Hey guys, I really enjoyed reading your reviews, thanks for returning the favor. You write for me and I'll write for you. Anyway, the last chapter got a wonderful response and now I fell as though your expectations of me are pretty high. But, the good news is that I like to rise to every challenge, so here's my next attempt. And, by all means let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and reviewing!!!
"Excellent my Pink Ranger, you have served me well," said Lord Zedd as he took the bracelet containing the black dino gem away from Kimberly.
"I have to say Kimmy," chimed in Rita, "I'm impressed. I honestly didn't think you had it in you. I guess you really are evil."
Kimberly didn't respond; she wasn't sure if that was a compliment or an insult. Did she really want to be evil?
"So what's next in your brilliantly devious plan my dear husband?" questioned Rita as she admired the bracelet.
"Well Rita, I think it's time we find out for our selves what this silly thing can do. Pink Ranger get over here!" he demanded.
Kimberly stepped up to the monster and bowed silently.
"Enough with the formalities, just put this on," he said shoving the bracelet around her wrist."
"Couldn't that be dangerous to the Pink Ranger, my Lord?" asked Goldar.
"Why yes, it could," chuckled Zedd. "The good power might resist the bad power causing quite a bad reaction that could very well be fatal. But, you win some you lose some, right Pinkie?" said Zedd erupting into a fit of laughter as Rita joined in.
Kimberly immediately reached for the clasp on the bracelet. There was no way she was going to take such a chance. It wasn't worth it; she could defeat those pathetic power pukes without the Black Ranger's powers. But, before she could undue the clasp Zedd zapped her with his staff, infusing her and the gem with evil and one priority, to destroy the Power Rangers at all costs. So, she straitened up an yelled "Dino thunder power up, ha."
The second Dr. Oliver heard the knock on his front door he rushed to open it. On the other side he found Conner, Kira, Ethan, Trent, and of course Haley staring at him eagerly. Earlier that morning he had immediately ran downstairs directly after replaying the events of the horrible night before in his head. He'd contacted each Ranger individually demanding that they come over that very minute. But considering that everyone was still in bed, recovering from a night of cramming for their Biology test the next day, it took them a minute or two to wake up and get dressed.
"Well, are you going to let us in or not Dr. O?" uttered Conner impatiently.
"Of course," responded the teacher pulling the door completely open and stepping aside for everyone else to come in.
Everyone rushed in realizing that they had no idea why they were there. Had it been a social call? Dr. O. wasn't making any attempt to explain anything. What they didn't understand though, was that he was just hesitant to admit that he had been played and beaten because he thought that he could handle everything by himself. But, wow, was he sadly mistaken.
"So," said Kira annoyed, "are you gonna tell us why you made me skip my shower this morning or are we just gonna stand here and watch dust collect?"
"A little of both I suppose," answered the doctor dryly. "Why don't we take this downstairs, I promise I will reveal everything to you."
"Everything," questioned Haley.
"Yes, everything," responded Tommy.
"We're not gonna be late for school again are we?" whined Ethan. "Randall already has it in for all of us, you especially Dr. O."
"That's really not my biggest concern right now Ethan," responded Dr. Oliver seriously. "Just get downstairs and you'll understand why."
Downstairs the Rangers made themselves comfortable in compliance with Dr. Oliver's request that they do so. Once they were all settled he took his regular seat facing them. Everyone appeared very attentive and eager to finally learn what was up with the Pink Ranger.
"Well, I suppose it's time to begin," said Dr. O. Nobody responded or even moved because they didn't want to delay things any more than they already had been.
"First I should probably tell you where I went on Saturday night," he took a deep breath. "I went to Angel Grove."
Conner flinched as if to say something but the others starred him down so fiercely he didn't dare speak.
"Yes, Conner," continued the teacher, "the Angel Grove where the Power Rangers originated," he paused for a second. "I went there to confirm my suspicions that Kimberly Hart, the original Pink Ranger was in fact Zedd and Rita's evil ranger."
Kira gasped in surprise, "you mean we've been fighting one of our own?"
"Quiet Kira," demanded Ethan, "let the man finish what he has to say!"
"Thank you Ethan," injected Dr. Oliver, "but there's no need to snap at Kira." Kira nodded her head in defiance to Ethan.
"I'll get to that question in a moment Kira," he continued. "Anyways, I did find Kimberly in Angel Grove and I was able to speak with her for quite some time. She said some strange and questionable things, but nothing so extreme that it would cause me to believe that she was guilty. We were even attacked by Goldar and some putties in the park and it appeared they were after her." Dr. Oliver had to take a moment to breathe.
"Initially I felt terrible for involving her in this whole mess, but I soon found out that I had no reason to feel bad because after I left Angel Grove she showed up at my door last night." Everyone gasped in shock, but again nobody said anything.
"She spun this whole story to me that Goldar had come after her again and I actually believed her. Then she fainted and I truly felt like garbage. So, I carried her up to my room where she woke up and fooled me into allowing her to steal my dino gem bracelet."
The teenagers immediately began to giggle and Conner just couldn't help himself he had to say something. "Let me guess Dr. O. the little lady seduced you." The chuckles became even louder.
"It doesn't matter how she did it," snapped Dr. Oliver in annoyance, "the point is she now possess my dino gem, which means I don't have it, so we are plum out of luck."
Everyone became serious again.
"Your joking right?" questioned Trent.
"I wish that were the case," responded Dr. O, "but it's true, the Pink Ranger has the upper hand."
"But on the plus side the dino gem is useless to her right?" cut in Kira.
Dr. Oliver gave Haley a very unsure look as she returned the same expression.
"Well, that depends," answered Haley. "The gem is selective in who it responds to, but because Tommy and his powers bonded with Kimberly and her powers so many times back when they were a team, it is very possible that there could be traces of Tommy's energy still inside of her." Everyone appeared puzzled.
"You see," cut in Tommy, "many times when someone accepts the power it stays with them, even if they give it up. The coin or gem, the costume, the weapons, and the physical power may leave their body but the real power is still there."
"Cool," said Ethan, "so that means that we can never really lose our powers completely, right?"
"Well," responded Tommy, "that's true to a certain extent, many rangers including myself have resumed their powers for a short time when it was absolutely necessary, but it doesn't always work for everyone."
"Do you think it could maybe work for you when the Evil Pink Ran- I mean Kimberly shows up again?" questioned Trent.
"No," stated Dr. Oliver, "as long as the gem is in someone else's hands I can't access the power."
"Well," suggested Kira, "maybe you could resume one of you old ranger powers."
"I'm afraid it's not that easy Kira," said Dr. O. hating to break the bad news. "As long as the dino gem exists I cannot use any of my old powers unless my gem had been bonded with them before, like the Zeo powers were bonded with the Turbo powers when they were created. The only way I could be a ranger now is if I had an actual physical coin, or crystal, or direct power source."
Everyone was speechless, they all knew that their destruction was near.
"But, I'm not terribly worried about not having my powers right now because what is more important is the question of whether or not Kimberly can assume the black dino powers."
"I thought you said you couldn't mix powers unless they had been bonded together when one of them was created," questioned Conner. Everyone was amazed that he had actually comprehended all of the information Dr. Oliver had thrown at them.
"Well, normally they can't, Conner," answered Dr. O, but in this case the power has an enabler in the form of Rita and Zedd's magic. Because they created the evil pink power they can still bond it with the dino gem if it will accept Kimberly. And, I hate to say it but I'm pretty sure that it will."
"But there's still a chance that it won't, right Tommy?" questioned Haley.
"I guess it's possible, but you guys don't understand how close Kimberly and I were," Dr. Oliver began to get a little choked up at the memory. "I don't just mean our romantic relationship, I mean our bond as teammates. She was always there for me in a battle and I tried my hardest to always be there for her. After she gave up her powers a part of me deep down inside felt it too."
Nobody knew what to say, so they all just sat there in silence, it seemed that all hope was lost.
"Dr. Oliver," Kira finally broke the silence, "are you saying that victory is hopeless for us?"
"I'm not saying that at all Kira," answered Dr. O assuringly, "I'm just saying it's going to be one hell of a ride."
All four teenagers and even Haley broke out in a smile. That was all the kids needed to hear; a little encouragement from their leader and they were once again optimistic. But, little did they know that Dr. Oliver was in fact pretty sure that this would be their final battle. The Pink Ranger had annihilated the Rangers the first time they encountered her and now that she had the black gem, the most powerful gem, things were most definitely in her favor. But, there was no reason to discourage the teenagers because if there's one thing being a Ranger taught Tommy it was that anything is possible.
"So what's next?" asked Trent.
"Well," said Dr. Oliver, "we wait."
"Does this mean the test is still on?" whined Connor.
Everyone looked at him and simultaneously shoved him.
"What?" he responded, "It was a good question."