WALKING THE WARRIOR'S PATH
Sequel to 'From Dark Paths Have We Come'. I suggest anyone that has not read 'From Dark Paths Have We Come' read that story first as this one is based off the situations described within.
'From Dark Paths Have We Come' gave Tommy and Harry's 'pre-story' and followed the Rangers through Rita's attacks and introduced Lord Zedd. This story takes place during Lord Zedd's reign and the within Wizardry World. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy. Please Review.
Most chapters edited for English as of 5/17/2014 - minor changes, added notes on Tommy's changing eye colors.
Disclaimer: I do not own either Power Rangers or Harry Potter nor do I make any profit from these words.
(Notes: Tommy's eye colors meaning can be found in completion in my author profile or look just at the top of the page colors as used in that section.)
Cornflower blue - boredom
Blue turquoise - surprise/amazement/pride
CHAPTER 1 - THE SPARRING MATCH
Tommy turned from Connor to watch as the other Rangers entered the hangout. They'd grown in the last weeks and it was easy to see just by how they entered. They actually took in their surroundings, were aware of who was present and exactly where. Finally. Even their style of dress had changed. They still all wore their Ranger color but even Tommy wouldn't think of wearing something without his color. Kim stopped wearing flowing skirts and dangling jewelry that would get caught so easily in battle. Billy retired his eye glasses and switched to contacts, Trini and Kim learned to keep their hair pulled back. They all wore pants or shorts that were loose enough to move in yet tight enough not to get in the way, light shirts, and shoes with actual traction. Their communicators were the only accessory any of them wore now. They looked like a team capable of defending their world. They looked like true warriors.
"Tommy. Connor," Jason greeted as they reached them, as he'd learned was expected by all present. He'd been amazed at how varied and detailed the street set society actually was but he'd quickly grown accustomed to it all.
"You guys ready for a workout?" Tommy questioned.
"'Course," Jason answered for them all, a slight smirk touching his lips, feeling more than confident. He'd always been secure in his skills, never lost to anyone even if he knew he would have lost to Tommy. But in the last weeks all of their skills had flourished. He'd never been more ready.
"The month's almost over," Tommy pointed out, and the smirk faded from Jason's face at the reminder. All the Rangers looked suddenly more serious. "So as a test or sorts, you get to spar me." He motioned slightly to the cleared center of the room.
Kim frowned in confusion. "You're going to have six sparring matches?"
"No. I'm going to spar against all six of you and you guys get to work together. No morphing but otherwise no holds barred."
"Six on one, even you could get hurt," Kyle, one of Connor's boys said to Tommy. He believed Tommy capable of almost anything since he'd saved Connor but this just seemed beyond that.
"They won't touch me," Tommy assured. "I've survived two end games against basically the same numbers." This served to lay his and the other boy's worries to rest and raise their awe of him. Connor frowned slightly though as he thought about what else this said about the young warrior. Along with his demands and reactions, Connor decided the other probably had been used in the slave trade.
"Won't touch you huh?" Jason responded, his cockiness returning. "Don't bet on it."
Tommy stood and walked towards them. "Says the guy I knocked out in my sleep."
The other Rangers and most of the set laughed. Connor joined in when Jason responded defensively, "Only one time! And I really wasn't expecting you to take being woke as an attack!"
Tommy was passed them now, his back to them. "Anytime you're ready guys," he said in a bored tone.
Jason, Harry, and Billy hesitated on the action they'd been planning, knowing that if Tommy said that he was more than prepared for any attack at his back. Zack moved forward, aimed a razor foot kick to Tommy's knee. Just before it could contact, Tommy lifted his leg and turned, landing a spin kick to Zack's side, knocking him down.
"Uhg!" Zack groaned, pushing himself back up.
Tommy glanced at him, then turned his cornflower blue gaze to the other five Rangers. "Perhaps together? Teamwork, guys." He turned back to Zack who was standing now. "Not bad form, Zack. A move made for a quick takedown, not overly showy like you all tended to before. Good try. But remember to follow leads."
Zack nodded slightly at this and waited for Jason's lead. Jason watched Tommy watching him, no one made a move. They stood in relaxed stances less than two foot from each other. Time passed. No one moved, both Tommy and Jason waiting for the other to make the first move and in so doing, give away their strategy.
Jason thought of a plan and caught Zack's eyes for a moment. He made a slight motion with his hand, shielded from Tommy's view.
"This is boring," Zack complained loudly, drawing attention to himself. He took a half-step towards Tommy and Tommy's eyes tracked him. Jason's kick grazed his side as Tommy suddenly dropped to the ground in a leg sweep that took down Jason, Zack, and Kim. Billy saw the move and jumped over, flipped and landed behind Tommy, back to back as Tommy rose in the same spot he'd started. Billy blindly elbowed behind him and heard a slight grunt as his elbow connected. Tommy swirled around, a back-fist flying towards the Blue Ranger who responded by dropping below and kicking out towards Tommy's shin just as Trini came in with a roundhouse kick at his stomach. Tommy caught Trini's kick, pulled her off balance just as Billy's contacted. Tommy stumbled at the hit but used his grip on Trini's leg to pull her in and throw her into Billy and Zack, who'd just managed to stand again. The three fell in a tangle. Harry tried a tackle, Tommy moved and just let Harry's momentum carry him into Kim, where they landed atop the other three. Tommy turned to Jason and the two were quickly locked in combat so fast and intense no one could follow them.
The other Rangers managed to get untangled and they took a moment to get their breaths back, watching their leaders - one official, one they just followed. They shared a look then moved as one to once again engage Tommy.
Connor and his boys sat back and watched gob smacked as the match took place at a speed too fast for the eye to follow, looking like a maelstrom of flashing colors.
Kim was the first to drop out, at just under an hour. Completely exhausted, she managed to pull herself over beside where Connor sat and collapsed on the floor, breathing hard. One of the boys brought her a water and she smiled in thanks. Zack was next, then Trini and Billy. Harry managed to hang on to the hour and a half mark. When he dropped out, it was once again Tommy against Jason, and neither boy showed signs of tiring.
"How do that do that?" Kim wondered aloud. She was stretching now, as she'd been doing since she got her breath back as she knew how sore she'd be if she didn't.
Connor commented, "You lasted almost an hour full out, girl. I'd ask you that."
She blushed. "That's the Power."
Billy explained, "The Ranger Power changed us beyond what happens when we morph. I honestly don't know what or how much it changed us but I do know that none of us are bound by normal human limitations. Tommy and Jason's Powers are the strongest. Perhaps it changed them more. Though Tommy's story proves he's strong without Ranger Powers added."
"He's always been a strong fighter," Harry agreed, still just a little breathless.
Billy smiled. "He is most talented. However the strongest point in him is his spirit. That he remains a good person after the hells he's lived shows this."
Tommy and Jason stood facing each other. Jason's breathing was just a bit fast, Tommy's hair was coming loose.
"I think that's enough," Tommy said, not the least bit breathless. Like he hadn't been sparring all out and against multiple opponents for almost two hours straight. Jason smiled in relief as he moved to the others and joined them in stretching. Tommy's blue turquoise eyes took in the Ranger team as he said, "Good job. I'm sure you all see how much you've improved these weeks. - In September, we were the Power Rangers by virtue of holding the Power relics, our planet's defenders simply because no one else was fighting. Today, there is not one Ranger here that is anything less than a true warrior. I'm proud of you. As we work, you'll only get better."
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Continued - Let me know what you think. Review
