Chapter Twelve

Astronema appeared before Mesagog and Zedd. "The destruction of Angel Grove has been completed," she said with a bow. She hid her glare from them as she stood up.

Zedd nodded. "Very well. Mondo is nearly finished in Stone Canyon. The cogs have overrun the city and left the people running for an Angel Grove that isn't there." He laughed. "And Master Vile is in Mariner Bay, wreaking havoc and it is on the brink of destruction." Zedd turned to General Havoc. "Go to San Francisco. Destroy that city. We must take it over by tomorrow." He disappeared with a pack of piranhatrons.

"What about me, bro-in-law?" asked Rito.

Zedd looked at him. "You..." He looked around. "You and Astronema go to Los Angeles."

Astronema shook her head. "I work alone."

Zedd shook his head. "Well, now you're working with Rito. Go to Los Angeles."

Astronema rolled her eyes and disappeared in a flash with Rito, piranhatrons and putties.

"Our plan is unfolding before our eyes," said Zedd to Mesagog, who nodded.

"I think I like this way of traveling much better," said Ethan. He looked at Conner. "At least you didn't land on me this time."

Andros looked around. "Everyone okay?" Everyone nodded.

"Wild," said Kira. Trent looked over at her. "Just last year, who would've thought that we'd be here traveling around the galaxy? Who would've thought that we'd be power rangers? And in the presence of some of the greatest rangers ever?"

Trent and Ethan nodded in agreement. "I know what you mean," said Ethan. "This is pretty wild."

TJ overheard them and said, "It's always pretty wild when you get your powers. I was traveling around the galaxy with those guys for maybe a year or so. And hey, did I tell you about the time when I got baked into a giant pizza?"

The teenagers shook their head while everyone else yelled, "YES!"

TJ rolled his eyes and put his arm around Trent, leading the way for the teenagers. "It all started this one day..."

Andros looked at him and rolled his eyes. "We should head this way."

"So, you and Tommy seem to be getting closer," Aisha whispered to Kim.

Kim nodded with a smile on her face. "He 'formally' asked me to be his girlfriend again earlier."

"Really? That's great!"

Kim nodded again. "I've really missed him."

"I know you have. Remember, I've spent many sleepless nights with you, talking about Tommy. And we were on different continents!"

"And I'm very thankful for that, Aisha. You've been there through everything. Thanks for being a good friend." Kim hugged her.

"No problem, girl. We gotta stick together!"

Kim smiled and she linked arms with Aisha, following the rest of the group.

"We found the Phantom Ranger around here, before," said Cassie.

"And Zordon was over there." Andros pointed to a spot near where they were.

"Where should we start?" asked Rocky.

Tommy looked around. "I don't know."

"Let's look for all the ancient temples or places where we know magic or power resides," said Billy.

The others nodded. "So where should we go?" asked Adam.

"Let's split up," said Tommy. "We have our communicators. Just make sure a space ranger is with one of us." He looked around. "Me, Kim, Andros, and Ashley will go this way." He pointed to one path in the jungle. He looked at the teenagers. "Ethan, Billy, Zack, Rocky, go there. Adam, Aisha, Cassie, Kira, and Carlos, over there. Zhane, Jason, TJ, Trent, and Conner that way. Find anything and immediately call us on the communicator. We'll teleport to where you guys and figure out what happens from there." Everyone nodded and headed their separate ways.

Tommy and Andros walked a bit in front of Kim and Ashley. "Where should we start?" asked Tommy.

Andros was silent for a bit and looked around. "Let's head in that direction. Something tells me we'll find something there. There's something bright coming from the trees." Tommy nodded and followed Andros, with the girls close behind.

"How is it like not living on earth anymore?" asked Kim.

"It took a bit getting used to," said Ashley, "but it's a lot better than living on a spaceship, although I do miss being an active ranger."

"Andros still is, isn't he?"

"Yeah. It worries me sometimes, but...that's what he is. And I know that."

"Only rangers can understand that life."

Ashley and Kim looked around. They kept walking behind Tommy and Andros, who were in the midst of their own conversation.

"So...you and..." Ashley glanced towards Tommy and Andros.

Kim smiled. She nodded. "It's a long story."

"So? Start at the beginning! All I've ever heard is something about a letter and then you guys broke up and haven't spoken since. I don't remember, but either Tommy sent you a letter or you sent Tommy a letter...The ranger gossip mill hasn't been what it is. But you guys seem okay."

Kim laughed. "That's actually pretty much it. There are some holes that I don't really understand though. We supposedly broke up because of this letter. It was really hard to get over. And I guess I'm okay now. I mean, I know I'm okay now."

"Start at the beginning, Kim. I'd like to know the whole story instead of guessing what you mean."

Kim smiled and said, "Well, when I moved from Angel Grove, a few months after I left, I got this letter..."

"Any sign of anything?" Tommy asked Andros. "You sense anything?"

Andros closed his eyes. "Nothing." He looked behind them at Ashley and Kim. "So..." He motioned to the girls behind them.

"What?"

Andros raised an eyebrow. "You and Kim were legendary." Tommy looked at him. "Okay, well, maybe not legendary exactly, but you two are pretty famous in ranger history. And then you guys break up because of a letter. I don't think I ever really found out what happened. You left so soon after that Serpentera incident. What happened?"

Tommy sighed. He rubbed his eyes. "Got a while?" He laughed. Andros gestured around him, showing that he seemingly had a lot of time. "Well, so you know about the letter. I got it a few months after Kim moved to Florida..."

"Anything?" Billy asked.

"No sign of anything," answered Rocky.

"Let's head in that direction," said Zack. "It looks like there seems to be something going on over there. I see something bright."

Everyone nodded.

"What do you think this is?" asked Adam.

Everyone shrugged. Carlos stooped down to inspect what Adam was pointing to. "It's an arrow! Maybe a path to the power."

Cassie looked over his shoulder. "And there's another one!"

"Think we should call them?" asked Kira.

"Not yet," answered Adam. "Let's wait and see where this leads."

"And if we get into trouble, keep an hand on your communicator," said Aisha. "And Cassie and Carlos, make sure you stay close to one of us." They nodded and Cassie stood next to Aisha while Carlos moved next to Adam.

"Anything?" asked Jason.

"Nothing," said Zhane. He closed his eyes. "I don't sense anything, either."

Conner looked around. He saw something bright extending through the trees. "Hey guys, what about there?" He pointed to where he saw the light.

TJ nodded. "Yeah, let's head that way."

Trent followed the others, heading towards the whatever they saw.

"Very good, Mondo" said Zedd. King Mondo and Queen Machina bowed as far as they could go. "Master Vile is nearly finished."

"Our plan is moving along perfectly," said Dark Spector.

"So, who do you think sent the letter?" asked Ashley.

Kim shrugged. "I don't know. It could've been anybody." She thought about Kat, but quickly changed her mind from that.

"Any reason why anybody would do that?"

Kim shrugged again. "I really don't know. It came right out of the blue, too."

"Well, we got somewhere guys," Andros said as he and Tommy approached a giant cave. They saw something bright coming from the top of the cave.

"Whoa, this sorta reminds me of the whole Maligore thing," said Kim.

Tommy nodded. "Don't worry, we're here too." He put his arm around her. Ashley smiled as she looked at them.

"Let's go in," said Andros. Ashley followed him, with Kim and Tommy behind her.

"Look at the walls," said Ashley. They all stopped and looked. "Weird."

"Do you have any idea what this means?" asked Kim. Tommy and Andros both shook their heads. They both raised their hands to feel the inscriptions. "It's time like these when we need Billy."

"Or Ethan. He's pretty good at figuring things like these out, too," said Tommy.

"Hey, I think I understand some of this stuff," said Andros. He stopped in front of the inscriptions and thought hard. "It might take awhile, though."

Master Vile appeared before Zedd and Mesagog. "Mariner Bay has been destroyed!"

"Very well," said Mesagog. "Any sign of the rangers?"

"None," said Elsa. She looked back at the computer. "Our power combination seems to be growing at a very slow, steady rate. But it is growing. She looked up. "However, the unknown power source seems to be declining."

"Then the rangers must have found it," said Rita.

"We'll be fine as long as Tommy and Kimberly are separated, they are of no danger to us," said Zedd. "The power of the Crane and the Falcon united is far greater than anything in the world. Anything that we can put up against them will not work."

"Well, it seems like we still have a chance," said Elsa. "Our power is growing. Reefside, Angel Grove, Stone Canyon, and Mariner Bay are destroyed. San Francisco and Los Angeles are almost destroyed. We will then move around to other parts of the world."

"And then, to other parts of the universe," said Dark Spector.

"As far as I know, Tommy and Kimberly should be hating each other right now." Zedd looked around. "And as long as the rangers stay off of earth, we should be fine." He looked at Mondo and Machina. "Get ready to go to KO-35."

"Hey, look at these inscriptions," said Zack.

"Hmm, that's interesting," said Billy.

"Any idea what it says?" asked Rocky.

"It might take a while, but let me figure it out."

"I'll help you too," said Ethan.

They stopped in front of the inscriptions and got to work.

"The arrows stop at the entrance to that cave opening," said Kira. She pointed to a little ahead of her.

Adam nodded. "Let's go." He walked in front of them, leading the way into the cave.

"Whoa, look at the walls," said Aisha.

"What do they mean?" asked Cassie.

"I don't know," said Carlos. "They look like something in some sort of ancient language or something like that."

"Let's try to make sense of it," said Adam. "I know none of us are the linguist experts, but we'll make due with what we've got."

Everyone nodded and each took a portion of the wall to try to decipher what was written.

"Hmm, so I guess Zordon did get a little smarter after all," said Divatox. She couldn't find a way into the Command Center. She looked around the grounds. "Keep looking!" The piranhatrons around her scrambled to find the door that they squeezed open so long ago. "I know it's around here somewhere!" She looked around at the Command Center. "You can't keep me out for long, Zordon!"

"Ay-yi-yi-yi," said Alpha. "She's returned!"

"Alpha, increase the levels of our protective shield," said Zordon. "Divatox will not get in that easily."

General Havoc returned. "San Francisco is destroyed," he said.

Astronema appeared as well. "So is Los Angeles."

Rito appeared. "Hey, why didn't you wait for me? I thought we were a team!" Astronema rolled her eyes.

She walked to the corner where Ecliptor was. "How much longer until earth is destroyed?" she whispered.

"Not long now, my princess," answered Ecliptor.

"Once they destroy earth, I will move in and take my place as queen of all evil."

"Of course, my lady. We need to resume draining Dark Spector's powers. He is not strong at the moment since he is living off of our powers and Divatox has not returned with Zordon, yet."

Astronema nodded. "Prepare to drain his powers. Make sure no one sees you." Ecliptor nodded and walked away.

Zedd looked around. He stopped at Rita. "We will finish off Las Vegas." He looked at Goldar and Scorpina. "You two go to San Diego."

With a flash of light, they all disappeared.

Alarms were blaring through the basement of Tommy's lab. Hayley groaned, running around trying to turn everything off. She looked at the television once more.

"...Stone Canyon, San Francisco, and Los Angeles join the list of destroyed cities. The list is only getting longer. Power rangers, where are you?"

Hayley shook her head again and looked at the computer. "Come on, guys."

"Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi. They're moving to San Diego and Las Vegas. Those are the next targeted cities in the alliance of evil," said Alpha. "Ohh, hurry rangers!" The Command Center shook a bit. "Oh no! How much longer can we keep Divatox out?"

"Do not panic, Alpha," said Zordon. "We must have faith that the rangers will come through."

"But if they don't hurry, everything will be destroyed."

"And they understand the severity of their absence. I have a firm belief that the rangers will return, more powerful than ever before. Since Tommy and Kimberly have reconciled, it will only be a matter of time before they reunite to create the stronger power."

"The ultimate power lies within Tommy and Kimberly?"

Zordon shook his head. "No, the ultimate power is within each of them. But the unification of Tommy and Kimberly makes them unstoppable. Love is among the greatest powers of the universe. There is no stronger love than the bond between Tommy and Kimberly."

Alpha groaned as they felt the Command Center shake again. "Ay-yi-yi-yi-yi. Hurry rangers!"

"Over there!" Jason pointed to a cave opening.

They each filed into the cave in a single file line.

"Whoa, dude, look at these walls," said Conner.

"They have some sort of inscriptions written across it," added Trent.

"Do you have any idea what these things might mean, Zhane?" asked TJ.

"I think I might," Zhane said. "But, I haven't seen anything like these in years."

Tell me what you think so far!