As Tarzan continued to walk away, Dotty let out a loud yawn, before collapsing face first into the mud. [color=fff200]"Oh my..."[/color] Jane sighed. Taivas asked her to look after the child and Jane nodded. [color=fff200]"I'm not exactly the most... Well qualified nanny, but yes i don't suppose i mind."[/color] As she picked Dotty up and began walking back to the tent. Getting inside, she quickly cleaned herself and the half-conscious child before putting her into one of the hammocks. Meanwhile, the professor was already fast asleep and Jane, exhausted from the whole ordeal collapsed into her hammock, straight into unconsciousness. Dotty, half asleep looked at her ghostly protector stood there. [color=6ecff6]"Poodlewolf... Can you sing a lullaby? Like you did for Strudel Prince in Episode 28?"[/color] She asked. Zen-Aku sighed, before pulling the knife flute from its sheeth. [hider=Zen-Aku's song]Blowing gently into the flute, the flowing music [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZZHdhlSr2Y]started naturally[/url] Before, the shadows around them seemed to lengthen, the tent slowly disappearing, dark, crimson shadows slowly taking form. [i][color=bc8dbf]"Hush, little one, you are exhausted..."[/color][/i] He said to her in a reassuring tone. [i][color=bc8dbf]Sleep, my little puppy, Let your dreams rebuke. One day when you're big and strong... You will be a Duke[/color][/i] As drums seemed to come from no-where, the shadows began taking the forms of [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/powerrangers/images/4/4a/Master_Org_Second_Form.png]An intimidating man with a horn[/url] along with [url=https://morphinlegacy.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Toxica-And-Jindrax.png]a pair of horned monsters[/url]. The intimidating man began to march with the others at his back [color=39b54a]"I've been exiled, persecuted, Left alone with no defense. When I think of what that witch did, I get a little tense. But I dream a dream so austere, that I don't feel so depressed 'Cause it soothes my inner monster and it helps me get some rest"[/color] More shadows began appearing around them as images of battles between monsters and knights in shining armour and white robes began to dance across the room. [color=39b54a]"The sound of Animus' dying gasp. His Priestess squealing in my grasp. His mighty Rangers mournful cry, that's my lullaby.[/color] As the tall man danced sullenly with his 2 attendants, the music swelled around them. [color=39b54a]Now the past I've tried forgetting and my foes I could forgive Trouble is, I knows it's petty but I hate to let them live[/color] a shadow showed him as a giant smashing a large turtle shaped floating island, before the purple clown looking one appeared behind him. [i][color=662d91]So you found yourself somebody who'd chase the Rangers up a tree?[/color] [color=39b54a]Oh, the battle may be bloody, but that kind of works for me[/color][/i] The terrible drums kicked in again as the shadowy images of Zen-Aku himself danced across the walls of his shadow fighting and destroying strange shapes, including the knights from before. [i][color=39b54a]The melody of angry growls, a counterpoint of painful howls A symphony of death, oh my! That's my lullaby[/color][/i] As the images faded, so did the man and his 2 attendants seemed to disappear into the void. Before a trio of monsters took their place, a [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/powerrangers/images/7/7c/HSGa-Highness_Duke_Org_Shuten.png]red[/url], a [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/powerrangers/images/e/e5/HSGa-Highness_Duke_Org_Rasetsu.png]blue[/url] and a [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/powerrangers/images/5/5e/HSGa-Highness_Duke_Org_Ura.png]green[/url] one. The blue one approached the mask of Zen-Aku laying on a pedastal as he caressed it lovingly. [i][color=7ea7d8]Master's is gone... but Mandilok's still around, to train this monstrous lad Till he learns to be a killer with a lust for being bad![/color][/i] The other two creatures surrounded the mask. [i][color=ed1c24]"AWAKEN, YOU WORTHLESS WARRIOR! Ugh, i mean, noble mamaluke."[/color] [color=8dc73f]"One day when your host is strong, you will be a Duke!"[/color][/i] The drums began to pound again, as more battles began to dance around them. [i][color=0072bc]"The pounding of the drums so fowl! The thrill of Zen-Aku's mighty howl!"[/color] [color=ed1c24]"The joy of vengeance!"[/color] [color=8dc73f]"Testify!"[/color] [color=0072bc]"I can hear the cheering"[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Zen-Aku,[/color] [color=8dc73f]what[/color] [color=ed1c24]a[/color] [color=8dc73f]guy!"[/color] [color=0072bc]"Payback time is nearing And then our flag will fly Against a blood-drenched sky! That's my lullaby!"[/color][/i][/hider] As the song ended, Dotty sat staring at Zen-Aku, eyes wide open, clearly terrified by this song, before her eyes drooped and unconsciousness finally took her. Zen-Aku sat down as a flood of memories washed him away, he remembered... So much, but it was a blur... Fighting the knights, working with those red, green and blue monsters, fighting those same monsters. What the hell was happening? He rushed out into the rain and looked up into the clouds, the rain passed straight through him as he was just a spectral force. [color=bc8dbf]"WHO ARE YOU!!! WHY DO YOU KEEP SENDING ME THESE MEMORIES!?!?!?!"[/color] He roared to the heavens, demanding answers. But he knew the only place to get them. Booting the front door to Master Phant's house down, the Org took a few angry steps inside and looked around to see the master meditating. [color=bc8dbf]"ENOUGH OF THE RIDDLES AND GAMES, OLD MAN! ANSWERS! NOW, BEFORE I STOP ACTING POLITELY!!!"[/color] He roared. The master sighed, before getting up out of his meditative position and walking over to grab the door and put it back on its hinges. [color=82ca9d]"You know, you were far more amicable last time.[/color] The old man replied. [color=bc8dbf]"That's because last time, i wasn't having visions of me assisting monsters in destroying the world!"[/color] He growled. Master Phant walked past him again towards his kitchen to put the kettle on to boil [color=82ca9d]"So you learned that you may have been in league with monsters in your past life and your first response was to abandon all your manners and come and attempt to threaten me into giving you more information about how you were in league with monsters?"[/color] He asked, while cracking flint against tinder to start the fire to boil the water. [color=bc8dbf]"I..."[/color] As the Wolf stood there, he did realize that he was essentially fulfilling his own nightmares by doing this. [color=82ca9d]"Sit."[/color] The old man ordered. Zen-Aku stared at him. [color=bc8dbf]"Is that some kind of dog joke?"[/color] He asked. The old man laughed, before walking to sit in his own chair. Zen-Aku sat down across from him. [color=82ca9d]"What if i were to tell you that i was a world conquering monster and i am here only because of banishment?"[/color] He asked. Zen-Aku was taken aback by this, that came a little out of left field. [color=82ca9d]"Well?"[/color] He asked. [color=bc8dbf]"I... Are you an Org as well?"[/color] He asked. The old man looked at him, before motioning to his forehead. No horn, that meant he wasn't an Org. [color=bc8dbf]"Then what are...?"[/color] [color=82ca9d]"Call me a demon."[/color] He smiled. [color=82ca9d]"Now, i have invited you into my home, i have given you the power to help protect your friends, i have helped you to understand your existance. Does it really matter that i am a demon who once tried to enslave billions? Will you now stop using the power to save others that i have given you?"[/color] He asked. Zen-Aku shook his head. [color=bc8dbf]"Ok, i get it, you are no demon."[/color] He replied. [color=bc8dbf]"And if you were, it wouldn't matter what you had done in the past because you helped me save Taivas and Tarzan.[/color] [color=82ca9d]"So i ask you. Does it matter if you were once a demon who enslaved billions? Does it matter to Tarzan? Does it matter to Taivas? No. Because right here, right now, you chose to save their lives."[/color] He replied. [color=bc8dbf]"But what if i don't deserve this? What if i am beyond redemption?"[/color] He asked. [color=bc8dbf]"What if i did something so unspeakably evil against Princess Shayla that i can never be forgiven?"[/color] [color=82ca9d]"Then she will never forgive you. But the others will..."[/color] He replied, the kettle started whistling and he got up to see to it. [color=82ca9d]"I once lived in a savannah, and i met a pair who taught me a saying. They were wise words... Hakuna Matata. It means that sometimes in life, bad things have happened and we can't change them."[/color] He poured 2 cups of green tea, before blowing out the flame and putting the kettle to one side. [color=82ca9d]"There is nothing you can do, so there is no point in dwelling. Focus on what you can do going forward."[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"But... It's one thing to accept responsibility for a past injustice, but i don't even know if i even made an injustice or not."[/color] He took the tea and looked into it, for a moment, seeing that face again staring back at him, the black bangs, the goatee, the silver shirt, he looked up at Master Phant. [color=82ca9d]"Alright, let's try it this way."[/color] He took a sip, before placing the cup down. [color=82ca9d]"Can you see the future?"[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"No."[/color] [color=82ca9d]"Can I see the future?"[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"I don't think so."[/color] [color=82ca9d]"No i can't. Can you see the past clearly?"[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"No."[/color] [color=82ca9d]"Can i see the past clearly?"[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"Maybe?"[/color] [color=82ca9d]"No i can't. So, there's no way of us knowing the future."[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"I suppose."[/color] [color=82ca9d]"And there's no way of us knowing your past?"[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"Not at the moment, no."[/color] [color=82ca9d]"So, all we know is what is happening right now."[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"Yes."[/color] [color=82ca9d]"So, the only reasonable course of action is to act on what information we have right now. Right now, there are peoeple in trouble that you want to help. And so there's no point in worrying about the rest. Hakuna Matata."[/color] He smiled, before going back to drinking his tea. The Wolf cocked his head to the side, slightly confused by the logic, but understanding the spirit of it. [color=82ca9d]"Let me put it another way. Will bad things happen because you learn of your past?"[/color] Zen-Aku hung his head contemplating. [color=82ca9d]"Will what is happening right this very second with the Heartless be effected if you learn? Will their actions change in any way, shape or form?"[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"I suppose not..."[/color] He replied in quiet understanding. [color=82ca9d]"And will you continue to fight their evil if you learn that you once were a demon who enslaved billions?"[/color] He asked. [color=bc8dbf]"I'd like to think so."[/color] Phant sighed and shook his head at that answer. [color=82ca9d]"Stop dealing with maybe's, what if's and i wishes."[/color] He scolded sarcastically. [color=82ca9d]"Will you fight for what is right, even if you once murdered entire planets in a life you cannot remember?"[/color] He asked. Zen-Aku looked back into the tea and into the face again. [color=bc8dbf]"Yes..."[/color] He growled. [color=82ca9d]"Then?"[/color] Master Phant quizzed him. [color=bc8dbf]"Hakuna Matata."[/color] He replied. [color=82ca9d]"Good, now drink up, your friend has just locked the heart of this world. He will want to leave soon."[/color] He then got up and walked over to take his empty cup to the sink [color=82ca9d]"Now, who are you looking for on the other worlds?"[/color] [color=bc8dbf]"Masters Rilla, Gwin, Lope, Swoop, Finn and RJ."[/color] He replied. Zen-Aku finished his cup of tea and handed it back to Master Phant, before bowing and going on his way. As Master Phant watched him jump down the mountain, he sighed. [color=82ca9d]"Oh, Animus preserve us..."[/color] He shook his head before walking back inside. **** As Taivas got back to the camp just as the rain stopped, Zen-Aku arriving as well, shortly afterwards. Dotty was already awake, running outside. [color=6ecff6]"HAN! POODLEWOLF! YOU'RE BOTH BACK!!!"[/color] She ran up to Taivas' leg and gave it a hug. Taivas actually picking her up, thanking Jane, who bowed. [color=fff200]"Well, me and Daddy have some packing to do, but if you ever require more help, just pop in to London and we will be more than happy to help."[/color] She smiled. As they got back to the ship, Dotty sat down and giggled. [color=6ecff6]"Alright, Han, which way we going this time? What poor maidens in distress can we rescue?"[/color] She asked him.