Author's Notes: Well, here we are. Rita's back, and I'm now writing my favorite romantic pairing in all of Power Rangers. I rewatched the episodes with their wedding, and it's kind of an entertaining mess. The Zedd and Rita parts are great, the Alpha and Zordon stuff is entertaining, and the Ranger stuff is a weird mish-mash of Australia vacation footage and re-used Sentai stuff. I've tweaked several things, and unfortunately had to cut the evil Alpha stuff. He and Zordon have other things to do than play Wooly Willy with Zordon's head.

Reviewer thanks: Ghostwriter (Rita!), Festacles (My beta immediately theorized that the Putty was Goldar in disguise, so I'm glad I surprised someone lol), lunarweather (Rocky, Adam, and Aisha are not making all the connections they should, no. There's a story coming up where the whole "Green Ranger" thing is going to become real for them in a big way… especially since they won't be conveniently sent back in time. Good on you for picking up on potential angst with that prophecy. Tommy and Rita's connection has been damaged from both of their experiences, but I'm not saying it's not there.), Mirajane92 (more heaven!), bleedredstars (more cliffhangers!), GothamPowerKaiju (That was a season 3 two-parter that really stuck with me… mostly because I got super mad on Aisha's part.), KLR (Oh, I have definite plans for In Space. I'm probably not going to show lots of Rocky backstory, as there's not all that much to tell, but I will get more into his home circumstances), and Notepadhalfful (Well, here's another one! I shall continue not being fair while it suits me!).


Brighter Paths

Book 4: The Wedding

Chapter 15: The Proposal

Rita walked slowly through the grounds of the palace, feeling the familiar stone under her shoes and the lacquered wood of an ornate rail under her palms. It was her favorite garden, peaceful, dark, and far away from the military might of her father, Master Vile.

She let out a slow breath, letting the heavy scent of flowers take her back to her childhood. She used to conquer the pond with her dolls, forcing her brother to act as her minion. He'd play along, trying to squish the fish and slugs as he rampaged around. It was here that she'd chosen to hold her coming of age ceremony, where she was presented with her wand and given her property. Where she'd been made an Empress of Evil.

All of that had been taken from her. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. She had cried enough in her jar prison. She would no longer.

She sensed rather than saw her father enter the garden, his cloaks rustling against the leaves. She supposed she had been hiding for a bit too long. It was just... she had to ready herself. Had to make her resolve.

"Rita," Master Vile said, his voice as soft as possible. Whenever he said her name, it always sounded like a childhood endearment. "I knew I would find you here. Are you quite well?"

Rita smiled and turned, her eyes no longer burning. "Father, I spent months alone in a jar. You'd think I would have had enough of being alone, but..."

"You have been through so much, my child," Master Vile said. "The jar has been obliterated, but the experience will live on. It is now up to you what you shall do with that experience." He looked down. "I do wish you would stay here. Wait a little while longer. Regain your strength."

"Wait as the universe passes me by," Rita said, giving her father a grim smile. "I think not. I must regain what was mine, or else I may as well never have left my prison. What good am I without power?"

Master Vile drew himself up. "You are Rita Repulsa. One of the most talented witches in the universe. And you are my daughter. You are more than the power that was taken from you."

It would be so easy, Rita reflected, to stay. To rule by her father's side, for she knew that's what he had in mind. To share in his success and allow him to shower her with love. To be home. But that's not what she wanted. She'd always insisted on forging her own way. She loved her father, but she had no wish to stay with him forever. Besides, she had her pride to think about.

"I've made up my mind, father," Rita said evenly. "As you say, I'm more than what was taken from me, and I will prove it. By taking it back, and more."

"Very well," Master Vile said. "You will not share your plans with me or accept my help... but I have done what I could. I would not send you to that abomination without assistance."

Rita's eyes narrowed. "Father, what have you done?"

"He's waiting in your chamber," Master Vile said. "I unfortunately have business that needs my attention, so I will not be able to see you off. Do try to be careful, my child."

Rita left her father after their goodbyes and walked to her chamber, bewildered. She knew it wouldn't be her brother. She loved Rito, but he was a bit of a disaster and exactly the wrong person to bring if the call of the day was stealth. And her father would never send Rito with her. They'd had a shouting match soon after her release from prison, and Rito had left.

Scorpina had also left on some mysterious mission. Rita knew that was fitting. She didn't want Scorpina or Rito with her, grateful as she was for their rescue. She alone had been defeated, and she alone must recover. So, whoever her father had sent her, she would thank him and send him on his way.

Rita swept into the room, prepared to be imperious and abrupt. "My father has probably paid you handsomely, or threatened your life, but..." She trailed off, her breath catching in her throat.

A man stood in her room, putting away a book on a bookshelf. His black flowing robes matched his black, stringy hair, but when he turned, his face was bone white with firey energy churning underneath. When he spoke, it was like with many voices. "Rita, you sound like the scared novice you once were, trying to act like you belong. You're an Empress. You have no need for those airs."

Rita's face broke into a grin. "I had no idea my father could gain the attention of the Wizard of Deception. Shouldn't you be leading impressionable young novices down the path of evil?"

The Wizard bowed low. "Ever since you graduated, I've failed to find any student to compare. The old lounge is still off-limits to any student who doesn't want to lose their hair, thanks to you."

Rita smirked. "It made that upstart Divatox think twice about spreading rumors about me." She chuckled. "You're not here to reminisce, are you?"

"Indeed not," the Wizard said, sweeping over to her, as if to get a good look at her. "My dear child, how you must have suffered. I was at a retreat, and I only just got word. Your father did not need to send for me; I would have come anyway."

Rita tossed her hair. She hadn't put it up into her customary cones since she'd been released, and she wouldn't until she was at her rightful place. "I am past suffering, Wizard. I wish for vengeance. I would not ask for help from anyone but you, because I know you won't think any less of me."

"I taught you, in your very first lessons, to be responsible with your power and to always accept help when you need it," the Wizard said. "It has kept you alive and whole, when so many other magic-users have burned out their minds and bodies, or mutilated themselves in a mad dash for power. I am forever at your service."

Rita sat at a small table and opened her journal. "Then I will reveal to you my plan… and I think I know exactly what role you can play."


"Just heard," Rocky said, slamming his lunch tray down. His glass tipped over, but Aisha caught it before it spilled. "Staff development day on Friday, Labor Day on Monday. We got ourselves the rarest of treats: a four-day weekend."

"Yeah…" Kimberly said, "that's what the announcements said this morning."

Rocky looked confused.

"You were asleep," Adam said.

"I don't remember them," Tommy said.

"But then that's business as usual," Billy said. "I thought Zor... Z-man was helping you with your memory problems."

Kimberly smirked and the other Rangers chortled at their new favorite term for Zordon when they were in public.

Tommy shrugged. "It's gonna take a while. Thankfully hasn't affected anything important."

"Other than the test you flunked because you didn't write it in your schedule book," Billy pointed out.

"Anyway," Rocky said, perturbed that focus was now off the really important stuff. "Four-day weekend. As in… let's get the heck out of town."

Aisha put her head in her hand. "You've already got something planned, don't you?"

"What's going on?" Kimberly said.

Adam cleared his throat. "Rocky likes to take us places. He can't stand to just stay home for any amount of time that could possibly be interpreted as a vacation."

"Oh, come on," Rocky said. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

Aisha held up her wrist, showing her communicator.

"Not that kind of adventure," Rocky said. "I mean the kind of adventure that involves… you know… fun."

"You haven't done something crazy, have you?" Adam said. "Like bought us all tickets to Australia?"

"No! That's not a four-day weekend kind of trip," Rocky said dismissively. "We'd spend most of the time in travel. I do have some kind of common sense, despite what some people think." He grinned. "I've already called, and they're getting the house in San Francisco set up. Just us, the beaches, and a whole house full of no parents and no monsters."

"Never say 'no monsters,'" Kimberly said, her voice low. "Jinx is way more powerful than any of us."

"You have a house in San Francisco?" Tommy said, frowning. "And that's… low-key for you?"

Billy stabbed at his mashed potatoes. "You did not accompany us to equip Rocky's house with security. Yes. That's low-key for Rocky."

Tommy's lips thinned. "We need to stay on alert. We still don't know what Zedd's planning."

Rocky rolled his eyes. "It's not like we can't teleport," he said, still keeping his voice low. "Come on, when's the last time any of you had a vacation that wasn't a mission into space to get an ancient sword?"

Kimberly was smiling. "It really sounds like a lot of fun. And it's only a few hours away. We can caravan up there." She looked at Rocky. "You sure it's okay with your dad? I mean, six teenagers crashing at his home, three of whom he doesn't know…"

Rocky shrugged. "He's okay with pretty much anything I do, and anyone I take with me. Besides, he knows that with Adam and Aisha there I won't get into any trouble."

"It would be nice to get out of town," Billy said. "We'll have to imply that there are adults there when we ask mom."

"And my mom and Frank," Kimberly added.

Rocky grinned. "All right. That's what I like to hear."

Tommy started putting his backpack on. "Sorry, guys… I need to stay behind. Z-man has some exercises planned for me this weekend, and I really backtrack when I miss them. You guys have fun."

Before any of them could respond, Tommy was taking his tray up to the front and exiting the lunch room.

Rocky, Adam, and Aisha looked a bit stunned. "Is he still pissed at me for yelling at him a couple weeks ago?" Rocky said. "I thought we were cool. I apologized and everything." He said it like this was a huge accomplishment.

"It's not that," Billy said. "He understands spells."

"You sprang this whole thing on him," Aisha pointed out. "And assumed that he would just go along with it."

"You can be… a little overwhelming," Adam added quietly.

Kimberly and Billy shared a knowing look. "I can talk with him," Kimberly said. "He's been tetchy ever since the attack. He's convinced that there's a spell or a trap around every corner, and the whole memory gap thing is getting to him."

Rocky frowned. "I'm… I just thought…"

"Don't worry about it," Kimberly said. "It just means that boy do we need a vacation… and that sometimes Tommy can get too self-involved for his own good."


Tommy sat at the dining room table, opened his bookbag, pulled out his schedule book and began reviewing and making notes for the rest of the week. He penned in the make-up test for next Wednesday. Mr. Wilton was strict, but he always gave a make-up test if a student asked for it, which Tommy supposed was fair enough. If he could keep up his grades, he could maybe get into the specialized paleontology class for his senior year. He found that way more interesting than physics. And he could take it with Billy, who had already taken all the other science classes.

It would be simpler, though, if he didn't have to study his schedule to know what he was supposed to be studying. He used to not keep a schedule book at all, but now he had a large notebook with two pages per day. He wrote down what he had to do, what he had to prepare for, and then wrote what he had done that day. He kept a second schedule book at the Command Center, just for Ranger stuff, which he checked every day.

It was time-consuming, but necessary. It was all part of being able to function every day. And, despite what Zordon said, he suspected this was going to be what he did for the rest of his life. If he'd suspected how his jaunts through dimensions and using Eltarian energy would have damaged him… well, he still would have done it, but he might have hesitated for more than a few seconds.

There was a knock on the door, and Kimberly slipped in before Tommy could respond. "I knew you'd be avoiding the Youth Center," she said. She hugged Tommy from behind and kissed the top of his head.

Tommy's lips curled up as his schedule book became even less interesting. "Sylvia will be home any minute."

"I know," Kimberly said. She still twisted around him so she could sit in his lap, and they spent a few lost minutes kissing.

Kimberly pulled away before things could get too heated. "Not entirely why I'm here."

Tommy sighed. "Kinda figured. I was a little rude, wasn't I?"

Kimberly held her thumb and finger out, as if measuring 'a little.' "So, you wanna talk about it?"

Tommy looked away, and then at his schedule book. "This thing is a big reason, you know that. I rescheduled that Chem test for Wednesday, and then…"

"Billy could help you study in San Francisco, and you know that," Kimberly interrupted him. "And I checked with Zordon when I told him what we'd probably be doing this weekend. He said he hadn't planned anything that couldn't be rescheduled." She pulled back a bit so she could really look at Tommy. "And don't start going on about Zedd. We decided long ago that we weren't going to back out of things on the off chance that he might attack. If we did that we'd never get to do anything."

Tommy's mouth quirked. They'd had that conversation not long after Tommy had taken command of the Power Rangers. That conversation, just between the two of them, had also included their decision to let go of their paranoia when it came to various people spying on their love lives. They'd hide their activities from their parents, of course, but if Zedd or Zordon really wanted to look in on them, they'd better be prepared to get an eyeful.

"I know," Tommy said. "You're right. It's not for any of those reasons."

"Then what gives?"

"You're really comfortable with this?" Tommy said. "Rocky just whisking us off to his vacation home in San Francisco? And apparently occasionally other countries, if Adam and Aisha are to be believed?"

Kimberly's expression changed as soon as Tommy said 'vacation home,' and Tommy knew he'd given the game away. "Not everyone is like your uncle, Tommy. From what Rocky's told me and what Adam and Aisha have told me about him, he used to be really elitist, but he hasn't been for a long time. He doesn't really care about money: he just wants to have fun with his friends."

"So he has to take us places?" Tommy said.

Kimberly rolled her eyes. "Just because he doesn't care about money doesn't mean he isn't stupid rich. And I do mean stupid. This is normal for him, and he doesn't think he's… I dunno… showing off, or making people feel bad for not having what he has." She bit her lip. "From what I can tell, he's lonely. His mom's not in the picture, and his dad is too busy to pay much attention to him. If he stays home too long, he starts thinking too much about that."

Tommy pulled her close. "Okay. If Rocky still wants me to come, I'll come. If we're just going to the beach, it won't be so bad."

Kimberly brushed her lips against his ear. "You're forgetting the nice empty house with nice empty rooms…"

The door opened, and Kimberly jumped out of Tommy's lap and onto another chair. She opened Tommy's Chemistry book as he looked down quickly at his schedule book.

Sylvia walked in, eyebrows raised suspiciously at the innocent scene and red faces. "Kimberly. Been here long?"

Kimberly maintained her blank expression. "Just a few minutes. I'm helping Tommy organize his notes for his remake test."

Sylvia looked down at the upside down textbook. "I see that."

Kimberly cleared her throat and tried to nonchalantly turn the textbook around, but Sylvia was already headed to the kitchen to turn the kettle on.

Kimberly and Tommy smirked at each other. Yes, it would be nice to get away from parents for a while.


It was early Friday morning when Kim pulled her car across the street to the Cranston driveway. She launched herself out of the car just in time for the front door to open. Billy was trying to carry a backpack, a duffel bag, and a huge rolling suitcase, all of them straining at the seams. Kimberly ran forward to grab the duffel bag just as he dropped it.

"You know," Kimberly huffed under the weight of the bag, "Rocky is taking us to a house. For four days. You don't have to pack everything you own."

"I only packed what I needed," Billy said. "And let's see how you fared in packing."

They opened the trunk of Kimberly's car. Kimberly's suitcase, garment bag, makeup bag and toiletries bag were taking up most of the space.

Kimberly bit her lip. "Okay, point taken. How much luggage does Tommy have?"

Billy shook his head. "Just his backpack."

"How does he do that?"

"I have no idea."

They wrestled Billy's luggage into the trunk and finally moved it around enough to slam the trunk door shut. It was the reason they were taking Kimberly's car and not Billy's. They'd never be able to fit their luggage and all three of them in the Radbug.

Tommy finally emerged and flung his backpack into the backseat. "Shotgun."

Billy shrugged. "Fine. You can navigate."

"Nope!" Kimberly said. "Billy's navigating. Tommy, you sit in the back." She held her finger up at Tommy's protest. "I don't want to end up in Oregon."

"We're going to be following Rocky anyway," Tommy said.

"We have to get to Rocky's house first, and I still don't want to end up in Oregon," said Kimberly, grinning. She bolted around the car as Tommy ran for her.

Sylvia came out of the house, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She had to attend staff development meetings that day, but they weren't meeting until nine. "I hope you kids have fun," she said. "But be careful. Call me this evening?"

"We will," Billy assured her, hugging her goodbye.

"Don't get into too much trouble this weekend, Sylvia," Tommy said.

"You know me," Sylvia said, her eyes twinkling. "And I'm pretty sure you kids won't get into much trouble, either."

The three piled into the car and Kimberly pulled out. "What do you think she meant by that?" she asked.

"Take a right here," Billy said. "I don't know. It did sound ominous."

"You guys are paranoid," Tommy said, propping his knees up on the back of Billy's seat. Billy shoved back, and Tommy jammed his knees in even harder.

"Don't you dare break my car seat," Kimberly said. "And who's the paranoid one?"

Soon, they were pulling onto Rocky's street. They'd passed Tommy's old house with no comment except a sudden silent tension in the car. Now, though, the houses were completely hidden by gates and hedges. A golf course dominated the other side of the road.

"This is it," Billy pointed out. "Just drive up to the gate and press the button. They're expecting us."

"Okay…" Kimberly said, her voice going a pitch higher. There was knowing Rocky was rich, and then there was actually experiencing it.

The speaker crackled to life after Kimberly stretched out of the car window to press the button. "Where have you been I've been ready for AGES?!"

"Rocky… like a human being, remember?" came Aisha's voice.

"Right," Rocky said. "Hi, guys! Just drive on in."

The gate started moving, and Kimberly was still looking at the speaker like it was going to attack her.

"I thought Rocky was a late sleeper," Tommy said.

"Traveling apparently gets him excited," said Billy, silently laughing.

Rocky's greeting had done much to break the tension in the car. The house and grounds were huge, but Rocky's Jeep was in the front. Adam was securing the last of the luggage, and Rocky was bounding out of the house, Aisha following close behind. Everything suddenly seemed incredibly normal.

Kimberly parked behind the Jeep, and the three piled out of the car.

"You have no idea how challenging it was to add security to this place," Billy said. "I ended up having to make the whole grounds a no teleport zone, but then added in special relays for the communicators so Rocky could still get alerts."

"Don't get comfortable!" Rocky yelled. "I want to get on the road!"

Rocky pulled Kimberly over and started walking her through some directions, just in case they got separated. They were going to get to the house and unpack, and then they were going to do some sightseeing in the city while it wasn't a Saturday. Adam sidled over to Billy and Tommy, who were staring at the grounds, while Aisha stood by to correct some of Rocky's directions.

"I had to teach Rocky the word 'ostentatious,'" Adam confided in a low voice. "He's probably going to use it at some point today."

"Dex used that word for his uncle's spaceship," Tommy said. "And it was. Like a giant space bug."

Adam shoved his hands in his pockets. "Do you think we'll ever go to space? I'd like to meet Dex and the Aquitian Rangers."

"We should go to Aquitar sometime, after they get their political trouble figured out," Tommy said. "We can all meet Billy's space girlfriend."

"She's not my space girlfriend," Billy said wearily.

"What are you guys talking about?" Aisha said.

"Billy's space girlfriend," Tommy answered.

"She's not my… why do I even bother," Billy finished resignedly.

"It should just take us a couple of hours to get to the house," Rocky addressed the group. "It's not too… ostentatious…"

Adam gave a meaningful glance to Billy and Tommy, who smirked.

"But it shouldn't be too hard to miss," Rocky finished. "Right! Let's get going."


The day of sightseeing had been better than Tommy had feared. He'd taken trips with his uncle before… or, at least, tagged along with his dad while being tolerated by his uncle… and he knew all the things rich people didn't think about: restaurants, admissions, transportation. All costing money that he didn't have.

But Rocky had been traveling with Adam and Aisha long enough to know exactly what to do. He'd insisted on paying for cabs into the city, saying that they didn't want to have to deal with parking, but after that they took full advantage of the trolley system, and all the places they went to seemed to have free admission. Instead of a restaurant, they went to a big market with lots of booths, where they could get what they wanted.

By the time the sun was going down, they were back in cabs headed back to the house and all feeling at peace with the world. That is, until…

"Why are there three cars parked in the driveway now?" Kimberly said.

"Oh no…" said Adam. "Oh, no no no…"

They got out of the cab, bags of souvenirs in tow, and ran for the front door… only to be greeted by Aaron Park.

"You didn't say you were coming," Adam blurted out. "I didn't know you were coming."

"I couldn't leave until staff development was over," Aaron said, regarding the teens' astonished faces as he backed up to let them file in. "I'm here as… well… a chaperone, is probably the best way to put it."

"This has never happened before," Rocky said. "My dad never would have asked you to come, Aisha's parents practically think of Aisha as a chaperone, and you never wanted to come."

"I didn't even think to come… until I got a call from Frank Harris."

"Frank?" Kimberly said. "Frank called you? But…" She looked at the confused looks on Rocky's, Adam's, and Aisha's faces. "My step-dad."

"He, your mother, and Sylvia Cranston decided that you all may need a stabilizing influence," Aaron said. "And an extra eye to keep some of you from wandering off on your own."

Eyes immediately went to Tommy and Kimberly, who looked like they wanted the ground to swallow them up.

"Yes," Tommy muttered. "This is hell. I recognize it."

"So…" Aaron said, pushing his glasses up, "what do you kids want to do?"


"All seems quiet on Earth, Zordon," Alpha said, "and power levels on the moon are at normal levels."

"Excellent, Alpha," Zordon said. "The Rangers seem to be safe, though I would like you to place an extra alert, just in case Zedd takes advantage of their vacation."

"Or in case he senses our experiments and takes advantage of that," Alpha pointed out. "Will do, Zordon."

"Very well, Alpha," Zordon said. "We will begin our experiments in dimensional shifting." Zordon smiled. "With luck, and with Rita no longer here, we may be able to break my imprisonment in this dimension… and I can become whole."


It was late at night, and dark in the Moon Palace, as the palace still kept the same time as Angel Grove. Squatt and Baboo were taking advantage of not being ordered around by Zedd: they'd watched television for most of the day, and were now fast asleep. Goldar, exhausted from trying to think of a way to continue the fight against the Power Rangers with Lord Zedd down for the count, was passed out on his desk in his quarters. Only Finster remained awake, monitoring the unconscious Zedd in his specialized medical chamber.

A puff of steam shot from the diagnostic equipment and hit Finster's glasses, fogging them. Finster impatiently wiped his glasses on his apron and fiddled with the valves. Lord Zedd's vitals were rising steadily, but it would still be some time before he would wake up.

It was the randomness that infuriated Finster most of all. He knew little enough about Lord Zedd's physiology, and even less about the mysterious health problems. He knew it had something to do with his magic and the Z-staff, but he used magic in ways Finster had never seen. He'd expended himself in the attack on Earth and the prospective Rangers, and he'd begun to recover… but then, just randomly, his condition had worsened. Now he was getting better, but all Finster could do was monitor. His attempts at diagnosing had all come to naught.

Finster sighed and decided to return to his lab. He'd been getting little enough rest lately, and he knew it was just a matter of time before Goldar came up with something else he wanted to try. Finster was starting to consider his options… Goldar would certain come under Dark Specter's radar if he abandoned Lord Zedd, but perhaps Finster was insignificant enough to hide himself away without much notice.

And even if he was killed in the process… he'd lived a long time. Perhaps the universe could bear one less monster-maker.

Finster was lost in these dire thoughts when he realized his lab was not empty. Empress Rita Repulsa was standing next to his shelf of clay monster models, and turned to him with a smile. It could then perhaps be forgiven that Finster lost consciousness briefly.

He opened his eyes to see Rita bending over him, her face wrinkled in concern. "Maybe I should have called ahead?"

"My… my queen!" Finster stuttered, trying desperately to get to his feet. "My queen, I… my queen…"

"Finster," Rita laughed, her eyes dancing at his flustered stutter. She helped him to his feet, and unexpectedly pulled him into a hug. "It's all right. I'm home, my dear old man."

Finster realized his glasses were fogged up again, this time from tears. "My queen… it's not safe here. You must…"

Rita pulled away and held up her hand. "I must do nothing. We shall discuss what I WILL do." She glanced at his kitchenette. "But first, one of your restorative potions, to steel the nerves. I must say I miss them."

Finster would never have dared say that his 'restorative potion' was merely coffee. "Yes, my queen," he said, loading the machine as he'd done so many times before.

"As to danger," she continued, again turning her attention to the clay monsters on the shelves, "I hardly think so. I have not come unprepared. I do trust you have kept my wand safe?"

"Yes, my queen," Finster said, taking heart as he repeated the words that had taken up so much of his vocabulary for most of his life. "It is hidden in the hydroponics lab. I can retrieve it…"

"All in good time," Rita said. She sat on a chair in the corner of his lab, and Finster was forcefully reminded of Rita as a young girl, asking him question after question as he created monsters for her father. He handed her a steaming cup of coffee in a properly mystical-looking goblet.

She took a sip and sighed gratefully, smiling in relief. "Finster, it's been a long journey, and I have not had much time to rest. I can't tell you how good it is to see you alive. I confess that I worried… after I was back in my right mind, of course. But you probably want to hear about my plan."

Finster did not. He wanted to know how his queen had recovered. He wanted to teleport her out of there, to go with her away from anyone who would do her harm. He wanted to simply rejoice in her presence, in her ability to sit and drink coffee in his lab.

He said none of this. Instead, he simply repeated, "Yes, my queen."

Rita smiled, perhaps divining what was going on in Finster's head. "There will be no retreats, no escapes. And there will also be no fights. Even at my most powerful, I cannot hope to match Lord Zedd in combat. I am, however, a witch, and much more knowledgeable in magic than he. Who do you think has been preventing his recovery?"

This actually surprised Finster. Her most recent misfortunes had made him forget how powerful she was.

She laughed silently at his amazement. "I could not do him permanent harm. The Z-staff prevents that. I can, however, slow down his recovery. While the Wizard of Deception provides a distraction on Earth…"

"The Wizard of Deception!" Finster gripped the side of his table, feeling that he might just keel over again. "He has accompanied you here?"

"And has been a great help, no matter how you disapprove of him," Rita said. "As I said, while he provides a distraction for Zordon and the Rangers, I shall secure my property and position here."

"But… my queen…" Finster felt himself starting to sweat, "if you cannot kill him or fight him…"

"There are other ways," Rita said slyly. "After all, what is more powerful than… love?"

Finster felt himself go cold inside as Rita held forth a purple bottle. "A… a love potion," he said faintly.

Rita smirked. "This I concocted with one of the Wizard's own proto-potions. I shall give him this potion as he sleeps, and he will wake loving only me. Devastated at his own actions against me, he will give up everything to me and become my willing slave. It will be then that I will decide whether to keep him alive… or dispose of him."

"And… if it doesn't work?" Finster said. "Or it doesn't work exactly as you wish?"

Rita glared at him, and Finster shrank back. He had forgotten how terrifying she could become. More terrifying than Zedd could ever hope to achieve, despite his threats of torture and death.

"It will work," Rita said. "And do not question me again. Or perhaps you have grown loyal to that skinless usurper?" Her voice trailed off dangerously.

"No, my queen." Finster bowed low. Despite his misgivings, she was Rita Repulsa, Empress of Evil. Her word was his bond.


The Wizard of Deception slipped invisible through the luxurious, if somewhat primitive, house. This was where he had tracked down the Power Rangers. In the early morning light, sleeping, they looked peaceful and so painfully young.

Two girls slept in one room, and he passed them without a glance. Their powers protected them. He could not touch them directly. He had to find one with them, who wasn't protected by power.

He froze at the sound of voices, and then reminded himself that they would not be able to see him. He stopped and watched as a boy with long hair slipped down the stairs into what looked like a kitchen. A boy in a black t-shirt was already there.

"Adam?" the long-haired boy said. "Going for a run?"

Adam was filling a bottle with water, and then tossed another to the other boy. "Yeah. Join me?"

"You don't think anyone else would…"

"Aisha hates running, and Rocky won't be up until noon," Adam said.

"Yeah, Kim and Billy won't be up either."

Adam cocked his head. "Tommy, I thought I heard you were a late sleeper as well."

Tommy shrugged. "I can remember things better if I keep the same sleep schedule every day. Come on… before your brother decides we need chaperoning for a run."

Adam ducked his head. "Sorry about that. I never suspected…"

"I think this has more to do with Sylvia and Kim's parents," Tommy said. "Ever since Frank caught us… well… that's a really long story that I don't have to tell, so let's run."

The two boys ran for the door, and the Wizard of Deception pondered what he'd seen. Two very important pieces of information. One, the boy with long hair was called Tommy… and he'd heard quite a lot about that one, if he was the same one.

The other, of course, was that the boy with dark, curly hair, Adam, had a brother. Who was decidedly not a Power Ranger, and therefore susceptible to the Wizard's power.

The Wizard glided through the house, pleased that things were working out and hoping that Rita was having the same kind of luck. After he took care of the Rangers, he had plans for Zordon. None would interfere with Rita's plans.


Rita Repulsa held the potion and stared at Lord Zedd as he slept. She had just to pour the liquid in one of the medical bags, and it would race through his system in a matter of seconds.

Lord Zedd looked exactly as she remembered. The exposed muscle and sinew, the chrome mask and body framework, the medical tubes, and the Z-staff just within his reach. Even unconscious, he radiated power and threat. From what she'd learned of him, he was also uncannily intelligent, able to think ahead of his opponents years in the future.

But, she pondered, he hadn't counted on her. Hadn't even suspected her plans. If he had, he would have killed her rather than allow her to recover and return for revenge.

Again, Rita considered the Wizard's words. Finster's words of caution. Her own misgivings. She could leave and return with her father's army. He would do that much for her. Or she could attempt to kill Lord Zedd in his weakened state, perhaps bypass the power of the Z-staff. And maybe she wouldn't incur the wrath of Dark Specter, who liked to keep all of his emperors in play. He appreciated infighting, but not to the point of death.

No, this was the right way. With this love potion, she would be able to gain Lord Zedd's eternal devotion… and with that his power, his lands, and everything that he stole from her. She would be able to command him and none would question her. After all, she had a talent for commanding the love of others.

Before she could talk herself out of it, Rita poured the potion into the medical bag and watched it zip from the bag to Zedd's tubes into where she couldn't see. Already it would be altering his perceptions and twisting his loyalties. And then, he would be hers.

There was a change in breath, and Lord Zedd's clawed fingers began to move. Rita closed her eyes, suddenly panicking that everything was about to go wrong, and wishing she'd brought her wand with her.

"R… Rita…"

The voice whispered from Zedd's chrome grill, and the red mask where his eyes should be glowed a little redder.

Rita steeled herself. "Zedd. Who am I?"

"Rita… Empress Rita Repulsa. My love, my life, my purpose for being…"

The words tumbled out, barely articulate, and Zedd tried to raise himself. He finally succeeded, pulling himself up to a seated position as she backed up.

"You attacked me the last time we met," Rita said, her voice emotionless. "You imprisoned me, did you not?"

A shudder passed over Zedd's frame, and Rita wondered if she'd weakened him too much, if he was going to pass out right here. Instead, he got to his feet… and then collapsed to his knees.

"I don't deny it, my love," Zedd said. "I'm so sorry… I know there cannot be forgiveness. If you will let me make it up to you, I will spend my life trying to make you happy."

Rita smiled. That was more like it. She could gain control of his power and wealth, and keep him feeling guilty until she was…

"I have no right to ask this of you," Zedd continued, interrupting her thoughts. "I have no right to your regard, after what I've done, but I find I cannot spend another minute without…" He looked down, and looked back up again, still on his knees. "Will you, Empress Rita Repulsa, consent to join me in the union of marriage?"

Wait, what?

Rita stared at him, processing what he just said. Did he… had he… Marriage? As in, husband and wife? Married… to that?

She felt her own knees start to buckle, but she forced herself to stand tall. Finster had been right. The spell was working in ways she had not considered. She had only thought to find a slave. Not a husband.

Her head spun. He was waiting there at her feet.

And, yet… why hadn't she thought of this? She had cast a love spell. For some, that immediately required some form of bond. He'd always cared about appearances and propriety, from what little she knew of him. Perhaps marriage was immediately connected to love in his mind.

And why shouldn't she marry him? She would have equal ownership of their shared property, without anyone getting suspicious if Lord Zedd happened to disappear. And having a husband would be the same as what she'd had planned. He would be forever in love with her, in a legally binding way. If the spell ever wore off, he would not be able to dissolve their marriage easily. And, perhaps… she'd be able to rid herself of him anyway.

"Yes," she heard herself saying, still staring into the mask of Lord Zedd. "I will marry you… Lord Zedd."