Guardian of the Grid

By: Armitage Blade

DISCLAIMER: Don't own Power Rangers.

Home Again

The eight landed back in the power chamber, and Dimitria was there to greet them.

"I see you have gotten your mission accomplished." She said after welcoming them back.

"Yes, we have." Jason said.

"Yes." Jade agreed. "Now, I have one last mission to fulfill before we can even begin to think about truly going home. It would be something that Zordon would want done." She stepped away from the group and flung out her right hand.

"I, Lady Jade of Earth, hereby grant powers in full faith and credit to the Lightning Guard, who have proven themselves under Lightning Mage Zordon's tutelage as well as during the trials on Eltar." She said, greenish-white lightning sprouting from her hands. Seven streaks of lightning left her hands and touched each of the guards. The Guard were enveloped in a greenish-white light, and were dressed in Ranger clothing. Jason was in his Morphin Red Ranger gear; Kim and Billy were dressed in their Ninjetti Ranger gear, and colors respectively; Kat and Adam were in their Turbo Ranger gear; Rocky was in his Zeo Ranger; and Tommy in his Black Dino Thunder Ranger gear.

"You will all have the powers of the forms that you are currently garbed in. The links are so messed up that even if I was able to straighten them out, I am not sure they would work. So, while I know there are a few powers that are still out there, I cannot connect you to them." Jade said, looking at the rangers. "However, Adam, Rocky, and Tommy; you three can access another power on your own. This power was never transferred to anyone else, like Kim's was. Billy, Kim, Kat; I will work on a way for you to access your other powers. Jason, when the time comes, I will find a way to help protect you even further, as one of Zordon's finest rangers."

A murmured round of thanks came from the seven astonished adults.

"Rangers, Jade, it is time to go back to your lives. Nothing will change much, except you will feel the power flowing through you. It is time for you to forge ahead with the rest of your lives." Dimitria said.

The eight looked at each other.

"No offense, but I should be working out for my next tournament. I've got to win one more to qualify for the U.S. National team to go to the World Championships." Jade said. "Bye, and let your power protect you." She was enclosed in greenish-white lightning, and disappeared back to her home.

Kim looked at the others. "You guys, it was great to see you again. While we've always had that link of being Rangers, we now have the link of being the Lightning Guard. I don't know about you guys, but I will be at Jade's next tournament to cheer her on."

Her steely resolve impressed Jason and Billy. The two looked at each other, then back at the group. "We'll go as well." They both answered.

"Billy, aren't you giving up your life on Aquitar?" Kim asked.

"Kim, it was time I came home from Aquitar. As long as I haven't been declared dead, I should have no problem explaining away where I have been for the last ten years." Billy replied.

The others were surprised at Billy's insistence. They had no idea that Billy would have wanted to come home.

"Well, I guess all that's left to do is to make sure you're cleared." Tommy said.

"Yeah, Tommy, you'd have the know-how on that, wouldn't you?" Rocky joked.

Tommy's face colored a little.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Kat asked.

Six Weeks Later

"Up next, Jade Macco versus Charlotte Bell. This is the final match in the Women's Saber Seniors Division." The announcer called. The two white-clad forms stepped onto the strip, holding their saber weapons in their right hands and their masks in their left. They took their positions behind the two lines closest to the center, and saluted each other, the director, and the spectators. Securing their masks, they fell into their stances. The director called, "Ready?" When neither person moved, the director called "Fence!"

With that yell, the two women launched themselves at each other. Clashes of blades, accompanied with the tang of burning metal, were sporadically broken up by a buzzer going off and a light lighting up. About three minutes into the battle, a mandatory break was enforced. The score was 12-10 Charlotte.

"Come on Jade." Kim said under her breath, knowing the rules of cheering on a competitor during the match.

When the match resumed, Jade took the offensive, and scored point after point. Suddenly, the score was 14-14, and the director called "Labelle."

The two fencers saluted each other, and when the director said, "Fence," the two launched at each other, and just seconds later, Jade's pylon lit up, signifying that she won the final point. The two ran through the salutes, and waited for the director to make his decision.

"Ms. Macco defeats Ms. Bell by a score of 15-14."

The two saluted each other once more, and shook hands with their left hands. After the awards ceremony, a group of people came up to Jade.

"Hey!" Jade said, astonished. "You guys showed!"

"What, did you think after what happened six weeks ago, we were just going to ignore you?" Kat asked, her arms around Tommy.

"Honestly, yes." Jade said.

"Jade, you should know us better than that." Billy said, his arms around Kim. The others had their girlfriends with them.

"You don't have a boy yet, do you Jade?" Jason asked.

"What are you, my older brother?" Jade asked teasingly.

"As a matter of fact…"Jason started before Jade sent a withering glare.

"Well, I thank you guys for coming. I definitely wasn't expecting you guys to come and cheer me on."

"Well, ESPN is covering the World Championships, and yours truly is going to be one of the reporters there." Kim said.

"Congrats." Jade said.

The group waited for Jade to shower and change. When they came out, they all walked toward their vehicles, Jade in the center, bag slung over her shoulder, looking every inch the Lightning Mage she was. The dying sunlight glinted off her ring and the bracelets of the other rangers, which were their replacement morphers.

As the daylight died that day, Jade mentally vowed that no matter what it took, she would protect this world until she took her last breath. Little did she know that her Rangers took that very same vow, including in it to serve her faithfully. This vow was taken to heart, and every ranger team that has come to pass since has taken this vow as well.

Every story has an ending: some are good, some are bad. However, this story ends with the ending of the Legend of the Lightning Mage:

"For if the Lightning Child became the Lightning Mage, the legacy of the Power Rangers would continue on, stretching on into the eons. Her legacy would be carried in the blood of her descendents, and all Rangers would protect this line.

"If the Lightning Child fails in her quest, the legacy of the Power Rangers shall fall."

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­A.N.-This story is done! It took me a little over 5 months to finish (Remarkably less time than my first completed multi-chaptered story). So, thanks to all my reviewers, and may this story give someone the idea to write their own.