AN: This is a working title. I am basing this short (relatively speaking) story on a picture someone drew on deviant art. Here is the link art/Lord-Zedd-282992783 This may be edging a little close to the teen limit so I recommend this story for over the age of 16. If it gets darker in later chapters, should I choose to continue it, I'll change the rating to mature.

Also for those who think Tommy could not have been beaten in the search for the Zeo crystal when Zedd fights Tommy he is more than a match for the ranger. The fight only ends in a stalemate when Tommy gets in a lucky shot and breaks Zedd's staff.

***********************Somewhere in the caverns under the moon castle********************

As Goldar lead the two chained teens back into the caverns deep under the castle Billy stole glances at Kimberly. He knew he was in bad shape but her wounds had been left untreated. On the few cuts he could see, on her face and arms, the redness of infection and inflammation was obvious. He would need to doctor her up as soon as they got back to his cell. Assuming the first aid kit was still there. If left untreated even those small infected wounds could turn her blood septic over time and kill her.

"Get in there swine." Goldar commanded. Billy stepped into the cell followed by Kimberly. She gave out a yelp of pained surprise when Goldar smacked her hard across the bottom.

Goldar laughed at her blushing. As the stone bars reappeared, the chains binding them melted away into nothing. "You best rest humans, tomorrow will be a long day of hard work." He laughed again and returned the way they had come. When Billy could no longer hear him, he spoke.

"Are you okay Kim?" He said watching her rub her behind slightly.

"Am I okay? Billy is anything okay? Our friends are all dead! Our home is destroyed." She suddenly cried out startling the blue ranger. Tears poured down her eyes. Billy frowned at her pain. Kimberly had always been the emotional rock. The pink heart energy of the team. Without hesitation he pulled her into his arms, calming the hysterical girl as best he could. She continued to speak, "Before I saw you, Zedd he said...he said such horrible things and that he...he wanted...me. He...he was going to..." her words died off as another sob wracked her small frame.

Billy's eyes flashed dangerously and he tightened his hold on her ever so slightly. He would be damned if Zedd would ever touch her again. But when he spoke his voice was gentle without the anger he felt towards his new 'lord'.

"Kimberly we have each other. We have to have hope. You once told me there is always hope." He said.

She shook her head and pulled out of this arms slightly. "I don't see any hope this time. There is nothing to hope for."

"There's still Tommy." Billy said, "Unless you saw him...?"

Kimberly's head shot up. "No, I...I was knocked out soon after you were. Goldar used magic dust and I blacked out. Jason was still fighting when I fell. I remember him screaming my name but then I heard Tommy yell for Jason. He had just arrived."

Billy rubbed under his chin. "With all the past history between Tommy, Rita and to a lesser extent Zedd don't you think if he was dead Zedd would have rubbed it in our faces...like with Jason."

Billy watched Kimberly swallow hard. They were both still greatly disturbed by the red leader's severed head. Kimberly wrapped her arms around herself. "Yeah he probably would have."

Billy smiled at her. "So let's have hope and right now do whatever we can to survive. Come on, let me look at those injuries." Billy held up the first aid kit.

"Yes Dr. Cranston" Kimberly said with a slight smile taking a seat on the stone slab. As Billy looked her over and began to apply antibiotic ointment and bandages Kimberly couldn't help but wonder at him. This was not the shy, awkward Billy that she knew. This was the second in command, willing to risk everything for a teammate Billy that she only ever saw during a battle.

His gentle voice drew her from her musings."I need to stitch your lip wound closed or it won't heal properly but I don't have anything topical to dull the pain of the stitches going in." Billy explained threading a needle. "I'll be as gentle and as quick as I can."

"I trust you." Kimberly said with a smile that faded the moment Billy slipped the needle into her lip. Her knuckles where turning white from her excursion of gripping the stone slab so hard to keep still. Other then the change in her breathing Kimberly made no sounds of pain. It was over in just a minute as Billy snipped the remaining thread away.

"Just three stitches. It will heal just fine." Billy assured his friend. Kimberly was thankful there was no mirror in this place. The thread Billy was putting away was thick and black. Kimberly vaguely wondered if she looked like a patched up rag doll.

"Here's a couple pain killers and some water. I also have a few granola bars if you are hungry." He offered handing her two small white pills.

She shook her head and swallowed the pills down with a few sips of cool, clean water. "I don't think I could eat right now, not...not after seeing Jason."

Billy nodded and turned his back to her putting the first aid kit away.

"Thanks Billy. Not just for fixing me up but for back there in the throne room. Thank you." Kimberly reached out and gave his hand a squeeze.

Billy turned, kneeling in front of her taking both of her hands into his. Gazing into her eyes she couldn't help but marvel at the strength she saw there. Kimberly was feeling so broken but Billy seemed more resolute and stronger than ever.

"I meant every word Kim. I won't fix Serpentera or do anything Zedd commands unless I know you are safe. I would rather die first." He promised.

Kimberly opened her mouth to say something but Billy continued. "Come on we should try and get some sleep." He said laying down on the floor next to the stone slab.

"Billy what are you doing?" Kimberly asked, peering down at him. He merely raised an eyebrow at her. "If you sleep on that wet floor you're going to get sick. There's enough room for both of us up here." She offered.

Billy stood and joined her. "Are you sure Kim?" There was enough room for both of them but only if they sort of cuddled all night.

She nodded scooting closer to the wall. "I'm sure. Besides even with this," She said holding up the emergency blanket, "I think its going to get rather cold."

Billy let Kimberly lay down first and then positioned the thin Mylar blanket over both of them as he laid down. For a moment he was hesitant to touch her but Kimberly curled into his side like a kitten. Her head laying gently on his shoulder for a bit of comfort.

She sighed. "Is this okay?" Her voice was soft and held a bit of awkwardness. Like she was asking permission to lay her head upon his body.

"Its fine." He assured her gently as he put his free arm around her back drawing her closer. He felt her sigh again and snuggle deeper into his chest. For just a moment he forgot all the terrible evils that had befallen him. This moment suddenly felt so strangely right.

Slowly Billy felt his eyes close. As long as he had Kimberly to protect Billy knew he could keep going.

****************************Another chamber****************************

Slowly Tommy felt his eyes open. His body felt warm and he felt safe but it was all a lie as the dark gray of the cage around him came into focus. He was on a dark plush futon mat but the cage itself was only the size of a large closet. Still up Tommy rubbed at his red eyes. He's injuries were healed but his eyes were worn out. He must have been crying in his sleep.

Putties moved all around him but they were completely ignoring him. It was as if he was invisible. His cage was in the center of a large and cavernous room. Light seemed to come from glowing stones on the walls but it was far from bright. There were stone slab beds and stone bunk beds all around him. Tommy had always wondered where the putties they didn't destroy went. For awhile Tommy simply watched them. They seemed to have different roles. Some Putties had on vests, the seemed to be the most important. Tommy could see them carrying silver and gold covered trays. Next seem to be worker putties. They always had a different kind of tool in there hands, wrenches, hammers, saws etc. The last group of putties always had rags in there hands. The constantly seemed to be cleaning the wall, floor or anything else they seemed able to get there hands on.

Tommy listened. It sounded like construction was happening not to far away from his current position. Or maybe it was just a bad echo. Commotion from the side doorway got his attention.

"Hurry up!" Baboo said to some of the closest putties. "Lord Zedd wants that new expansion done by as soon as possible."

"Right an after that the kitchen need to be expanded and the laundry and oh there so much work to do." Squatt whined.

"What's going on?" Tommy asked the duo. He felt strangely calm and unafraid, perhaps a side affect of the strange brew Finster gave him. Perhaps just because he felt so defeated and broken inside.

"Oh look the green ranger's awake." Squatt pointed at Tommy with an odd grin.

Baboo hit him hard on the head. "Don't call him that you dummy. He's not the green ranger anymore."

"Well what do we call him? Slave? Pet? Goldar calls him worm or swine." Squatt asked Baboo ignoring the human in the cage.

"My name is Tommy." He growled at them. It was frustrating the way they ignored him.

Baboo and Squatt both looked at him now. "Well we can't call you that." Baboo said sounding almost sad.

"Lord Zedd would have our tails if we called you by your name." Squatt added, wiping at the drool he always seemed to have.

"How about we call you pet Tommy? Would that work?" Baboo asked. Tommy blinked, he knew these two were evil but they always had seemed not quite evil enough. More of a neutral evil.

"Y-Yeah that's fine." Tommy said sitting back down on the futon.

"Listen are you hungry? Lord Zedd would be mad at us if we didn't feed you." Baboo wondered.

Tommy shrugged, "If memory serves you don't have anything up here I can eat." He said alluding to the time he was the evil green ranger and unable to join them in there feasting.

"Oh don't worry we have human food." Baboo assured. "Zedd would hate it if his pet Tommy starved."

"Ooh and we have to feed the other on...OWW!" Squatt yelled as Baboo hit him much harder then normal.

"Shut up you ding bat! You want to get us in trouble?" Baboo looked around quickly as if the very stones could hear them. Then he looked at Tommy. "We'll send you food and drink soon." he promised.

With that Rita's two minions hurried out of the room shouting orders to putties as they went. Tommy frowned and covered his face with his hands. He didn't want his expression to give anyway anything he was thinking. Squatt had let something slip about there being another human to feed. Tommy closed his eyes and remembered the battle. There were only two people it could possibly be. Kimberly...she hadn't appeared severely injured when she fell and before he was killed, Tommy was pretty sure Jason had yelled something about a spell. But no, if it was Kimberly why didn't lord Zedd taunt him with her? Tommy could never hid his feelings when it came to the pink ranger. He had dated girls before he came to angel grove but he had never felt a need to protect someone like he did with her. He loved her even though he was sure she didn't return his feelings that deeply yet. Heck the one date he has asked her on they were interrupted in the first ten minutes by a monster. The thought of Kimberly made another tear slip down his face. Tommy shook it away. He was in no position to mourn. It was not safe here. Sighing Tommy continued to think. If it wasn't Kimberly that left Billy. He had seen a large number of putties around Billy but after that, he wasn't sure what happened. Immediately Tommy's thoughts were filled with dozens of ways the lord of evil could use someone as talented and smart as Billy.

Billy although a great power ranger did not have the strongest fighting spirit when alone an unmorphed. Poor guy was probably terrified, Tommy thought. Even if Squatt was wrong or lying the thought that maybe one of his dear friends being still alive put a spark of hope back into his heart.

Setting his jaw Tommy was determined to do whatever it would take to survive. Standing he began to run through his warm up exercises and his katas. He couldn't give up. He had to be strong.

I hoped you enjoyed it. Please review. I can continue this but only if its wanted.