Zack came through the force field with a giant tray and a bag.
"I took the liberty to get some supplies." he said putting the tray on the table. It had lots of different fruits and veggies on it, as well as a bunch of slices of cheese and crackers. There was milk and juice as well.
"No peanuts, it's all good." Zack said.
Raquel and Tommy made faces.
"Broccoli?" Tommy said with a moan, "I am totally not eating that. You're not my parents, you can't make me."
"Icky, milk." Raquel said wrinkling her nose, "What's in the bag? Dessert? Is this a restaurant or something?" she giggled.
Zack shook his head, "I teleported back home and grabbed these out of my room, you know to keep you two occupied. I don't really have any girl toys though."
The bag had toy cars, coloring books, crayons, balls, and small plastic dinosaurs. Raquel and Tommy looked at the toys obviously desperate to play with them, but held back as though they had been told not to. Finally Raquel caved and ran over to the dinos and Tommy followed. Five minutes later the two were snacking on the veggies and playing in the floor. No one would have guessed that they were evil rangers.
"That's a great idea, Zack." Trini whispered, "I guess my rooms full of toys now. I'll bring some up here later. I don't really understand magic, but I'm sure stuff like this helps. Just look at them there so cute."
"Well it can't be hurting them." Zack said, "Maybe we could just keep them, like this, till we defeat Zedd once and for all. I mean we're bound to by the time they became teens again."
Trini sighed, "I sure hope so, but would it be right. I mean it's not normal for them to be this way."
"It's not normal for Zedd to be controlling them like this" Zack growled, "I mean, look what happened when he made them play with Jason and my minds! They went nutty!"
"Let's not talk about it in front of the kids." Trini said softly, "We don't want them to worry. Let them enjoy the moment."
Jason and Billy tried hard to pry some more information about Zedd out of Finster but it didn't work. Finally Zordon said, "Zachary has brought food for the children, however it would be best if we had enough supplies for all of you for the next night, including Aisha, Rocky, Raymond, and Adam. The world does not know you are teenagers. You will need to stay in the command center tonight."
"Right," Jason said. He called Trini with his communicator, "we're getting supplies for the rest of the night. Trini, you come with Billy and me. Zack I need you on babysitting duty."
"Right," Zack said.
"On my way." Trini said. With that the rangers were gone.
"Where is she going?" Raquel asked, "How come you guys can go through the invisible wall? It just makes a sizzling noise when I touch it." Raquel started to make sizzling noises.
Zack laughed, "It knows my biological signature. I can go in and out and so can the other Rangers, but no one else can enter or leave."
"What about objects?" Raquel asked.
"Nope, no objects, unless someone's carrying them." Zack said.
"What about invisible objects?" Raquel asked.
"Like what?" Zack asked her.
"Like magic!" Raquel said excitedly. "Big blue said that we're under a magic spell. Can those go through the walls?"
"I don't know." Zack admitted.
"I wish I was magic." Raquel said after a few moments, "If I was magic I could blow you all up."
"That's a comforting thought." Zack said sarcastically.
" And then Twinkle Toes and I could go home." Raquel finished.
"I know it's hard to be so far away from home." Zack said kindly, "Trust me, some day you guys are going to understand."
"Yeah, that's what grownups always say, but some day never comes." Tommy griped, "We've been in here forever!"
"Actually, about twenty minutes." Zack said.
"This is going to be the longest forever ever!" Raquel sighed.
Finster was sitting still thinking about the mechanics of this field and the layout of the command center. His mind wheeled with plans of freeing himself and the evil rangers. He was sure that if they got out they could easily cause enough damage to make lord Zedd feel like they had helped out his cause. This would mean he wouldn't hurt the children and would take his nap. Then when he awoke he would eventually see fit to put them back to normal. At least that was his plan. He hated to admit it, but he was very worried about freeing them. Perhaps it was better for Tommy and Raquel if they remained here. At least no one would harm them physically, but no, he needed them back at the palace. They were his empress' rangers, and they needed to be there when she returned. Besides he would miss them horribly if they were gone. No, they belonged on the moon. This was no place for them. They belonged on the moon, not here.
Suddenly his thoughts were broken. Zordon's voice boomed through the tube and Finster had to cover his ears. After a moment the voice was softer but still firm sounding. Finster could hear the words now.
"Why are you hiding them from Zedd?" Zordon repeated.
Finster looked nervous, "I-I-I d-don't know w-what you're talking about," he stammered.
Zordon looked at him and Finster sighed, "Lord Zedd would not understand." he said after a few moments of silence, "Dark Seid would learn of them. Who knows what would happen to them? It is better that no one knows, at least until they are experienced enough to protect themselves."
"They never will be under Zedd's spell." Zordon said.
"Rita's spell," Finster growled, "and it was always her plan to let them off the spell once their loyalty was secure and the earth destroyed. Then they will be safe."
"They will never be safe." Zordon said, "Now that they have tapped into the magic they will never be the same as they once were. They will be drawn to power and magic like a moth to a flame. They need their families, friends, and guidance"
Finster made an annoyed face, "What do you think, that no one takes care of them? They love the moon palace. It is their home. They are each others friends and they get guidance enough. We're evil, not irresponsible. They have everything they need."
" So do they need to be hidden away, to be used as slaves to evil, and to be controlled through a spell. Every moment they are under the spell their safety and freedom becomes a harder goal." Zordon said quietly, "Magic is controlled through attitude and emotions. Their emotions are not free. It will harm them."
Finsters eyes lit up, "Overly mature and overbearing teenagers with attitude." he muttered softly. He turned to Zordon anger in his eyes, "Your rangers have magical capacities too!"
Zordon nodded, "So much that it would have eventually destroyed their sanity."
"Is every ranger in the galaxy-" Finster began, but Zordon interrupted.
"No, but that is beside the point." Zordon said, "The people of earth are changing quickly. They should be allowed to do so in peace. Your masters will never allow that."
"More magic users." Finster muttered his eyes lighting up like a kid on Christmas morning, "You know what this means, don't you? We thought that humans could only gain extra sensory powers. Obviously the magic of the power coins helped control the magic in their life force." Finster's face suddenly turned pale "I must make sure that Raquel's experiments do not overtax her life force. She is liable to harm herself."
"You have obviously become attached to these human children." Zordon said, his voice suddenly sounding a bit kinder and softer. Finster seemed to relax just a bit.
"Well," Finster said pausing for a few moments, "they aren't as bad as I thought they'd be."
"They are both very good children at heart." Zordon said, "In fact, the vast majority of them are. Behold the viewing globe."
Finster turned and the globe was flickering images of children, some around the ranger's ages and some as young as infants. There were literally hundreds of them.
"Do you want to put them all in the situation Raquel and Tommy are in?" Zordon said.
Finster closed his eyes and in a guilt riddled sigh said, "No. I don't even want them in this mess."
"I can protect them." Zordon said, "I can save them."
"No you can't." Finster said.
"Finster," Zordon said quietly, "you wouldn't have to return to Zedd either. You can renounce your evil ways and join the side of good. You have tried to do good in your own way. Now you can learn to be truly good."
"You don't get it, do you?" Finster growled, "I don't want to escape and neither do they. We know our place in the universe. We know that leaving the council of evil is death for anyone who attempts it. I will not put those children through the pain that would come from that. You are wasting your time."
"I am sorry to hear that." Zordon said.
"I will not tell anyone about what we talked about. Those children," Finster motioned to the viewing globe, "they don't exist. Your Rangers are normal weakling humans with magical super suites. Queen Rita nor lord Zedd will never know."
Zordon's voice was almost a whisper now, "No they won't, Finster, because you won't be seeing them again. Any of them. You are too dangerous an enemy to let free, and you have a strong hold over Tommy and Raquel. They do not need you this way and the universe definitely does not need you this way. Alpha, please teleport him to a holding chamber and make sure he has everything he needs."
"Right away Zordon." Alpha said.
Finster gave Zordon a nasty look as he dematerialized from view.
"Please, hear us out Ninjor," Aisha said again, "please."
Ninjor stayed in a fighting stance, "I'm listening."
The four stumbled to find a way to explain this to Ninjor, but it was so muddled with four teenagers talking at once that he just stared at them.
Kimberly pulled on his elbow, "Ninjor, I'm scared." she whispered.
"A ninja must always listen to her feelings, Kimberly, and she must put aside her fears and show her true courage." Ninjor said quietly. He took a step forward, "I have heard you and your story is quite interesting but I am not interested. Leave now!"
"Wait, please, we're telling the truth." Rocky said.
"You just can't remember because the world went back in time." Aisha said.
"I've asked you nicely, am I going to have to make you leave?" Ninjor asked them.
Rocky stood still, "I guess, if you really want to, you can make us leave."
"Fine," Ninjor said walking up towards him, "I would advise you not to struggle. I do not wish to damage you."
Ninjor went and went to pick Rocky up, but Rocky dodged him. Aisha and Rocky kept dodging Ninjor for his first couple moves.
"You are better than I suspected." Ninjor said.
"Look out!" Kimberly screamed kicking Raymond down. He had been trying to re-scramble Ninjor with Alpha's device.
"Stay close Kimberly. We don't know what that thing does." Ninjor said. Suddenly Rocky and Aisha both attacked him.
"Adam!" Aisha yelled, "A little help here!"
Adam ran and grabbed the scrambler and before Ninjor could move; Kimberly was hit. She transformed in seconds into her teenage self, fully healed.
"Ninjor! Ninjor wait! They were right. They were telling the truth!" Kimberly said.
"What the-" Ninjor started, "Kimberly? Your all grown up now."
"Ninjor, it's ok. I'm supposed to be this way." Kimberly said.
"Your turn now." Adam said, "Please hold still, I promise it won't hurt."
Ninjor sighed, "Something is definitely up. However, I sense the truth in you. Fire when ready."
