We teleported to the Seventh Floor where I was promptly shackled to a pair of thick iron handcuffs and hung from the ceiling. As I dangled there, I watched as Goldar and Strasser spoke to one another off in the corner. Tommy was no where to be found, the floor of the room still coated in a thick fog. The throne was set up in the same spot, the large sphere now floating next to it. It was still green, the color intensity of it changing slowly as it hung in the air. I pulled against my chains, trying to slip out of them. It was no use though. They were too tight to slip through and to heavy to break.
My attention was suddenly drawn to Strasser and Golder who rushed over to the throne and knelt before it. Glancing around, I saw one of the doors on the wall open and Rosita entered. She slinked into the room like she owned it. Of course, she actually did own it. She was dressed in gold robes, her long black hair braided down her back. She casted me a smirk before sitting in her chair. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she sat back and crossed her legs. On the arm of the throne, a snake crawled its way up to her arm and wrapped itself around it. It resembled the one her father used to have wrapped around him while he sat in the throne. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked around for any sign of Tommy.
"Bring me the green ranger." Rosita purred, petting the top of the snake's head. Goldar stood and made his way over to the second door. Yanking it open, he reached in and pulled Tommy through it. He tossed Tommy to the floor in front of the throne, making him drop to his knees. Tommy hung his head low, his eyes glancing at me for a moment before looking at her.
"My empress." Tommy said, folding his hands in front of him.
"Tommy, Goldar tells me that you have snuck out to visit with your old friends. Is this true?" She asked, gazing down at Tommy.
"Yes, my empress. I was attempting to have the pink ranger join our forces. The former red ranger interrupted us though and then Goldar and Strasser butted in."
"I see. And why did you want the pink ranger to join our forces?" She asked, smirking down at Tommy. She looked like a viper, ready to strike its prey. Her eyes were almond shaped and now I noticed they had a slight red tint to them, similar to Zedd's skin. "She isn't their strongest fighter by any means. She's injured as well, correct? What purpose would she serve on our team?"
"She's agile and can hold her own in a fight." Tommy replied. "She's also smart and knows the Power Rangers very well. She would know their plans." Rosita shot me a quick glance before stroking her shin with a long red nail.
"I suppose you are right about that. I wish you would have spoke to me about this first, though." Standing, her heels clicked as she started my way. "What is your name, pink ranger?" She asked, stopping a few inches from me. Behind her, Tommy sat up straight and locked eyes with me. He nodded slightly, trying to convince me to speak. Rosita noticed I was looking past her shoulder. Turning, she noticed Tommy now facing us.
"Kimberly." I said, trying to get her attention back to me. She slowly faced me again, an unreadable expression on my face. "You should know that. I stayed here."
"I have a lot of guests every day. I don't tend to take notice of them all." The snake slid up her arm and wrapped around her shoulders. It was a ball python, the green, brown and black designs on it's back standing out against the gold robe she wore. She stroked the top of it's head and it closed its eyes, like a cat getting petted. "Tommy and Kimberly. As I recall, the two of you had a history while you were Power Rangers before. Is that right?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at me. I pulled against my restraints, wanting to punch her in the face. I didn't like how she was looking at me and I didn't like how I was alone. Jason and Trini had been right. Look where my stupidity landed me. I still didn't know if Jason was okay after being left surrounded by putties.
"Yes, empress." Goldar answered, his black eyes glancing back and forth between Rosita and me. "They were betrothed."
"Ah. I see." Rosita purred, kissing the nose of the snake. Bright red lip stick was painted on her lips, making her skin paler in comparison. She was quite beautiful for being an evil witch. "Were you going to join our side, Kimberly?" She asked, not looking at me. Tommy gave me another hopeful look, this time with urgency.
"No." I said through gritted teeth. Tommy rolled his eyes, falling back on his heels in frustration. "I would never leave my friends to join evil."
"You left your friends to meet with Tommy though. Wouldn't they consider him evil?" She asked, her voice light like she had just asked a simple question. "You've met with him before this as well. I'm sure your friends weren't too pleased about that. Explains why the former red ranger followed you there. He knew he couldn't trust you to stay away from Tommy." Reaching up, she ran her finger down the side of my cheek. I pulled my face away, glaring at her.
"What is it about Tommy that you can't stay away from?" She asked, heading back towards her throne. She stopped in front of it, the snake sliding off of her and back to it's place on the arm of the chair. Bending over in front of Tommy, she placed two fingers under his chin. She drew him up from the floor, walking in a slow circle around him. "I mean, he is quite handsome. I've seen him from your youths. The hair was quite fetching. He's strong and the best fighter on your team. Those eyes are delicious as well." She ran a hand over his chest as she walked around him. Rage began to run through me as I watched her touch him. "I'm sure when he holds you, you feel safe and protected in these strong arms. He's quite the man, Kimberly. I can see why you love him. Does he love you, though?" She casted a glance towards me before stopping next to Tommy. She grabbed his chin and turned his head to look down at her. He had a good foot on her height. "Tommy, are you still in love with Kimberly?"
"No, empress." Tommy spoke, his eyes flashing green. Behind them, the orb flashed as well. "I only love you, my empress." I felt my breath hitch as I watched through tear clouded eyes as he leaned in and kissed Rosita. I let out a frustrated grunt as I yanked on the cuffs again, trying my best to get out of them. I didn't know what I was going to do if I did. I knew it would involve hurting her in anyway possible. I knew Tommy was under a spell but hear him say he didn't love me and then watching him kiss another woman was worse than having someone stab a knife into my chest. Tommy pulled away, standing up straight.
"Empress Rosita, the Power Rangers are in the park. They are trying to find the pink one." Strasser spoke, breaking up the tension filled silence.
"Goldar, take the putties and deal with them. We're almost ready for the next phase of our plan." Rosita replied, moving towards her throne. "Tommy, you may keep Kimberly as a present for your hard work. Keep her in your chambers and see if you can pull any information from her. I trust that your judgement will no longer waiver."
"As you wish, Empresses." Tommy and Goldar both said. Goldar stood and teleported from the room. Strasser left as well, using the last remaining door to exit. Taking long strides, Tommy walked over to me and released my chains from the ceiling. I was still bounded by my wrists as he pulled me behind him. I shot a hot glare at Rosita as I passed her, a wide grin on her face while she waved. I pulled on the chains, bringing Tommy to a short stop.
"You aren't going to win, Rosita. Your mother and father couldn't beat us. Why do you think their spoiled little brat could?" I asked. She narrowed her eyes and moved suddenly, almost like a flash. She was on me before I could move, her hand around my throat. It wasn't tight enough to restrict my breathing, but I could feel her nails digging into my skin. She glowered down at me, her face inches from mine.
"You knew nothing of my parents, ranger. I made a vow to them that I would finish off Earth once and for all to avenge their deaths."
"They aren't dead." I spat, glaring up at her. "They were purified. Your parents are still alive." She let out a dark laugh, shaking her head.
"You silly pathetic woman. Do you think I'd allow my parents to continue to live in such a manner? I made sure they were put out of their mercy long ago. Zordon will pay for what he's done to my family by watching all of his precious Power Rangers suffer one by one." She squeezed tighter. "Starting with you."
"I'm not afraid of you. Neither are the other rangers. Trust me. There is no way this will end with you winning." I said between labored breaths. Her grip was just tight enough to make breathing difficult. She made a noise, a smile appearing on her lips. She released me, taking a step back.
"Enjoy your time with her, Tommy. She dies tonight." She tossed over her shoulder, heading back to the throne.