AN: I'm sorry this chapter has been so long in the making. It extra long just for my amazing fans.
I want to thank everyone for the comments, you keep this story going. 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.
**************************Zordon's dimensional home***********************
Zordon leaned back with a sigh and cracked his back No matter how many times he searched or what parameters he entered into the computer he could not get a lock on his pink ranger or her coin. Zedd must have her hidden deep within his castle. Zordon frowned deeply, his face wrinkling with lines of age and wisdom. When he saw her besides looking dirty and a little too thin Kimberly had seemed mostly intact emotionally. Zedd...he must not have done anything like that to Kimberly, at least not yet. His stomach churned at the thoughts. Evil knew no mercy and Zedd...rumors of the cruel way he treated females of all species from all corners of the galaxy had reached Zordon even here in this distant place.
Zordon took a moment to refocus...then an idea struck him. He had not seen what had happened to alpha 5, perhaps he could see about getting the little robots location or maybe even perhaps get him back online and retrieve his last memory banks. Zedd has a habit of taking trophies and the little robot was of some value. Zedd trophy taking was well know throughout the galaxy. That was possibly the only reason for Kimberly still being alive. Pressing more controls Zordon typed out a special code and sent it relaying into space.
Now all he could do was wait...and hope.
*****************************In the bath chamber*****************************
Kimberly and Billy sat silently next to each other on the long wooden bench. It had been hours since Goldar had left them and commanded they remained there. The clothes they had washed earlier were dry mostly and they had redressed. Other then Billy explaining about his eyes and how Finster had fixed them the duo was mostly silent.
Kimberly sighed softly, as the sound of her stomach growling broke the quiet. At least they had plenty of water to drink, she thought, placing a hand over the noisy organ.
Billy sighed and put his hands into his lap, leaning down a bit. "I'm sorry Kim. When the putties brought me a snack earlier. I should have saved it for you."
Kim shook her head slightly. "I'm okay Billy, besides brain power needs a lot of energy."
Billy growled a little in anger and suddenly stood. Crossing the small distant to the white tile shower wall he hit it with a fist, growling in frustration. Tears burned in his eyes. Kim wasn't okay. It had been only a week and she was losing weight rapidly. Her cheeks were becoming hollow and her eyes sunken. Billy was aware he wasn't doing well either but...he couldn't bare to see his best friend suffering.
Kimberly said not a word at his outburst she only looked at the floor. She would never voice it to Billy but she was losing hope.
The noise of metal sliding over the tile drew there attention to the main doors. Billy promptly wiped at his eyes, dismissing the tears, as two forms came in and approached them.
"Squatt and Baboo." Kim said quietly at there approach.
"Oh good you're all clean." Baboo praised as if they were children and he had expected them not to bath properly.
"Zedd will like that." Squatt added nodding, as he looked them up and down.
Billy raised an eyebrow. " Z...Lord Zedd has returned?" He risked asking. These two were not the brightest of baddies, just well just a little smarter then some of the putties.
"Oh yes now come with us please." Baboo said with a turn moving back towards the door.
"We know Goldar told you to wait for him but he's going to be gone for awhile. A new batch of humans just arrived." Squatt said as the group now walked out the doors, the door putties bowing as they passed.
"Like the ones we saw in the kitchen?" Kimberly asked with slight hesitation. She...she wasn't sure if it was alright to talk to them.
"Oh yes the finest chefs from all around the earth were brought here, not only to feed the slave humans but also Zedd pets." Baboo waved his hands with such bravado.
"Yeah, lord Zedd takes good care of his pets...so long as they please him." Squatt said taking a turn into a well lit hallway.
Billy stopped short, Kimberly bumping into him. This was not the way the came before. From what he understood of the castle layout this was going high up in the castle, not back down to there underground cell.
"Well come on!" Baboo chastised.
Billy nodded and started walking again being the monster duo. His body language was the only thing Kimberly could read. She swallowed hard...this direction lead towards Zedd's chambers. She shivered at the though of him licking and touching her again. Billy almost sensing this, reached backed and squeezed her hand ever so slightly and quickly. It was a small gesture of reassurance and it was risky but it made her feel slightly stronger. They passed the balcony room, Billy nudged Kimberly and she looked at the earth. It was nice still seeing earth was there.
After a few more corridors they could see it now, Lord Zedd gigantic chrome chamber door with the Z on it. Babbo and Squatt stopped. For the first time Billy noticed the path divided. He hadn't seen that on the first walk here. Perhaps it was new or perhaps he had been so broken he hadn't seen it. There was the straight walkway that lead right to the door of Lord Zedd, but now there were two side walkways. One to the left and one to the right.
"Oh dear...was it left or right? I think it was right." Baboo asked his blueberry shaped friend.
"I think its left." Squatt said wiping at his mouth.
"No, its right I'm sure." Baboo frowned.
"Its left and you're going to get in trouble." Squatt replied before the two began to argue.
Billy and Kim merely stood there as they argued. Had they had more hope or a plan running away would have seemed like an option but where would they go? No...No Billy was forming a plan. It could take a very long time but he would get out of here with Kim if it was the last thing he ever did.
"What are you fools doing?!" Goldar's voice filled the corridor behind them. Kimberly step a bit closer to Billy as Goldar came upon them. He gave her a quick smirk before addressing the two other minions. "Why have they not been taking to there new chambers yet?"
"We...weren't sure which was it was." Squatt said covering his head a bit.
"Fools! Harem on the left, bedchambers on the right! Its not hard. And why didn't you chain them?" Goldar frowned.
"Well they haven't been any trouble." Baboo countered.
"Yeah there spirit is all gone." Squatt said.
Goldar sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "And if Zedd had seen you leading them around unchained?" Billy watched as a thought dawned on Squatt and Baboo at the same time.
"We...we didn't think of that!" Baboo frowned obviously scared now.
"Please don't tell him!" Squatt begged.
Kimberly snorted. They deserved to be in trouble but she suddenly felt badly for it. She couldn't think of any reason why she felt angry at the duo but her anger was there.
"I will take them to there new chambers but first." Goldar turned and looked her right in the eyes. "A deal is a deal. What do you want to eat?" He demanded. Kimberly blinked confused. Goldar sighed. "I don't have all day."
She glanced at Billy, her mind rapidly going through the food options she had seen earlier. "Um...pizza?" She asked.
Goldar nodded. "You two morons! Go get them pizza." He ordered Squatt and Baboo hurrying away.
Turning his attention back to Billy and Kimberly he spoke "I trust the chains will not be needed?" Both of them looked at the ground. "Good, now walk."
Turning sharply to the right the two teens walked behind Goldar. There were no other doors or corridors leading from this hallway. It ended with a door. One side royal blue with light pink gems the other side a cotton candy pink with dark blue gems.
"Place your hands on the door." Goldar order. Billy swallowed, before reaching out to the blue door. Laying his right palm against the door. Kimberly followed his lead and placed her hand on the pink door. There was a flash of light and they both covered their eyes drawing back. It was over in an instant. "This doors are now encoded to you. Only you may enter, no other humans will be able to get past these doors. My lord of course will be able to enter as he pleases." As Goldar spoke the door opened slowly on there own.
Kimberly and Billy blinked..no, it was impossible! The room that lay before them was huge. The high cut ceiling, stone work, pillars and marble indicated at one time this had been some kind of grand ball room, maybe even a throne room. It was also very messy with items randomly strewn about but...Billy knew these items! His bed, his actually bed from his house was on one side of the room along with his computers and books and charts. Even...even his old teddy bear, he could just see it peeking out from his blue comforter.
Kimberly looked, directly across the room from Billy's bed was her own bed. Her fluffy pink comforter and sheets easy to see under her princess pink mesh netting. She hadn't had that over her bed since she was fourteen. Zedd's putties must have found it in her closest. Speaking of, a large free standing white and golden wardrobe was next to the bed along with her vanity, floor length mirror and a few bits of make up and clothes were tossed about along with some magazines. Glancing inside the wardrobe, she not only saw some of her own clothing but dresses she never could have imagined...the labels, they were all designer!
In the center of the room was some gym equipment. Not much, a few weights and some mats but it would be enough to keep them working out and healthy. Kimberly's eyes continued to search the room. There was a paper partition that she hoped had a bathroom behind it and...Kim's felt her breath leave her body for a moment. At the far end of the room was a swing, just like the kind in the park she use to play on. It was attached strongly to the ceiling and faced the small balcony. Yes, a small opening in the wall from which she could see the stars.
It was a beautiful prison.
*******************************Tommy's cell***************************
Tommy dry heaved again, shaking. His body had long ago run out of tears. He hurt...everything hurt. His body, his heart, his mind, his very soul was in pain. He went over the battle again and again in his mind. God how...how could he have let that happen to Kimberly? Innocent, sweet, caring Kimberly. If only he had been faster. If only he had been a better fighter or smarter.
He could still see her falling, every time he closed his eyes he saw her collapsing surrounded by putties with weapons, into a pool of blood.
"What's wrong with pet Tommy?" Squatt asked worry apparent in his voice. He was carefully balancing several boxed of pizza in his hands.
"I don't know but he sure doesn't look good." Baboo added kneeling near the bars of Tommy's cage. "I think we better tell Finster."
Tommy watched them go. The could tell Finster all they liked but he had come to a decision. The first opportunity he got he was going to go be with Kimberly..
He was going to die.
******************Kimberly and Billy***********************************
Goldar had left them alone after Squatt and Baboo had brought them a large number of pizzas. Apparently Kimberly should have specified what she wanted on the pizza. Instead the more comically then scary duo had brought a wide selection. Kimberly dug in without thinking. Wholly enjoying the white pizza with extra cheese, mushrooms and ham.
After her third slice Billy stopped her. "Don't eat anymore. We...we haven't had a lot to eat in days. There's a good chance our bodies will reject the food if you eat much more."
Kimberly pouted at Billy's polite warning about throwing up. "But...what if they don't feed us again for days?"
"I think they will Kim, after all..." Billy gestured to the room around them. "Were moving up in the world." It was a bad joke but it made Kim smile a bit and she gave his arm a playful smack. Wiping her hands and mouth clean she walked over to her side of the room and began to clean up. "You know the putties could have been a little more gentle with our stuff."
Billy snorted. "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Kim." he said from his side of the room, though he did agree with her. His one computer monitor was cracked and his papers were a mess. He hated disorder.
It took a few hours but the teens had everything relatively cleaned up. Kimberly stretched and walked towards the swing facing the stars outside. Plopping down on the seat she gave no thought as she began to swing gently back and forth. It was...comforting in a way.
Billy watched Kim for a bit. She was hiding it well but he knew better. She was getting seriously depressed and hopeless. He sighed, she currently, was his reason for pushing on but if she didn't have a reason she could very well fade away. Dying of a broken heart. It wasn't medically unheard of.
The door suddenly slammed open. "There's my clever pet! Excellent work on Serpentera! I read all the reports and scans. Such clever progress." Zedd said coming into the room a group of putties hot on his heels. They seemed to be trying to fix a fancy robe Zedd now wore as he walked. Billy stood still as Zedd came close to him. Zedd did a slow circle around Billy and for his part Billy looked at the floor.
"And my pretty fire bird. Do you like the perch my dear? I had it added just for you." Zedd turned his attention now towards Kimberly and moved to where she was on the swing. Zedd reached out and ran his clawed fingers slowly down her pale neck. "My beautiful fire bird. How I've wanted to have you in my palace for so long. You brighten up the place. Hahaha!" He laughed and Kimberly giggled slightly as one of Zedd fingers tickled quickly under her chin. She couldn't help it. "What a pretty laugh you have pet." he whispered in her ear. Kimberly began to tremble but Zedd had already turned away from her. "Bring the boxes." At his command one putty approached Billy and another Lord Zedd and Kimberly. Each putty in turned knelled, holding the boxes out. "I want you to wear this tonight for dinner in my harem. Both of you." Zedd glanced at Billy. "I'll send Goldar when its time."
As soon as the door shut Billy sprinted to Kim's side looking for injury. Sighing when he saw none had been done to her. Her hands were holing the pink cloth from the box. "Billy? What is this?"
********************Finster's workshop**************************************
"And we just found him like this." Baboo worried as the putties who had dragged Tommy to the workshop put him on the floor. "There...there not suppose to shake like that are they?"
"No, they are not. Secure him to the table. I will begin scanning him immediately." Tommy felt a pair of rough clay hands under his arms and another on his legs. Suddenly a bright light was in his eyes and he flinched. He could feel thick leather straps securing his arms and legs down to the table.
"Now the scan will take a bit. You better get back to lord Zedd. You know he is officially celebrating his defeat of the planet earth tonight." Finster reminded them.
"Awww do we have to? I don't like all those female humans he brought up. They scream too much." Squatt whined.
"They will grow accustomed to us and being here. They'll stop screaming soon." Finster promised. Tommy could feel a needle going into his skin taking out some blood for examination.
"I know Rita's not happy they are here." Baboo added softly. There was a strange collective energy in the air. Tommy could feel it.
"If Rita had her way none of them would be here." Squatt added and then yelped as Baboo hit him. Something...something about how he said that. Tommy felt his mind wander back to the battle...no, no everyone one dead but...his eyes flashed opened and he thrashed on the table suddenly. Scaring the trio in the workshop. That's right Billy! Billy, he was here someplace working on Serpentera. Tommy could kick himself. How had he forgotten that?
"Settle down! Be still! Stop pet Tommy!" they shouted at him. Tommy felt another needle prick his skin and everything started going fuzzy.
"There, that will calm him..." Finster's voice drifted into his ears before everything went dark.
************************Rita's private chambers*****************************
Rita sighed and looked down at her best dress. Tonight...she should be happy tonight. The earth was hers, the power rangers dead or enslaved but she just wasn't happy.
"Ah my queen, how lovely to see you." Zedd said coming into the room. His red formal robe was done and now the putties just followed him about as he wished. Rita frowned but greeted her husband with the proper pleasantries.
"Zeddie, I'm not liking these new humans slaves. Must you have so many? The few you have sent to work in my chambers are too stupid and ugly. I don't like looking at them." Rita pouted at her husband. It wasn't true, well not fully true.
"Enough of that. They are here to stay my queen. I like my play things. They are my play things. Just like you have your special toys." Zedd growled. "And when I say not to touch my fire bird I mean it." Zedd glowed red and Rita recoiled slightly but his rage was over in a moment. "Now get dressed my precious queen. I want to show you the harem tonight."
Rita sighed as Zedd left and began to change her clothes. It was tradition. She would see the harem once and then never again. It was royal, it was natural, it was expected.
So why did it hurt so much?
*******************************Kim and Billy's room***********************
"I look ridiculous." Kimberly frowned looking at her refection in the mirror.
"You?" Billy called from across the room. "Have you seen these pants?" Kimberly turned and busted out into giggles. Billy frowned at her. "Oh hardy har har."
"I'm sorry Billy. Really I am." Kimberly promised as Billy joined her looking into the mirror, placing his arm around her shoulders. "But what is Zedd thinking?"
"I do believe we look like something out of 1001 Arabian Nights. " Billy added. Indeed the flowing outfits of thin soft material seemed strangely exotic to the two teens. Like something from a story book.
Kimberly shrugged, " Well Zedd does keep saying harem." She struggled to adjust the pink face veil.
"Here let me." Billy said gently coming behind her to tight it on correctly.
"Why thank you." Kimberly smiled.
There was a knock on the door. That was a first. "Are you dressed?" Goldar called from behind the doorway.
Billy and Kimberly exchanged a look. Goldar had seen them naked, why would he be concerned if they were dressed? Kimberly shrugged as Billy answered. "Yes, we are."
The door opened and without another word they followed Goldar down the single hallway and then continued to the left. They could hear voices now, laughing, talking, singing and music. It sounded so foreign to them. So forgotten and strange.
Putties awaited at another set of doors. With a bowed they opened the doors. Kimberly felt her jaw drop. It was like a circus, mixed with a feast, mixed with the wildest part she had ever been too. The room was an light orange color with draperies on the walls. Long yet very short dark wooden tables were everywhere. They were covered in plate and plates of different foods. Fruit, fish, vegetables, chicken, lamb, beef, crab, shrimp everything! Sweet wine and ales were on the tables. A large pile of pillows lay all around the tables, sitting on them were women. Every race, color size and shape was represented here. A group of musicians played on one side of the room. There were shirtless men with large fans blowing a breeze across the room. There were fire breathers and contortionists stationed about. Ribbon dances and strange artists. There was an open space and then set up higher above all were two thrones. Zedd sat upon one and Rita upon the other.
At there arrival Zedd stood and all became silent. "Ah my special guests. Take a seat." He gestured with his staff to one table on the far right that had no one else sitting at it. A single blue and pink cushion were at the table. Billy and Kim sat obediently and with a sharp clap of Zedd's hands everything started up again.
Kimberly hated herself for it but she was starting to enjoy it. The music and other people and the food. It was like some kind of dream. An hour passed before Zedd stood again, Rita also rose from her seat. She was leaving for the night. As she passed everyone bowed.
When the door closed behind her Zedd laughed deeply. Then everything went wild. Women began removing there tops. People began touching each other is very inappropriate ways. Kimberly edged close to Billy as a trio went by groping and laughing. The very handsome man in the trio stopped and began looking Kim up and down. Billy put a protective arm around her waist pulling her into his lap and growled at the man. His eyes taking on a sharp edge of battle. The drunk man walked on, satisfied with the two he had.
"Yes, play my toys." Zedd laughed on his throne as the playtime continued all around him. After a little while he clapped again and people went still. He turned his gaze towards Kimberly and Billy.
"My pretty fire bird. Come, dance for me." Zedd commanded, beckoning her with his hand.
Seeing no choice she stood and stepped into the open space between the throne and the tables and people. The music began again and Kimberly blinked. The firebird suite by Stravinsky. Zedd had a sense of humor. At first her dancing was awkward and shy but then she caught a glimpse of Billy and a thought struck her. After that her dancing became light, beautiful and mesmerizing.
The song ended and Kimberly sunk to the floor. Zedd stomped down his steps from the throne and she stood frightened by his sudden movements. He had never come at her with such animal energy, almost out of control.
"Kimberly..." he whispered her name, his voice dripping with lust and reached for her. Suddenly changing his mind, he moved to the closest girl and yanked her away towards his, what one assumed to be, his bed chamber. Shaking with fright, Kimberly was unaware that Billy had come to her side. With a hand on her shoulder he guided her away from all this and back to there room.
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