Thanks to KJ Bollinger, Writing Therapist, ZRyder, and Sir Perfluous for reviewing.

10

"No way," Tyler breathed.

He exchanged a glance with Shelby, her expression of surprise mimicking his exactly. Then they turned their attention back to what was unfolding in front of them. Heckyl, now morphed into the Aqua Ranger, brought his gloved hands up towards his face in awe. He turned them back and forth the nodded, shifting his attention back to Snide, who regarded him with stunned silence.

Then everything around Snide darkened, his yellow eyes turning red almost immediately."If I had known you were a ranger," he growled, chest heaving. "I would have killed you ages ago." He lifted his sword and pointed it directly towards Heckyl's chest. "No matter what would've happened to me."

Heckyl lowered himself into a crouch, almost as if the suit itself encoded in his DNA how to fight. He could feel the surge of power move through his veins, giving him much more confidence than he had ever felt before.

He could beat Snide.

He knew he could.

"He morphed into the Aqua Ranger," Shelby said. She then looked at James, who watched with rapt attention. "But…what about James? The Energem bonded to him…?" As if suddenly realizing that point, Tyler whipped his head toward his father, eyebrows coming together in concern.

"I'll be fine," James said composure intact.

Ivan and Ninja forced each other backwards with strong hits of their swords then looked over to the source of bright light that had emanated from Snide's and Heckyl's direction. "Unreal," Ivan said. Then he turned his head, suddenly remembering that Kendall was missing.

"This will just make your death that much better for me," Snide declared. He held his sword high overhead and raced towards Heckyl. Heckyl charged back towards him and the two quickly became locked in battle.

Kendall's lungs burned.

She could feel her strength starting to giveaway. She couldn't hold her breath much longer. Her mind, which had been screaming in terror was now eerily quiet, calm and read for what was about to happen. Snide's hold around her neck was tight, tighter by the second. The energy he continued to exhibit despite not being close to her proved how strong he and Heckyl were. He had stayed behind the scenes for so long, despite all of the monsters he'd sent out. Heckyl, on the other hand, they had come across time and time again and he had been strong all on his own.

Her legs gently swished through the water, her hands falling away from her neck. The edges of her vision were darkening even further as her eyes turned into tunnel vision. She couldn't believe of all of the times she had been a ranger and faced off against other monsters this was the one thing that was going to take her down.

Drowning in an underground cave where she didn't know if her friends were okay or dead or...

No.

No, that's not how she was going to go out.

She was stronger than that. She stowed away on Sledge's ship to save Keeper, retrieving her ability to morph into the Purple Dino Charge ranger all by herself. If she could do that…she could do this, too. Kendall started to glow purple, the energy forming a protective bubble around her. Just in time, as the top of it enclosed her lungs gave way and she sucked in a harsh breath of air. Water poured out of her helmet and suit, falling to the bottom of the protective bubble, and she coughed, sucking in as much air as she could, catching her breath.

There bubble sank to the bottom of the river, settling down amongst the rocks. Water swirled around her and Kendall looked up towards the shimmering surface. She could see the distant shapes of Ivan, Ninja, Snide and…James fighting against each other. If James was there, what happened to Heckyl? Kendall clenched her hands into fists and stood up, with a push off from the bottom, she started to rise to the surface of the river.

Ivan was starting to lose to Ninja. With the monster's speed, he continued to turn into bright flashes of light, the only visible part of his rapid movements. Sword slashes rocked Ivan back and forth as he cried out in pain before a cruel blow to his stomach felled him to his knees. When Ivan hit the ground, he lost his grip on his sword, it skittering away from him. He was getting tired, but not tired enough to de-morph. There was still enough fight in him to keep going.

He had to.

"Ivan! Hang on!" Shelby shouted, her voice barely making it through the small hole in the cavern wall that James passed his Energem through. She looked over it before taking a step back. "We have to get in there and help them!"

"If you blast through this wall," James warned her.

"She's right, dad," Tyler interrupted. "We can't just sit here and watch our friends get hurt…or die. They need our help and without Koda, Chase, and Riley…they can't wait much longer." He looked around for a minute, surveying the wall. Then he nodded to Shelby. "I'll take down the wall; you use your Tricera Drill and blast apart any falling rocks."

Shelby nodded back. "You got it!"

Tyler finally let go of her hand and the two pulled out their Energems, pushing the buttons on the top. They instantly morphed into the Red and Pink Dino Charge rangers. "Dino Steel! Armor On!" Their suits shone as they received the extra protective layer over them. "Power Rangers, Dino Super Charge!"

"T-Rex Smasher!"

"Tricera Drill!"

Tyler pulled back his fist where his T-Rex Smasher took on a bright red hue. "T-Rex Smash!" With the charged up energy she punched forward as hard as he could and the wall crumbled to pieces. Rocks and boulders started to fall down around them. "Your turn, Shelby!"

"Right!" Shelby crossed her arms over top of each other and grabbed onto the handle of her weapon. "Tricera Drill! Rapid Spin!" Shelby spun along with her drill, shooting forward to blast through the falling rocks around them. James ducked out of the way and Tyler hurried to his side, using his T-Rex Smasher to blast away pieces of rock that managed to pass by Shelby. Finally, the wall had fallen down and the rumbling stopped. Shelby and Tyler hurried forward through the hole that now allowed them to past through to their friends.

"It's…about time, Sir Tyler," Ivan said, struggling to his knees. "I thought you'd never make it."

"Never say never, Ivan," Tyler said. He and Shelby turned their attention toward Ninja. "Get ready to be Tyrannosaurus Wrecked!"

"We'll just see about that!" Ninja declared. Tyler and Shelby held up their weapons and charged towards Ninja, giving Ivan space to regain his energy. He looked over, holding up his arm over his face when there was a bright blastoff purple light that came shooting out of the water; helmet fully intact and suit dry. "Lady Morgan!"

"Plesio Pike!" Kendall pulled back her arm and threw it as hard as she could. The sickle shot through the air and struck Ninja in the back as he turned to launch himself off the wall to dart back towards the rangers. The blade of the weapon became embedded in his back and he screamed out in pain, falling to his knees. Just in time for Tyler and Shelby to get their attacks in.

James hurried over and grabbed onto Ivan's arm, helping him up. "Ivan, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ivan said. He nodded to Kendall. "I think you should be asking her."

"I'm fine, too," Kendall said. Then the two turned their attention to James, as if noticing him for the first time. "Wait, if you're here then who's…" her voice trailed off as she and Ivan turned to watch Heckyl and the Aqua Ranger. They were locked in a vicious battle, their cruel slashes and devastating blows evident of the struggle of power over each other. Each time a crucial hit was landed on one, the two would both recoil in pain, their strong link continuing to bind them together.

"Ranger powers or not, you're no match to take me down!" Snide declared.

"If the thought makes you feel better," Heckyl replied. He pulled out James's Dino Morpher and reshaped it into a blaster. "Dino Morpher Blast!" He shot the bullets of energy out into Snide. Each of the blasts crashed into his front, bouncing off, almost as if there was a protective plate around him. "Dino Saber!" Next he summoned the sword and ran his hand over it, making the blast glow with the blue energy that he and Snide shared. "Dino Saber Slash!" He leapt high and swung the sword down to Snide's front.

Snide turned and swung out with his sword at the same time, each slashing each other on the side openly. Heckyl and Snide both fell to their knees, their backs to each other. They breathed heavily, trying to move through the pain they had inflicted on each other. Then Heckyl de-morphed, the Aqua Energem levitating and immediately shooting back over to James, who caught it in his hand. Without the extra ranger energy, Heckyl felt drained, in pain…and on the verge of passing out.

He pressed his hand to his side and removed it, seeing blood stain his palm. It rolled to his fingertips then dripped to the dusty floor of the cavern. Heckyl turned his head and found Snide in a similar position, swaying as he tried to keep himself upright. Snide glared over his shoulder at Heckyl, if possible, his red eyes turning even redder with fury.

Sucking in a deep breath, Heckyl turned and started to rise to his feet. He stumbled, falling back to his knees. Then a hand was on his arm and he found Kendall kneeling next to him. "Heckyl, don't push yourself," She said.

"I have to stop him," Heckyl replied. He glared at Snide with nothing short of utter disgust and fury. "I can't let him hurt anyone else."

"But you'll be killed in the process!"

"I don't care."

"Tyler, Shelby!" Above them, Koda, Chase, and Riley, all morphed appeared on a rock ledge. They jumped down at the same time, landing on the ground in a low crouch, hurrying over to their friends. "We found a way out."

"It's not too far from here," Riley added on Chase's exclamation. He nodded toward Koda. "He had to blast through a few walls but I think it's safe to hold up for us to get out."

"Once we get rid of these guys," Tyler said, standing tall against Ninja.

"Only if you're fast enough!" He declared.

"With all of us here, we're plenty fast. Together, nothing can stop us." He, Shelby, Koda, Chase, and Riley all lined up with each other. "Dinosaur might, ready to fight! Power Rangers, Dino Super Charge!" He held up his weapon. "T-Rex Smasher!"

"Para Chopper!" Chase said, calling at the same time as Tyler, "Combine! T-Rex Chopper!"

"Weapons combine!" Koda, Shelby, and Riley called in unison, combining their weapons. "Triple Spike!"

"Dino Pierce!"

"Double Blast!"

"Lightning Final Strike!" Ivan added, swinging his sword as he did so.

The blasts shot out of the two weapons and struck Ninja head on, making him fall onto his back, arms and legs flailing. "No!"

"Dino Charger, ready! Weapons Combine!" The five weapons then combined together with Chase, Koda, Riley, and Shelby all standing together. Tyler raced forward and leapt onto their arms as they threw him into the air. "Red ranger, launch!"

Tyler swung their weapons together. "Dino Spike, Final Strike!"

"Not so fast!" Snide stood up and glowed a brilliant blue. He brought his arms to his chest and then released it, emanating a bright blue power surge that blasted through the cavern. Heckyl and the rangers were lifted off their feet from the blow and sent flying through the air, crashing into the walls around them.

They fell to the ground in a heap and de-morphed while Ninja stood up, unharmed.

"I never thought this day would come," Snide said, slowly walking towards everyone. "The day that I'd finally destroy the rangers and take over the world! And without my useless other half!" He turned towards Heckyl, who lay on the ground, struggling to get to his feet. "I'll have the pleasure of getting rid of you, first!"

Heckyl got to his knees, throwing out his arm to cover Kendall, who got to her knees next to him. "That's…the last time you're going to hurt my friends. Destroy me now…without me you'll cease to live."

Snide sent forward a bolt of blue energy, the biggest blast he had ever mustered. Heckyl held up his hands and did the same, using the last of his energy to do so. The bright lights combined and there was a pulse of power. But this time, Heckyl felt the power move through his body, making him strong again. The cavern became illuminated in a blue-white glow, everything around Snide and Heckyl moving in slow motion while they were able to move freely.

The wave of energy allowed the ceiling to slowly crack open, this time revealing a dark, navy blow color. It became brighter and brighter, until the small light slowly lowered itself down from the ceiling towards Heckyl. Snide reached out his hand. "No!" He shouted.

The light landed in Heckyl's upraised palm and he grabbed onto it. It steadily increased in brightness before the color covered his body. When it faded, a blaster rested in Heckyl's hand. Looking it over, Heckyl pushed the Navy Energem into the mouth of the blaster. It pulsed in his hand.

"I think you're going to want to change your tune, Snide," Heckyl said. "Or else you'll face the consequences." He spun the side of the blaster. "Energize, ha! Unleash the Power!" He morphed in the Talon Ranger; navy blue suit combined with crimson and gold accents. "Spinosaurus! Power Ranger Talon!"

The white-blue light faded along the cavern, allowing everyone else to being moving again. "Another ranger," Riley gasped. He shook his head. "I thought there was only supposed to be ten."

"I can't believe it," Kendall murmured. She shook her head, lowering her gaze to the dusty floor of the cavern. "There's only supposed to be ten; red, blue, black, green, pink, purple, aqua, gold, graphite, silver. But this…this is a new power."

Heckyl lowered his hands to his side. "I think that's something you need to figure out later, Pretty Lady. Right now we have to focus on getting out of here."

"I won't let you pass!" Snide growled.

"Then I'll just have to make you move!" Heckyl brought up his hand. "Talon Tenor!" His weapon, a dagger that appeared similar to that of a flue appeared in his hand. He brought it up to his mouth and blew into it, the weapon emanating a high-pitched squeal, making Ninja and Snide groan, slapping their hands over their ears. "If you liked that performance, you should see my final act! Spino-Boomerang!" He pulled the Talon Tenor apart until it formed the shape of an open dinosaur mouth, also resembling a boomerang. Final strike!"

He swung the Spino-Boomerang, the bright blast of navy blue energy flying out and striking both Ninja and Snide. Ninja was destroyed the moment the blast hit him, but Snide was struck hard and sent flying back into the wall of the cave, further and further, drilling an imprint as he went until he was out of sight.

Heckyl's eyes narrowed as he stared at the print that had been left. Snide wasn't defeated, that much he knew or else he would've felt a decrease in energy, anything that would signify the severance of their life-force with each other. But he felt nothing.

Snide was still out there and he would be ready when it was time for him to come back.

The rangers watched as Heckyl lifted his Energem and let go. The gem zoomed across the floor of their basement lab and hovered in the Energem case along with the others. Heckyl smiled a little as he looked at them. It wasn't so long ago he thought he wouldn't be able to convince the others he was a good guy and now he was part of the team.

If they'll have me, he reminded himself.

With that thought, Heckyl turned to face the others. All of them appeared as tired as he did, the trek out of the cavern taking more out of them than originally thought, not to mention the injuries they then had to bandage and medicate once they de-powered. Morphing into a ranger was enough to take on the intense discomfort the felt when unmorphed but when the adrenaline of a battle wore off…it was easy to be knocked silly. Fortunately, no one had been injured more than sprains, bruises, and slight concussions.

Without Snide out of commission it looked like they'd have enough time to heal before going to fight all over again.

Keeper slowly walked towards Heckyl, raising his staff as he did so. "It is a surprise to me that another Energem has been found, but I am not surprised it has chosen you to bond to." He looked over the rows of colorful gems at the corner of the lab. "These Energems can sense goodness in those that are near it, despite our initial misgivings due to your allegiance with Snide, from your encounter with the Dark Energem, it appears you're to join our team and help save Earth."

Heckyl nodded, looking down at his hands. "I can still feel the way the Dark Energem coursed through my veins, how long it took for me to understand that the horrific things I had been doing…I felt nothing but shame when I found out and vowed I would take down Snide whatever it took."

"Yeah, but now you're linked to him," Shelby pointed out. "If something hurts him, it hurts you."

"A side effect of Snide's life force being drawn from the Dark Energem, I'm afraid," Keeper said.

"So we destroy the Dark Energem to break the link?" Riley asked.

"Or that could destroy Heckyl as well," Chase pointed out.

Tyler shook his head. "It doesn't look like we have a lot of choice on this one."

"I don't want to endanger the rest of you anymore," Heckyl said. "I'll go find Snide myself and…and take him down."

The rangers all exchanged glances. They knew a suicide mission when they heard one. "I'm afraid that's not going to happen, my good sir," Ivan said. He clasped his hands behind his back. "Now when you have a team behind you at every turn."

"Yeah, Snide's not just your enemy," Shelby said. She poked herself in the chest. "He's ours, too. He's hurt a lot of people that we know and love and we won't let him get away with it."

"So…" Koda's eyes widened. "Heckyl, stay?"

"Yes," Kendall agreed, speaking up for the first time since they had gotten back. "Heckyl stays." She looked at him, their eyes locking. "If that's what he wants." Heckyl started to smile at her but she turned and pointedly nodded to James. "If that's what they want."

Tyler looked at his father expectantly. James smiled back at him; he reached out his hand and placed it on Tyler's shoulder. "I've been gone for ten years," he said solemnly. "I'm not going to be gone for ten more." Tyler grinned and hugged his father tightly.

Heckyl nodded. He didn't truly know what it was like to have a family in a long time, his entire planet having been destroyed ages ago. But if this was what a family really was like, at least he was getting an idea of what it truly meant.

Kendall glanced at Heckyl over her shoulder and gave a soft smile.

Heckyl smiled back.

At least he had a little incentive.

TH END

A/N: So, to anyone confused; Heckyl was able to morph into the Aqua Ranger due to a dire situation, but he truly is the Navy/Talon ranger, hence why the Navy Energem came to him. And now he's a ranger along with the others.

I actually intended this story to end with 12 chapters, (11 with an epilogue) but this one ended up going through what I had planned a bit faster, so I hope it wasn't too abrupt of an end for you all. I plan to do one more story after this one, to show his life along with the rangers while being a ranger (and of course his relationship with Kendall), at least I have one planned out. It'll take some time before it's posted.

Thank you so much for everyone who favorited, reviewed, and alerted the story. I never intended them to be so short but since this one and the last one were based off of episodes, the next one will be longer as it won't be so based in them.

~Avalon