Lord Drakkon

The repairs to the castle were completed as well as they could be given the damage. The throne room was patched back together enough to avoid the threat of it falling into itself and the rest of the damage to the castle was minimal in comparison. Finster had gotten right to work, creating the dimension I needed for Abby to begin to age quickly and to train. I had decided that Tommy would not be venturing into this portal yet. Due to the risk of affecting Abby being born, I wanted to wait until I knew for sure how the events of the war would turn in my favor. Instead, I sent him with the women of the kitchen staff to stay with them and their children. It was my belief that he would blend in then in case there was another unplanned attack from the Rangers. He would be my last-ditch effort if need be, something I was hoping it wouldn't come to. I didn't want to kill a child if I didn't have to but at this point, I was willing to do whatever it took to end this war with me as the victor.

"Sir?" A voice called from the doorway of the throne room. I looked up from my place in the throne and saw that Onn was standing there. The downright ugly creature looked weary but had a hopeful look on his face.

"Onn! I'm glad to see you've returned. Were you successful in your mission?" I questioned. He nodded, bowing as he did in front of me.

"Yes, Lord Drakkon. He is coming right now."

"Excellent." I heard the sound of heavy footsteps approaching the doorway and soon, a rather large appeared there. Stepping into the room, the creature stood about seven feet tall with silver armor that showed signs of battle. The ape-like creature gazed around the room, a smug look on his features. I could see the resemblance to Goldar now, the same beady red eyes mixed into the dark-colored fur on his face. Grey speckled here and there with the fur, long hair on the top of his head. Braids were tied into the main, streaks of silver running through them. Silverback turned his attention to me, the long sword at his waist nearly dragging on the floor behind him.

"You must be Lord Drakkon." He said. I nodded.

"I am. I'm glad you decided to make the trip here, Silverback. I've heard many fine things about your victories in battle." Silverback smiled (at least, what I thought was an attempt at a smile) and dark yellow fangs reflected the lights in the room.

"I try my best to make my enemies remember why they fear me." He said, his chest poking out. "Speaking of, where is my coward of a brother? I hear he still is working for you. No wonders you needed to send for me if he is in charge of any of your forces."

"Onn, will you please find Goldar for me?" I asked, not looking at Onn. He stood, heading out the door again. Silverback walked over to the opening of the balcony and looked out.

"I see the Rangers are still proving to be a throne on your side." He said, observing the damage done to the wall on his left. "Human beings are the worst excuse of a living creature."

"I could see why you believe that. Let me assure you though that we all aren't." I said. Silverback had quite the long reputation under his belt. He and Goldar were born on the planet, Titan, the home of the ruthless warrior clan known as the Madarians. Their father was the ruler of their planet., reigning terror on any creature living there or nearby. Both of his children were expected to raise up in their ranks like he had had. That was until Master Vile came into the equation. The ruler of the Madarians refused to give up control of their plant so Master Vile sent Lord Zedd to deal with the problem. He eliminated the ruler, giving Silverback and Goldar a choice about what they would like to do. Silverback agreed to join Zedd and was given the command of a military-like team that traveled from planet to planet, killing and taking whatever they would like. Goldar took the coward way out and Zedd allowed him to work for him as one of his guards. Silverback has killed hundreds of people and is known to be a terrifying opponent on the battlefield. When I first joined Rita, she had told me about him and his reputation. When I asked her why she didn't allow him to join our forces, she told me that there were some monkeys that couldn't be tamed.

"Why is it that the great Lord Drakkon suddenly needs my help?" He asked, turning to face me. "By looking around here, it seems you have the upper hand."

"The battle isn't for our world," I replied, shifting in my seat. "It's in another universe. There is another team of Power Rangers that has been working against my efforts to take over their world as well. I wish to end their suffering and take control."

"Big plans from such a small human." He muttered. Narrowing my eyes, I glared at him. Moving two fingers, a bolt of energy shot from them and hit him square in the chest. It caused him to fly back into the wall behind him where he clutched his chest. Gasping, he tried to catch his breath again.

"Let's not forget our ranking here, Silverback," I said, gazing over at him. "You work for me."

"No. I work for Lord Zedd." He snarled, glaring at me. Smirking, I nodded over to the corner where Zedd's staff hung on the wall.

"Not anymore. I took care of him and his powers are now mine. Which means your ass is mine as well. Now, unless you would like to end up like him, I suggest you learn to mind your tone when speaking to me." He lowered his glare as I released the powers that were holding him in place. The sound of metal linking from behind me came and I heard the scrapping of Goldar's armor.

"You sent for me, Lord Drakkon?" His garbled voice asked. He walked into the room and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw his brother on the other side of the room.

"Well, if it isn't my little baby brother," Silverback said, pushing off the wall.

"Why are you here?" Goldar asked.

"Seems you aren't doing your job correctly. What else is new?" Silverback stepped towards his brother. "I always told Father you weren't worth the wasted breath."

"You don't need to be here," Goldar said through gritted teeth.

"Seems your master thinks otherwise." His brother looked smugly down at him, the arrogance returning to his stature after my power had subsided. "I'm here to fix what you couldn't."

"Boys, there's no reason to fight," I said, growing bored with their pissing match. "I have jobs for both of you. I would like to stress the importance of remembering exactly who both of you work for. If I even get just the smallest feeling that either of you is setting up to betray me in any way, your heads will be joining the likes of Zedd." The two of them exchanged heated glances with one another. Goldar turned to me first, bowing his head in acceptance. Silverback hesitated for a moment, giving me a glance. He took the same position as Goldar.

"Yes, Lord Drakkon." They both said in unison.

"Good. Goldar, I want you to gather all our forces here from both worlds. Leave just enough there to cover the use of the towers and to keep watch but bring the rest here."

"Yes, my lord." He said.

"As for you, Silverback. I have a very special mission for you." Leaning forward, I reached into the pocket of my pants and pulled a photograph from it. I held it out to Silverback who reached up and took it. "I need you to eliminate this problem for me." He looked down at it in his hand.

"A woman?" He scoffed. I shook my head.

"Two women to be precise. Both versions of Kimberly Hart, the Pink Ranger." I explained.

"I thought she worked for you."

"She betrayed me and like everyone else, she needs to be punished. I am sending you to the other world to take care of both versions of them. Retrieve their Power Coins as proof they have both been eliminated and I will reward you greatly." I stood, heading towards the door. "Goldar will lead you to the other world and instruct you on where to locate them."

"Yes, Lord Drakkon." Both said as I walked out of the room. I headed up the hallway to Finster's lab. Like the throne room, it had been repaired as best as it could be and the items inside replaced. I found him sitting at his work desk as I walked in, his concentration focused on something he was writing in front of him. He looked up when I entered, setting what he was working on aside.

"Lord Drakkon, I was no expecting you." He said, standing up.

"I thought I would come to see how Abby was doing today," I replied. "How are her studies?"

"She just finished some fighting lessons I do believe. I have her working with a number of the finest men in your forces on how to protect herself."

"And her powers?" I asked. He smiled, nodding as he walked over to the shelf behind his workbench. Reaching up, he grabbed what looked like a small box that was bounded in light pink leather. Returning back to his desk, he set it down and pulled a key from his neckline that was attached to a chain.

"I've taken the liberty of putting the spell we used to cap her powers into this music box. When you want her to use them, you play this tune and it will allow some of them to escape. It's very important to do a little at a time or else she will not have full control over her powers."

"When will she?"

"It's unsure but I believe after she has reached adulthood. Possibly a week or so in the dimension with the proper training from you." Picking up the box, he inserted the key into the front of it. The lid opened, revealing a little dancer inside of it surrounded by pink velvet. The dancer began to spin, the little figure's leg bent and she posed like a ballerina. A melody came from it, a lullaby-sounding noise drifting into the air. He held the box out to me. "She has been asking for you. And Lady Kimberly."

"I'll go now," I said, taking the box and closing the lid. The music stopped suddenly and the air in the room grew colder it felt.

"Yes, sire," Finster said. He moved to the side, pointing to the doorway towards the back of his chambers. "Go right through there and it will permit you to enter." Nodding, I walked towards the doorway and stepped in. Instead of walking into what should have been the hallway, I found myself inside a smaller room. It was set up much like a classroom, with a blackboard on one wall that had writing on it. There was a desk in front of it and at it, I saw a girl who appeared to be about ten or eleven at it. She raised her head, turning to look at me as she heard my footsteps on the stone under my feet.

"Lord Drakkon!" Abby said in a cheerful voice. She stood from the table and ran over, giving me a tight hug around my mid-drift. I returned the favor, careful of the music box in hand. When she pulled away, I smiled down at her. She had indeed aged quite rapidly since I had seen her last. She's only been in the pocket dimension for 24 hours and she was already five years older than when she had entered. Her hair was longer now, she was a good three taller and it pained me to see how much more she resembled her mother now. It was like looking at the child version of Kimberly but with Tommy mixed into her features. She was turning into a beautiful girl, one who was going to be able to wield enough powers to end this war once and for all.

"How are you?" I asked, bending down so I was more level with her.

"I'm okay. Finster told me that you would be back sometime this month. How were your travels?" She asked. To Abby, time moves much faster here. What felt like an hour outside of the dimension was a month for her. It was to ensure that she would be able to grow to the age that will assist us faster.

"They were fine. How have your studies been? Finster told me that you have been working on a number of different things." She nodded, smiling proudly.

"I was able to flip someone over my back this morning! You should have seen it."

"That's quite impressive," I replied. I held up the music box to her. "I brought you something." Her eyes widened in excitement.

"Can I open it?" She asked. I nodded, standing again. I walked over to the desk and set the music box down. She slid into the chair, leaning in closely. I lifted the lid and the music began to play. She let out a soft little sound of awe as the ballerina began to spin. "It's beautiful." She whispered. As the music played, I noticed that Abby's skin began to glow slightly. It had a pink hue to it but there was also a degree of white and green as well. She didn't seem to notice it though, her attention on the dancing figure.

"It made me think of you," I said, crouching down next to the desk so I was next to her. She suddenly frowned, glancing over at me. "What's the matter?"

"It reminds me of my mother." She said in a soft tone, hurt in her voice. "Have you found her?" I stared at her, wondering what to say to her. I thought about lying, saying that Kim was dead. If Silverback was successful, it was the goal anyway. But as I looked at Abby, I found myself unable to form those words together. I couldn't tell her that her mother was dead.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I did. She's in the other world with the Rangers." Her eyes widened.

"You found her! They must have taken her. Can you go save her now?" She asked.

"I tried, Abby. She didn't want to come back here with me." I stood up and took a few steps back. She shook her head, looking confused.

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't she want to come back?"

"Sometimes as adults, we are forced to make some decisions that aren't easy for everyone. It seems that your mother has made the decision to help the Power Rangers work against us to end the war that is happening. I'm not sure why but she told me that she did not wish to return her to the castle with me."

"It doesn't make sense. She said she would be right back for Tommy and me. Why would she just leave?"

"I'm not sure. But I stand by my promise that I made that I would protect you from harm. And that's why I'm here. It's time for me to start teaching you about a special ability that you were born with. Something your mother didn't want you to ever use. I think it's time for you to start learning how to use it though. You'll be able to help me save our home."

"What do you mean?" Bending down, I grabbed her hands and cupped them together in front of her.

"I want you to imagine a ball of energy in your hands. Okay? It can be any color you want it to be. I just need it to be able to fit right there." She gave me a look of speculation before looking down at her hands. She narrowed her eyes, concentrating on it. Out of thin air, a round ball of energy began to form. It was about the size of a marble but began to grow. I noticed that it was pink, the static energy in it crackling as it grew. It continued until it was about the size of a baseball floating about her hands.

"Wow!" She said. Suddenly, it shot out of her hands and towards the blackboard. It cracked when it hit it, sparks of pink flying everywhere.

"It happens sometimes in the beginning," I said, chuckling. "But I will work with you and Finster will as well to help you control your powers more efficiently. Soon, you'll be just like me."

"That's incredible. Why wouldn't Mom want me to have powers like that?" She questioned, gazing up at me.

"I'm not sure. But at least now, you are capable of wielding your own powers and can make your own choices. I promise you, Abby, that I will never leave you or let you down the way your mother did. I will always be there for you." Reaching over, I closed the music box and the melody stopped playing. "How about you get something to eat and we can train some more?" She nodded. I turned, carrying the music box with me as I headed towards the door.

"She's with my father, isn't she?" Abby whispered. I stopped mid-step, turning back to look at her. Tears were welled up in her eyes as she looked at me. "She found him."

"Yes. Yes, she is." I said.

"She wants to be with him more than she wants to be with me." She said, a tear slipping down her cheek. "That's it, isn't it? She chose him over me."

"Abby, I told you. Sometimes being an adult means making decisions that are hard for others to understand. I'm very sorry."

"It's fine." She said, wiping her tears. "I never want to see her again." Stepping forward, she gave me another hug. "You're all I need."

"And I will always be," I said, holding her close to me as the seeds of doubt planted deep in her mind.