Lord Drakkon
There comes a point in one's life where you begin to question those choices you've made. Whether it's about the decisions you've made about your life or the impact you've made on others, there's a doubt that creeps into the back of your mind. For a moment, I had questioned whether I had been right in taking the Ranger Slayer captive when I rejoined Rita. I had wondered if maybe letting her willingly join us would have been the better option, especially given what has happened. But as I had her strapped to the Viewing Globe, her begging me to stop, I knew I had made the right choice. The only wrong choice I had made was allowing her to live for so long after betraying me as she had.
"Drakkon, please." She whispered. "Don't do this. I love you. Please, don't."
"Make the bitch pay for what she did to you. For what she's done to our empire." Zedd's voice hissed in my ear. "Make an example for those who wish to destroy what you've created."
"I will," I whispered, raising the dagger. "Love doesn't lie, Kim," I sank it into the right side of her torso. It was a pleasant feeling, almost like putting a knife into a potato. Blood seeped from the wound as I pulled it out, her screaming in agony as I did. I repeated this, sinking it on the other side, lower this time. More blood appeared, staining the steel blade of the dagger.
"Finish her. Finish all of this. Take control of what is yours. You will rule this entire world and more with her out of the picture."
My eyes flashed over to her face and I saw the pained expression there. Her eyes were glossed over with tears as she pleaded with me. They changed though, becoming a more distant look as the injuries took hold. Her eyes still looked at me though, like she was looking at a long-lost memory. I wondered if she was thinking about the school or the park, our times spent together there. I wondered if she was thinking about me and the life we had lived together under my control. The light in them was beginning to dim, her life leaving her body due to the wounds I had caused.
"Drakkon…" She whispered and I gripped her hair in my hand, making her look at me. I brought the dagger to her throat, the blood-stained steel against the creamy color of her skin. It was bruised from Silverback's attack but I could still see the soft and warm skill I had lost myself in from time to time before a lifetime ago. Blood now seeped from the corners of her mouth, dribbling slightly down her chin. Leaning in, I pressed my forehead against hers for a second.
"I wish things could have been different. I love you. It didn't have to be this way." I whispered, pulling my head back. I locked eyes with her, feeling the sting of tears in mine. This was the only way. Tightening my grip on the handle of the dagger, I shifted to end it quickly.
"Do it now, you pathetic excuse for a leader."
As I did though, something slammed into my chest before exploding with pink sparks. It sent me backward, flying into a broken piece of control panel that was behind me. Pain radiated throughout my chest and my back from the impact and fall. Regaining focus, I saw that the Power Rangers were now flooding into the room. The Ranger Slayer fell from the Globe, an unmorphed Trini catching her. Quickly, she and William began to work on her with medical supplies he pulled from a bag. The rest of the gang was standing on the opposite side of the room, each morphed in their respective colors. I see they were putting the crystals that they had stolen from me to good use.
"Make those idiots pay." Zedd hissed in my ears as I pulled myself to my feet. I could taste the coppery tones of blood as I licked my lips. I could feel a cut in the left corner of my mouth. Grinning, I wiped it away with the back of my hand. To my surprise, I saw that Tommy was not dressed in his usually Green Ranger uniform. Instead, he now wore the mantle of the White Ranger. It seemed that Zordon had pulled his hail mary card once and for all, hoping to use Saba and his powers to defeat me. They were tremendous powers, ones that I had stolen for myself that day I had thought I had killed Jason. Zordon was a straight-up fool if he really thought that Tommy was ready for that kind of power. They were incredibly strong and sought out for generations. Even though he was a strong fighter, I knew better than anyone that he thinks with his emotions and heart before his brain, something a good leader tries to avoid. Next to him, Kimberly dressed in pink loaded up another arrow and pointed it at me.
"Good to see that Zordon let you play with some new toys, Tommy," I said. "Though, I must say I prefer the green. Suits you better."
"This is it, Drakkon," Tommy said. "If you come with us, we will bring you in alive." I let out a dark chuckle, shaking my head. This child was a moron in comparison to the person I was at his age. Did his training with Zordon honestly make him think I would just turn myself over to them? Perhaps Rita hadn't instilled the same values into him as she had with me when I was under her spell. This Tommy was weak. This Tommy didn't have the knowledge nor the notion of how war works. He still thought that peace could bring all. I would ensure he learned that it wasn't the truth.
"It's ironic that you believe that is something I would be willing to do," I said. "And that you would think I would come without some backup." As if on cue, I heard the heavy boots of Silverback behind me. The Rangers took defensive stances, William and Trini still working on the Ranger Slayer who was growing paler by the second. Silverback stood next to me, three of my guards behind him. "I brought a friend to help finish off these pesky tramps we can't seem to shake, Oliver."
"Just like Rita's puppet to have one of her flying monkies fight your battles," Tommy said. His comment struck a nerve with Silverback who growled, preparing his sword in both hands. Next to Tommy, the red ranger made his Power Sword appear from thin air in his hands. Once a Jason, always a Jason.
"I'll kill all of them," Silverback said next to me in a lower grumble that I only heard. I glared at him.
"Leave White and Pink to me," I stated. "I will deal with them myself since you lack the ability to kill a five-foot woman when given the task." Silverback's ears flattened slightly with my comment but he nodded in understanding. I shifted my attention back to the Rangers, seeing they were in discussion themselves. Kimberly pointed her arrow at me still, her aim and grip unwavering.
"Where's Abby?" She called out to me. "I know she's here," I smirked, shrugging my shoulders. Abby was going to be her mother's weakest point. I knew that was going to be an asset for me.
"Kim, I really thought we had gotten along better than this back home. I thought we had a connection. It's a pity it's come to this, really. I thought we might have been able to come to an agreement that works best for our daughter." Tommy's entire body tensed up when I referred to his flesh and bone as my own. He squared up, gripping Saba tightly in his hand.
"She's my daughter." He nearly growled.
"Oh, I'm not sure about that one. A father is the one who steps up, Tommy. Not someone who runs around California for fun. But trust me. Abby knows the truth."
"Quit playing around with them! Just finish this so we can move on with your stupid little plan!" Zedd's harsh voice hissed in my ear. "You needed my powers so damn bad but you are too foolish enough to know how to use them properly."
"Shut up," I said, shaking my head. "I'm dealing with this." I raised my hand, calling energy to form in the palm of it.
"Where is she?" Kimberly called out again. I could hear the worry and the frustration in her voice. Though much more control of her emotions than Tommy, I could tell from her body language that she wanted nothing more than to rip my throat out with one of her arrows of energy. I saw Tommy's helmet shift to the side as he looked over at Trini and William who were desperately trying to save the Ranger Slayer. I pulled more energy from within me, adding to the ball of energy I was holding.
"Seems like the Ranger Slayer is down for the count. Guess I'll need to take destroying you into my own hands."
Quickly, I threw the ball of energy right for the space between Tommy and Kimberly. This caused a chain reaction of movements. Silverback ran forward and Jason did as well, meeting him in the middle of the room. Billy and Zack followed behind him, engaging with the rest of my soldiers who had come with Silverback. Kim's arrow released and I felt it whiz right by my head, narrowly missing my shoulder. I sent another ball of energy toward them. This caused Tommy and Kimberly to jump in different directions. She went to the right, landing up on top of one of the broken control panels. She nearly lost her footing, the panel shifting under her weight. She managed to balance though, sending another arrow in my direction. I dodged it, heading in her direction.
"I don't fucking think so," Tommy said, swinging Saba at me. The sword met with my dagger, vibrating my arm as we locked together. I laughed as another pink bolt of energy flew by me. It missed as I dodged, nearly hitting the blue ranger behind me. I took the distraction to break free of the hold and grab onto the gold shield of Tommy's armor. I zapped him with some energy, sending him flying backward with a loud yell. He slammed into the panel Kimberly was standing up, and knocked her backward.
"Tommy!" She called, jumping in time to avoid getting hit. She landed on the floor next to him, grabbing his arm.
"I'm alright." He replied, shaking his head.
"The girl. Use the girl now to finish off her parents." Zedd said, triumph in his voice.
"How pathetic," I said, walking towards the pair. My entire body felt like it was pulsating with power now. Every cell in my body was filled with Zedd's energy and was screaming to come out. There was some pain with it but the powerful feeling was worth it. Around us, there were yells and the sound of weapons colliding as the fighting grew among the sides. Silverback was tossing the Rangers around like rag dolls, barely breaking a sweat as he went up against Jason and the rest. "So much potential. So many chances. And you choose to squander it on a woman."
"Seems like you did the same thing, Drakkon. The only difference is that if the Ranger Slayer dies, her blood will be on your hands. I could never cause Kim's death." Tommy called out to me. Shaking my head, I spread my hands on either side of me.
"No worries. I plan on doing that as well. I have some help with that though." Raising my hands, I willed that energy would fill the room around us. I focused on the empty tube where Zordon was once housed though. Prior to the Ranger Slayer's arrival, I had opted to use it for this very moment. A bright yellow glow began at the base, rising up to fill the entire thing. From there, a figure began to rise up into the air. Abby looked like she was underwater, her hair flowing around her head as she floated there. She had been unconscious when I had placed her inside so I was not surprised to see how shocked she was as she looked around the room at everything happening.
"Who is that?" I heard Tommy ask Kimberly as he gripped Saba tighter. I let out a loud laugh, letting my hands drop to my sides.
"What's the matter, Tommy? Having troubles recognizing your own daughter?" I asked. Next to us, I heard a loud cry as Silverback threw Jason, Zack, and Billy across the room with one swift hit from his sword. The three crumped to the ground, slow to get back up. Reaching up, Kimberly pulled off her helmet and ran towards Abby.
"Kim, wait!" Tommy called out, moving to follow her. I stepped in front of him though, a ball of energy at the ready. Behind him, the rest of the Rangers pulled themselves up to their feet again. They were all sporting wounds from the sword, blood appearing on their suits. Trini and William had finally managed to get the Ranger Slayer stable enough to move. They carefully slid her over towards the wall near the entrance. I could tell they were planning on leaving so I balled my fist, blocking the exit with steel bars that lay on the ground from the structure's fall. Trini glared at me, Kim's arm around her shoulder.
"Let's play some more, Rangers," Silverback called out to his opponents, licking his fangs. He was vicious for sure, something that the stories told about him had been true.
"You and I have a score to settle," I said to Tommy. "The universe can only hold one of us and I have full intentions of making sure I'm the last one standing."
"You have the power to stop all of this. Let Kim and Abby go. You can kill me if you want them." Tommy said.
"Killing you is the only outcome anyway," I replied. Above our heads, there was a loud noise followed by the falling of large pieces of the ceiling as it crumbled. Light began to shine down into the room and with it came Goldar. His large wings flapped as he flew down into the room. He landed on the floor, his sword in hand. "Ah, Goldar! I see that you've decided to join the fun. Rangers, I think it's safe to say that my forces highly outrank yours. If you surrender, I promise to make your deaths as quick and painless as possible." This was it. I had the Rangers right where I wanted them. Goldar and Silverback, though incompetent alone, should be able to handle a group of wounded children and with Abby with me, I was going to be able to make Tommy and Kimberly do whatever I wanted them to do.
"I'm not here for them," Goldar said, raising his sword and swinging it right for Silverback. It sank into his brother's arm before he had a chance to move. He let out a loud yell, pulling back from Goldar's sword. A deep gash was in his arm and blood pooled out of it and down his sword. My eyes widened at the realization that Goldar had actually been the ones to tip off the Rangers that I had set this trap for the Ranger Slayer. He had betrayed me, just like Finster had. I never saw that one coming, knowing home much he feared my powers and my wrath. Apparently, his hatred for his brother outweighed that though as the two Samarian warriors began to battle each other.
"Seems like you can't hire good help these days, Drakkon," Tommy said, swinging Saba towards me. I raised the dagger to block it. "That's the problem with inherited lackeys. They are only loyal to you for so long before they find someone else to work for."
"He's right." A voice said in my ear. This wasn't Zedd though. Shifting my eyes, I saw that adult Jason was standing there. I raised my eyes, confused at what I was seeing. He had come back from the dead again?
"No!" I roared, swinging my free hand towards Jason. He disappeared, reappearing behind Tommy. Tommy pushed Saba, breaking free from our hold. I sent a large ball of light towards both of them, Tommy rolling out of the way. Jason appeared right in front of me.
"Snap out of it, Tommy. You need to see the truth." He said.
"Don't call me that, you dead asshole." I sneered, swinging the dagger. He disappeared again.
"Stop fighting with ghosts, you fool!" Zedd hissed. "Kill what's breathing in front of you."
"You're fucking losing it," Tommy said, punching me in the face. It knocked me back a few steps, allowing me to energize my hands. I shot out a ball of energy towards him. He flipped over it, the blast hitting the wall behind him and shattering through to the other side. Jason appeared next to the blast, leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. He looked like he was waiting for the bus or something.
"He's not wrong, man. This is driving you insane. You need to give up." He said, giving me a small smile. I shook my head.
"You are LOSING! How can you be losing to this group of children when my powers are running through your veins. You aren't even worth the powers that Rita handed to you like a small child with a piece of candy. She was a greater fool than you are. Those powers should be with me. I will end this once and for all!"
"No! This is only the beginning." I said, gripping the dagger tightly. "I'll finish each and everyone one of you today if it's the last thing I fucking do."
"Then let's end this," Tommy said, running towards me.