Author's notes: Just so you know, I absolutely did not expect to release this chapter on Valentine's Day. Pure coincidence
Reviewer thanks: Ghostwriter, brankel1, Mirajane92, Drakkon (I've got some plans for Zeo and Turbo, as well as plans for In Space. As for advice, I guess it's the same for all writers, fanfic writers included. Try out all of your ideas, and don't compare yourself to others. Don't worry about what other people think of your work, or, more usually, what other people might think. That kind of thinking leads to fear, and fear is the mind-killer. Not exactly original, but it's the kind of attitude I've gained from writing and teaching writing.), chadhgeiger, JFVM, and KLR (I really like Kat, and I don't think she ever got proper development in the show… or some of the fanfiction. I'm looking forward to exploring her on her own merits.)
Brighter Paths
Book 9: Potion Notions
Chapter 33: Somebody to Love
"Our first mission as junior police is to… sell tickets to a dance?"
Bulk held up the roll of tickets dubiously. Skull's roll had unspooled as soon as he got it, and he was awkwardly trying to roll it back up.
Officer Stone's smile froze. "Just a standard fundraiser, boys. Sell the tickets, raise money for the junior police force, and then we can fund all those plans you've proposed."
"What plans?" Skull asked as his roll of tickets formed a spring shape. He bounced them up and down, oblivious to Stone's glare.
"The plans you're going to propose after the fundraiser," Stone said with some asperity. "Boys, I recruited you for your leadership skills. That means you shouldn't have to just wait for me to order you around."
"We have leadership skills?" Skull said.
"Of course we have leadership skills." Bulk stepped on Skull's foot, hoping that would keep him quiet. Skull yelped, and Bulk grimaced. "I mean, we come up with plans. All the time."
"That don't involve minor felonies?" Stone asked.
"That, too," Bulk said. "Don't worry about us, sir. We'll get these tickets sold."
"I hope so," Stone said. "If this dance isn't a success, there may not be a junior police force after the dance. All right, boys… dismissed."
Bulk saluted, and Skull mirrored him belatedly, and the two trooped out of Officer Stone's office, Skull trailing a line of tickets.
"Ah, man, I hate selling stuff," Bulk groused once they were out of earshot.
Skull had given up rolling up the tickets and instead stuffed them into his uniform pocket. They'd taken to wearing their police uniforms most of the time, but Skull missed the roomy pockets of his trench coat.
"Shouldn't we have told him that a dance was a bad idea, Bulky? I mean, we're supposed to be helping people stay away from monsters, and parties are the biggest monster magnet ever."
Bulk shrugged. "Monsters attack all the time. And we can keep an eye on things and help people evacuate." He grinned, the dire prospect of selling tickets fading. "And, besides, have you seen the police dress uniforms? We'll look amazing!"
Skull laughed. "I just hope we don't get attacked by a police helmet monster."
"We haven't been attacked in months," Bulk said. "Who knows? Maybe our luck will hold out."
"Steee-riiiike!"
Rocky did a little celebration dance from the bowling lane to where the rest of the Rangers were sitting.
"Are you going to yell 'Strike' every time you throw a gutter ball?" Aisha asked as she picked out a ball. "It was barely funny the first two times."
"It's all about the power of positive thinking," Rocky said. "If you think Strike, eventually you get Strike."
"Or you could just learn how to bowl," Aisha said. She took a breath, steadily walked forward, and threw the ball down the lane. It curved slightly, but then corrected and hit the center of the pins. All but the back right pin remained. "Like so."
"But that's not a strike," Rocky said.
Aisha didn't answer as she prepared to pick up the spare. Tommy and Kimberly were whispering and not paying attention at all. Rocky turned to Adam, who shrugged.
"I just don't understand how you can be good at baseball but so terrible at bowling," Adam said. "Just keep your arm and wrist straight. Just like pitching."
"I'm a catcher, not a pitcher, remember?"
Adam choked on his drink and gratefully took his turn after Aisha picked up the spare.
Tommy and Kimberly broke out of their private conversation as Aisha cleared her throat. "Our turn yet?" Kimberly said.
Aisha smiled. "After Adam. Just thought I'd ask if you guys wanted drink refills."
Their smoothies were untouched. They began to drink guiltily.
"Steee-rike!" Rocky called. The others turned to him, and he shrugged. "I'm calling Adam's strike. He's not going to do it himself."
Tommy got up to take his turn, and Kimberly stretched in the plastic seat. "So this is what it feels like to have a real vacation."
There hadn't been an attack in months, and the Rangers had been treasuring every second of it. Zedd and Rita were off somewhere, and while they hadn't completely vacated the Moon Palace, it wasn't clear when they were going to come back. They'd all gotten used to having a normal life again.
"I guess we shouldn't get too comfortable," Aisha said. "They could come back any minute. But… yeah. It's been nice."
Tommy bowled an 8-10 split and didn't pick up the spare, but he didn't seem to care. For a month now, he hadn't worried about much of anything, and it was a habit he didn't look forward to breaking.
"I guess Billy isn't relaxing like us," Adam said. "Isn't he at the Command Center right now?"
"You know him," Tommy said, rolling his eyes. "Not happy unless he's working on something."
At the Command Center.
"Billy?"
Billy pulled back. "Yeah, Cestria?" he said between gasps for air.
"You know that video footage we said we'd go over?" Cestria said, her fingers still tangled in Billy's hair.
"Yeah, Cestria?"
"I think it can wait until tomorrow."
Billy was about to respond, but Cestria pulled him in for another kiss, and all coherent thought left his brain.
Aisha took the drink requests—green tea smoothie for Rocky, mango juice for Adam, nothing for the lovebirds—to the counter, where a weary blonde was just finishing filling orders from a large group of 12-year-olds.
"I could come back," Aisha said as the girl slumped on the counter.
"No," she said in a muffled voice through her hair. "Ernie said it would be busy. I can handle it."
Ernie had put a smoothie counter in the bowling alley—he was apparently friends with the owner of the bowling alley—, and while it was definitely successful, it was obviously working his employees pretty hard.
"I've got a pretty simple order, and I can help you out. I've helped Ernie at the juice bar before," Aisha offered.
The girl smiled, pulling herself off the counter. "Just talking to someone who's not a sugar-addled child is all the help I need, really. What'll you have?"
Aisha rattled off the drink order, and the girl got to work.
"Your accent… it's Australian, isn't it?"
"Good catch," the girl said. "My name's Katherine. I moved here a couple of months ago."
"I'm Aisha. You picked the best time to move here. Have you even been here for a monster attack?"
"One," Katherine said, handing Aisha her drink, a strawberry lime juice. "I was here at the bowling alley, actually. That was before I knew where the evacuation centers were." She stopped talking as the blender drowned out any conversation.
"Well, I've been in Angel Grove almost a year," Aisha said when the blender cut off. "It can get wild, but it's okay most of the time."
Tommy walked to the counter. "Decided I wanted water. I can help you carry the drinks back." He smiled at Katherine. "Haven't I seen you around?"
Katherine's eyes had grown huge when he walked up, and she pushed her hair back behind her ear, seemingly forgetting she was wearing gloves. "Science class. I sit in the back."
He smiled again. "Right. Sorry. I try to repress anything related to science class. That last pop quiz was killer, right?"
Katherine was finishing the green tea smoothie and tried to put it on the counter while nodding. She missed the counter entirely, and the whole thing fell to the floor. "Oh, no!"
Tommy started forward to help her, but Aisha stopped him by handing him some drinks. "Here, take this one to Adam, put this one next to my spot, and tell Rocky he's just going to have to be patient. I'll help."
Tommy walked off, casting backward glances. Thankfully, Katherine's red face was well-hidden behind the counter. Aisha went behind the counter and grabbed some rags.
"Before you say anything," Katherine said, "I know he has a girlfriend."
"I mean, he does," Aisha agreed. Given the amount of PDA Tommy and Kimberly thought they were hiding, it wasn't hard for anyone to figure out.
Katherine let her head hit the counter and closed her eyes. "God, I'm such an idiot."
Aisha smirked. "He's kind of that, too. You didn't do anything weird. Come hang out with us sometime. I promise, if you hang around him long enough, you'll stop spilling drinks around him."
Katherine gave a painful smile. "I'm not sure that's how it works, but I would like to hang out. I don't have many friends around here."
She stood up and gave a startled yelp. Skull, who'd been leaning over the counter, yelped back.
"Skull, what are you doing?" Aisha said, her hand on her heart. She'd thought she was relaxed, but one yelp and her body thought a monster was attacking.
"Just seeing why you and Kat were on the floor," Skull said. "You're okay, right?"
"I'm okay," Katherine said. She smoothed her apron self-consciously and started remaking Rocky's smoothie.
"I take it you two know each other," Aisha said. They didn't look like they ran in the same circles—really, Skull's circle was usually just Bulk and whoever Bulk was with.
"We had detention together," Kat said. "Bulk and Skull entertained me with sumo thumb wrestling."
"And next time we won't draw on the faces with permanent marker," Skull joked.
Kat laughed. "Want a smoothie?"
"Wish I could," Skull said, "but I have to sell these stupid tickets to the Valentine's Ball. Please, ladies, end my misery and buy them. Maybe for all your friends and family."
"I'll take one for me, at least," Aisha said. "Or do you want me to make the transaction for… er… all of my friends."
Relief flooded Skull's eyes. "I mean, I know they'll buy tickets, but I really don't want to be the one to sell them, and I'd ask Bulk, but he said to split up…"
"Tell you what," Aisha said. "I'll meet you before first period tomorrow with the money for all of them. That's five… maybe six… guaranteed sales. How's that?"
"Enough to let me take the rest of the night off. Thanks, Aisha! See ya around, Kat." Skull jogged toward the arcade area, already digging in his pockets for quarters.
"And he forgot to ask you if you wanted to go to the dance," Aisha said, rolling her eyes.
Kat laughed. "He's friendly, but I don't think he wanted to ask…"
"I meant if you wanted to buy a ticket," Aisha said hastily. "I could get you a ticket in the morning if you want."
Katherine gave her a surprised smile. "Are you asking me to the dance?"
"As a friend," Aisha said. "You look like you could use a friend."
"Well, since my most meaningful interactions in Angel Grove have been smoothie purchases and sumo thumb-wrestling in detention… I'd love to," Kat said.
It was late, and the Moon Palace was dark. The darkness was the type of a household where everyone was doing their own thing in their own rooms, and Katherine didn't like it. It was too familiar.
Katherine could have teleported straight to Finster's lab, but she always teleported into the throne room, just in case Empress Rita had returned. She hadn't seen her since the connection between them had first been forged, and the compulsion to see her empress had become a constant ache. For a brief moment, Katherine had been pulled from the abyss, and now it felt as if she were teetering on the brink again.
Not even Rito was there. Probably exploring the caverns under the Moon Palace again. He'd promised to take her sometime. It would be a change of pace.
Her life, upon first moving to Angel Grove, had been a whirlwind of excitement. Meeting Rito and Goldar, being attacked by the Tenga warriors, being taken to the Moon Palace and joining their ranks… It had been enough to dispel the numbness she's felt for the past year. She finally felt like… well… she finally felt at all.
But the months since had been empty, and the purpose Katherine thought she had found was missing. She drifted between school, home, work, and the Moon Palace, barely paying attention to class, only speaking to her parents in monosyllables (they were used to it), going through the motions at work, and getting treatments from Finster to keep her anchored to Empress Rita.
"Ah, Katherine. I was wondering if you'd forgotten." Finster put down the machine he was working on and gestured to the medical table, where she would spend five minutes under a cap that kept the spell on her stable.
"What else do I have to look forward to?" Katherine said wryly, lying on the table.
Finster winced, and Katherine waved off his concern. "Nothing wrong with the spell, Finster. I'm not emotionally unstable. Just bored."
"Well, you'll be excited to hear that Queen Rita and Lord Zedd have sent word that they're on their way back. Should be within the week." Finster smiled and rested a restraining hand on her shoulder as she tried to spring up.
"Really? That soon?" Katherine frowned as the cap went over her head. "But why did they take so long? I thought Empress Rita was only going to be gone for a few weeks."
"They apparently ran into difficulties," Finster said. "But no matter. Just relax, and we can talk after your treatment."
Katherine went into a semi-trance, as usual, for a few minutes, but she was immediately alert as soon as the cap came off. "So things are probably going to get a lot more interesting around here when they get back. No offense, but it's been dead around here."
"Very interesting indeed," Finster agreed. "We'll be spending some time getting ready for their return; I assume you'd want to help."
"Of course," Katherine said, wondering if she sounded to Finster as desperate as she sounded to herself. Before she could ask anything else, though, a speaker in the wall crackled to life.
"Finster," Goldar growled, "the damn fool managed to…"
"Hey, it's not that much blood," Rito interrupted.
Goldar sighed. "Just bring a med kit."
"Right away, Goldar," Finster said wearily. He gathered his medical bag. "Queen Rita and Lord Zedd can't get back here soon enough. Goldar's so bored he's going to find a way to cripple himself from training, if the young squire doesn't do it for him."
"Need help?" Katherine said.
"Not with this," Finster said. "Get some sleep, and I'll see you tomorrow."
Katherine watched him go. She wasn't exactly eager to go to the training room—she hated the sight of blood—but she also wasn't eager to go home. Even with Finster's treatments, sleep was difficult, and she'd hoped the Moon Palace would have provided a little more distraction.
Absently, she looked around the lab, at the shelves of clay monsters, at the half-finished machines, at the vials of potions. Even though she'd been in the lab so many times, more than any other place in the Moon Palace, she'd never been there alone. Finster had been reluctant to let her look around.
That was a constant theme of her time at the Moon Palace. Look, but don't touch. Don't look too closely either. Don't stay too long. Don't worry about that mysterious locked room in the living quarters. No, you can't have a room here, you don't live here. Go home, human.
Human. She hadn't felt human in a long time, and now she was at a place where she didn't have to be human. She didn't have to care about her family, or school, or boys with soulful eyes and girlfriends, or memories of failure. If they'd only just let her actually be here. Was it too much to ask?
The potions were clearly labeled, with warning instructions on each one. Finster had only ever given her warnings about the sleeping potions, pointed warnings that she hadn't understood. She'd already had an issue with sleeping pills, and she doubted these potions would work with her anti-depressants. But there were more interesting ones here; healing potions, potions to quicken chemical processes, potions to augment any emotion one could think of. Hell, there was even a love potion.
Katherine paused, and she realized her hand was hovering halfway to the bottle. No. It was a bad idea. Really bad, and she'd be in so much trouble if anyone found out.
Don't take the whole bottle, then. Just read the instructions and put a few drops in one of the empty bottles. It wasn't like Finster kept track of the potions. No one would know…
Katherine's hand finished the journey to the bottle. She was always good at talking herself into doing something, and, after all, why even be a villain if you couldn't do what you wanted.
The plan was simple. Katherine had a shift at the Youth Center, and Tommy was sure to be there. She would just make sure to prepare his order for him, and she'd make sure to keep talking to him while he drank. She'd be the first person he saw after taking the love potion. Bye-bye, Pink Ranger; hello, infatuation with the new girl.
Still, Katherine's heart was hammering when she saw him enter the Youth Center. She fiddled with the dropper of love potion in her pocket. What would Empress Rita say when she found out she was dating the White Ranger, leader of the Power Rangers? Katherine had a vague idea that she could make it all about getting information from Tommy, or maybe even turning him to the side of evil. She couldn't really see Tommy going to the dark side, but there was hope.
Katherine was so worried that she almost didn't hear his drink order, and he had to ask him to repeat it.
"Strawberry smoothie, please," Tommy said. "Katherine, right? You were at the smoothie kiosk in the bowling alley?"
Katherine palmed the dropped and tried to squeeze some in unobtrusively. His gaze was making it hard to concentrate. She was glad that Ernie was in the back, or he'd see what she was doing for sure. "Yeah, I'm Katherine. My… my friends call me Kat." No one in Angel Grove called her Kat… except Skull, who'd just started doing that.
Tommy grinned, and Katherine almost sloshed the smoothie onto the counter handing it to him. "Aisha mentioned you were coming with us to the dance?"
"Oh, yeah, I need to find her for my ticket," Katherine said. "Pleased to meet you, Tommy… though I guess that introduction was weird, right?"
"It was kinda, 'Me, Tarzan, you, Jane," Tommy joked. "Well, it was good to meet you, too." He started to walk away.
"Wait," Katherine said. He hadn't taken a drink yet. "Where is Aisha, anyway?"
Tommy looked around. "Not here yet, though I think she was planning on working out later." Tommy was acting shifty, trying to get away from her. Was he suspicious?
A small throat clearing alerted Katherine that there was a line forming, and Ernie was still in the back. She'd have to take care of these customers, but he still hadn't taken a damn drink yet.
"Just let me know if it tastes alright," Katherine said desperately.
Tommy pointed to a table, where Kimberly was waiting. "Oh, it's not for me."
Kimberly smiled, both her and Tommy completely oblivious to Katherine growing horror.
"Katherine, snap out of it, we've got a pile-up here," Ernie said, finally coming in from the back. "You take orders, I'll prepare, you hand em out."
Katherine nodded and had to drag her eyes away from the couple. Damn damn… now she just made them even more in love. Damn!
While they were loading up a tray of drinks for Katherine to hand out, Bulk and Skull pushed their way to the front of the line.
"Uh-uh, boys, I warned you about this," Ernie said sternly. "No free drinks, and no breaking line. I'm proud of you for becoming junior police, but that doesn't give you special privileges."
"We don't even want drinks," Bulk said, sounding hurt. "We're here on official junior police business."
Ernie sighed. "It's probably about the dance, right?" They nodded. "Then go over there," Ernie indicated the far end of the bar, and I'll get to you after we clear this crowd out."
The drinks were laid out on the tray, and Katherine could finally hand them out, when Bulk launched forward, startling Katherine. The dropper she still had palmed sprayed right into the tray of drinks, but no one noticed, including Katherine. She was busy trying to see what was happening with Kimberly.
Katherine was walking slowly over to Skull, who was still skulking at the end of the bar. She was ignoring Tommy's attempts at getting her attention.
People gave up on Katherine serving them and started to grab their drinks from tray, but Katherine was too busy watching the scene play out to notice. In fact, a lot of people had started to watch Kimberly and Skull.
"So, I have a ticket to the upcoming dance," Kimberly said to Skull.
Skull looked up, startled. "Oh, yeah, Kim, I'm glad Aisha got you those." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, I know I shoulda just manned up and sold you the ticket directly, but…"
"You should have," Kimberly said, her voice a few notes lower than usual. "Then you could have asked me to the dance then."
"Oh, sure, I mean…" Skull's eyes widened. He gave a panicked look to Tommy, who was hovering at the table he and Kimberly had just been sharing. Katherine couldn't see Tommy's face, but she could imagine he was just as shocked. "I mean, I don't have to give a personal invitation. The ticket's enough."
"Skull, how many times have I asked you out on a date?" Kimberly said.
"Other than that time you went punk for an afternoon?" Skull said, laughing nervously. "Zero. In fact, you've always said no when I asked you for date."
Kimberly took a step toward him, and Skull took a startled step back, his back hitting against the bar behind him.
"In that case," Kimberly said, her voice lowering to where Katherine had to strain to hear, "you should probably take this seriously. I'm asking for a date. Me and you. To the dance."
Skull's eyes looked like they were about to pop out of their sockets. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhh…. Why?" His voice came out in a squeak.
"Because you're handsome," Kimberly said, "and kind, and I think I may be falling in love."
The tray was empty, and Katherine scurried back behind the bar. It definitely didn't go to plan, but it at least gave her something to work with.
Adam took a swig of water as he waited for Rocky to return to spot him. There was some kind of commotion going on around the bar, but Adam waited. He was sure Rocky would fill him in.
Rocky bounded back, his juice already half drunk up.
"What's going on over there?" Adam asked.
Rocky frowned. "I dunno… something weird. I'll tell you in a minute. Let's get a set in, at least. I know you were looking forward to lifting."
Adam laid back and lifted the weights. He'd added more weights, and thankfully Rocky was there to make sure it wasn't too much.
"Dance shenanigans, apparently," Rocky said.
"What?"
"The something weird over there," Rocky said. "Everyone's going all weird for the dance. And speaking of, do you want to go?"
"Go where?"
"To the dance."
Adam's eyes narrowed. "I mean, yes? I bought a ticket."
"I mean with me… Adam!"
The weight bar had slammed into Adam's chest as he lost control of it, and Rocky lifted it into its holder. "Are you okay?"
Adam was a bit winded, so he nodded and let Rocky help him sit up. "Uh, by going with you, you mean…"
"I mean with me," Rocky said, grinning. "To the dance." At Adam's confused look, he added, "Like, you know, like a date and stuff. Full on romantic-ass date. Damn, that was awkward, but… do you?"
Adam stared at Rocky, now hardly daring to breathe. Surely this was a dream. One of those really good dreams, that hopefully wouldn't turn into the anxiety-ridden mess that his dreams usually turned into. Rocky was asking him out to the dance. On a date. A romantic-ass date, as he'd called it. No ambiguity, just… simple. Do you want to go to the dance with me.
Adam nodded, and Rocky laughed and threw his arms around Adam. Adam still looked pole-axed, but he was starting to smile, didn't even worry if anyone was watching, because Rocky had asked him. It had finally happened.
Tommy ran up, looking worried, and Adam wanted him to go away. Not now, dammit, not…
"Adam, Rocky… something weird is going on."
Adam looked around, past Rocky's shoulder. The bar looked like it was in chaos. One couple was dancing, though not to the dance music playing over the loudspeaker, but to a waltz only they could hear. Bulk looked to be reciting impromptu poetry to Aisha, holding out a bouquet of flowers that he'd obviously just taken from a vase from a table. And Kimberly was currently sitting on Skull's lap, grinning flirtatiously and wearing his beret.
Again, all the air left Adam's body, and he felt cold even in Rocky's arms. For a second, for one glorious minute, he'd thought it was real.
All but Kimberly were in the Command Center; they hadn't been able to pull her away from Skull. They'd almost not been able to get Aisha away, as Bulk had been full into the third stanza of his love poem, continually failing to find a rhyme for Aisha.
Alpha passed the scanner over Rocky, who had stopped talking about trying to get a limo for him and Adam to go to the dance together once Alpha had asked him to stay still.
"I'm guessing a love spell?" Tommy said.
"Affirmative," Alpha said. "I'm reading abnormal levels of dopamine and norepinephrine…"
"Both of those are signs of attraction," Billy affirmed. "I'm scanning Kimberly remotely, and she's showing the same signs. Along with Bulk," he nodded to Aisha, "and a handful of other people at the Juice Bar."
"Thank goodness," Aisha said. "A spell we can handle, but I thought I had a real problem on my hands."
"So did I," Tommy said. "It had to have been something in the drinks. Or maybe something around the bar?"
Rocky blinked when Alpha put down the scanner. "I may have zoned out there for a second. There a problem? We facing another attack?"
"You know, I don't know if that's the spell keeping him from hearing, or if he's just clueless," Aisha said.
Rocky looked at Adam, and his whole face lit up. "I've been clueless before, but I'm not anymore. What do you say, Adam? If we're not fighting for our lives, you still want to go to that dance?"
The others looked at Adam to see how he'd react, and they were startled to see that he was trying his hardest to hold back tears. Rocky's face morphed from joy to concern. "Adam, you okay?" Rocky reached out to him, but Adam jerked back.
"Sorry…" he said in a strained voice, "I can't… sorry…" He ran from the room.
Rocky called after him and tried to follow, but Aisha held him back. "Rocky, just give him a minute. Don't… don't crowd him. You know he hates that."
Rocky nodded solemnly. "I… I don't really know what's going on? But something wrong, and it's making Adam upset. Tell me what I can do."
Zordon had witnessed the whole scene play out silently, but now he spoke. "I believe Tommy's surmise of a love spell is correct. Given the suddenness of the infatuation and the fact that it's affected multiple people over a small area…" He frowned. "Zedd and Rita are not back yet. It seems unlikely that their followers would attack in their absence."
"Not Goldar's style, no," Tommy said. "Plus he'd just launch an attack straight up."
"Rito?" Billy asked. "Or Squatt and Babboo?"
"More their style," Tommy said. "But why now? It's been months, after all."
"There are too many unknown factors," Zordon affirmed. "And we can't discount that Zedd and Rita are giving orders remotely. For now, we can only work on an antidote for those affected. Billy, you stay here and work on a cure. I will need one of you to search through the archives to find how to administer the antidote safely. Rocky and the other person can go back down to prevent any… mishaps. Love spells can get quite dangerous, with those strong emotions running around."
Aisha looked at Tommy. "I want to avoid Bulk, but I know you want to avoid Kim right now as well."
Tommy nodded wryly. "It sucks, but now I know why she's suddenly hanging all over Skull. I can handle it, and you're better at research than I am."
"Wait, what about Adam?" Rocky said. "I really don't want to leave without him."
"He will be right down," Zordon assured Rocky. "I wish to talk to him first."
Adam hadn't had a clear idea of where he wanted to hide. The bathroom was the usual place where he had his breakdowns, but Rocky would find him there, no problem. So Adam found himself in the Zord hangar, curled under the legs of his Frog Ninja Zord.
A frog zord. A joke, just like him. All a big, fucking joke.
His communicator beeped, but Adam ignored it. He knew it was Tommy or Aisha checking up on him, or, god, possibly Rocky, and he just couldn't hear his voice right now. That voice that had been softly asking him to dance or giddily talking about getting a limo… Words that weren't really his. It was all a spell.
After the third beep, Zordon's voice broke over the speaker. "I can activate your communicator without you tapping it, Adam."
Adam nodded, but then realized Zordon wouldn't be able to see him. "So, do we have a plan to get rid of the spell? Is it already gone?" He winced as his voice cracked.
"We're putting together a cure." There was a pause. "Adam, why have you never told Rocky about your feelings?"
Adam glared, but he realized he was glaring at nothing. "It wouldn't work out. I know it wouldn't."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know, okay? He's never been with someone… someone like me." He folded in on himself tighter. "If it takes a magic spell for him to see me that way, I know…"
Adam stopped talking as his throat closed up. Zordon knew about his feelings. If Zordon knew, everyone else had to know. The spell would end, and Rocky would know. Adam wondered how Rocky would handle it. Disgust? Pity? Would he let him down easy, or try to make it into a joke? Would he just ignore it?
"Adam, I don't profess to have any expertise in human relationships," Zordon said. "I've proven myself rather inept in that area. But I can't imagine that Rocky would…"
"Whatever you're about to say, Zordon? I'm imagining it all pretty clearly right now." Adam swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, it's just… I've been hiding it so long. What I am. And now that you know, that they know… It's going to change everything."
When Zordon began speaking again, his voice was softer. "I had forgotten about your culture's prejudice toward sexuality and gender. I know you're expecting cruelty from your friends and from Rocky, both in word and deed."
"Maybe?" With his fears spoken, Adam started to doubt them. Would his friends really treat him that way? Maybe not? Yet Rocky had bullied him when they were children, and maybe this would trigger that again.
"I know your friends to be kind and accepting. I've seen Aisha in particular fight for those who don't have the same advantages as others. From what we both know of your fellow Rangers, I believe your fears to be unfounded. However…" Zordon's voice grew a bit stronger. "If any of them treat you in a manner unbefitting of a Power Ranger, they may find they are Rangers no longer."
Adam laughed unbelievingly. "You wouldn't…"
"In a heartbeat, Adam."
Adam smiled. "I don't think they're going to be cruel either. But they may treat me differently, and that's what's scaring me. Can I stay here a little while longer?"
"Take what time you need."
Tommy hid the scanner in his backpack and tried to look inconspicuous next to the Juice Bar. The couples had fanned out, and some of them had left. Kimberly and Skull had disappeared, and Tommy didn't want to think about what that meant.
Rocky was nowhere in sight. He'd been too distracted anyway, as Adam hadn't shown up again. Tommy suspected he knew the reason Adam wasn't showing up, and he didn't blame him one bit. It had to be hell being around someone you liked without them returning your feelings, and having that person suddenly return your feelings because of a spell had to be the worst kind of all.
Speaking of…
Kimberly was hurrying over to Tommy, still wearing Skull's beret. He didn't know if he should feel relieved that she and Skull weren't together right now, or if he wanted to run away.
"Hey, Tommy," Kimberly said, as if she hadn't dumped him and started going out with someone else that day. It's the spell, Tommy reminded himself. She can't help it.
"I haven't seen Skull," Tommy said, hoping that hadn't come out as tense as it sounded.
Kimberly looked around. "Yeah, he's going to take care of something to with the dance. He told me he'd see me later. No, I wanted to talk to you." Her face turned serious. "Is there anything weird going on?"
Tommy blinked a few times, not sure how to react. "Uh… what makes you say that?"
"Are you kidding me?" Kimberly hissed. "Bulk's decided he's in love with Aisha. Rocky is asking me what rhymes with Adam for his love poem. There were literally couples waltzing in the gym area, and all you guys decided to disappear at the same time. So I'm thinking s-p-e-l-l."
A group of kids walked by, and Tommy waited until they passed. "You're right about that, Kim. We're working on an antidote, but it's taking time."
"Damn," Kimberly said. "And I thought we were still on vacation." She smiled crookedly. "I guess people like you and I are immune. Because of our spells before."
"I guess," Tommy said breezily. "Hey, feel like going up to see Z-man? He can fill you in on the details." And maybe get you the antidote first, Tommy thought.
"Good idea," Kimberly said. "Say… no hard feelings about me going out with Skull, is there?"
Tommy forced himself to laugh. "Nah, you guys look great together." He almost couldn't get the words out.
Kimberly gave him a brilliant smile. "Good. Because I want us to still be friends, okay?"
She hopped away to find a secluded place to teleport, and Tommy's forced grin slid off his face. "Yup, this is hell," he said under his breath.
Tommy almost had the scanner out again when he shoved it back in his bag. Skull had popped his head over the Juice Bar counter, and he was motioning Tommy over frantically. Tommy sighed and walked behind the counter. Skull dragged him down to where they were both crouching.
"She's gone, right?" Skull hissed.
"Uh… yeah?"
"Great! Good. That's… good." Skull relaxed.
"Wait, you're trying to hide from Kimberly?" Tommy had been imagining a lot of things that Skull could do with Kimberly, once he got over the initial shock. Avoidance hadn't been one of those things.
"Yeah, of course," Skull said. "I mean, this is a spell, right?"
Tommy felt a flash of panic, with a small bit of déjà vu thrown in. "What… what makes you say that?"
"Between her and Bulk, I figured it out," Skull said. "Weird shit happens in Angel Grove all the time. That one time everyone was praising Zedd, for one. Space aliens screwing things over." If there was bitterness in his voice, Skull was keeping it controlled.
Tommy looked down, came face-to-face with the sticky floor, and thought better of that. He remembered that Skull had shown signs of knowing more than he was supposed to. He'd been immune to the spell that had turned all of Angel Grove into Lord Zedd's fan club. Kim had said he'd painted some graffiti on the school that said Haven, showing that he remembered that time that all of Angel Grove had been under siege and had known who the Power Rangers were, and he remembered even after Tommy had turned back time and wiped everyone's memory. They'd figured out that Skull still had remnants of Blue Ranger power from when Billy had saved his life, which possibly affected how he reacted to spells.
There was always the question whether Skull knew they were Power Rangers, and Tommy didn't want to deal with those consequences right now.
"I mean, that sounds right," Tommy said carefully. "It was really sudden, and…"
"She been pretty clear that she doesn't think of me that way," Skull said. He didn't sound angry or jealous or disappointed, even. He just sounded tired. "Listen, just to let you know, I'm not doing anything with her. I mean… I told her I have a cold coming on, so she's stopped trying to kiss me, but… she doesn't know what she's doing, and that's not right. I just wanted to tell you."
"I appreciate that, Skull. I'm sorry this is happening."
Skull shrugged. "It'll be over, soon. Things like this usually are." At those words, he crab-walked into the kitchen and toward the back door.
Tommy watched him leave. On the one hand, he was so relieved that Skull handling the situation this way. On the other hand, the whole situation still made him furious. Between Kimberly, and Skull, and Adam, and Rocky, and Aisha, and himself, and just everyone… it wasn't fucking funny. Whoever had decided to screw with everyone was going to pay.
As he got up from his crouch behind the counter, he came face to face with Katherine. He tried to think up an excuse as to why he'd been hiding behind the counter, but he stopped cold when he threw her arms around him.
"Tommy!" she squealed. "I knew you felt something, too." She pulled back to look at him, and if people could have hearts in their eyes she would have. "Don't you want to ask me to go to the dance?"
He made a strangled sound in his throat, to which Katherine obviously interpreted as a yes. She threw her arms around his neck again and planted a kiss on his cheek.
Yup. This was hell.
"Billy… Aisha… someone give me some good news."
Billy looked up from the console at Tommy's arrival in the Command Center. "You've got lipstick on your cheek."
Tommy rubbed his cheek impatiently. "Yeah, that new girl Katherine got affected by the spell and decided to fixate on me. Where's Kim, by the way?"
"She was here," Aisha said. "She decided to hunt down Skull. And Adam's still hiding from Rocky, who's currently sulking in the park."
"You're giving me lots of bad news," Tommy pointed out.
"It gets worse." Billy jabbed at the console one last time before turning away in disgust. "Alpha, you want to tell him?"
"It isn't that bad, Billy," Alpha said. "It is just going to take a little longer. We've found an antidote, but we won't be able to use the same antidote for everyone. We need to make a special batch for each person, with special ingredients. And then there's the time we need to brew it."
"How long?" Tommy said. "And what special ingredients?"
"The annoying thing is that it's not science. It's full-on witchcraft, which means a bunch of nonsense I don't understand," Aisha said. "It's two full days to brew but only after we get the ingredients… which are strands of hair from both the person affected by the love spell and the object of their affections. Did you get readings from the Youth Center? We need to know how wide-spread this is."
Tommy looked sheepish. "Not entirely. I got distracted. But I think we can pinpoint some of them. Kim's actually pretty good at figuring out who's under a spell without readings, as long as we can keep her focused."
We'll need everyone to focus and pitch in," Billy said, "if we're going to make individualized antidotes for everyone affected by the spell."
Tommy glanced up at Zordon, who nodded. The "vacation," as they'd been calling it, had gotten them out of training, and this spell wasn't helping anything. Spell or no, they were Power Rangers.
He tapped his communicator and called the missing Rangers in. Kimberly showed up first, looking annoyed. Adam had his arms folded over his chest and looked like he was trying to attempt the fetal position standing up. He was also keeping a fair distance away from Rocky, who looked confused and hurt.
"Okay, everyone, listen up." Tommy made his voice clipped and stern, like he'd heard Jason do so many times. It had been a long time since he'd actively tried to imitate Jason, but he needed it right now. "We've got a love spell on our hands. We know some who are affected," he gave a significant but non-specific glance around. He suspected that Kimberly and Rocky knew each other were under the spell, but they couldn't realize they were. "But there are a lot of people out there we don't know, and we still don't know how caused it. We also need to create an antidote for every person affected, containing hair strands from both them and the people they love. Some people got mutually affected, but others… didn't. So we're going to need all hands on deck. With any luck, we can get this done before the dance."
That got Kimberly's and Rocky's attention. Good.
"So, what's the plan, boss-man?" Kimberly said. "I assume we're breaking off into teams."
"You assume right," Tommy said. "Kim, you know the school gossip, so you can pick out who's under the spell. You and someone else can collect that data."
Rocky had been raising his hand and hopping on his heels ever since Kimberly said the word "teams," so Tommy reluctantly pointed to him. "Yes, Rocky?"
"I want to be on a team with Adam," Rocky said in a rush. "Don't care what I do, but I figured as long as we're calling teams."
"I figured you would," Tommy said. He looked at Adam. He didn't want to have to force Adam into this, since he already looked so miserable, but he also wasn't sure how to deflect Rocky.
"Pleeeeaaaase," Rocky said, sensing both Tommy's and Adam's hesitation. "Come on, Adam, we always work together. It shouldn't be any different now."
Adam uncrossed his arms. He looked like he was steeling himself. "Okay, Rocky. It's fine," he said to Tommy over Rocky's whoops of joy. "I guess that puts us on hair duty."
Tommy mouthed 'thank you' to Adam, and then said aloud, "That'll mean getting their hair without them knowing. You think you're up to that?"
"You forget, we got ninja training, baby," Rocky said. "Master of invisibility and the subtle art of… involuntary haircuts, I guess."
"Yeah, you're about as subtle as a loudspeaker," Aisha said. "I need to be setting up the antidote with Billy. That means…"
Tommy put on a frozen smile. If Adam could tough it out, he could, too. "I'm with Kim, then. I'll run the scanner and I won't get distracted this time. Kim, see what you can find out through the grapevine. I'll catch up."
"You got it," Kimberly said. "I just need to tell Skull I'll be busy until the dance, I guess," she ended with a disappointed air, and then teleported out.
"Rocky, I figure the Youth Center is going to be hormone central, still," Tommy said. "Mind staying there just in case the love spell takes any interesting turns? I figure I'm not the only one out there who's suddenly and confusingly single."
Rocky nodded, and then looked eagerly at Adam.
"I actually need to talk to Adam for a sec," Tommy said.
Adam tried to smile. "I need to go home after this, Rocky. I'll see you tomorrow."
Rocky's smile slipped, but then he cheered up. "When we'll be teaming up for ninja haircuts. Okay, but I'll miss you."
He disappeared, and Adam looked like he was letting out a breath he'd been holding for a long time.
"Adam, I'm sorry," Tommy said. "This has got to be hell on you. If you want me to talk to Rocky, tell him that you need to be in another group…"
"No, it's fine," Adam said. "What… um… what did you want to talk to me about?"
Tommy cocked his head. "That? I mean, I kinda figured you had a thing for Rocky before…"
Adam's eyes goggled. "What? But… Was I giving off any signals, or…"
Aisha grabbed Adam's shoulders and pull him into a fierce hug. "Rocky may never have noticed because he's an idiot, but I know you. We know you. And it's going to be okay. No gay signals. No gaydar, whatever that is. We just know that you care about him."
"And I think he cares about you, too," Billy said. "After this love spell ends, it may or may not be in a romantic way, but I've seen you two together. He cares deeply about you."
Adam took a shaky breath and looked up at Zordon, who gave him a knowing smile. "Okay," he said. "I guess it will be okay."
As soon as Katherine teleported up to the Moon Palace, she knew everything wasn't okay.
"It was odd," Goldar said without preamble. He was on the balcony next to Empress Rita's telescope, and it was adjusted high enough for him to watch without stooping. "I wanted to look in on our enemies—just to put a status report together for Lord Zedd and Empress Rita's return—when I find teenagers prancing around in a love haze, and you with your arms around the leader of the Power Rangers."
Katherine tried to look innocent. "Must be spring fever."
Goldar glowered.
"Something in the water?" she suggested again.
"More likely, something you put in the smoothies," Goldar said.
"It's been hilarious!" Rito said. "The Pink Ranger running after that spiky kid, and the White Ranger turning practically green with envy." He laughed at what he apparently thought of as a joke, and Goldar shot him a warning look.
Katherine shrugged. "Okay, so I stole a little love potion. I was bored. I've had nothing to do for months. Can you blame me?"
"We absolutely can," Goldar said sternly. "You stole a highly dangerous… yes, dangerous… potion for who knows what reason, and you spread it all around Angel Grove, targeting two of the Power Rangers in an unauthorized attack. So, yes, we will tell Lord Zedd and Empress Rita about this. Until then…" he grinned. "Let's use this opportunity well. I admit I've been bored as well."
Katherine grinned back. "Fair enough."
