Ranger Tales

Chapter 8: Stones of Time

A/N: This story is set in an alternate universe where the Alien Rangers arc never happened, although the Alien Rangers do exist. Carri Hillard and all things relating to Carri belong to KJ with many thanks. Azazel belongs to Eric Kripke. I used Phaedos as the source of the Ninjetti Powers, but Ninjor exists and is the acknowledged creator of Ninjetti. Also, this story has nothing to do with my previous two. The episodes in which Billy went to Aquitar did not happen in this fic. In this fic, Tommy and Kim have not broken up. From here and on, it develops into a completely original story. The time travel that is present is very basic, the ones that travel are kept from seeing anybody (mostly) and no changes occur. Sorry its not very exciting, this chapter is really just to set up the basis for others.

Also, let me know what you think, I appreciate the feedback. Thank you for reading.

He sat in Cold Oak, South Dakota. Azazel ran his fingers through his short hair, he couldn't believe what he had heard. Dark Specter, the Grand Monarch of Evil, was setting his sights on not only Earth, but the entire universe. That did not bode well for his own plans, his plans to release his father from Hell. There were very few things scared Azazel, The Colt was one of them, assuming anyone would ever have the guts to use it on him, the Angels were another, again, assuming they could find him, and Dark Specter was at the top of the list. He'd heard rumors that the Grand Monarch was setting up a United Alliance of Evil. Azazel thought to himself that if his plans were to go any further then he'd have to step it up a notch. Maybe, maybe pretend to join forces with the monarch, yes, that's the way to go. Pretend to join his army, his cause, that way he could continue with his plans, and when the time was right, he'd kill the monarch himself. he didn't know how, but he would. With a smple movement of his hand he vanished, leaving Cold Oak once again deserted.

Zedd and Rita were sitting up in the Lunar Palace, devising their next scheme. Zedd had sent both Goldar and Rito to find five stones, he planned on using these stones to finally be able to destroy the Power Rangers. He knew he didn't have to send them both, but Rito was getting on his last nerve and he needed him out of the palace before he killed him.

"Ah!" Zedd exclaimed as Goldar returned with the items he sent him to find. "At last, the the Stones of Time are mine." He said as he snatched the pouch away from Goldar. "You've done well, for once."

"Zeddie, when are you going to share your plan with me?" Rita whined. Zedd had done all the planning, and left her out the loop. She didn't like it one bit.

"Now, my dear." He held the pouch in front of her face and continued "I hold in my hands the seven Stones of Time. Five of them will be used to send those Power Brats to another time."

"Haven't we already tried that?" she asked, her faith in his plan dwindling.

"Yes. But not like this. They won't all be sent back to one place, they'll be scattered throughout the past anf future." He laughed and gave Rita her assignment, to which she quickly left to get started on, cackling as she went.

Zedd went and sat on his throne, when suddenly he noticed the already dim lighting of the palace get dimmer and flicker. He turned to find the cause of it, and much to his surprise there stood the man he'd met a few months ago. "You," Zedd said as he jumped up "what are you doing here?" Before Azazel could answer Zedd ordered both Goldar and Rito to attack, but before they could even make a move Azazel turned and looked at them, using his power to pin both against the wall.

"You shouldn't mess with the big boys," he smiled at them. "As for why I'm here, well, I need to get in touch with someone, and I need your help in doing so."

"And why should I help you?" Zedd asked.

"It's Dark Specter. I've heard a rumor that he's out for the universe, including Earth. I want in on the action," he lied. What Azazel really wanted was to get in Dark Specter's good graces, then turn around and stab him in the back.

"I haven't heard that," Zedd admitted. It was true, he hadn't been informed of this plan. How this demon knew and he didn't he didn't know.

"Well, that's not surprising. It's also been said that he only wants the most evil beings to be in on his plan." Azazel said, trying to push Zedd's buttons. "I heard he even rebuilt King Mondo and his wife, he felt they'd be better suited to help him."

Zedd was furious, no one talked to him like that. No one. It took every ounce of control he had not to jump up and attack. The only thing he would enjoy more than killing the Power Rangers would be killing Azazel. "Well I can't help you. Sorry." Zedd partially lied, he couldn't help him. But he wasn't sorry about it.

"That's too bad, guess I'll find someone worthy of Dark Specter's plans." In the blink of an eye Azazel was gone and Goldar and Rito dropped to the floor.

Zedd sat there, that demon made him so angry. Who was he to look on him? Zedd had conquered entire galaxies, and what had Azazel conquered? A small army of demons, that's what. He would have his revenge one day, he knew he would. He knew of the one thing that could kill the demon, he just had to look for it.

As he sat there, wrapped in his thoughts, Rita entered the throne room, her part of the plan done. Zedd handed her old footsoldier five of the stones and sent him on his way.

It was mid March and the Rangers were enjoying their Saturday. The five teens, Tommy, Rocky, Jason, Carri, and Emily, all went to the Carnivel that had just come to town. Billy elected to stay behind and work on some stuff in the Power Chamber. They felt bad, he spent most of his time in there working, he assured them though that he enjoyed it. Thanks to Trey they were able to invent stuff they never thought possible. To Billy building a new machine was more fun than going out to a Carnivel.

"So what should we do next?" Carri asked as they exited the House of Mirrors. One of the mirrors Carri looked at showed her fat, and Rocky couldn't hold his laughter in at her expression. She'd been playfully giving him the silent treatment ever since.

"There's a Ferris Wheel over there, we'd have a nice view of the lake," Jason pointed out. The others agreed and were off to the Ferris Wheel. As they were on their way a clown jumped out in front of them.

"Hey there boys and girls! Would ya like to see a trick?" he asked, just a little too enthusiastically.

"No thanks. We didn't appreciate it the last time a clown showed up a trick," Jason told him, crossing his arms. The last time they'd met a clown it had been Pineapple and he turned Trini's cousin Sylvia into a cardboard cut out.

"Aw, c'mon. It'll be worth your while," the clown promised, pushing his bottom lip out.

Jason sighed, uncrossing his arms. "Fine. But just one trick."

The clown smiled "One is all I intend to do." He pulled five stones out, one red, one blue, one green, one yellow, and one pink and began juggling them. This is his trick? Jason wondered, It's nothing really. When he finished the clown handed each of them a stone.

"What's this for?" Emily asked, looking at the pink stone.

"Why, to remember this day of course," the clown responded, smiling the whole time. Tommy stared down at his red stone, something seemed a little off, but he shrugged and they all thanked the clown and continued on their way. As soon as they were out of sight the clown disappeared in a white flash. When he reappeared he was in the Lunar Palace. "They have them, sir" he said as he powered down from his clown suit and back into a regular Putty.

"You have done well," Zedd congratulated him. It had been ages since they'd used a Putty, it was to see that they were still good for something. "Now we wait for their teenage minds to wander."

As the Rangers continued walking they each began to let their thoughts drift. Emily thought about the story she'd been told, about how everyone first met Tommy. Looking over at her boyfriend, Jason, she didn't understan how he could have faced his friend like that. It must have been hard. She didn't think she could do it, if Carri were to have a spell placed on her like that, she'd be too afraid she'd kill her while trying to save her. Over the past couple of months she and Carri had become close, not sister close, but still close.

Jason began to think about what life would be like after college, how his life would turn out. If he would ever stop being a Ranger. He didn't know what he'd do without the Rangers. They had become his life, his passion. He sighed, and looked over at Emily and gave her a kiss as he continued thinking about the future.

Tommy began to think about how his clone was holding up in the past. He didn't know why, he supposed it was because of their encounter with another version of him a couple months ago. He thought about how it'd be nice to see him again, they were kind of like brothers after all. He stretched as he continued walking. The only Colonial Angel Grove didn't have was Kimberly, he doubted her ancestors lived there. It'd be kind of cool though.

Rocky found himself thinking about the present day, about how happy he was with Carri. He smiled down at his girlfriend and pulled her into him as they continued walking.

Carri began thinking of her life now as well, how happy Rocky made her. She leaned up and gave him a kiss. they'd been together for almost a year now. Things were going great.

As the Rangers were lost in their thoughts, three of them vanished in flashes of red, green, and pink. Rocky and Carri watched as their friends vanished. They quickly found themselves ducking for a safe place to hide while they teleported to the Power Chamber.

Billy and Alpha were working on some new devices for the Rangers, it was a nice quiet day and they had gotten a lot of work done. Billy stretched as he finished up with one of them and moved onto the next one. It was then he heard the sound of the Rangers teleporting in. He turned to face them and said "Hey guys, what's wrong?" Looking around he noticed only Rocky and Carri were the only ones there. "Where are the others?"

"We were kind of hoping you could tell us, they just vanished," Rocky said as he walked up.

"How is that possible? Are you sure they didn't just teleport somewhere?" Billy questioned.

"Positive," Carri assured them "none of them would teleport in the middle of a crowd."

"I'll start scanning for them, in the mean time you guys just go back to Carri's house and I'll alert you when I have something."

"But-"

"Come on, you heard him," Carri said, interrupting Rocky's protest. She didn't want to sit by and wait anymore than he did, but for the moment they didn't have a choice. After they teleported out Billy began scanning for their Zeo crystals.

Emily's head was pounding when she woke up. She held it and sat up. Looking around she saw she was by the shoreline. "How did I get here?" she asked aloud. Suddenly she heard someone's screech of a voice, and what sounded like Tommy saying 'yes my empress.' Confused, Emily took a few steps forward and peered around the corner of the cliff. Sure enough, there was Tommy, but he looked different from the Tommy she knew. He was dressed in green, had a short mullet, and his eyes, his eyes looked cold and ruthless. This was definitely not the Tommy she knew. Suddenly she realized where she was, somehow she had been transported to the past, back when Tommy was evil. She had been thinking about that story right before she vanished, but what she didn't know was how she got here.

A few minutes later the original Power Rangers showed up, and she assumed that meant the Power Chamber wouldbe empty, so she quickly teleported out.

"Ay yi yi! Intruder alert, intruder alert!" Alpha cried as he ran around frantically. The pink streak materialized into Emily, she looked around and saw that this wasn't the Power Chamber.

"Who are you?" Zordon asked, he had recently been re-connected to the Command Center.

"My name is Emily, I'm a temporary Ranger. Zeo Ranger I to be exact," she explained. "I think I'm from the future, but I'm not sure. Can you help me?" Zordon looked down at the woman standing before him. She claimed to have the Powers of the Zeo Crystal, but why she would need that he didn't know. As he looked her over he noticed a pink stone in her hands.

"Where did you get that?" he asked, looking at the stone.

Emily followed his gaze down to her stone. She had forgot about it, she held it up. "This?" Zordon nodded. "It was given to me by a clown at the Carnivel, why? Is it important?"

Zordon thought for a moment, as far as he knew the seven Stones of Time were still hidden on Cirrus, but if she was indeed from the future then it was a good bet that they could have been found. "I believe so. That is one of the five Stones of Time. It can transport you to anytime you think about, however it can only be used once every twenty-four hours. I am afraid you must stay here for the time being, and I cannot allow you to meet with the current Rangers. You being here could alter history as you know it. Alpha, prepare her a place to stay."

"Right away Zordon," the little robot replied "follow me." He lead her to a hidden room off to the side, it wasn't very big, but she wouldn't be staying long. She was thankful that she at least had a clear view of the main room. Maybe she could find out what color Jason had been originally. He always avoided that question, saying a little bit of mystery was good for the relationship. SHe agreed somewhat, but she still wanted to know what color he had been. She assumed he was the Black Ranger, since he was the Gold before and his clothes were black.

She watched as six streams of light entered the Command Center. To her surprise the red streak fizzled out into Jason. She was proud of him, he had been the original leader. Why he wouldn't admit that to her she didn't know, but she was sure as hell going to find out.

Back in the Power Chamber, in present day Angel Grove, Billy was having no luck in locating the three missing Raners. It was making him more than a little concerned. He had already scanned all of Earth, the Lunar Palace, and even a few of Rita's dark dimension. He was waiting for the results of the rest of them before he started scanning the entire moon.

Tommy woke up facing himself. At first he thought he was looking in a mirror, until he moved and his reflection didn't. "Where am I?" he asked. The last thinf he remembered was taking the stone from that clown.

"You're in Angel Grove, my Angel Grove," the other Tommy said. "Tell me White Ranger, what're you doing here?"

Tommy looked around, everything looked kind of ancient. Like he was in... "I'm in colonial Angel Grove!" he shouted. Tom nodded. "But how did I get here?"

Tom shrugged his shoulders "Hell if I know, I was just out feedin' the cattle when you appeared out of nowhere. I figured I'd bring you in until you woke up."

Tommy shook his head "Thanks. I don't know how I got here. One minute I was enjoying a day out with my my friends, and the next thing I know I'm waking up here. How long have I been out?"

"About six hours, give or take an hour."

"Six hours?!" Tom nodded. "I'm sorry, it's been great seeing you Tom, but I've got to talk to Zordon."

"I understand, two Tommy's can't exist at the same time, you'd better get goin'." Tommy nodded and teleported off in a beam of red light. "Well I'll be, he's the Red Ranger now."

Tommy arrived in the Command Center and explained his situation to Zordon. Zordon noticed his stone and told Tommy he'd have to wait another eighteen hours to use it to get home. Tommy sighed, eighteen hours. That sounded like such a long time. He looked around the Command Center, it had been a long time since he's seen this place.

Up on the moon in present day Zedd and Rita were dancing around, they were down three Rangers, that was enough for them to start celebrating. "And now," Zedd said as he looked at Goldar and Rito, "to send these two idiots to finish off the other two Rangers." The two lackeys nodded and teleported down to Earth to attack.

Rito and Goldar wasted no time in attacking innocent civilians and destoying buildings. It didn't take long for the Blue and Yellow Zeo Rangers to arrive on the scene. "Hey Goldie!" Carri called as she kicked Goldar in the back. The golden monkey fell forward, and quickly pushed himself back up and whirled aorund to attack.

"You'll pay for that!" he growled as he swung his sword at her. She pulled her Zeo Laser Blade out and blocked his sword, pushing him back again.

"Come up with something new, would you?"

While she fought Goldar, Rocky engaged Rito. Rocky used his laser blade to strike Rito, knocking him off his feet. "Ouchie," Rito said as he held his head "that smarts." It didn't take long for the two 'warriors' to be sent packing. Rocky and Carri teleported back to the Power Chamber afterwards.

Much to their delight Billy had some news, he found where two of them were. Emily was in the past, back when Tommy first joined their side. And Tommy was also in the past, about two years from when they left Tom. Jason however, he hadn't been able to find yet.

"I can't believe you each left after only taking one blow!" Zedd shouted, he was furious with them, he knew they were weak cowards, but he never knew they were this weak. Neither knew how to defend their actions, they just weren't in a fighting mood that day. Goldar's reason was simple, neither Tommy nor Jason were there. Rito on the other hand, he was just lazy.

"Aw, cut them some slack Zeddie," Rito screeched from the balcony. "I'm sure they have a very good reason. At least," she glared and growled "they'd better have."

Goldar stuttered "Uh, well, you see...I fight my best when either Tommy or Jason are on th field...they fuel my need for revenge... I'm sorry Lord Zedd." He bowed before Zedd and continued to apologize for his actions.

"Well I'm not sorry. It's Saturday, my lazy day of the week," Rito said, crossing his arms.

"Everyday is your lazy day!" Zedd screamed, zapping Rito with a bolt of energy that made the skeleton run out of the throne room. "Idiots. At least those Rangers are still trapped in other times."

Jason found himself in the not so distant future. He woke up close to a building that had a banner saying "Angel Grove High Class of '97 Ten Year Reunion."

"Oh shit," he said as he snuck in the back. He found himself talking with who appeared to be Tommy, at least, he thought it was Tommy. This guy didn't have long hair, but instead had short, spiky hair. Beside him was a brunetter that he could only assume was Kim, as he couldn't see her face. There was another man who he instantly recognized as Rocky, and Carri next to him, along with Billy and Trini. "Nice to see we're still friends ten years from now." The older Jason turned and saw his younger self in the back of the room. He and the others followed him over to his younger self.

Jason's first thought was to run, he didn't know how to explain the situation. But he just stood there as his older self made his way to him and pulled him out the back, followed by the older versions of his friends. "Before you even ask, I have no clue how I got here. I was at the Carnivel enjoying the days with my friends when I woke up here." The others said nothing, they didn't want to influence the younger Jason, or accidentally slip and say something about the adventures he'd go on after college. They instead teleported him directly to their headquarters.

"Billy, can you tell us where he's from? What time, and send him back?" the older Tommy asked. Jason thought to himself that apparently Tommy was still the leader.

"Why wasn't Emily with you guys?" Jason blurted, that was the one thing he had missed seeing. Emily wasn't apart of their group right then, Jaosn was the only one without a date.

"She's sick," the older Billy quickly replied, "Of course I can. Just give me a few minutes." Billy turned towards the controls did a scan of the younger Jason, quickly determining when he was from and how to send him back. After he found his device he wasted no time in sending the younger Jason back to his time. The less time he spent in the future the better.

"He has no idea what he's going to do, does he?" Tommy asked the older Jason.

"Are you kidding? I didn't know what I was going to do at that age."

Back in the present day. Billy was working hard on bringing the three Rangers home. But he still had yet to locate Jason. Suddenly, a green light fizzled away to reveal Jason standing there. "Jason!" Carri screamed as she ran and gave him a hug. Watching his girlfriend go over and hug Jason made Rocky slightly jealous, he knew he shouldn't be. Jason treated her like a sister, but he couldn't help but get a little jealous. "What happened to you?" she asked.

"I was... in the past," he lied. Billy raised an eyebrow, he'd scanned for the Green Zeo Crystal in the past, and it had come up negative. Maybe he'd done something wrong.

"That's where the others are too," she said sadly.

"Others?"

"Tommy and Emily," Rocky replied "All three of you vanished from the Carnivel earlier. Billy thinks it may have something to do with those stones. Zordon too."

"Jason, what were thinking about when you vanished?" Zordon asked his Green Ranger.

"I was thinking about my time at the Peace Conferences," he lied again. He didn't want Zordon thinking he was influenced by the future, there had been nothing to influence him. The others had stayed quiet and sent him back as fast as they could.

"Jaosn, hand Billy your stone. I know of these, they are called the Stones of Time. They send you to whatever time your thinking of at that moment. They then go inert for a full day, we still habe six hours before Tommy and Emily can return. I am curious though, how is it you were able to return home before that twenty-four period?"

Jason replied that he had met a Power Ranger from space who had helped him. Zordon didn't exactly believe him, but he'd drop it.

Six hours later they watched as both Tommy and Emily returned. They quickly handed over their stones and together the five friends returned to their own houses and went to get some rest.

Up on the moon Zedd was furious, those Rangers had discovered the secret to the stones and had returned. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that this wasn't one of his better plans. Next time he'd have to try something different. Something more clever. He was pulled from his thoughts by a woman yelling, however he didn't recognize the woman's voice, it certainly wasn't Rita's.

"I'm here, now the party can begin!" she said as she made a squealing noise.

"Who are you?" Zedd asked, placing his staff at her throat. She was wearinga gold mask, knee high boots, a red cape, and had a purple ponytail.

"Please, you mean you've neverheard of me? Divatox, Queen of Evil?" she said with a slight shock to her voice.

"No. And I don't care to know you either, now get out!" Zedd shouted, pushing her with his staff.

Divatox let a laugh escape her lips and she moved his staff away from her throat. "Please, you wouldn't disobey Dark Specter, would you?"

"Dark Specter?" Zedd questioned.

"Mmm-hmm. See, I don't know why, but he wants you and Frita to join his cause."

Zedd tapped his staff with his finger, this was their chance. Azazel had been wrong, Dark Specter did want them. It was too good to be true. "Alright, we're in!"

"Perfect," Divatox grumbled. She had hoped that they would defy him, so then she could kill them without incurring Dark Secter's wrath.

That Sundat night Carri decided to walk along the beach, as she did she spotted Jason sitting down by the shore, letting the water come up to his feet. She walked up beside him and flopped down, surprising him. "Whatcha doin'?" she asked. Jason had seemed weird ever since he returned, like he was hiding something. She hoped he would tell her since they were so close.

"Thinking."

"About what? C'mon Jase, you know you can't hide anything from me. I can tell when you're hiding something, and you my friend, are hiding something."

He sighed, she was right. He was hiding something, it was something that had to do with the future he visited. He didn't know if it was their future, or an alternate universe's though. "Promise to keep those kips closed for once?"

"Hey!" she cried "Look who's talking! You've got the biggest mouth ever!"

"Promise?" he asked again. She sighed and nodded. "I lied, I didn't go to the past. I went to the future. Whether or not it was ours though, I'm not sure. Nobody said anything infront of me. The five of use were still friends though, you, me, Rocky, Tommy, and Kim. Billy and Trini too. But there's two things that bother me."

"Those are?" she asked as he paused.

"I didn't see Emily there. Billy said she was sick, but I could tell he was lying. I don't know what that means for us."

"And the other thing?" she asked as he paused again.

"The other thing is that Zordon wasn't there. I didn't aask about that, an nobody said anything. I wonder if..."

"Don't say it Jase. Zordon wouldn't go down without some sort of a fight, you know that. I'm sure he just returned to Eltar or something." She flashed him a smile, as she continued. "And about Emily, maybe the two of you got married and she had to be out of town for something. You know they wouldn't tell you the truth. It could possibly alter their history."

He turned to smile at her. "Yeah, you're probably right. I hadn't thought of that, thanks."

"Eh." She shrugged "Little sisters have to good for something, other than annoying their big brothers. Glad I could help. You gonna stay out here?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah. It's soothing out here. Y'know?" She nodded, she could understand that. She had come out here on more than one occasion to clear her head.

"Want some company?"

"Yeah, go find me someone," he joked. She made disgusted sound and pushed him over, laughing the whole time. It didn't take long before the two started splashing water on the other.

Deep in space a cloud of black smoke was bouncing around, making its way for the ship before it. The ship was half grayish-blue, and half green lines. It mad eits way into the Dark Fortress and possessed Ecliptor. He made his way to the bridge were Ecliptor's Princess sat. "Contact Dark Specter," he said as soon as she turned to look at him.

"Ecliptor, what is the meaning of this?" Astronema asked, grabbing her Wrath Staff.

"Girls shouldn't play with Daddy's toys," he said as he telekinetically brought the staff into his own hand. "Now contact Dark Specter." His eyes flashed a sickly yellow, and when she refused once more he pinned her to the ceiling with his power. He was about to kill her when the Grand Monarch appeared on the screen. Feeling generous, Azazel let her drop. "Ah, Dark Specter," he said as he approached the screen. "Word has it that your out to conquer the universe."

"Yes, who are you?" Dark Specter demanded.

"I am called Azazel, a demon from Earth. Tell you what, I'll help you conquer that planet, and you let me continue with my plans on Earth. Do we have a deal?"

Dark Specter looked at the demon before him, he had heard a lot of things about Azazel, all of them good. He would be an invaluable ally. "Deal." Afte the transmission ended Azazel smiled, everything was going according to plan. Dark Specter wouldn't interfere with his plans, and in a few short years his Father would walk the Earth in his vessel. Everything was falling into place.