The Clone War: A Retelling
by Mele

"Billy, I'll be back around six tonight," Wallace Cranston told his son as he headed toward the door to leave for work. The elder Cranston was still reeling from what the Power Rangers had told him, and the appearance of his son.

The Red and Blue Rangers had come to him that night, almost a week before, and had told him the most incredible story of how his son had been kidnapped by the evil beings launching all the attacks against Angel Grove. How those beings had replaced his son with a clone whose duty it was to spy on the people of Angel Grove and report back to them. They told the worried parent that his son had been badly treated during his four months in captivity, but that they could cure his physical injuries more efficiently than the local medical facilities could.

The next day they had shown up again with Billy. But this was a Billy Wallace didn't immediately recognize as his son. Thin and pale, with a haunted expression in his eyes Wallace found painful to look at. The Rangers apologized profusely for not having realized the switch had occurred long before, then left Wallace with his traumatized offspring. The treatments on the Table had repaired the cuts and bruises, though faint scars still showed from the older injuries. The leg injury, specifically to his knee, would take a couple of weeks at least to finish healing. They'd left on a bandage, which was in fact a device to help regenerate the ligaments and tendons Goldar had damaged. The congestion in his lungs had been successfully cleared as well. The only thing they could not offer any counteraction for was the starvation. He'd been fortunate that Finster had provided him with a vitamin supplement, which had prevented scurvy, but not the hair loss.

If the Rangers felt badly about not having realized a clone had been released in Angel Grove, Wallace felt a hundred times worse. He'd not noticed any significant difference in his son's behavior or attitude over the recent months at all. But they had assured him that this was indeed his real son, and that the other was in fact a clone. Billy had accepted his father's stumbling apologies willingly enough, assuring his parent that he understood how he wouldn't have noticed a difference, how the clone was an especially clever duplicate.

Since then Wallace had tried to compensate for his oversight by smothering Billy with as much fatherly concern and care as he could convince the teen to accept. But Billy seemed to be holding himself tightly in control, and when Wallace gently questioned him on what had happened in the lunar palace Billy had refused to elaborate, saying only he hadn't been fed very well.

But Wallace was well aware that starvation was not the only difficulty Billy had faced during his imprisonment. Every single night since Billy's return the older man had heard his son cry out in the throes of bad dreams, usually awakening suddenly with a hoarse cry of "No! No more!" The sound of his son's cries affected Wallace far more than the sight of his obvious weight loss. When he heard Billy dreaming he'd go in to check on him, but usually the teen gently rebuffed his attempts at comfort, curling instead in on himself and ignoring his father's presence. Wallace had finally suggested that perhaps it would be a good idea for Billy to see someone professionally, but that idea had been rejected as well.

"Do you want me to pick up anything special for dinner?" he asked the silent figure seated at the kitchen table.

"No thanks. Whatever you want, Dad," was the disinterested response.

After his father left, Billy spent the day in his lab, as he'd done most every day since his return. Zordon had banned him from the Command Center for the time being, feeling he needed to be around other people and not working. At least two or three of his friends came by every day to spend time with him. Jason, Trini and Katherine were the most frequent visitors, while Tommy had only dropped in once.

He knew they felt guilty about what had happened, and he understood that they all needed to talk about it eventually. But at present he was too tired, too overwhelmed by the memories, and frankly too angry and disappointed to attempt to soothe his teammates. It was all he could do to get through each day himself.

That evening he and his father were surprised by a knock on the door and opened it to find the Red and White Rangers standing on their front porch.

"What's wrong?" Wallace asked, remembering all too clearly the last time he'd found Power Rangers on his doorstep.

"Nothing's wrong, sir," the White Ranger replied soothingly. "How're you doing, Billy?"

"I'm okay," Billy replied, wondering why they were there.

"Well, it occurred to us that if you were having trouble dealing with what happened to you on the moon, that we know of a place you can go where they specialize in these sorts of situations. Rita and Zedd have done damage throughout the galaxy, and this place has learned ways to help their victims recover."

Wallace had perked up at the prospect of a place that could really help Billy. His son's most effective argument against counseling was that no therapist on Earth was really qualified to deal with alien abduction/torture victims. This effectively squashed that objection.

"Where is this place? How long will he have to go there? Will he still be at home during treatment?"

Billy looked at his father with some surprise. He hadn't realized just how worried he was by Billy's condition.

"The place we are suggesting is another planet, Phaedos. The length of his stay depends on how well he responds to treatment. I'm leaving you this device with which to summon us. If you decide to take this offer, let us know and we will arrange it. Again, we all offer our sincerest apologies for what happened."

With that the two Rangers disappeared in streaks of white and red, leaving Billy and his father standing there.

"Another planet, huh?" Wallace murmured, looking at the device in his hand. "Couldn't be something easier, I guess." His voice was soft and sorrowful.

"No, I guess not," Billy agreed quietly as they reentered the house.

Tommy sat at a corner table at the Juice Bar, staring moodily into his smoothie. Earlier he and Rocky had visited the Cranston house to offer the services of Dulcea to help Billy deal with the lingering effects of his imprisonment. He rolled the cool glass between his hands and contemplated the meeting in the Command Center that had led to their visit ...

Tommy stood and left the Juice Bar, his untouched smoothie still sitting on the table.

"No! Stop!" Billy's voice was rough-sounding as he thrashed on his bed, caught in the throes of yet another nightmare. Wallace walked up to the bed and caught one shoulder, shaking it gently.

"Billy! Wake up, it's another nightmare," he said firmly. This marked the twelfth straight night the elder Cranston had had to rouse his son from a bad dream or had heard the boy awaken himself from one. He was finding his temper growing short due to lack of sleep and the stress of watching his only child struggle with horrendous memories.

Billy jerked away from his father's touch, then twisted over, swinging wildly. His blow connected with his father's face, sending him stumbling into the desk behind him, noisily upsetting books and other paraphernalia.

"Huh? Dad?" Billy asked blearily, straining to see in the diffuse light from the hallway. "Dad! Are you okay?" Billy stumbled to where his father was struggling to get back up.

"Geez, Billy, you pack one heck of a punch," he muttered, rubbing the reddening mark on his cheek.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. The dreams ... they're so real. Every night, I'm there again, and I can't get away. No matter what, I keep going back. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hit you," the teen's voice cracked as he knelt beside his father.

"Shhh ... It's okay, it'll be okay," Wallace crooned, taking his son in his arms.

"No, it's not. It won't be. I can't keep going this way, I can't. I'm afraid of everything again," he sobbed brokenly. It was the first time he'd allowed his father to really comfort him, and as a result he finally let his feelings loose.

Wallace crouched on the floor of the bedroom, holding on to Billy with almost desperate strength, waiting for this storm to pass. Time ceased to have any meaning as he offered what comfort he could to his son. Eventually Billy quieted.

"Come on, Son, time to go back to bed." Gently urging Billy to stand, Wallace helped him back to the bed and settled him in.

"I'm sorry, Dad, for being such a bother," he murmured absently, more asleep than awake.

"You're not a bother," Wallace soothed him before walking out and heading toward the bathroom to tend his minor injuries.

Billy awakened the next morning feeling logy and more worn out than he'd been when he lay down. He considered the strange and disturbing dreams he'd had the night before, dreams of more than just his experiences in the lunar palace. He was still trying to understand them all when his gaze fell on the mess by his desk; books and stuff lying on the floor, the chair tipped over, and the computer keyboard hanging by its cord.

It wasn't all a dream, he realized with a sinking heart. He'd really broken down last night in his father's arms. After punching him in the face. Billy groaned in dismay, then dragged himself out of bed. Better to face the music as quickly as possible.

"Billy, want some juice?" Wallace asked as his son came into the kitchen.

"Yes, please," he replied, watching his dad closely.

"Here you go. How're you feeling this morning?"

"I'm fine. Are you okay, Dad?" he asked, eyeing the bruise on his father's right cheek.

"I'll live. You look like you could use some more sleep, though," Wallace observed as he served their breakfasts. One battle he'd not had with Billy was getting the teen to eat.

Billy just made a noncommittal sound as his gaze kept returning to that damning bruise. He realized things could not continue as they had been going. That realization brought a sudden decision.

"Dad? I want to take the Rangers up on their offer."

Wallace's expression showed that he'd halfway expected this.

"Are you sure, Son? Do you trust them that much? After all, they are partially responsible for all this."

"I'm sure. Look, Dad, no therapist here could possibly understand. Not really. Maybe this person on Phaedos can. It's worth a try."

Wallace sighed deeply. "Okay. Let's call them, then. I'm willing to go along with just about anything if it'll help you."

Billy's eyes misted as he looked gratefully at his dad.

"Thank you."

Billy's first sight of Phaedos was the same one his teammates had gotten months before. A rocky shore littered with the bones of some sort of gigantic beasts, with waves crashing onto boulders and sending a fine spray into the air. Billy hoisted his duffel bag and set out in the direction he'd been told to go to seek Dulcea. His determination, born of the fear he'd never get better, almost wavered as he realized he was probably the only human on the entire planet. Never before had he felt quite so alone.

But he wasn't alone. Far above, hidden from his view, a regal figure watched his progress with some interest.

Dulcea had been oddly pleased by Zordon's call, saying the young wolf Ninjetti was indeed coming to Phaedos to recover from the experiences he'd had at the hands of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Even the thought of their names brought a curl to her lips and anger to her spirit. For far more years than she cared to remember, she'd dealt with survivors of those two evil ones, as well as others. Her inborn empathic powers, in conjuncture with her Ninjetti warrior training, had enabled her to develop a program which rehabilitated most of the victims that were sent to her for help. Over the centuries, only one in fifteen or so failed to recover completely, and of those 'failures' almost three quarters recovered at least enough to live useful, if not particularly happy, lives. The remainder were failures, and each one was a tear in her heart forever. She vowed that the young man she saw making his way with such determination would not join the rank of failures. Or even partial recoveries. She wanted nothing less than a full recovery, for the biting sting of her own failure accompanied this one. She too felt she should have recognized the first Blue Ranger from Earth was a fake.

It was the equivalent of early evening by the time Billy reached the sacred ruins. He tossed his bag to the side and looked around curiously, taking in the apparent age of the place, as well as the commanding view.

"Welcome, William of Earth," Dulcea spoke from behind him.

Billy whirled around, badly startled. "Uh, hello," he stammered.

"I didn't mean to startle you; it has been a while since I have had company. I tend to forget my manners," she said calmly. Actually, her startling Billy had been quite intentional. She'd wanted to see just how bad his nerves were.

"It's okay," Billy replied quietly. He looked around again. "Uh, where do I stay? Here?"

Dulcea chuckled gently. "No. Come with me and I will show you where you are to stay during your time here."

She led the way to a small building cleverly built into the side of the bluff. Only one room, there was a bed against the wall, a couple of crude chairs and a table, shelves, and a curtained-off alcove which hid the bathroom facilities. Despite the rustic furnishings, the small dwelling was warm and comfortable-feeling, with furs and colorful blankets draped about.

"I'll give you some time to settle in, then meet me back at the temple. We have much to discuss," Dulcea told him, taking her leave.

Billy pulled out the clothing he'd packed and carefully put it away on the shelves, then headed back the way they'd come.

He was anxious to get started.

Dulcea watched the young wolf Ninjetti sprint up the stairs of the temple with a satisfied smile. He was stronger now than ever before. He wore only a pair of shorts, and his leanly muscled torso shone with a generous coating of perspiration. The day was coming on hot.

It had been nearly two weeks since Billy's arrival on Phaedos. During that time he'd been put through a training regime that would do a marine drill sergeant proud. Every day, twice a day, he had to run through special exercises to improve his overall stamina and strength, in addition to twice-daily sparring matches with Dulcea, who routinely wiped the forest floor with him. She provided all his meals, which she insisted he eat, no matter how tired he might be.

In the beginning he'd thought he'd never survive her 'help'. The first night he literally fell asleep at the dinner table, his face resting on a generous baked roll. Dulcea had gently awakened him and bullied him into finishing his meal. For days he awoke in agony from strained muscles, his first few steps of the day stiff and painful. Then gradually the pain faded, and the welcome sensation of good health replaced it. His weight increased, his ribs were gradually fading from view. He moved with assurance, if not grace. His reaction to sudden danger was to fall into a defensive posture, ready to attack. He'd not dreamt of the lunar palace at all.

She never asked him directly what had happened to him at Rita and Zedd's hands, but instead, over meals and during quiet times between training sessions, they talked. Their conversations covered a wide range of topics, including his experiences on the moon. Gradually, without his being aware of it, he'd told her the entire story, everything that had gone on up there during the four months, plus his feelings of hurt, betrayal, and anger that his friends and father had not noticed the difference.

"You're getting faster at those stairs, William," she said as he approached at a walk, his breathing already slowing toward normal.

"There don't seem to be as many as there were last week," he grinned.

"Perhaps it's because you were taking them two at a time?" she suggested with a smile of her own.

"Perhaps," he chuckled. He looked out beyond her to the forest, and the temple therein.

"That's where they quested before, right?" he asked. It was the first time he'd mentioned the quest for the Great Power to her.

"Yes. It is also where you will take your quest," she replied.

"Me? I have to go on a quest?"

"Of course. All who hold the Great Power must prove their worthiness."

"Oh." He looked at the distance, deep in thought. "When?"

"Soon. Very soon. It will be one of the last steps in your healing."

"I'm close to being finished? To being well?" He looked frankly amazed at the idea.

Dulcea laughed fondly at the question. "Of course! Do you not feel better? Are your nights not more restful?"

"Well, yeah, of course. I guess ... I guess I was expecting something else. This seems so ... non-invasive?"

"Ah, William, you were expecting the Human way? You are Ninjetti, our ways are different."

"I see that. So even when I go home, the dreams will remain gone?"

"They may come back occasionally, but not nightly as they did before. But don't relax yet, young wolf, there is still much to do."

"What else is required, Dulcea? Besides the quest?"

"You must make peace with the other Ninjetti."

Billy opened his mouth to protest that he wasn't angry, but Dulcea held up a silencing hand.

"Think, William. Are you truly not angry? Look deep inside yourself, before you answer that."

Billy closed his mouth and looked down, deep in thought. Without realizing it, he was getting better at accurately judging and identifying his feelings. When he looked up again, his eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"You're right. I'm angry. And hurt. They should have noticed ... something! Some difference. The clone wasn't me, he wasn't. There were differences, at least the other Rangers should have noticed that."

"Yes, they should have. But perhaps they were not totally at fault? Have you ever made yourself easy to know? Do you let them inside your true self? You would do well to meditate on that, William. Now, grab your staff, it is time for us to spar."

On the northern end of the temple ruins was a small alcove that looked out over an expanse of lush forest. Billy had chosen this place as his meditation spot, and he made use of it at least twice a day. One of the first things Dulcea had taught him was how to properly meditate, and since then he'd become hooked on the feeling meditating left him with.

The Master Warrior of Phaedos watched her newest student disappear to his meditation then turned and strode toward her own small home. She knew that at last it was time to contact Zordon and set in motion the last steps needed to complete the healing of the Wolf Ninjetti.

The tall woman couldn't resist a smile of satisfaction and pleasure at the apparent success of her plan. She was looking forward to making this particular call. When Zordon had first contacted her regarding the discovery of a clone on his Ninjetti team, Dulcea had been surprised to hear the ancient mentor admit that the Ranger involved was special to him. In the centuries of training and mentoring Ranger teams, they had all learned not to single out any Rangers for special treatment or consideration. But when she met Billy, and got to know the young man better, she understood Zordon's position. He was an unusual Ranger, possessed of an intelligence and curiosity far above the norm, and a rare courage that allowed him to face danger willingly even when he knew he was badly overmatched. That same courage had brought him to Phaedos to face his personal demons with a steadfast determination that she couldn't help but admire. For since arriving here and committing himself to her regime, he'd not complained or backed off once, but had dug in and worked with all his might toward his recovery. She'd found herself growing fond of the young man as well.

She stood in front of her Viewing Globe and placed her call to Zordon.

"Dulcea. I trust you have good news?" Zordon asked.

"I do. Your Ranger is recovering quickly. Soon it will be time for him to quest. You will make the necessary arrangements?"

"Yes. Is tomorrow convenient?"

"It will do."

"Thank you, Dulcea, for what you are doing for my Rangers."

"You are welcome, Zordon. We are all united in the fight against evil, I could do no less."

They were sparring again. Or rather, Dulcea called it sparring, Billy jokingly referred to it as being used for batting practice. This time he managed to remain on his feet a record-breaking 45 seconds before the Master Warrior swept his feet out from under him.

"You know, it would cut down on my bruises if I simply started in this position," he grumbled good-naturedly.

"You did much better this time," Dulcea commented, letting a touch of warmth steal into her voice.

"Yes, he landed very gracefully, too."

Dulcea looked up with no surprise at the source of the voice, as Kat Hillard entered the arena.

"You are the new Pink Ranger?" Dulcea asked out of ritual. There was no one else she could be.

"I am. Hello, Billy," she smiled at the Blue Ranger as he leapt agilely to his feet.

Billy looked at the new arrival with some trepidation. The first thought as he looked at the pretty teen was that she'd seen him half naked, filthy and sobbing in the lunar palace. He hazarded a look into her eyes and saw, not pity or disgust, but warmth, friendliness and genuine regard.

"You look great," she smiled as she approached him.

"Thanks. You, too," he replied as she hugged him warmly. He returned the embrace gladly, inordinately pleased that she seemed so happy to see him.

"It's great to see you, but why are you here?" he asked as he released her.

"I'm supposed to quest for the Great Power," she explained.

Billy turned to Dulcea with a curious expression.

Dulcea smiled at the two teenagers. "You are both selected to be permanent holders of the Great Power. In order to obtain that honor, you must first prove yourselves worthy. To do that, you must undertake the quest for the Great Power. Come with me, and we shall first discover your animal spirits."

They followed the Master Warrior of Phaedos to the main area of the temple, where she performed the ritual that called forth the two Rangers' animal spirits. This was purely to satisfy custom, as both knew what their animal spirits would be. A short time later, wearing the Blue and Pink Ninjetti uniforms, their respective chest shields sporting images of the wolf and crane, Billy and Katherine started down the steps and away from the temple.

"Did the others tell you what happened on their quest?" Billy asked his companion some time later. They'd walked in companionable silence for a long time, but the stillness was starting to creep into the uncomfortable zone.

"Not in any real detail. We are to be careful when amongst the dinosaur bones," Kat replied, looking around curiously. "They fought stone creatures at the monolith entrance. That's all I know of it," she admitted.

"Bones and stones, huh? Sounds like fun," Billy quipped.

Katherine looked at her companion, frankly surprised. She hadn't known Billy possessed a sense of humor at all. She began to suspect this adventure would lead to all sorts of unusual revelations.

"Did they mention chasms?" Billy asked suddenly.

"No, what do you mean? Oh ..." she replied, coming to stand beside him. There was a huge crack in the ground; perhaps 40 feet across and so deep the bottom could not be seen.

"Wonder what happened. Dulcea said nothing about seismic activity on this planet."

"Well, obviously they have it. Any ideas?" Kat asked.

"We could try to walk around, but that could take days. Or we can try to find a way across. The second option seems the most logical."

"Yeah," Katherine agreed, scanning the edge of the ravine for anything that could be moved to act as a bridge. "Funny, I don't remember them mentioning this."

"Perhaps the conditions change for each quest," Billy suggested distractedly.

"Maybe," the Pink Ranger murmured, looking up at the tall trees, hoping to see a vine or something they could use to swing across. She didn't' see any vines, but something about the trees caught her attention, though it took a minute for just what it was to register with her.

"Billy, the trees! That's how we can get across!" she said with considerable excitement.

Billy gave her a puzzled look, then shifted his gaze to follow hers. He caught her idea immediately.

"Talk about not being able to see the forest for the trees! You're right, Kat. It should work."

The trees in this section of the forest where extremely tall, very wide, and some grew quite near the edges of the ravine. There were places where the limbs from a tree on one side of the ravine intertwined with branches from a tree on the other side.

"We need to find one with very sturdy branches, then we can probably make it," Kat exclaimed, hurrying forward while scanning the trees eagerly. "Look! That should work just perfectly."

The tree on their side appeared older than most, and was actually tilting out over the chasm a bit. Its branches, some as big around as Katherine's waist, were tangled with the branches of the tree across the ravine, itself also quite sturdy.

Kat reached the base of the tree and began to climb quickly, working her way upward with a determination Billy couldn't help but admire. She reached the branch she felt was the best choice, and then waited patiently for her companion to catch up. Billy wasn't nearly the tree climber she was.

"I'll go first. It looks like we can just walk across, if we're careful. The other branches will give us something to hold on to, to give us a bit of balance," she said, carefully plotting her way across.

"Okay by me," Billy said, taking a position where he could watch her closely.

Kat started out slowly, choosing her way with extreme caution. She was about at the halfway point when she stepped on a small offshoot branch, which sprang up when she lifted her foot. In doing so, it somehow snagged her shoelace, entangling it and stopping her rather effectively.

"Darn it all!" she muttered, trying to pull her foot free. The shoelace had managed to get wrapped around the small branch several times and was completely stuck. She tried to yank free and nearly lost her balance.

"Kat!" Billy cried out in alarm as the tall blonde waved her arms about wildly, trying to regain her balance. He didn't dare breathe until she'd steadied herself.

"Kat, don't move, okay? I can see your problem, and I'm going to need to help you. How's the branch feeling for sturdiness?" he asked.

"It feels real strong, no give yet," she said softly, still panting heavily in the aftermath of her fright.

"Okay then, I'm coming on out. Just stay very still, okay? I'm starting out now." He kept up a running commentary until he reached her position just over halfway across.

"I'm right behind you now," he said at last. "I'm kneeling down, you'll feel a very slight tug on your shoe, perhaps, though I'll try not to. Do not move your foot until I say to, okay?" Billy lowered himself very carefully and with deft fingers untangled the shoelace.

"You're free now, go ahead and take a step," he advised her. She turned her head to thank him and promptly lost her balance, falling backwards onto him and knocking them both off the branch. In desperation she grabbed him around the waist, as he managed to grab the branch with desperate strength. Their fall stopped abruptly, leaving them swinging over a decidedly fatal drop.

Billy could feel Kat's panicky hold on his waist, her hands gripping the waistband of his pants.

"Kat? Kat, talk to me. Come on, Kat, it's okay," he spoke reassuringly.

"It's not okay," she gasped out, her breathing ragged with fear. "How can you say it's okay?"

"Kat, we can get out of this, if we keep calm. You have to calm down. I want you to take some steadying breaths, okay? Remember how you told me your diving instructor taught you to use breathing exercises to concentrate? I need you to do that now, all right? Come on, Kat, you can do this." His calm tone got through the Australian's panic, and he heard her take the first of several deep breaths. He waited until she seemed steadier.

"Kat, you're going to have to climb back up to the branch first. You'll be using me as a ladder, okay? Nice and slow and steady, that's the plan. I'm bending my leg back to give you some leverage. Can you feel that? Use that as a step, and reach up to my shoulder, okay? You can do this, Kat. You have to, I can't hold on all day. That's a girl, perfect. Now I'm bringing my other leg forward, you can brace your next step there and reach the branch. Perfect! Can you move yourself a bit to the side? Good. Now, again, here's my leg for a step, try to lever yourself back on top of the limb. Excellent!" Katherine had managed to pull herself up to the branch and straddled it awkwardly.

Relieved of Kat's additional weight, Billy jackknifed his body and managed a 'backward roll', swinging a leg over and coming to sit behind Katherine.

"Maybe we should just scoot across, huh? Not as dignified, perhaps, but a bit safer," Billy suggested at last.

Kat's answering snicker sounded a bit congested, as if she were crying. Billy made no comment, but gently urged her ahead.

Kat was leading the way toward the monolith when she stopped abruptly, leaning against a tree. "Time for a break," she muttered.

Billy found a nearby rock to sit on, and, not wishing to embarrass Katherine, stared at his feet with sudden interest. The silence, comfortable before the events at the ravine, was getting on both teens' nerves.

"I'm sorry," Kat said softly. "I ... I nearly killed you. I nearly killed us both." Her sapphire eyes were slightly red from her tears.

"It was an accident, Kat, that's all. And you recovered very quickly, and got yourself back up again. That's what really matters. It takes a lot of courage to do that," he smiled reassuringly. Giving in to an impulse, he stood and went to her, putting a comforting arm around her shoulder. "And you're forgetting the most important thing of all — we're both okay."

Kat couldn't help but smile at that. "Yes, that's true," she agreed softly. "Thanks, Billy. For saving me earlier, and for your understanding."

Billy blushed slightly, looking down in sudden embarrassment. Kat was struck again by the difference between the teen she was with now and the one she'd met when she first joined the team. How could those who'd known him ever have accepted the clone as the real Billy? To her they seemed incredibly different.

"You're welcome," he mumbled. They stayed silent for a few moments, then Billy looked up with another faint smile. "I think we're close. I'll be glad to get this done with."

"What if we fail?" Kat asked with a slightly teasing smile.

"If we fail I'm going to be very ticked off," he grinned back. "And then Jason and Trini will have to quest so they can keep the powers. Which wouldn't be a good idea since I don't think blue or pink would be good colors for them."

"Oh, I dunno," Kat giggled. "Jason could probably pull of wearing pink very well."

Billy gave her an incredulous look then burst into laughter. "Oh, man. I have this mental flash of him wearing the Pink uniform; that little skirt would look so...so..." he couldn't continue as his laughter increased.

Kat's mind drew her an accurate picture of Jason Scott's muscular physique encased in the very feminine Pink armor, and she found she couldn't hold back her laughter any longer. Soon the Neola Jungle rang with the combined laughter of the two Human teenagers.

"Kim, she told me what Dulcea said about the Crane. I can just hear her telling him: 'Agile Jason, light as a feather'," Kat snickered, leaning against the tree for support as she continued to giggle.

"Oh, yeah, that's Jason all right," Billy snorted. He gradually got a grip again and was relieved to see Kat looked much better. "And on that note, we should probably get going," he suggested.

They hadn't realized they were close to the monolith until they suddenly came upon it, standing in the small clearing directly in front of its impressive stone bulk. The recesses where the stone guardians had stood before were now empty.

"So now what do we do?" Billy asked.

"Well, I guess Tommy approached the monolith, and the stone guardians attacked them. The guardians are gone, so I don't know what may happen now," Kat told him.

"I guess we should try approaching it? See what happens?" Billy suggested.

At Kat's nod they walked up to the base of the monolith and tentatively reached out and touched some of the engravings.

Nothing happened.

Billy stepped back and considered the engravings curiously. "There's something here we just aren't getting, Kat. We just have to figure out what that might be." He stepped back further, considering the stone surface. "Kat, does this look right to you? Complete?" he asked at last.

Katherine stepped back even further, taking in the entire surface. "You're right, something seems to be missing. Well, besides the guardians. That section, over there, I think something should be there. But what?"

Billy looked at each section individually, comparing them to each other. "I could be wrong, I'm not really a linguist, but I think it's like a story, but missing a chapter. The one that would be in that empty section. But how do we complete the story?" he mused out loud.

"The stone is missing!" Kat declared at last, her expression excited.

"The stone?"

"Yes. See how there is a stone in the upper left corner of each segment? The one for that section is missing. That has to be it!"

Billy smiled at her excitement. "I can't believe I missed that! You're right. Now all we have to do is find the missing stone. Perhaps there is a clue on one of the other surfaces."

They walked around the monolith, and on the back they found hieroglyphs such as the ancient Egyptians used.

"We may be in luck, they seem fairly straightforward," Billy muttered, studying them intently. "Here's the monolith. And here are representations of the various animals that can house the Powers, I think. Ah, the stones, there. I think ... I think the stones are similar to our traditional birthstones on Earth. If that is close, then we are missing September, the sapphire." He gave a soft snort of laughter tinged with irony. "The blue stone. Figures."

"Look! Here. If that symbol is the missing stone, then here it is again. Maybe this is the story of where it was taken," Kat exclaimed, hunkering down to study the series of symbols more closely.

"I think you're right. And if I am getting the gist of what all this stands for, the stone was hidden in an old well, or mine. Look. Here. This symbol. It shows the sun to the east of the monolith, so I guess we go east, and search for this big hole," Billy said.

Kat nodded in agreement, and the two set off in an easterly direction, moving cautiously and thoroughly investigating the area.

"Whoa! I found it," Billy called over to Kat.

"Oh, my gosh. Billy, that looks like it's bottomless!"

Billy shrugged. "Let's see." He picked up a fist-sized rock and lobbed it into the hole. It was several seconds before they heard the faint sound of it hitting something.

"Very deep. I sure hope it isn't at the bottom of this thing; we may never find it." He looked around, considering their options. "How about I use some of these vines and make a rope? I'll rappel down the side and look for the stone. You'll stay up here and handle the rope."

"Wouldn't it be more logical for you to be on the top, and I go down? You being the stronger one, and me the lighter one?" Kat asked, looking a bit faint at the idea. She wasn't afraid of heights, or the dark, but the creepy crawlies that probably lived in the pit worried her a lot.

"We'll run the rope through a pulley like arrangement, allowing you to easily pull my weight up if needed. We can do this, Kat."

Working together, they gathered the vines they'd need to lower Billy into the deep pit, and he made a makeshift harness for himself, then weaving the rope cleverly through some low branches of a nearby tree, he arranged it so Kat could easily haul him up if needed.

"Good luck," Kat said softly as Billy stood at the edge, looking down with more unease than he wanted to admit to.

"Thanks," he smiled, and then started climbing downward with Kat playing out the vine.

He kept moving steadily down, calling out to Kat occasionally, looking carefully and probing into shadowy areas. Between the constant expectation that his hand would be bitten or cut by some hidden creature, and the irrational fear that Kat would abandon him to his fate in this dark place, he was close to panicking. He was about a hundred feet down when suddenly a flurry erupted from just below him, and a multitude of small bat-like creatures flew past him toward the surface. He gave a harsh cry of surprised fear.

"Kat, watch out! There are a bunch of bats coming your way," Billy called up to her, as he dropped to the area where the bats had originated. Seeming to glow with its own light, the missing stone sat in a small recessed niche. Billy grabbed it gratefully and tucked it into his shirt just as he heard Katherine scream.

"Kat! What's wrong?" he called as he heard her scream yet again. "Kat, pull me up!" There was no response from above, no pull on the vine holding him suspended above what was probably a fatal drop. "Kat!"

Up on the planet's surface, Katherine Hillard was fighting against panic, her own doubts, and about two dozen small winged creatures. She kept a grip on the vine, though, determined not to let Billy down. She was a sensitive young woman; she understood how hard it had to have been for Billy to place his safety in her hands, given his recent experiences. She had felt her first impressions of Billy - first as a rather cool, standoffish sort, then as a weak, beaten victim - be replaced by a powerful respect and admiration for how he had fought back against the effects of the last few months. She knew without a doubt that this Billy was someone she wanted to have as a friend over the long term. And nothing short of her own destruction would make her let go of the vine that was all that stood between Billy and possible death.

But, her determination did not mean she wasn't terrified. She hated things fluttering around her head, messing in her hair. She wrapped the vine around her back and held it with one hand while trying desperately to beat off the bats with a branch she found near her feet.

"Kat!"

Billy's voice wafted up to her, and despite her own distraction she heard the fear in it. She started backing away, pulling her companion upward, while still enabling her to try to fight off the attack from the small, vicious bats.

The creatures finally broke off their attack, and Katherine started pulling Billy up faster.

"Kat, are you okay?" His voice was a lot closer, and sounded very worried.

"I'm fine, Billy. Are you okay?" she called out to him.

"Fine. Almost there ... good, I'm at the top," he gasped out, snatching an exposed root and using it to help haul himself up.

Kat saw him emerge and hurried forward, grabbing him and dragging him away from the edge. The bats disappeared back down the hole with an unearthly, thin screeching cry.

Billy could feel Kat's trembling. "Are you okay?" he asked again, putting a comforting arm around her shoulder in a one-armed hug.

"Y...yes. It's just ... they kept getting in my hair, and swooping down on me ... and they were everywhere ... I was afraid I'd drop the rope, I couldn't run away, get away from them," she stammered.

Billy tightened his grip. "Thank you. Thank you for not letting go, for hanging in there. You don't know how much your courage meant to me."

"My courage? Billy, I was scared to death! I'm still shaking, for heaven's sake. I'm not courageous!"

Billy looked taken aback at the self-loathing in her voice.

"Kat, staying there, holding on to that vine, that's the most courageous thing you could have done. It may sound trite, but real courage is doing what is right and required even if you're scared to death," Billy managed to look at her while saying that, though he knew he was blushing.

Kat felt tears sting her eyes at his sincerity. "Thank you," she murmured. "Did you get the stone?" she asked suddenly.

"Right here," he smiled, pulling it out and holding it up for her to admire.

"It's so beautiful," she breathed.

"Absolutely," he agreed, not looking at the stone.

"We should take it back, I guess," she said at last. They climbed to their feet and began to backtrack to the monolith, not talking, each lost in their thoughts.

Once at the monolith, Billy lost no time in placing the stone in its proper niche. As soon as it was in place, all twelve stones began to glow, and the monolith front opened. A ghostly crane and wolf flew out, circling the two teens before merging into the breastplates of their ninjetti uniforms. The monolith closed and the gems lost their bright glow, while Billy and Katherine stood still in surprise at the sensation of having been touched by the Great Power.

"Guess we head on back, now," Billy said at last, looking at Kat with a bright smile. It had felt so good to have had that fleeting contact with the Power.

Dulcea watched the Pink and Blue Rangers approach the temple, smiling warmly. They had succeeded, much as she had figured they would. But, more than that, she sensed that each of them had defeated some perceived weakness inside themselves, leaving them stronger than before.

"I see you were successful. Tell me, what did you learn on your quest?"

"I learned that I can be brave if I need to be," Kat replied quietly. "I wasn't sure I was brave enough to be a Ranger."

Dulcea glanced proudly at the blonde teen.

"I learned I can trust, that I can put my life in someone else's hands and they will honor that trust. I didn't know if I could take that risk again," Billy said.

"That is excellent, William. You both did well. You now possess the Great Power, use it wisely," she intoned as the two weary teens sat down on stone blocks.

"Thank you, Dulcea. Does this mean our time here has come to an end?" Billy asked quietly.

"Almost, William. Katherine can go home now, but you have one more hurdle to overcome; then you will be ready to resume your duties as the Blue Ranger."

"What might that be?"

"You must see if you can forgive, truly forgive, your friends for their part in what happened to you."

Jason followed after Tommy, his gaze darting around the rough stone ruins they were now entering. Once all of them were gathered in what appeared to be the main area of the temple, Tommy called out quietly.

"We're here, Dulcea."

"Greetings, Thomas. Rangers past, and present. For those who don't know me, I'm Dulcea, Master Warrior of Phaedos. You all know why you are here, correct?" she asked with a stern look at the assembled teens.

"We're here for Billy," Tommy said softly.

"Good, as long as you have that straight in your minds, this should go well. You need to let him say what he needs to say, accept his feelings, and let him know what yours are. He has recovered remarkably well physically, and as I'm sure Katherine told you, their quest was successful." The Master Warrior smiled warmly at the Pink Ranger.

"She did tell us. And she said Billy seemed very well. Thank you for that," Jason said seriously.

"I did nothing but provide the forum for his healing. He did the work himself. Now you must all work together to finish what he has started so well. This event has affected you all, and so it is that you all must heal. Go on to the main area of the temple; Billy will join you shortly." She turned and strode off in her abrupt way.

The group made their way to the main temple grounds, helping Aisha maneuver the stairs with her broken leg. Zordon had briefed them on what to expect from this encounter after an intense conversation with Dulcea concerning what needed to be resolved, and why. They all understood how much was at stake for both Billy and the entire team.

They stood around restively, some looking out over the jungle toward the monolith, remembering their first visit there and the quest for the Great Power, others gazed around curious as to what the temple had been like in its glory. They were all a bit startled by the arrival of a trim, blue-clad figure that appeared from deeper within the ruins.

"Billy!" Kimberly, who'd taken the time off from training, launched herself at her friend, unable to contain her joy at seeing him well after hearing about how horribly injured he'd been.

"Kim, it's good to see you! I didn't think you'd be able to make it," Billy smiled at his petite former teammate.

Kimberly's doe eyes saddened. "There is no way I could not come, Billy. I feel horrible about what happened."

"We all do," Tommy added from behind his girlfriend.

Billy looked at Tommy seriously, and then shifted his gaze to take in the others. "I guess that's why we're all here. Guess we should sit down and talk about it."

The teens all chose spots to sit, leaving them in a roughly circular formation. Once settled in, an uneasy silence fell over the group, and they found themselves looking from one to the other in some confusion.

"I suppose at some point someone is going to have to say something," Billy sighed. He felt the others' eyes upon him and fought his natural inclination to be silent and sink into the background. He sighed deeply.

"I want, more than anything, to say I have no problems with what happened over the last few months. But I can't honestly say that. Not yet, anyway. I ... I was so sure you guys would show up to rescue me. I feel kind of stupid now, but I really expected that to happen. Every time I was beaten, every time Finster 'took a sample' from me, every time I heard Goldar or Scorpina shouting for me, I told myself I could take it because soon my friends would rescue me. And every time it didn't happen, another small part of me seemed to die. But I'd make excuses; I'd figure the clone was causing so much trouble that you didn't have enough time for a rescue mission. Or some other, unknown disaster had occurred, preventing a rescue. As time went on, the scenarios became more and more elaborate and unlikely, but that hope was all I had left to me. When I looked up that day after Goldar's beating and saw Jason there ... I wasn't even sure he was real. You see, I'd finally given up. I'd finally accepted that the clone had successfully replaced me." The soft voice, thick with sorrow, paused.

"And that hurt. More than you can realize, that hurt. I could understand my dad not noticing something was wrong. He didn't have any reason to know ... to even suspect that I could be replaced by a clone. But you all knew." Anger was beginning to creep into the tone, growing as he spoke. "You knew it had happened. And yet still, you didn't wonder or test or question anything he did. Nor did you wonder what happened to the 'clone'. It had to be pretty obvious he wasn't killed. If Kat hadn't sought out the answers to her dreams with Jason and Trini, I very well could ... no, probably would ... be dead by now."

He stopped, realizing that several of his friends were in tears. He fought down the urge to apologize for what he'd said, understanding he had to speak out if he was ever to heal. His friends' pain also needed to be expressed; and to be expressed, it had to be felt. Or so Dulcea had explained it to him. But he was finding it was very painful to do.

"I'm not telling you this to hurt you, to punish you. I'm telling you this because I need to. I need for you to understand what I felt, what I'm feeling. And I need to know what you're feeling."

"I feel horrible," Kimberly spoke first, breaking the uncomfortable silence. Having been through therapy when her parents divorced, she knew what Billy was doing, she understood the process better than the others did. Plus, she'd not been there when Billy had been found, and during the two weeks before he'd come to Phaedos she'd barely had time to talk to him on the phone. She realized later that she could have found a way and the time to come to him.

"Not only for not realizing we had been deceived, and my part in that deception," she said quietly but firmly. "But for being afraid to face you after the fact. Afraid to come home while you were in Angel Grove, afraid to even call you. You're one of my oldest, dearest friends, and I was afraid to face you. I'm sorry," she concluded, tears streaming down her face.

Billy lost his own tenuous hold on his emotions as Kim approached him, offering her small hand to him. He used it to gently pull her into a tight embrace, surprised by the sudden sense of peace he felt. The icy pain in his heart began to thaw just a bit.

Jason came next, with an apprehensive expression foreign to those strong features. "Billy, I should have realized what had happened. I should have heard something in our conversations that tipped me off. I should have contacted Tommy to be sure you'd been tested properly after your return. But I didn't, and it hurts to know I failed you when you needed me the most." Billy was shocked to hear the deep voice break.

Dulcea had told him it would be hard, hearing his friends apologize, hearing their guilt. She hadn't exaggerated. He opened his mouth to reply but Zack interrupted him.

"That goes for me, too. I've known you too long to have been so completely fooled by the clone. I'm sorry, man."

Billy looked at the two teens who'd been his closest friends for nearly half his life. "It's okay, I understand how it happened," he began, but he got no further as he found himself in a three-way embrace. Words were unnecessary and a moment later they separated, each wiping surreptitiously at watering eyes.

Trini came next, saying simply, "I'm sorry." Her luminous dark eyes met Billy's light ones in wordless communication. Their embrace was perhaps a bit longer than the others.

Rocky's expression was so atypically serious Billy was almost worried. The Red Ranger strode up to stand directly in front of him and stared intently into Billy's face. Billy was about to ask of Rocky was okay when the other teen finally spoke.

"Are you absolutely sure you aren't the clone?" he demanded.

Billy started to speak, then caught the glint deep in the dark eyes glaring into his. He couldn't help it; he burst into laughter.

"Yeah, I'm sure, Rocky," he gasped out finally. The comment wasn't all that funny, but it had been so unexpected, so typically Rocky.

"Good," the dark-haired teen pulled Billy into a warm embrace, murmuring, "I'm sorry I didn't recognize the clone for what it was."

"It's okay, Rocky," Billy assured him, a smile still hovering around his lips.

After Rocky's retreat Adam was the next to step up. Billy recognized they were falling into a ritual-like rhythm, which he found to be oddly comforting. It also helped to realize that they were almost through, though the two he figured would be the toughest were still to come. Pushing those thoughts aside, he turned his attention to the Asian youth in front of him.

Adam's mouth moved, but no words had issued forth. The dark eyes were glistening with unshed tears; his misery was painfully obvious. Billy's first impulse was to step forward and offer his forgiveness before the other teen could say anything. Much as Jason had always exhibited a tendency to protect Billy, Billy had had the same inclination toward the soft-spoken Black Ranger. He knew Adam felt terrible; he didn't need him to say it out loud. But a sudden insight made the older teen resist that urge. He may not need to hear it, but some instinct told him that Adam needed to say it.

"I'm sorry," Adam managed at last. He looked at Billy with a sudden determination, as if steeling himself for a physical blow.

"I know you are. Apology accepted," he said softly, smiling a little to try to encourage the other teen.

Adam's return smile was a bit wobbly, but it heartened Billy a lot as they hugged. He whispered gently, "It's okay, Adam."

The Black Ranger's smile had solidified by the time he stepped away and Aisha hobbled forward.

"I'm sorry Billy, for what happened to you, for not realizing what had occurred," she began, but beneath her sadness was another emotion stirring which Billy had fully expected. "But ..." her voice trailed off.

"But I hurt you by letting the clone go after what he did," Billy concluded for her gently. "Is that it?"

"Yes," Aisha murmured, looking at her teammate with suddenly fiery eyes. "You let him go after he tried to kill me and all my family."

Billy flinched a little in the face of her anger, but didn't back down. "I'm sorry, Aisha. You have every right to be angry, and what I did was not fair to you or your family. But I did do it, and I'm not going to change it. I'm asking you to accept it if you can't understand it. Can you do that?"

The normally vivacious teenager looked at her teammate and friend with a pained expression. "You're asking a lot of me. I need some time to think this through."

"I understand that. Take all the time you need," he replied, his expression sorrowful. It seemed he'd lost a friend after all.

That left Tommy, who'd watched from his position farthest away from Billy. Slowly, realizing he was the only one left, he approached his teammate as if walking to his own execution.

The tall teenager found he had to summon all his courage to simply raise his gaze to meet that of his teammate. He'd seen the others apologize and be forgiven, but the others were not the leader. He'd failed not only as a friend and teammate, but as the leader of the Power Rangers. It was his job, his duty, to protect all the Rangers. A duty he failed miserably in this case. He dreaded seeing the anger and accusation he was sure he would find in the blue eyes.

Tommy screwed up his courage and sought out his friend's eyes. What he saw there encouraged him.

"I ... I'm sorry, really sorry, for not doing anything. Jason was right, you know. I should have insisted on an exam after the fight with the clone, even though he seemed so normal. If I had, you might have been freed long ago," he said miserably.

So that was the problem. "You couldn't have known, Tommy. From what I understand, his behavior was completely consistent with mine. If we all had to undergo complete exams after each fight we'd never get out of the Command Center," he tried to soothe his friend.

"But this time it could have made a difference," Tommy insisted.

"Maybe, maybe not. But I do know I can't live the rest of my life worried about 'what could have been'. It's over now, and I want to move forward unhindered by residual anger or bitterness from this time. That's why we're doing this, so we can move on. You have to let go of your guilt."

"I don't know how to do that."

"I'm not positive, but I think a good beginning would be for you to allow me to accept your apology and offer my forgiveness. Which I do quite willingly. Whatever could have been ... should have been ... would have been ... doesn't matter. It happened, and I for one want it behind me."

Tommy dropped his gaze, then looked back up directly into his teammate's eyes. "I'm sorry," he said simply.

"I accept your apology," Billy replied unhesitatingly.

Tommy pulled the smaller teen into a fierce embrace, surprised by how much better he felt by the simple act of saying and hearing those words.

Jason approached the two of them diffidently, waiting until they were finished before getting Tommy's attention.

"I owe you an apology, as well. I tried to lay all the guilt on you, and that wasn't fair, nor was it my place to be accusing you of anything. I was way out of line," the former Ranger said unflinchingly, offering his hand to the Ranger leader.

Tommy's smile was mildly ironic as he clasped the proffered hand, pulling his friend into a hug. "Accepted. I'm sorry too, for that fight in the Command Center."

"Geez, you pack one hell of a punch," Jason grinned, stepping back and contemplating his friend. "But also accepted," he said quietly. "We were both out of line, I guess."

"Gee, you think?" Rocky cracked, unable to resist an attempt to lighten the mood. "I thought Zordon was going to take you both out to the woodshed."

"Might have actually done some good," Zack chimed in, smiling.

The round of chuckles that greeted their bantering was somewhat subdued, but still encouraging. All the teens were feeling the effects of the emotional release.

Aisha had again worked her way closer to Billy, and he looked at her with a questioning expression.

"I still don't like what you did," she admitted. "But I can understand your reasons. And I value your friendship too much to lose it over that clone. If you can forgive me my part in stranding you on the moon, I can forgive you releasing the clone."

Billy smiled as he enveloped her in a bear hug. "I can accept that. Thank you, Aisha."

"Hey, Kat didn't get a hug," Rocky pointed out as the Yellow Ranger made her way back to the stone block she'd been using as a chair.

Katherine had sat quiet and unnoticed, watching the proceedings with an increased sense of pride and wonder at her new friends. Rocky's announcement startled her from her thoughts.

"Oh, I didn't do anything to merit a hug," she stammered, blushing.

"Well, you still should get one. Come on, give Billy a hug," Zack encouraged her, grinning widely.

Kat suspected the former Black Ranger and current Red Ranger were willing to be quite obnoxious in their desire to get her involved in the bonding. She decided to give in gracefully and walked over to Billy with a smile.

"I don't think they are going to give us a choice in this," she chuckled before stepping closer and holding out her arms.

Billy met her halfway and they found themselves wrapped in a warm embrace, both laughing softly.

"Okay, everyone happy now? Can we go home?" Kat asked at last.

"Yeah, can we go home? All of us?" Tommy asked seriously.

"Indeed, you have done yourselves, and Zordon, proud," Dulcea's voice spoke from the edge of the temple.

"So we're all free to go? Even Billy?" Jason asked.

"Yes, even Billy," she smiled, looking proudly at the young man.

"So what are we waiting for? Grab your stuff and let's go," Kim declared.

Moments later a rainbow of brightly colored streams left Phaedos and flowed unerringly toward Earth.

Billy found he was nervous as he waited for Tommy and Rocky to escort him back to his home. He'd missed his father terribly, but now that he was finally feeling normal again, he was anxious about his dad's reaction. After all, the last time Billy had seen him was after he'd punched the older man in the face in the grip of a bad dream.

To distract himself, he thought back to his leavetaking of Dulcea. The Master Warrior had insisted on escorting Billy alone to the cabin he'd used during his stay. After watching the young Human pack his belongings and shoulder the duffel bag, the Ninjetti guardian spoke.

"You have traveled a hard road, young wolf. You have proven yourself more than worthy to hold the Great Power. Should you ever find yourself in need again, you need only come to Phaedos and help will be available for you," she told him solemnly.

"Thank you, Dulcea. For all you have done for me. It is a debt I can never repay," he replied.

"You can repay me by continuing the battle on the side of the Light. By living a happy, successful life. By letting joy and wonder fill your heart, at least occasionally. It's been a pleasure having you here, William." She reached out a strong hand, running it down one cheek in a gentle caress. "Go now, your friends await."

He had turned and left abruptly, stopping at the doorway for a second, looking back to once more whisper "thank you," before hurrying back to the temple.

"You ready, Bro?" Tommy asked, startling Billy from his thoughts.

"Absolutely."

"Good. Your dad is home. He's not expecting you though, so he may be pretty surprised. Let's go."

Within seconds they were standing on the Cranston front porch. Rocky pushed the doorbell, then stepped back by Tommy, leaving Billy standing in front of them.

The door opened and Wallace Cranston almost chocked in his surprise at seeing his son standing there.

"Billy!" he cried out joyfully, embracing his son with a fierceness unexpected from someone so mild-looking.

"Dad," the teen murmured, returning the embrace with equal enthusiasm. The two Rangers exchanged quick looks, then teleported away without a word. Neither Cranston noticed their departure. A random thought crossed Billy's mind that he'd been hugged more that day than he'd been in the previous 16 years.

Wallace backed away a step, then reached out to take his son's face in his hands, looking directly into the light eyes.

"Are you okay? Are you really okay? Did it work?" he asked anxiously.

"I'm fine, Dad. I think it did work. Are you okay?"

"Now that you're home, I'm fine. I've been so worried; you have no idea. I contacted the Rangers a few times, but all they could ever tell me was that you were safe. That wasn't what I needed to hear."

"I don't think they knew how I was doing," Billy told him. "I don't' think Dulcea gave them progress reports."

"Dulcea?"

"She was the one who helped me. She's a Master Warrior on the planet Phaedos. She also pretty well beat me up regularly. But she made sure I ate, made me work out, meditate, and talk. I didn't even realize how much it was helping until we were done."

"You do look at peace. Oh, Billy, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I kept thinking I should have realized something was wrong. It's just so easy to blame things on 'he's just a teenager', you know?"

"Dad, if I learned nothing else on Phaedos, it's that I have to let go of the past. It's over. You had no reason to even suspect you were living with a clone; no way to know anything had been done to me. You aren't to blame, Zedd and Rita are. And the Power Rangers will eventually take care of them. Come on, and I'll tell you about Phaedos," Billy invited, indicating the open front door.

Father and son entered their home, talking quietly, as evening began to fall in the town of Angel Grove.

End

Author's notes: Thanks to Dagmar for the beta reading work. Excellent as always! And sorry about that comma thing...

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