************************Hallway between hallways***************************
"Damn it!" Goldar hissed, pushing himself tight against the wall between the walls. Cobwebs and dust of this disused place clung to his feathery wings. He had to keep covering his nose to stop a sneeze from happening. So far every route to his ship had been cut off. A mob of humans was something even he couldn't fight. Sure he could handle ten maybe even twenty on his own, but not a whole mob. "Not a sound Kimberly." He warned the girl in chains just a few steps behind him. He had no reason to fear. Kimberly was so out of breath she couldn't cry out even if she wanted too. She had forgotten just how heavy the magical chains were. And the way Goldar had been pulling her and yanking her... she needed a rest.
If only she could catch her breath, then she could fight back.
If only she had her power coin.
Goldar waited, listening for the sounds to pass. "This way." he gave the chains in his hand a sharp pull, forcing Kimberly on the move once more. He would take her out over the kitchen catwalk and back track through the lower caves that originally held her. It was the long, long way around but it should get him and his slave to his ship.
He licked his lips even as they moved through the castle. Soon he would be away from this place.
And he could finally take Kimberly as he always wanted.
*************************** Hallway******************************
"Hold up." Tommy commanded, quietly raising his hand into a fist. Halting the little battalion of rangers and allies that moved behind him. The door to Zedd's chamber was open. It had not been open when they first had gone past.
This part of the castle was deathly quiet. So quiet it was if sound had been rendered mute. Even the air felt still with silence. "Alright, slow and steady. You three stay back." Tommy commanded, glancing at Adam, who was carrying Skull on his shoulder and Bulk who had no problem keeping up with the rangers even while carrying Alpha head.
"This is clearly a trap." Skull said. "Don't go in there, Tommy." The worry in his voice brought a small smile to Tommy's lips as the group of rangers crept closer to the open door.
"Don't worry. I'll be alright."
Aisha grabbed Tommy's shoulder. "He's right, you can't do this alone. We can do this together."
Tommy shook off her hand gently. "We can't, there's no time. I'll face Zedd. The rest of you see about finding Ki... Billy." Tommy quickly corrected looking at Adam.
Rocky glared at the leader. "No Tommy. Don't be foolish. We fight together then we'll find... you know."
Tommy wanted to argue but instead simply nodded. They were right. Kimberly would never forgive him if he forsakes the world just to save her. "Alright let's do this. 1, 2, 3!"
They entered the throne room. It was still so quiet, for a moment feeling empty, when a slow clap started and a blue and black ranger stepped out from behind Zedd's empty throne. "Welcome white ranger, and look you brought friends, how very quaint." the dark voice chuckled.
Tommy blinked feeling as if he had been punched in the guts. Black and blue triceratops, with a dark aura about him. And that voice. "Billy?"
"An old name I no longer go by." Billy jumped, landing just a few feet in front of Tommy and the others. "I'm Lord Zedd's nightmare ranger." he got into a fighting stance.
"No Billy, this isn't you. You've got to fight it." Tommy practically shouted. His friend had to be in there somewhere. He had to remember who he was.
"That's Billy?" Justin spoke. What had Zedd done to him?
"Aww a baby ranger. How cute." Billy moved in a blur suddenly kicking Justin, sending the smaller ranger flying out the open door. "Weak, so weak. Pathetic."
"Justin!" Adam cried out, going to his side. The kid was already getting to his feet.
"I'm okay. Get back Adam." He said, pushing his friend away.
"Billy stop!" Tommy grabbed at the nightmare ranger, trying to pin his arms, but Billy broke the grip with ease.
"Nothing will ever stop me. I will bath in your blood Tommy Oliver and darkness will cover the earth forever."
"We'll stop you!" Rocky said ready to fight with Aisha at his side.
"Then come, come and fight." Billy laughed darkly.
*********************** Rita's chambers*****************************
Zedd sat on a horrible uncomfortable plush chair Rita had offered him. They had settled down to a small afternoon meal of hemlock tea, buttered eyeballs, roasted toads and chocolate bat wings. Just something light.
They we're in Rita's inner chambers a place were her magic was so very strong, no human or ranger could just 'break in' to this magical place. The Lord and Lady of evil, were content to just sit out this revolution in comfort.
"How do you think our little ranger is doing Zeddie?" Rita asked, pouring some tea.
"Let me check my dear." Zedd's eye visor glowed. "Ah yes, his fighting them now. Poor rangers they are taking quite a beating." Zedd laughed and downed his tea.
"Oh goodie!" Rita praised but she didn't fully feel it. This would finally be the end of Tommy. The thorn in her side for so very long and yet part of her would miss him. If only her spells had been stronger. If only Tommy had embraced the power of darkness like Billy had. "And the putties?"
She watched as Zedd changed focused. "Most of them are gone, save the warrior ones outside these doors." The red glow stopped as Lord Zedd grabbed a chocolate bat wing. "Once our nightmare ranger kills the power rangers we can easily handle this rebellion. In the mean time... more tea my dear?"
******************** Kitchen catwalk*******************
Kimberly's legs went out from under her and she crumpled to the floor just before the metal catwalk. She couldn't take anymore running. She could see people below but they seemed to be cowering in confusion. Only one man in a chef's coat with blond hair was standing. Wielding a knife in one hand and an iron pot in another.
"Get Up!" Goldar shouted at her. There was no time for this. He could hear the sounds of battle drawing near. "On your feet slave!"
Kimberly wobbled and stood. Shaking, something felt horribly wrong. Goldar pulled her once more. Shouting at her to move. They were only halfway across the walkway when part of the kitchen wall burst open in an explosion. Bits of stone and dust flying in every direction. People cried out, dishes and pans clattered to the floor like thunder. There was flashes of red, yellow, blue and white fighting putties and evil Billy. That white, it sparkled so and those moves. She knew those moves! Something inside Kimberly snapped and she screamed "TOMMY!" her voice echoed off the walls, like the wail of a banshee, and down to the ground.
The white ranger and nightmare ranger both stopped fighting at her cry, looking towards the source of the sound.
"Kim!" Tommy shouted back. Her eyes caught him for a moment he felt unable to move.
"No! You will not take her Goldar! She is MINE!" Billy screamed, pulling his blaster from his belt. He aimed and before anyone could stop him he shot at the catwalk, the laser fire melting through the metal. It buckled, metal groaning and snapped. Goldar jumped forward, dropping the chain that held Kimberly as he made a desperate grab for the ledge on the other side, saving his own tail.
Kimberly wasn't so lucky as the walkway broke into two beneath her feet. She screamed as she fell.
"No Kimberly!" Tommy screamed. A fall from that height would seriously wound her if not kill her! He moved to try and catcher her, when a burst of gold left his chest. There was a clang of metal and a flash of black passed him.
Adam moved with only one thought. He needed to catch his falling friend. She would die if he didn't. He leapt into the air and kept going up and up, meeting Kim halfway to the ground, he caught her, cradling her protectively to his chest as he landed. He never felt so strong before, he'd never jumped so high before he... was covered in black and gold ninja robes. Adam took only a moment to registrar that while pulling the chains from Kimberly. She was his priority. "Kim, are you okay?"
She took a deep breath and gave him a real smile. "I am now. Thanks to you."
"Touching really, but now hand her over." The nightmare ranger said. Pointing his blaster right at Adam's head.
"Ai-Ya!" Justin shouted, kicking the blaster from Billy's hand. "That's payback."
"Why you brat! I'll kill you with my bare hands."
Tommy was between Billy and Justin in an instant. "Why don't you deal with me first?"
"Gladly."