*************Command Chamber*********************
Billy walked along the silent halls of the Command Chamber. The only sound to be heard was the clicking of his hooves. It was late but time really had no meaning to him now. Well not like it should anyway. Three months. It had been three months since Ninjor's capture. Three months since he had learned where Finster was...
Three months of Tommy doing nothing to fix this. He was the leader, he was suppose to be there for them! Dark thoughts entered his mind, twisting like roots. Serpentera was calling to him...had been calling to him louder and louder the more he changed. The collar on his neck burned hot for a moment pushing that evil away. Banishing it back down inside.
Billy welcomed the pain. He welcomed it each time it came now. It was the only thing keeping him from returning to the stars.
It was keeping him sane...
It was keeping him human...
Billy flexed his hands. He was so strong now. He must have broken a dozen glass beakers just by picking them up. He didn't even recognize himself in this new body. This monstrous combination of human and mythical beast. The horn that shimmered and glowed with his mood. The pointed ears, the tail that had sprouted, his hair that seemed magically determined to remain at chest length, no matter how often he cut it.
And the hooves... he hated the hooves. It had been a grotesque process watching his feet curl into stumps, the toes turning black and falling off. The only small mercy he had was the fact there had been no pain during that transition. Unlike the pain he had felt when his tail had begun to grow.
Billy sat down in the lab with a sigh, speaking of hooves, he reached over opening a drawer and pulled out a large metal rasp. Bulk had been kind enough to get this from the high school automotive department for Billy.
Billy began to use the rasp on his hooves. Like a giant nail file to remove the rough edges and excess growth. He didn't leave the command chamber anymore and he certainly didn't walk around enough to wear them down naturally like horses in the wild would.
No one left the command chamber much anymore. Tommy's command had to be obeyed. Ever since Katherine was taken, if they left the safety of the power chamber, it was as the whole team. If it wasn't everyone together, no one left.
It was starting to drive the others batty. Billy could see it. Justin was over hyper from lack of mental stimulation and outside time to play. It's very dangerous for super smart kids to be bored. Billy knew that from personal experience. Tommy spent almost all his time training. That is to say when he wasn't hanging out with Kimberly or Katherine. Sometimes Billy would walk by Kimberly's room and see her and Tommy playing cards and laughing like old times. Kimberly always had her door open. She spent so much time in bed it was a quick way to check on her. Billy was always careful that Kim didn't see him when he walked by, if she did she would always call Billy to join them.
He'd rather not... but he never could refuse his best friend. While Kimberly was the only one to never flinch at his new form. The rest of the rangers still flinched sometimes and it hurt. Billy knew he shouldn't let it bother him. They were only human after all but it still hurt.
Other times Tommy would be going into Katherine's room at night and while Billy didn't want to guess at what the duo was doing with the door shut... his new ears were surprisingly sensitive. It was strange, Tommy never seemed to do more with Kimberly than a chaste kiss here and there. Along with words of love and promises of the future.
Billy shook his head. Tommy never used words like that with Katherine, not that he had heard anyway. He couldn't understand Tommy at all. Treating Kimberly like she was a princess... but using Katherine like... well... never mind...
Rocky and Aisha were spending a lot of time together. Not romantically but just, they seemed to be falling back into old habits. There was a strong, moon forged, bond there.
Adam was the one Billy felt sorry for. The black ranger was trying so hard to be a good friend to everyone at the same time. Helping him in the lab, training Justin, spending as much time watching over Kim as he could, helping out with all the ranger stuff.
The frog ranger really needed a break.
Billy shook his head, his long hair dancing. They all needed a break but Divatox refused to give them one. She attacked every day. Not always with a monster, 75% of the time it was just her ground troops making a mess of things.
But it was wearing them all down. At least the tengu had been quiet for the most part. Billy didn't think the ranger would still be standing if both were active. He vague wondered if Divatox's forces had run the tengu off.
It was possible, after all, evil didn't like to share.
Billy rubbed at his face. In the morning he would try and speak to Tommy once more. After all he had found a way to the island of illusions weeks ago.
It was time to go after the key.
***********************Next morning***************************
"No Billy. We can't spare the rangers." Tommy said shaking his head. "With Divatox's daily attacks, we've all got to be here, ready to fight."
"Tommy we have been talking in circles for weeks. Please, this can't keep being put on hold." Billy replied.
Aisha looked from one to the other. The breakfast on the table in front of them was forgotten. This wasn't the first time she had heard the argument. It had been the same argument for the past few weeks. She had to admit she agreed with Billy. Aisha's eyes flashed over to Rocky then Adam and seeing her own agreement reflected there, she spoke up. "Tommy, Billy has a point. The sooner we have the key part. The better." Her voice was harsher than she meant it to be but... poor Ninjor was still being held by Divatox, assuming he was still alive at all. And the rangers sitting around not doing anything, not even making a plan, felt so wrong.
Tommy turned towards her. "I understand, I do but... we just can't risk the trip right now."
"But Tommy..." Rocky opened his mouth to argue, when another voice spoke.
"Tommy has a point..." Kimberly said, coming into the room. She usually slept through breakfast but today she was wide awake. "Divatox has been way too active."
Tommy was smiling brightly, only for it to fall from his face as Kimberly continued. "Billy and I can go."
"Absolutely not beautiful! It's way too dangerous." Tommy said quickly.
Kimberly stood her ground. "Billy and I are the only ones who have been there before. It has to be us to go."
"Actually Kim..." Billy said rubbing the back of his neck. "I will need to stay here to make sure whoever goes can get back."
"Then I'll go alone." Kimberly said resolutely.
"But..."
"No buts Tommy. I'm the only one who knows the island, and besides Rita's spell isn't there anymore. I won't be in danger, I can protect myself. I can do this Tommy."
Rocky spoke up. "But what if you pass out Kim?" He was worried, honestly the second in command worried over everyone but Kimberly was something special. In the few months he had known her, she had become like a little sister to him.
The brunette shook her head. "I don't think I will. Since time doesn't pass there. If we send me when I'm feeling at my best. I should remain that way the entire time there. Right Billy?"
"Well Yes, theoretically..."
"So that should be settle." Kim crossed her arms.
Tommy frowned. "Let's talk to Zordon." He hoped Zordon, who was like a father to Kimberly, could talk some sense into her.
"Kimberly, I must agree with Tommy that it is not safe for you to go alone. Therefore Adam, as you also recall some of the poem, I ask if you will accompany Kimberly to the island of illusions. You powers of the ninjetti will be invaluable there."
Adam nodded, "Of course Zordon." He certainly didn't mind going with Kimberly. She was his friend. Adam held back the flutter in his heart. If he wasn't careful, he was going to fall in love with her.
"But what if Divatox attacks us Zordon?" Katherine asked. "We might need Adam."
Billy shook his head. "She just attacked two days ago with a monster."
"Billy's right, at most she will send her fish troops." Aisha said, she had noticed the pattern as well.
"Yeah and we can take those guys easy. Even with just four rangers." Justin exclaimed.
"I just..." Tommy started and then stopped suddenly pulling Kimberly into a hug. "Please be careful Kim. I can't lose you."
Rocky saw the strange sadness in Kim's eyes as she answered softly. "I know."
"I'll look after her Tommy. I promise." Adam found himself saying, while going to stand behind Kim as Tommy released her from the sudden hug.
Tommy gave Adam a half smile. "You better."
While they had been talking Billy had been working at the computer. "Coordinates are set."
"Wait a second guys!" Aisha said before quickly dashing off. She returned a few moments later with two bottles of water and some jerky. "I know time doesn't pass but... here. You might get hungry or thirsty."
Kim smiled warmly. "Thanks Aisha."
Zordon spoke. "Adam, Kimberly. Keep your wits about you and stay together. And may the power protect you."
"The communicators should work this time. So I will be able to assist from this end. Ready?" Billy asked.
The duo nodded. "Ready."
They vanished in black and pink light.
For a moment Tommy could only stare at where they had been. He hoped Adam would keep his word.
Kimberly was all that mattered.