Disclaimers
All characters appearing in IDW comics and Hasbro are property of their respective owners. No infringements of these copyrights are intended and are not authorized by the copyright holder.
All original characters and concepts are the property of Celgress.
Special thanks to my creative consultant Gaara King of the Sands who helped me flesh out this premise.
And to SpecialK92 whose enthusiasm for my ideas has given me the motivation I need to press forward with this tale.
Power Rangers Upended Fate – Chapter Two
By
Celgress
A forested area outside of Angel Grove, afternoon
"Admit it, Tommy, we're lost," Kimberly said. She and her boyfriend sat in a two-person rowboat in the middle of a lake. Kim wore an airy pink sundress and a floppy straw hat.
"I know exactly where we are, Kim. We're in the middle of a lake." Tommy said stating the obvious. Tommy was clad in black track pants with a white stripe down each leg and a white tank top.
Kimberly huffed. "What is it with guys never wanting to admit they need help or asking for directions?"
"It's pride, I think," Tommy said being candid. "Historically men tend to be hunters whereas women tend to be gathers. If a man couldn't find his way home with a kill he wasn't a good hunter and the tribe would starve."
"So you think I'm not a good hunter only a good gather, eh?" Kimberly said her expression turning serious.
"Ah, of course not, Kim. You'd make a great hunter with you mad bow skills." Tommy said.
Kimberly laughed, "Got you,"
"Good one," Tommy said breathing a sigh of relief. "I thought you were angry with me there for a second."
"I'd never be angry with you over something so inconsequential, Tommy you're more important to me than that," Kimberly said. "I love you, Tommy."
"I love you too, Kim," Tommy said. He then frowned.
"Is something wrong?" Tommy asked.
"Nah, it's just you've been different since what happened with Gunther Schmidt. Are you alright Kim? Maybe the injuries you took caused brain-damage? You were hurt pretty badly when you fell off that balance bar." Tommy said fearfully. He did not know what he would do if he lost Kim, the very thought filled him with cold dread.
"I'm fine, but thanks for your concern," Kimberly said.
"Maybe, I want Alpha to give you a complete scan, just in case, okay?" Tommy said.
"Okay, Tommy, I'll let Alpha scan me if it'll make you feel better," Kimberly said.
"It will," Tommy said.
A group of Putties and Tengu Warriors appeared on the far bank accompanied by Goldar. "We've caught them unprepared. We'll destroy them and please Lord Zedd and Queen Rita. Hurry, attack before they can morph!" Goldar ordered pointing his sword at the boat which held Kim and Tommy.
"Not a chance, Goldar!" Tommy said. "It's morphing time!" Tommy and Kim yelled in unison activating their morphers.
The White Ranger and the Pink Ranger leaped from the boat and landed on the shoreline. Pink Ranger made quick work of the Tengu Warriors while White Ranger did the same to the Putties. The pair then circled Goldar their weapons drawn.
"It's over Goldar." White Ranger said.
"This time you won't be escaping. You're finished." Pink Ranger declared.
"Wrong Pink Ranger, you two are the ones who are finished!" Goldar growled.
Goldar swung his sword wildly at White Ranger who had a hard time deflecting the blows. Goldar was going all out today it seemed. Pink Ranger aggressively smashed her bow into the side of Goldar's head, then again, using it as a cudgel. Goldar yelped in pain. He spun around swinging his sword at Pink Ranger who rolled out of reach.
"Stand still you pest!" Goldar said.
"Anything you say, Goldie." Pink Ranger said. In rapid succession, she fired three power arrows into Goldar's chest from her crouched position causing three intense showers of sparks. Pink Ranger's assault was so fast Goldar did not have time to react.
"Arrrgggggghhhhhh," Goldar cried stumbling back towards White Ranger.
White Ranger took this opportunity to unleash a flurry of sword slashes at Goldar further weakening him. More sparks flew everywhere. Goldar fell to one knee. With a mighty swing of his blade, White Ranger cut off Goldar's sword hand. Goldar's saber which was clasped in his amputated right hand flew through the air landing with a splash in the lake.
"Yield," White Ranger shouted the tip of his blade at Goldar's throat.
"Never, traitor," Goldar snarled.
"Alpha, Zordon, we have a wounded but still dangerous prisoner who needs to be contained." Pink Ranger said into her communicator.
"Containment measures implemented, Pink Ranger." Alpha One said.
Bands of crackling multicolored energy tightly wrapped around Goldar who was then transported to the Command Centre. "Congratulations Pink Ranger and White Ranger." Zordon's voice said over the open channel. "Defeating and capturing Goldar is a feat worthy of note. Return to the Command Center at once for post-battle debriefing."
Command Center, ten minutes later
"You guys captured Goldar, wow," Adam said greatly impressed by his fellow Rangers.
"Kim should take most of the credit. She attacked him with greater furry than I ever saw her use before. She was a dynamo out there." Tommy said of his girlfriend.
"I couldn't have done it alone. Tommy, you were the one who defeated and disarmed him, literally. Capturing Goldar was a team effort." Kimberly said blushing from the praise. The pair then high-fived each other.
"You Ranger punks are dead! Lord Zedd and Queen Rita will never allow my capture to go unpunished! They'll retrieve me soon enough!" The image of Goldar threatened from a monitor which showed him encased within a paralyzing bubble if translucent multicolored energy.
"Since Lord Zedd's last incursion we've upgraded our security measures. Unless one possesses both a Power Coin and pure heart entry is impossible. Evil can no longer enter this Command Center under any circumstances, including those of deception." Zordon said from his status tank.
"My master and mistress will find a way to retrieve me." Goldar's image declared defiantly from the special detention area where he was being held.
"I think we've heard enough from you, Goldar," Billy said muting the transmission while Goldar continued to rant his verbal fury unabated.
"What are we going to do with him?" Rocky asked.
"In the short term, we'll try to gain intelligence from him. In the long-term, he'll be imprisoned in a stasis containment vessel, not unlike the dumpster which originally held him, Rita & the others, and the egg which held Ivan Ooze." Zordon answered.
"Perhaps we can use him as a bargaining chip?" Aisha suggested.
"How so?" Adam said.
"He's right about one thing, Rita and Zedd will likely want him back. They might be willing to give us something in return." Aisha said.
"I doubt they'll leave the solar system for good no matter how badly they want Goldar back," Tommy said.
"Tommy is right," Kimberly said. "While Goldar is an important minion ever a favorite of Rita, he is replaceable. Rita and Zedd might want him back but they aren't going to surrender unconditionally to retrieve him from us."
"I wonder what they might be willing to part with for his return?" Billy pondered. He snapped his fingers a eureka moment. "I don't know why we didn't think of this earlier, we can arrange a prisoner exchange - Goldar for Ninjor."
"An excellent idea Billy," Zordon said. "Ninjor has been in enemy custody since Kat's betrayal while she was under Rita's control."
"Alpha, contact Lord Zedd and Rita," Zordon said.
"Aye, Aye, right away Zordon." Alpha One said.
"Um, Alpha, could you please give Kim a full-body scan once you're finished," Tommy said. "She's been acting a bit odd. I want to make sure there are no lingering effects from her head injury."
"Do you consent to this, Kimberly?" Zordon asked.
"Kimberly smiled. "Sure, why not? Tommy is worried about me. I think I'm fine but I understand his concern. If giving me a full-body scan puts his mind at ease, go for it."
After Alpha One chatted with an irate pair of space tyrants, he performed the full-body scan on Kimberly. His findings showed nothing out of the ordinary. Kim was a very healthy seventeen-year-old human female. The only unaccountable thing detected was a slightly out of sync temporal variance as if Kimberly did not belong in this time, but the very notion was ridiculous so Alpha disregarded it.
"See, I'm perfectly healthy," Kimberly said to Tommy and her other friends who had anxiously awaited her results.
"You can't blame Tommy because he was worried, you have been acting weird lately," Aisha said.
"I have, how so?" Kimberly said playing dumb.
"You've been very assertive and kind of bossy at times, but in a good way," Billy said.
"Huh," Kimberly said. "I guess my accident followed by dealing with that douchebag coach was the kick in the pants I needed. Championships and medals are nice but friendship, duty, and love," She looked at Tommy when she mentioned love, "are what matter most. I see things clearly now. There is no place I would rather be than right here, right now, with you guys."
"Aw, Kim," Aisha said hugging her friend. Their mutual embrace turned into a group hug.
"As long as we stick together I know we can overcome any challenge," Kimberly said.
Kimberly felt so happy surrounded by her friends. She wished the moment would never end. This time around their bond would remain unbroken. No matter what happened she would not lose them again.
The Moon
"Damn those Rangers and that Zordon! They've captured my precious Goldar! And they want that nasty Ninjor in return for Goldar's release! Oh, Zeddy it's a nightmare and not the good kind!" Rita raged pacing back and forth through the throne room.
"I told him not to go off on his own, sis. But he wouldn't listen. He said he was tired of waiting for the Purple Ranger's creation." Rito said.
"Shut up, you babbling fool. If you had gone with him or told us what he was doing none of this would be happening," Rita said bopping her brother's skull-like head with her staff.
"Ouch," Rito said rubbing his head. Next to him Squatt and Baboo cowered in fear not wanting to get hit. They hated when Rita was in one of her slappy moods.
Lord Zedd sat on his throne pondering his next move. It would serve that impetuous Goldar right if he left Goldar to rot. However, he knew he could not leave Goldar in Ranger custody. While he was ware Goldar would never betray them he also knew Goldar was Rita's favorite minion. He hated seeing his bride distressed. There was truly only one option left open to him. Fine, he would free that annoying Ninjor.
"Although it pains me deeply to say this, I'll tell Zordon we are willing to meet his demands. If he agrees to free Goldar we'll free Ninjor." Zedd said.
"Thank you Zeddy. I knew you'd rescue Goldar. He's a big dumb flaying ape but a loyal big dumb flying ape." Rita said having stopped her pacing.
"True," Zedd said stroking his metallic chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps we can use this unfortunate occurrence to our advantage."
"How, Zeddy?" Rita asked intrigued by her groom's suggestion.
"Finster," Zedd bellowed.
"Yes, how may I be of assistance my liege?" Finster asked scurrying forward from the crowd of lesser minions. He elbowed the lazy pig-like Mordant out of his way. Finster had little use for Mordant who was a shameless brown-noser always jockeying for a position of favor, but unwilling to do any hard work to earn a promotion.
"Is the Purple Power Coin fully minted?" Zedd said.
"It is finished, my liege," Finster said lifting his hand to show off the glittering coin which bore a velociraptor engraving.
Zedd took the Power Coin from Finister. He turned it over in his hands examining it. He could not help but admire the workmanship.
"Finster, you've outdone yourself," Zedd said.
"Thank you, Lord Zedd," Finster said his chest swelling with pride. "I can't take all the credit. I forced Ninjor to do much of the actual construction so the coin would prove more durable if put under extreme stress than did the Green Dragon Coin. But I made certain plenty of evil energy entered the coin during its minting process."
"How are you going to make sure our wayward kitty cat gets her nice treat, Zeddy?" Rita asked.
"Simple, my dark plum," Zedd said passing the coin to Rita who likewise admired it. "Ninjor will do it for us, or rather Zordon will with a little prompting from Ninjor after we place a hidden hypnotic control spell on the latter. Ninjor will be back with his equally miserable friends no time before he'll remember he was forging a new Power Coin right before we captured him. A Power Coin he'll graciously gift to his friend Zordon to do with as Zordon pleases."
"Oh, Zeddy, you are so wicked." Rita squealed in delight.
"Which is why you love me," Zedd said. Rita gave the coin back to Finster and sat on Zedd's lap. She stroked his face, neck, and upper body lovingly. "No one will suspect our sleeper agent Ranger is a threat until it's late. We'll then spring our trap destroying Zordon and his precious Rangers forever."
Unbeknownst to Finster, Zedd, Rita, or anyone present, what little remained of Ivan Ooze had infiltrated the Purple Velociraptor Power Coin while it was being forged. There Ivan's mind waited. He needed a vessel if he was to enact his rightful vengeance on the Power Rangers and Zordon. Luckily for him, it would appear those idiots Zedd and Rita were about to do his leg work for him, how delightful. He did know who this "kitty cat" was but he hoped she would provide him a nice new temporary home until he could pull himself together. Once he was whole again he would discard his host as a snake would shed its old useless skin when it grew larger, then the real fun would begin. His emergence would likely kill his host but that was not his problem.
An arid area outside of Angel Grove the next day, afternoon
The Power Rangers stood on one side with energy handcuffed and shackled Goldar. On the other side stood Finster, Rito, and a group of Tengu Warriors. In Rito's bony hands he held a glass jar that contained the shrunken Ninjor. Both groups were tense expecting a double-cross at any moment.
"We kept our end of the bargain. We brought Goldar. If you want him back put down the jar and step away, Rito." White Ranger instructed.
"How do we know you won't just keep Goldar after you take the jar with Ninjor in it?" Rito asked a rare demonstration of intelligence on his part.
"Because we'll push Goldar forward too and then take a step back. I'll then retrieve the jar." White Ranger said.
Pink Ranger readied her bow. She pointed her arrow squarely at Goldar's back. "If you try anything, say goodbye to Goldie." She said. Goldar curled his lip snarling at her.
The exchange was completed without incident. Goldar and his champions transported themselves to the Moon after Rito broke Goldar's bounds. White Ranger used his sword to smash the jar freeing Ninjor who quickly returned to normal size.
"Thanks for saving me, Rangers," Ninjor said in his squeaky voice.
"Anytime, Ninjor," White Ranger said sheathing his sword, "welcome back."
Command Center two days later, morning
"I don't know why you'd call me here, or want me here considering what I did," Kat said nervously.
"Nonsense, you've more than proven yourself as a reliable ally since then," Billy said.
"Katherine Hillard please step forward," Zordon said. Gulping Kat stepped forward into a spotlight that shone down in the center of the room. "You have shown bravery, resourcefulness, and discipline in your heroic actions. Despite your lack of extraordinary abilities you have proven yourself an extraordinary individual. You are worthy of being a Ranger. The Purple Velociraptor Power Coin is yours if you so desire?"
The new Purple Velociraptor Power Coin encased in its morpher appeared in Kat's hands. Staring down at the device Kat wanted to cry. After everything she had done these people called her friend. That they would trust her with such a great responsibility humbled her.
"I promise I won't let you down, any of you," Kat said glancing around at her friends."It's morphing time."
In a wash of purple energy, Kat transformed for the first time. Kat's Purple Ranger form greatly resembled Kimberly's in general appearance save for her helmet visor which was more round than pointed on top.
"It's morphing time." The others said pulling out their morphers. Within seconds seven Power Rangers occupied the Command Center. "And six becomes seven. Welcome aboard, Purple Ranger," White Ranger said.
'I've fixed things. Kat hasn't been cheated out of becoming a Power Ranger. I'm with Tommy. Tommy and I even defeated the dreaded Goldar together, Goldar. Something no one did in the original timeline. You're all going to be happy this time around.' Kimberly thought a warm fuzzy feeling enveloping her. 'Everything is going to be okay now, I know it will be. Our darkest days are behind us.' Kimberly had no inkling how wrong she was.
To Be Continued
