Happy belated thanksgiving all! Sorry this is so late. Please review. Please be morphenominal and review.
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.
*******************************Rita's toy room***************************
Putties, monsters and humans dodge out of the way as the lord of evil carried on wildly towards his queen's private chambers. How dare she disobey him! How dare she cast a spell on his firebird! Kimberly belonged to him! He owned her! The hallway turned red, as Zedd moved along it and putties who were too slow were instantly destroyed by Zedd's raging. It was good the hallways were made of stone. They were damaged but nothing that couldn't be repaired.
"RITA!" Zedd shouted as the twin doors to Rita's private and most inner chamber opened. This was her bed room. The one place no one, not even Zedd, was allowed to go. Yet in his rage he had forgotten his manners and a blast of magical power tossed him like a rag doll, out the door and away from her chamber. In this room and this room alone, Rita was the most powerful.
Zedd recovered quickly from his fall, getting to his feet, and growled at Rita as she left the protection of her inner room. His pride was hurt, though he was unharmed. Rita smiled and feigned innocent as she approached him. "Why Zeddie, I am surprised by your sudden entrance. Is something wrong?" She asked strangely gentle, as her hands pick up the closest toy in her room, stroking its blue black fur.
"Don't play dumb with me, my queen. Can't you hear her?" Zedd's voice was filled with venom. Rita raised an eye brow as if listening for the first time.
"Oh that...I had a little score to settle with...Karen or whatever her name is. I didn't hurt her, I didn't even touch her. I would never disobey your orders, my emperor." Rita assured her hot red, almost flaming, angry husband. Rita of course knew Kimberly's name but refused to show that she cared that much. "Besides are you going soft Zedd? They are the enemy they deserve to be abused and humiliated. Just like she humiliated me! So many plans ruined! I could have destroyed them all long ago, long before you even..." The moment Rita said it she knew she had pushed too far. She stopped speaking but Zedd knew what she had been going to say.
"You! You dare imply to could do anything without me! That you would have ruled the world?!" Zedd gripped his staff so hard, Rita thought it would break in two.
"Now, Zeddie... Darling...let's not do anything to hasty..." Rita tried but she was too late as Zedd raise his staff sending a bolt of lighting to her right destroying the toys there.
"No!" Rita screamed as her precious toys burst into flames and exploded into rubble. But she had no time to morn and Zedd continued blasting this way and that, all around her, destroying. Her desperate pleas, ignored and unheard. When Zedd was done Rita sat amide the fluffy, splintered and burned destruction of her toy room. Only a small section of toys had been spared, where she had been standing during his violent outburst.
"And I'm not through yet my Queen. Its time your newest toy learned his proper place! At my feet! Hahahaha! I'll show you, whose going soft." Zedd laughed and laughed as he turned on his heels and exited the room. Rita sank down amid her ruined toys, she couldn't even cry. She was just numb.
***************************Billy and Kim's room********************************
Kimberly had been sobbing for almost half an hour now. It was obvious to Billy that after the initial shock of her hair vacating her head had worn off, that she was unable to control her waling. A spell...it was the most logical concussion. Billy had shouted down the hall calling for help when it had first happened but he had been unwilling to leave Kim's side to seek assistance, in case something else happened.
Kimberly sniffed between sobs. "I'm...sob...sorry Billy. I can't...sniff...stop crying. No matter how hard I...hiccup...try. I'm not even that...sob...upset anymore." Kimberly had wrapped her arms tightly around herself, her body shaking like a leaf in a hurricane, with held in spell-made sorrow.
"It will be okay Kim." Billy assured his best friend, gently placing his hand on her shoulder. He didn't know how it would be okay but he would make sure she was okay. She looked so alien without her hair but he would never say that to her. "If it hurts to hold it in, you can cry." Billy offered his friend. Yes, he hated to see Kimberly cry but there was no helping it for the time being. Kimberly took his permission to heart and a moment later began to scream and wail again full force. She just couldn't help herself. Like the few times she had been under spells before. It felt like that. She knew what she was doing but she just couldn't stop. It hurt some much, like her heart was breaking.
****************************Tommy's cell*********************************
Tommy paced nervously from corner to corner and in a circular motion in his cell. He was on edge and felt ready to strike out. He paused for a moment, his ears straining. Yes, Kimberly was still wailing in pain somewhere in the castle. The sound was echoing from wall to wall, chamber to chamber but it had been going on for too long now. It was driving Tommy crazy. He couldn't just sit here, being submissive and defeated when the only girl he had ever loved, would ever love, was crying in fear or pain or both, somewhere in this dark castle. He had to get out! He had to find her! He had to save her! Even at the cost of his own life.
Tommy growled and violently kicked at his bars. When that failed he began to punch at them. He was sweating and his knuckles began to bleed. He shook the cold iron bars and in one last manic last attempt, he bit at the bars with his teeth. Putties watched from the shadows and there murmurers brought Baboo and Squatt into the doorway watching.
"What's wrong with pet Tommy?" Squatt whispered to his tall companion.
"I...I think he knows." Baboo's eyes were wide with realization.
Squatt whipped at his mouth, his voice full of worry. "Do we tell Rita or Zedd?" By now it was well known throughout the castle the two were having a vicious fight.
Tommy hit his cage again and cursed loudly at the bars as they shook but did not give. Baboo blinked at the scene. "Maybe we should tell Finster?"
Squatt nodded, the elderly monster maker, he would know what to do.
***************************Kim and Billy's room**************************
Billy paced the floor as he glanced from the open door to Kimberly. He had moved Kimberly to her bed. She had not stopped crying but he had wrapped her comforter around her shoulders helping to keep her warm and hopefully keep her body from going into shock. Just when Billy was about to give up hope that help was coming there was a knock at the door.
"Come in, please." Billy's voice was desperate as the door creaked open.
"Hello young inventor." Finster said coming into the room with his doctor kit in his hands. "Lord Zedd has sent me to care for the young lady." As he approached the bed Kimberly pulled back slightly afraid of this white rabbit goblin.
"Its okay Kim, this is Finster, he...he was the one who fixed my eyes." Billy tried to reassure his red faced, teary eyed best friend.
Kimberly hiccuped but didn't pull away as Finster pulled a strange tool out of his bag. It looked almost like a wooden wand of some kind but the end glowed like a flashlight as he waved it over Kimberly. The light changed from white to blue.
"Oh dear, oh my, oh my. You poor thing. Don't worry, I can make the pain stop. Rita's spells are strong but, I know a counter potion." Finster said digging through his large bag mixing herbs and colored liquid into a crystal made shot glass. It changed from blue, to green then to pink then to silver. It foamed and fizzed before settling down. "Here now, drink this young lady." Kimberly reached for the shimmering cup with shaking hands but Billy took it from Finster. Sitting on the bed beside her, Billy held the cup to Kimberly's mouth, steadying the glass so Kimberly could drink the silver liquid between her sobs and cries.
As the liquid rolled over her tongue Kimberly felt her heart rate lower and her pain subside. She sighed deeply after she finished the last drop. The spell was broken. "Thank you." She said sincerely to the goblin rabbit, her voice rough from wailing. Finster was busy mixing something else.
"I'm not done quite yet my dear. Zedd, he know of your...loss. He wishes me to correct that too. Now this is a bit strong and you will sleep the rest of the day but when you awaken you hair will be restored." Finster brought a golden powder close to Kimberly, ready to toss it on her.
"Wait a second." Billy said suddenly. Finster looked at him. "Kim go to the bathroom first, drink some water and change into your Pjs. You'll sleep better that way." Billy said, his voice full of commanding leadership. Kimberly did as she was told and grabbing some softer clothes when behind the silk partition screen in the room.
Finster stared at Billy as Kim disappeared. "She needs to be comfortable." Was all he could say though he was unsure what Finster could be thinking. Billy listened to the sound of water and after a few minutes Kimberly returned. With a quick goodnight and a flash of shimmering golden dust Kimberly drifted off into a deep sleep. Billy was amazed, even as he tucked her in he could see the start of brown peach fuzz growing on her head.
Finster began to pack his bag and as he did he spoke."I feel I should warn you young genius from one scientist to another that Lord Zedd is in a terrible mood. I would highly suggest while she, Kimberly, sleeps you put some serious work into Serpentera's systems. Lord Zedd hates to be disappointed by anyone."
Billy nodded. "Thank you for the help...and the advice." Finster looked back at him from the doorway. "Thank me by taking that advice." The sagely Finster warned. Then he was gone. With one last check on Kimberly, her head looking fuzzier by the moment, Billy set to work. He would not risk disappointing Lord Zedd.
**************************Finster's workshop*****************************
"And that's all we could tell." Baboo said finishing up the tale about what they had seen pet Tommy doing.
"We think he knows, that she's here. Why else would he rage like that? Like a monster..." Squatt wiped his mouth with the back of his blue hand, drooling more than usual. This was a very bad situation. Squatt, Baboo and Finster all remembered Tommy from when he was evil. He had been there...friend for those few weeks. And even if he was the enemy now, none of the trio wanted to see him hurt.
"Oh dear...let me think. I still have some lime light beetles." Finster said as he dug in a cabinet and pulled out a jar of slightly green glowing bejeweled bugs. "If you can get him to swallow one it would cause slight memory loss. Here now just..." but Finster didn't finish that sentence as Goldar came barreling into the monster makers workshop knocking into the trio and almost breaking the jar of rare bugs.
"Goldar! What's the big idea?" Baboo complained as he got off the floor.
Squatt whined as well patting his sore bottom. "Yeah, where's the fire."
Goldar ignored them both grabbing Finster by the shoulders. "Finster do we have any fire flower sap left? Please tell me we have some left!" There was a desperation in Goldar's voice Finster has not heard in a long time.
Finster pulled out of Goldar's grip. Fire flower sap was used in life force restoration and was exceedingly rare and powerful. "I may have some stored away somewhere. Why Goldar? What do you need it for?"
Goldar looked close to tears, well as close as a monster could ever be to feeling such sorrow. "Lord Zedd, he's killing Tommy." Goldar's voice was stained and Finster saw the seriousness there. Goldar, also did not want Tommy to die, but not for the reasons Finster, Baboo and Squatt shared. No, Goldar knew of Rita's connection to Tommy, how she had seen him as a son. He could see how attached she had become again to him in these few weeks in the palace. Losing Tommy, might destroy his empress emotionally beyond repair.
"Baboo, Squatt, help me tear this place apart. We must find that sap." Finster instructed as the four began to do just that.
*******************************Torture chamber**********************************
Tommy moaned as Zedd slapped him across the face, leaving sharp cuts on his cheeks. Tommy had been stripped down to just his boxer shorts. Strapped to a hard wooden table, his arms above his head and his legs below, Tommy was being painfully stretched. Light but bleeding, itchy scratches covered his body from Zedd's claws. Tommy was unsure if Zedd had seen the spark of rebellion in his eyes. Zedd had said nothing to him before beginning to torture him. "Another turn." Zedd command and the putty at the front obeyed turning the great wheel. Tommy let out a painful cry, his limbs being pulled again a bit further. His arms were almost to the breaking point and would snap soon, if his belly didn't split before then. Tommy whimpered from the burning of his sinews and aching of the flesh, there was no shame in crying out in pain.
"Oh Tommy...to get the pleasure to harm you again. Cheers my mood right up." Zedd laughed a bit. "Too bad this will be the last time we play together." With that Zedd sliced into Tommy's stomich, he began to bleed out and was in such pain. Zedd watched Tommy begin to die, taking an evil delight in it.
"My Lord." A voice spoke from behind Zedd.
"Ah Goldar come to watch your enemy die?" Zedd asked.
"No my Lord, the people of earth. They have launched a counter strike towards the moon. A war head rocket." Goldar said.
"What?! Those little worms! Insignificant fools! I should have wiped them all out." Zedd glowed with anger. "Goldar finish up here, depose of the trash when it's dead."
Goldar bowed as Zedd passed him and headed up the narrow stairs. The lord of evil never paused to think for a moment that Goldar was holding something behind his back. Goldar glanced at the single putty. "What are you waiting for? Go attend your Lord and Master!" Goldar commanded and the putty burbled before bounding up the stairs. Goldar waited another moment before approaching the rack.
In one quick flash of a blade, Goldar cut the rope holding Tommy so tightly. Tommy moaned but did not open his eyes. Goldar pulled out the vial of orange, reddish liquid. "I shouldn't be doing this. But for old times sake, this is your one pass." Goldar opened Tommy's mouth and dripped two glistening drops onto his tongue. Almost instantly his wounds began to close, Tommy sighed as the pain left him. Goldar looked at him sadly."You...we're my favorite student."
Goldar seemed almost bitter as Baboo and Squatt came down the stairs. "About time you fools. Hurry. Zedd won't be distracted for long."
Baboo grabbed Tommy under the arms and Squatt took his legs. Quickly they made there way through the halls and passageways. Soon they made it to the one of the lower hangers. Hanging motionless, almost as if they were dead, were the zords of the rangers. Zedd had found each and every one of them in time and had brought them to the moon.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Squatt was almost shaking with fear. Lord Zedd would skin them alive if he even suspected there roles in Tommy's escape.
"Yes." Goldar answered as his eyes fell on the dragon dagger. Goldar picked up the dragon dagger and blew. The music of the dagger filled the air and the "dead" dragon zord's eyes began to glow. A light akin to embers in a long dead fire.
"How do you know the dragon zord will know what to do?" Baboo worried.
"It just will." Was all Goldar said as the dragon zord opened its mouth slowly. This zord, always had been able to "think" for itself when it had to. "Carry him inside." Goldar ordered and with shaking knees Squatt and Baboo complied placing the still unconscious Tommy into the seat in the cock pit. Goldar placed the dragon dagger in Tommy's lap. As the trio retreated and the dragon zord began to close its mouth, Finster hurried up to them, a large wicker basket in his hands.
"Wait!" Finster called holding the basket up for the zord to see. "I brought food for the young human." The dragon zord's eyes grew bright for a moment but then he opened his mouth again and allowed Finster to enter putting the basket at Tommy's feet.
When Finster had exited the dragon zord stood to his full height and made a metallic roar. Goldar pushed a button and the hanger door opened. The dragon zord fired a few rockets allowing it to alight in the now zero gravity and with another roar it flew out of the hanger and away from the moon.
"Where do you think he'll go?" Baboo asked as they watch the zord disappear into the dark.
Goldar's shook his head. "Its doesn't matter. We gave him a chance." They stood in silence for a moment before Goldar drew his sword and handed it to Squatt and Baboo. "Hit me as hard as you can." he instructed and they complied.
It was easy enough to explain the escape given Goldar's sever injury. Zedd, thanks to some gently prompting from Finster, blamed residual green ranger energy that was awakened with the torture. Zedd raged and destroyed the front wall of his throne room, screaming obscenities and curses. Those in his harem hid themselves as best they could, lest his rage fall upon them.
*******************************Billy and Kimberly***************************
Billy was taking a break from the work on serpentera's systems. He could only hope Lord Zedd would be pleased. As he was pacing around the room for some exercise, a flicker of light caught is eye. Billy rushed towards the window. No, it couldn't be! It was the dragon zord but it was blasting away from the moon. Billy felt his breath hitch. Was Tommy alive? And if he was...was he abandoning them?
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