Author's Note: Take a vote on how this story should end – should I kill Kim and Tommy, turn them good, kill just one, or have them escape to a deep dark part of the universe? Would anyone like to see a squeal? GIVE ME YOUR OPINION!
Also, if anyone has this story bookmarked, can they just, like, leave a review that says 'I have you bookmarked'? It really makes me feel awesome and makes me want to write more, to know that people are reading this and liking it and that I don't, you know, suck at writing.
Not Beta'd. If you see an error, it's my fault and can you drop a note so I can fix it?
Thursday, Nov. 28 2001
2.00 p.m
Angel Grove
Command Center
"GREETINGS, ANDROS OF KO-35," Zordon's voice boomed through the chamber, "GREETINGS TO YOU, TOO, ASHLEY HAMMOND OF EARTH."
"It's, ah, nice to meet you..." Ashley trailed off, eyes wide as she stared at the giant floating head. God, what a weird situation – she was talking to the Power Ranger's mentor, a huge floating head, surrounded by Rangers without helmets, and her boyfriend (that relationship, though, was still in question), who just happened to be an alien and former Prince of Evil.
God. What a weird day.
Andros, though, didn't seem to be having any problems. Must be an alien thing, Ash mused. "Greetings, Zordon of Eltar. It is a pleasure to finally meet the great sorcerer that I have been opposing all my years."
Once again...very weird.
"And it is a pleasure to meet a solider who has seen the light," Zordon rumbled again, though Ash didn't jump this time – she was getting used to the loud, booming voice. "It is always good to see people turn towards the light."
Andros smirked, "Make no mistake, Zordon – I haven't 'turned towards the light'. I have merely aligned myself with the earthling, Ashley Hammond, and pledged my sword to her." He shrugged, then added, as if clearing something up, "I am fighting with you because she wishes. If she wishes for me to fight against you, I shall do so with no hesitation."
There was silence for a second, and Ash saw Zach tense out of the corner of her eye. Predictably, Andros saw as well, and tensed too, hand resting on his sword hilt. "So, to get this straight," Zach started slowly, "You've turned against your leader, you entire life of evil, for a girl. Not that Ashley isn't great. It's just that..."
The rest, 'how do we know you aren't lying to us and using her to get close to us', went unspoken but not unheard.
Ash didn't blame him. She'd be asking the same question, too. Didn't mean she'd stand for it. "So a person can't change their views and fight on the side of good? Are you saying that he couldn't possibly change?"
"That's not what I'm saying, Ashley." Zach ran a gauntlet through his hair. "All I'm saying is, isn't is possible for him to be, ya know, lying, since he's evil and all?"
A heavy hand cupped her shoulder rather gently, then Andros spoke up. "The black ranger is correct, little star, to question my motives. I would expect nothing less from the former second-in-command of the rangers." He pulled her to his side, tucking her head under his arm. Normally, she'd bristle at the treatment and being placed in an armpit. Right now, though, she was a little weirded out and he didn't smell (plus, long sleeve muscle shirt), so she didn't protest.
Andros turned to face Zordon as he continued explaining what had truly happened. "When I first came to Onyx, only one creature was kind to me, an android named Ecliptor. He became as a father figure to me, and Dark Specter allowed our family relationship to exist. The new Monarchs, though, killed Ecliptor. That was the first time that the link weakened between the Empire and myself." He smirked, "The second tie broke when the new Empress and Emperor stripped me of my power, title and standing army."
"By the time that they attacked Ashley, and proclaiming their intent to murder that which is under my protection," Andros' voice was a rumble, and Ash tucked closer towards him, shuddering at the thought of her own death, "I was no longer feeling the undying loyalty towards the Empire that had once occupied my heart. That is why I am here, and Zordon, I am sure that you can sense the truth in my words."
"That I do, Andros, that I do." Zordon dipped him head in a slight nod. "My Rangers," The giant head was now addressing the Rangers – minus Karone, Zhane and Jason, who were in the medbay -, "I believe that we can trust Ashley, and Andros' loyalty to her."
There was silence for a moment, and then Billy, wonderfully smart but socially awkward Billy, stepped forward, holding out his hand. "I cannot express enjoyment at the idea of a former enemy joining our alliance for the sake of a woman, but if Zordon believes in you and trusts you, then so do."
Trini smiled when Andros clasped her blue ranger's hand (since when had he been hers', she wondered). Billy might not be good around people, but he had a heart of gold and a capacity for forgiveness that shamed her lack of such. "I'm with Billy – plus, it'll be good to have another fighter on the team. We need as much help as we can get against these two."
Zach, ironically enough, was the quietest, uttering a simple, "Welcome to the light, not-prince of the not-evil." Lame in terms of jokes, but he was suffering a slight concussion, so whatever.
Thursday, Nov. 28 2001
2.00 p.m
Angel Grove
Command Center – Medbay
"Good to see you're still alive, Jason, my man." Tommy commented from Kim's Thinking Place. Kimberly herself (well, Dream Kim) wasn't there, which was really freaking him out. Dream Kim had always been there, tormenting and torturing him. "I was worried that you'd kicked the bucket and all."
Jason growled under his breath and was about to turn away when a thought struck him. Zordon had said that Kim and Tommy were alive after Jason had told his mentor about the dreams. That meant there had to be some sort of connection; in fact, it might mean that Tommy and Kim were actually showing up in his dreams.
Instead of turning away, Jason lowered himself to the ground, wincing as his cracked ribs gave a sharp squeal of pain. In the dream world, he didn't actually feel the pain as it really was. Instead, he just experiences a sharp sensation that alerted him to the fact he was injured.
"You're actually listening to me?" Tommy asked in surprise, brown eyes widening. Then he smiled and ran a hand through spiked up hair, a ring catching in his hair. The ring, Jason noted, was a platinum silver band with a pink gem setting surrounded by emeralds and onyx stones. Jason memorized what it looked like, following his infamous gut feeling.
"Kim isn't here, as you've seen." Tommy gestured around the world. "I'm not even sure how that's possible. See, the only reason Kim's able to escape her prison and come see you in your dreams is because she had such," Tommy's eyes narrowed and he looked pained at the next words, "strong feelings for you, back when she was a ranger and even before that. Did you know that she was in a love with you for a while?"
Jason's eyes widened and his mouth parted slightly in shock. Then he regained composure; after all, Tommy was evil, and evil people lied, didn't they? Still, though, when he thought about it, things began to click. All those smiles that he would get, how she was always so worried about him...
"Not any more, though, so don't even think about it." Tommy snapped, eyes flashing white. Then the young man closed them and took a deep breath. "Sorry, sorry. Sometimes the evil leaks through, when I'm feeling possessive or jealous." His eyes opened once more. "Still, warning you away from her isn't why I'm here – I'm here to make sure He didn't kill you and to help you defeat Them."
Jason opened his mouth, then slammed it shut when Tommy snarled 'no'. The red ranger almost kicked himself. How dumb was he, to try and speak when he knew what the price was?
"No speaking! Remember that, red ranger!" Tommy sighed, pushing his hand through his hair again. "Look, I want the Empire of Evil defeated, even if it means my death. I'm tired of living in a cage, watching my other half wreak havoc on the universe. That's why I'm going to tell you the secret to the power."
Tommy took a deep breath, "After the Green Ranger broke away from Rita, he...I kidnapped Kim, forced her into space with me. The first thing I did was find a space witch of Rita's like, and I had her taint Kim's Power Coin. We floated around for a while, then, but eventually, my powers started to wan – after all, the Green Power Coin was a fake, not really an actual power source. Without Rita's control, it couldn't work. At Kim's request, the Green power coin was retired and stored away. We located the White Tiger power soon after, and I became the White Ranger, after having the same witch taint the coin again. She's dead, though, so don't bother tracking her down."
Tommy folded his legs under him, lowering himself to the rock and lounging back. "We became the two most powerful rangers in existence. Without the moral barrier on the coins, the power was unleashed in full. Neither Kim nor I, however, were content to wander. We destroyed Dark Specter and took over his empire, then conquered all within our sights. Kim, though, wanted – wants – earth to bow before her. She sees the earth as the planet that rejected her...you remember her family, and so does the Empress."
Kim's family wasn't exactly loving...at all. Her father had walked out on her when she was seven, after going through mistress after mistress. He'd started cheating on his wife when she was pregnant, and Kim's mother had entered a life-long depression that only got worse after Kim was born. Her mother had remarried a rich man twenty years her senior and had spend more years in Paris than with Kim and her half-brother, Jackson. Kim had become a mother to her youngest brother, at least until high school, where he'd asked his mother and father to let him attend a prestigious British boarding school.
No, Kim hadn't known much love when it came to her family. She'd been bitter and cynical, always letting a sarcastic or cutting remark fall, during her middle school years. Eventually, Jason had sat her down and talked to her, helping her through those times. She'd gotten better, become a more fun and kind-hearted person. The time as a Power Ranger had multiplied that effect.
"The Empress has decided that all of earth must pay for her family's mistakes and neglect. She wants Angel Grove to burn, and she wants to rule the rest with a fist of -" Tommy chocked off, flickering out of existence after a second.
Jason opened his mouth to tell him to come back, but the world faded out around him...again.