Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended in the making of this series. I simply own my OCs and anything that is unrecognizable about from the show. Power Rangers belongs to Saban although Jungle Fury was created by Disney.

Warning: Rated T for safety

Title: Destiny Fulfilled

Summary: After the death of a Pai Zhuq master, Aliyah and Tyler are called to Ocean Bluff to help deal with the resurrected remains of Dai Shi. As usual, Aliyah is anything but happy, but be it life or death; she is determined to make this ranger team her last.

"What are we doing here?" Camille asked Jarrod as he pushed open the doors to the forbidden room. It was dark and covered in cobwebs, but not that much different to the temple, so she didn't feel the need to complain.

"I wanted to get as far away from everyone as possible," Jarrod replied. "So I can't hurt anyone else."

"Dai Shi led many down his dark path," Camille said. "Maybe it's not too late for us to change. The saviour needs as much help as she can get now, maybe that includes us."

"She doesn't want our help," Jarrod said, shaking his head. "She won't accept it, not after everything we've done."

"Don't say that we just have to keep trying."

Jarrod turned back to the muriel on the wall. "Why try when there is no point?" he asked.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

Rebecca looked up as the Rangers returned to the loft, the first thing she noticed was that Aliyah was not with them. "Ali?" she asked, catching RJ's eye.

The wolf master shook his head. "I had to tell her," he said. "She had to know. She was going into it blind, at least now she has a chance."

"She hates me," Rebecca said, tears in her eyes. "I didn't know she had to die."

"I know," RJ said, holding her close.

"You didn't know?" Tyler asked. "Then why did you tell her the prophecy?"

Rebecca sighed. "She kept insisting," she explained. "I thought that if I told her it would rebuild our relationship."

"You should've held off until you were 100% sure," Tyler argued. "She would've respected you more if you had waited. Now she thinks that everything she's gone through these last five years was for nothing. Making friends, finding family, falling in love. It's all meaningless to her now. None of us know what this is going to do to her, it could set her back months."

Rebecca buried her head into RJ's shoulder. Aliyah had been doing so good in opening up and letting people in, trusting them not to hurt her. The last thing she had wanted to do was to cause her to relapse, but she couldn't deny that Tyler had a point. If Aliyah felt that everything she'd gained up until now was worthless, it could set her on a downward spiral of which she wouldn't return.

"Where is she?" Rebecca asked her voice laced with fear.

The rangers shrugged.

"We don't know," Casey answered.

"She took off," Theo said.

"Home?"

"I doubt it," said Tyler. "I think the last person she wants to see right now is Cam. Saying goodbye to him is going to be the hardest thing she'll ever have to do."

RJ pressed a kiss to Rebecca's head as she squeezed him tightly. This was all her fault.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

Aliyah stared at the phone screen. She had several missed calls and unanswered text messages from her friends, Rebecca, and Tyler. The only person who didn't seem to be mildly concerned for her was Penelope, but that was mainly because after taking off from the quarry, Aliyah and run straight to her master for advice.

"You should let them know you're okay," Penelope said, sitting opposite her student. Out of every student had ever trained, Aliyah was by far her favourite. "Especially now. They may think Dai Shi has found you."

"He would've announced it by now," Aliyah said, shaking her head. She sniffled and wiped away the few tears that streaked down her face. She hated crying, but most of all she hated showing weakness.

"You're entitled to be afraid, Aliyah," said Penelope, almost reading her thoughts. "You're human, after all."

"I don't like being weak."

"Crying is not a show of weakness, it is a show of strength," Penelope explained. "It shows that you've been strong for far too long. And, for someone like yourself, I'd say shedding a few tears is a good thing. Right now you're full of fear and anger, and you need to get rid of it, you need to clear your mind so you can see what path to take."

"I already know which path I am supposed to take," said Aliyah, "and it leads to my death." She was silent for a few seconds before exploding. "Why didn't she tell me? Why did she let me be a ranger for so long? What was the point in letting me make all these connections, find friends, fall in love, only if I was going to die at the end of it all? Why didn't she just lock me up, force me to train alone? It would've made things a hell of a lot easier."

"Maybe because Rebecca believes in you, Aliyah," said Penelope. "She believes that you will find a way to overcome this obstacle, just like you've done in the past. You weren't picked by accident to be the saviour, there was never anyone else as ready or strong enough, as you were. It was your strength and determination that brought you to this moment, and it'll be your strength and determination that pulls you back. You don't see it yet, but you are very special."

Aliyah considered her master's words. "I don't feel special," she said.

"It wasn't just anyone that brought harmony to the three ninja academies," Penelope said. "You did."

"Lothor did," said Aliyah, shaking her head. "If he hadn't have attacked then the academies would have stayed separate. The only reason they joined in the alliance was to bring back their fallen friends."

"You declared war on Lothor, don't you remember?" Penelope asked. "It was your fighting spirit that gave the others the strength to continue."

"In the name of the Lightning Academy, I, Aliyah Logan, declare war against Lothor!"

Aliyah shook her head, trying to banish the memories from her mind.

"It was your stubbornness that led to the reveal of Elsa as Principal Randall in Reefside, and the only reason you remained a Dino Ranger was that you couldn't stand seeing innocents being hurt."

A yell echoed from across the soccer field, and the students screamed, running for the exits as Randall jumped over Aliyah, transforming into Elsa as she landed.

"You fight well for a transfer student," Elsa sneered. "But aren't you afraid of exposing your precious little secret to the school?"

"Seeing as you just transformed into the evil witch that has tried vaporising half of Reefside for the past year, I highly doubt you'll be taken too seriously."

Aliyah swallowed as Penelope's words hammered into her. She wanted to tune them out, lock them away inside the darkest recess of her mind, but she couldn't. They were too powerful and refused to let her hide from them.

"The darkness destroyed the Lightning Academy and killed your friends, you could've given up, but you were determined to bring retribution to the unsung fallen heroes, the ones that didn't have a chance, you wouldn't let them die in vain, and that's what led you to accept your Mystic Morpher and entering into your destiny," Penelope continued.

"I think I speak for both of us, Nick, when I say that we're tired of fighting. Tired of battle. This is why I refuse to fight you anymore."

"Then perish."

"I know you're in there, Nick, I know you can fight this. I know you're stronger than he is. I've lost too much to the Master already, I won't lose you too."

"You were angry when you first arrived in San Angeles, but you accepted being a Ranger because you knew there was no other choice, by then it had just become a meaningless chore. I understand you lost a lot on that team, but you gained so much too. You learned to open your heart, you learned to trust, and you learned of a reason to keep fighting."

"Do you love me?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course, I love you. I may not say it often, but that doesn't make my feelings for you any less real."

"Good. Then you'll have no objects to me doing this.

Aliyah's eyes widened as Cam dropped to one knee.

"Aliyah Logan, from the moment I first met you I knew you were going to be a stubborn hardass. But that didn't stop me from falling for you, and while I may just be a regular geek, you've never made me feel like one. I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, what do you say, will you marry me?"

He opened his palm to reveal a sparkling white diamond ring.

Aliyah dropped to her knees, grabbed his collar and kissed him. "Yes," she whispered.

A smile graced Aliyah's lips at the memory but was quickly replaced by a frown as she hiccuped and more tears spilled down her cheeks. "I promised him," she whispered. "I promised Cam I wouldn't leave him, and now I don't have a choice."

"You've always had a choice," said Penelope. "You could've chosen to turn down any one of your morphers, you could've chosen to die at the Master's hand, you could've chosen to not trust Whiger, or even me, for that matter," she smiled, wiping away Aliyah's tears. "You could've chosen to stay at the Lightning Academy when you were only eleven-years-old, but at the end of the day, Aliyah, you've always chosen to do what is right by you."

"I didn't choose to die," said Aliyah, shaking her head.

"I know, but the right choice has never been the easy one."

Aliyah looked back at her phone as it vibrated in her hands. Cam was calling again. She felt her heart break as she hit 'decline', and looked up at Penelope. "I know what I have to do," she whispered.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

"I wish we knew what Dai Shi's plan was," Theo said, stuffing his mouth with pizza.

"Well, he's been gathering fear and growing stronger," RJ answered. "If he gets enough power, he'll be too strong for Aliyah, and he could then raise the spirits of all of his fallen army."

"And start a new Beast War," Dom nodded in agreement.

"Great. We barely made it out of the last battle," said Lily.

"Right. If it weren't for Jarrod," said Casey. He paused and then grinned. "That's it! Neither of us nor Aliyah, have a chance if we don't have his lion spirit on our side again. We've got to convince him to help us."

"Convincing Jarrod may not be the problem," said Tyler. "It's Aliyah. She's not going to accept help from either him or Camille."

"Even if it means saving her life?" Lily asked.

Tyler shrugged. "She doesn't trust them," he explained. "It'll take a hell of a lot more than them just agreeing to help us to get her to change her mind. She's very set in her ways."

"But she's changed a lot over the last few months," Lily said. "Surely, surviving this fight is more important to her?"

"Aliyah doesn't want to die any more than we want her too," said Tyler, "but we can't force her to trust someone who's been hell bent on killing her for the last year, either."

"So, what do you suggest?" Casey asked. "We need both Jarrod and Aliyah in order for this to work."

Tyler sighed and looked around. "If there is one thing I know about Aliyah, it's that forcing her into a corner is a bad idea. But sometimes it's the only choice," he said.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying we get both Jarrod and Aliyah to the same place, and pit them against Dai Shi. Jarrod may feel that saving Aliyah will get him redemption, and anyone willing to put themselves in harms way for her automatically comes under Aliyah's protection, she'll turn her anger onto Dai Shi for harming Jarrod, and we unlock the Warrior Goddess - the only person that can defeat Dai Shi, once and for all."

The team exchanged looks. It sounds like a plan, the only flaw was finding both Aliyah and Jarrod, and convincing them to come to the table.

As if to answer their prayers, the alarms sounded alerting them to trouble.

"Go talk to Jarrod," RJ said. "Dom and I'll check this out."

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

"Okay, so you weren't the nicest kid on the block," Camille said, trying to reason with Jarrod to go help the rangers in their final fight. "I wasn't either. I know we can turn things around if we try."

"I told you it's too late for me," Jarrod said through gritted teeth.

"No. You're wrong, Jarrod," Casey said, running down the steps with Theo, Lily, and Tyler. "It's never too late to start over."

"And whatever happened in the past, the fact is that we need you now," Theo said.

"The human race needs you," Lily said. "We can't defeat Dai Shi alone."

"But your saviour," Jarrod started.

"Aliyah's a tough nut to crack, I'll admit," said Tyler. "But you're not giving her a reason to believe you can change. Right now she's so consumed with fear at her imminent death that she's drawing Dai Shi straight to her, you can clear her mind if you just agree to help us."

Jarrod looked considerate before shaking his head. "No," he murmured. "I'm sorry. But with all the harm I've caused to it, I'll never call on my Lion spirit again."

Casey looked down as his morpher bleeped. The others were in trouble. "Let's go," he said, leading the way out of the forbidden room.

Tyler lingered on the first step and turned back to Camille. "I once told you that there was goodness in your heart," he said, "and just a few hours ago, you asked Aliyah for forgiveness. Now you understand why she doesn't forgive so easily. If there is even a chance of saving her, don't you want to be able to tell people that you were a part of the team that saved the world? Or do you forever want to be known for almost destroying it?"

He turned and left before she had a chance to respond.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

As Masters Swoop, Phant, Grizz, Phoenix, and Finn fought Thylacine, RJ and Dom battled the invading Rinshi. They were outnumbered 100 to 1 but they still fought. It was their duty to protect the city, and the world from Dai Shi's forces, backing down now was not an option.

With a slash of her claws, Thylacine attacked Master Grizz, sending him to his knees.

"Jeffery!" Tyler yelled, Ninja-streaking into the battle.

"Tyler," Master Grizz said, wrapping an arm around his student's shoulder and leaning against him.

Thylacine growled and attacked Master Swoop next, throwing him into a wall along with Master Phant. Theo and Lily ran to their masters, helping them stand.

Master Finn narrowed his eyes, combined both his shark sabers and swung down, but Thylacine raised her arm and blocked, a sinister grin playing along with her jaw. She raised her claws and slashed at the old man's stomach, hooking them into his tunic and tossing him over her shoulder.

"Enough!" Penelope yelled, snapping her whip against the floor. Flames sparked upon impact and she threw it at Thylacine.

"Foolish girl," Thylacine snarled. She caught the whip and dragged Penelope towards her, snapping the whip in two and holding Penelope by her throat, her claws dangerous close to the skin. "Where's your pretty little student now?" she asked, tossing her aside. "You're all masters of failure! The Pai Zhuq way is over now!"

"Not yet!" Casey yelled, leaping into action along with Theo, Lily, and Tyler.

Thylacine laughed and swatted them aside. "You'll protect them, but who will protect your city?" she asked.

"You're not the only one who can make a power play, you know."

Thylacine snarled and looked up to the side of a building. An unfamiliar woman stood there, decked out in a full white jumpsuit and surrounded by several unfamiliar colourful rangers, all morphed and ready for battle. "Who are you?" the phantom beast asked.

"I'm a guardian," said Rebecca, "and a Power Ranger. When the Earth is threatened, all rangers, both old and new, will step up to the plate to defend it. Your Rinshi army doesn't stand a chance against all of us."

"We'll see," Thylacine growled.

"Yeah, I guess we will," said Rebecca. She turned her head to the rangers behind her. "You have your orders. Now go!"

They all dispersed, each team taking off in a different direction, spanning out over the city to protect each and every part. Rebecca, meanwhile, turned back to Thylacine and held up her wrist. "Let's see how you do against a Lightning Ranger, shall we? Lightning Storm, Ranger Form, ha!"

Thylacine hissed and lunged at Rebecca as she jumped from the rooftop, wielding her Lightning Sabre through the air.

As Rebecca fought, RJ and the others regrouped.

"Where did she get the suit?" Theo asked.

"Forget the suit, since when was Rebecca a Ranger?" asked Casey.

"Rebecca's been a ranger twice," Tyler said. "Five years ago, she was a Ninja Ranger, and three years ago she was a Mystic."

"She has magic?" Lily asked. She'd heard about the great mystics during her time at the Pai Zhuq academy.

Tyler nodded. "She was born into them," he explained. "Her father was a legendary."

"That means Aliyah's one too?"

"Yep."

"That's why she's destined," said Dom. "She's a wielding of lightning and she has magic."

Again, Tyler nodded.

"That doesn't explain why she isn't here now," said Casey. "You don't think Dai Shi got to her, do you?"

"He would have broadcasted it by now if he had," said Tyler. "I think, wherever Aliyah is, she's planning her next move."

"You're right, Tyler," said Penelope, shuffling over. "Aliyah is safe. She'll be here soon."

RJ tore his gaze away from Rebecca and back onto his young chargers. "How did it go with Jarrod?" he asked, hopeful.

Casey shook his head.

Dom sighed, defeated.

"You can't beat me!" Thylacine yelled, snapping at Rebecca.

"I'm not only a Ninja and Pai Zhuq master," said Rebecca, twirling her sabre above her head. Lightning rumbled above and struck the blade. "I'm also a mystic, and controller of darkness. There's nothing I can't do! Dark Lightning Energy Orb!" she yelled, arching the sabre through the air and striking Thylacine in the chest.

The phantom beast screamed in agony as lightning struck her body, causing her to quake and explode.

Rebecca turned her back on the explosion, swinging her sabre behind her, and touching it to her shoulder. "Next time don't screw with an overprotective guardian," she murmured.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

"We got to calm this crowd down," said Cam, walking through the streets as citizens of Ocean Bluff ran screaming. "This is exactly what Dai Shi wants." He turned to the sound of pounding footsteps and sighed as Rebecca and the Jungle Fury Rangers, along with their masters, raced towards him.

"Thylacine?" Shane asked.

"Gone," Rebecca replied.

"Aliyah?" Tori asked.

Tyler shook his head. "As far as we know, she's safe," he said, glancing over at Penelope. "Why can't you tell us where she is?" he asked

"She needs time to come to terms with what's about to happen," Penelope said, "and she can't do that with you all around. Just seeing you is going to make the transition harder."

"What transition?" Vida asked. "What's going on?"

"You haven't told them yet?" Penelope asked.

Tyler and Rebecca exchanged looks.

"We're still trying to process it ourselves," Rebecca admitted. "I'm trying to figure out where I went wrong with the translations because I am pretty sure, nowhere in the original prophecy did it say the saviour had to die in order for ultimate evil to be destroyed."

The former rangers paled and exchanged looks.

"Woah, woah, woah, slow down," said Dustin, interrupting. "What do you mean the saviour has to die?"

"Aliyah can't die!" said Chip.

"It happened before and she beat it," said Hunter.

"Last time it occurred due to a dark wish," Penelope said. "This time it'll be her destiny coming full circle. You can't escape destiny, you should know that better than any one." She added, referring to the fact that they were destined to be Ninja Rangers.

Cam swallowed. "She promised me she wouldn't leave," he said. "Aliyah does a lot of things, but she never breaks a promise."

"Aliyah also doesn't make promises," said Tyler. "To her, promises are just empty words."

"Not to me," said Cam, shaking his head. "She may not promise everyone, but she would never break one to me. I know she wouldn't."

"I really do hope that you're right," said Penelope. While she understood what was being asked of her young student, she also didn't want to lose her like the others. But she knew that no matter how hard Aliyah tried, she couldn't run from destiny.

Suddenly the sky above clouded over with darkness. Everyone turned to Rebecca, who held her hands up in defence. "It's not me," she said.

Dai Shi's evil laughter echoed around the city, and he shimmered through the clouds, a mere flicker of dust in the sky, but every bit as terrifying. "I have harvested your fear," he boomed. "Now I have enough power for my final stand. The portal to the spirit world has opened! The time for the final beast war is here!"

With a clash of thunder, several beasts landed with a crash, ahead of the rangers. Amongst them were the five poisons, the Overlords, and even the Phantom Beast Generals.

"The worst of the worst," Theo moaned.

"Come on, team!" RJ called, taking a stand against the monsters. "Let's show them who we are!"

The team nodded, falling into step alongside their master.

"Pai Zhuq! Order of the Claw!"

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"JUNGLE BEAST, SPIRIT UNLEASHED!"

"With the Strength of a TIger, Jungle Fury Red Ranger!"

"With the Stealth of a Jaguar, Jungle Fury Blue Ranger!"

"With the Speed of a Cheetah, Jungle Fury Yellow Ranger!"

"With the Cunning of a Fox, Jungle Fury Green Ranger!"

"With the Courage of a Wolf, Jungle Fury Wolf Ranger!"

"With the Power of a Rhino, Jungle Fury Black Ranger!"

Once morphed, the team of six summoned their spirit rangers and, with the help from the Ninjas, raced into their final fight.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

Aliyah grumbled as she followed Flit through the grounds of the Pai Zhuq academy. This had been the first time she had ever stepped foot into the academy that had occupied her sister's life for more than six years. "Where are you taking me, Flit?" she asked.

"We're almost there," Flit buzzed. He led her through the grounds, around the main building, and towards a room buried so far underground, it could've easily been mistaken for a war bunker.

Her feet slapped against stone steps as she climbed down them, they narrowed out as she reached the bottom and led along a stone pathway to double doors at the end. She stopped short at the sight before her and felt her hands clench into fists.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Aliyah asked, glaring at Flit. Her voice startled both Camille and Jarrod, causing them to whip around in surprise. "Did Tyler set you up to this? Because if he did, I am so coming back to haunt his ass!"

Flit shook his head. "I've seen the battle," he said. "Your friends are losing, and Dai Shi has been restored to his full dragon form. The Rangers, both old and new, are being pummelled."

"Old and new?" Aliyah repeated. She didn't need Flit to confirm her thoughts, she wouldn't have put it past Rebecca to call in every last Ranger team since Ninja Storm to Jungle Fury, and she knew the others would come running because it was she who needed the help. Her friend's loyalty was their downfall.

Taking a step back, Aliyah's heel hit the step and she turned to flee.

"Wait," Camille called out.

"I don't have time," Aliyah snapped. "My family is in danger!"

"Which is why I want to help," Camille said. "I'm not asking for your forgiveness or your redemption. But Dai Shi was my master for 10,000 years, I can help you."

"Unless you know of a way to cheat death, I don't think you can," said Aliyah.

Camille lowered her gaze. "The green ranger cares about you, and he once told me I had goodness in my heart," she said. "I want to show him, and you, that he wasn't wrong. Please, give me one last chance. If I fail, at least I will die to try."

Aliyah considered the chameleon and then sighed. "Look, I'm not big on forgiveness, but anyone who's willing to put their life on the line for the sake of the human race as got to have some reason for it," she said. "I trust Tyler, more that I do a lot of people, and if he believes you had goodness in your heart then who am I to argue?"

"Thank you," Camille said, a flicker of a smile on her lips.

Aliyah shrugged. "I've always been told that I have tunnel vision when it comes to the forces of darkness," she explained. She paused on the lower step and glanced over Camille's shoulder at Jarrod. "I'll never be able to forgive you for what you did when you were him, but if you want forgiveness? This is your only chance. It's not too late to start over."

She turned her back and fled the forbidden room.

Camille looked to Jarrod, but the man refused to meet her gaze. She sighed and followed after the white ranger.

Jarrod listened to them leave, Aliyah's words resting heavy on his heart.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

"For too long the Pai Zhuq school has stopped my plans for ultimate rule!" Dai Shi bellowed, standing over the Rangers he had just beaten. "Today I will get my revenge, starting with you miserable rangers!" One of Dai Shi's massive heads slammed into the ground, causing the four core rangers to roll aside.

"Go!" Tyler yelled, hauling Lily to her feet and pushing her aside. He jumped after her as another head smashed into the floor where he had just lay.

"Guys!" Casey and Theo yelled, racing towards their friends. The four regrouped and dodged another head, as a fourth circled around them.

"There's nowhere to run," Dai Shi laughed. "Time for the final strike." The eyes of the circling head glowed a golden colour and snaked forwards. It opened its jaws to finish them off but was deflected as Camille leaped in the way.

"No!" the chameleon yelled, lashing at Dai Shi and knocking the head back. "Please," said Camille, turning to the other rangers. "I'd like to fight with you now."

"Of course," said Lily, taking Camille's hand.

Tyler nodded, resting a hand on Camille's shoulder. "I knew you'd make the right choice," he said.

"I had a little help," Camille admitted. "Your white ranger gave me a second chance."

"Aliyah?" Tyler asked. "You've seen her? Where? Is she OK?"

"She's fine, angry, but fine," Camille confirmed.

"Believe it or not, right now, that's pretty good," said Tyler. "We need an angry Aliyah if we stand any chance of defeating Dai Shi."

The others nodded.

"So, where is she?" Theo asked.

The ground rumbled under foot and a roar ripped through the air. The Rangers looked up as two massive white tigers charged into battle with a roar.

"Dom, let's give her a hand," said RJ, summoning his animal spirit.

"Right!" Dom nodded, summoning his own.

Together they combined their zords to form the Wolf Pride Megazord, and the Rhino Warrior Mode, and charged into battle behind the two white tigers.

"Why isn't she combining the two zords?" Theo asked, watching as Dai Shi slashed through one of the tigers, causing it to disappear.

Rebecca smirked behind her helmet. "Because she's not in there," she said. "They're not real. They're holographic."

"She used magic?" Blake asked.

"Yeah, it's advanced magic," Rebecca said.

"I didn't think Aliyah knew advanced magic," said Xander.

"She doesn't," Rebecca said, shaking her head. "But she could've had help."

"From who?" Shane asked.

"Your fiance," said Rebecca. "Claire would know advanced magic, so would Leanbow and Udonna. They're family, and they're not going to let Aliyah go down without a fight."

"Your family is scary powerful," said Dax.

"Don't I know it," Rebecca grinned.

Dai Shi roared as the Wolf Pride Megazord landed on his back, and RJ held him at bay. Dom attacked with a powerful slash, but it did nothing to weaken the dragon. With another roar, another of Aliyah's holographic tigers swiped its paw at the great dragon, but one of Dai Shi's heads blasted it with fire. The flames swept through the image, causing it to flicker and disappear.

Rearing up onto his hind legs, Dai Shi swung RJ form his neck and threw him into Dom. The two megazords hit the ground but jumped back to their feet.

"Meddlesome pests!" Dai Shi roared, blasting them both and ejecting the two rangers.

RJ and Dom groaned as they hit the ground, demorphing on impact.

"RJ!" Rebecca yelled, running over and kneeling beside her husband. She helped him stand as Hunter and Blake helped Dom.

"Nothing we do can even weaken him," Theo groaned.

"We can."

Everyone looked around as Aliyah and Jarrod finally arrived. It was a surprise to find them together, given the bad blood between them. But it seemed both parties were willing to put aside their differences in the face of certain death.

"Jarrod," Camille breathed a sigh of relief.

"Aliyah," Rebecca said, stepping out of the crowd to meet her sister.

"It's OK," said Aliyah, squeezing Rebecca's hand as she passed. "I understand now. I understand why you did what you did, and I wanted to say thank you. You could've locked me away at Pai Zhuq for five years but then I wouldn't have had a reason to fight." She looked around at all her friends, thinking of all the good times she had shared with them. "Now I do."

"I should have told you sooner, maybe..."

Aliyah shook her head. "It wouldn't have changed anything," she said. "No matter what choice I made, I would've ended up here." She turned to look up at Dai Shi. "I accept my destiny - whatever it may be." She walked forward, purposely towards Dai Shi.

Jarrod followed her. The plan was for him to distract the great dragon while Aliyah attempted to her attack. Individually, they both knew their attacks were not strong enough, but maybe, just maybe, combing the strength of two white tiger spirits and a lion spirit, would be enough to defeat Dai Shi for good.

"Spirit of the Mighty Lion!" Jarrod yelled, summoning his black and gold armour. "I'm here Dai Shi!" he called, standing before the dragon.

Dai Shi laughed, paying more attention to Jarrod than Aliyah. "The lion has returned," he said. "Have you finally come to your senses?"

"Yes," Jarrod shouted. "You told me I had the strength of a lion, but not the heart. But I'm here to show you that you're wrong! The heart of the lion is noble and good, and I can be too." He called upon his Zokado power, and lept into the air, forming a sphere swirling darkness in his hands and firing it straight into Dai Shi's main face. "DO IT NOW!"

"What's going on?" Vida asked. She looked around for Aliyah and spotted a glowing white light just beyond Dai Shi.

"What's she doing?" Nick asked, spotting his cousin too.

The Ninjas, Mystics, Overdrive Rangers, and Jungle Fury Rangers watched as the bright glowing mass they knew to be Aliyah jumped into the air, and streaked towards Dai Shi. "NO!" they each yelled, as she pummelled her way deeper into his body.

The great dragon roared in agony as a white light enveloped him. He flung his paw around and swatted Jarrod out of the sky. The lion hit the ground and demorphed, looking up as Dai Shi withered in pain. From every orifice a white light protruded, severely weakening the dragon right before everyone's eyes.

"Guys, I know you can hear me!" Aliyah's voice called from inside Dai Shi. She sounded weak, almost like the life was being sucked out of her, and it probably was given Dai Shi's dark powers and Aliyah's inability to stand the darkness for every long. "He's weakening, but I can't defeat him alone! I need your help."

"Aliyah, get out now and you'll still have a chance," Tyler yelled.

"I can't..." Aliyah whispered, a tear trickling down her face as her suit disappeared. She gasped for breath as the tendrils of Dai Shi's darkness quickly swept up her arms, over her body and towards her throat. With her last breath, she yelled: "DO IT NOW!"

The rangers hesitated and exchanged looks.

"Only the chosen protectors can destroy Dai Shi forever," said Master Mao, looking over at the Rangers.

"It's up to us," said Casey.

The team swallowed and demorphed. The outcome was simple, hit Dai Shi with every ounce of power they had, but the consequence of such actions would cost them dearly. Aliyah was trapped inside Dai Shi, if they hit him now, surely they would kill her too.

"We have too," said Tyler, swallowing back his tears. "Aliyah would be the first to tell us that no one life is more important than another, and that includes hers."

The others nodded and turned to face Dai Shi. Aliyah's light was fading quickly, which probably meant that she didn't have long left. She was probably suffocating. The least they could do was put her out of her misery.

"A Pai Zhuq master doesn't ask," said Casey, closing his eyes. "He knows.

"There is a higher level of our animal spirits," Tyler continued.

"One that has never been reached before by student or a master," Lily added.

"It's time to push beyond the possible, to or highest potential," said Theo.

The four moved in sync, each one falling into the respective animal pose, and following their animal spirits to the point of unstoppable magic. Digging deep into their hearts, the rangers began to glow before throwing out their hands with a yell, releasing their pent up power and hitting Dai Shi, just as Aliyah's power disappeared.

Dai Shi wailed as he was destroyed, releasing the stolen power that belonged to the Masters.

The four rangers stumbled, feeling weakened but alive.

~*Destiny Fulfilled*~

Despite Dai Shi's destruction, none of the rangers felt like celebrating. Each of them had suffered a personal loss in the wake of their success. Dai Shi may have been gone, but Aliyah had gone with him. Her body had been found by Jarrod and Camille and returned to the loft above Jungle Karma Pizza. The restaurant had been closed to the public, giving the rangers time to mourn.

Regardless of her faults, none of the Rangers knew how to live life without Aliyah. For the last five years, much more for some, their whole lives had involved the stubborn, anger-driven ninja, and it was hard to see a positive future without her, and Cam, who had envisioned an extended life with Aliyah seemed to take the hit harder than most.

Even though he knew that there was no chance of her coming back, Cam still refused to leave the room where Aliyah's body had been laid. Every now and then his vision would cloud with tears, the seconds ticking by as he pleaded with her to wake up. Anger, heartbreak, hopelessness, they all boiled to the surface as time continued to tick by.

"Cam?" said Connor, stepping into the room.

Cam made a small noise to say he had heard, but he didn't turn around. He was to focused on his fiance, waiting for the slightest movement to show that she was coming back to him. A flicker of eyes, a rise in her chest. He squeezed her hand for the hundredth time and could've sworn he felt her squeeze back.

"Cam," Connor repeated, placing his hand on the Samurai's shoulder. "Why don't you let me sit with her while you get something to eat, drink, I don't really care, but you've been cooped up in here since you guys got back, the others are worried about you."

Cam looked up at the former red dino ranger. He trusted Connor with Aliyah more so than anyone else. Connor wasn't just a friend, he was Aliyah's best friend, and while once there was a time where Cam feared he would lose Aliyah to the brunette before him, that fear had disappeared when Aliyah made it clear there was only one person she had eyes for.

"She's not going to wake up," said Cam, looking back to Aliyah. "But I just can't bear to leave her."

"I know," said Connor. "But you aren't doing yourself any favours by sitting in here alone. Go join the others, I'll say goodbye, and then join you."

Cam squeezed Aliyah's hand once more, and then leaned over, pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I love you," he whispered one last time before standing and, without a hesitant glance, left the room.

Connor sighed and, as the door closed behind him, he sank into Cam's vacated chair. "I don't know if you can hear me," he said. "I just hope that, wherever, you are, you're alright." He paused and then added. "I get why you did it but did you ever stop to think what it would do to us?" he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Death doesn't happen to you, you know? It happens to those of us that you leave behind, those of us who now have to figure out a way to live our lives without you in it."

He seized her hand and squeezed it.

"I just wish there was something we could have done," Connor continued. "Something we could've changed. Rebecca told me what you said, and you were wrong, it didn't have to end like this. We could've figured out a way to save you. I know you're not one for plans, but we could've come up with one if it meant keeping you alive."

Connor stared into the sombre face of his best friend, and then looked away. "What am I - we - going to do without you?" he asked. "You may disagree with this, but you've always been the glue that kept us together." He chuckled and smiled lightly, looking back at her face. "There'll never be another you, OK? I promise you. You truely were one of a kind. Raise hell for us up there, let them know that we're no less happy about this than you are." He sniffled, kissed the back of her hand and then set it back down on the bedspread.

He stood and turned to the door.

He paused, his hand on the doorknob, listening for a faint sign that she was still alive. When he didn't hear anything, he walked out.

The moment the door closed with a snap, Aliyah's eyes flew open.

And they glowed an electric blue.

THE END

Copyrighted ©

Originally, this was not meant to end here, but it didn't feel right adding to it after this. There will be a concluding one-shot to wrap up the loose ends. So keep an eye out of the next installment.

Chapter written by xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Chapter updated Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 3:18am