Chapter 25
"Lord Zedd of Nim," Tommy breathed, breaking the long silence. "The Dark Emperor, Master of the Green Dragon Line. Never heard his true name, never saw his true face. Not once in four years. They call us legendary, the Power Rangers of Earth are known throughout the whole 'verse, there are songs of our actions. Our stories are told to their children and taught in their schools. All Power Rangers know of us and speak of our stories when they need something to inspire them in the hard times. All because of five years of action. Five years. It's nothing. These worlds, the shortest average lifetime among them is 100,000 years. Five years isn't even a blink of an eye to them. You know why we're legendary?"
Draco shook his head. "Why?"
"Because it's Zedd," Tommy stated. "Because he is legend. Nimians are one of the longest living species in existence. Zedd's around 70,000 years old now and he's still young, still growing in power. So basically that means he's never before been as powerful as he has while we've faced him these last four years. Yet never in his life has it taken him over a single year to defeat any force, including many Ranger teams larger than ours. He is his enemies greatest fear, his people revere him. He is legendary and he has been since he first claimed his line of Power, the Green Dragon, when he was one hundred years old. -- I've known all these things about him since I first touched the Green Dragon Power."
Tommy stood and moved to the window, magically placed to show the grounds even though the room was in the middle of the manor. He stared out the window at nothing as he continued, "The Green Line taught me so much about him, my own experiences added to that. And he knew so much about me from that first moment I touched that power as well, he learned more through the years. So much information but we neither one knew what was so much more important. Not until Severus drew his attention at least." He chuckled humorlessly. "Lord Zedd Uainedragan. My father." He sighed. "We found this out right after his killed Kimmy. My love."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Finally, Jason sighed and said, "I can't believe I'm saying this but Kim's death isn't so much Zedd's fault." He waited but Tommy didn't even turn to face them. "I mean, Zedd's never used lethal force against us. Not once in four years. I kinda got the impression that's because he knew how any of us dying would effect you, even when he didn't know you were his son. Even analyzing that fight, you know it wasn't lethal force against any of us. Just against Zordon. Kim only died 'cause she was already injured when she --" Jason stopped abruptly. "It was no one's fault."
Tommy turned around and met Jason's eyes. "No one's fault? Kimmy just died in a battle against Zedd's forces that I was leading. She died from throwing herself in front of a blast that would have hit me and knocked me out but not killed me. If I hadn't --"
"No," Jason cut him off as he crossed the space between them, stopping within reach of Tommy but not touching. "You are not responsible for Kimberly's death."
Tears filled Tommy's eyes but not one fell. "She died because of me," he breathed.
"No. She died for you, not because of you. She made her own choice bro. You didn't make the choice for her, you couldn't. No one could. She made the choice out of love. You can't hate yourself for her loving you."
Tommy turned away again. Jason said, "You've said you'd die for me, you'd give your soul for me. Would it be my fault if you did?"
"No," Tommy said.
"Then you cannot blame yourself for Kim loving you as much as you love her. And don't blame yourself for still loving your father either. You don't have to blame him for her choices, Tommy." Jason stepped to Tommy's side, placed a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. "I know my sister well enough to know she'd kick your ass for doing so. I know she'd expect you to do what makes you happy, bro. We all can see that what makes you happy is having your father alive and in your life again."
Tears escaped Tommy's eyes. "I miss her," he breathed.
Jason wrapped his arms around Tommy, held him tightly. "I know, bro. I miss her too."