Author's notes: This is a bit of a shorter chapter, sort of a denouement for this book. Don't worry: the next chapter is going to be LONG.

Reviewer thanks: The-Chibi-Poe (I am planning to write In Space, and to make Tommy and the rest of the old Rangers'… and old villains'… involvement much more expanded. I am not completely nullifying Andros' character, though. It's not a mistake that he is also a Red Ranger with long hair.), Ghostwriter, grannybe (Did I say that Tommy was going to kill Zordon? I never said that.), Mirajane92, beast575 (I'm glad I'm bringing the Z-man love.), Notepadhalffull (You have to even! Keep evening!), The-Knight2000 (Feel sorry for everyone! Zordon included. All these characters deserve a hug.), KLR (Zordon was dying because he had become dependent on his dimension to live. He can't exist outside of it anymore.), and GothamPowerKaiju.


Brighter Paths

Book 4: The Wedding

Chapter 18: The Night

"Anything?" Tommy said, forcing himself not to pace. The Command Center was too crowded for that.

"Nothing yet," Billy said. He was silently working at their dimensional scanner, while Aisha was tapped into the Morphing Grid, and Alpha was working on the communications frequencies.

Rocky and Adam stood next to the Viewing Globe, anxious but having nothing to do. Kimberly bounced on her heels, giving fleeting glances at Zordon's tube.

"Has he ever disappeared before?" Adam ventured quietly.

Tommy closed his eyes. "Yes. Once when the Command Center was destroyed, and once when there was an overload in the Morphing Grid." Both of those times were my fault, Tommy added silently. "But he's never been this stupid before."

"That's not fair," Kimberly said, glaring at Tommy.

"Don't entirely care right now," Tommy answered. "He knew the risks of hopping dimensions. At least before we knew exactly where he was. It was just his signal that was lost. This time... he could be anywhere. I nearly kill myself hopping dimensions, and he..."

"I mean, he's a prisoner there, right?" Rocky said. "If I had a chance to not be a big floating head, I'd take it in a heartbeat."

Tommy didn't answer. In the back of his mind, he was already blaming himself. He'd been the one to show that dimension hopping was possible. He couldn't help but picture Zordon's actually-young face, contemplating a reckless escape from his prison.

He could be dead...

There was a crackle of energy, and Aisha let out a gasp as the Morphing Grid lit up. Slowly, Zordon's head appeared in the tube. Kimberly and Rocky both gave out whoops, Billy sagged against his console in relief, and Adam and Aisha merely grinned up.

"Oh, ay-yi-yi, Zordon!" Alpha said. "You're back in your dimension! When we lost contact, I was so worried, but the Power Rangers were lost, and then they were fighting, and..."

"Yes, Alpha, I am back in my dimension, this time to stay," Zordon said. "The risks of our experiments are too great, and now that Rita Repulsa is back..."

Tommy opened his mouth to say all of the things he'd been thinking, about Zordon's irresponsibility and recklessness, about how they'd nearly lost him forever, and how dare he… when Tommy stopped. There was a look in Zordon's eyes that he'd never seen before. Something had happened. Something terrible.

"It's okay, you're back safe," Kimberly said. "And we're safe and everyone's safe and oh my god can we talk about Rita marrying Zedd already?"

"How did you know about that, Zordon?" Aisha asked. "We found out from the Wizard of Deception, whoever that is, when he was possessing Adam's brother."

"I heard it from the same source," Zordon said. "Adam, is your brother all right?"

No one pointed out the obvious diversion. "Physically, yes," Adam said. "I have a feeling we're finally going to have that conversation we've been avoiding tonight," he ended uncomfortably.

"So, how did Zedd go from banishing Rita to wanting to marry her?" Tommy said.

"And who's this Wizard of Deception?" Rocky said. "He seems to be Rita's buddy, but..."

"For your question, Rocky, the answer is simple," Zordon said. "The Wizard of Deception is an ancient being, older even than myself, who has dedicated his life to teaching magic for the purpose of evil. He runs a school, and Rita was his pupil, a personal favorite of his. He's not as powerful as Rita, but he's more magically adept. His talent, as his name implies, lies in creating illusions and making them real."

"We saw a bit of that," Kimberly said. "He must have created that cave that hid the dimensional portal. We can also chalk possessing people up to his power set, so we'll have to be careful. Is he going to stick around, or is he just here for the wedding?"

"Sounds like it depends on whether this whole wedding thing is an illusion he cooked up," Rocky said. "I mean, it doesn't sound like Zedd and Rita were tight. So, he could be, ya know..." Rocky trailed off.

"Love spell?" Billy suggested. "We know that Rita has a talent for that sort of thing." He shot an uncomfortable look at Tommy, who resolutely ignored it.

"That's possible," Tommy said. "Rita tried to fight Zedd, and she absolutely failed. She might have died if Goldar hadn't smashed one of her power sources. She wouldn't try another direct attack. I could imagine her putting Zedd under a spell, but marrying him? And he's not like… I mean, he has magic to protect him from spells like that."

Kimberly frowned. She remembered Zedd presenting her with Rita's dress, reading from Rita's books. There was something else going on... but revealing what she knew would reveal probably too much. Tommy was barely able to hide his involvement with Rita; she didn't really want to add her own involvement with Zedd into the mix.

"Ya know," Rocky said, his eyes narrowing, "it would be a LOT easier to have a conversation about all this if you guys weren't so damn secretive all the time."

Tommy, Kimberly, and Billy looked up at him, startled. Rocky smirked, glad to break the somewhat smug exteriors of the senior Rangers. He prepared to do it again.

"So... Green Ranger," he addressed Tommy, "tell us more about your old boss Rita."

Tommy actually stumbled back at that, only catching himself on the edge of a computer console.

"I told you we suck at secrets lately," Kimberly said quietly to Billy, who had turned pale at Rocky's words.

"Rocky, could you be any more dramatic?" Aisha said. "I thought we were going to broach the subject tactfully."

"That was tactful," Rocky retorted.

"It really wasn't," Adam said.

Tommy looked up at Zordon, who looked back at him grimly. Tommy knew instinctively that Zordon needed to be left alone right then, that he couldn't face the Rangers revealing their evil pasts at this time. Tommy gave Zordon a significant look, as if to say "we're going to talk later." Zordon nodded wearily, and Tommy turned back to face the rest of the Rangers.

"That's fair," Tommy said. "And it definitely wasn't fair to keep a really important part of..." He glanced at Kimberly and Billy, who nodded. "Our past. But it's not something we have to discuss here. Given today's events, I think Aaron needs to hear all this, too. And I think Zordon needs some rest."

"Today's events have been trying," Zordon admitted, "and we have much to discuss tomorrow. In light of the situation, I believe we must hold the usual meeting tomorrow."

"You'll get no arguments from me," Aisha said.

They teleported out, leaving Zordon and Alpha alone.

"Zordon," Alpha began hesitantly, but Zordon had already disappeared, and the computer told that he'd put his transmission on stand-by.

Alpha shook his head sadly. "Oh, ay-yi-yi, Zordon. What happened to you?"


Rita stared at the screen projected across the night sky. Zedd's chamber of command was deserted but for Rita, Zedd at her side, and the Wizard of Deception projecting the recording from his wand. This was only for the eyes of the new married couple. Really, it was only for Rita's eyes, but she hadn't figured out a way to get rid of Zedd to watch it.

As Zordon, looking quite as young as the teenagers he employed, begged for his own life, Rita felt her eyes filling with tears. One slipped past her control, and then another.

"My love," Zedd said, tearing his vision away from the screen, "you're not feeling sympathy for..."

"These are tears of joy," Rita interrupted him, impatiently waving the question aside. "I now know that my life has not been wasted. That I truly and utterly defeated the greatest force in the universe, while I walk free." She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Wizard, that is possibly the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. You are entirely forgiven for missing the ceremony."

The Wizard flicked his wand, and a crystal appeared on one of the tables. "You're normally impossible to shop for, Rita." He took the crystal and presented her with it. "A recording, for you to treasure, to broadcast, to play back to Zordon whenever you want..."

"This is all mine," Rita said quietly, accepting the crystal. "And Zordon knows I have it. That's enough for me."

The room was starting grow red around the edges, and Rita wondered if Zedd was feeling jealous. She didn't care. This moment was precious, and had little to do with him.

If Zedd was feeling jealous, he didn't make an issue of it. Instead, he bowed slightly to Rita. "Not to break up the festivities, but it does grow late. I have a few preparations to make, if you will join me soon."

With that, he swept off to his chamber, leaving Rita wide-eyed and speechless.

Oh. The wedding night. Oh, hell.

"I will leave you for now," the Wizard said, "though not for long. I still have plans to aid you... including one plan to help pay back that wayward servant of yours who calls himself a hero."

Rita wished she had the energy to begin the plan now. She wished she could do anything but go through those doors in the dark corner. When she had agreed to marry him, she had not considered...

"Remember," the Wizard said in a soft voice, putting his arms kindly around Rita, who had begun shivering. "You are your own woman. Marriage does not change that."

With that, the Wizard disappeared, but he had said enough. Rita's head shot up. She was the one who had created the love potion. She was in control of this situation. She did not have to submit to anything she didn't want to.

She ran out of the throne room, holding the crystal protectively. In a matter of moments, she was in Finster's lab, where Finster had a cup of hot cocoa waiting on her.

She sank into a chair and warmed her fingers with the cup. "Finster, I want you to keep this crystal safe for me. Out of anyone's reach. Other than my wand, this is my most important possession."

"Yes, my Queen," Finster said, taking the crystal gingerly and setting it in protective storage. "You need merely ask for it, and I will bring it to you."

"I know," Rita said, her voice tense. "Finster..." she took a steadying drink, and she noted Finster had put a splash of something stronger in there. Bless him. "Finster, we must adjust the love spell on Zedd. Carefully, of course, but there are some necessary adjustments that must take place. Tonight."

Finster's wrinkled brow creased even more. "My queen, I would not advise it. The marriage bond may have had some effect on the love spell, and we have not had a chance to study any possible ramifications."

"I don't care," Rita said, suddenly having the urge to throw the cup. "I'm in control of this spell. If I say it needs to be changed, it needs to be changed."

"My queen..." Finster began, sounding more distressed.

"Do you realize what's about to happen?" Rita said, her voice becoming shaky. "Where I'm about to go?"

"Yes, my queen," Finster said quietly.

They were silent, Rita staring into her cup. Every protest, every angry retort, died on her lips. She knew she was panicking, but she couldn't figure out how to stop. She was caught, and she realized she was caught in a trap of her own making. Suddenly, the crystal holding the recording seemed to represent the power she used to have, not the power she had right now.

"You placed a spell on him," Finster said, for once leaving off the appellation of 'my queen.' "You now have a responsibility for him. And you married him. There are bonds here, ancient magic, with which we cannot interfere."

"So that's it?" Rita said, her voice shaking. "I just... I just submit because I have a responsibility?"

"Of course not," Finster said kindly. "But it does mean that you talk to him. As equals. He is your spouse: he will listen."

Rita thought of everything she knew about Zedd. His impulsiveness. His self-importance. His possessiveness. The only love he had in him was what she'd put in there with a potion, and even that was unpredictable. Would he listen? Probably not. But Finster was right. There was no other way around it.

She set the cup down without saying a word, and began walking back to the throne room... to his chambers.

At the bend of the corridor, Goldar stood, apparently headed to his room. He stood aside to let her pass. "Empress," he said respectfully, bowing his head.

If he had remained silent, she might have let him pass without incident. As it was...

Rita stopped, regarding Goldar coldly. "Goldar..." she said, the corners of her mouth curling up. "We have not had a chance to catch up. At least, not since you betrayed me."

Goldar looked almost resigned, as if he'd been waiting for this moment, even as fear leapt to his eyes. "My empress..."

"Call me 'empress' one more time," Rita challenged, raising her wand.

Goldar flinched back, and the more he feared the more powerful Rita felt. She began to understand why Zedd ruled principally through fear. The effect was addictive. "I..." Goldar looked like he was searching for words, now that he couldn't fall back on her title. "I wanted to..."

Rita flicked her wand, and Goldar was lifted to the wall by his throat. He automatically raised his hands to try to free himself, but he could do nothing against the magic keeping him up there, barely allowing enough air to keep him from passing out.

"To protect me. Yes, I know," Rita said, her voice low and dangerous. "You think me a fool? You think that I couldn't figure out what you did? About your... noble... self-sacrifice?" She spat out the word 'noble,' as if it were a curse. "I was imprisoned for months. It felt like years. I had time to think."

Goldar's eyes went wide, and he stopped struggling. Rita imagined what was going on in his head. How he'd always fancied himself, the honorable warrior, sacrificing his honor for the life of his empress. How he'd probably tried to protect her servants from the vengeance of the tyrant who had defeated her.

"As you can tell," Rita said, almost casually, "I am not, nor have I ever been, in need of protection. And especially not from a pissant like you. If you ever presume to protect me again, I will end you in the most painful and imaginative way I can think. Whatever tortures you can imagine, I can easily surpass. Do I make myself clear?"

Goldar's eyes were starting to dim, but he nodded haltingly. She let him drop to the floor, and he slid to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Sweet dreams," Rita said, sweeping past him and feeling far better.


The Power Rangers made their way slowly up from the beach, having used that as a teleport point just in case anyone but Aaron was at the vacation house. It was fortunate they'd made that choice, as Aaron was currently paying a delivery driver. Tommy and Adam ran forward to help bring in the food.

"We're still alive," Aaron said as they watched the delivery car drive away. "Chinese take-out is as good a way to celebrate as any."

It was a subdued group that laid out the food on the coffee table, deciding to eat in the living room while sunk into the large sectionals that formed a circle. They didn't say much as they shoveled the rice and vegetables into their mouths. It had been hours since the hot dogs and chips, and it was nearing midnight.

As they'd slowed down, Tommy put down his carton and steeled himself. He could put this off no longer. "Aaron," he said quietly, "you asked earlier about the Green Ranger. You may have been possessed at the time, but you still deserve an answer." He looked around. "You all do."

"You don't have to go into detail," Aisha said quickly. "I mean..."

Tommy held up a hand and gave a pained smile. "I've been a coward up until now. I've had to live under the shadow of what I've done for so long, and I enjoyed being around people who didn't know, who hadn't lived through that time. Who..." he cleared his throat. "Who hadn't seen the worst of me. But this is something you deserve... no, you have to know. And especially now that Rita is back..."

Kimberly held his hand and squeezed it, and Tommy smiled back.

"Almost a year ago, I moved to Angel Grove," he began. "I first met the Power Rangers when I fought Jason in a small martial arts tournament. I didn't know it at the time, but I was fighting a Power Ranger, and I was being watched by an empress of evil. Rita determined that she was going to use me against the Rangers, that she was going to give me the green power coin, which she had won from Zordon at the end of their last great battle. But first, she had to capture me and turn me to her side. She tested me with Putties, teleported me up after I'd won, and then spent a weekend brainwashing, hypnotizing, and just generally bending me to her will. By Sunday night, I was completely hers."

Everyone in the room was entranced, Chinese food completely forgotten. Tommy realized that he was giving details that even Billy and Kimberly had not heard. He forged ahead, knowing he'd never get the courage to do this again.

"Being under her spell is difficult to explain," Tommy said. "I've tried before, but there's something about it that you just can't grasp unless you're currently under the spell. I still had my own mind, my own thoughts... or, at least, I thought I did. I knew I was under a spell, but I preferred it that way. It was a chance to escape responsibility, to find purpose... hell, to even find power. I embraced it. There was a connection between me and Rita... one that has never truly gone away," he admitted reluctantly. "I would have done anything for her, and so she ordered me to befriend the five teens I'd met the week before. I didn't know why, but I did it anyway." He smiled bitterly. "There's a certain freedom in being under a spell. It gave me license not to think.

"It wasn't until the next day, after I'd made headway in my mission, that Rita staged a battle against the Power Rangers for me to watch. I guessed correctly the identities of the Power Rangers, and she finally gifted me with the green power coin. I was then her evil Green Ranger, sworn to serve her and to destroy the Power Rangers.

"But, see... there was a reason she put me under the spell before she gave me the power coin. She didn't just want a monster, or a warrior. She wanted someone who could destroy the Rangers on their own terms. She wanted one who could best them on the battlefield, but also attack them personally: to befriend them only to betray them. And I took to my mission with conviction and imagination. I was good at it."

It was utterly silent in the room, and Tommy wondered if he was indeed going into too much detail. But... they had to understand. They had to know, just in case it ever happened again. If he were ever to become evil again, they would have to stop him, and he would have to equip them to do that.

"I destroyed the Command Center first," Tommy said. "I wanted to cut the Rangers off from their support, and I wanted to send the message that they were not safe. I infected Alpha with a virus, and then I scrambled Zordon's signal, so they would be cut off from their mentor. The next day, during an attack, I entered the Megazord cockpit and threw the Rangers out. I beat them and mocked them. But... that wasn't all."

He looked at Billy and Kimberly, and they both nodded. They knew what was coming, and they were prepared.

"My attacks grew worse, as they grew more personal. I... I ambushed Billy in his own home, taking his morpher and communicator and threatening his mother, who I'd tied up in another room. I forced him to stay still as I beat him so badly that he had to be hospitalized. Then that night, at the Youth Center, at a date I arranged with Kimberly, I humiliated her in front of the entire school, betraying the trust she'd put in me. The situation became so dire that Jason snuck into the Moon Palace to find out who I was. I captured him when he tried to protect me, thinking that I had been captured by Rita. I... well, I had, but I used that against Jason, and he nearly died escaping.

"When I revealed my identity to all of the Rangers, they were thrown, but I found that I had underestimated all of them. They overcame every single one of my attacks. That's when Trini created the serum, which Billy used to heal so he could put me out of commission to keep me from attacking the city with the Dragonzord. They not only overcame everything I threw at them, but they were also able to use my attack against the high school to create a plan to capture me and try to save me. I didn't make it easy on them. During the attack on the high school, I knocked Kimberly out, destroyed their force fields they were using to protect the students, shot Skull when he was trying to defend Kimberly, and nearly turned about forty students into monsters. Even after they captured me and stuck me in a cell, I used everything I had against them... and then they broke the spell.

"It was like waking up from a long sleep. The thing was, I knew everything I had done, and despite the fact that Rita had given me no choice, I felt fully responsible for everything I had done. I was accepted into the Power Rangers, and I worked to atone for what I'd done... but there's some things you just can't get over." He looked around the room. "I tell you all this because you have to know. I want you to know what I'm capable of, if I were ever turned evil again, and I want you to know what Rita's capable of. It would be easy to underestimate her, given that she was defeated by Zedd, but now... She's back, and," he sighed, "she's probably going to target me. She'll target all of us, but she'll use our past and our connection to target me specifically."

Tommy finally stopped, and waited for the others to react. No one spoke, and he couldn't bring himself to look at them. He wondered if he'd royally screwed up everything, if they would even trust him anymore.

"That's what would have happened to us," Adam said quietly. "If the snake had bit us, when Goldar held us captive. We would have become servants of evil."

"Could it still happen?" Aisha asked. "I mean, the Wizard went after Aaron, not any of us."

Aaron flinched, and Aisha shot an apologetic look at him.

"It could still happen," Billy said. "It happened to me. Rita put me under a spell for several hours, and I allowed our parents to be kidnapped, stole all the power coins, and almost killed Tommy."

"And me," Kimberly said, "except for me it was Zedd. During the two weeks that never happened, the ones we told you about. Zedd had convinced me that I'd killed Tommy, so I willingly went under his spell to prevent my brother from suffering that spell. I terrorized the Rangers and... well... we've told you about what happened. We just omitted that I was working for the side of evil." She cleared her throat. "The thing is, Goldar was right, in some ways. We're fighting a war in which our minds and souls are attacked more than our bodies, and we're the only things standing in the way of destruction... but sometimes we get lost."

"But you find each other," Aaron spoke for the first time. "You all... that's what everyone's been trying to tell me. You kids... no... you Rangers support each other, and you never give up on each other."

Rocky grinned and raised his glass. "Guys, this calls for a toast. You've done the impossible. You've changed Aaron's mind."

Tommy, Billy, and Kimberly raised their glasses reluctantly, watching the others closely. This was definitely not the reaction they'd been expecting."

"We're glad you finally told us," Aisha said in answer to their questioning looks. "We'd pieced together a few things, but we wanted to hear the truth from you guys."

"So... Rita and Zedd," Adam said. "Should we be worried?"

Tommy, Billy, and Kimberly looked at each other and read the same expressions. "Yeah," Tommy said, "I think we should."

"But not tonight," Aaron said, getting up. "Let's clear things up and go to bed. Even the Earth's saviors need to sleep."

The tension broke, and the teens hastily put the leftovers in the fridge and threw away the empty cartons and napkins. In minutes, they had all ambled into their rooms, feeling too drained to do anything else that night.

Adam hung back, helping Aaron wash the few dishes they'd used.

"So… are you okay?" Adam said slowly, wishing he knew what exactly to say, but glad he felt that he could say anything to his brother now that wasn't strangled with politeness and silence.

Aaron sighed and set the last glass to dry over a mat. "Adam, I've never been more scared, and simultaneously proud of you, since…"

Adam knew what he'd left silent. Since their parents had died. Since everything had changed.

"I may not handle it well," Aaron continued. "I may change my mind even. But I don't want to drive you away. Not when we're all we have." He smiled. "And for what it's worth, I think you would have made mom and dad proud."

Tears stung Adam's eyes, and he looked down. "I… I never wanted to disappoint you. You're all I have, too."

Aaron smiled. "Not anymore." He sighed. "And maybe this will settle Rocky down some."

Adam finally laughed. "Somehow I doubt it. And you know you're the worst chaperone in the world, by the way."

"Oh, I know," Aaron said. "I'm exhausted. Do you think I really want to search the house for horny teenagers?" He sighed. "I'm going to bed; I suggest you do the same."

Adam made his way to Rocky's room and threw himself on the futon. Rocky was already snoring. Smiling, Adam went to sleep, for the first time without a trace of guilt.


Tommy and Kimberly laid in each other's arms, huddling under a blanket with their clothes scattered around them. They were in a room far from the others in what looked like an attic that had been converted into a guest room. Thankfully with an attached bathroom, as Tommy had snuck off to clean up before curling back around Kimberly under the blanket. And, again thankfully, a locked door between them and the rest of the house.

"We can't go to sleep like this," Kimberly mumbled tiredly, scraping her hair back from her face in the too-warm room. "Aaron will come looking for us."

"I'll set an alarm," Tommy said, then kissed Kimberly lazily. "We'll be back up long before anyone else, and they're all asleep."

"I guess you're right," Kimberly said, who apparently hadn't been all that set on leaving their attic retreat. "We might go again. It's been so long, and after today…"

"It's been ages," Tommy agreed. He pulled her closer. "Are you worried?"

"Of getting caught?" Kimberly said, her voice amused.

"Not of that," Tommy said.

Kimberly's eyes slid open slowly. "I worry. About the future. About the attacks. About Zedd, and now Rita. About the greater war going on around us. About Rocky, and Adam, and Aisha, because they don't know half of what they'll have to go through, and there's nothing we can do to prepare them, really. We can tell them about our own experiences, but there's knowing, and then there's knowing. I worry about Zordon, because maybe the others couldn't tell, but something horrible happened to him in that other dimension, and I don't care how much older or wiser he is than us, he still needs us, and it's not good to hide things, but I'm not sure he's going to talk to us." She sighed. "And I worry about you. That can't have been easy for you tonight, and I still feel like you blame yourself."

"Pot calling kettle," Tommy said fondly.

Kimberly chuckled. "So, yeah… I worry. But when we're like this, I don't. Time stops, and we're free. We're not Power Rangers. We're… just us. Tommy and Kimberly."

"Unstoppable," Tommy said.

"Damn straight," Kimberly answered. Smirking, she grabbed Tommy's wrist and pushed it over his head, pinning it to the headboard.

Tommy raised his eyebrows. "Why am I suddenly worried?" His voice was breathy, though he was obviously trying to be sardonic.

Kimberly grabbed his other wrist. She grabbed his belt and made a loop to secure his wrists to the headboard. "That's because you're smart. Now hold still… and don't worry," she ended with a smirk.


Rita pushed the door open. She'd seen Zedd's bedroom earlier that day, so she knew what to expect. She noted that he had made a few alterations. His medical equipment was now hidden from view, either moved or merely covered up. Candles hid the medicinal tang that had hung over the room from his long illness. Zedd himself was standing in his library up a couple of steps, projecting a few images and read-outs from his visor.

The projections disappeared at her approach, and Zedd turned to face her. It was difficult to read him physically, but she could feel the tiny echo of uncertainty through their bond. Or was that merely her own uncertainty she felt?

"I'm not sure what you're expecting," Rita said, fear pushing out her words, "but I won't. I… I can't. Not now. Maybe not ever."

If there was anything Rita hadn't expected, it was relief. But that was she was feeling from their bond, and she knew now it wasn't merely her own emotion.

"I should have made it clear before… before we got to this point," Zedd said. "I can't. Physically, I can't."

Rita ventured forward, now more confident since she knew she would not have to fend off any physical advances. She cleared the room and reached for his hand, feeling the invisible skin, the realistic texture of knuckle and palm. "You've done amazing work to protect yourself. I've never felt anything so detailed." Her lips thinned. "But the problem is sensation, isn't it?"

Again, Zedd seemed relieved that she understood so quickly. After all, she was a magic user herself, and far more adept at it. "If I feel anything, it would be pain, a pain that could destroy me. You might even feel it through our bond. I could never do anything to hurt you. Not anymore." He hesitated. "Even if I attempted, for your benefit…"

Rita held his hand, tightening her grip on it. "You need not worry then. I am perfectly content." She wondered if that were entirely true, but at least she now knew she would not have to do anything she didn't want to. She allowed herself a small smile. "So, what do you propose we do? You said something about preparation."

Lord Zedd nodded, and Rita felt through the bond what she could only describe as the curl of a smile. "Indeed, my love. You have given me so much. I merely wished to give you… it cannot equal what you've given me, but it's what I have."

Zedd waved his staff, and there was a grinding sound. Rita looked up a realized the entire room was covered in a dome, a dome that was retracting slowly. The candles snuffed out, and the room was illuminated by an expanse of stars. She could see the Earth in the corner, but otherwise all she could see was the vast array of space.

She'd stared into space many times. She knew many of the pinpricks of light: planets, stars… She knew where each territory was marked, including her own, which was now combined with Zedd's. In that moment, however, she wasn't seeing territory or points of attack. She was only seeing blanket of dark broken by light. As she stared, it clicked.

"Are you giving me the stars?" she asked.

Zedd stared up with her. "Everything. Everything that is ours, and everything that will be ours. The universe is yours." He paused. "Is it enough?"

Rita stretched her hand out to the ceiling, pretending to scoop the stars into her palm. What he was giving her… it wasn't just the stars. It was hope. A purpose. Their future, written in the stars.

"Ours for the taking," Rita said, and for the first time, she found comfort in the newly-forged bond, in the matching metal now shining on their clasped left hands.