Chapter 23:

The next morning Kim and Tommy sat at the breakfast table with Lois and Clark. Their friends would soon arrive to go to check out the church. Tommy did want Kim to feel as safe as possible though, "Clark, you don't have time to tag along by any chance? I think we could use the man of steel, if only that my beautiful would feel maximum safety."

"Well, I'm sure I could take a personal day and go with you. Make a quick change into him if need be." Clark was still feeling a bit guilty about the night before, "We shouldn't take any chances."

"Thank you, Clark. You don't know what this means to me." Kim sighed, "I don't want you to feel obligated to do this."

"No problem, Kim we heroes have to look out for each other," he says as he winks at Kim. Still, Kim seems to notice the guilt feeling he was trying to hide, but failing miserably.

"Clark, don't feel guilty about last night. It was only a matter of time. At least you were right to hide us here," says Kim.

"I can't seem to think I failed you." Clark sighs.

"The fact that I'm sitting here having this conversation with you, is proof that you didn't." Kim smiles softly.

Lois smiles, "She is right Clark. You didn't fail her, honey. You may be the man of steel but you aren't God. Even you are going to miss things. We all have our limits, but you caught it in the end that what counts. You take the day and watch out for them. I'll explain it to Perry."

"After we check out the church I think we should come back here and make a few calls and ask other rangers to do security for the wedding, just to be safe," says Kim.

"You mean hit the panic button?" Tommy asks.

"Yeah," says kim.

"Why?" asks Tommy.

"Because at this rate with all that going on I'm just ready to get it over with and be done with it. That's not how I should feel about my wedding. I should be able to enjoy it and have good memories. Having all the former and current rangers around us will let me know that we can have that at some point if it's a numbers game I want to win it." Kim answers.

"Maybe that's a good idea. When do you expect Jason and the rest to join us today?" Clark asks trying slightly to change the way the talk was going.

Kim says, "Depends on whether the others stop for breakfast first." with a smirk.

Tommy laughs knowing she is making a joke about their favorite bottomless pit of a friend, "We should expect them any minute now."

As if on cue the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," says Clark before anyone else could jump up.

Kim says, "How much do you want to bet he is eating something?"

"I am not betting on that one with you." Tommy laughs.

Lois is quite amused at the antics of the young couple as Clark lets the others in, they hear Jason say I brought you guys breakfast, thought it was only fair. I hope you don't mind drive-through."

He comes in carrying bags, behind him is Rocky eating a breakfast sandwich. Kim and Tommy burst out laughing at seeing him.

"Nice to see you guys too!" he says around his bites.

"Do you ever stop eating, Rocko?" Tommy asks teasingly.

"Yeah there is at least an 8-hour stretch every day when I don't," answers Rocky.

That's when his wife says, "that's when you are sleeping."

"Well, there's something else I don't eat during." He winks at his wife.

This made the others laugh, "That's too much information, buddy." Jason says.

Even Lois and Clark were laughing about this, ""Thank you Jason", says Lois.

"Well, why don't we eat our breakfast and be on our way?" Kim smiled. She tried to forget everything for just a moment.

"Sounds good to me," says Clark while they all sat down to eat their breakfast, about an hour later they finish up and head out.

It was a 45-minute drive from Lois and Clark's place to the church. When they pulled into the parking lot there was only one other car in the lot, most likely the pastor's car. They get out of the car. They looked upon the quaint little church with Gothic architecture. Looking like a work of art, or the little sister of Notre Dame.

"Wow! This place is amazing. It looks even better than it did online. Look at that gorgeous stained-glass window." Kim exclaimed. It was clear she was already in love with the place.

"That's why we choose this church too." Clark smiled.

"Good pick Kim," says Jason.

She looks over to Tommy who is speechless but smiling. Knowing that Kim is happy, while overwhelmed by its beauty.

The others all gawk at the church for a few moments as well as its peaceful surroundings before heading inside to talk to the pastor.

When they entered the church they saw a chubby older man, kneeling in front of the altar, praying.

Kim smiled right away, he reminded her of Ernie, other than the fact that his hair was graying giving it a salt and pepper appearance.

"Hello," Kim says quietly after she sees him cross himself and stand. A clear sign he was finished with his prayers for now.

"You must be the lucky couple." The pastor smiled sweetly while he looked at who had entered the church. It is obvious how Tommy and Kim were glued against each other.

"Yes, we are sir," says Tommy cheerfully, but also respectfully.

Tommy introduces himself and Kimberly.

"Nice to meet you I'm pastor Daniel Hickory, but you can call me Dan. Welcome to my church. Do you like it?" The pastor asked.

"I love it!" says Kim, "It's like something out of a fairytale. The inside is even more beautiful than the outside, the widows, the vaulted ceilings, the carved woods and statues, they are all breathtaking!" Kim adds.

"Thank you." The pastor smiles, "I am happy you chose this church. Do you want to see the garden?"

"I want to see everything, the whole tour," she answers.

"Okay, but first let's go into my office and take care of some of the paperwork."

"Of course," says Tommy and Kim together. They go back to the pastor's office to do so. 30 minutes later they come back out after taking care of the business needed. They find the others sitting in the pews chatting in hushed tones, respectful of their environment.

"Okay, who is ready for the tour?" asked Pastor Hickory. They all stand and Jason says, " I think we all are."

Over the next hour, Pastor Hickory showed off his great wealth of knowledge of the history of the church as well as his love for it as well. Not just sharing tales and meaning behind all the windows and carvings inside the sanctuary, but showing than the other parts and back rooms of the church, rectory and such. Finally ending in the garden outback. As the pastor finished up his story about the creation of the gardens and the legends about it and such, Kim and the others watched the grounds crew who seemed to be about 15 in number tending to their jobs in the gardens and surrounding areas. So preoccupied with the Pastor's tales that no one thought it strange to see such a large number of groundskeepers working in such a small area and not more spread out. Nor did they pay any mind to the peculiarly high number of pedestaled mirror balls.

A combination of the serene beauty of the church and its grounds, the company, and the intriguing lecture from the pastor on the church's history had lulled the group into a sense of security. Security would prove to be quite false with the events that were about to transpire.

That's about it, except for the story of the fountain. As they looked at the lovely carved granite fountain bubbling softly away, the fairytale figures seem out of place in a church garden, but at the same time seem to be the perfect centerpiece for such a jewel of the garden.

"The fortuitous secret, the fountain is called." Pastor Hickory says with a smile.

"It was said that shortly after the church was built there came an old friar who everyone called brother Marcus. You heard me mention earlier on. Well, it was said that he was in love once in his youth but her family didn't approve of the match. They tried to run away together but were caught and in struggle, she was killed. His family forced him into a life dedicated to the church, when he got here he commissioned the fountain in her memory 6 months after arriving. He was well-loved by all the people of his parish. It was said he had a soft spot for couples in the same position he once was. So he performed many marriages in secret in front of this fountain by candlelight in the dead of night. He also gave them as much as he could to help to spirit them away to a new life. This went on for 34 years until his death, upon which the discoveries of his diaries were made. Within them were the records he kept about every couple he helped and why he did it. Those dairies are the only reason any of this was known. So the legend of Brother Marcus's Midnight marriages took hold and was spread throughout the parish. Hundreds of couples were able to revel in the love he lost so many years ago. It was rumored that all couples from then on, that exchange vows of love in front of the fountain would have the friar's protection and despite any hardship, their love would remain true no matter the challenges that lay before them. That their unions would be blessed to be prosperous and joyful their whole lives long." Pastor Hickory explains with a bright smile. "That is one of my favorite stories. This story is where the fountain gets its name," the pastor adds.

"Sounds like we could use a little bit of that protection," says Tommy. Kim nods.

"I would love to marry in front of the fountain." Kim smiled at Tommy.

Tommy says in a whisper to her, "It might be safer if we marry inside. But we can ask about a post-ceremony blessing?"

Kim knew Tommy was right, "Okay, you're right, handsome. I would love the post-ceremony blessing though."

Kim turns and asks Pastor Hickory, "could we do a post-ceremony blessing in front of the fountain."

Pastor Hickory smiles, "of course, I do that a lot for couples. Let me go and get some papers inside, it's just such lovely weather." The man smiled, "Also I want to get my camera, I like collecting photos of the couples I marry in front of the fountain."

He didn't know he made a wrong decision then and there.

The pastor disappeared back into the church. This was the sign Luthor's men needed. It was time to put their plan into action.

Kim and Tommy stand in front of the fountain as the others are looking around. He takes her hand and says "You know I'll love you from the very beginning and through it all I love you still, in fact, my love has only grown with time. I can't wait till our wedding, so the world will know I will love you for the rest of our lives and beyond. To the end of time itself. " He kisses her sweetly.

She blushes and says in return, "Since that first day when I saw you run into the youth center, running late, to check-in for the tournament, and every day afterward, through the ups and downs, now one else ever held my heart other than you, and no one ever will. For my love for you will shine brighter than the sun, and I will carry that warmth with me throughout my life. Know you'll always be there to share it. Hopefully, it will always lead you back to me no matter where life leads us. '' says Kim and kisses him back. At that moment the sun sparkled off the water in the fountain in such a way that there was a momentary golden glow behind the young couple. For the others that saw it, they weren't sure if that was a trick of the light, or if they were actually glowing for a moment. Given the couple in question either could be possible.

Just then Jason starts to look around at his surroundings, old ranger instincts kicking in... starting to notice the few things that didn't seem quite right. "Clark, I think you should change, something doesn't feel right here," he says to him, and upon hearing that the others start to look around too.

They started to pick up on it too, something was amiss here, but not knowing that they may have caught on to it a little too late.

"It's moments like I really miss my morpher. " Zack says with a sigh.

They pull the couple away from the fountain and into a protective circle, just waiting for something to happen. Like that moment of calm before the storm. The hair on the back of their necks all stood straight up. Whatever was coming emanated.

All of the men slip on sunshades, then one of the men pushes a button and phase one begins.

The former rangers didn't have to wait long, no sooner had Clark returned as Superman, did all the mirror balls seem to grow antenna with lights on top, starting to pulse with a mixture of white and green light.

The green light seemed to form a force field cage around them, causing Superman to groan out in pain as he fell to his knees. The rest have been blinded and disoriented by the bright flashing lights.

They closed tighter ranks around Kim as they could barely see a foot in front of them. When the men moved in they were little more than dark blurs.

Even with all their skill and experience, it was nearly impossible to fight an enemy you couldn't see. The rangers tried their best.

With Superman down, and the others struggling Jason did his best to keep Kim directly behind him. He was determined to make it as difficult as possible for them to go through him to get to her.

Two of them came at him, and he tried his best to fend them off. He was holding his own until he heard a medium popping sound, fire and pain tore quickly up his leg causing him to crumple to the ground.

Tommy was now the only one who stood between them and Kim. He failed valiantly, nearly driving them off, as he tapped into his falcon's power to sharpen his awareness of his environment, and strengthen his strike against his enemies. But not even the power of the white falcon was enough to protect the crane.

Tearing the protective shades off one of them, making them as blind as they were. He managed to put them on just in time to see them grab her. She and the crane's terror as she fought against them and was failing, ripping through him almost crippling him.

Jason cried out in pain but managed to grab hold of one of Kim's ankles as the men grabbed her. Despite the pain, he was not going to let go of her. He used all his weight and was starting to win when another popping sound rang out and pain and fire ripped through his shoulder causing him to lose all grip strength. He was helpless to stop them from pulling her from his now lax grip.

As the crane's and Kim's panic and terror grew, a loud shrill cry pierced the air for all to hear. Sounding like a wounded bird.

Tommy gripped his head as it felt like his skull was going to split in two from the agonizing pain that tore through him.

Kim screams as loud as they get further away.

They all suddenly hear the falcon's anguished cry in response to losing his mate. That pain awakes Dragon, with no one to hold him in check, he rushes to the surface. As an engine roars to life in the distance, then wheels are heard peeling out and speeding off.

Tommy's clothes start to change from a white tank top and a red flannel shirt and light wash denim jeans to green everything. Tommy looks up, his eyes watering with tears of pain both his and hers, are blazing green and the glow only gets brighter as his rage grows. His clothes slowly started to shift into something that looked like a ranger suit. He lets out a massive heart-wrenching scream of agony, before losing complete control!

The wave of green energy exploded out in all directions like a bomb going off, shattering the destroying all the Mirror balls, removing all the things impairing them. Shattering the lights and destroying all the Mirror balls, removing all the things impairing them. The others were in shock, what they saw in front of them looks more terrifying than when he was the evil green ranger the first time. Everything looks darker and fiercer than ever before.

His face was visible but his eyes now brightly glowed neon green. The other rangers knew what this meant, and were terrified by it.

"Where Tommy failed, I will succeed. I will get my princess back." He said in a much deeper, more gravely, colder voice.

Dragon takes off in the direction the van Kim was thrown into went. They all look at each other not knowing what to do now, with most of them injured and with Superman down.

TBC