Hi friends, let me start out by thanking you all for the reviews, they've been especially rewarding lately. And of course even if you don't review thank you for reading. And, I have some good news and some bad news. I'll start with the bad news, I'm a liar. The good news is that you know how I said there were only like 3 or 4 chapters left, like 3 chapters ago? Well, turns out there's a few more, and that's good right? So, here is the next one, it's short but eventful, enjoy.
"Kira, Kira, Kira…" said a voice.
Kira could hear someone speaking her name but she just couldn't seem to wake up. She felt someone stroking her hair behind her ear and she could feel the warmth of their body next to her. It was difficult but Kira knew that she had to wake up, she had to find Kimberly. Opening her eyes she was greeted by seven multicolored faces staring down at her. Trent had been the one stroking her hair and speaking her name.
"What happened?" questioned Billy immediately.
"I don't know," began Kira as she rubbed her head and attempted to sit up with Trent's assistance.
She honestly couldn't remember what had happened all she knew was that she had to save Kimberly because Kimberly had saved her. But then it all came back, she remembered their never-ending hike, their chat about Dr. O, and Scorpina. Suddenly tears began to drizzle down Kira's cheeks as she recalled Kimberly's last effort to save her.
"We have to find her," said Kira about ready to go into hysterics, "we have to!"
"Wait, just slow down. Who do we have to find?" cut in Conner as he knelt down next to her on the opposite side of Trent and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder.
No one was really used to seeing this tender side of Conner, he was an overly emotional kid but usually compassion was not one of his most visible emotions.
Kira fought hard to compose herself and finally she was ready to talk, "Jason and I found Kimberly back in the clearing with Dr. O. He was getting ready to fight Lord Zedd but his gem wouldn't work. So he and Jason had no choice but to fight Goldar and Zedd," Kira took a breath and then continued. "Kimberly and I hid behind a tree for a little while but Kimberly couldn't stand it, she had to help them. So, we headed back in the direction I had come from. We were trying to find the house so you guys could help Dr. O and Jason but before we could make it back we ran into the most disgusting monster I've ever seen." Kira clenched her eyes shut trying to remember anything she could that might have been helpful. "It was some kind of scorpion lady."
"Scorpina," said Aisha immediately cringing at the sound of the name, she recalled her one and only encounter with the witch and it was not pleasant. Billy and Zack also had a similar reaction but said nothing because they didn't want to delay Kira from spilling the information.
"She had captured me," continued Kira, "but Kimberly sacrificed herself to save me. Scorpina knocked me out and she must have taken Kimberly with her," Kira broke down into sobs and allowed Trent to gather her into his arms.
"It's going to be okay sweetheart," said Katherine sympathetically.
"Which way did she take her?" questioned Billy getting right down to business.
"I don't know," answered Kira, muffled in Trent's chest. She paid no attention to the monstrous purple bruise that now consumed her forehead.
Billy immediately began searching the ground for clues and he didn't have to look far because he spotted to pairs of tracks. The first was two concise footprints and the other was nothing more than a dirt trail, clearly Scorpina was forced to take Kimberly kicking and screaming.
"Okay guys," announced Billy, "this is how things are going to go, Zack, Aisha, and Kat you're coming with me. We're going to fallow the tracks and hopefully they'll lead us to Kimberly. Conner, Ethan, and Trent, you guys take Kira back to the house and have Haley check her over. If she's okay I want the four of you back here and morphed as soon as possible. Something tells me we're going to need every little bit of strength we can get. I also need you guys to bring Tommy's power coin; it's sitting on the counsel in the command center. Got it?"
"Got it," responded Conner immediately as he and Trent helped Kira stand and eventually walk.
"Let's go guys," said Zack as he began to fallow the trail left by Kimberly and Scorpina.
"Had enough Tommy?" asked Zedd shrewdly as he hovered over Tommy who now lay on his back on the cold wet dirt.
Next to him laid Jason whom Goldar had also just knocked out of command. The two men had no intention of surrendering, but their bodies believed otherwise. Both of them were covered in sizeable bruises, welts, scratches, and scrapes.
"I can't do it, man," admitted Jason as he tried his best to raise himself off the ground.
"Me neither," said Tommy sorely as he rested his head on the ground and closed his eyes.
"Goldar, tie him up!" ordered Zedd pointing to Tommy.
"Yes master," answered Goldar as he made a rope appear with the wave of his hand. "And what about Jason?"
"Well, I suppose it would be fun to pulverize him but I'm so impressed with your performance today that I am giving him to you. Do with him what you want just don't let him escape," said Lord Zedd as he turned around and headed towards the giant boulder across the way.
He was also rather exhausted after messing up Tommy pretty good. He wouldn't let it show but he had been very close to being in Tommy's position. As a last resort he had finally gave in and reached for his staff. Without much thought he quickly zapped Tommy to the ground, where he lay now. Zedd hadn't been proud of the fact that he hadn't been able to take out the best ranger on his own with nothing more than his own strength, but he had to defeat him.
Tommy could feel Goldar drag him across the dirt and mud and then finally pitch him against a tree. But, he couldn't do anything he was just too exhausted and that last blow felt like it had seriously taken seven years off of his life.
Jason also lay there on the dirt, playing dead. Goldar had used nothing but his own mutant strength to battle him and had been somewhat successful. Jason was sure that eventually he could have defeated the gold beast, but once he saw Zedd zap Tommy with his staff he knew it was best to just lay low and join Tommy. Jason watched hesitantly as Goldar began to drag Tommy away, Tommy seemed as lifeless as a rag doll. Once, Jason saw that Goldar was distracted with his duties he raised his head and surveyed the area for Zedd. He spotted him on the bolder across the way and even more perfect, his back was turned towards Jason as he struggled to catch his breath, his pride not allowing him to do it in front of his opponents. Jason quickly and quietly rose from the ground and headed for the brush. He wasn't really sure what he was going to do next but the last thing they needed was for him to end up in the same shape as Tommy, so he hid in the bushes.
Once Goldar finished tying up Tommy he kicked him once in the stomach just for spite. Tommy reacted in pain, yelling out in agony, but the jolt had actually revived him. The pain was just too painful to allow him to doze off but not painful enough to cause him to pass out. Now he was somewhat alert and definitely coherent.
"Nooooo!" screamed Goldar as he turned around and realized that Jason had escaped.
His reaction caused Zedd to turn his attention to the situation, "You spineless, incompetent imbecile!" he cursed as he rose from the boulder. "How could you let him get away? Go find him, now!" he yelled ferociously.
Goldar quickly scurried away just as another henchman arrived, Scorpina. In tote was Kimberly who stumbled clumsily behind her. She had been pretty banged up too, and most definitely regretted her smart-ass comments back in the forest with Kira. Her trip back to the clearing with Scorpina had been a nightmare. Scorpina had done to her just as she had done to Kira in the Reefside High parking lot, but instead of ramming her into cars, she had rammed her into trees, and quite a few of them.
"Excellent," declared Zedd as he greeted Scorpina excitedly, "At least someone knows how to fallow orders."
"Of course my lord," said Scorpina bowing to Lord Zedd. "Where do you want her?"
"Anywhere's fine," replied Zedd, "actually why don't you tie her to that tree across from the heroic Dr. Oliver. I want him to have the best seat in the house. Ha, ha,ha…"
The second Tommy saw Kimberly enter the clearing, staggering behind Scorpina he felt this renewed strength within his bones. He wasn't sure if it was enough, but at least he had the feeling back in his legs. Now, he watched painfully as the hideous monster tossed Kimberly around like garbage and then mercilessly tied her to the tree across from him on the other end of the clearing. She had been in bad shape before, but nothing compared to now. Her legs were covered in scratches and her feet were as black as the dirt. Her once pretty pink silk dress was now snagged and ripped beyond recognition, but he could tell that her spirit was not broken. She held her head high as Scorpina tied her up and she continued to struggle in resistance.
Once Kimberly was securely fastened Scorpina stepped away to join Lord Zedd and receive more instruction. This allowed Tommy and Kimberly a few moments. But, neither of them spoke, they didn't want Zedd and Scorpina to be a part of what could be their last moments together, so they had to say all they needed to say silently.
"I'm sorry," mouthed Kimberly slowly to Tommy. The look on her face was so sincere that there was no doubt in Tommy's mind that she genuinely meant it.
Tommy returned Kimberly's apology with a sweet smile that brought tears to her eyes. He didn't blame her for any of this and right now she understood that. As crappy as the whole situation was she did at least feel good about that. Life could have been so sweet for them if only she hadn't have ruined it. But it was too late now, so Kimberly had to do what she could now. She never thought she would see the day when Tommy Oliver was defeated, not in a million years. Unfortunately though, it was looking like today would be the day. She stared at her white night dreamily remembering their past and hoping for their future. He was still as handsome as ever in spite of the bruises and scrapes. His eyes still had that beautiful twinkle in them that had originally attracted her to him that one day back at the youth center. That day was so long ago, they had come so far. How could it be that it was meant to end like this?
The pair continued to exchange glances, engaged in a conversation that only they could understand. It was too late for plans and schemes but neither of them was so sure that they were going to give up so quickly. However, there were too many things beyond their control and as Zedd's tone became lower they were sure that their time together was almost up.
Scorpina and Lord Zedd began to walk towards them, confident in their stride and merciless in their gaze. Tommy and Kimberly knew their time was up, so in one last effort for a goodbye Tommy caught Kimberly's attention and mouthed to her the words she had been longing to hear for so long, "I love you." She was overjoyed and sobbing uncontrollably. Of course as luck would have it she finally had him, only to lose him without ever being able to enjoy his companionship. All she could do now was mouth the words back to him.
When Tommy read the words "I love you," on Kimberly's lips he thought he felt his heart tear in half. Never in his life had he ever been so happy or disappointed and of course it was at the same time. Right now he didn't care how things were going to end because at least he knew, if only for a few moments, that Kimberly Hart loved him too.