Chapter Seven

Tanya looked up as Sorona, Adam, and Tommy teleported into the Power Chamber from the Zord Hangar. Adam was in his Ninjetti uniform, Tommy was in his Zeo uniform sans-helmet, and Sorona was unmorphed, but Tanya noticed that there was no longer a slit going up her skirt. An attempt to be conservative.
"I SEE THAT YOU MADE IT BACK SAFELY," Zordon said.
"Yes, Zordon. Though, Mondo did give us a run for our money," Tommy laughed.
Zordon nodded. "I SUPPOSE THAT HE WOULD'VE."
Sorona looked around the Power Chamber, taking in the expressions of the six Rangers that had waited for Adam and Tommy's return. She sensed that none of them had been waiting for her. Sorona knew that she wasn't that important, even if she had come to Earth to give Adam a Power.
"...But no one got hurt, not even Mondo," Tommy said.
"SORONA, IS THIS ALL TRUE?"
Sorona looked up at the great sage, confused. "Is what true?"
Zordon sighed. He wasn't frustrated with the young Pheadocian. Being an empath and a telepath, he knew that Sorona had a lot on her mind.
Tanya snickered. "He was talking about how you got rescued from Mondo. He asked if all that had happened was true. Weren't you listening?"
Sorona bit her tongue to hold back the snide remark that was threatening to come out. "I guess my mind was elsewhere."
"Sorona, what have I told you about not listening? It can get you in a lot of trouble," said a voice from the other side of the Power Chamber.
Sorona turned. "Dulcea? What are you doing here?"
Dulcea walked up to Sorona and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I was quite worried about you, young one. I know that Mondo is quite a formidable foe. I honestly thought for a moment that you wouldn't make it out alive."
"Well, I'm here."
[And who, might I ask, do I owe the honor of your rescue? Tommy? He seems to be taking credit for it.] Dulcea 'pathed to Sorona.
[All the Falcon did was provide transportation. In all honesty...] Sorona's eyes darted to Adam. [A certain little Frog came to my rescue.]
[Ah. You know that he's with Tanya, correct?]
Sorona nodded. [Yes. I don't intend to break them up either.]
[Don't worry. Did I ever tell you of a prophecy about the destinies of the Frog and the Hawk?]
Dulcea smiled, as Sorona looked confused. [What prophecy?]
[The one that says, 'So long as the love is strong and true, then the quiet Frog and the watchful Hawk are destined as eternal soulmates.']
[Eternal?] Sorona nearly choked on the word, even though she didn't have to open her mouth for Dulcea to hear her.
Dulcea nodded. A chuckle could be heard from Zordon's tube as Sorona's jaw dropped.
"YES, ETERNAL, SORONA," he said.
"But, wouldn't that involve being immortal?" Sorona asked.
"Hello, my name is Sorona, my favorite color is clear," Tanya laughed. She walked over to Sorona, and blew sharply into her ear. Sorona turned, confused. "Thought you could use a refill."
Zordon frowned. Rocky rolled his eyes as he stood next to Aisha, an arm wrapped around her waist.
"That was childish, Tanya," he said.
Aisha nodded. "It was, girl."
"Jealously doesn't do much for you. Neither does anger," Kat advised.
"And you're not mad at her? I mean, all that she said about you and Tommy..." Tanya objected.
"I was only stating what I saw at first glance. But, not all prophecies are true," Sorona said. "They can be defied every now and then."
"That would be correct," Dulcea agreed.
"But she's right. I can't compare to Kim, and I know it. It's all right, I'm not mad," Kat said.
Sorona smiled. "Thank you, Katherine. Now, if the Crane and Falcon are following tradition - as expected - then the second pure destiny pairing should be as well." She cast her gaze to Rocky and Aisha. "You know, there was once a Bear and an Ape who were married only a few days after they received the Power - which was the way it was done at the time. They had four children in the sixty-two years they were married, but they hated each other. The only reason they were together was because of their dedication to the Powers."
Rocky gulped. "That's what I call some dedication."
Sorona nodded.
Zordon grinned. "IT GETS WORSE, ROCKY. FOR YOU SEE, ON THE DAY THEY DIED, THEY FINALLY ADMITTED TO EACH OTHER THAT THEY HAD BEEN MADLY IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER SINCE THE DAY THEY BECAME THE APE AND THE BEAR. BUT, BOTH HAD BEEN TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THAT THE POWER HAD THAT GREAT OF AN EFFECT ON THEM."
"Well, now see, here's the difference between now and then," Rocky said, looking from Zordon to Aisha. "I was in love with Aisha even before we became Power Rangers."
Aisha shrieked and threw her arms around Rocky's neck. She kissed him passionately. "Knew it."
Adam grinned and turned to Sorona. "So, have the Frog and Hawk ever had that problem?"
Tanya noticed that as he looked at Sorona, Adam held adoration in his eyes that she had never seen when he looked at her. And as Sorona gave her reply, there was that same look of love. It was then Tanya realized that, no matter whom Adam fell in love with, she would be happy for him because she of how much she cared for him.
"Never. The Frog and the Hawk could never hide their feelings from the other for no longer than a second," Sorona said.
"That's sort of what I gathered from it," Adam replied, smiling from ear to ear.
"I suppose you would know from personal experience," Sorona said. She grinned wolfishly as he came closer to her.
Adam wrapped his arms around her waist and gazed into her intense blue eyes. "Yep."
Zordon smiled again and looked to Dulcea. She nodded and returned the smile. Suddenly, Zordon's happy expression dropped as he felt an unusual worry within the priestess.
[What is it?] He 'pathed.
[You know of Neolasa's son, Colin, don't you?]
[Yes. I hear he will be as great a shaman as his father one day.]
[He never will.]
Zordon looked nervous. [Why?]
[There was an attack on Pheados, and Colin was caught in the crossfire. He didn't make it out alive. When Sorona left, he was in bad condition, but only an hour after she left, he died.]
[Oh no. Can you remember who it was?]
[I cannot, my love. The enemy was gone by the time Sorona and I got down to the village.]
[It is good to hear you call me that again, Dulcea.] Zordon smiled. [But, you must tell Sorona. I have read her thoughts many times while she has been here, and she worries much about Colin.]
Dulcea nodded. She turned to Sorona, who was currently in Adam's embrace, unaware of anything around her.
Adam pulled away, suddenly noticing Dulcea's gaze. He gestured to Dulcea, as Sorona suddenly looked confused.
"What is it?" she asked.
Dulcea sighed. "It's about Colin."
Sorona was suddenly scared. She could only nod in reply.
"He didn't make it..." Dulcea's voice trailed off. Even though she had watched Colin die with her own eyes, she felt more emotional at this moment about the situation than ever before.
"No..." Sorona sobbed, falling right back into Adam's arms.
Adam rubbed the small of her back soothingly. "Shh. It's okay, babygirl. It's okay."
"I KNOW OF ONLY ONE PERSON THAT COULD KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE SO UNMERCIFULLY, SORONA."
Sorona turned to Zordon, sniffling. "Who?"
Zordon grimaced. "A GREAT EVIL THAT GOES BY THE NAME OF SHIKAKU. ONLY HE WOULD HAVE SUCH GREAT PURPOSE IN KILLING A SHAMAN'S SON."
"Wait," Aisha interuppted. "Who is Shikaku and whose son died?"
"Yeah, it'd be nice if you'd let us in on this one," Tommy agreed.
"Shikaku is an evil warrior from the Evil Spectrum, a place where many evils in the universe call home, including the Machine Empire," Dulcea said. "And to answer your second question, Colin was the son of a great shaman named Neolasa."
"And Neolasa is more than your average tribal shaman because?" Rocky asked.
Dulcea looked infuriated. "He is brother to the first Crane! That is why!"
Rocky winced. "Sorry."
Sorona giggled. "As you humans might say, 'Hell hath no fury like a pissed off priestess.' Well, that and the fact that Dulcea had an affair with Neolasa about twenty years ago."
Tanya almost fell into uncontrollable laughter as Dulcea turned to Sorona, her eyes ablaze with rage.
"Eat your own words," Jason joked.
Sorona shrugged. "The Hawk is more powerful than the Owl, you know."
Adam chuckled and rested his chin on Sorona's shoulder. "Yeah, but babe, I think she got you beat by a couple thousand years of practice."
"Hmm. Maybe."
Zordon looked hurt upon hearing of the affair. "AN AFFAIR WITH NEOLASA, DULCEA?"
Dulcea looked at him, guilty. "Yes. It was only one night, and it had been almost ten thousand years since..."
Zordon nodded. The Power Chamber grew deathly silent.
"Anyone ever heard of loud silence?" Kat asked.
"Just now," Sorona replied. "Well, I have an idea!"
"What?" Tommy asked.
"How about we actually accomplish the original purpose of my visit, heh?"
"Finally!" Billy exclaimed. "All this sap is getting annoying."
His comment sent laughs throughout the Power Chamber.
"I didn't know you were the comedian, Billy. I always thought it was my job," Rocky said.
"Yeah, but since you're wearing the blue now, you have to be the brains."
"And since I'm wearing the red, I'm the comedian!" Tommy concluded.
"No, Tom, you're still the fearless leader," Billy remarked.
"And I'm the comedian!" Adam laughed.
"Yipee," Jason said sarcastically.
"Making us the helpless audience forced to watch against our will," Tanya said.
"Oh come on, T. It's not that bad. Just think, on stage are the three cutest guys on the face of the planet," Aisha said.
Sorona nodded with a smile. "Yes, I shall admit. Maybe even the three cutest in the universe."
Kat giggled. "Or maybe just our solar system."
"Nah. Definitely the three hottest guys in the entire Lexian Alliance," Sorona said.
"Lexian Alliance?" Tanya asked.
"Yes. The Lexian Alliance is an alliance of the planets Earth, Pheados, Eltar, Edenoi, Triforia, and Aquatiar."
"Ah." Tanya looked from Adam, to Rocky, to Tommy, and then her gazed switched to Jason. "Four."
"Four?" Kat asked.
"Four," Tanya confirmed.
Aisha looked around the room. "Oh, we forgot our dear beloved Gold Ranger subsitute."
Sorona gave a look of approval. "I'll admit, he's cuter than Prince Trey."
"They're all the same, no matter what planet they're from," Billy laughed.
"How do you rank?" Kat asked Aisha, giggling.
"Lesee... Ape, Frog, Wolf, Falcon, Tyrannosaurus," Aisha replied.
"Nuh uh," Sorona disagreed. "Frog, Ape, Falcon, Wolf, Tyrannosaurus."
"All wrong!" Tanya exclaimed. "Frog, Tyrannosaurus, Wolf, Ape, Falcon."
"Out of the question. Falcon, Wolf, Tyrannosaurus, Frog, Ape," Kat said.
Dulcea shook her head. "All four of you are wrong. They are all equally handsome. But, the best-looking male in this room has to be the Lion." She indicated Zordon.
The other four girls nodded.
"We're still here!" Adam, Rocky, Billy, Tommy, and Jason yelled at once.
"YES. WE MALES MAY BE A WRONG SIDE OF THE INTELLIGENCE POOL, BUT WE CAN STILL HEAR."
Everyone, except Dulcea, looked flabbergasted at the sound of Zordon making a joke.
"WHAT? AM I NOT ENTITLED TO MY OWN COMEDIC STYLING?"
Rocky laughed. "Of course!"
Suddenly, Alpha walked into the main light of Power Chamber, the White Zeo shard in his hands. He handed it to Sorona, and backed away. Sorona looked to Dulcea, who nodded.
"It's time," she whispered.
Sorona turned to Adam. He took a step closer to her and gazed into her eyes.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be," he replied.
"I hope so. Now, stand in the center of the Power Chamber. And Sorona, stand a body length away," Dulcea instructed.
Both followed Dulcea's request. Sorona held the White Zeo shard at arm's length, her gaze focused on Adam. She closed her eyes in concentration.
"Spirits from the world around, give me the strength and Power to proceed as I stand on this ground," Sorona chanted.
The White Zeo shard rose out of Sorona's hands, but didn't move any farther.
"At this time, I give this Power to the one of ultimate worth, at the ultimate hour."
The shard moved towards Adam, stopping when it was even with the Ninjetti symbol on his uniform. Then, it moved in a circle around him. When it had gone three-hundred-sixty degrees, the shard had turned from a bright white to pitch black.
Adam groaned in pain as a black light enveloped him. When it faded, he was wearing a uniform similar to the Zeo Rangers, only black. The helmet that encased his head had the geometrical shape of a diamond instead of the rectangle that was on the Green Zeo uniform.
"Back in the black," Adam laughed.
"And it works," Sorona said.
"Definitely," Tanya agreed.
Suddenly, Adam felt an overwhelming surge of pain pass through him. He cried out, causing Dulcea, Sorona, Tanya, Rocky, and Aisha to rush to him.
"What's happening?" Aisha asked.
"It must be the Power of the crystals. Having both the Black and the Green shards within him is too overwhelming to bear," Dulcea informed.
"Then let's get them out!" Rocky exclaimed.
Dulcea nodded, putting a hand on Adam's chest. A green glow formed, and the Green Zeo shard appeared in her hand.
"Now, what do we do with it?" Tanya wondered.
"Someone else must use it," Dulcea replied.
Sorona set a hand on Adam's shoulder. She took off his helmet and wiped away the sweat that covered his brow.
"Are you okay?"
Adam swallowed hard, then nodded. "Yeah. I thought you said that I could handle both crystals."
Sorona smiled sheepishly. "Just because I say it doesn't mean it's true."
Adam laughed. "Yeah. Never trust an amateur priestess who can't even hold her own against a group of Cogs."
"Hey!" Sorona exclaimed. "I'm not the one who - out of grand stupidity - decided that it would be fun to almost get killed by King Mondo to save the woman he loves."
"I always thought that chicks dug that romantic stuff," Rocky said.
"Well, we Pheadocian 'chicks' are rather insulted by it. It's almost like you think we can't fend for ourselves."
"At the moment, you couldn't, babe," Adam replied.
"Sorona," Dulcea said suddenly.
"What?" Sorona asked.
Dulcea handed her the Green Zeo shard. "You have to use it."
Sorona contemplated the object in her hands and shook her head. She walked over to Aisha and offered the crystal. "Aisha, you're more worthy of this position than I am. The team would be much better off with the Bear, as well as the Tiger."
Aisha didn't hesitate at the mention of an unfamiliar Ninjetti. Instead, she pushed away the shard and looked at Sorona with a seriousness in her dark brown eyes. "No." She paused, carefully deciding what to say next. "You see Adam over there? I know that you are in complete and utter love with him, Sorona."
Sorona nodded. She was confused, though. What did Adam have to do with who should possess the Green Zeo sub-crystal?
"And I also know that he loves you back with just as much passion, maybe even more. If I take the shard, then you'll have no reason to stay here on Earth. You'll just go right back to Pheados and continue to live out your life as a priestess' apprentince, possibly completely forgetting about Adam and any matters pretaining to Earth. Now, I know that you don't want that," Aisha continued.
Sorona grimaced. Aisha was right. But, on the same token, she was wrong. If Sorona stayed on Earth, she would never become the priestess that she had always dreamed of being. "Aisha, you deserve to be the Green Zeo Ranger. I know that you gave up your position on the team to save that village. Well, the village is saved, and the man you love is right beside you. There's nothing there, and everything here. But for me, it's the opposite." She handed the shard to Aisha and stepped back. She turned around to look at Adam - directly into his eyes. What she saw was an unexpected sight, indeed.
Adam looked disraught beyond believe, and tears were forming in his eyes. Sorona instantly regretted saying what she said, but it was partly true. She set a hand on his arm. "Adam-"
"No, you're right. You only had an obligation to come here and give me a Power, nothing more. You have no reason to stay," Adam said defiantly. He pulled out of her touch and walked to the other side of the Chamber, to Tanya's side. He reached for her hand, but she pulled away.
For the first time, Tanya was pushing towards Adam and Sorona being a couple. She knew that Adam loved Sorona with all of his heart, and if she encouraged his current behavior, she'd only be apart of something that, in the end, would hurt him. Tanya knew enough that no matter what, Adam was the last person she wanted to see hurt.
Rocky smirked and walked over to Sorona, the Green Zeo shard in hand. "Here's your reason to stay."
Sorona looked up at him, then to Adam, and lastly to the object in the Blue Ranger's hand. She hestitated, but only for a moment. She reached out, and practically snatched the fourth Zeo sub-crystal from Rocky's hand. A second later, a bright green light enveloped her. Rocky shielded his eyes and stepped back, almost walking into Jason.
"Watch it man," he said.
"Sorry, but you try to back away from a bright green light in an enclosed space," Rocky replied.
"No thank you."
Rocky laughed, and looked back to Sorona. The green light had faded, and she was suited up in the Green Zeo Ranger armor. The only difference that one would notice from when Adam wore it was that there was now skirt on the uniform. She slowly took off her helmet, and surveyed the room.
"It looks good, kid," Aisha said.
"Gotta agree. Though, blue would probably look better cause it matches your eyes," Tanya said.
"Ah hell no! No one's taking my place!" Rocky exclaimed.
"Don't worry," Sorona laughed. "I much prefer green."
"Good," Rocky replied, sighing with relief.
Sorona looked to Adam. His Asian features had brightened, a smile playing across his face. She returned the look and mouthed the words "I love you" before the Power Chamber's alarms started to blare.
"IT SEEMS THERE IS A MONSTER IN ANGEL GROVE."
"Mondo really doesn't want to leave us alone, does he?" Tommy joked.
Jason looked at Sorona. "So, you officially in?"
"Definitely."

THE END... Or is it?