Chapter 3- The Gemini

Thank you again for all the messages and favorites and follows!

I keep getting requests of certain pairings and TBH- I have NO idea what pairings I'm doing

Leaving it open for now- we'll see how the storyline progresses.

Anyway- here's Wonderwall… I mean the next chapter.

Kim frowned at the viewing globe, seeing Rita and Zedd's new "pet" ranger. Suddenly the Purple Ranger showed a sign of faltering and the three took their leave.

Suddenly there were flashes of color as the team returned to the Power Chamber.

"Who is he, Zordon?" Jason asked.

The Midnight Ranger gets his power from a corrupted crystal.

"Much like how Rita corrupted the Dragon coin…" Tommy recalled.

Yes, but it seems the hold on this crystal is fairly strong. The Midnight Crystal is one that requires the partnership of another crystal to be balanced.

"Another crystal?" Rocky looked at the others.

"So there are two crystals."

"The Midnight and Twilight Crystals were once united like the Zeo Crystal was and also hidden on the moon. After many years it was thought they were destroyed," Alpha explained. "The original rangers were twins. A brother and sister known as the Gemini. Their connection linked the crystals together."

"So the Midnight Crystal is a sub crystal," Adam concluded. "And the Twilight Crystal is still out there."

"Or Rita and Zedd already have it." Rocky suggested.

"I don't know," Tommy said with a frown. "They like to flaunt what they have. And there was a reason why they called us out to show us that they have a new ranger…"

My thinking as well, Tommy. Zordon glanced over his "children." There is a chance that the Twilight sub crystal is still out there.

"I can open a second scanner to search for the energy of the Twilight Crystal," Alpha volunteered.

"This seems like a lot," Kim voiced. "First they take Billy, then they introduce their new ranger…something big is being planned and they are trying to psych you guys out."

"Speaking of Billy, we found him," Adam took note of the first scanner. "But getting to him won't be easy."

"It never is," Kat muttered.

Adam looked to the viewing globe as the Rangers were able to see Billy lying on the ground.

Asleep?

Unconscious?

Hurt?

"Oh Billy…" Kim whispered, pained at the sight of her oldest friend.

"Is he alright?" Tanya asked.

"It's hard to tell…" Alpha admitted.

Suddenly there was static on the screen as the picture cut out.

"We know where he is," Tommy said. "We need to start planning a rescue."

-PR-

"Billy," a voice started to rouse Billy from his sleep.

He was laying on something that wasn't dirt…

But wasn't he in a cell?

He opened his eyes slowly, seeing Rita above him, pressing a cooling cloth to his forehead.

He jerked awake at this, sitting up suddenly, his head pounding again from the motion. He looked at Rita with confusion, realizing that Machina was also in the room. He pressed himself up against the wall.

"What is this?" He demanded.

"Oh, Billy," Rita said with a little pout. "You don't need to be afraid. We just want to talk to you."

Klank walked in, handing some sort of scroll to Machina, "the report, My Queen."

Machine didn't even acknowledge him as she opened it up.

"We will have to try something different, in order for it to last longer," Machina told Rita.

"Try what?" Billy asked. He put his hand to his head, "What did you do to me?"

Rita shot a look at Billy, but caught herself before she could snap at him. Her voice softened again. "I think maybe we should mix some older techniques with some newer ones."

She reached for her scepter, and Machina turned towards a computer that was set up besides the bed.

The scepter glowed as Billy heard Machina click a switch.

And then his mind was swimming…

He closed his eyes, trying to shake the dizziness.

"Don't fight it Billy," Rita commanded him. "Give in and everything will feel so much better."

He didn't want to do as she said, but the pain in his head was starting up again, and he found himself listening to her.

Anything to make it stop.

And it did.

"Good, Billy," Rita must have noticed his body complying. "You don't need to fight anymore. You will be rewarded with everything that you have been missing."

Billy felt a slight tingle in his mind at her words. What she said made him want to know more. He'll find out what they want with him if he just…

"Listen closely."

-PR-

"I think we can figure out a way in," Adam finally said. "And we have pinpointed where the Twilight Crystal is."

"Should we wait for everyone?" Tommy asked.

Rocky had to go teach a class, Tanya had after school tutoring, and Jason went to go meet up with Emily, who was bringing him a bag of food from Ernie for the gang.

Adam looked to the others.

Kat stood, "we should at least start making plans. We can fill the others in when they get back."

Tommy nodded and looked to Adam, "so what are we looking at?"

"From what we can see, Billy is being held in this area," he pointed to a lit up area in the floor plans that was on the viewing globe.

"And the crystal?"

"Over here," Adam pointed to a quiet area of the moon.

"We can do a double distraction… someone goes to retrieve the crystal, others will go to confront them about returning Billy while a couple of us are sneaking in to do just that." Tommy suggested.

"I'll go get the crystal," Adam volunteered.

Actually Adam, it would be best for Kimberly to retrieve it, Zordon suggested.

Tommy glanced at Kim. "Is that a good idea, Zordon?"

Kimberly is capable of wielding the crystal, as a former ranger who has knowledge of the morphing grid.

"Also, if all of you are discovered, they will notice if one ranger is missing from the group," Kim noted. "They won't be looking for me."

Tommy thinned his lips. "I'm not sure I like this. If you take possession of the crystal, doesn't it tie you to the Midnight Ranger?"

"Which gives us an opportunity to pull the crystal towards good," Alpha offered.

"Or it places Kim in danger of being captured."

"Tommy," Kim stepped up to him. This was as close as they have physically been since she got back, besides the awkward hug hello. "Do you trust me?"

Tommy looked at her closely. He could smell the fresh rose scent she always wore, which differed from the sweet vanilla one Kat wore. He sighed and gave her a nod.

"I trust you. But we know Zedd and Rita are involved… and a new ranger that they control."

"They couldn't control you," Kim noted. "And they won't control me."

Tommy nodded.

"It's settled then. Let's start making plans."

-PR-

Billy stood in a world of a dream.

"Where am I?" His voice seemed to echo.

"Where you belong," came a familiar voice. "Far away from us."

Billy turned to see Tommy, who stood before him with his arms crossed.

"What?" Billy looked at him in disbelief.

"You're just in the way," Jason said on the other side. "You've always been the weakest link."

He turned to his side to see someone else step forward.

"No wonder you gave me your crystal," Tanya shook her head.

"Blue is more my color anyway," Rocky added, coming up from behind him.

"I can nearly do anything you can," Adam interjected, "and we have Alpha."

Billy felt his heart sinking.

"You…you can't all mean that."

"Are you really surprised?"

Billy turned to the last ranger.

Kat.

"You said it yourself, you have been distancing yourself from us. How long until we realized how much we don't need you. How much better off we are if you're not around."

"I know I haven't been as involved outside of the Power Chamber…" Billy looked down.

"And it's been for the better."

Billy stepped back.

"You gave up your power, why did you think you deserved any back?"

"It's a good thing you couldn't take the Gold Ranger power."

"This can't be true." Billy placed his hands over his ears to block out the voices. "You are my friends."

"Are we?" Someone's voice mocked.

He couldn't even tell who it was any more.

Suddenly everyone froze.

"Poor Billy," came Rita's voice. With it came the tingling sensation again, soothing the pain in his chest and head. "They don't appreciate you. After everything you have done for them…"

He lowered his hands, turning to look at Rita, who stood before him. He glanced around at the faces of his "friends".

"How could they…?" He glanced around at each one, his eyes lingering on Kat and Tommy. He turned back to Rita. "I…this must be some kind of trick."

"Is it?" She challenged. "Or is the real trick the lies you have been telling yourself? That they are your friends? You've always been the one left behind. You're the one who has to know and fix everything, but when you are in need? Where are they?"

She gestured around him. He glanced and realized the rangers had vanished.

"Adam is trying to be you, and put you down. Rocky has replaced you. Tanya doesn't even put in the work. Jason is thankful you failed. And Kat is too busy pining over Tommy to care about anything else."

Rita stepped a bit closer, her wand glowing slightly. "And Tommy uses you until you're not needed any more."

Billy felt angry.

This was what he feared, of course he was right in the end.

He felt the tingle sensation again, which made him feel good.

Strong.

"Zedd and I always knew there was something special about you." Rita placed a hand to his cheek. "Let us give you what you want."

Billy hesitated.

-PR-

Machina watched silently as the sound waves washed over Billy's body, keeping him in a trance.

Rita opened her eyes and looked at the metal queen, giving her a nod.

Machina switched off the computer, and the sound waves stopped.

Billy's eyes fluttered for a moment, then slowly blinked open. He glanced around at his surroundings and slowly sat up.

"How do you feel?" Rita asked him.

"I feel better," he answered, "stronger."

"What is your purpose?"

"To serve you, Mistress, and my Lord."

Rita smiled and looked over to Machina.

"And your mission?"

Billy's eyes flashed.

"To bring an end to the Power Rangers."

Dun Dun Dun!

Hope you are still enjoying the story.

I promise things will pick up the pace from here…

Hope to have the next chapter out in a day or so

Comments/reviews are very much welcomed!