disclaimer- i dont own the power rangers
Seek out the sunshine. It is a simple prescription. Avoid the darkness.
Loren Eiseley
Divatox halted her ramblings and turned around. Kimberly continued to stare at the ground, her emotions overcome with anger.
"You're friends. You're holding on to this world because you still believe your friends are going to save you." Divatox said in recognition.
Kimberly snapped her eyes up. Was that it? After all this time, was she really still hoping?
Divatox closed the distance between them. "Kimberly. They aren't going to save you. Not this time. Come here. I want you to see something."
Kimberly eyed her suspiciously as she walked towards something that resembled a viewing globe from Zordon's Command Center. "Look at this."
Immediately, the white background was replaced with Jason, Trini, and Zack all shopping in Switzerland. Trini and Jason were laughing at a joke Zack just made.
Then it faded into Aisha. She was locking up her clinic. Then behind her appeared Rocky who picked her up in a huge hug. They too were also laughing. Adam walked up behind the two and butted in. He joined in with the laughter.
After this, came Tommy. He was setting up a dinner, which Kimberly guessed was for Kat. She could see his eyes dancing with excitement. He perked up when he walked to the door to find a decked up Kat standing at the door. They embraced. Despite knowing that she broke up with him, this was he first true time she saw them together as a couple. As much as she didn't want to admit it, it hurt to know that he had found someone so quickly and so perfect for him when she had no one.
Then the picture faded to Billy. As usual he was in front of a computer with a dark haired boy. They were ferociously typing away. Typical Billy.
White replaced the picture again. Divatox turned towards Kimberly and stared at her. "Don't you get it? They aren't looking for you. They are happy without you. You mean absolutely nothing to them."
Kimberly could feel a lump forming in her throat. No. This couldn't be happening. But it is. She told herself. It is. And your friends don't care. It took all her will to keep the tears from falling right then, but she would not cry in front of Divatox. Quickly, she nodded and ran out of the room.
On the way to her room, Kimberly heard Hygelac and the Quantrons speaking in the front hall. She stopped and listened to the sound of their voices trail off as they walked towards the Quantrons' ship.
Instead of continuing to her room, she trailed behind them to catch a better look at their new somewhat "allies". Astronema had obviously sent them to take care of her, but what surprised her was that Astronema had mistaken her new power for a power ranger. Did that mean she was as strong as the rangers?
Hygelac turned around when he reach the ship with the machine soldiers and saw Kimberly walking towards them. She had just crossed through the gate and had an unsettling look on her face. "Kimberly, what are you doing here?"
"Just takin' a look, Lac." She explained, viewing the landscape. She had not been outside of the grounds since the kidnapping. In fact, before the attack, she had not known they were on Earth. Now, from the looks of the city below the hill they were on, they were definitely on her planet.
Before, she had been too preoccupied by the attack to even think about it. Now, she had all the time in the world to realize that she had never known where she had been for the past four months. She had assumed that they were on another planet, dimension, or in some very well hidden area. But from the looks of the front yard, they were nowhere near hidden.
She could plainly see the activity going on in the city, and if straining her ear, she could hear the sounds of cars honking. The breeze caught her hair, and shook her from her thoughts. "Wow."
Hygelac and the Quantrons followed her gaze. Surprisingly, they all nodded. They might be evil and taking over the planet, but that didn't mean they couldn't appreciate the land they were fighting to gain.
Kimberly surveyed the city and gasped when she saw a very familiar monument. The Eiffel Tower.
Paris? She was in Paris? Her mother's current hometown? Kimberly's heart fell. She hadn't seen her mother in years. Sure, they contacted each other now and then, but it was hard to communicate regularly when over seas and with each of their busy schedules. Her eyes filled with tears. Oh what would she give just to see her mother this very moment.
Another thought struck her, leading to another question. If she were on Earth the entire time, and there was nothing keeping them hidden…why had her friends not found her?
If they had truly been looking for her, then they would have found her by now. Looking away from the bright lights of the city, Kimberly wiped a cascading tear from her cheek. Before all the drama with Tommy, they had always been there for her.
They helped her out when Divatox kidnapped her before. Then again, she had been with Jason too, Lerigot and his family had needed to be saved, and Divatox was their current enemy. Now, the current rangers didn't know who she was, and Divatox was old news.
Her friends were no longer rangers. They didn't even notice she was gone- probably thinking she had done another disappearing act like when she had first moved to Florida. Even though she had been contacting them everyday before her capture, they would not perceive the silence as a dangerous thing. None of the originals were rangers anymore, so there was nothing to be afraid of- like getting kidnapped from old enemies that were supposedly defeated.
She shook her head. No, Divatox was right. They would not be looking for her, and they were happy without her. Otherwise, the viewing screen would have shown them searching for her.
Kimberly felt a large hand squeeze her shoulder. The Quantrons had left without her noticing. She looked up at her new companion and tried to smile at his sympathy. It was a weak one. She noticed that she was finding fewer reasons to smile about lately.
An idea popped into her mind, but she bashed it immediately. Now that she knew exactly where she was, she could escape with no problem. Unfortunately, she knew too much about a possible mutiny, and she'd be Divatox's main target until she either was dead or she chose to join the lady pirate and aspiring ruler of the earth. She wouldn't live her life running.
Besides, she looked up at Hygelac who had found his attention on the city lights as well, I can't leave him like that. Not when he's been so kind to me- almost like a brother. No one will be waiting for me if I go home, but I have Lac right here.
"Come on. Let's get some rest." Lac suggested. They began their walk back to the fortress.
Her gaze fell on the Eiffel Tower once more before entering the castle. This was her home, but she could no longer be a part of it- not as she once was.
"Get up, girl!" Divatox yelled and threw the curtains open in Kimberly's room.
"Eff you." Kimberly mumbled before an enormous yawn overtook her mouth. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She inspected Divatox's behavior as she began filing through Kimberly's barely filled closet.
"What are you doing?" She asked sleepily.
"Picking out an outfit for you. We're attending a conference today. In space." Divatox turned to look at her. She threw her a black leather outfit. "This'll do. You'll fit in nicely."
"Oh, black leather. How original. Thanks." Then her eyes perked up. "I'm going to finally meet Astronema, aren't I?"
Divatox's eyes glittered. "Yes! Oh, the look on her face when she sees you. I hear she's very self-conscious. This will be the perfect chance to tell Dark Specter my plans for the Power Rangers."
"Yes, and I hear she is finally going to apologize for her misconception!" Divatox's eyes sparkled with delight. She clapped her hands together. "The little brat. I can't wait-"
"Excuse me, I need to get dressed." Kimberly shooed her still jabbering superior out the door. She looked at the contents in her closet. "Finally going to apologize? It's only been a day."
"Meet at the ship when you're ready!" Divatox called in a singsong voice as she walked away.
She threw the outfit Divatox had picked out on the floor and grabbed a pair of ripped and holy jeans. They fit her snuggly, showing off her petite curves. She loved leather, but it was so overdone. Next, she pulled a tight camouflage cropped tank top over her head. Finally, she slipped her black combat boots on and laced them up. Examining herself in the mirror, Kimberly grinned. "Not too bad. Not too good."
She slung her samurai sword over her back and strapped a gun to her thigh. One could never be too careful when dealing with monsters and villains. Quickly, she made her way to the space shuttle.
Divatox looked at her when she entered and dropped onto a swivel chair. The villainess glanced at Kimberly's exposed stomach. "What happened to the outfit I picked for you?"
Kimberly shrugged. "This is more me."
"Whatever."
"Prepare for take off." A PR system informed them.
"Oooh, goody, goody!" Divatox clapped. "I'm excited."
Kimberly let out a breath and strapped herself in a seat. She'd never been to space- not in an actual aircraft at least. One would think a ranger of an aerial zord would be used to airplanes and space ships and such, but she had not been on an airplane since the Christmas she visited Angel Grove. It could have been that almost crash she had experienced with her Uncle Steve, but she did not trust the man made machines to function and not piloting the controls scared the living daylights out of her.
"You all right, Krosa?" Hygelac asked with a concerned stare.
She nodded. Apparently, he noticed that she was gripping the arms of the seats so tightly that her hands were turning white. He patted her hand and began a conversation with Divatox about the lost treasure of Troy, why she was so interested and how they knew so much passed by the terrified ex-ranger.
"Krosa?" She asked perplexedly, interjecting his conversation, much to Divatox's annoyance.
"It means crane where I am from." He responded with a small smile.
She sat back in her seat and smiled. "I like it."
"Reaching destination." Rang out the PR.
"Huh?" Kimberly jolted. Looking around, she saw Hygelac punching a few buttons on a control desk. Beside her was drooling Divatox, who seemed to be completely out of it. She stood beside Hygelac and looked out a window. "Where are we?"
"Wah!" Divatox jerked. "Why didn't anyone wake me when we got here?!"
"We are on the Cimmerian Planet." He told her, ignoring their whining leader, and hit a key that opened the spacecraft. Before them stood a group of Quantrons and Cogs and a young girl with bright long purple hair. She had a small smirk upon her face. Kimberly assumed this was the infamous Astronema.
"Divatox. You sure have changed." She stared intently on Kimberly.
Kimberly burst out laughing. "Me? You must be kidding. I'm insulted."
"Brat." She heard from behind her.
"Hag." Kimberly called over her shoulder.
"Show me respect." Divatox slapped the back of Kimberly's head forcing a wince out of the younger girl. Astronema gazed at the two in amusement; Divatox finally noticed her and scowled. "Astronema."
"Divatox." She replied curtly. Then, she added in a sweeter voice, "I believe I owe you an apology for my…misunderstanding. It looks like you have everything under control."
"Damn right, you owe me an apology. Sending troops of Quantrons to my current home and attacking my soldiers. Damaging my property!" Divatox ranted.
Astronema scrunched her nose and brushed her off with a wave of the hand. "I guess we're supposed to all meet in the dining hall."
"Food? Thank God. I'm starving." Elgar appeared. He stopped when he saw Divatox before him. "Heeey, Di! Long time no see, eh?" He grinned and jabbed her in the side. She returned his greeting with a glare.
The group resumed their way to the dining hall. Kimberly hung back behind the rest with Hygelac. When they arrived at their goal, they were welcomed by another large group of villains.
"Di, how aaare you?" A voice that sounded more like a shriek than anything else sounded out. Kimberly cringed, immediately recognizing the familiar witch.
"What is Rita doing here?" She whispered to Hygelac as Divatox and Rita caught up.
"All villains are going to meet here. Dark Specter has something special to announce." He updated her. She nodded in thanks and crossed her arms. If Rita was here, Zedd was not too far behind. Boy, would he be surprised to see her there.
Not too long after and the skinless freak showed up. "Zeddy, it's Divatox! Come here!"
He strolled towards them with a martini in his fleshy hand. "Hello." He said in his deep raspy voice.
Divatox nodded. "Hello. Ri, do you have any idea what the Dark Specter wants to tell us?"
The sorceress shook her head. "I was hoping you would know."
"Oh, Rita, Zedd. I have someone you might want to see!" Divatox cried out enthusiastically. "You won't believe who I caught a few months ago."
"Who, Divatox." Zedd stated, sounding bored with the over-enthused villain.
Divatox grabbed Kimberly in mid-word and pulled her alongside her. Zedd spit out his drink and Rita screeched with laughter. "You got Kimmie??"
Kimberly wrinkled her nose at the nickname-made her sound like a three year old. Zedd still gaped at her mesmerized. Rita finally noticed his silence and glowered. "Zeddy!"
"Wha-? Oh." He snapped out of his shock. "Well, well, Kimberly. Looks like the crane has finally flown from her coop."
She stayed silent. Divatox poked her and received a glare.
"So how did you do it? What spell did you use? Was this from the Maligore incident?" Rita bombarded the lady pirate with questions.
"No, it wasn't from Maligore. And there were no spells used. She turned on her own." Divatox sniggered. Kimberly threw her a look and recrossed her arms. On her own, her ass, but she did not speak for her defense. She'd rather keep silent then talk to those out of season enemies.
Kimberly's eyes skimmed the rest of the room. Her eyes narrowed when they rested on a cloaked male (she assumed from his physical appearance) standing near the wall. She found herself compelled to walk over to him. She pushed her way through the trio and made her way towards the mysterious figure.
He had his back turned to her, so he did not see her approaching. She tapped his shoulder and said, "Excuse me."
The figure jumped and turned to face her. His face was completely covered by a dark shadow from the hood of the cloak. "Yes?"
Yes, he was definitely male. And from the normal sound of his voice, human too. "Who are you?" She cocked her head slightly.
Before the man could reply, Hygelac emerged from the crowd. "Kimberly, it's time to start."
She nodded at Hygelac and turned back to ask the strange man if he wanted to sit next to her, but there was only the wall. "Weird."
Yes, it's slightly different to the TV Show version, but oh well. More will come later. And sincewinter break is coming up, I'll have even more time to write! Sweet. I hope this chapter was all right!
Daisyz- I know, itdoesn't seem like Kim at all, doesit? :) That's why I love the idea though. Kimberly turning evil has always been a really cool idea because it's the complete opposite of who she is. Yeah, she doesn't really care about the Power Chamber, but then again she had other stuff on her mind too... ;-)
Funky in Fishnet- sighs with relief I was hoping that I was writing the discovery of her powers and whatnot so people could understand and not too quickly or slowly. Thanks. And your welcome about your name. It really is cool.
C2-Yeah, I'm a fan of TK myself. (They were so perfect! baaah why did they have to break up?) I stopped watching after Kimberly left, saw the episode where she broke up with him, swore off Power Rangers until I saw Jason on the show again, stopped watching after a few of those episodes, then reunited with my obsession in June while looking for blank VHS tapes. I foundPink Week on one of them and was hooked again.
Ghostwriter- Oh yes, the damage. But I won't give anything away. haha ;-)
Thanks for the reviews!