AlternaWorld

Prologue

    Zelana looked again at the sign on the test. "No," she whispered. "No, it can't be right." She hurriedly placed the test in the bathroom disintegrator and exited into her bedroom.
    Sitting on her bed, watching the stars race past her window, she thought the night she received the summons from Zordon, the last night she saw Jaril.
    Zelana had been at the Blue Temple on Eltare at the request of her grandmother, the Zela of Eltare. Zela firmly believed that Zelana's destined, the BlueStar, would be aligned with the Blue Morphin Powers.
    Her first day at the temple, she met Jaril. He was a Blue Scribe, soon to be named a Blue Wolf Morphin Master. He had risen through the Blue ranks, named first as a Ranger serving on Edenoi for King Lexion, then as Scholar, Priest, and now Scribe to the Blue. Jaril had a destiny to fulfill much as Zelana did. For a time, Zelana thought he might be the BlueStar, so devoted to the Blue was he. The twinstone that would signal her destined was silent, though, so she knew it wasn't him. That didn't hamper their friendship, as they grew closer than mere friends. Zelana came to care deeply for the Scribe, and Jaril grew to love Zelana.
    The night she received the summons, she stole to his quarters to say goodbye. "I wish you didn't have to leave," he whispered, holding her close.
    "I wish I could stay," she replied, gazing into his deep cerulean eyes. Jaril, knowing he'd never see her again, lowered his lips to hers gently in a kiss meant to be a soft, gentle kiss of farewell. What is meant to be is not always so. His love flowed between them, deepening the kiss into one of passions unveiled. His blue Scribe robes fell unhampered to the floor, followed by her loose silver gown. They found themselves sensuously kissing, caressing each other as they'd longed to for months, reveling in the feel of each other.
    The next morning, Zelana awakened slowly, moving closer to the already awakened Jaril. "I love you," he whispered.  Zelana looked at him sadly.
    "Jaril...don't..."
    "No, Christina," he said, using her name and not her royal title. "It's all right. I...I understand your prophecy." He gently touched the twinstone lying between her breasts. "I know you have to find your destined."
    "Oh, Jaril," Zelana whispered, "I care about you so much. I wish..."
    "I know," he said, kissing her. He got out of bed to take a shower. When he came back, she was gone.

    Zelana re-read the summons from her father. Come back to Earth, it read. Establish yourself in the Zeo Temple again. It's time you paid attention to your duties as Zeo Guardian instead chasing that damn prophecy across the galaxy. Sighing, Zelana stuffed the comm-module back in her bag.
    "When have I ever ignored my Guardian duties?" she murmured. "I was present for Prince Dex's coronation and assuming of the Masked Rider powers after his father's death. All my so-called gallivanting has been for the Zeo Crystal. Healing worlds, defeating evil, championing goodness. Nothing you'd understand, Father."
    In her time away from Earth and Zordon, Zelana began to see her father for the petty tyrant he really was. She was dreading the return to Earth, especially if what she suspected was true. Zelana fingered the pendant Zela had given to her before the Intergalactic Police Force transport ship left Eltare.
    "Granddaughter," Zela had told her, "this is rightfully yours as the next daughter of the House of Zel."
    "What is it, Grandmother?"
    "This is the Zel Talisman. The very first woman of the House of Zel created it. This talisman is quite special, as it was used by the creator of the Morphin Grid."
    "You mean..."
    "Yes, child, this is the Spectra Crystal. It allows its holder to access all aspects of the Morphin Grid. Our first ancestress used it wisely, but others have gone mad from the power. Do not let your father know you now hold the Talisman. He may try to persuade you to use this power for his evil ways."
    "I understand, Grandmother," Zelana had said as Zela carefully placed the silver chain around Zelana's neck.
    Zelana sighed again as she closed the blind over the view window, lowered the light level in her quarters and went to sleep.

    By the time the ship reached Earth, Zelana knew the test was right. She was pregnant. Standing in the entranceway to the small Temple on the Moon, she looked around at the bleak, too-familiar surroundings. She teleported the bag with her clothes directly to her room via telekinesis. The large black case, however, she carried by hand to the shrine. There, she carefully, lovingly removed the multicolored glowing crystal that was her charge. Slowly, she placed the Zeo Crystal back on its pedestal.
    "You have kept me safe for so long," she murmured, stroking the surface of the crystal. "But there's nothing you can do to help me with my latest dilemma."
    The crystal thrummed in protest. Its colors glowed and shifted, finally revealing an image. A couple was sitting in their house, the man comforting the crying woman.
    "It's all right, Maryanne. There are other ways, other doctors..." the man was saying.
    "I know, Karl, I know. I was just so hopeful that this time, this time would be different."
    <<They want a child,>> the crystal toned. <<However, they cannot conceive. They are good people who would cherish a child.>>
    "I don't know... I'll have to think about it."
    <<You only have a few months before your child is born.>>
    "I know, I know. I'll have made a decision by then. I have to unpack," she said as a way to escape. Zelana looked around at the stark temple. "I'll be back soon."

    Zelana and the Zeo Crystal kept track of the Earth couple throughout Zelana's five month pregnancy. Zelana had also steeled herself to give her baby to the couple. Using her magic, she had prepared a silver basket with black silken linings and fine linen wrappings for her baby. With each passing day, she wondered again if, when the time came, she would have the strength to give up her child.
    Finally, the day arrived. Zelana had her baby in the shrine, the Zeo Crystal her only midwife. The birth was easy by human standards. After a few hours, Zelana held a tiny, dark haired infant girl in her arms. "She's so beautiful," Zelana murmured as she nursed her daughter.
    <<Be careful, Guardian. Remember your decision and the reasoning behind it>> the crystal warned.
    "I remember," Zelana sighed. "Still, wouldn't it be wonderful to have a child here to bring joy to this dark temple?"
    <<Remember your father>>
    Zelana sighed again. "I know." She brushed the baby's hair back softly. "I know. It was just wishful thinking." The baby opened her bright cerulean eyes and looked at her mother. "Her eyes are just like Jaril's," Zelana whispered. She closed her eyes, tears wetting her face. "I have to do it now. If I don't do it now, I never will." With newfound resolve, Zelana sat down to write her farewell letter.
    The silver ink stood out brightly from the heavy back paper, the words seeming to glow in the dim light: Karl and Maryanne Collins, I know that you have been wanting a child for some time now. I know that you are good people. I have to protect my baby from my father, as he would try to hurt her. Please look after my little Christina, as she is your daughter now. ZC
    When the ink had dried, Zelana placed the note in the silver basket beside Christina. Carefully, she removed the Zel Talisman and placed it around her daughter's neck. "May it bring you luck, Christina, daughter of the House of Zel and the House of Zeo," Zelana incanted. Using her Zeo powers, she transported her daughter to Earth with a final sentence: "I love you."

    Karl and Maryanne Collins looked at the little girl who had appeared on their doorstep six years earlier. They had given her nearly everything she ever wanted, but this latest request was a difficult one. "Please, Mommy, Daddy?" Christina pleaded again, her blue eyes bright. "Madame says I'm really good and I can get a schol...schol..." she stumbled.
    "Scholarship," Maryanne finished. "Chrissy, I don't know. Daddy and I will have to talk about it. Now go upstairs and wash up for dinner."
    Christina slowly trudged upstairs while Karl and Maryanne began discussing the matter. "Stone Canyon's not that far, Mare," Karl said.
    "I know, but boarding school? At six years old?"
    "Not just boarding school. A fine arts academy."
    "She just seems so young.... I have to admit, though, I agree with her teacher. She has a lot of talent. She really does deserve to go," Maryanne said, softening to the idea.
    "It wouldn't hurt to drive out and take a look. I'll call the school and make an appointment for Saturday." Christina heard her father say that and nearly flew down the stairs to hug him.
    "Thank you, Daddy!" she squealed happily.

    Saturday evening, the three were driving back to Los Angeles from Stone Canyon. Christina was very animated, chirping about classes and other students she'd met. Karl and Maryanne were smiling and nodding amusedly as their only child gushed on and on.
    Karl was laughing so hard at something Christina had said that he didn't see the approaching car. The other car's headlights were off, obscuring it further on the dim back road. It swerved and bobbed across the two lanes, picking up speed the entire way. By the time Karl noticed it, it was too late. With a loud crunch, the cars collided. The Collins' car went careening off the road, rolling over in a ditch.
    Christina screamed repeatedly. When the paramedics arrived on the scene, she was hoarse and had to be carried forcefully from the car. Her parents had died of massive internal injuries. With their deaths, all the goodness and kindness that had been in Christina's life disappeared.

End Prologue