A/N: Hi, everyone! I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am enjoying all of your reviews. I want to give a little shout-out to Katie M. who found me on Facebook. I hope you see this and thank you for your very kind words the other night. :)
As always, thank you for reading, and don't forget to R&R to let me know how you are feeling about it so far.
Kim
Quiet had fallen over the castle as night came. I listened intently to the sounds of the castle. I could only hear the deep snores of who I assumed was Goldar somewhere deep within the castle. Now and then, there would be a soft murmur of a maid who was cleaning the halls. Other than that, it was silent and still. Carefully, I pulled open the door of my room opened and peeked out. There was no one to be seen, the halls empty of guards and people. Looking down, I rubbed a hand on my swollen belly. I was pushing six months along now, the baby kicking more and more every day.
"We're getting out of here," I whispered, rubbing my belly. Moving quickly and quietly as possible, I crept into the hallway and headed to the left. Drakkon had released me from my chains months ago, allowing me free access to the castle as I pleased. I used this time to learn the routines of the castle and listen to everything that I could. I knew that Drakkon was gone tonight, heading somewhere for a mission I had overheard. This was going to be my chance to get the hell out of this damn place and back to my universe. I didn't bother to bring anything with me, not caring at all about the useless things Drakkon had given me over the last few months in hopes of winning me over. I only cared about getting out of this castle and somewhere close to a portal. I wasn't sure exactly where I would be able to find one but I needed to try.
At the end of the hallway, I found a staircase. I listened for a moment, making sure there was no one on the stairs. The silence gave me the confidence to start down them. The stone was cold, even through the thin slippers I wore on my feet. The further down I went, the colder it seemed to get. This told me I was getting closer to the ground at least. I was thankful the palace still wasn't on the moon in the world. Though, I wondered if it was moved in my world now. I didn't know what had changed since I had been brought here against my will. I didn't even know if Rita was still alive there. I was sure Drakkon wouldn't allow her to be.
As I came across what appeared to be a landing, I could hear voices coming from the stairs below. Quickly, I slipped into the doorway of a thick door that was propped open next to me. The heavy sound of booted footsteps came and three soldiers made their way up the stairs. None of them spoke, all three of them dressed in black uniforms. Large guns hung from their necks as they passed. I hid behind the doorway, pressing myself against the wall as much as I could to avoid being seen. They continued up the stairwell, heading towards the floor I had just come from. These weren't guards making their rounds. They were on the other side of the castle now. With Drakkon gone, they must be wandering the castle.
"When the cats are away, the mice will play." A soft voice said behind me. I nearly jumped from my skin as I twirled around to find the source, taking a fighting stance. I found Finster standing there, a knowing smile on his face. LEaning forward, he glanced in the direction of the stairs where the footsteps had faded away. "Happens every time Drakkon leaves the castle. You'd think they would learn better that the consequences are extremely not worth the risk." He turned his attention back to me. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I apologize, Lady Kimberly. Are you leaving us?"
"Don't try to stop me. Drakkon isn't here to stop me." I said, glaring at him.
"Heavens, no. I wouldn't dream of it. I'm not much of a fighter any way so I have no intentions of stopping you." He said, the kindness on his face giving me mixed signals. "Please allow me to prepare some herbs and rations for you though. An expectant woman needs to ensure she is getting enough nutrients and vitamins for the fetus." He turned, heading up the hallway. He paused when he saw I wasn't following him. "Are you coming? It'll be just a moment." He continued walking again. I hesitated, knowing that it could be a trap. I weighed my options though. Drakkon was gone and Finster has never done any harm to me since my arrival. And he was right about needing to ensure I could provide for the baby until I made it back home. Slowly, I followed behind him as he walked.
"I'll prepare you some Mallow root tea, ginger lemon spice, and cayuga remedy. This will help you fight off any nausea or infection while you are out there." Finster said over his shoulder as he walked into another door. I saw what must have been his sleeping chambers. It was a smaller room with a workbench and a little lab table on one side and a bed on the other. Drawings of all different types of creatures and plants hung on the wall with writing I couldn't make out in a different language. He walked over to the lab table and grabbed a few round containers. "Remember to keep your calorie intake high. I put some dried meats, nuts, and rations in here as well. There are safe drinking water wells around the city that the guards use. You'll know what they are once you see them. Just add water to the rations and they will heat up quickly." Bending down, he grabbed a bag from under the table and put the items he was holding inside. He added a bottle of some liquid I was guessing was tea and then a few pieces of white cloth. "You also need to make sure you keep yourself clean. It will lower the risk of infection." Standing back up straight, he held the bag out to me. I took it, giving him a long look.
"Why are you helping me?"I asked, putting the bag on my back. He sighed, pulling his glasses off and cleaning them on his apron.
"When I was a child, my planet was once full of prosperity and purpose. We were bright thinkers and the worlds turned to us for inventions and ideas. Then, the war started. Master Vile came to our world, seeking answers. He instead wiped out most of my people and took my family as my father was held in the highest regard among the council. We became prisoners under his realm. I saw awful things and had no control until I was given to his daughter, Rita, as a pet. It was then when she allowed me to use my creative abilities freely as long as I agreed to help her." He put his glasses on and folded his arms across his chest. "I understand what it feels like to be held somewhere against your will."
I glanced down at the bag and then back at Finster. It explained a lot about his relationship with Drakkon. He had started out as Tommy Oliver, a kid under a spell placed by a woman that Finster was forced to work for. He connected with him on that level because he knew exactly how Tommy felt, especially once he was free from it. It also explained why he was so quick to join Drakkon and assist him with ridding this world of Rita. Finster saw himself in Drakkon and Drakkon saw a trusted friend when he looked at Finster.
"How can you work for a man like him?" I asked, raising my head to look at him. "He's done so much evil. Why stay?"
"He freed me from a life of service. This is the only way I can repay him." He took a step toward me. "Besides, Drakkon needs someone on his side who cares for him. Sadly, he doesn't have someone like you with him anymore."
"He caused that," I replied. He nodded.
"Yes. Yes, he did. That's why he needs my help now." Finster turned, looking out a nearby window. "If you want to leave under the cover of darkness, you must go now. The guards will be returning on their rounds. If you go out my door and take a left, it will lead you to the back entrance of the castle. You can slip through the trees and into the remains of Angel Grove that way."
"Is there a portal there?" I asked. Finster hesitated, pursing his lips.
"There is. I must warn you though, Lady Kimberly. Unless you have access to a Power Coin, you'll be unable to step through the Grid safely. It's ripped men to shreds attempting to do so."
"I have to risk it," I said. "If I want my baby to stand a chance of making it in a world without Drakkon and war, I need to get back."
"Please know that I don't know what the effects of the Grid will be on the baby as well." He gave me a sad look. "I can not promise that it won't cause harm to the unborn child, even if you possess the Power Coin somehow. Due to its lack of connection to the Grid, it may view it as an enemy and kill it."
"What?" I whispered.
"I'm sorry I don't have better news for you." He said softly. "If you leave the castle, you'll need to stay in this world or risk the Grid killing your child."
"What's it like beyond Angel Grove here?" I questioned, gazing out the window. It was a wasteland, ruins of buildings that always seemed to have a fire burning in them. Heavy smog hung in the air above what used to be the city, casting a dark cloud over everything.
"It's all the same. Drakkon has taken over this entire planet. There are camps where the civilians are housed and they produce food but that's it. You'll never be able to go to one of them without alerting someone though." I put my hands on my stomach, rubbing the swollen area where my baby was growing. I tried to picture raising them in the wild and ruins. How would I be able to keep them alive like that? What if something happened to me and they were left for dead? "Kimberly?" Finster asked, drawing my attention to him. Tears had welled in my eyes, forcing me to close them. They slipped out, dripping down my cheeks.
"I can't lose this baby to Drakkon," I whispered.
"Shhh," Finster said, stepping toward and grabbing my hands. His white fur was soft and the grey pads of his hands were warm to the touch. "I promise you with all my life that I will not let Drakkon harm your child. You are safe as long as you are here in the castle. I beg you to please stay here until at least you've given birth and both of you are strong enough to survive out there. Then, I will assist you with leaving if you care to."
"Is he telling the truth?" I asked. "About Tommy? My Tommy. Is he really dead?"
"I'm not certain, Lady Kimberly. But I would believe it to be true. I'm very sorry." I let out a sob and Finster wrapped his arms around me in a warm embrace. I clung to his fur, feeling every ounce of emotion I've been holding in since my arrival wash over me. It was like a tidal wave and I felt like I was drowning.
After a few minutes, I was able to regulate my breathing and my sobs enough to pull back from Finster. He held out a handkerchief to me that I took and cleaned my face with. Stepping away, he walked over to his desk and pulled a drawer open. He pulled something out I couldn't see and walked back over to me.
"I was able to retrieve these from the other world for you. I've hidden them due to how upset Drakkon would become from them. Be sure to hide them or he will take them." He held his hands out to me and I saw that there were pictures in his palm. I took them gingerly. It was a group picture of the whole team, one I recognized as being inside of my locker. There was also one of my parents and a single one of Tommy and me. They were all from inside my locker.
"How did you get these?" I whispered, looking at him. He smiled, shaking his head.
"I called in a favor from a friend."
"Thank you," I said, running a finger over Tommy's face. He smiled up at me, a moment frozen in time.
"No worries. How about a nice hot cup of tea?" Wrapping an arm around my shoulders, he directed me towards the kitchen. "I would love to hear all about your friends."
Attempting to get sleep was a joke. From the amount I had slept prior to that and everything that had happened plus thinking about Abby, I pretty much laid there and stared at the ceiling for a few hours. Tommy did get some sleep thankfully, something I knew he hadn't done since our arrival. By morning, he dragged his eyes open and looked over me from our spot in the make-shift bed. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close against his chest, placing a kiss on the top of my head.
"I thought it was a dream at first." He whispered, his lips against my temple. "That you were a dream."
"More like a nightmare," I said, giving him a small smile. He kissed me on the lips, nuzzling his nose against my cheek.
"I can't wait until I have you and Abby here with me. Then, we can start working on building our family. I can bring my parents back here safely." He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. "Your mother is safe in Paris. We've been keeping tabs on her since everything has started. She thinks you died that day though. You were listed among the casualties."
"My poor mother," I whispered. "She must have been so heartbroken."
"We will get Abby back, stop Drakkon, and then you can show her that you're still alive. Everything will be okay again." Cupping my cheek in his hand, he stroked my cheek with his thumb. "I know I'm never letting you out of my sight again."
"That's what I'm afraid of." I smiled.
We rose from the bed, getting ready for the day. Tommy had a big day ahead of him, training with Jason and Saba. I knew he was nervous and that his main concern was that he wasn't good enough for these powers. Saba hadn't helped much with those concerns, basically telling him that it was true. I knew it wasn't though. Tommy was one of the most skilled fighters I knew and he was more than deserving of them. I was pretty sure Jason was the only one who could even come close to Tommy's level. They were meant for Tommy though and the self-doubt he had proved that much to me.
Coming into the control room, I saw that Jason, Trini, and Billy were here with Alpha. None of the Rangers from the other team were present. The three turned and looked up when we entered, each having looks of concern on their features. Zordon was not present in his tube and I saw that there seemed to be more energy coming from the lights than there had been yesterday. Did this mean the Morphing Grid was charged enough for us to travel through it?
"What's going on?" Tommy asked.
"Trini and Zack are gone," Jason replied. "They left during the night and took their things with them."
"Did they say where they were going?" I asked. Billy nodded, sighing as he crossed his arms.
"They spoke to William and said that they were going out to find something." He stated. He cast a look at Trini who bit her lip.
"Trini is going after the Ranger Slayer," Tommy said. Trini nodded.
"I think so. She's going to find her and get her revenge."
"We need to find her," I said. "We have to stop them before they do something they regret."
"Let's go." Tommy said. "We know where she likes to hang out. I'm sure they do too and are heading there."
"You can't," Alpha said. "Tommy, you and Jason need to begin your training. If you don't, it will put a delay on the rescue plan for your daughter."
"He's right," Jason said. "We need to get you ready for this fight against Drakkon. Running off for them isn't going to get us there. Billy and William need to continue working on getting the Grid back online completely."
"Trini and I can go," I stated. "We can find her and talk those two out of whatever they are planning. We will bring everyone back here safely."
"No." Tommy shook his head. "I don't want you out there. You will have a target on your back and Drakkon will be looking for you."
"Hey," I said, grabbing his hands. "It's okay. You are going to be busy and I need to do something around here. Trini and Zack will both go. They might be able to convince themselves to come back here without any issue. I can't just sit here, worrying about what is going on in the other world and that Abby is okay. I will come back here. I promise." He gave me a hard look, trying to decide if he agreed with me or not. He let out a staggered breath, hanging his head.
"You better." He said. "I just got you back. I can't lose you."
"You won't. I'll have help with me. I'll be back before you know it." Trini walked over and put an arm around my shoulders.
"Kim has extra armor here you can wear. C'mon. We can get Zack too." Nodding, I looked back up at Tommy.
"Let me stretch my legs a bit out there," I said, standing on my tippy toes to give him a kiss. He cupped my cheek in his hand and stroked it gently with his thumb.
"Be safe."
Trini and I dressed in armor and heavier clothing before heading out on another teleporting pad. I had found a bow and some arrows in their weapon supply closet before we left, deciding to bring it with me just in case. It had been five years since I had used any kind of bow but I didn't want to be out in an unknown environment without something to protect myself. The teleport pad landed us on the outskirts of Angel Grove near the farthest end of the park. As the world materialized in front of my eyes, I let out a gasp. The last I had been here, the battle had been raging through the park, and buildings had been hit by the Dragonzord. Now, as I looked around me, I saw that the Dragonzord still stood in the middle of the park. Vines were growing over its feet and up its legs from it's time standing in the park. All ht buildings were gone around the park and all of the greenery was overgrown. It was as if humans had never lived here, letting the world take over.
"It's awful," I whispered, covering my mouth with my hand. Trini frowned, nodding as she tucked the teleport pad into her bag.
"I know. It's like a warzone instead of a park." She said. Reaching up, she pulled her hood up and motioned for me to do the same. "Drakkon has patrols in the area. Since things happened in their world, they haven't seemed to be around as much but just in case, we have to lay low." I nodded and followed her lead as she headed up the closest road to where I had once gone shopping with my mother for a homecoming dress when I was younger. The buildings were leveled and nothing was there that even resembled the boutiques that once lined the street.
"Where do you think she is?" I asked.
"Kim usually sticks to places that she's familiar with," Trini replied, looking at a tablet in her hands that showed a map of the area around us. She smiled at me. "So, where would you go?"
"Home," I whispered. "I would go home."