"Uh...hope you're not bad for not telling you Starlight was working for Tirek?", Steel asked nervously. Shadow turned to Steel and slowly walked to him.
"I'm not mad. If there's anyone I should be mad at, it's myself."
"Come on bro. That's not true.", Ace said trying to comfort Shadow.
"Maybe this is the turning point for her character?", Burst asked hopefully. "The author might do something like that."
"Wait what was that last part?", Shadow asked.
"Nothing important." 'They must never know.' Meanwhile, Starlight was at her crossroads.
'So Shadow knows my secret, and now I know his. Now what do I do? If I choose to still serve Tirek, I'll break his heart. But if I defect, Tirek will hunt me down. Either path I take, I can't turn back...' Starlight then opened the locket that held a picture of her family. "You two always told me to follow my heart...I know what choice to make."
The Next Day...
Shadow was at his locker gathering his books for class. He was about to leave when he saw Starlight after he shut his locker. Needless to say, he was pretty shocked. After he regained his composure, he addressed her. "...So what brings you back here? I'm not going to join your master if that's what you're here for."
"I'm not here to do that. Please Shadow, just let me talk to you!"
"No. I don't get it. Why would someone like you, someone so nice, work for scum like Tirek?!"
"Just let me explain Shadow! Please, I don't want to break your heart!"
"You already did when you tried to destroy my friends. Was everything just a lie?! Were we ever real?! Just what makes you think-" Shadow was cut-off when Starlight kissed him! When she pulled out, he seemed to have calmed down.
"Did that feel fake to you?", Starlight asked. Shadow wrapped his arms around Starlight. "You know, things make more sense when I'm with you. Meet me after school today. I'll tell you my decision." Starlight then walked away leaving Shadow to his thoughts. Lunch period arrived quickly, and Shadow met with his friends to discuss what Starlight had said to him.
"And that's about it. So what do you think?" The rest of the rangers were silent, but Ace and Ice were the first ones to find their voices.
"Shadow. We honestly hope she chooses you.", Ace said.
"And if she breaks your heart, we won't hesitate to get you out fast.", Ice said coldly.
"Can't you all be a bit more positive?", Nightmare said. "Let's just hope for the best. I changed. So did Chrysalis and Sombra. So just maybe, Starlight can do the same with having Shadow."
"Moon's got a point.", Sunset added. "You forget a good portion of you are dating former bad girls right?"
"Sunset's right. I mean, Sonata and her family DID try to take over the school.", Ace pointed out. Ice sighed.
"Okay. You all win. But I've got a bad feeling about this." The rest of the day passed quickly, and Shadow met with Starlight.
"You came...", Starlight said as Shadow walked towards her.
"So. What's your decision Starlight?", Shadow asked. "Just know one thing before you tell me. I can't hate you for your choice."
"Shadow...I choose you. I don't want to hurt you. I've put you through enough." Shadow smiled and began to walk towards her. But before they could close the distance between them, a blast of magic was sent hurtling their way! Knocking them to the ground! Starlight and Shadow slowly rose and found Tirek staring them down!
"Stupid girl.", Tirek said with a scowl as he grabbed Starlight by the throat. "I guess you were a fool just like your parents." Starlight froze.
"What..did you say?"
Tirek sneered at Starlight's confusion. "I never took you in to save you. Your parents were great sorcerors, and had great magic. I required their strength, and they refused. So..." Tirek pulled out duel monsters cards with Starlight's parents sealed inside! "I did the next best thing. But don't worry. You'll soon join them after I drain you dry of your magic!" Starlight struggled as Tirek prepared to steal her magic, until Shadow punched Tirek right in the face! Tirek scowled at Shadow's interference. "Welp!" Tirek released Starlight and sent Shadow flying with one kick! Tirek was about to close in on Shadow until Burst and the others showed up!
"Pick on someone your own power level!", Burst said defiantly! Tirek was about to retort, but froze when he saw Burst's face! For the first time, he felt fear. Namely because Burst reminded Tirek of the one person who he could never beat.
'Those eyes...THOSE EYES!', Tirek's mind screamed! "You...you are just like him! No..you're younger...but you share his blood!" Burst had no idea what Tirek was talking about, but decided to get right into the fight!
"It's morphin' time! Blue Eyes Absolute Ranger!" Burst soon stood in his absolute form! Burst charged at Tirek and summoned his sword and blaster! Tirek then got an idea. He opened his mouth and tried to sap Burst of his strength! But to his surprise, he couldn't drain him! "Was that supposed to do something?" Burst then slashed at Tirek with his sword! Leaving a glowing scar across his chest! Burst then fired off a charged shot that sent Tirek flying! As Tirek tried to recover, Burst delivered a powerful punch right in Tirek's stomach! "White Lightning Fist!" Tirek was silent for a whole minute before he covered his mouth as something began to leak out! He couldn't hold it back anymore, and magic spewed from Tirek's mouth! As the magic was released, Tirek was returned to his original state. A frail old man.
"Nooooooo! My strength! What happened to my strength?!"
"You never had any strength of your own. So you stole the power of others. Now it's free." Tirek was about to run, but a glowing figure seemed to be trying to break out of the scar Burst had created!
"No! Not you! Not now! Nooooo!" The glowing figure broke free, and when the light died down, Scorpan stood tall.
"Hello again brother." Tirek was now scared for his life! So scared in fact, he dropped the cards that Starlight's parents were imprisoned in. Scorpan picked them up and turned to Starlight. "I believe they belong with you. Now to undo the damage Tirek has done." Scorpan used his magic to undo the seal Tirek put on Starlight's parents. In a flash of light, Starlight's parents were released. Starlight was crying tears of joy and rushed to her parents as they held her tightly.
"Mom! Dad!" Starlight cried as her parents held her tight. "It's you...I thought you were gone!" Starlight's parents smiled.
"We're here Starlight.", her mother said.
"And it looks like we owe a thank you to your friends.", her father said proudly. "Especially the young an who cares a great deal for you." As Starlight and her parents went to meet Shadow, Burst was talking to Scorpan.
"So if I'm getting this right, I've pretty much put an end to Tirek. Right?" Scorpan sadly shook his head.
"You may have severely weakened him, but I know my brother. And he doesn't give up easily. Now he's going to be more trouble than ever." Burst put his hand on Scorpan's shoulder.
"Fortunately for Earth, neither do me and the rangers. I think there's a place we should all go to..." Burst and Shadow teleported with Starlight and her family and Scorpan to the command center.
"Starlight, welcome to the team.", Shadow said with a smile.