Lord Drakkon

"Sire?" A voice called from the doorway of what used to be the throne room of my palace. Raising my head, I saw that Finster stood there. Where there used to be an archway stood just the broken shambles of the stone walls that were there. I wanted to swear at the thought of my castle, a symbol of my success, resorted to just a shell of what it used to be. I stood up from my place where I was crouched looking at the broken remains of my throne and stepped towards him.

"Yes?" I replied.

"They found them." He said. Behind him, he gestured to someone. Relief began to fill me as I watched two small children step forward. In front of Finster now stood Abigail, holding the hand of the young version of Tommy Oliver. Both were filthy from the collapse of the castle, a couple of bumps and scrapes that I could see. But they were in fact here and seemed no worse off than the rest of the staff. Smiling, I crouched down again so that I was at eye level with the children.

"I am glad to see the two of you," I said. "I was worried about you."

"Where's my Mommy?" Abby asked, looking around the room. I frowned, glancing at Finster who shook his head.

"We are still looking for her, Princess. I'm sure she is alright. Are either one of you hurt?" I questioned. Abby shook her head.

"No. We were hiding in the closet until someone found us. Mommy told me not to leave until she came back though. She's going to be upset with me."

"I'm sure she won't be," I said, grabbing her free hand. "You both were very brave today. Why don't you go with one of the kitchen staff and help Tommy get cleaned up, alright? I will come to find you in a little bit." Abby hesitated for a moment, a look that resembled her mother on her features, before nodding.

"Okay. Will you tell Mommy where I am if you find her?" She asked.

"Yes. I will bring her to you right away."

"Thank you." She gave me a quick hug before taking Tommy by the hand and leading him off with a kitchen maid who had been waiting in the hallway for them. They disappeared into the part of the castle that was still intact. Standing, I gestured Finster to step in fully. He did and I sealed the room with a wave of my hand.

"Any sign of her?" I asked, walking towards the pile of rubble in the middle of the room.

"No, sir. They are scanning now. I believe Tommy Oliver was successful though. Kimberly has returned back to her world."

"Fuck!" I swore loudly, grabbing a hunk of slate and whipping it across the room. It hit one of the remaining walls, splintering into a million little pieces. "These men at my disposal are USELESS if they can't defend us against an attack led by practical children!"

"I don't believe they had time to come for assistance, Lord Drakkon. The attack was over by the time they arrived. The guards were all killed that were present."

"How many?"

"Fifty, give or take a few that are still in the infirmary being tended to. It seems that Tommy was able to handle a great deal of them before he was detected on the grounds." I glared out at the night sky, the moon shining through the dense fog that had crept its way onto the grounds. "Sire, are you alright? Your powers need time to fully recharge and stabilize."

"I'm fine." I snapped, shaking my head. "What I need is to head into the other world and take care of the pathetic waste of space Tommy Oliver now like I should have done from the very beginning."

"The Grid is unstable right now. Traveling through it is not possible. I cannot even guarantee that a portal will open if I attempt. We will need to wait before trying. If not, it would rip the reality further." Stepping closer, Finster gave me a concerned look. "I understand your frustrations, Lord Drakkon. But we need to ensure your well-being and the structure of your powers before leading another attack against their forces. If not, I can't promise you will survive long enough to enjoy your victor."

Sighing, I knew that Finster was right. I had succumbed to the effects of Zedd's powers not being accoladed to my body. That's why I had fainted after my attack on the Rangers. When I had come to, I had discovered that the castle had been nearly destroyed. Luckily, I was able to stop any further damage and the soldiers had already begun to reinforce the walls of the palace to ensure they would hold. Repairs would begin at once. Most of the castle was fine, it was mostly where our battle had been in the throne room and the hallway leading up to Finster's lab.

"And the crystals? Were they recovered?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, sir. But no." Hanging my head, I let out a dark chuckle.

"No matter. Tommy's Power Coin was destroyed during our fight and his crystal was zapped with Zedd's energy. They won't be able to utilize their full potential without a vessel to combine them all. Let them morph all they would like. I have more power than then now with Zedd's running through me."

"And we have the children," Finster said. "What do you wish to do with them?"

"What we planned to do from the beginning." I turned to face Finster. "I will train Tommy to become my right hand. Abby will need to be taught how to utilize her powers. I will use them against them."

"It's a brilliant plan, sire. But won't the Rangers attack before the children are old enough to be able to benefit from?"

"I'm already two steps ahead of you," I said, turning to face him. "I require you to use some of your magic to design a pocket dimension. Only, time will accelerate here in an alarming time. We will have the children learn here while they rapidly age until the point where they are powerful enough and ready to help our cause. Can you do that?"

"I believe I can." He replied, nodding.

"Excellent."

"However, I must warn you to be cautious. Placing child Tommy into a dimension like that could cause Abby to cease to exist. He will not be able to meet Kimberly and will not be able to procreate with her." I nodded, realizing he was true in what he was saying. Even if I put Tommy in this dimension to become my protege, I was risking him not being able to father Abby. I would need to think of something else to do with him.

"He will remain here then. Once the other world has been destroyed, he will train to become my right hand and I will bring a younger version of Kimberly here to ensure their meeting." I responded, nodding to myself. The energy in my veins pulsated, an almost tingling sensation starting in my fingertips. I was itching for a fight and could picture draining the life out of Tommy myself. I had succeeded in taking out Jason for the second time, ensuring that this time he really was dead. It filled me with glee to think of his lifeless body laying on the floor, Kim screaming out for him and realizing he was not going to return this time. I could make her wishes to be with him come true too if she'd like.

"And what of Lady Kimberly? Will she be allowed to return her as well?" Finster asked. I balled my hands into fists, turning away from him.

"No. To me, both versions of them are dead. Abby no longer has a mother."

The nerves in my arms, chest, and feet felt like they were receiving bolts of energy as I walked. I did my best to calm them but nothing seemed to work. My heart thundered in my chest as sweat formed in the palms of my hands. I kept my eyes forward, focusing on walking the familiar path of Angel Grove Park. I needed to get there and access the situation before I would let myself dissolve into a panic attack I decided. I couldn't freak out without knowing that I had a genuine reason to first. I had asked all of Kimberly's friends where she would be this afternoon and they had all told me the same thing. She liked to come to the pond here to work on her balancing techniques or to read in the sun when it was nice out. Today was beautiful and it was the perfect day to be outside. She had to be here.

Walking down the small incline and over the bridge, I passed people who were walking the paths and enjoying the nice weather. In my hands, I held the small bouquet of roses I had bought for her on my way here. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to say to her but I knew I couldn't wait any longer. After being under Rita's control, I wasn't going to waste another moment without telling Kim just what she meant to me. Especially with the added fact of my powers fading what seemed like more every day, I had to come clean and tell her I loved her with every fiber of my being. I knew she felt it too from the small looks that she gave me whenever we were near each other. I needed to be with her and I prayed she felt the same way about me as well.

Nearing the pond, I came around the tree line where I was told she liked to sit on the larger rocks. As I neared it, I could hear voices on the other side. From around the tree, I saw that Kimberly was indeed here. She stood on the stone walkway that led all around the pond, her pink sneakers on the stones. Her bag was on one of the rocks and a book was open on the one closest to her. Standing in front of her, though, was Jason. I knew it was him from the red tank top and shorts he was wearing and the deepness of his voice that carried through the air like a blow horn.

"Jason, I don't know what to say," Kim said. He nodded.

"I know. Please, just listen. I needed to tell you the truth of how I felt. It's felt like a lifetime for me. When you think about it, I guess it has been. I've known since we were about five that I loved you more than anyone else I've ever known. There's just something about you and the air around you that makes me feel like I have the world in my hands. I'm a better man when I'm with you."

I froze in the spot I stood in, unable to move. Was Jason telling Kimberly he was in love with her? I had just told him this morning that I was planning on doing the same exact thing today. Hell, he had been the one to tell me that it was a good idea and that I should go for it because he knew she felt the same way. How was he doing this to me? He was supposed to be my best friend. He was stabbing me in the back.

"Jason, you mean so much to me too." She said softly, smiling up at him. Reaching up, she wrapped her arms around his neck and he hugged her back. It felt like the world under me dropped as I watched the two of them embrace. I might be a guy but I knew when a hug was more than just a hug. In my hand, I squeezed the roses I had been carrying. The thorns on the stems dug into the skin of my palm, puncturing the skin. Rita had been right. My feeling about the two of them had been right as well. Something was happening between the two of them. No matter what Jason denied to me, I could see with my own eyes that something was more than just friendship between the girl I loved and the man I considered my best friend.

I glowered at them, throwing the roses to the ground. Reaching over, I pressed the button on the side of my morpher on my waist. Greenlight exploded around me and I felt myself being yanked off the surface of the Earth. I flew through the air at light speed, heading away from the blue and green planet. I hurdled myself towards the moon until I landed with an abrupt stop. As the green faded, I found myself on the balcony of the moon castle. An amused-looking Rita Repulsa stood in the doorway of the balcony, a small smile on her face.

"Tommy! I figured you might be stopping by after what I just watched through my looking glass. How are things going with your new team?" She asked, stepping towards me. I glared at her, my eyes flashing green.

"The spell. You still have it over me. I want it gone, Rita." I said. She shook her head, holding her hands up.

"Sorry, but I have no control over you anymore. Jason and your little friends cut the connection when they stole you from me. Everything you are feeling right now is completely you." She circled behind me, leaning against the railing of the balcony. "Human emotions, am I right? All that rage, jealousy, and desire to kill just bubbling under your skin. Every part of you wishes to just skin Jason alive for what he's done to you and to take Kimberly for yourself. Pity. I was rooting for the two of you. I don't blame her though. Jason's a natural-born leader. He knows how to get things done and take control. No wonder she would pick him over you."

"Your mind games won't work on me." I seethed.

"They aren't games, Tommy. I'm trying to help you." Stepping towards me, she grabbed me gently by the shoulders. "Don't you see, Tommy? You don't belong there. You were just someone they took in because they needed you. Your place is here, with me. I can help you become the man Kimberly wants to be with. I can help you get all the power your heart desires. I can help you be the man that Kim sees in her dreams. Just let me help you." A foreign kindness spread across her features as she cupped my left cheek in her hand. "This world is yours for the taking. You just have to be willing to grab it."

"What about Kim?" I asked in a soft voice.

"Of course. You'll need a queen to help rule this world, won't you? We can help her see the light and understand that you are the one she is meant to be with. She won't care that Jason even exists. We will wipe him and the rest of the Rangers right out of the equation. Let's make a world that you and Kimberly can rule together. Get your revenge on Jason. He was supposed to be your friend. He turned his back on you when you needed him most." Letting go of me, she grabbed her telescope and made the image appear larger. It showed Jason and Kimberly embracing again. "You don't want to be on the team that follows a leader who could do this to the most powerful person he has at his disposal. You should be the real leader of the Rangers. You should have your own team to control. I can help you get that and so much more."

I hated how right she was and how torn I felt in my chest. I knew she was evil. I knew what Zordon had said about her and the evil things she had done while I was under her control. But as I looked at the image of the two of them, I knew she was right. Everything she said made perfect sense no matter how hard I tried to make it seem ridiculous. Jason had betrayed me in the worst way imaginable and he would need to pay for this. Zordon and the Power Rangers would never understand. Kim would never see the darkness in Jason that I could see. I needed to show her what he had done and why I needed to stop him.

"Tommy," Rita whispered. "It's time to take what's rightfully yours and show the world just who you need to be." She took my hand in hers, her cool skin against the warmth of my own. "We can make them all pay."

"I want Kimberly," I repeated. Rita smiled, nodding.

"I believe Finster can help us with that. We will help her see the light." She squeezed my hands. "Will you join our forces again, Tommy?"

"Yes," I replied. "Yes, I will."