Love-Bound
Chapter 2: Revelations, Phantom of Darkness
Author's Note: Morgana wanted more and since I like myself intact, I provided. This is
the chapter I wrote for rabid Kat haters.
~*~**~*~
"Hey!" a usually gentle voice called out indignantly. All the former Rangers, except
for the still entranced couple, turned to look guiltily at Tommy's actual girlfriend.
Kat gaped at the sight before her, fury working its way up. Trini flushed and grabbed
Jason's hand, suddenly realizing two very important things… she just precipitated
events that led to Tommy cheating on his girlfriend and, more importantly, she couldn't
seem to scare up an ounce of remorse. One look at Jason confirmed that he shared both
those sentiments. Her arm snaked around his waist and she hid her burning face in his
shoulder. Jason flexed his fingers, realizing that with both of the so-called guilty
parties barely aware of the outside world, it fell on him to explain the situation – but
goddamn it, he didn't want to. He glanced back at Zack and Billy, leaning on the wall
and wearing identical expressions of denial. He turned his face to kiss the top of
Trini's head and nudged Tanya who grinned and nudged Rocky, who shook his head and
nudged Adam, who blinked and tugged on Aisha's hand. She sighed, realizing that all her
friends were yellow bellied cowards, and crouched next to Kat's chair.
"Kat, you know this was inevitable," her words flowed gently over the stiff and enraged
girl.
"Bullshit," Kat lunged to her feet, Aisha quickly mirroring her move. "He could have
stayed faithful." Something dark entered her voice and she slammed a hand into the
former Yellow Ranger's shoulder, shoving her out of the way almost brutally. Aisha
stumbled back and reached for the slim blonde but was too late to prevent her fist from
slamming into the side of Kim's head. The tiny brunette's eyes widened as her head
snapped back and she lurched in Tommy's arms. Tommy spun around, with his back to Kat,
disallowing her any more access to her rival. The others froze with shock, never
expecting the sweet wonderful Kat they thought they knew to react like this.
"Are you nuts, girl?" Tanya stood up and faced the young woman she thought was her best
friend. She stalked over and grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her roughly. Kat
moved quickly, one moment, held down by her friend's able hands, the next, staring down
at Tanya, who was rubbing her stricken wrists. She turned to face her straying
boyfriend and found a small but very capable fist flying into her cheekbone. Crack.
She staggered back with her hands pressed to her face. Tommy grabbed Kim from behind,
hugging her to him, in an effort to prevent further violence. She struggled against
him but the size difference prevented any actual rewards to her efforts. It turned out
a bad idea in the end as Kat's heel slammed smoothly into Kim's stomach. Tommy could
only watch in horror as the love of his life bent over in pain. Jason locked gazes with
Zack and gently removed Trini off his shoulder. He spun Kat around into a very
effective body lock, being very careful to keep any vital areas away from any parts of
her that could cause damage and hauled her outside, ignoring her verbal attacks on his
character and the very unusual snarling noises being emitted from her mouth. Zack
followed close behind.
Trini rushed up to Kim, with Aisha right behind her. Adam helped Tanya off the floor
and Rocky hailed down a waiter for some ice. Tommy lifted Kim up into his arms, careful
not to jolt any aching point on her body and sat down onto a chair, allowing the first
two Yellow Rangers to tend to her. The promptly arrived ice was put to good use, as
Kim's delicate face was already swollen and a bright shade of eggplant purple. Billy
grabbed a bunch of napkins and wrapped some ice to hand to Trini. She carefully lifted
the tank top from Kim's stomach, finding another growing bruise there. She clucked her
tongue to the roof of her mouth and gently laid the ice there despite Kim's fervent
pleas to the contrary.
"Damn that's co-old," the tiny young woman shivered. She shook her head, her free
flowing hair flinging into Tommy's face. "I want to talk to Kat."
"Do you really think that'd be a good idea right about now?" Rocky inquired, gesturing
to the glaring evidence of Kat's ire.
Kim carefully pushed all her nurses away and scrambled to her feet. "We are wrong, you
know…" her voice was hoarse, "and that means we owe her an explanation and an apology."
She waved away whatever it was Adam meant to say and grabbed Tommy's hand firmly.
"Let's go." He followed her, trepidation evident in every smooth ripple of his toned
body. She stalked out to the street and found Kat screeching in Jason's arms. Zack was
dropped into a fighting position, ultimately convinced that the girl had lost her mind
and was armed and dangerous.
"Kat…" Kim's hesitant greeting shocked the blonde into stillness. Her darkened blue
eyes bored into her rival, hatred mixed in with fury. Kim took an involuntary step back
right into Tommy's steady embrace. The one-time White Ranger could not help but be
afraid by this side of his girlfriend that he has never seen before. His arms tightened
around Kim, as if to prevent any harm from coming to her.
"Kim," the name was a growl in a voice not entirely her own. Kat inhaled and suddenly
glowed golden. Zack dropped back in alarm as the glow exploded, throwing Jason back
into Tanya's parked car. He vacillated between checking on his friend and watching the
blonde, who he wasn't entirely certain was Kat. One look at Tommy's set face, he
sprinted to Jason's side.
Kat took one menacing step forward when Kim held up a hand.
"I really am sorry," she whispered painfully, "I never meant to hurt you, but you have
to know the truth." She looked at her erstwhile boyfriend, his loving gaze enough to
get her through the confession. "Tommy and I never fell out of love because we can't.
We are meant to be." Tommy nodded his head resolutely looking at the woman he betrayed.
Kat's face twisted in fury, "Damn you, you pesky Rangers." With these astonishing words
her visage began to morph, delicate Caucasian features going to exotic Asian ones and
back over and over again. The gold glimmer spun about her and suddenly a dark fog began
to rush around her body. Jason, supported by Zack's arm, leaned up and stared open-
mouthed at the display. Tommy maneuvered Kim half-way behind him, willing to take the
brunt of whatever it was that was happening. Kat's body reformed, dark and immaterial,
and then began to gather solidity and the gold aura knit itself about her like armor.
It was armor, Scorpina's armor. Zack blinked, rubbing his eyes with one hand.
"Hello Rangers," she smirked, "Did you like my little spell?"
"Spe-ell…" Tommy choked out.
"Aha," she nodded smugly, "There never was a Katherine Jayne Hillard… Just a very smart
little plot to insinuate me into your little group. Worked, didn't it? I've been slowly
corrupting you to the Dark side but she…" She paused to point at Kim with venom in her
eyes. "She just had to mess it all up."
"I love her," Tommy interjected calmly and suddenly a tiny spurt of dark fog exploded
from his chest, throwing him back against Kim. She stumbled and fell against the wall
of the club, Tommy's body slamming into her painfully. The dark fog-let whizzed into
Scorpina and disappeared. She shook her head with disappointment and waved a hand
around herself.
"I'll be seeing you Rangers." She began to dissipate into the air when Zack leaned
Jason back against the car and rushed at her. He roared, his body twisting into a
flying side kick. Black hair flung up as the villain was thrown into the wall. He
dropped back into a back stance and she lunged at him with a quick combination of
punches and knife hand attacks. He blocked efficiently and swiped his ankle behind
hers, dropping her to the gravel. Her head recoiled up and banged down again, leaving
her unconscious. Tommy ripped off his communicator and tossed it to Zack, who looked up
with confusion.
"Just teleport her. It'll take her to wherever the current Rangers are now," he replied
getting off of Kim, who groaned as his massive weight lifted off her tiny body. Tommy
straightened and offered his love a hand. She grabbed on and stood up. Zack shrugged
and fastened it on her wrist, pressing the button. She disappeared and he leaned over
Jason, helping him up. The rattled foursome walked back into the club.
Tanya was the first to notice them. "Kat! What happened? Kim… You didn't?"
Kim winced. "No. There never was any Kat. It was Scorpina in disguise."
Aisha bit her lip, trying to reconcile that fact with what she thought was reality.
Rocky walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Freaky," Zack exhaled. Oddly, no one seemed to experience any real sadness, but a
degree of discomfort settled within the silence.
"Well at least we know it isn't our fearless leader's personality that gets him all the
girls," Adam quipped, releasing the tension.
"Nope." Billy winked at Kim, "It's just shorty who's a sucker for the guilt-ridden
broody ones." She stuck her tongue out at him and laughter exploded all around them.
"So when's the wedding?" Jason's amused voice cut through the ruckus as he made his way
back to his girlfriend.
Kim looked up at Tommy whose own gaze was speculative. A huge smile spread over her
face and she looked back at their friends. "Pack your bags, Las Vegas here we come."
Trini sighed.
"This is why I brought a cocktail dress with me." Her resignation with the situation
set of more giggles.
"Shopping," Aisha cried out. Tanya nodded and the boys began to shake with fear.
"Wait, wait," Kim interrupted, "We have uneven numbers of guys and girls. Trini is with
Jason and Tanya is with Adam so you're no problem, but…"
"I can take Angela," Zack stated. Kim nodded, happy that he finally worked things out
with the girl he's been in love with since freshman year of high school.
"Actually…" Aisha's voice was unusually timid, "Rocky and I have been dating for several
months." The said guy drew her closer and looked down guiltily. Kim narrowed her eyes
and started to snicker.
"Tri, you owe me twenty." She held out a hand for the money and the original Yellow
Ranger handed it over, grumbling about nosey psychic little twerps.
"That still leaves Billy alone," Zack mused.
"Actually…" That word had everyone picking up their glasses of water, ready to punish
him for holding out on them. He edged backwards and held up his hands in defense.
"Calm down, guys…" The glasses got placed down and he sighed in relief. "Well, I've
been dating Emily for a week." Water splattered all over his light blue shirt. Giggles
ensued.
~*~
Jason smiled as his friends prepare to make their vows. Tanya gripped Adam's hand, her
lower lip trembling.
"Do you, Kimberly Ann Hart, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the Elvis
look-alike asked.
"I do," Kim replied firmly, her eyes shining with tears. Trini nudged Emily who smiled
and handed her another tissue. She turned to check on Billy and had to hand him one
too. He smiled in thanks.
"Do you, Thomas Sean Oliver, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," he declared, his face softened with deep emotion. Aisha sniffled and Rocky
hugged her tightly. Angela snuggled into Zack's shoulder.
A faint voice can barely be heard over the wedding music, "Be happy my children."
Chapter 2: Revelations, Phantom of Darkness
Author's Note: Morgana wanted more and since I like myself intact, I provided. This is
the chapter I wrote for rabid Kat haters.
~*~**~*~
"Hey!" a usually gentle voice called out indignantly. All the former Rangers, except
for the still entranced couple, turned to look guiltily at Tommy's actual girlfriend.
Kat gaped at the sight before her, fury working its way up. Trini flushed and grabbed
Jason's hand, suddenly realizing two very important things… she just precipitated
events that led to Tommy cheating on his girlfriend and, more importantly, she couldn't
seem to scare up an ounce of remorse. One look at Jason confirmed that he shared both
those sentiments. Her arm snaked around his waist and she hid her burning face in his
shoulder. Jason flexed his fingers, realizing that with both of the so-called guilty
parties barely aware of the outside world, it fell on him to explain the situation – but
goddamn it, he didn't want to. He glanced back at Zack and Billy, leaning on the wall
and wearing identical expressions of denial. He turned his face to kiss the top of
Trini's head and nudged Tanya who grinned and nudged Rocky, who shook his head and
nudged Adam, who blinked and tugged on Aisha's hand. She sighed, realizing that all her
friends were yellow bellied cowards, and crouched next to Kat's chair.
"Kat, you know this was inevitable," her words flowed gently over the stiff and enraged
girl.
"Bullshit," Kat lunged to her feet, Aisha quickly mirroring her move. "He could have
stayed faithful." Something dark entered her voice and she slammed a hand into the
former Yellow Ranger's shoulder, shoving her out of the way almost brutally. Aisha
stumbled back and reached for the slim blonde but was too late to prevent her fist from
slamming into the side of Kim's head. The tiny brunette's eyes widened as her head
snapped back and she lurched in Tommy's arms. Tommy spun around, with his back to Kat,
disallowing her any more access to her rival. The others froze with shock, never
expecting the sweet wonderful Kat they thought they knew to react like this.
"Are you nuts, girl?" Tanya stood up and faced the young woman she thought was her best
friend. She stalked over and grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her roughly. Kat
moved quickly, one moment, held down by her friend's able hands, the next, staring down
at Tanya, who was rubbing her stricken wrists. She turned to face her straying
boyfriend and found a small but very capable fist flying into her cheekbone. Crack.
She staggered back with her hands pressed to her face. Tommy grabbed Kim from behind,
hugging her to him, in an effort to prevent further violence. She struggled against
him but the size difference prevented any actual rewards to her efforts. It turned out
a bad idea in the end as Kat's heel slammed smoothly into Kim's stomach. Tommy could
only watch in horror as the love of his life bent over in pain. Jason locked gazes with
Zack and gently removed Trini off his shoulder. He spun Kat around into a very
effective body lock, being very careful to keep any vital areas away from any parts of
her that could cause damage and hauled her outside, ignoring her verbal attacks on his
character and the very unusual snarling noises being emitted from her mouth. Zack
followed close behind.
Trini rushed up to Kim, with Aisha right behind her. Adam helped Tanya off the floor
and Rocky hailed down a waiter for some ice. Tommy lifted Kim up into his arms, careful
not to jolt any aching point on her body and sat down onto a chair, allowing the first
two Yellow Rangers to tend to her. The promptly arrived ice was put to good use, as
Kim's delicate face was already swollen and a bright shade of eggplant purple. Billy
grabbed a bunch of napkins and wrapped some ice to hand to Trini. She carefully lifted
the tank top from Kim's stomach, finding another growing bruise there. She clucked her
tongue to the roof of her mouth and gently laid the ice there despite Kim's fervent
pleas to the contrary.
"Damn that's co-old," the tiny young woman shivered. She shook her head, her free
flowing hair flinging into Tommy's face. "I want to talk to Kat."
"Do you really think that'd be a good idea right about now?" Rocky inquired, gesturing
to the glaring evidence of Kat's ire.
Kim carefully pushed all her nurses away and scrambled to her feet. "We are wrong, you
know…" her voice was hoarse, "and that means we owe her an explanation and an apology."
She waved away whatever it was Adam meant to say and grabbed Tommy's hand firmly.
"Let's go." He followed her, trepidation evident in every smooth ripple of his toned
body. She stalked out to the street and found Kat screeching in Jason's arms. Zack was
dropped into a fighting position, ultimately convinced that the girl had lost her mind
and was armed and dangerous.
"Kat…" Kim's hesitant greeting shocked the blonde into stillness. Her darkened blue
eyes bored into her rival, hatred mixed in with fury. Kim took an involuntary step back
right into Tommy's steady embrace. The one-time White Ranger could not help but be
afraid by this side of his girlfriend that he has never seen before. His arms tightened
around Kim, as if to prevent any harm from coming to her.
"Kim," the name was a growl in a voice not entirely her own. Kat inhaled and suddenly
glowed golden. Zack dropped back in alarm as the glow exploded, throwing Jason back
into Tanya's parked car. He vacillated between checking on his friend and watching the
blonde, who he wasn't entirely certain was Kat. One look at Tommy's set face, he
sprinted to Jason's side.
Kat took one menacing step forward when Kim held up a hand.
"I really am sorry," she whispered painfully, "I never meant to hurt you, but you have
to know the truth." She looked at her erstwhile boyfriend, his loving gaze enough to
get her through the confession. "Tommy and I never fell out of love because we can't.
We are meant to be." Tommy nodded his head resolutely looking at the woman he betrayed.
Kat's face twisted in fury, "Damn you, you pesky Rangers." With these astonishing words
her visage began to morph, delicate Caucasian features going to exotic Asian ones and
back over and over again. The gold glimmer spun about her and suddenly a dark fog began
to rush around her body. Jason, supported by Zack's arm, leaned up and stared open-
mouthed at the display. Tommy maneuvered Kim half-way behind him, willing to take the
brunt of whatever it was that was happening. Kat's body reformed, dark and immaterial,
and then began to gather solidity and the gold aura knit itself about her like armor.
It was armor, Scorpina's armor. Zack blinked, rubbing his eyes with one hand.
"Hello Rangers," she smirked, "Did you like my little spell?"
"Spe-ell…" Tommy choked out.
"Aha," she nodded smugly, "There never was a Katherine Jayne Hillard… Just a very smart
little plot to insinuate me into your little group. Worked, didn't it? I've been slowly
corrupting you to the Dark side but she…" She paused to point at Kim with venom in her
eyes. "She just had to mess it all up."
"I love her," Tommy interjected calmly and suddenly a tiny spurt of dark fog exploded
from his chest, throwing him back against Kim. She stumbled and fell against the wall
of the club, Tommy's body slamming into her painfully. The dark fog-let whizzed into
Scorpina and disappeared. She shook her head with disappointment and waved a hand
around herself.
"I'll be seeing you Rangers." She began to dissipate into the air when Zack leaned
Jason back against the car and rushed at her. He roared, his body twisting into a
flying side kick. Black hair flung up as the villain was thrown into the wall. He
dropped back into a back stance and she lunged at him with a quick combination of
punches and knife hand attacks. He blocked efficiently and swiped his ankle behind
hers, dropping her to the gravel. Her head recoiled up and banged down again, leaving
her unconscious. Tommy ripped off his communicator and tossed it to Zack, who looked up
with confusion.
"Just teleport her. It'll take her to wherever the current Rangers are now," he replied
getting off of Kim, who groaned as his massive weight lifted off her tiny body. Tommy
straightened and offered his love a hand. She grabbed on and stood up. Zack shrugged
and fastened it on her wrist, pressing the button. She disappeared and he leaned over
Jason, helping him up. The rattled foursome walked back into the club.
Tanya was the first to notice them. "Kat! What happened? Kim… You didn't?"
Kim winced. "No. There never was any Kat. It was Scorpina in disguise."
Aisha bit her lip, trying to reconcile that fact with what she thought was reality.
Rocky walked up behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Freaky," Zack exhaled. Oddly, no one seemed to experience any real sadness, but a
degree of discomfort settled within the silence.
"Well at least we know it isn't our fearless leader's personality that gets him all the
girls," Adam quipped, releasing the tension.
"Nope." Billy winked at Kim, "It's just shorty who's a sucker for the guilt-ridden
broody ones." She stuck her tongue out at him and laughter exploded all around them.
"So when's the wedding?" Jason's amused voice cut through the ruckus as he made his way
back to his girlfriend.
Kim looked up at Tommy whose own gaze was speculative. A huge smile spread over her
face and she looked back at their friends. "Pack your bags, Las Vegas here we come."
Trini sighed.
"This is why I brought a cocktail dress with me." Her resignation with the situation
set of more giggles.
"Shopping," Aisha cried out. Tanya nodded and the boys began to shake with fear.
"Wait, wait," Kim interrupted, "We have uneven numbers of guys and girls. Trini is with
Jason and Tanya is with Adam so you're no problem, but…"
"I can take Angela," Zack stated. Kim nodded, happy that he finally worked things out
with the girl he's been in love with since freshman year of high school.
"Actually…" Aisha's voice was unusually timid, "Rocky and I have been dating for several
months." The said guy drew her closer and looked down guiltily. Kim narrowed her eyes
and started to snicker.
"Tri, you owe me twenty." She held out a hand for the money and the original Yellow
Ranger handed it over, grumbling about nosey psychic little twerps.
"That still leaves Billy alone," Zack mused.
"Actually…" That word had everyone picking up their glasses of water, ready to punish
him for holding out on them. He edged backwards and held up his hands in defense.
"Calm down, guys…" The glasses got placed down and he sighed in relief. "Well, I've
been dating Emily for a week." Water splattered all over his light blue shirt. Giggles
ensued.
~*~
Jason smiled as his friends prepare to make their vows. Tanya gripped Adam's hand, her
lower lip trembling.
"Do you, Kimberly Ann Hart, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the Elvis
look-alike asked.
"I do," Kim replied firmly, her eyes shining with tears. Trini nudged Emily who smiled
and handed her another tissue. She turned to check on Billy and had to hand him one
too. He smiled in thanks.
"Do you, Thomas Sean Oliver, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," he declared, his face softened with deep emotion. Aisha sniffled and Rocky
hugged her tightly. Angela snuggled into Zack's shoulder.
A faint voice can barely be heard over the wedding music, "Be happy my children."