Chapter 53: Fate's Roulette (Part 2)
(Echo Cave)
"What we hold in is the very essence that sustains the living flame of the Winged Lord of the Skies, the white falcon," Lachesis stated as Kimberly and Rosaline followed the Moirae deep into Echo Cave. Clothos held the lantern and with the multicolored candle as the trio stopped in front of a large stone door.
"You stand deep in the caverns of Echo Cave in a game of roulette in which the prize you seek is the rejuvenation of this flame. It burns bright despite the malice attempts to extinguish the light of the one it represents. A light of a new regime to shine in the spotlight where the genesis of power was first lit. A fate still being woven but it's a question of whether or not it will be weaved into place and lit up.
"Many beings from the realm of light who have been inflicted with a touch from steel weapon beyond this evil haven't live to see themselves cured of the ailments of Twilight. The powers that be long ago created a rare ether called the Nirvana Ether. It is said to cure any ailment from distant lands. As we speak, the Guardian of Twilight is preparing the ether to administer, but the items still required must be earned through three simple tests in a roulette of life and death." Artopros stated.
Kimberly and Rosaline were instructed by the Moirae to open up the cylinder canteens Atticus gave them. What was inside was instructions and a map to their task at hand. They explained to the girls that their mission would be done in three stages and governed by Clothos, Lachesis and Artopros. Something told them one way or another, they will walk out changed by what they would have to endure.
"The first task will test you to see what is beyond the looking glass of your past," Clothos said. "The reward will sought out in one's reflection to come to understand the reflection of one's heart."
"Your second task will implore you to walk a mile each of your footprints towards the future," Lachesis replied. "The trail of the sands of times will settle beneath your feet to collect."
"However, your final task will leave you to answer how you confront what the hand of fate will deal to you," Artopros said. "If one can strike the one who will judge fate and retrieve the black feathers that fate and destiny take flight on, will you still leave here thinking who truly controls one's fate and destiny?"
"So basically we have to retrieve a shard fragment from the past, sand from the present and a black feather when faced with our future on the line?" Kimberly asked as the trio nodded. "How bad can that be?"
"Huh mom, now is not the time to make crack up jokes about this," Rosaline said trying to ease the tension. "We're suppose to learn something in the end right?"
"It's customary for one to believe that but many who come here are under the assumption that they can undermine the hand of fate and destiny," Artopros continued. "However, you two are here for a purpose and yet both of you carry with you burdens of both the past and present that must be lifted. You cannot undo what was designed to come to pass, however all you can be offered a moment of clarity and reason for what you desire. The first two task must be partaken by the both of you, but the third will be revealed if you succeed. Are you prepared for what awaits?"
"We're ready for what you have in store for us," they replied as the Moirae opened the stone doors watching the two walk in.
(The Light Tower)
Meanwhile, back at the Light Tower the others kept watch over Tommy who kept on going in and out of consciousness every so often. With the newly discovered secret quarters the original Denizens of Twilight had at their disposal the Rangers, both old and new worked on figuring out what needed to be done. Atticus returned after dropping Kimberly and Rosaline off at the entrance of Echo Cave and they were surprised on how easy the Guardian of Twilight found it to leave them there on their own.
"Why didn't you stay with them?" Virgil asked. "If you haven't notice we're not immortal or beings from different realms. We're human beings for peep sakes who cut and bleed. You just left them out in the open without any protection or guidance!"
"Kimberly and Rosaline are capable of handling themselves I assure you Virgil," Atticus replied. "This is their test alone and not only they are fighting for Tommy, but for themselves. As I said, Echo Cave will change them in ways only they themselves will come to understand. The Moirae will task them to retrieve three items that is essential for this ether needed to cure Tommy. However, they will need to earn the items and I cannot give insight to what the Moirae will have in store for the both of them. Many questions about the ideal of fate and destiny will be assessed."
"But is it true…deep inside Echo Cave holds the living flames of those affected by fate and destiny?" Aisha asked.
"The living representations of fate reside in there," Kat pointed out. "They know our futures, our present and past? You've been in there have you Atticus?"
"You can say that Katherine but what you'll know will be revealed in due time," Atticus said, "The ether is almost ready except the requirement of the three items needed to make it effective."
"So exactly what are they after or what items must they retrieve?" Jason asked turning to look at his best friend being tended by Trini.
"The powers that be long ago created something called the Nirvana Ether said to cure any ailment from distant lands and realms. However, it was only given and used in times of dire need. Creating and conjuring the ether is a simple task, but retrieving the ingredients required is bestowed by the Moirae themselves. Each of them conjure three trials in which Kimberly and Rosaline must complete to retrieve one item essential to the ether: a fragment shard from the looking glass from Clothos; the sands of time in the present from Lachesis and a black feather from Artopros' messenger. For those two to succeed, they must fully come to grips with what the Moirae wants to them to know. However...that answer only lies with both mother and daughter."
"It means if I'm being somewhat partially correct," Shi-Ann spoke up. "Somehow you sent those two in there to confront what fate and destiny dealt to them and come to terms with it in order to save Tommy's life? You are right, no matter what the outcome is, both mother and daughter will come out changed."
(Echo Cave)
Kimberly and Rosaline finished navigating their way through a mirror maze that held reflections of memories of their past. Both mother and daughter got a glimpse of the details of their turbulent past. Rosaline relived seeing the memories of her early childhood in Beaufort including her traumatic experience of molestation at the hands of her Uncle Colbert and the truth of the revelation by her adoptive parents of her adoption.
On the other hand, Kimberly's memories of her past didn't fare much compare to Rosaline's. It was the mirror maze became their private screening of reliving the memories she longed to leave in the past. Seeing the memory of writing Tommy the infamous letter, choosing to continue her pregnancy at the cost of being disowned by her family, and subsequently putting up Rosaline for adoption reminded Kimberly of the mistakes of her past. Using the scroll and tools of the Moirae thye had in their possession, Kimberly remembered what the first part meant by "It's okay to look at your past, just don't stare."
Despite the reflective images, they found their way towards the mirror shard and retrieve it. The girls ventured forward entered another doorway with the next message saying, "Remembering the past and giving thought to the future are important, but only to the extent that they help one deal with the present." The two found themselves on what looked like a beach and on the other end look like an empty jar. However, as they continued to approach the empty jar, they felt the sand underneath their feet piling up causing it to get deeper. They were standing at least 15 to 20 feet away from the empty jar but the sand kept piling.
"Rosaline, don't move," Kimberly replied noticing that the closer they tried stepping the amount of sand beneath them increased.
"Why is all the sand piling up underneath us mom?" Rosaline asked. "That jar is empty and this beach is getting weirder by the minute. The sand is getting heavy under my feet making it hard to walk."
"I think that's the point of it sweetie. Somehow, there has to be a way of filling up that jar. All this underneath us must be the sands of time I'm assuming," she added thinking. "The navigated through the mirror maze because even though reflections of our past appeared on the mirrors, we didn't look back."
"Leave the past as it is move forward," Rosaline replied. "That was the first test, not to look back on it. So...how do we make to towards that jar to fill it up?"
"By remember our past to help us towards the thought of our future, but the present is the time for us to come to terms with the burdens we still hold." The minute Kimberly thought that, the girls felt the sand feel a bit less dense and deep as they moved forward. They notice that the jar started slowly filling up. "I...we need to be honest with each other in order to past this trial because your dad's life and ours depend on it. We're still holding onto to secrets of the past, the present is the time to help us come to terms with it..."
"Mom, please you can't ask me...I don't know if you and me can handle the truth," Rosaline sighed.
"It's part of the test and if we tell each other the truth, it will ease the tension inside of our and focus on the future and task at hand. I trust you to be honest and open and even if it will hurt us emotionally, it will ease our consciences." She looked at her daughter as she slightly teared up a bit. "Alright, I'll start us off first. When I first learned you were my daughter, I felt a wave of disappointment and missing out on all the years of seeing you grow up. When I look at Gabriel now, he represents your dad and me the chance to see one of our children's childhood from the one we missed out with you. As much as I love you, the thing I resent was finding you towards the point of your life you already grew up and I'll always be reminded of the childhood I never got to witness."
The sand started filling the jar up as the two made their way forward. It wasn't as deep as it was from the beginning with every deep secret both of them started revealing to one another. However, the jar wasn't filled up yet knowing that it was becoming a test to lessen the emotional burdens that they carried into the present. Rosaline knew she had to be honest despite what was at stake here.
"I felt a pang of resentment when I finally learned the truth about my paternity and what my future had in store for me. Sometimes I wished...my adopted parents never told me the truth and instead I would be living in Beaufort with them and the twins like how it used to be. When they died, I felt that by finding my birth parents would ease this void inside of me. I got what I wanted by knowing the truth about my birth parents, but I still feel this emptiness inside. To me, you'll always be my biological parents but I wanted to find you in order to fill the void of missing the ones who I called my real parents the first sixteen years of my life. When I learned about the line of power and your legacy, I feel like I can never truly be your daughter because fate and destiny will find a way to keep that from us."
The jar was almost filled as the girls now stood ten feet away from it as the sand from beneath their feet continued to go down. "The day I knew I was never to going to see you live your childhood and grow up was that time I saw you at eighteen months old after I gave you up. I was in Charlotte for a competition and I was at a shopping plaza during my lunch break. I saw this little toddler who was a year and a half years old with her mom and dad. I recognized you because of you have your dad's eyes. However, the minute I heard you call your adopted parents "dada" and "mama" I knew...that I had to let you go. Part of me felt that would have been me and your dad raising you instead of the Bennetts, but apart of me wished...you never knew the truth so I wouldn't be reminded of what I ruined in my life just so you could be born. I deprived your dad the chance to be part of your life or the opportunity to find out about you. I feel like I was too late and I waited too long because now you're at a point in your life where you're fully capable of surviving on your own...without us. I still feel some days that I don't know at all, and everytime I look at you...I will forever see that baby I gave up at the hospital all those years ago without looking back." Soon, they reached the jar of sand however, for it to be fully complete, Kimberly knows she had to hear the truth from Rosaline.
A wave of emotions was rushing through Rosaline's mind hearing her mom's deep secrets about what she felt about her mom's regret of missing all the years she grew up with her adopted parents in Beaufort, how she would be a constant reminder of all she had to lose in order for her to be born, the regret of not giving herself a chance to experience life with her birth parents. It surprised her to know that her mom did see her a long time ago just once after her adoption and made the decision to let her go. She still had that burden and the wanted to know for all those years why did Kimberly give her up.
"When the news of my adoption became public knowledge to me after Colbert went to jail, I had so many questions that filled my head. I wanted to ask the people I called mom and dad during my life why did they decide to tell me the truth of my paternity now? The day I learned I was adopted it became hard for me to find people I can truly call my real family. When my adopted parents died, I believe if I found my real parents I will finally fill this void inside of me. However, the whole thing that happened with the Source of Evil and Lokar made me think twice what I was asking for. For years I wanted to know if you gave me up because you didn't love me or if I was an accident? Instead of wondering what I imagine what my real parents were like, I found out that I was the product that complicated their relationship and their lives years ago. I wanted to resent you and dad for depriving me of the life I was suppose to have with you instead of living what I felt was a 16 year lie. I felt anger and bitterness the way you look at Gabriel because you're now able to witness the childhood you didn't get to see with me while I was growing up with another family. I wanted to tell you and dad...that you should have fought harder to keep me in your lives because now I'm at this point where I feel I can survive on my own and I'm capable of looking out for myself. For me, I felt it would be easier not to feel any paternal or emotional attachment to you guys after I learned the truth but instead I feel obligated to spend the rest of my life trying pay you and dad back for all that you lost because of me."
After Rosaline's last confession, the jar finally filled up as the lid magically closed itself and the two were directed towards the final door. Kimberly reluctantly picked up the jar of sand before looking at her daughter. It did pang them to hear each others' dark secrets. However, instead Kimberly smiled at her daughter as she embraced her for a moment holding her without a thought. "Even if the truth is now out there, it won't change what I feel for you the day you were born. I love you so much and you'll always be my daughter Rosaline. All I needed to do was…come to terms with what I did all those years ago."
"I know and you wanted me to be honest and I too…needed to come to terms with things as well. I know it will hurt at some point but you and dad need to know the truth. However, as I said so many times you're my family, all of you, even the twins and my baby brother Gabriel. Come on mom, we still have someone who is counting on us to save them." Rosaline replied holding her mom's hand. However, they suddenly found themselves back at the beginning in front of the Moirae.
"Maidens of light, destined warriors of the Great Power, heave our consultation to what you further must acquire," Artopros stated to a confused Kimberly and Rosaline. "Everyone has their own destiny, the only imperative is to follow it, to accept it no matter where it will lead. The future influences the present just as much as the past. The final trial will take you to where all three collide, the influences of the past, present and future. The flame still burns but yet it struggles to maintain its flare. Before you cross through, which one of you will be valiant enough to stare the embodiment of the crossroads ahead?"
(The Light Tower)
Back at the Light Tower, the Rangers and veterans witnessed Tommy experience another pain enduring episode as the effects of his injury intensified. The group hoped that Atticus' remedies could prolong the impending doom that was awaiting for the legendary leader. Atticus was doing everything in his power to give his living descendant the chance to live. It was imperative and of great importance what fate and destiny had in store for him, but he held onto the belief that the descendants of Namine will prevail. The universe worked too long and hard to unite these legacies of fate and destiny for it to be severed by misfortune.
The feeling of helplessness didn't suit well for the Rangers and the veterans. To Tommy's closet friends they known him to be strong and able to withstand anything that stood in his path. His best friends have been through hell and back with him from his relationship with Kimberly to the times he faced the loss of his powers on multiple occasions. However, defeat was also something that wasn't implanted in Tommy and the fighting spirit he possess within told something else. Jason continued to stand vigil over his best friend alongside Atticus, the veterans and the younger Rangers.
"Promise…promise me you'll keep…you'll keep them safe?" Jason felt Tommy momentarily regain conciousness as his best friend grabbed a hold of his wrist. He saw the photo clutched in Tommy's hand that Rosaline left behind earlier before leaving. Tommy's voice came out sounding like a desparate plea. "Keep…keep my family…safe bro? I…I…love them more than…life itself. Rosaline, Hayden, Elena and Gabriel, my kids…they mean the world to me. Kimberly…my pink crane…my love, soulmate, let…let her how much…how much I love her. She's my everything, my whole world and without her…without her…"
"Come on Tommy you can't leave them, there's no way it not your time yet," Jason replied trying to encourage his best friend to hold on. "Remember what you told us? What you told your children? We don't give up and we are in control of our own fate and destinies. I know you're holding on for them, for all of us and believe me bro, you got two women who will go through hellfire and brimstone to fight to save your life. Death is not your destiny yet and they won't allow it! You keep fighting Tommy. You fight for your friends, the Rangers, you children and especially your pink crane. Hang on Tommy you got too much to live for!"
"Kimberly, Rosaline…they're fighting…to save me? Change my fate?" He asked tiredly before slipping unconcious once again. "My girls…my girls always going through hell and back to defy fate. Hope…hope the power will protect them. It's not...not their fate to fail, nor mine."
"It will that's a promise," he assured Tommy. "You know they'll pull through for you because it's their turn to return the favor to you. Now, just hold on bro."
(Echo Cave)
Kimberly and Rosaline couldn't explain how or why the Moirae brought them back to the start just when they were about to embark on retrieving the final item for the ether. The representatives of fate stared at the two girls with curiosity and bewilderment and then glanced down at Tommy's lantern. It wasn't common for them to see the flame being sustained by something more than one's own lifeforce or spirit. It was uncanny but also rare that soulmates found a way to keep a flame in one's lantern still lit up. They looked carefully at the flame inside the lantern and notice a tinted pink aura within it.
"Lights of fate and destiny...you've come this far, but before you face the final trial there is something you should know," Clothos said. "Heart, body and soul have enjoined with this lantern over the years to another source of a living flame, a kindred spirit and soulmate. It still burns bright and yet it is protected from being extinguish. It's uncanny Winged Lady of the Skies that the living flame of the Winged Lord of the Skies is intertwined with yours. It is you...that keeps it burning."
"I'm...keeping Tommy's flame and hence him alive?" Kimberly asked confused. "I thought...it's not possible. I mean he and I, were destined to be together and despite us being descendants of the lines of Namine and Atticus. So it means, somewhere along the way we became part of each other. With the Great Power anything is possible." She smiled turning towards Rosaline. "It was something your dad and I learned a long time ago. Come on, we still have a job to do."
"We need to go through that door to retrieve the third item, a black feather," Rosaline replied. "So what are we waiting for...open that door so we can save dad."
"I see your determination, but yet there is recklessness and carelessness that looms in you doppelganger," Lachesis stated. "What lies beyond those doors is the final task, but those who ventured beyond these doors displayed arrogance and pride thinking that the hand of fate and destiny can be altered. Be mindful, the embodiment that lies beyond these doors is judgement that presides over fate and destiny. The task is simple, if you truly believe that you hold the power of controlling your own fate and that of your father's, then you must be fearless, bold and true to yourself. Strike one blow to what you must confront."
"However, it is she who must enter the judge's dominion alone," Artopros replied pointing to Rosaline. "Your fate and destiny has been predetermined but yet you will yourself to alter it. You desire to change not only yours but that of those around you. This the last spin of the roulette, if you hold that belief then are you prepared for what the outcome will be once the last spin concludes? There will be a lot not only you will learn, but so will the crane herself."
"Hey that wasn't part of the agreement," Kimberly argued. "You're meaning to tell us that by some sheer luck, facing the embodiment of death is the final task? You want my daughter to walk in there? This is punishment is it for derailing and altering every work of the fates for the last few years isn't it? You want to say that we don't hold the power to control our own fates and destinies so you're sending my kid in? Why does it have to be her? What...if...if we don't succeed?"
"You've done all you can now the final task falls upon the embodiment of the future you brought life to," they stated. "However, if your daughter succeeds then the works of the new regime will soon take flight. You fight to keep this torch of destiny burning because although everything is in motion, it still remains clouded how it will be pursued."
"I'll deal with that later, but right now I'm going in there and will face what hinges fate and destiny. I will succeed I guarantee that, I will save my father's life and I will prove to you who controls our fates and destiny. I will walk out of here with the understanding why many before us came to Echo Cave. If I'm going to see first hand who holds true dominion here then fine by me." She turn to the Moirae before giving her mom a reassuring smile and look of confidence. "Now...open that door because I'm going to walk in there and finish what I came here for." With that they opened the door for Rosaline to face the third trial and all Kimberly could do was wait hoping her daughter make it out in one piece.
(A few hours later)
A few hours passed as everyone awaited for Kimberly and Rosaline's return. Katherine along with Trini and Bianca made use of the resources in the quarters hoping to find something or anything they could use to their advantage. They were running on borrowed time not knowing when Satsu would emerge from the imprisonment of the Stone Tower or when Declan would make his move to bring down the barrier. By a stroke of luck, Katherine stumbled upon something that hopefully would help them gain the upper hand.
"Do you think this will work? It looks like it's written in Sumerian with a hint of Eltarian incantation to it," Trini analyzed. "But once we make it back to Angel Grove then we can figure it out. From your perception, what does it look like?"
"It looks like a spell...one that can cleanse and revoke a witch or warlock's powers," Katherine stated. "However, there's a catch to it. Based on incantation it needs to be invoked and cast by the assistance of a coven, one that can call to the spirits to help them. I promised Celeste I save her son's soul and with him riddle with Expression, this is the only option I got. The Expression Triangle can only be activated by a witch or warlock in bloom, but if we take Declan's magic and power away it will render him useless."
"This is more than just a revoking spell, you're binding Declan's powers by tethering them to the will of spirits," Bianca said. "Sound like some sort of curse which works well as my people's specialty. Only the power of the coven initiated can help with the spell, but the Westbury coven is in ruins thanks to Declan."
However, before the girls could tell the others about their plans on neutralizing Declan, they heard Atticus calling everyone into the dormitories. This time, Tommy's thrashing and agonizing pain attacks intensified as Jason and their friends tried to restrain him. Atticus feared the worst knowing the effects of the sword was causing a tremendous amount of pain for his descendant. He already maximized on the dosage of remedies to slow down the ailments but they needed to brew up the ether right away.
At that moment, the others heard two pairs of footsteps running into the light tower. Rosaline and Kimberly barged straight into the quarters and thrust the ingredients into Atticus' arms. The two women looked like they been through a rough battle but they didn't want to discuss the details of their ordeal in Echo Cave as both mother and daughter rushed to Tommy's side.
"Guys back up we know what we're doing," Kimberly ordered as their friends stepped away from the cot. She instantly took Tommy's hand while Rosaline grabbed his other hand trying to quell the pain attacks he was feeling. "Come on Handsome it's me your pink crane, your soulmate and your love. Don't you dare quit on us you hear me Tommy? You can't imagine what you and our songbird went through just to save your life. You keep fighting, keep holding on."
"Dad, daddy I know you're still fighting...death is not your fate yet," Rosaline murmured. "We need you, and so do Elena, Hayden and Gabriel. You can't leave me or us alone! I saw what fate and destiny has in store for all of us and you're part of it. Dad, we're not going to let Satsu win I guarantee it!"
"Come on Atticus how's that ether coming along?" Jason asked turning his attention to the knight. "Tommy's life depends on it!"
"Alright it's just about ready now," he stated finishing mixing and conjuring it up the rare Nirvana Ether. He then whispered an incantation as it started glowing a cyan blue color as he put some into a small bottle. He handed the bottle to Kimberly as the two girls with the help of Jason positioned Tommy to sit up a bit as Kimberly took the ether and administered it. "If this is brewed correctly and the incantation worked, it should do its work."
A few minutes later, they helped settled Tommy back on the cot after administering the ether to him. Soon it was a sigh of relief as the moans of pain and the thrashing attacks stopped. The stab wound started fading and healing but left a scar mark on Tommy's shoulder. For a moment, the ether caused Tommy's body to glow purging out the evil magic from him as it deteriorated into nothing. His skin color returned to normal and his breathing came in steady breaths as the legendary White Ranger now settled into a peaceful sleep with Rosaline and Kimberly keeping watch over him. The others gave the family some time alone.
"So...what's the verdict?" Rosaline asked.
"He is resting comfortably and his breathing is normal," he confirmed checking over him. "The ether is doing its job, he will be healed and back to his normal self in a matter of hours, a few days at most. Tommy will be a bit weak and weary still, but he'll survive. You two did well and I anticipated that Echo Cave assisted you in the manner you required."
"We've been through hell and back and you're right that Echo Cave is the domain where the past, present and future collide," Kimberly murmured holding Tommy's hand. "However, somewhere in the back of your mind you knew we pull through. Yet, they had the power to diminish Tommy's living flame and reside him to a fate that resulted in his demise, but they saw something. I don't know what it was, or what is in store for us, but we prevailed. Right now, I don't want to discuss with anyone what happened to Rosaline and I inside Echo Cave. In the end, it was true to say we came out changed from when we first went in."
"If you only knew mom and dad the truth," Rosaline said deep in thought staring at her parents. "I'm glad you're safe dad just like we promised you, but did I make the right decision to once again alter the course of action? The powers that be want this story to be played out, but how far will we all go to make it end?"
