Chapter Twelve
Tommy wasn't going to give up. It wasn't in him to do so. He had his plan and he knew his way out. Goldar had made a mistake in allowing him to see how he was capable of leaving the dimension. He may be forgetful but he wasn't stupid and when it came to things that mattered, like his life, the Green Ranger was a quick study.
Attacking Goldar again Tommy put his plan into motion. He grabbed his morpher and then his enemy's sword.
"I saw how you got me here, Goldar," Tommy announced. "Now, let's see if it works in reverse."
"Hey, no," Goldar exclaimed.
He grabbed onto his sword and tried to remove it from the Power Ranger's hands, but it was too late. The boy was using the weapon, slamming its tip into the ground and before they knew it, they were back in the park.
Tommy let go of the sword and attacked Goldar. Moving way, he quickly morphed into the Green Ranger and teleported to the battle. He knew his friends needed his help.
"Rangers, I'm here," Tommy announced his presence to his five teammates. "Goldar had me trapped.
"All right," the whole team exclaimed.
They were happy to know that Tommy had escaped and was still on their side.
"It's time for some real Dragonzord power," The Green Ranger shout and removes his Dragondagger/flute from its sheath.
He plays the flute only to have nothing happen. He knew it was because of the candle.
"Huh, My Powers are weakening already," Tommy said in wonder.
He wasn't expecting his powers to be drained too much already. He gave summoning his zord another try. It worked this time. The Green Ranger was grateful as the tune from his flute awakened the real Dragonzord from its sleep in Angel Grove Bay.
Now, with the Dragonzord had been summoned, the Rangers had the advantaged and was able to prevent the monster, Cyclops, from continuing his attack on the city, this saving the Power Rangers good reputation. They couldn't have the world believing that they turned against them.
After the battle, the Power Rangers teleported to their safe haven, the Command Center to regroup. There, the first five Rangers, Alpha, and Zordon showed their happiness of Tommy's escape. For a few minutes, Tommy gladly enjoyed their praise at his amazing escape, but then turned serious as he looked up at his mentor.
"Zordon, there was this Green Candle," he told him. "Goldar said that Rita is using it to steal my power."
Zordon nodded within his cylinder. He had feared that the evil witch would try something like this.
"Tommy, allow Alpha to scan you," he instructed.
Tommy nodded and watched as Alpha grabbed a scanner.
"Hold still," the small robot ordered.
Kimberly had a bad feeling about this.
"What is Alpha doing," she asked.
"He's scanning Tommy for internal damage due to crossing dimensions," Billy answered.
The Blue Rangers knew that there were different scanners and he recognized the one Alpha was using.
Alpha finished the scan, pleased with the results.
"You're all clear," he told the Green Ranger.
"Man," Tommy said. "I'm just glad I was able to get outta there."
He had a feeling that if he had remained, his power wouldn't be the only thing that was lost. He would have lost his life.
"Hey, I remember Rita's secret dimension," Jason said relating to his friend's experience. "That's one bad place."
Somehow, what the Red Ranger had just said made Tommy feel awful. After all, he was one of the reasons to why Jason had to suffer through the terrible ordeal.
"The important thing, Tommy, is that you're ok," Kimberly said.
"Am I," Tommy said bitterly and Kimberly looked hurt. "According to Rita, my power's gonna be gone soon."
"She's just bluffing, Tommy," Trini tried to reassure her tall friend. "Trying to scare you. How will she be able to take away your power?"
"I'm afraid it is possible, Rangers," Zordon said.
Kimberly cursed in her head. There was that honesty thing again. She was really beginning to hate it.
"Zordon," Tommy asked returning his attention to the Eltarian. "Then you found out something about the green candle I told you about?"
"Yes," Zordon said grimly. "Rita has a special form of wax from the Gamma-Tri system. Once touched, it retains a person's body energy."
As horrible as the information was, Zordon was happy that Tommy was a Ranger at the time. If the teen wasn't, then he would be dying now instead of losing his power.
"But, I never touched anything," the Green Ranger said.
He didn't remember touching any wax during his time as the Green Ranger. Then again, he didn't remember much about the moments he spent in Rita's moon palace.
"You did when you worked for Rita," Zordon said. He knew it was the only way for the candle to be able to work.
"No way," Kimberly said in denial. "and she's been saving the was all of this time?"
"Yes," Zordon answered and she nearly groaned. "I know she has made the candle from the wax and casts a spell over it, connecting the Green Ranger's power with its flame."
"Then Rita wasn't bluffing," Tommy said sadly. "Once the candle burns out, I'm history. The Green Ranger's finished."
He began to brood. He loved being a Power Ranger. It gave him a purpose in life. He couldn't imagine not being a Ranger.
Kimberly stood by Tommy's side. She silently offered him her support. She hated that she also pitied him. She couldn't imagine being in his situation. She didn't know what she would do if it was her power on the line.
"I don't believe this," Tommy said suddenly. "Rita has linked my powers to a candle."
"Yes and if the flame should burn while in her possession, you will be stripped of those powers and they will belong to Rita forever," Zordon revealed.
Kimberly couldn't believe that their mentor was just telling them this now. That was an awful result. If Rita regained the Green Ranger power, she would be able to create a new Green Ranger and he or she could possibly be more powerful than Tommy. The Power Rangers wouldn't be able to survive the encounter.
"Zordon, isn't there anything we can do," she asked instead of enlightening the others to her thoughts.
"Someone must journey into Rita's dark dimension and get the candle before it burns out," the Eltarian suggested.
"So, how do I get there," Tommy asked.
He was willing to take such a dangerous risk. He couldn't ask one of the others to do it. This was his fight and he intended on continuing on until he returned with his power or he had no choice but to quit.
"You don't," Zordon said already denying the Green Ranger his continuance in this battle. "Your presence will only exhilarate Rita's spell. Another Ranger must go in."
"I'll go," Jason volunteered.
"Forget it," Tommy told the Red Ranger. "No way."
"Look, it makes sense," Jason insisted. "I'm the only other Ranger who's ever been there."
"It's way too dangerous," Tommy argued.
"It's your only chance, Tommy," Billy said taking Jason's side.
"No," the Green Ranger continued to protest. "There is no way I'm gonna risk something happening to Jason because of me."
The Rangers couldn't lose their leader. It wouldn't be right. Tommy rather lose his power than to have Jason die trying to make sure he kept it.
"Look Tommy," Jason said with finality. "You're one of us. You're a Power Ranger, man. I'm not gonna stand by and watch while we lose a teammate."
"Jason speaks for all of us, Tommy," Trini said.
She knew if anyone could get the Green Candle, it would be Jason. She had that much faith in him.
"Yeah," Zack agreed.
He had known Jason for a long time. He knew the Red Ranger would do anything to save a friend.
The Green Ranger sighed. He hated what he was about to say, but he saw that he had no choice.
"Thanks, man," Tommy said giving in.
"Zordon, I've found it," Alpha exclaimed excitedly.
"Found what," Tommy asked and wondered if the robot and the Eltarian could communicate telepathically.
"The molecular energy pattern left by the putties in the park," Alpha answered.
"Outstanding," Billy congratulated.
"What is he talking about," Zack asked.
"Alpha's found a doorway to Rita's dark dimension," the Blue Ranger answered. "Zordon, I believe I have a way to open the door way so that Jason may go through it and retrieve the Green Candle."
"And what is that, Blue Ranger," Zordon inquired.
"I have been working on devices that may be able to open up the doorway using the molecular signature," Billy told everyone. "If I am allowed to go to my lab to get them, I am certain, with Alpha's help, I will be able to finish them and adjust there power to the frequency we need."
"Very well," Zordon said pleased with the young genius's idea.
Billy turned to the Yellow Ranger.
"Trini, will you assist me in the retrieval of the devices," he asked her.
"Sure," Trini said and they teleported to Billy's lab.
After the Blue and Yellow Rangers' return, it took several moments for Billy to get his inventions to work the way he wanted.
"They're ready," he announced.
"Ay yi yi," Alpha said. "I sure hope this works, Billy?"
Kimberly stared at the two strange, Y shaped, long poles. She sort of understood what Billy wanted them to do, but she was still a little fuzzy on the details.
"What are these things," she questioned hoping for a better explanation than before.
"Molecular decoders," the Blue Ranger answered. "You see, Alpha found traces of the Putties' molecular pattern in the park."
"Oh, from when they took Tommy," the Pink Ranger said slowly beginning to understand.
"Affirmative," Billy said. "And since the Putties teleported from the park to Rita's dark dimension, we'll be able to follow the same path with these."
"Molecular decoders," Kimberly said understanding.
"Exactly," Billy said.
"Got it," was the Pink Ranger's final words on the poles.
"Everyone ready to teleport," Jason said moving away.
He wanted to give the Pink and Green Ranger some time alone. Actually, it was something he and the rest of the team had agreed to before teleporting to the Command Center that day. They wanted their friends to become a couple. They had watched for over a month as Kimberly and Tommy danced around each other and they all agreed that it was about time for the two to get together.
"Yep," Trini said. "We're all set."
She followed the Red Ranger.
"All right, we're outta here," the Black Ranger said.
He and Billy joined Jason and Trini away from Tommy and Kim. They found the two amusing as they all knew how awkward they must be feeling at the momet.
"Thanks," Tommy said to Kimberly. "I don't know what else to say."
He wanted to tell the petite girl how he felt. He wanted to ask her to the dance, but he froze. He couldn't, not with so much on the line.
"Absolutely nothing," Kimberly said. "Just know you mean a lot to us.
She was kind of disappointed that Tommy had nothing else to say, but she figured he had too much on his mind.
"Let's go," Jason said.
He couldn't believe how dense his best friends were. There feelings for each other were obvious to every one, except of them. It was ridiculous.
Kimberly joined her friends.
"Stay in contact, Rangers and be careful," Alpha said.
The five Power Rangers teleported out of the Command Center to the park to began their new mission.
"Good luck my friends," the Green Ranger said.
He hoped they would succeed. He didn't want to lose any one of them. They were true friends. They were the type of friends a person had for life. He just hoped that that life wouldn't end today.