Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the story.
A/N: Yes, another new story. Yes, I'm completly crazy. No I have no idea how fast I'll finish, just like everything else. So there.
*****
Kimberly laughed as she pulled Tommy along with her down the sidewalk. He had to run to keep from breaking his grip on her hand. "Wait up, Kim," he called with a laugh.
So Kim stopped, and tilted her head back so that the bright summer sun shone down and warmed her face. Then suddenly an arm went around her waist and she was off her feet and spinning. She squealed in delight and heard Tommy's laughter behind her.
It was the last Saturday of summer. Ernie was hosting a huge end of summer party at the Youth Center, where they were heading. They'd agreed to spend the whole day together, one last perfect day, and now they were heading to see their friends. Sure, they would see them plenty during school, but summers were always different, at least to Kim. Come Monday it would be all homework, and clubs and committees. No more last minute afternoon trips to the beach, or surprise rides through the park, or up to the mountains. When Tommy set her gently on the ground she turned and wrapped her arms around his neck and pushed up on her toes to plant a kiss on his lips.
"I feel like it's the last day of summer," she sighed.
"It is for us," Tommy said. "School starts Monday. Then we'll be busy with homework and classes…"
"And fighting evil," she said in a near whisper.
"Hey," Tommy said defensively, "It's not like Rita and Zedd took the summer off."
Kim scoffed. "I wish they had. I think we got maybe one day off this summer?"
Tommy rolled his eyes and threaded his arms around her waist a little tighter. "I think we got one or two in there somewhere."
"Maybe one or two," she said smiling.
Tommy smiled and leaned down to kiss her this time. She felt his lips against hers, soft at first, then deepening. When he finally broke the kiss she couldn't stop the smile on her face.
"Come on," Tommy said. "Let's go in."
"Okay," she agreed with a smile.
She looped her hand around Tommy's arm so he could lead her to the entrance of the Youth Center, that was only a few feet away now. Before the happy couple had taken a step a barrage of cheers and shouts carried over the parking lot. Kim looked for the source of the sudden disturbance and found it in the form of their friends, who were standing near the Youth Center entrance clapping and cheering at the lovely scene they'd just witnessed.
*****
"Little Rangers taking a lovely walk in the park. Have you ever seen anything more disgusting!!?"
Rita stepped back from the telescope with a scoff of disgust. "It's horrid," she said walking towards the throne where Zedd slouched. When he didn't look up at her approach she smacked him on the arm causing him to jump. "What are we going to do about it!"
"How should I know!" Zedd shouted back.
"Those two love birds are driving me crazy!" Rita said. "We should do something to teach them a lesson!"
"We should have Finster create a spell that will make them hate each other," Goldar suggested.
"We've tried that dimwit!" Zedd said. "Every spell we use they find a way to break."
"Yes, but for a time it does weaken them," Goldar argued. "If we attack harder while they're distracted we will have a much better chance."
"That's it!" Rita suddenly said.
"What?" Zedd asked.
"We don't need just another spell," she explained. "We need something that will provide a longer term distraction. Something permanent."
"What do you suggest?" Zedd asked.
Rita stood for a minute thinking. It had to be something powerful. The spell itself wouldn't need to last long, just long enough to set off a chain reaction that would lead to something permanent. Something that would grow into problems of its own.
"I have it! Finster, I need a love potion!"
"Love potion?" Zedd said. "Weren't you just saying you hated the idea of love with the Rangers?"
"I do!" Rita replied. "But trust me, love is going to play into my plan just perfectly." She turned to her evil little apothecary. "Make it as strong as possible in one dose."
"Yes, my Queen," Finster said with a bow then hurried from the room. Rita spun around the room back toward her telescope. "Goldar, summon Scorpina," she said as she peeked through the lens at the poor unsuspecting Rangers. This plan was going to be perfect.
*****
Scorpina smiled as she entered the Youth Center, in her human form of course. She walked across the room gracefully and dismissed the girl serving punch at a table and took the position herself. It was only a few minutes before she saw the White Ranger approaching. She slipped the potion into two glasses of punch and held them out when Tommy approached. He took them with a smile and a kind thank you. Just behind him was the Blue Ranger who also requested a glass of punch.
When both boys walked away Scorpina stepped away from the table and into a back hallway and disappeared.
*****
Billy followed Tommy across the room and stepped around him when he reached their friends.
"Here you go," Tommy said handing Kim her drink.
"Thanks."
"So what extracurricular activities are you planning to join this year, Kim?" Billy asked, drawing Kim's attention away from Tommy.
"Oh, please Billy," she said dramatically. "School doesn't start for two days, can't I still enjoy summer?"
"Oh," Billy said. "Of course. I just thought you would want to get a jump on things. Most of your old social acquaintances are here, you could-"
"Dude, you worry too much," Tommy said. He threaded an arm around Kimberly's waist and she leaned into him. "Relax. Today's about having fun."
Billy nodded in agreement. He opened his mouth to say something else when suddenly there was a shout from behind them.
"Coming through!" Bulk's voice shouted from the crowd. Before Billy could turn to see where the bully's voice was coming from he was thrown completely off balance and went barreling into Tommy. Kim gave a high-pitched shout and jumped back, but Tommy was too slow and all of Billy's drink went flying down the front of his shirt.
"Oh, man, I'm sorry," Billy said immediately. He could hear Skull's high-pitched laughter from behind him and knew the bullies were having a field day over his little casualty, even though it had been an accident.
"Man, are you okay?" Tommy asked
"Yeah," Billy said, assessing the situation quickly. "I think you got the worst of it."
"You're soaked," Kimberly said. "Nice going idiots!"
"I have some extra clothes in my locker," Tommy said with a sigh. "I better go change."
"I'll get another drink," Billy said, then Tommy stepped up, blocking his way.
"Here, take mine," Tommy said. "I didn't drink it. I'll get more when I get back."
"Thanks, man."
Tommy gave him a pat on the shoulder as he passed by and dropped the drink gently in his hand. He turned and saw Kimberly shaking her head.
"Oh, well," she said with a laugh.
Billy held Tommy's cup out to her. "Cheers."
They clinked the glasses together and drank simultaneously.
*****
"NO!" Rita screamed as she peered through the telescope. "He wasn't supposed to drink the potion!"
"What happened my little devil blossom?" Zedd asked coming up behind her.
"My plan was just ruined by those poor bumbling excuses for bullies! Finster! Get in here!"
A split second later the white skinned alchemist appeared. "Yes, my Queen?"
"What would happen if someone other than Tommy drank the potion?"
Finster paused for a moment thinking. "Well, the potion wasn't designed specifically for anyone. It isn't even a true love potion."
"What?" Rita said. "I told you I wanted a love spell so those two lovebirds would get distracted with each other!"
"I know," Finster said. "But I figured that since they were already in love a 'Love Potion' would be pointless. So instead I designed the tonic to simply lower inhibitions, to…stimulate feelings that were already there."
Rita let out a growl of frustration. "This is awful!"
"I still don't understand what's going on," Zedd interjected.
"So what is going to happen to the Blue Ranger since he drank the potion instead?" Rita asked.
Finster shrugged. "Anything could happen."