************************Upper chambers***************************
Aisha froze against the wall, right before the path split. "I don't like this. It's too quiet."
Rocky nodded, "Haven't seen a putty since we got this high up in the castle."
Tommy's eyes were on the silver door ahead of him with the big letter Z upon it. For a moment, a thousand different emotions played through Tommy. Just behind there was Zedd and his destiny. Could he win this time?
"Tommy!" Rocky's voice broke through his musings. He knew what his leader was thinking. "You're not going in there alone."
"It's my fight."
"It's our fight." Aisha corrected. They were a team.
Tommy nodded, relenting. "Alright. I'll see about drawing Zedd's attention and then..." Tommy stopped, suddenly digging into his pocket.
"What is it?" Rocky asked.
Tommy pulled out Kimberly's coin. It was pulsing with pink power and he felt it pulling. "I think Kim is nearby." He held the coin one way, then the other. "Yes, this way." He took the path on the left, slowly and silently walking the hallway. Aisha and Rocky right behind him. At the end of the hall was a beautiful set of doors. One blue and one pink. As Tommy got closer the pink door opened. He could hear voices inside but they hushed as he got closer.
Tommy looked to his friends who nodded at him in understanding before pushing the door open all the way. Ready for a fight. Tommy blinked. There was that kid! That one from the dream meditation, the one he had spoken to. He opened his mouth to address the boy when Aisha and Rocky shouted "Adam!" rushing forward towards the teen boy right behind the kid.
"I... who... how do you?" Adam asked in shock at the embrace by these strangers. He didn't know these... power rangers? Instantly the red and yellow hoods vanished and Adam broke into tears of joy "Rocky! Aisha!" the trio hugged again, all three crying a bit now. "I don't understand. How are you here? And power rangers?"
Rocky laughed. "Its a long story." He couldn't believe he found his brother once more. Now that he had, Rocky swore he wouldn't let anything separate them again.
Tommy let them have a moment as he took in this room. "That's Kim's dresser." He said, noting it and the few other things that belonged to his girlfriend. So the blue half of the room must belong to Billy.
"Tommy! You have to help!" Justin's voice begged. "Goldar took Kim away."
"What!" Tommy turned quickly towards Justin.
"And Billy's gone bad on us." A voice from the floor spoke. Tommy looked down and nearly jumped out of his ninja suit.
Living marionettes was not something he thought he would ever see but as he looked at them, he knew them. "Bulk? Skull?" he just couldn't believe what he was looking at. Who he was looking at!
"Yeah Tommy, it's us. Good to see you." Bulk said with sincerity. That surprised Tommy even more.
"Rita made us like this." Skull added sadly.
"I have so many questions." Tommy's head was swirling.
"They will have to wait. We've got to go after Kim." Adam said. "At least, I hope we can." Adam tugged at the collar on his neck.
Aisha noticed and touched it gently. Adam felt like melting. God, he had missed his family. "What is this? Fire bird's slave?" she read the engraving on it.
Adam dropped his head. "I'm Kim's slave." He said barely above a whisper. "Zedd gave me to her, in exchange for not killing me."
"She commanded Adam, not to let us follow her and he's got to do what she says, the collar makes him or he will die." Justin said, worry in his voice.
Rocky touched the collar, it was flush to the skin but... "Maybe I can cut it off."
"Give it a try Rocky." Aisha urged as a sword appeared from the air and into Rocky's hand. "Stay still Adam."
Adam nodded. He trusted his friends with his life. Rocky swung the sword. It make perfect contact.
And nothing happened. The collar wasn't even scratched. "That's not good." Aisha said.
Adam sighed. "Don't worry I'm use to it."
"Incoming message! Message incoming!" The robotic voice drew everyone attention.
"Alpha!" Tommy greeted the head of his friend but he knew they didn't have time for this. "I'm sorry but we've got to go after Kim."
"The message is from Zordon." the little head said.
"Play message." Tommy commanded.
A small glowing Zordon appeared on the floor in front of them. "Greetings Kimberly. While I am glad to hear from you, your message was troubling. It sounds as though Billy's power coin has been corrupted but without more detail I cannot offer more aid." Zordon looked so sad as he next spoke. "Kimberly do what you must to survive. Even if that means going past your moral limits. A corrupted heart is a dangerous heart. Billy will harm you, do not give him that chance. Strike first if you must and strike true. Have courage my pink ranger. Tommy is coming. You must hold out until he comes. I love you my pink daughter, never forget that and may the power protect you." Zordon's form blinked away.
Tommy couldn't see for a moment from the tears in his eyes. He felt a small hand take his, squeezing it comfortingly. Justin had come to his side. "It will be okay." The words were childish but spoken with such hope and care Tommy couldn't stop this feeling of protectiveness. He ruffled the boy's floofy hair. "Yeah, It will be okay. I'm going after Kimberly. I've wasted too much time already."
"We're going with you." Bulk stated.
"Now wait... There's a revolt happening right now, you'll be safer here." Tommy glance from the toys to Justin then Adam.
It was Justin who argued. "No, Kimberly and Billy. They need our help. Even if Billy's gone bad. There's got to be something we can do!"
Aisha was about to argue with the child, gently of course, when golden light burst from Tommy's chest. It struck Justin and a moment later there stood the blue ranger...
A mini blue ranger...
"You have got to be kidding me." Rocky said without thinking. "A kid ranger?"
Justin flexed his hands and jumped up and down. "I'm a power ranger! This is so cool." he could feel new energy coursing through his body and his mind.
Tommy came close and looked at the coin. "You are the wolf. Cunning and swift."
Aisha mumbled quietly to her boys. "More like a cub."
Tommy gave Justin a smile, though it was sad. Blue... he had so been hoping that would be Billy's powers but... Evil Billy... right... that was a problem. "Alright. Let's get after Kim."
They moved to go, when the collar on Adam's neck glowed painfully and he once again put his hand on Justin shoulder. "We can't... I mean... It's... I'm sorry." Adam felt his cheeks flush with shame.
Tommy frowned. This wouldn't do. "Any ideas?" He asked the others. They were wasting valuable time.
"I've got it!" Justin practically shouted. "Adam, we are not going after Kim. We are going to go find Billy. Right everyone?"
"R-right! Go find Billy. That's the plan." Rocky said catching on.
"I don't even know a Kimberly." Aisha added, which technically was the truth.
"Yeah... we'll just go find Billy. Okay Adam?" Tommy added.
The collar stopped glowing and Adam let go of the little ninja's arm. "Okay. Let's find Billy."
"What about Alpha?" Justin asked.
"Give him to me. I'll carry him for ya." Bulk said.
"He's way too heavy for you." Tommy answered.
Bulk ignored Tommy, "Just give him here." and held his arms above his head, ready to accept the head of Alpha 5.
"Oh please don't drop me." Alpha said.
"I won't."
Tommy blinked, Bulk was no bigger than a doll but easily carried Alpha's head above his own. It was like Alpha suddenly had a tiny body and little feet. Tommy had to bite his lip to keep from giggling at the sight. This was no time for humor.
"Alright gang, let's head out. Adam, Bulk, Skull, when we come across trouble, just stay behind us. Okay?"
They nodded and Tommy lead the way from the room. A glitter of gold caught Justin's eyes and he picked up the little glass vial, tucking it away. "Hey wait for me!" She shouted, running to catch up.