A/N: You know the drill. I don't own any of em, except Lady Chaos and Sarah of Eltar. See Ch. 1 for that info.
A/N 2: If you like battles, this chapter is for you! Enjoy!
Ch. 13-Battles Won and Lost
Moon Palace
In the throne room, the Zeo Rangers looked around for their enemies. As of this point, there was nothing to be seen.
"Everybody needs to keep his or her eyes peeled," said Jason as he looked at the surroundings. "Goldar and his goons could be around here anywhere. Remember, we want to lure them into a fight, OK?"
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes was watching them. They did not belong to Goldar, but to a more recent enemy…the Machine Empire's Prince Gasket.
"What are those Power Punks up to?" he muttered. "They can't be just standing around here for anything! Oh well, here's a PRIME opportunity to destroy them!" he said as he charged his sword with green energy.
"This is the end, Power Punks," he said to himself as he fired the green bolt of energy at the Zeo Rangers.
"Look out!" shouted Jason as he and the rest of his teammates ducked just in time.
"How did you like that sneak attack, Power Punks?" growled Gasket.
"Oh, great. Just wonderful. It's the scrap metal reject Gasket again!" said Jason. "I thought you were destroyed with your father!"
"That's funny, Jason," Gasket snarled. "I thought you would be dead when you couldn't handle Trey's powers. It's funny how things work out for the both of us. Besides, Jason, you look better in red even though I despise you and the rest of your Power Brat friends to the core!"
"Are you gonna do something or just stand there, you overgrown tin can?" growled Jason.
"I was waiting for you to ask me that, Red Ranger. Cogs!" growled Gasket. "Get them!" he yelled as the mechanical robots charged forward.
"You guys handle the Cogs!" said Jason, turning to his Zeo teammates. "This overconfident clown is mine!"
"Good luck Jase!" said Zack. "Give him the what-for!" he added as he and the rest of his teammates engaged the Cogs.
Jason then began engaging the Cogs for a few minutes while Gasket stood off to the side. As soon as Jason broke through the Cogs, he got Gasket's attention.
"Hey, Gasket, think you can take me one-on-one?" shouted Jason.
"You wish to face me in a duel, Jason? If that's the way you want it, then so shall it be!" shouted Gasket as he drew his sword and charged at the Red Ranger.
Dungeon
"OK. Here we are at the dungeon," said Sabrina as she crept forward, lest there be an attack. The Rangers and Ninjor were in their Ninjetti suits, so they were able to hide from the Palace's defense systems since they weren't fully morphed.
"All right," said Tommy. "I'm using my Ninja Powers to search for them…they should be easily recognizable."
"Me too. I'm activating now," said Ninjor.
After a few minutes though, the six invaders realized they had a problem.
"Rangers, we have complications! Our friends are not here!" said Ninjor.
"Damn it!" said Sabrina. "The goon patrol must have transferred them someplace else. You four and Ninjor go for Kimberly. I'm gonna get Adam out of here come hell or high water!" said Sabrina.
"Good luck, Cougar. May the Power protect you," said Ninjor as he and the four Ninjas raced off.
"OK, now to search for Adam and Kimberly…" said Sabrina. Then she gasped as she noticed through her Ninja Powers that the two prisoners were on one end of the palace…Adam in the east, Kimberly in the west, and Sabrina was situated in the south central part of the palace.
"I better call the Rangers!" said Sabrina as she pressed her communicator. "Tommy, come in, do you read me?"
"I read you," came the voice of the White Ranger. "What's up?"
"Kimberly's on the far west end of the palace, in the tower room. You need to get there fast! I'm going to the east end!"
"Thanks for the warning! We're got it covered!" said Tommy. "Good luck!" he added as the communication closed.
"All right, let's get cracking!" said Sabrina. "Super Ninja Speed…now!" she shouted as she suddenly raced out of the dungeon and to the east at blinding speeds. Only one thought crossed her mind as she zoomed through the palace.
'Adam, hang on,' she thought. 'I'm coming as fast as I can.'
West End
As Tommy, Aisha, Billy, Rocky and Ninjor raced towards the west end of the palace, they had one thought on their mind.
'Are we in time?'
"The readings we're getting are becoming stronger, my friends. Just keep on going!" said Ninjor as the group continued to head towards where Kimberly was being held.
West End Tower Room
As Kimberly Hart lay unconscious inside a special machine, suddenly she felt something in her mind
"Where the hell am I????" she thought.
"Safe, Kimberly," said a voice that made her shiver. Seconds later, she was facing the Rangers latest enemy.
"Get the hell out of here, you witch!" shouted Kimberly in her mind. "You're the one that ruined my LIFE! How in the hell could you want me after what you did to me????"
Lady Chaos simply shook her head. Brainwashing was one of her specialty skills, but she obviously needed something deeper. She knew Kimberly had the tiniest bit of dislike for Tommy and all the times she'd been left at the altar by her parents getting divorced, her friends leaving for bigger and better things in Switzerland, and most recently, Tommy's non-calls and dates with Katherine…but somehow, she was having a hard time getting it out.
"Now, now, Kimmie, that's no way to treat a guest," admonished Lady Chaos. "And did I really ruin your life? Tell me, did I really? Could Tommy not have gone to Florida when your heart was literally ripped from you?"
"He was busy fighting evil forces just like you! Besides, you were the one that started this whole thing!" shouted Kimberly.
"But were you not already broken-hearted before, Kimberly? Were not your parents divorced, leaving you currently with a stepfather and a father? What about your best friends, going off to Switzerland instead of being there when you really needed them? And what about Tommy and Katherine seeing each other? Did they not do it behind your back, Kimberly?"
Kimberly nodded absently, especially at the last one. She knew that Katherine and Tommy had seen each other behind her back, and she knew that was wrong. She knew Lady Chaos was evil, but she also knew that the evil villain was right in a sense.
"And, is it not true that the Rangers struggled after you left, Kimberly? Did Master Vile not turn them into kids during your absence, leaving your mentor to call on allies from Aquitar? Is it not true that they've struggled with King Mondo and his son, Prince Gasket? Your friends need you more than you need them, Kimberly, and they have paid you little attention," said Lady Chaos.
"Where are you going with this one, witch?" said Kimberly. Lady Chaos liked the sound of this, as Kimberly sounded far less intimidating than she had at the beginning.
"I can offer you absolute power, power to avenge those who have betrayed you, Kimberly," said Lady Chaos as she disappeared briefly, all the while still working her magic.
'I just hope it's done in time,' she thought. 'Her friends are coming.'
East End
As Sabrina raced through the palace undetected thanks to her super speed and her ninja skills (despite the fact that there were many henchmen lurking around who may have had a chance at her) she prayed she wasn't too late.
'I'm getting closer,' she thought as she headed for the tower room on the east side where her scanners had picked up Adam.
'Do not fear, my spirit sister,' said a deep voice from inside her head.
'My spirit animal,' she thought happily. 'It has been way too long, my friend. Are you saying I'm not too late?'
'That is correct,' said the voice. 'However, after that you must hurry. Your friends aren't faring too well trying to save Kimberly. Lady Chaos has almost completely converted her. May the power protect you, my friend,' said the voice as her spirit sister disappeared.
'That is so not good,' thought Sabrina. 'Come on, Tommy.'
She noticed that she was almost to the tower room, and stretched her senses out. When she did this, she realized that preparations for Adam's conversion were almost complete, and that her old master Rita, Zedd, and Rito Revolto were present. She unsheathed her special weapon, her Cougar Saber, knowing that it would be necessary in this fight.
'This should be fun,' she thought. 'I haven't had the chance to beat down those boneheaded morons in a long time.'
She knew would have to hurry, however, and as she walked up to the tower room, she pressed on the handle that would open the door.
Tower Room's Interior
"Are we ready, Ed?" said Rito, who was doing a happy dance…finally, he thought, he'd have some legitimate help in destroying those Ranger brats!
"It's Zedd, you moron, and yes, we are ready! Rita, prepare your staff. I will give the Sword of Darkness to Adam!" Zedd answered. He immediately unsheathed this recreated evil sword and walked towards Adam, who was hooked up to a machine, which would combine the two energies from the Sword and Rita's staff to create an evil spell for Adam.
"I think NOT!" shouted a voice from the doorway, and a moment later, a golden bolt of energy was released, which slammed into Zedd, Rita and Rito simultaneously, as well as destroying the machine in a shower of sparks. This sent Adam tumbling to the floor, all the while still unconscious. Zedd, Rito and Rita, meanwhile, were sent flying, all the while roaring in pain from the surprise attack.
Seconds later, Sabrina of Eltar entered the room and faced her former masters, all the while staying within a certain distance of Adam so she could get him and go if need be.
"Well, well, well, look who showed up. We all thought you were too scared to face us, you despicable traitor," snarled Rita.
"Never have been scared to face you three, and never will be. You know the old saying…evil never triumphs. Good always wins, keeping the correct harmony between good and evil. And, you're going to pay for what you almost did to Adam here!" shouted Sabrina.
"Wanna bet?" said Rita. "TENGAS!" she shouted, and instantly, fifteen of the purple bird warriors appeared.
"Get her!" shouted Rita. "Don't let those two Power Geeks escape!"
As the Tenga Warriors charged, Sabrina raced over to Adam and picked him up. As soon as she did it, she breathed a sigh of relief.
'He hasn't been twisted in any way, but he's still out cold,' she thought as she ducked under one Tenga flying right at her, and used her free elbow to nail another one in the beak. 'I've got to get out of here though. The others need my help.'
"I wish I could continue to play with you meatheads, but I have a job to do! See ya!" she shouted as she raced out the door at super speed with Adam in her arms.
"Rita, Tengas, stop her! Don't let her reach their friends!" shouted Lord Zedd.
"It will be my pleasure, Zeddykins!" shouted Rita as she raced out of the room, hot on her former henchwoman's heels.
'Damn!' thought Sabrina. 'Rita's hot on my tail! I'm going to have to keep this up!'
Suddenly, Rita charged her wand with flaming energy, and shot it at the escaping Gold Ranger. But Sabrina's super speed was too much and suddenly, she was out of sight.
"DAMN!" screeched Rita. "I'll get you, Golden Power Geek, if it's the last thing I EVER do!"
"I don't see her anywhere!" shouted a Tenga.
"Of course you don't, beak-head! Now let's teleport to the west end and wait for her there! Then, we can launch a surprise attack! Hopefully my grandmother has already finished with Kimmie's brainwashing!"
West End
"We are finally here, my friends!" said Ninjor as they stopped at the door to the tower room. "Possibly I should lead just so we can be better protected?"
"Affirmative, Ninjor. Lead the way," said Billy as he took his place in line beside Tommy.
"I just hope we're not too late," said Aisha. "I really don't want to have to fight my best friend."
"We all feel the same way you do, Aisha. No need to be ashamed. Whatever happens, happens. Now, let's see if we can get Kim out of here!" said Tommy.
As if on cue, the darkness in front of them became a pink light, and a few moments later, the five were standing in front of a small pink bird.
"Kim's spirit…animal?" said Tommy aloud.
"Yes, White Falcon," came the voice of Kimberly's spirit animal. "Unfortunately, you are too late. Lady Chaos has almost completed my spirit sister's brainwashing. You need to retreat before she is turned against you."
"DAMN!" shouted Tommy.
"There's no way we should retreat!" said Aisha. "And there's no way I'm going to let my best friend be turned evil!"
"Do you not know you could get yourself killed if you walk into that room, Yellow Bear?" said the crane. "Kimberly can be freed at a later time. In the meantime, your friends who carry the Zeo Crystal are having trouble with Prince Gasket, his Cogs, and a new monster that he has just summoned. They need your help now."
"As much as I want Kimberly back, I have to agree. Retreat, guys!" said Tommy.
"I'm with him. We can deal with Kimberly later! Let's go!" said Ninjor, and soon the five disappeared from the entrance to the tower room.
Not more than 10 minutes later, the five bumped into two figures…Sabrina and Adam, causing several to get bowled over. Seeing that Adam was with her, Tommy and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sorry, guys," said Sabrina. "Where's Kimberly?"
"We were too late, Sabrina," said Ninjor. "When we got there, Kimberly's spirit animal told us to retreat. The Zeo Rangers need our help in the throne room! Let's go!"
"Right!" said Sabrina as the six Ninjas charged towards the entrance to the throne room. When they threw open the door, they found that Trini, Zack and Tanya were fighting Cogs, Jason was locked in a deadly fight with Prince Gasket, and Katherine was going one-on-one with an ugly snake-like robot monster.
"OK, here's the plan," said Tommy. "Rocky and Ninjor, you help Katherine against whatever monster Gasket has created. Sabrina, you make sure Adam gets to the Power Chamber and then you come with me and help Jason and I fight Gasket. The rest of you help Trini, Zack and Tanya take care of the Cogs. Got it?"
"Yes!" said Ninjor.
"Then let's do it!" said Tommy as the group charged into the throne room and towards their assignments.
Sabrina discreetly waited until the Rangers were in battle, then began to look for a way out.
'All I need to do is get to the balcony and we'll be able to get him out of here,' thought Sabrina. Then, a thought hit her.
'Yes! Behind the throne! That's it!' she thought elatedly. Immediately and without making a sound, she started to walk behind Lord Zedd's throne towards a secret passage that would lead to the balcony.
But just as she was about to enter the passageway, she was blindsided by a roundhouse punch…and she looked up to see her former battle partner Goldar.
"So, the little traitor is trying to escape with her Frog Prince, huh?" snarled Goldar. "Did you forget that we were together quite often before you even saw his face?"
"That was then and this is now, Goldar. Now, either shut up and try to stop me, or get out of my way! You were never my equal, just an old, arrogant bloating head of a so-called warrior!"
This insult enraged Goldar as he charged forward, and he and his former battle partner locked horns in a fierce fight for survival.
Meanwhile, the Zeo Rangers were getting winded against their opponents. Tanya, Zack and Trini were handling the Cogs well up until that point, but two of them had been out of action for quite a while, and Tanya hadn't been fast enough to cover them.
"There's too many of them! We need help!" shouted Zack.
As if on cue, suddenly the Cogs were sent flying by kicks from Ninjas in blue and yellow.
"Billy! Aisha! Man, are we ever glad to see you guys!" said Zack.
"It's always good to de-circuit some Cogs. Now let's finish them off!" said Billy.
Katherine had been at a disadvantage with Gasket's snake-like robot from the very moment she'd started going one-on-one with the monster. As fast and athletic as Katherine was, the snake-like robot had the advantage of dodge teleportation, and had used it quite often to throw Katherine off balance.
"Sssssurrrrender to the might of the Machine Empire, or I shall be forced to desssstroy you!" hissed the snake-like robot.
"No way, Snake-Bot! I will never surrender to evil scum like you!" shouted Katherine.
"OK, Pink Ranger, you assssked for it!" shouted Snake-Bot as he opened his chest and sent a poisonous snake flying towards Katherine. Katherine tried to dodge, but was unsuccessful as the snake wrapped around her and looked for a place to bite into her flesh.
"Once that creature's poisssson bites into you, not even your Ranger powerssss will protect you!" hissed the creature. "Ssssay goodbye, Pink Ranger!"
Suddenly, two energy blasts, one red and one blue, slammed into the poisonous snake as well as the monster, sending the monster flying backwards and releasing Katherine.
"Guess again, you hideous creature!" shouted Ninjor as he raced to Katherine's side. Rocky soon followed, and the two helped Katherine up.
"Are you OK, Katherine?" said Ninjor.
"Yes, thanks to you two," said Kat as she stood up to face the monster again with her teammates.
"Ssssso, it's the mighty Boy Blue that comessss to face me, huh?" hissed the monster. This insult enraged Ninjor.
"So says someone who pretends to be a snake!" shouted the Ninja Master. "I live in a desert, so I know what snakes are like! You're an insult to snakes everywhere!" said Ninjor. With that, monster and warrior locked up in battle.
Meanwhile, Jason was tiring against Gasket. The two had locked swords for thirty minutes, and as much as Jason's endurance was improving since he'd returned as the Gold Ranger, he was still somewhat out of shape and not conducive to a marathon fight.
"I see that you are tiring, Jason," growled Gasket. "Surrender to the might of the Machine Empire! We would make a GREAT team!" said Gasket.
"There's no way I'd even team up with a bimbo like you, Gasket!" shouted Jason. "At least your ex had the sense to come back to the side of light, unlike you, who will be forever stuck in Mondo's darkness!"
Jason knew that mentioning Archerina's defection would strike a nerve in Prince Gasket. He'd worked so hard to make a princess of good into his own evil bride, and he still had not been over the sting of her defection completely.
"Evil is as evil does, Jason," snarled Gasket angrily. "And since you won't surrender, I guess I shall be forced to destroy you!"
His destruction proceedings were canceled though when a flying kick sent Gasket reeling.
"I think your self-presumed victory has come up short, Gasket," said a white colored Ninja, who raced to help his friend up.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Thomas Oliver again," said Gasket. "I see you've had a color change, too. Come to save your best friend, have you?"
"You don't know what saving a best friend is like, Gasket, because you've never had any! Oh wait, that's right, you had one, and now she's back on the side of light where she should be. Not even Prince Sprocket likes you very much, and that's saying something!"
"Are you going to blabber on or fight me, Thomas?" said Gasket.
"I'll fight you with Jason and we'll prevail as usual. Good always beats evil! You should know that!" said Tommy
With that, the three charged at each other again.
Behind the throne, Sabrina had been locked in a heated duel with Goldar, all the while using Adam's body as a protective shield, which made the task of penetrating her defenses next to impossible.
Suddenly, Goldar charged his sword with fire and sent it towards his former battle partner, but Sabrina instinctively threw up her Cougar Saber with her free hand, catching the blast.
"Nice try, Goldar! Now, here's a taste of your own medicine!" shouted Sabrina as she used her sword to fling Goldar's own blast back at him. This blast sent Goldar flying, and gave the Eltarian native just enough time to escape into the passageway.
Ten minutes later, she was standing on the balcony, and pressed her communicator.
"Sabrina to the Power Chamber, come in!" she shouted.
"Aye-yi-yi, Sabrina! Were you able to get Adam out of there?" came the voice of Alpha 5.
"Yes. I've got him. Teleport him to the Power Chamber at once! I'm finishing up a bit of business here! Big battle going on in the throne room!"
"You got it, Sabrina. Teleporting now,' said Alpha as Adam disappeared in a flash of black light.
"Now that my bit of business is out of the way, it's time to join the others!" shouted Sabrina as she raced back into the throne room and joined Jason and Tommy against Gasket. The others had defeated the Cogs and were now fighting Gasket's monster.
"Ninjor, can we still call upon our Power Weapons?" said Billy.
"Yes. Form an image in your mind of your weapons, and they will come! I will summon the Power Axe in Adam's absence!" said Ninjor.
"Yes!" said Rocky. Immediately, each Ninja Ranger formed an image in his or her mind of the Power Weapon that he or she had owned. Immediately, Rocky found his Power Sword in his hand, Aisha was holding her Power Daggers, Billy was twirling his Power Lance, Katherine had her Power Bow, and Ninjor tossed Zack his former Power Weapon, the Power Axe.
Immediately, each Ranger charged forward, first Kat and Aisha, then Zack and Billy, and finally Rocky, with his or her weapon, striking the snake-like monster and sending him reeling.
"You will never sssstop me!" he shouted.
"We'll see about that! Weapons, everyone!" shouted Rocky. "Let's bring em together!" he ordered.
"Power Axe!" shouted Zack as he tossed his old weapon up like a cannon.
"Power Bow!" shouted Kat as she tossed her bow onto the axe, which attached at the front.
"Power Daggers!" shouted Aisha. Her daggers attached to each side of the Power Bow.
"Power Lance!" shouted Billy as his weapons attached to the Power Bow, closer to the Power Axe.
"Power Sword!" yelled Rocky as he jumped up and attached the Power Sword down the middle, forming the Power Blaster. He brought the blaster down and the other four joined his side.
"POWER RANGERS!" they shouted as the all lined up horizontally, Rocky in the center.
"FIRE!" they all shouted in unison. At once, five colored lights streaked forward, disintegrating the snake-like monster in moments.
"Good job, all of you!" said Ninjor. "Now, let's get Tommy, Sabrina and Jason and get out of here!"
They then ran to their three teammates, who had been holding their own fairly well against King Mondo's son.
"Guys, we've got a plan!" said Rocky. "Distract him, and the Power Blaster will send him flying!"
"Sounds like a plan, Rocko!" said Tommy. Once again, the three warriors charged at Gasket, and engaged him long enough to where the Ninja Rangers had a clear shot at him.
"FIRE!" yelled the Rangers again. Once again, five streaks of colored light raced forward, nailing a startled Gasket before he could get his sword up to defend himself.
"That ought to keep him running for a bit!" said Kat.
"Now, let's get out of here and regroup!" said Tommy.
But as the Rangers ran for the balcony, Jason was suddenly kicked in the ankle by Goldar and grabbed by Rito, who had been wise enough to bring the Green Power Coin and Sword of Darkness with him, as well as to hide the sword lest the Rangers blast it again. Rito had come into the throne room as the Rangers were fighting their various adversaries, and together with Goldar had come up with a plan to hopefully make this not a total loss for the forces of evil.
"And we think you look much better un-morphed," said Goldar as he pointed his sword at Tommy's throat, "so de-morph, or Tommy-boy here gets it!"
"Jase, NO!" shouted Zack as Jason de-morphed and took off his Zeonizer, giving it to Rito. Immediately, Goldar dropped Tommy and grabbed Jason by the throat
"Guys!" said Jason. "Get…to the Power Chamber! Re-group! It's a lost cause here!"
Suddenly, Tommy raced forward, tripping Rito, which made him drop Jason's Zeonizers, which Tommy promptly grabbed and ran back to his teammates.
"OK, guys, let's go! Re-group time, guys!" said Tommy as they raced to the balcony, outside Lord Zedd's force-field, and teleported out in various streaks of light.
"Damn! Those dweebs got away!" said Rito.
"Never mind them…we'll destroy them later!" said Goldar.
"You'll never…defeat…them…Goldar!" said Jason.
"I might not, but YOU will!" rasped Goldar. At this, Jason shivered. He didn't know what Goldar was talking about but he was sure he didn't like it. "Come on, Rito! Let's go show Rita and Zedd what we found!"
West End
While the battle was raging in the throne room, Lady Chaos had done a wonderful job manipulating Kimberly's mind. Lady Chaos had successfully tapped into Kimberly's hardships throughout her life, the betrayal that she'd suffered so many times, and had devoured the tiny bit of dislike that existed in Kimberly towards Katherine and Tommy.
Just then, Kimberly began to rise from her sleep, and she was decidedly different.
First, and maybe foremost, her eyes were decidedly different. Instead of the calming influence they had been, they flashed red with bitterness, hate, and anger.
Her smile, which had once been a calming influence to anyone she'd met, was now a wicked, evil grin which would have made anyone working for the forces of good shudder.
And the way she walked was completely different. Instead of the graceful way she walked before, she now walked tall, proud, and arrogant. She was ready to take on anyone, Tommy included, and there would be no one to stand in her way.
Lady Chaos simply smiled. Her work was done.
And as she continued to smile, Kimberly looked Lady Chaos straight in the eyes and said in a deep voice, "How shall I serve my mistress?"
An evil that had never before been seen was born.
TBC…