Chapter Two - Preparations

The sun was high in a cloudless sky, and a gentle breeze blew across the scrub-lands. It was a good day to be out on the hunt. It was also the perfect excuse for Tommy Oliver to head out on his own, with only the company of his dog and hunting falcon, and try to clear his head.

He had not been expecting news that the king and queen were dead, much less a royal summons. But here in the back of beyond, on his family's ancestral lands, news traveled slowly. And, for the most part, that's how Tommy liked it. He had been to the capital as a child and been less than impressed by the crowds of people and strict rules of behavior... give him solitude and the open countryside any day.

Unfortunately, the summons made it clear that he didn't have much of a choice. He was to appear before the Princess and participate in her tournament whether he liked it or not. And he didn't particularly like it.

That was why he was out hunting today - it was his last chance for a peaceful day. Tomorrow he would have to begin preparations for the journey to the capital and the tournament to follow. If the schedule outlined in the message was right, he would be missing most of the end of summer and beginning of autumn for this mess, which was more than likely going to be a waste of his time anyway. But at least he still had today.

-x-

"Ugh, we've been walking forever. Haven't you found someone yet?" Rita groused, pausing to peer through her ornately decorated spyglass. She and Goldar had been wandering in the mountains for days, and while they were now wandering amidst lightly forested foothills, they had yet to run into anyone, let alone someone that would make a suitable champion. She was starting to get angry. And impatient. Moreso than she usually was, that is.

She just couldn't shake the feeling that this was taking far too long. The right champion should have appeared to her already, either in the scrying pool back at her tower or in the sights of her magic spyglass. But there was no sign of anyone.

It was making her downright cranky.

And unfortunately, the only person she could take it out on was Goldar. Goldar, who would just put his ears back and take it, and never seemed particularly fazed by anything she said. It was no fun to take her anger out on Goldar, at least not when she needed him around and couldn't turn him into a frog or something.

"Goldar! I asked you a question!"

"No, Your Highness, I haven't found anyone yet," Goldar replied. His annoyance was obvious. But why should he be annoyed? He was the one failing to help her find a champion. It wasn't like any of this affected him.

"You're useless! Why did I even bother to bring you with me?" Rita growled with frustration and peered into her spyglass again. This time, something caught her attention. "Ahhh, I see something. Take a look at this, Goldar!"

She forced the eyepiece against his face and tilted his head upward and to the left. "What do you see?"

"I see a bird. Sitting in a tree."

"Yes, a bird," Rita crooned. "A bird with a bell on it. Idiot! That's a hunting falcon. Which means there's a hunter around here somewhere. This must be the sign we've been looking for. Come on! Let's go find that hunter!"

They didn't have to go far. Rita gave the signal to halt when they were still some distance away, taking a closer look through her spyglass lest they give away their presence. They had practically stumbled right on top of their quarry without even knowing it. The hunter turned out to be a young man dressed in black and green, accompanied by the falcon they had seen earlier, a hunting dog, and a placid-looking horse that stood grazing a short distance away.

He might be young and traveling alone in plain clothes, but she could tell even from this far that he was well muscled, likely knew how to use that sword he carried, and that his finely made clothes testified to his noble lineage. He had to be a knight, which meant he could serve her purposes nicely.

"Ooh, yes," Rita said, smiling wickedly. "I like that one. Goldar! Go get him for me!"

Goldar bowed with an exaggerated, almost sarcastic flourish and took off down the hill toward the young man. "As you wish, Your Rottenness!"

Rita stood back at a safe distance, where she could watch without being noticed right away. The young man had just called his falcon back to him and seemed to be wrapping up his day's hunt; but his dog was watching them, its fur bristling with alarm though it was not yet making a sound. He was totally oblivious to the dog's agitation and to Goldar's approach.

This seemed almost too easy, and yet her luck still held. Instead of making one of his usual blunders, Goldar made sure to come up from behind, and made not even the slightest sound as he went. It was as if this was destined to be.

Oh, good. A sneak attack. Maybe Goldar can do things right. On occasion.

But no matter how competent Goldar was being right now, Rita knew she would have to do something about that dog before it gave them away, so she said a quick spell... and with a wave of her hand the dog fell into a deep sleep. The man, whose back was conveniently turned, gave no sign that he was aware of his impending danger. Good...

When he saw that the coast was clear, Goldar drew his sword and made his move. Soon it would be time for Rita to step into action, when the man had proved he could hold his own against Goldar and would make a suitable champion. Then she would begin the spell of binding, and grant him power beyond his imagination... in exchange for binding himself to her, of course.

Not that she planned to give him a choice in the matter.

-x-

Tommy became aware of the impending attack only an instant before a sword flashed down into the space where he had been standing. Whirling out of the way, acting on instinct more than anything else, Tommy released his falcon from its jesses and drew his own sword.

When he realized that his attacker was not merely a rogue, but a monster that seemed part man, part lion, and part monkey, it only strengthened his resolve to win the battle.

"Who are you and what do you want?" he demanded, though he wasn't even certain the thing could speak at all, much less understand what he was saying. Still, it looked vaguely like a man, so maybe...

"I want you," it snarled, deep-voiced and nasty. "Rita Repulsa sent me to test your worth, young warrior, so fight me!"

"Rita Repulsa?" Tommy echoed dumbly. Who in the world was that?

"If you live," the monster went on, "perhaps she will find you worthy of fighting for her."

The conversation was forgotten then, as the monster pressed forward. He did not seem interested in discussing things, only in killing Tommy. And for his part, Tommy had no desire to be cut down by the monster's sword, and did his best to ward off the oncoming attacks. But this monster, whatever it was, was much stronger than any man and never seemed to tire.

No matter what he tried, Tommy couldn't seem to turn the battle in his favor. He just kept parrying and blocking, buying what little time he could as he steadily gave up ground and tried to avoid ending up with a tree or boulder at his back. Carefully, working slowly but surely, he managed to get turned so that he was heading back toward where he had left his horse.

But he had gone only a few steps when he tripped over the limp form of his hunting dog and went down hard. He brought his sword up to block the monster's next attack, but this time the creature struck hard and twisted its own blade, forcing his weapon out of his grip. The sword arced through the air and landed with a thud in the middle of a stand of bushes.

Tommy rolled out of the way, barely avoiding losing an arm from the monster's next slash, and was on his feet in an instant.

The monster wanted him to fight bare-handed? Tommy couldn't quite suppress a small smile. He had spent far more time training at unarmed combat than he had using a sword, enough to consider it his forte - and with good reason.

"So that's how you wanna play, huh?" he said, launching into a series of fast and well-aimed kicks and punches that almost immediately had the monster on the defensive. But he knew he wouldn't be able to keep it up - no matter how skilled he was, it did not change the fact that the monster was wearing a full set of plate armor and he, expecting a quiet day of solitary hunting, was not wearing armor at all, save the thick leather gauntlet he used with his falcon.

Still, even if he couldn't win, he might be able to recover his sword or his horse and make a getaway. He had to at least try to warn the people back at the estate and village. Someone had to raise the alarm that a monster was on the loose, and he would be damned if it wasn't him.

As he worked at pushing the monster back in the direction it had come from, he became aware that it was not alone. Far away, almost hidden between two trees, he caught sight of a strange and ugly little woman. That had to be the Rita the monster had mentioned earlier. It certainly looked like she was up to no good - and who went around dressed like that, anyway?

He wondered for a second if he ought to try going for the woman instead of her pet monster, and earned a blow to the side of his head for his momentary lapse in focus. Between the ringing in his ears and the throb of pain through his head, he knew he had to do something soon or he was going to end up dead. Struggling to maintain his focus, he shifted his aim to the monster's sword arm.

If he could just disarm it or, better yet, steal its sword, he'd have a much better chance...

A lucky kick landed his foot hard against a gap in the monster's armor. It gave an enraged howl and dropped the sword. Letting his momentum carry him forward, Tommy seized the weapon and ran. He had to put some distance between them so he could figure out what to do next.

He was vaguely aware of the woman making a sharp, angry gesture and shouting something in a language he didn't understand. As if at her command, lightning struck the nearest tree, spooking his horse and leaving Tommy reeling. He fumbled with the sword he had only just acquired, half-blinded by the brilliant flash of light, his concentration shattered. Even though the woman was standing a good distance away, he could hear her voice clearly. It was as if she stood right next to him, speaking directly into his ear.

It was distracting. And that was the last thing he needed when he was trying to fight off a monster.

Tommy shook his head, trying in vain to clear it. The woman's voice, which had been rough and ugly just a moment ago, suddenly sounded sweet. Her twisted face and strange clothing seemed somehow... prettier, more noble.

Even as the monster charged at him again, Tommy found himself letting the stolen sword fall to the ground. He couldn't explain the sudden change of heart, any more than he could bring himself to fight against the creature she had set against him. If she would allow it, he would prostrate himself at her feet, and swear his allegiance to her, and only her...

-x-

This was more perfect than Rita had dared hope for. Sure, she had been complaining only a few minutes ago, but luck was truly on her side. The first person she and Goldar had run into had turned out to be just what she was looking for.

He was strong and brave, and quite skilled at fighting with and without a weapon. And those good looks certainly wouldn't hurt when it came time for him to meet and win over the princess. And he had practically walked right into her hands; it was as if this encounter had been predetermined by destiny. Now all she needed was for Goldar to keep him busy while she finished the spell that would force him to do her bidding.

Yes, Goldar, keep him occupied just a little while longer...

Rita smiled even as she continued to intone the words of the spell. This young man was clearly a formidable warrior. He more than perfect for her purposes, and it would take just a few more moments to bind him to her forever. With this man to carry out her will, she had no doubt that she would be able to destroy Princess Kimberly and make the Princess's power her own. It felt sweet just to think of taking what she had desired for so long.

She knew the moment the spell began to take effect, for all of a sudden a tremendous change came upon the young man. He threw down his sword - Goldar's sword, really, since the oaf couldn't seem to ever do anything right - and seemed fully prepared to let Goldar take his life.

"Goldar!" Rita snarled, "I need him alive! If you kill him, I'll have your head brought to me on a silver platter!"

Goldar actually stopped what he was doing and, when he realized that she had finished the spell and the young man was under her control, picked up his sword and sheathed it. "As you wish, My Lady."

Rita smiled coldly. She knew there was a reason she put up with him... the moron might be dumb as a rock, but he could (usually) follow orders with some degree of success. "You!" she said, turning now to the young man, "What is your name?"

"Tommy Oliver."

"Tommy Oliver! I bind you to me now and forever more!" Rita cried out, not even stumbling over the strange and harsh syllables of the ancient language in which her spell was written.

As she spoke the last word, Tommy's eyes flashed green for an instant: the spell was set. His expression went completely blank, losing even the spark of interest he had shown in her a moment ago, and then he gave a formal bow. "Command me, my Queen," he said, keeping his eyes on the ground.

"Ohh," Rita cooed, giggling darkly. "Yes, you'll do nicely. Tommy Oliver, you will be my green knight. I want you to go enter Princess Kimberly's tournament, and win. And when you have the Crown of Power in your possession, you will kill that no good Kimberly and bring the Crown to me!"

"Yes, my Queen."

-x-

Trini flopped gratefully onto the wooden bench and sighed. "Any luck?"

"Negative," Billy said, without looking up from the book he was scouring. "In fact, I have had worse than no luck. The sudden disappearance of this many volumes is downright suspicious."

Trini frowned. "Disappearance?"

Finally, Billy looked up. He looked more haggard than usual in the dim light of the archives; in fact, he looked about as tired as Trini felt, and they still had a long night ahead of them. "Yes," he told her, "it seems that every book I look for past this point is missing or was never added to the archive to begin with. But what makes the situation exceptionally strange is that only the books - and parts of books - on this topic have gone astray. Everything else appears to be in order."

"That's just plain weird," Trini agreed, picking up one of the heavy tomes and flipping through it. The writing blurred before her eyes, the result, no doubt, of being both overworked and exhausted. She sighed again and rubbed ineffectually at her eyes, willing them to clear. She could sleep later. Right now, Billy needed her help.

"Perhaps you would be better served by getting some rest, Trini."

She didn't look at him, feeling mildly embarrassed. She had come down here to help him, knowing just how enormous a task he faced, only to find herself being more nuisance than assistance. She was one of the few people that could read the ancient texts, but she would do no one any good if she fell asleep at her work. Still, she felt she could put in an hour or two helping out in the archives before going to bed.

"I'll be fine without your help tonight," Billy went on, knowing she wouldn't leave without an extra push or three. "Kimberly will work you to the bone if you let her."

"I know," Trini murmured, "But right now she needs all the help she can get."

Billy knew she was right; Kimberly was expecting a lot of him as well in the coming weeks before the tournament. In addition to his usual work in the archives, the Princess had asked him to oversee the organization of the tournament and festivities. He would be just as overwhelmed as Trini before long. "I'll see if I can find you some tea. It should help you stay awake."

"Thanks, Billy."

-x-

It was mocking her, she was sure of it. The crown was staring at her from its place on the pedestal, its many jewels becoming like eyes in the dim candlelight, daring her to show it what she was made of.

Kimberly scowled.

The preparations for her tournament were proceeding apace. Everything would be ready in just two weeks more, and yet she was still drawn here every night. Every night she spent an hour or more just staring at the crown and fuming.

Sure, it was pretty: wrought of gold and set with fabulously expensive gems in every possible color. But that a simple adornment could hold such sway over the fate of a family and the entire country they ruled... okay, so that part had seemed fine when it wasn't directly affecting her life. But now that it was meddling not only with her life but her prospects of future happiness, Kimberly found herself less than impressed with the trappings of her royal lineage.

Today, something snapped.

"You're just a stupid crown," she said aloud, as if the thing could hear her. Nothing happened, not that she had really expected anything to change. She was talking to a hunk of metal that just happened to be encrusted with jewels and shaped into a crown.

"I'm supposed to give you to my husband... well I don't want a husband. At least, not if it has to be Jason. Why can't I just use this power myself and put an end to all this?"

Furious, she grabbed the crown and shook it, as if to force some sense into it, or demand that it give her the answer she sought. For a magical artifact, the thing was awfully unresponsive. The room echoed with ominous silence, a strange tension that had come up out of nowhere. It was probably just her imagination, but the metal seemed to tingle unpleasantly against her hands, the slight twinges of pain only serving to make her angrier. That was the last straw.

She raised the crown -

- and could not rest it on her head. It simply wouldn't budge. An invisible force, stronger even than her will, prevented her from lowering the crown and placing it upon her own head.

It just wasn't fair. She could only bestow the power contained in the crown... she could never wield that power herself. She cried out in frustration and flung the crown away. It clattered dully as it hit the ground, rolled, and finally came to a stop.

Immediately, she felt guilty for the outburst of temper. The crown looked small and forlorn lying there on the floor. This was her family's heirloom, the only real thing she had left of generations of her family that had come and gone before her, not just some stupid magical artifact. It deserved better than to be tossed around and left lying on the floor like an unwanted toy.

Without even so much as a put-out sigh, Kimberly went to retrieve it. But when she picked it up, something shifted under her thumb. Frowning guiltily, she leaned closer for a better look.

A yellow topaz that was set into one side of the crown had come loose. Kimberly groaned. There would be no hiding it now; someone would have to know that she had been handling the crown, because this would need to be fixed. And, because no one but her could touch the thing, that meant that not only would she have to own up to breaking it, she would have to be taught how to fix it herself. Just great.

She fiddled with the stone for a moment with one finger, wondering if she could push it back into place with no-one the wiser or if it had come permanently loose. Something, some strange reflection of the candle's light, caught her eye. It looked almost as if something had been engraved beneath the stone...

Weird.

She gently pushed the stone; it shifted slightly, then came free of its setting altogether. As it clattered to the ground, brilliant white light filled the room and Kimberly fell into a dead faint.