Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers, characters or plot but anything that is unrecognisable does belong to me. Copyright goes to Saban©.
A shout out goes to brankel1 for reviewing my story faithfully from the beginning
Tommy's Love
Chapter 10- The Green Candle, Part 1
_Youth Center_
Tommy and Zack were sparring in the Youth Center surrounded by a crowd of people watching them. Tommy always attracted a lot of attention because he is so good looking. Tommy and Zack were so focused on their fight that they hadn't noticed the crowd of people. It looked like the pair were evenly matched until out of nowhere Tommy did a sweep kick which knocked Zack off his feet and he landed hard on his back. Zack laughed as Tommy leaned over him and helped Zack to his feet.
"You ok, man?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah," laughed Zack as Tommy pulled him to his feet.
"Good move," Zack commented.
"Yeah you weren't too bad yourself," replied Tommy.
"So…what's up with the dance?" Zack asked.
"I haven't asked her," sighed Tommy.
"What!" Zack exclaimed.
"I don't know, I guess I'm nervous," said Tommy.
"Aw bro, I'm tellin' ya Kimberly's gonna say yes, but you have to ask her first," Zack scolded.
He laughed as he walked away and picked up a board.
"So you think I should ask her today?" asked Tommy.
"Don't put it off man, it's time to make your move," Zack told him.
He held the board up and away from his body ready for Tommy. Tommy steadied himself then jumped, swung his leg and kicked the board which snapped in half.
"You're right," Tommy sighed.
_At Rita's Palace_
"The time has finally come gather around Fools!" laughed Rita.
"Huh?" Squatt and Baboo said.
"I have the perfect plan to conquer that pathetic little planet Earth," said Rita.
"Oh boy!" Squatt said.
"I wonder what it is," said Baboo.
"Yes, it is so devious and sinister even for me," Rita said holding up a map of Angel Grove.
"What is the plan your evilness?" asked Baboo.
"With the green candle formed from magic wax. When it burns down it will steal the Green Rangers powers," Goldar laughed.
"First we kidnap him, and then the Earth shall shake," said Rita.
She took out something that looked like a miniature figure of her magic wand.
"You'll have the Green Ranger powers as well as your own!" Goldar said.
"Ooh, whisper softly, let it out, find Green Ranger and point him out!" chanted Rita.
She set the wand on the map and it started to move around the map.
"Hey it worked!" Squatt and Baboo said.
The wand continued to move until it finally stopped.
"It found him! What a great day!" said Rita
_Youth Center_
Tommy and Zack continued to spar but Tommy was not focusing properly. Tommy aimed a high kick at Zack, but Zack moved. Tommy then tried to sweep kick Zack like he had before, but this time Zack was ready and he turned, grabbed Tommy and flipped him over. Tommy landed on the mat with a heavy thud.
"You lost your focus," said Zack.
"Yeah, because you got me thinking about Kim," Tommy replied.
"The sooner you ask Kim to the dance the sooner your mind will be at ease," said Zack helping Tommy to his feet.
"Yeah ok Zack, if you're such a pro let's see you in action," Tommy teased.
Zack turned and saw Angela, he looked back at Tommy.
"Child's play my friend, First you have to catch her eye with your walk." He said and he did a fancy walk turned on the spot and leaned against a pole. He then ran his hand through his hair. Angela shook her hand and walked past him.
"Then you have to impress her with some smooth spins," he said. He walked in front of Angela and spun a few times on the spot. Again Angela looked him over and continued to walk past him.
"Finally you just have to bust a move," Zack started dancing before sliding up next to her. He ran his hand down her arm. She looked at him.
"Zack, get a life!" she said to him picked up her bag and walked away.
Tommy walked over laughing.
"Real impressive, Bud!" he laughed hitting Zack in the stomach.
"Yeah real impressive, if you're trying to get a date with a carnival freak." mocked Bulk "What's a matter, guys can't get a date?"
"If you're such experts, why don't you teach us," Zack said.
Bulk pulled his jacket up around his head like a hood.
"Roses are red, violets are blue, no girl in the worlds gonna go out with you!" said Bulk.
Skull laughed while Bulk tried to free himself from his 'hood'. He pulled, but it would not come off.
"Hey I'm stuck!" he said turning to Skull. "Get me outta here, I can't breathe!" shouted Bulk.
Skull pulled on the zipper but it would not move. All Skull managed to do was flip them both over on to the floor. The fall seemed to unstick the zipper. Both Tommy and Zack looked at the pair and laughed.
"Yo, ladies check this out!" said Zack and several girls came over and saw the two on the floor they laughed at them as well.
"Roses are red, violets are blue we sure can learn a lot from you, NOT!" said Tommy and Zack.
_Rita's Castle_
"Candle green with fire's flower. Ba she sha ba! Take Green Ranger's power." Rita chanted.
"It will be done, the putties will find Green Ranger and take his coin and then…and then we'll have him!" laughed Goldar.
_Angel Grove Lake_
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" asked Kim "you sounded so serious over the phone."
"Yeah um, I wanted to know if um…" Tommy started.
"Yes?" prodded Kim.
"If um maybe you'd like to…"
"Like to what, Tommy?" questioned Kim.
"Kim I just don't know how to ask you this," he admitted.
"Come on Tommy, we have been dating for three months now, just come out and ask," said Kim.
"Alright here goes, Kim I was um wondering if you would like to go to the….."
Before Tommy could finish they were surrounded by putties.
"Look out!" cried Tommy.
"Putties!" Kim said.
The two fought off the putties and seemed to be doing well until Kim rolled to avoid a putty and her morpher feel off. She tried to grab it, but a putty reached it first and began to taunt her with it. She fought two putties in her path and kicked the morpher out of the putties hand. She ran to where it fell, but before she could reach it two putties grabbed hold of her. She struggled to break free, but their hold was too strong.
"Tommy, my morpher!" she cried.
"I can't reach mine either!" he said.
Kim turned and saw that three putties had a hold of him. They struggled against the putties, but neither teen could break loose. Suddenly Goldar appeared.
"It's Goldar!" shouted Kim.
"What do you want now Metal head?" asked Tommy.
"Now take him!" Goldar ordered.
The putties holding Kim threw her on the ground and she screamed. The putties then fully surrounded Tommy and Goldar hit the ground with his sword. Tommy, the putties and Goldar all disappeared before Kimberly's eyes.
"TOMMY!" shouted Kim.
_Dark Dimension_
"Just like old times isn't Green Ranger?" said Goldar.
"What's this all about Goldar?" Tommy asked although he had a feeling he already knew.
"Ah yes his morpher, leave him to me," said Goldar and the putties vanished leaving only Goldar and Tommy.
"Get comfortable Green Ranger, Rita has big plans for you." Goldar explained.
"NEVER!" said Tommy.
He lunged at Goldar, but Goldar just pushed him away and Tommy landed on the floor. He rolled backwards and got to his feet.
"Jason, Alpha!" Tommy called into his communicator.
"Forget it, your telecommunication device won't work in this dimension," said Goldar.
"Why am I here?" Tommy asked.
"It's simple, if you serve Rita you can keep your powers, if not then you will lose them when the candle burns out," answered Goldar.
"What candle?" Tommy demanded.
"The green candle!" said Goldar and he moved aside revealing a green burning candle. It glowed green and every now and then flashes of light like mini fireworks come out of it.
"It's made of very special wax, when it burns out Rita will have stolen your powers!" Goldar laughed.
Tommy and Goldar circled each other waiting for the other to strike.
"I won't let you get away with this Goldar." said Tommy.
"Like to stop the candle from burning? Be my guest," Goldar said.
Tommy ran at Goldar and hit him twice in the middle and then kicked him, but it had no effect on Goldar. Goldar swatted him away as if he were a fly. Tommy did a half cartwheel to prevent falling on the ground and he turned to face Goldar again. Goldar laughed at Tommy's feeble attempts.
"You are doomed!" laughed Goldar.
_Command Center_
Kimberly told the other Rangers what had happened in the park. She was shaken up and worried.
"Another one of Rita's wicked plans, she is gonna try and regain control of Tommy. I just know it!" she said as she paced the floor.
"I can't get a lock on him. Rita must be holding him in her dimensional prison," said Zordon.
"Billy, you come up with anything?" Jason asked.
"Not yet, I am still trying to tune into the frequency of his morpher," replied Billy.
Suddenly the sound of the alarm wailing filled the room. The teens looked around the room. Kim turned and saw something in the Viewing Globe. Her worse fears were now confirmed.
"Look, the viewing globe," she said.
The other teens turned and saw the Dragonzord destroying the city.
"Dragonzord…"started Jason.
"…attacking the city…" Trini added.
"That can only mean one thing," continued Zack.
"Rita has regained control of the Dragonzord," Zordon finished.
The teens watched in horror as the Zord destroyed more buildings and fires and explolsions could be seen all over the city. The Zord then fired rockets out of its fingers and several nearby buildings erupted in flames.
"We've got to stop it" said Jason.
"What about Tommy?" Kimberly asked.
"We will have to take him down too," said Zack.
"Wait my sensors indicate the Dragonzord we see before us is an imposter," Zordon stated.
"One of Rita's creations?" asked Trini.
"She's trying to lure us into a trap," Billy surmised.
"We don't have a choice, it's gotta be stopped," said Jason.
"Be careful, Power Rangers!" Zordon cautioned.
"It's Morphin' Time!"
"Mastodon!"
"Pterodactyl!
"Triceratops!"
"Saber-Tooth Tiger!"
"Tyrannosaurus!"
_Dark Dimension_
Goldar and Tommy were fighting when suddenly Rita's shrill voice could be heard.
"Go, make them pay, Goldar."
"I am called to battle!" said Goldar.
A smile formed on Tommy's lips if Goldar left that meant he would be able to finally reach the candle and put it out before Goldar could return. However Goldar seemed to read Tommy's mind.
"Hey, don't get any foolish ideas Ranger; the candle will be safe while I am gone." He said.
Goldar pointed his sword at Tommy and a gold light shot out. It flew at Tommy and chains appeared around his wrist and he found that he could not move from where he stood. He struggled against the chains, but they were too strong. Tommy watched as Goldar hit the ground with his sword and disappeared. Tommy continued to struggle against the chains, but he realised it was hopeless. All he could do was watch as the candle burned. He hoped that his friends would be able to come up with an idea and get to him before the candle burned out. He didn't know if Goldar was telling the truth, but he didn't really want to find out either. Before long Goldar reappeared in front of the candle.
"I'm back and happy to report that your miserable friends are losing the battle," he said as he aimed his sword at Tommy and the chains vanished.
"You will never defeat them, Goldar," said Tommy.
"Once Rita has your powers she will be able to defeat everyone!" Goldar said.
"She'll never have it," said Tommy.
"Oh, but she will, see how it burns? Like to try stopping it again?" Goldar asked.
Tommy kicked at the hand which held the sword and turned and kicked Goldar in the chest. Golder kneed Tommy in the stomach and punched him knocking Tommy to the ground. Tommy pushed off from the ground forcing himself back on his feet.
"Face it Green Ranger, you're trapped," said Goldar.
Tommy kicked at Goldar, but missed. He kicked again and Goldar tried to punch Tommy, but he turned and grabbed Goldar's wrist turning him around. Tommy then grabbed the sword from Goldar's hands and pushed himself off Goldar to the other side of the room.
"I saw how you got me here Goldar, now let's see if it works in reverse!" said Tommy.
He raised the sword above his head then thrust it to the ground. It made a loud clunk noise as it struck the ground and Tommy disappeared in a flash of green light taking Goldar with him. They returned to Angel Grove Park.
Goldar tried to grab Tommy, but Tommy kicked him and pushed him away. He then backed away
"See you later, Goldar!" Tommy said before running off to help his friends.
"Dragonzord!"
"You may have escaped, but your powers won't last while the candle burns," said Goldar.
Tommy morphed and appeared on the rooftop of a building and saw the other Rangers were in serious trouble. He pulled out the dagger and blew the tune to call the real Dragonzord. He played the tune twice which normally called forth the Dragonzord, but this time nothing happened.
"Huh? My powers are weakening already!" he said.
He raised the dagger to his lips and played the tune again. This time it worked and bubbles appeared on the surface of the water as the real Dragonzord rose out of the water and walked on to land.
"Hey, here comes the real Dragonzord, Look." shouted Zack.
Tommy looked and saw his Zord standing behind the fake one. He blew a slightly different tune and the real Zord attacked the fake one. For a moment it was hard to tell the two Zords apart. One Zord hit the other with its tail and the monster was no longer able to hold the shape of the Dragonzord and they saw for the first time what it really looked like.
"Look we must have hurt him, he can't hold his shape anymore," Jason said.
Just then the monster took the shape of the Megazord, but it quickly changed back before becoming the Dragonzord in Battle mode, but again it lost this shape. The Megazord swung at the monster but it disappeared.
"Yeah Tommy! We're glad your back." shouted Jason.
"I am a Power Ranger until the end," Tommy replied.
_Dark Dimension_
The candle had burned down about half way now and continued to burn.
"Yes, and your end will come soon Green Ranger. Very soon." said Rita.
_Command Center_
Alpha was scanning Tommy with a strange device that the Rangers had never seen before.
"What is Alpha doing?" asked Kim.
"He is scanning Tommy for internal damage due to crossing dimensions," Billy explained.
"You're all clear," said Alpha.
"Thanks Alpha," Tommy said.
"You are welcome," said Alpha.
"Man I am just glad I was able to get out of there," Tommy said looking around at his teammates.
"Hey I remember Rita's secret dimension, that's one bad place," said Jason putting a hand on Tommy's shoulder.
"The important thing is Tommy that you're okay!" Kimberly said.
"Am I? According to Rita my powers are gonna to be gone soon," said Tommy.
"She is just bluffing, Tommy, trying to scare you, how could she be able to take away your powers?" Trini asked.
"I'm afraid it is possible Rangers," said Zordon.
"Zordon, then you found out something about the green candle I told you about?" Tommy asked.
"Yes. Rita has a special form wax from the Gamma-Tri system. Once touched it retains a person's body energy." replied Zordon.
"But I never touched anything," Tommy said.
"You did when you worked for Rita," said Zordon.
"No way!" Kimberly shouted "and she has been saving the wax all this time?"
"Yes and now she has made a candle from the wax and cast a spell over it connecting the green ranger powers with its flame." answered Zordon.
"Then she wasn't bluffing, once the candle burns out I'm history." Tommy said, "the Green Ranger's…finished…." Tommy trailed off.
He couldn't comprehend the thought of losing his powers. It was the one thing he had to hold on to, the one thing that kept him going. If he lost them now, then what?
Kimberly could see the confusion and sadness on Tommy's face. She put her arm around his waist and held him. He turned to her and she reached up and hugged him.
"Tommy, everything will be ok, we will find a way to stop Rita from taking your powers." She whispered in his ear.
To be continued….