Disclaimer: I don't power rangers, Disney owns them.
AN: Here's chapter 8 everybody! Enjoy and please leave a review! Thanks!
Silver Hope 2: Enemies Return
Chapter 8: Lightning Crashes
Location: Zedd's lair; the medical bay
Kat screamed in agony, as he labor was in full force. Her breathing rasped in between contractions and she managed to glance around her. There was no one she loved there; only those she loathed, looking on like a pack of hungry vultures. She was their prey and her baby was their prize. A beam of hope broke her reverie and shined like a beacon.
"Katherine!" the silver ranger called.
"Billy! Oh Billy...please...don't let them...take...our baby!" Kat breathed in between gulps of air.
"Hang on Kat!" Billy called back.
"I can't Billy! The baby's coming!" Kat cried, as she cried out in pain.
"Attack the rangers! Do not let them near her!" Zedd ordered. The Arachnids, Tengucogs, Goldar, Scorpina, Rito and Wil obeyed.
"Let me get to my wife!" Billy screamed at Wil.
"Sorry brother, I can't do that," Wil replied.
"Why do you remain Zedd's puppet? You have so much more potential than that Wil!" Billy screamed, as he continued to fight the midnight blue ranger.
"I do what I was created to do!" Wil yelled back.
"It doesn't have to be that way! You can be my real brother and not just my clone!" Billy yelled. Wil hesitated, but then started fighting Billy again.
Kat pushed hard and screamed as the baby's head was now out. The sweat poured down her face and she gave a final agonizing push. Crying could be heard after that, and Zedd quickly snatched the child up. Cestria washed the baby and wrapped it in a blanket, before handing the baby to Zedd.
"No please! My baby!" Kat screamed.
"No, my baby," Zedd replied.
"Please Wil! Zedd is taking my daughter to make another puppet out of her and Cestria is going to kill my wife!" Billy yelled.
"I don't have a choice in the matter!" Wil spat back.
"Yes you do! Don't let Zedd destroy something so pure!" Billy implored. Wil stopped and stared at his clone.
"And what the hell am I supposed to do with my life? I'm just a freakish clone," Wil said.
"No, you're my brother. And Zedd is trying to take control of your niece," Billy said.
"I'll go after Zedd, you need to stop the fish bitch," Wil said, as he made his choice and went after Zedd.
"Your day is here kitten, and I'm going to enjoy bathing in your precious blood and smearing it all over your husband's face," Cestria sneered as she drew the dagger back, ready to drive it into her breast.
Kat whimpered and watched the dagger with bated breath. A million things were running through her head at that moment. Cestria was ready to stab her, when she herself felt searing pain in her abdomen. She looked down, only to see the end of a lance sticking through her stomach. Her breath caught and she screamed as her assassin withdrew the weapon with a painful jerk. The dagger fell from her hand and she turned to stare into the eyes of her killer.
"This time, you won't come back to haunt us. Good bye Cestria," Billy said, as he watched his wife's would be killer fall to the cold floor, dead in a puddle of her own blood.
"You my child, shall be the end of all that is good and pure. Now, to give you a proper name," Zedd said.
"I think that should be left up to her parents," an oddly familiar voice said.
"So Billy, you have come for your daughter," Zedd assumed.
"I'm not Billy you old fool," he spat back.
"Wil? What is the meaning of this?" Zedd ordered.
"I'm tired of being your puppet Zedd!" Wil screamed, as he caught him by surprise and grabbed the baby girl from his grasp.
"Traitor! Goldar, seize this traitor!" Zedd screamed.
"Take her to her parents!" Wil said, as he handed the baby to Tori. Tori took her and made her way to Billy and Kat.
"You have sealed your fate clone," Goldar said.
"We'll see about that monkey," Wil replied, as he engaged in battle with Goldar.
"Computer, engage self-destruct program," Zedd ordered.
"Self-destruct program enabled. Self-destruction in ten minutes," the computer informed. Zedd began to quietly slip away, caring that only he himself survived.
"Kat!" Tori called, as she arrived at her bedside.
"My baby," Kat said, as Tori put her in Kat's arms. Kat cradled her daughter and kissed the crying child's forehead. Billy kissed Kat's forehead and touched his daughter's tiny hand. The baby wrapped its hand around her father's finger and her crying began to calm.
"Billy! Zedd has enabled the self-destruct mechanism!" Wes called.
Billy tapped his communicator.
"Billy to base, Adam do you read?" Billy asked.
"I'm here Billy," Adam replied.
"I need you to get a lock on everyone and get them out of here. Zedd has enabled the self-destruct and I'm going after him. And also lock onto Wil," Billy said.
"Okay, but I'm teleporting you out of there before that place explodes. And did you say Wil?" Adam asked.
"Let's just say he's switched sides, and I'm counting on that," Billy said.
"Billy, please be careful!" Kat called. Billy kissed her passionately and replaced his helmet, as he sped off in search of Zedd.
Wes finished the Arachnids and joined Jen.
"Come on Wes, let's help Kat," Jen said. Wes nodded as they reached Kat and Tori.
"Billy went after Zedd," Kat told them.
"I'll go give him some back up!" Wes said, as he left to find him. Tommy followed Wes, figuring they could use the help. And he wasn't about to miss Zedd's demise. Suddenly, Kim, Andros, Ashley, Jen, Cole, Alyssa, Tori, Wil, Kat and her baby were gone in streaks of light, leaving the villains behind.
"There's still three rangers here!" Rita said.
"They went after Zedd, the coward initiated the self-destruct!" Scorpina yelled.
"He was just going to leave us here!" Goldar yelled.
"Let's make sure he's the one that doesn't get out!" Rito said, as the four of them went after him.
Billy crept through the bowels of the base, which was encased inside the mountain.
"This place is going to start coming down around you in about two minutes Mr. Cranston. Don't you think you should be getting home to your lovely little family," a voice said.
"Not until I make sure that you'll never hurt another being," Billy replied dangerously.
"My my, is that a threat silver ranger?" Zedd mocked. Billy's wolf blades appeared in his hand, while Zedd drew his sword. Tommy and Wes arrived in time to see Billy and Zedd launch at each other.
"We're not going to find him in time!" Rita panicked.
"Forget about that old fool! We still have time to make it to Serpentera!" Scorpina ordered. The other three followed her, as they made their way to the giant zord.
The mountain began to shake violently and the foundation began to crack.
"Billy! We have to get out of here! This place is coming down!" Wes called.
"Sorry gentlemen, but his fight with me is not done," Zedd retorted.
"Adam, have you got a lock?" Tommy asked into his communicator.
"Not yet, but I'm working. There's a lot of interference," Adam replied.
"Even though you have your precious little girl, she will still grow up to be a killer," Zedd said, as his sword clashed and clanged with Billy's.
"That's what you would hope for, but I possess the power of the Ninjetti, and anything is possible," Billy said, as he caught Zedd's leg and tripped him. He fell on his back and waited for Billy to deliver the final blow.
"Go on, kill me. You know you want to rid this world of my existence," Zedd urged.
"You're right I do...but I won't do it by sinking to your level," Billy said, as he withdrew his blade and turned his back.
"That is where you will meet your end silver ranger!" Zedd cried, as he drew a laser pistol as a last ditch effort.
"Billy!" Tommy warned. Billy turned just in time for the laser pistol to catch only his arm. Billy cried out, but then drew his blade blaster and fired on Zedd. The evil villain whirled back, as the laser penetrated his heart, and he fell into a heap.
"You may...have finally...defeated me...but...the..re will...always be someone...to..take my...place," Zedd rasped, before life left one of the most evil villains ever.
"I've got a lock, teleporting now!" Adam called to them, as he teleported them home.
Location: Cranston residence: The Power Chamber
Tommy, Wes, and Billy arrived back in the power chamber and Adam had an immediate debriefing.
"Rita, Goldar, Scorpina, and Rito have left the Earth in Serpentera," Adam reported.
"Good, I don't think we're going to have to worry about them again," Billy said.
"Is it really over?" Kim asked Tommy.
"It sure is beautiful," Tommy said, as he kissed her.
"Kat is resting in the med bay with Wesley and the baby, whom you both need to name," Adam said. Billy smiled.
"I'll get back to you on that," Billy said, as his face darkened a little.
"What wrong Billy?" Rocky asked.
"I have to find a way to reverse the mind poisoning in my daughter," Billy said.
"I may be able to help you with that," Princess Shayla spoke.
"How princess?" Billy asked.
"With Dulcea's help, the help of the Ninjetti, and the pure water in my pond, I should be able to cleanse the baby," Princess Shayla said.
Billy's eyes lit up with hope.
"Thank you princess," Billy said, before running off into the medical bay.
Kat looked up at him as he entered the room. Wesley sat beside her, watching intently as the baby ate. He came over to her and kissed her sweetly.
"I was thinking of calling her Larisa," Kat said.
"Larisa Lynn Cranston, I like that," Billy said, as he kissed her again. Wesley hopped into his father's arms.
"Mommy says you beat the bad guys and that mean lady!" Wesley said. Billy chuckled.
"Yeah, the bad guys are gone. And they aren't going to try and hurt us again," Billy told him. Wesley hopped down and left to play with Steve. Billy sat down and Kat handed Larisa to him. He cradled his daughter and felt his heart melt.
"In a few days, we're going to be going to the Animarium with Princess Shayla. She says she can cleanse her of the mind poison," Billy said.
"Thanks goodness," Kat said.
"It's finally over isn't it," Kat asked.
"Yeah, she'll never bother us again. She's gone forever this time," Billy replied.
"Hey Billy? Wil would like to speak to you," Adam said.
"Send him in," Billy replied. Billy's twin came in and extended his hand to his brother.
"Thank you for showing me that I didn't have to be someone's puppet. I just want to say that I'm sorry for all the evil things I've done. And someday, I'll repay you," Wil said.
"Having someone leave the forces of evil for the forces of good is enough for me. What do you plan to do now? There's a lot out there," Billy said.
"I think I'm going to stick around in Angel Grove and find my niche. After all, the kids should have a cool uncle to hang around with," Wil said, as he put on a pair of sunglasses and left to start his life.
"Is that the same Wil?" Kat asked in amazement.
"No, that's the Wil that realized he can be anything he wants to be. All he had to do was cut Zedd's strings," Billy replied.
"I'm so glad things are going to be normal again," Kat said.
"Me too, at least as normal as things can get for power rangers," Billy said with a chuckle. Kat giggled and kissed her husband. The couple cuddled together and watched their newborn daughter sleep peacefully.
AN: Hope you liked it! The Epilogue is next and Silver Hope 2: Enemies Return comes to an end. But you don't think I'm going to drop this storyline, do you? Of course not! SH3 is just around the corner in the near future. So look for that sometime this summer! Now, onward to the epilogue!