spreading toe engulf her, making a female version of his power suit appear.

The femme Pink Ranger looked at herself and nodded. "I can work with this," she said, feeling the strength of the suit.

"Glad to have another Pink around," the male Pink said.

The Green Rangers looked at each other. "Tori?" they mused at the same time. The femme Green glanced at the Gold Ranger as she jabbed a Z Putty with her staff. She supposed that explained all the shiny lights.

The femme Black looked at the femme Pink. "Well, this is...you have some explaining to do," she stated.

"I'm not the only one," came the response. "Power Fans!" White and Pink fans appeared. She once again began to take down Putties.

Wormster attempted to attack the Gold Ranger but another swing of his mace had the monster staggering back.

"Power Blaster," the femme Red declared. "Power Sword! Power Lance! Power Axe! Power Bow! Power Daggers!" The five weapons came together.

"Oh, no. But who will save the puppies?" Wormster moaned a split second before he was blasted. He exploded. What was left of him began to bubble and he grew. He grew to the size of a small house. He looked down at himself. "Eh?"

The male Black cocked his head. "I'm no expert, but I don't think that was supposed to happen like that," he said.

"Well, what do we do now? We don't have any Zords," the Yellow Ranger stated.

"Add the other weapons to the Cannon. Power Sais!"

"Power Scythe!"

"Power Fans!"

"Power Staff!"

"Power Dagger!"

The added addition of these weapons gave the Power Cannon the boost it needed to completely destroy Wormster.

The male Red nodded. "Bring them," he said gesturing to the femme Pink and the Gold Ranger.

Before she could ask what or where, the Yellow Ranger took her hand and teleported with her.

The Green Rangers flanked the Gold Ranger. They latched on to him and teleported as well. The day saved, the other Rangers teleported as well.

-x-

Roki grunted and turned from the telescope. Well, at least now he realized what he had to do to get the growth serum working. Zita trudged off to work on solving her Skeleton Ranger problem. He moved through the Palace and entered Widow's room without knocking.

She was admiring her now complete collection. "Yes?" she asked when he entered.

He propped against her doorjamb. "What is the price of my gift of fealty?" he asked her, nodding toward the box.

Widow considered this. "The price would vary by person. I could give them to you or auction them off on Onyx to whomever can give me what I want," she remarked with a slight smirk.

Roki quirked a brow. "What is it you want?" he asked her.

She approached him and ran the tip of one black lacquered nail down his chest. "I have aspirations, you see. I have the power to back them up. The Reavers', my own," she said thoughtfully. She whirled away from him. "I want to be a queen, and I need a king at my side. The man who gets me, and trust me, dark prince, it's not easy, will have at his side a true partner," she said and moved away, snapping the box closed.

Roki felt a mild flight response. What the devil did she mean? "Are you gifting yourself or the Orbs?" he asked.

She gave a slight shrug. "Both I suppose," she said and glanced over her shoulder at him. "A union between our families would be much lauded, you know. And together, our power, can you imagine it?" she asked. She made the box disappear. She puffed another outfit change. She wore a slinky black negligee and a sheer robe. Her hair fell down around her shoulders.

Roki appreciated the change, yet he was still wary. "A union? You mean marriage?" he asked, reeling slightly.

Widow gave a throaty laugh and approached him again. "The benefits far outweigh the negatives. You get the Orbs, my power and me. All I ask in return is fidelity. Unless you're waiting around for your true love or some such silly thing like that," she added with a slight scoff. Widow loved no one, not even herself. She felt a certain fondness for her parents and younger siblings, true, but not love. She was incapable.

Roki straightened, moving out into the hall and away from her allure. He began to pace as he thought. She watched from the doorjamb he'd vacated.

Zita poked her head out of her room. "Ugh, I'm trying to work, do you mind?" she demanded of her brother.

Widow sent a smile toward her. "Sorry, dove. We were just discussing our future marital bliss. He's currently in flight mode," she explained.

Roki stopped and glared at his sister. "What do you have to say about this?" he demanded.

Zita grimaced. "You could do worse. I was beginning to think you'd end up sculpting yourself a woman from Finster's clay," she declared.

Roki's offended expression amused her to no end. "I'm not that desperate thanks," he growled. She cackled and closed her door. He turned toward Widow. "If it's to be done, I'll do it right, dammit," he muttered and got down on one knee. "Widow, will you marry me?" he asked her.

Widow was strangely charmed. "Yes," she said and leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I'll begin preparations. We can be married in a couple of days," she declared and closed the door in face.

He blinked. "We can't even celebrate?" he demanded.

"Not until the wedding night. What kind of girl do you think I am?" she called back. The door came open again  and she grinned to see him still down on one knee. She knelt and leaned forward. "Don't worry, my prince. It'll be well worth the wait," she told him in a breathy whisper.

Roki leaned toward her but she escaped again and his lips met door. He growled again. He didn't doubt for a moment it would be. He got to his feet and shuffled off to work on a few special projects, including perfection of the growth serum.

-x-

Tai paced around the Command Center. "So, let me get this straight. There are a group of guardians living in a special command ship orbiting the sun and their job is to guard the Solar System. And you and Tori were two of them? Until this Widow somehow captured Solaria, Goddess of the Sun, and blew it up. Widow also just happens to be your sister and now she's joined forces with Zita and Roki?" he summarized everything Taran and Tori had been telling them.

Taran nodded. "That about sums it up," he agreed.

Wood grinned at Tori. "So, Taran is your leader?" he asked her, trying not to sound too relieved.

Tori smiled. "And like a big brother," she stated.

"Not anymore," Taran stated. "We're Power Rangers now, though I'm still going to figure out a way to free Solaria and restore the Reaver Powers," he added.

"We'll help where we can," Lani assured him with a smile.

"Thanks," Taran sad with his bashful smile. "We need to go explain things to our team mates who came to Angel Grove, too," he said.

"The African and English women and the Australian guy?" Wood asked. "Do you mind if I tag along? I'd be awesome to meet them," he said.

"Me, too. You kept this part of your life secret for a long time. No more," Chloe scolded Tori.

"Lani and I should meet them, too," Tai stated.

Taran nodded. "Fine by me," he agreed.

Billie had been mostly quiet, working on Winter's containment field idea. "Where did your coin come from?" she asked.

Beez answered. "It is one of the lost coins created by Zordon and my father. There were six, three of them were hidden and three of them were stolen. The Gold, Silver and Violet Coins have been lost for centuries," she explained. "The Platinum, Titanium and Bronze Coins were sent away with Alpha 1. Not even father knew where they ended up," she added.

Taran nodded. One of them, somehow, ended up in the hands of Goldarr. He had managed not to reveal who his and Widow's parents were. He probably wouldn't be able to dance around the subject for long, but for now, he was avoiding it.

"We'd better get going," Tori suggested with a smile. Taran nodded. He teleported, the others behind him. Fey, Ros and Hayden were in for one hell of a shock.

-x-

Rei returned to the Youth Center. She was tired, and there had been no Skeleton Ranger at the battle earlier. She knew she had explaining to do to Autumn and Winter. She was not looking forward to trying explain what she did not understand herself.

She nearly ran into Sora as he was exiting. They stilled, staring at each other. "Excuse me, luv," he murmured and stepped aside for her.

"My fault," she murmured, wondering why her heart was suddenly pounding in her ears. They lingered, looking at each other for a moment longer. "Have we--"

"Met before?" Sora finished the question. "I'd like to think I'd remember a lass like you," he said, making an attempt at being charming. Yet she was familiar to him. She reminded him of someone.

She gave a small smile. "Maybe we could run into each other again sometime," she suggested quietly.

He nodded his head. "I'd like that. Good day," he said and tipped his head, walking out the door.

Rei watched him walking away until he turned a corner and was out of sight. Oh, my. What was that feeling? Why was he so familiar? Was he the one she was looking for? Pushing her questions aside, she went to face the music with Winter and Autumn.

x-The End Chapter 05-x           

You are not authorized to comment here. Your must be registered and logged in to comment