**************** Island of Illusions*******************
Kimberly and Adam lapsed into comfortable silence as they followed the packed dirt pathway deeper into the forest. It was so strange here, Adam mused. Sure, he hadn't know what to expect but seeing palm trees growing alongside pine trees, oaks and maples? He knew enough environmental science to know that shouldn't be possible.
So far nothing had seemed dangerous. He turned to Kim, about to make a joke and lighten the mood, when he felt the words stick in his throat. Kimberly was completely on guard. Her eyes seemed to sparkle unusually bright as she focused on the trees around them. "Kim, what is it?" Adam asked.
"I don't know it just...feels different here." She quickly looked behind them for a moment before turning back to Adam. "Can't you feel it? This weird kind of tingling?"
Adam blinked, "Now that you mention it... yeah. The little hairs on my arms keep standing up." He raised his arm to show her. "Its like the air before a thunder storm."
Kimberly nodded. "We should keep going. We must be almost to the tidal pools."
They walked on and once more Adam felt his thoughts drifting away like clouds in the sky. The trees were getting thicker now. Roots starting to grow across the path. Some roots were small and thin, some large and thick. Adam did his best to mind his footing. This was a place of magic. A whole island made of magic. Magic was real. Wait... were the rangers magic? Maybe ninja magic? Or animal spirit energy magic stuff? Is that even a thing? Adam paused and rubbed at his eyes. He could ponder about all this later.
"Adam! Move!" Kimberly shouted, before he felt her weight slam into him from behind, pushing him to the side of the path.
Adam barely had a moment to recover as Kimberly yelled. Several thick vines had dropped from the tree closest to them, moving like angry snakes, one was currently wrapping Kimberly tightly and squeezing tighter. "Adam... I can't...breathe..." She gasped out desperately.
"Ninjetti the... Hey!" Adam shouted as one of the vines smacked the morpher from his hands. He jumped forward, pulling at the vines that held Kimberly but they smacked him away. Adam rolled back onto his feet. What was he to do now? He couldn't fight trees! Not with just karate moves. Kimberly has gone quiet and still in the vines. "Quagmire! Please help! Please!" Adam screamed to the woods around him. Oh God! It couldn't end like this! Not after everything they've been through.
There was the sound of a flute playing sweet music and the vines holding Kimberly relaxed and let go, letting the girl slide to the ground. Adam moved slowly towards her, mindful of the branches all around them. "Kim? You okay?" he asked as she stirred in his arms taking a deep breath followed by several raspy coughs. "A...Adam? What happened?"
"The ninja frog failed to mind the trees, stepping on the roots without a by your leave."
Adam turned to look at the little man in sitting in a nearby tree. Fury burning on Adam's face. "Just because I stepped on a couple roots the trees was going to kill Kim?"
The little man's eyes narrowed. "Things here don't work as you think, it was your actions that endangered pink. If I was you, and wanted to be wise. I would get on my knees and apologies."
Adam frowned, Quagmire has a point. "Kim? I'm so sorry. I..." her finger to his lips hushed his words as she shook her head.
"Not to me. You have to apologies to the trees." Kimberly worried Adam wouldn't do that, after all she was pretty sure Tommy wouldn't apologies to trees, but Adam surprised her a moment later, dropping his head. "I'm so sorry I stepped on your roots. It was careless of me."
There was a rustling of leaves and Adam found his morpher dropped back into his lap.
"They are not bad trees, just sensitive. Being gentle is the best prerogative. Hurry now, go straight ahead. Get the key and keep ooze dead." Quagmire pointed and the trees seemed to open up. Bright sunlight dances and the sound of waves crashed loudly. Adam turned to thank him but the elf was gone.
Kimberly dusted herself off and with Adam beside her they came to the most beautiful place she had ever seen. The sand had fleck of gold and glints of sparkling crystal bits. The waves crashed on the shore with the gentleness of a tender touch. It felt warm here, warmer than anywhere else on the island but not uncomfortable in the slightest. Kimberly has the strangest urge to take of her shoes and just feel the sand and surf.
"Those must be the pools." Adam said pointing at the several little dots of water on the edge of the surf. He tugged off his shirt without thinking. "I can check the deeper one if you want to wade in the shallow ones."
Kimberly turned to agree and froze. Adam was hot! How had she not noticed before? His abs were so well formed... what was that joke the girls in gymnastic class said? Able to shred cheese on abs that fine. He gave her a sort of silly grin. "Kim, you okay?"
She blinked and blushed, quickly looking away. "Yeah. I'm good. I'll um... get started checking around here." She focused on removing her shoes and socks.
Adam watched her for a few moments, his own heart fluttering, before heading out into the water. They had a job to do.
************************** Command Chamber************************
"Anything Alpha?"
"No, not yet Tommy. But I am sure everything is fine." Alpha 5 replied.
"Alpha's right. If there was trouble. Adam and Kim would have called by now." Katherine offered from her place near Alpha looking at the computer. It was strange, she never considered herself smart before but the longer they were in the Command Chamber, the more she seemed to be able to understand the technology.
There was a soft click- clack as unicorn Billy came into the room. "Here Alpha, I found those relays you wanted. With any luck we can use them to get a better location fix of Divatox's submarine."
"Hiding underwater is clever." Katherine offered.
Billy nodded, "The Command Chambers scanners are set up for above ground scans and even a few space scan but being able to find things under water was something I never considered."
Tommy huffed a bit and crossed his arms then uncrossed them and paced a bit. Billy dropped the tone of his voice and leaned in to speak to Katherine. "Has he been doing this the whole time?"
She nodded. "The whole time."
"Tommy, "Billy called suddenly moving towards his leader. "Why don't you go check in with the others at the community center?"
"They're fine..." Tommy grumbled. "I want to wait here for Kim."
"Oh course the others are fine but Tommy, the people need to see the power ranger leader once and awhile. You bring hope Tommy. The White Falcon Ranger. Without you things fall apart. They need you." Billy said, watching the resolve on Tommy's face fade away.
"Alright but... call me instantly if you hear anything."
"Yes sir." Billy responded, a gleam of blue in his eyes. One teleport later it was just Billy, Katherine and Alpha in the center of the command chamber.
"I can't believe you could say all that with a straight face." Katherine gave Billy a smile that faded instantly under the former blue rangers gaze.
"I think we both know how well Tommy responds to flattery. " Billy replied. "It's a weakness of his that he cannot see."
They fell into silence for a few minutes before Katherine spoke up. "You don't like me very much, do you?"
Billy looked up from the keyboard he had been using. "I don't like nor dislike you Katherine. I haven't known you long enough to make an informed opinion."
"But you're leaning towards dislike, aren't you?" She asked softly.
Billy sighed. "I admit, I haven't been enthusiastic about your growing closeness with Tommy as it hurt Kimberly, who is very dear to me but..." He stood to look at the new pink ranger. "Your love life is your own business. I won't interfere. I may help pick up the pieces when this triangle eventually shatters but I won't interfere."
Kathrine relaxed slightly. "Thank you Billy." It would be nice if she wasn't an enemy to all the rangers. Katherine hated to admit it but even though she and Aisha were friends, she knew the yellow ranger didn't approve of the relationship. Neither did Rocky or Adam. The trio seemed to be pulling away from her. It made her both sad and angry. After all, Rocky had promised she would never be alone or abandoned again but sometimes that's exactly what it felt like. Katherine didn't even know she was crying until Billy touched her arm.
"Hey, hey, Hey... It's okay Katherine. Like I said I won't judge you." Billy soothed.
"You might not but everyone else is!" Katherine sobbed suddenly clutching at Billy's blue shirt as tears flowed. "Aisha, Rocky, Adam, even Alpha and Zordon act so disappointed."
"I'm sure that's not true. Alpha and Zordon would never get involved like that."
She sniffed. "I noticed you didn't say the others wouldn't."
"It's the same Katherine. I don't know them well enough to even hypothesis what they might be thinking or feeling on this subject."
"Right, of course." Katherine pulled herself from Billy's arms and wiped at her face. "Sorry..."
"It's not a problem but Katherine have you ever stopped to consider what you want? What you really want?"
She looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"
Billy sighed, and sent a quick prayer to Jason's soul for the right words. "Why do you want Tommy? It is only physical attraction? Attraction to his leadership or power? Are you okay being with a guy who, for lack of better words, did cheat on his girlfriend?" Billy paused for a moment. "Will Tommy make you happy?
His words were like the sun on a foggy day, burning off the mist. For one she answered honestly, without defense in her voice. "I don't know..."
"Then I would start there." Billy gave her a gentle smile. "Now how about helping me with these relays?"
"I'll try but I was never very good with computers."
"Don't worry. I'll teach you." Billy promised.
****************** Island of Illusion***************************
Adam lost all track of time. How long he had been diving in these pools of enchanting blue water he wasn't sure. He wasn't tired or hungry or anything. It felt so strange. To be existing outside of time. He took another breath and dove, deep, deep down where the darkness of the sea floor danced with the sunlight coming under the water. For a moment he just looked. The sea water didn't even burn his eyes here.
It was so peaceful. If it wasn't for the fact he needed to breath, Adam felt he could stay down here forever.
There was a splashing above him and he saw Kimberly diving down towards him. That wasn't right, she was suppose to be looking in the shallows. Instantly he swam up to her, leading them both back to the surface.
"Adam! Are you okay?!" Kimberly spoke worried.
"I'm fine Kim, are you alright? I didn't expect you to come into the deep water."
Kimberly suddenly splashed at him. "You were under for a really long time! I thought you had drowned!"
Adam blinked. "How long?"
"Longer than I can hold my breath." Kim quipped back. "I... what's that?"
Adam looked down as the area of water under them had started to glow a soft blue. "Do you think its the key?"
"Maybe I'll go down and see." Kimberly went to dive but Adam stopped her.
"I'll go, can you tread water for a bit? I can use you as a way back."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I'll be right back."
Adam slipped under the water and Kimberly could do nothing but wait.
And wait...
And wait...
"Adam!? ADAM!"
"Here Kim," Adam called from behind her, scaring her slightly. "Come on, let's get to shore."
They collapsed on the warm, golden sand. They were tired without really feeling tired, but knew they should be so tired. "What did you find?" Kim asked.
Adam took a piece of blue cloth out of his pocket, one with Ninjor's symbol upon it. Slowly and with great care Adam unwrapped the cloth. A piece of broken metal sat in the center.
"We found it. Adam we did it." Kimberly laughed and her laugh was infectious as Adam began to laugh too. For a moment they just giggled like two little kids but when the laughter died down...
Adam hadn't realized how close they were on the beach. How close there faces were. How he could just lean forward and...
"You found it!" Came the minstrels cry with celebratory music on his pipe.
Adam jumped up to his feet clearly surprised. Kimberly got up as well. That had been close. "Yeah we got it. I guess we should be going now."
"I'll call Billy." Adam offered moving a few steps away. He needed a moment to get his feelings under control. He had almost kissed Kim! What was he thinking?
"I have a surprise for a ranger true. Kimberly this is my gift to you." As quagmire spoke he held up a golden necklace with a round pendant full of the same sand she was standing on now. It vanished from his hand and reappeared around her neck. "A tiny vial of the sand of time. Never take it off or your be in a bind. By your heart keep it fast, and the affect of Zedd's spell it will avast."
"Quagmire. I... Thank you." Kimberly said, turning the pendent gently over in her fingers. The circle of gold with a center of sand filled glass dazzled in the light.
"Kimberly before you go, there is something you should know. To save Billy from this foe, you must find the wizard Lerigot."
Kimberly glanced up. "Who?"
But it was too late... Quagmire had vanished.