Chapter One

Tommy's fist sliced through the air and landed perfectly on the center of the punching bag. The searing pain that was developing in his fingers was a nice distraction from the thundering thoughts in his mind. Thankfully, no one at the Youth Center decided to interrupt him.

A letter. She couldn't even take the time to call and speak with him over the phone. Tommy had just spoken to Kim mere days ago and everything seemed fine. She sounded happy to hear from him. Now she had found the guy of her dreams? How long had she been speaking with him and writing to him while seeing this guy?

It didn't matter. It was over. He had taken the time to let everything sink in and now it was his job to move on and focus on his karate, his school work, and leading the Power Rangers.

Kimberly was happy and now she had a new guy. Tommy just needed to let it rest and…

Pretend like nothing had happened?

Tommy's jaw clenched to the point of pain.

His mother had found out about the breakup when she saw the letter sitting on his bedside table. Tommy didn't even have the energy to be mad at her about it.

"I'm just so shocked that Kim would do such a thing!" his mom exclaimed that same night he had gotten the letter.

"Mom, I don't want to talk about this." Tommy said as he lay down on his bed. Throwing an arm up to rest against his forehead, he stared up at the ceiling and wondered for the hundredth time what this new guy looked like.

"Tommy, something just doesn't seem right about this. Have you called Kimberly?"

"Mom, I really don't want to talk about this right now. Please just leave me alone." Turning on his side to stare at the empty desk on the other side of the room, Tommy let his silence speak for him. Taking the hint, his mother sighed and left his bedroom. The gentle click of his door closing had made him feel even worse.

Tommy hadn't realized he had been letting his mind wander so much. He nearly leapt into the air when he noticed Kat standing beside him at the Youth Center.

"Whoa! Whoa, sorry, Tommy! I didn't mean to scare you." she said, a small smile playing on her lips.

Placing two hands around the punching bag to steady it, he turned to Kat and smiled. "Hey, Kat. Sorry, my mind was a million miles away."

With Kim and some random guy, he thought to himself miserably.

"Yeah, I could kind of tell." Kat laughed, but then she grew somber. "Um, I just wanted to let you know that we are all here for you. No matter what. Even if you just want to talk."

Tommy nodded. It was the same offer he had received from each of his other friends over the last few days. "Thanks, Katherine. I really appreciate it."

He had no intention of talking to any of the others about how he was feeling. What more was there to say? They all heard Kimberly's letter.

"Ok, well, we're all thinking of going to see a movie on Thursday night. It's the discount night at the theater!" Kat said, her grin returning. "I- We'd love for you to come with us."

Tommy worked hard not to sigh. He really wasn't in the right state of mind to be hanging out with his friends. The last thing that he wanted was to be a downer on a fun night out.

But instead he said, "Yeah, maybe. I'll think about it. Hey, I got to run. I promised my mom I'd help her with dinner tonight and I have a big essay to work on for English class. I'll see you around?"

Before she had a chance to reply, Tommy strode off towards the locker room. He silently chided himself. Kat didn't do anything wrong. In fact, she was being a very good friend by approaching him. The biggest issue is that Tommy just wasn't ready for it.

He was beginning to wonder if he would ever be ready at all.

Kimberly's head ached like she had been struck by a sledgehammer. Slowly, she tried to open her eyes.

It was still nighttime, but she couldn't recognize a thing about her surroundings. The moon was full and its pale blue light filtered into the room.

Kimberly blinked. This was no room – this was a massive suite filled with ornate furnishings and beautiful décor themed on the ocean. Light blue walls were interrupted by carved dark wooden molding around the windows and door frames. The four floor-to-ceiling windows on the two adjacent walls from where she sat were open wide allowing a breeze to enter and play with the white gossamer curtains.

Kim looked down and noticed that she was still wearing her tee-shirt and shorts from the gym. She had been laying in an enormous bed that felt like she was laying on a cloud. The blankets were plush and soft, but they weren't too warm. They would have been perfect for a night in Florida.

Was she still in Florida? Kimberly's head cleared a bit and she swung her feet over the side of the bed to stand. She jumped as she felt her sneakers resting beneath her feet. Someone had known to at least take off her shoes before tucking her into bed.

Kim felt a bit queasy at the idea that someone had tucked her in at all.

Stepping aside from her sneakers, Kimberly walked towards the center of the suite. The windows on either side of her allowed the night air to kiss her bare skin. It felt wonderful after the soupy night in Florida.

Kim decided that she was very much not in Florida. Walking to one of the open windows, she found a wide, white marble balcony. The stone was cold beneath her bare feet as she stepped out into the night.

Somehow, Kim had missed the sounds of the roaring surf beneath her windows. Far, far below, white crashing waves battered a dark, stony coastline. It reminded her so much of California that she felt a wash of hope envelope her. Could she have somehow been brought back home, where she truly wished to be?

What made her look up at that moment, Kim could not be sure. It was then that she realized that she could not have been in California. Or Florida.

Or Earth.

The moon above was so large Kimberly pressed a hand to her mouth. It was not Earth's moon. It was not her moon that lulled her to sleep since she was a child.

"Finally."

Kimberly spun around. There standing in the open window was a teenager who couldn't have been much older than her. He was much taller than she was but he was corded with muscle and not lanky like someone like Skull. Dark brown hair was tousled and long around his eyes and ears, but it was clearly styled this way. He was wearing what looked like clothing from another century: a dark green doublet, brown breeches, and tall black boots that climbed to just below his knees. The boy's eyes were a vibrant, electric green. Kim's throat squeezed as she was reminded by Tommy's former Ranger color.

Wait...Tommy!

"Who are you?" Kim snapped, "Where's Tommy?"

The boy before her gave a crooked grin. "I'm afraid he isn't here."

"I heard him! I followed his voice to the docks like he...said." A sinking feeling pulled Kimberly's hopes to the ground.

"Ah," the boy said, still smiling like a satisfied cat. "You're beginning to realize that perhaps you've been duped?"

Kimberly's breathing escalated. Fear, anger, and wariness all floated around inside her. She was no longer on Earth and Tommy was not calling for her help. She was alone with a complete stranger probably millions of miles away from home.

The panic must have been evident on Kim's face because the stranger stopped smiling. His green eyes narrowed and he shook his head in disgust.

"You're barely a slip of a thing. I don't know what my father was thinking of choosing you." he muttered.

Kimberly decided that maybe reasoning would help her out of this predicament. "Look, we can fix this. Just bring me back to...where you got me. I won't tell anyone. Just please let me go."

"And a beggar, too?" his smile returned. "Pathetic."

"What do you want with me?" Kimberly asked, furious. "Why am I here? And where is 'here', for that matter?"

The boy lifted a hand, cool as you please, and brushed a fleck of something off the breast of his doublet.

"Well?" Kimberly shouted, "Are you going to answer me?"

"No."

"No?"

"Not tonight." the boy amended.

Kimberly had had it. Lifting her arms she clenched her fists and shifted her feet into a fighting stance.

This only seemed to amuse the boy more. "Pretty little Pink Ranger. Kimberly." He said her name like a caress.

It made Kim nauseous.

"I'll give you one answer tonight, but the rest must wait until morning." the boy said, then he put one hand to his chest and struck a formal bow. "My name is Rory."

Kimberly grit her teeth. "And why do I have to wait until tomorrow?"

"Because you will be formerly introduced at court in the morning." Rory explained, "There, my family will tell you everything you need to know."

Kim went over all options in her head. She could follow this so-called plan for Rory's family and see where that got her. She could also follow through with her stance and try to fight this guy to escape. Or, she could turn around and leap off the balcony. The last one was most likely the worst choice seeing as there were mostly jagged rocks at the bottom. If only she could morph or get a Zord here…

"Don't you dare even think about it." Rory growled, "Those rocks will kill you before you even reach the water."

How he had even known the thought was in her head scared the daylights out of Kim. She filed away the possibility that this could be a world where mind reading was the norm.

"Fine." Kimberly muttered, walking back into the suite and nearer to Rory.

With a sudden snap of anger, she struck. Throwing out her leg in a high kick, Kimberly hit him dead center in the chest. Rory grunted and fell to the ground, but he was back up in an instant.

"That was a mistake." he snarled, then set himself in his own fighting position.

Kimberly squared herself and prepared for retaliation. The rage on Rory's face was intense, but she could also see that his complexion was bright red. She took some satisfaction in knowing that he was embarrassed.

Suddenly, Rory straightened. He put a hand through his hair, causing some of it to stick up on end. Then he walked straight to one of the two doors on the far wall, opened the one on the right side, and left. The door shut silently.

Kim's mouth dropped. Then, quick as a flash, she ran for the same door and tried to wrench it open. After a few turns, Kim was shocked to see the door knob disappear beneath her fingers.

She ran to the other door hoping to find some luck, but it only revealed a cavernous closet packed with gowns and other clothing for a girl.

A girl her size.

So, Kimberly was stuck. The only option she had now was to wait it all out and see what the morning brought.

How long had she been gone? Did Tommy know that she was missing? If it was the same night as when she was abducted, he wouldn't be expecting a call from her. It could be days before he even knew she was gone.

But surely her friends from gymnastics would report her missing! They would get into contact with her parents. Yes! That's what would happen! And then…

And then they would have no idea how to find her.

Overwhelmed with all that had transpired, Kim began to cry. First softly and then with great gulps of air. After some time, she just stopped.

Kimberly was alive and there was a path forward. Maybe she could convince Rory's family to let her go. It was all she had to go on for now.

She held on tight to thoughts of Tommy. He would be strong in a situation like this one. Kimberly had to be strong, too. After all, she had already been through crazy situations as a Power Ranger. She may not have her powers, but she had her mind and her spirit. Those would have to be enough for now.