Well, I almost didn't get this done for tonight, but here it is. It took longer than I thought to write this. As for the next update, I do not know when that'll be. I don't even know when I'll get a proper internet connection to use or how hectic my schedule will be. However, I hope to have this next chapter up within the next two weeks. I cannot guarantee anything though. The best way to keep in touch with me is by joining my mailing list because I do send out emails if there is to be a delay. Anyway, enjoy this next chapter!
Chapter 37 Up to Adam
Kimberly was afraid, more afraid than ever. If she made a choice, then she was risking her life too. Was she willing to put herself, her own life on the line for her friends? Of course she chided herself. Why wouldn't she? Because you're stuck in a wheelchair that limits your movement. You are without your fighting skills and are a worthless cripple. Kimberly tried to force away the negative self esteem that was forming, but it appeared to be overtaking her positive side. I've got to fight this! I'm not worthless and I can help! I can deal with Maroon!
Now that the Rangers were swept up in battles with the Devil Minion and their fellow Rangers Maroon could relax just a little. She could glance over at Kimberly, and not have to fear the other Rangers seeing her out of character. She turned her eyes to Kimberly, but her face continued to face forward. "What the hell are you doing!" she hissed.
Kimberly refused to answer Maroon. Maroon didn't need to be answered; the answer was obvious enough. She simply stared away, and kept her eye on the battle in front of her.
Maroon wanted to lash out, wanted to make Kimberly pay. Kimberly was going to ruin the plan, if she wasn't careful. Adam almost escaped in time, almost. Next time he might just be lucky and actually escape. She had to calm down. Her anger was rising, and she knew it could and would get the best of her if she wasn't careful. Maroon began to breathe slowly, taking deep breaths. She wouldn't let her anger take over. Not this time. Not when everything came down to this. If she gave in to her anger, everything up until this point in time would have been for nothing!
Tommy lashed out at the teenager in front of him. He had to get everything out. That boy had taken what he desired, but what that was, he didn't know. He simply knew that the teen in front of him must pay dearly, with his life if necessary. "I'll kill you!" he roared.
"Tommy, take it easy! We've got to save Kimberly!" yelled Rocky as he continued to dodge Tommy's punches.
Tommy's eyes flashed bright red. He hadn't heard what Rocky had really said. Instead he had heard, "Kimberly's mine Tommy. I'll treat her better than you." He growled at Rocky before going to kick him. "You'll pay for that Rocky. You'll pay dearly!" His kick connected right below Rocky's kneecap and Rocky doubled over in pain. He couldn't fall to his knees and the position he was in did nothing for the pain. He groaned and waited for the pain to subside.
Adam wanted to help Rocky out, and he wanted to help Tanya out too. Since he was glued to the spot, all he could do was wince every time one of his friends suffered one of Katherine or Tommy's blows. He became lost in thought, and this was his biggest mistake. Before he knew it, he felt a fist connect with his stomach and the air going out of him. Through clinched teeth he hissed loudly at whatever had decked him. He looked up, only to find Katherine smirking at him. "C'mon little frog. Let's tango," she purred.
"I'm… not… a frog!" Adam yelled as he shoved her backwards, too afraid to actually punch her.
Katherine quickly regained her footing and pounced on Adam from behind, leaping onto his back. She leaned over and whispered into his ear. "Little frog you cannot escape me. I am on to you like a cat with catnip." Katherine then pushed herself away from Adam, using her feet as leverage on his back. Adam flew forward, but a sudden jolt told him that the bond couldn't be broken by force.
Adam regained his balance and quickly glanced around. Katherine had left him for another of his teammates, pouncing on Jason just as she had with Adam. Adam was confused by Katherine's actions. The spell was to make her angry, just like Tommy was, yet Katherine seemed more bent on causing simple pain than yelling at her teammates as Tommy did. Adam realized that this did not matter to the Devil Minion. Either way, Katherine and Tommy were doing his dirty work. No matter what Katherine and Tommy did, their teammates would remain bonded to the ground. Adam racked his brain for a solution. There must be something that will break the spell of Maroon's so that we can break Devil Minion's. Then it hit him. Kimberly was the key to breaking Maroon's spell. If Kimberly could attack Maroon, then Maroon just might loose control over her spell, freeing the Rangers long enough to get back at Devil Minion to save Tommy and Katherine. It seemed impossible, but it was the only chance. Adam raised his gloved hand to his mouth. "Zordon, it's Adam. We need help here!"
Power Chamber
Billy sighed as he watched the battle through the viewing screen. The Rangers were in one giant mess and he couldn't come up with any theories that would free the Rangers. He feverishly worked at the control panels with Alpha, monitoring the morphing grid and continuing to think all at the same time. Adam's distress call broke through his thoughts.
"Zordon, it's Adam. We need help here!"
"The battle is indeed a tough one Adam. I have been closely studying Devil Minion. It seems his control over Katherine and Tommy is held in the staff. If you Rangers can get ahold of his staff and destroy it, you will break the spell over Katherine and Tommy."
"Zordon, that will only work if Maroon's bond spell is broken. The only one of us able to do that is Kimberly."
"Do not fear Adam. I am confident that Kimberly will fight back against Maroon and cause her to release the spell on you and your friends. Once the spell is broken, you must act quickly, or all will be lost."
Adam nodded. "Right, Zordon," came the response.
Billy spoke up. "Are you sure this will work, Zordon? According to my calculations, the chance the Rangers will take is highly risky."
"It is, but the Rangers will manage. They, like you, were chosen for the skills you could provide as a Ranger. I have a feeling that Adam's self confidence will finally break free in this battle. That is the key to success."
Billy nodded. What Zordon said was most likely true in all cases, but would Adam be in time? Even if Zordon predicted the outcome, he could not predict the exact moment that Adam would break free and defy his shyness. What if it happened too late? Or what if it did happen, and did nothing? Billy's pessimistic thoughts fought for control of his brain.
"Don't worry, Billy. The Rangers will come through. They always do," remarked Alpha, as though reading his thoughts.
"I know, Alpha."
Angel Grove Park
Jason struggled with his bonded legs, but eventually gave it up as a worthless cause. None of the other Rangers had been able to break free yet, so why should he have? He shook his head. Things were getting worse all the time, and he couldn't stop it. He stood in his gold Ranger suit, powerless to do anything. Jason glanced around, noticing Adam whispering into his gloved hand. What is he up to? Thought Jason. Adam was the closest Ranger to him.
"Adam!" called Jason once Adam had finished speaking.
Adam glanced up suddenly and seemed to give a sigh of relief when he noticed it was only Jason calling to him. "Yeah?"
"What's up?" asked Jason, pointing to his arm.
"Plan," whispered Adam so quietly that Jason had to strain to hear what he had said.
Jason tilted his head quizzically. Adam tried to figure out how to explain things, but simply nodded. If Adam let any part of what Zordon said slip, things could take a turn for the worse. "When I say your name, aim for…" Here he silenced and pointed to Devil Minion's staff. He hoped that wouldn't give away the plan. "Trust me," he finished.
"Gotcha," replied Jason, hoping that whatever plan Adam had in mind would work.
Adam turned away from Jason and looked at Kimberly, at least the one he thought was Kimberly. She had to make things work. Adam wondered how he could call her out without attracting too much attention. Then it clicked. He would turn Maroon's anger against her. That way, Maroon would be forced to act on Kimberly and break her connection with the spell. Jason could move freely and destroy Devil Minion's staff. It simply had to work.
There was only one problem. Adam's shyness was taking over, and he started to become nervous. What if things didn't work? What if he messed everything up? What if the plan failed, all thanks to him? Snap out of it Adam. You've got to do it. There's no other choice and the whole team and Kimberly are depending on you. You've gotta take charge. Be the leader for once.
"Kimberly! I know which clone is you! Those last few signals you sent me told me everything!" shouted Adam.
"What?" roared Maroon. Her anger had finally reached the boiling point and she could hold it back no longer. "How dare you betray my instructions! You'll pay with your life!"
The Rangers who were not engaged with Katherine and Tommy all stared in shock at the Kimberly on their right, the one who had just had the outburst. Maroon had shown herself to the Rangers and all that had to be done now was get rid of Devil Minion. Devil Minion himself simply cackled at the scene, paying it no true mind.
Maroon leapt from the wheelchair and tackled Kimberly out of the other. She began going at her, throwing punches toward her face. Kimberly did her best to block them and roll out of the way. "I did no such thing!" yelled Kimberly.
"Your friends were able to tell which one was you. You sent them hand signals. They saw the signals and made the connection!"
Adam watched the scene with interest, but knew he had to pull away from the ground. He began moving his feet back and forth, trying to loosen the bond. Suddenly, his feet snapped backwards as he fell to the ground and landed on his butt. He looked to Jason. "Jason!" he shouted.
Jason had already worked his feet free. He moved within range of Devil Minion. "Feel the power of my golden staff!" he shouted as beams shot forth and promptly destroyed the staff that Devil Minion held. The look of bemusement on his face changed to one of explosive anger. He roared and began to glow red. "Guys, watch out!" warned Jason.
Tommy and Katherine fell to their knees, finally able to try to fight the spell that Devil Minion had placed on them. Their eyes flashed from normal to red and back again. The two grasped at their heads, trying to get rid of the intense pain searing through their skulls. Finally, they fell forward. Rocky and Tanya rushed to their sides.
"Tommy!" shouted Rocky.
"Kat!" called Tanya.
There was no response right away. Rocky looked over his two friends and checked for pulses. "They're okay," he announced.
"Come on guys. You need to wake up. We can really use you," said Tanya as she shook Katherine's shoulder.
A groan from Tommy and then one from Katherine brought sighs of relief to their friends' faces.
"Thank goodness," spoke Rocky.
Tommy sat up first. "What happened?" he mumbled. "I feel like I've been run over by a giant truck."
Katherine sat up as well. "Oh my head really hurts," she complained.
"You were under Devil Minion's spell, but with Jason's and Adam's help the staff that controlled you was broken. I don't think Devil Minion can cast anymore spells like he just did," explained Tanya.
"What about Kimberly?" asked Katherine.
"Thanks to a trick by Adam, we now know which one is Kimberly and which one is Maroon. They're currently decking it out in the grass over there," answered Rocky as he pointed out the two.
"We've got to stop those two," spoke Katherine.
"I'll help you," added Tommy. "The rest of you need to take care of Devil Minion."
"Shouldn't you guys suit up first?" asked Rocky.
"Not yet," answered Tommy as he thought about it. "First we're going to get Kimberly. Then I'll suit up and take care of Maroon. I'm sure Katherine is thinking the same thing." He received a nod from Katherine.
"We'll join you as soon as our job is finished," said Katherine.
"Gotcha," answered Rocky. He and Tanya rose to their feet and ran to the rest of the team.
"Guys, new plan," yelled Tanya.
When the two were close enough to Adam and Jason, they explained the plan. Adam and Jason nodded in agreement. Devil Minion watched the group. "Dare to challenge me Rangers?" he called. "You may have broken my spell staff, but that does not mean I am not a worthy opponent. Try me and you shall see!"
There you have it. Now we know which Kimberly is Kimberly and which is Maroon. I told you Maroon's anger would backfire on her. I bet you guys didn't expect Adam of all people to be the hero of the chapter though! See ya next update.
Next time on Windmill into the Fall: Now that the real Kimberly is known, what will happen? What will the Rangers do with Maroon and what will happen with Devil Minion? Find out next chapter!