A/N: Hey, everyone! I've got a new laptop for me and a new connection! That joy seemed to woke up my muses and they gave me this new chappie. BTW, the chapters are becoming hard to write because of the psychology of the characters. I mean it's hard to explain their actions, when on the show, they rarely explained something related to their psychology.

Anyways, for you to understand this chapter, there's a code you need to keep in mind: Everything in bold is Tommy's thoughts, bold and italics is Rita's AND underlyed is for emphasis. As long as you have these codes in mind, you'll be fine. Enjoy!

Meeting and Understanding my Past

Chapter 5: The Green Candle

Her Dark Dimension. Why did she have to mention it?

I never got over it what I lived through there. That place was hell.

I have to know.

I deserve to know.

Will she confess it after all those years?

I have to try otherwise I'll die inside.

Tommy couldn't help it any longer. "What were your plans for me?"

"You want to know about it? Did Zordon not mention something?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he did mention my reason to give you the Sword, I thought he explained to you and the others every move I made."

"He didn't."

"You'd have been my Green Ranger again."

"I'd have fought back harder if you tried to cast another spell on me."

"I figured that out. That's why I chose Scorpina's sting. There's a powerful venom there."

"The venom would have killed me."

"Not this one. Its main purpose is to make a powerful potion."

"Oh. Was it true what Goldar said to me?" Tommy asked next.

"What did he tell you?"

"You were going to use it on yourself to give it a shot in killing us."

"Yes I was, but not you. You were going to be my captive."

"What was going to happen then?" Tommy pressed on.

"Something drastic," The reformed Witch whispered.

"Like what?"

"A qogher."

Tommy was confused.

"It's a powerful necklace which is impossible to take it off. If it's done, the person who wears it dies."

Tommy was terrified, he didn't imagine that part of the plan. I would have bet I was going down too. At least to keep appearances. But now I think about it, it made a lot of sense. After all, it'd be suspicious if she didn't take any prisoner. Would it have matter at that point?

Tommy was getting frustrated. Instead of having some answers, he was getting more questions.

"Goldar was right on one thing." The Black Ranger commented, trying to not think of his never ending questions.

"What thing, dear?" Rita's curiosity came in.

The legendary ranger didn't know how to react, she was never like that. Not even with him. What has changed? His thought popped up.

"My friends wouldn't be able to help me."

She nodded. Goldar used a technique I didn't think of, Rita thoughtfor a brief moment. Psychological traumatizing the boy. Good for him.

Rita wanted to know what Tommy's thoughts were so far. She wasn't sure if he could handle any form of magik but decided to give it a shot anyway. She chose to use telepathy. She heard each one of his doubts. It is like in the old days, she thought. It wasn't something reciprocal. Tommy was immerse in reading her actions. She was deep in magik when a sweet, deep voice took her away from her daydream, changing her composure.

The ex-Zeo Red Ranger was amused by it.

She whispered something in a language the Black Dino Ranger had never heard before.

"I'm sorry, Tommy." She told him sincerely. Tommy's puzzle look gave her the clue she wanted: He doesn't know Zedd's alive. "For almost killing you."

"You were ready to see me die," Tommy reproached.

"How can you say that?" Mystic Mother said indignantly.

The rangers were trying to get the candle, the city was under attack and the Green Ranger was down. His breath was leaving him, he didn't have the strength to call anyone. The monster was about to give him the final straw and he was ready for it. At least he'd die knowing he did his best to stop him when the rangers came out of nowhere. He was thankfully relieved for it.

She did care about me then. Would you believe it? No, Tommy, don't be silly. She said that because she wants to meet the team. Rita, you won't meet them in this lifetime. Over my dead body only!

"You didn't show me any affection back then. It's fair to think of that."

"I guess."

"It was a really tough monster."

"Thank you, I'll tell Finster."

"What?"

Realization sank in. "I mean, I told him so."

"No, no." Thomas said, moving his head side by side. "You said the old elf is alive. Isn't he?"

The powerful Witch in front of him didn't know what to say. Her only response was to start pacing. Tommy doesn't have to know the truth.

They fell into an unease silence again which the former Evil Empress didn't like. She knew Tommy's intelligence and if she gave him a chance, he'd figure out everything.

"I didn't mean to put you in danger. Cyclops saw the chance and took it."

"Ok, I forgive you." Tommy grunted.

"Why did you use that tone? I thought we were giving a chance to understand each other's actions."

He didn't answer.

"Talk to me, boy." She commanded.

"I'm not sixteen years anymore. And for the record, I really mean it. I'm just shocked to learn it."

"Glad to know." She said, with a huge smile in her face. "Let's change the topic please," she suggested. "It's my turn to ask you something."

"What do you want to know?" Tommy questioned.

"What were your thoughts while changing back to normal?"

"Why do you care?"

"Why shouldn't I? Think of me as a mother. That's what I consider myself towards the Power Rangers, a mother."

"A mother never harms her children."

"Sometimes it's necessary to punish our children when they need to learn a lesson. That's what you needed at that time."

"You really think so?" She nodded.

The experienced ranger gazed her. "I thought I was leaving my friends in danger, I could have helped more, a way to ask Kimberly out, focus on my kata and studies and that sort of things."

"Was it a painful process?" Mystic Mother continued.

"No, it wasn't but it was weird. I felt as I was being tore apart from my body like I was astral projecting myself somewhere else. Don't know, coming to think about it now, I felt good…relieved."

"Did you know it was my coin, right?" He nodded. "And you stole it from me."

The former White Ranger smiled.

Zordon told the sooner-to-be-former-Green-Ranger to give another ranger the coin to stop the power transfer. Tommy wanted to destroy her hopes and decided to do what the wise man advised him. He didn't hesitate for a moment, Jason was the chosen one. He didn't know why, but the power drawn him towards the red ranger.

A mystical connection could be felt in the air, which surprised everyone in the Command Center.

Jason, apparently sensing the same, accepted it. Tommy almost imagined Rita ranting for the power-that-would-be.

"I saw you were happy when you learned all the power I've stolen from you was gone."

"And I could almost hear you ranting for it." Tommy chuckled.

"It was not funny, Tom!" She said, faking anger.

"I was happy for it," he corrected himself. "No, actually, I am happy for it."

"Why?"

"Because it showed me the rangers would still be my friend no matter what."

"That's a good thing to know, especially when you needed them most."

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Of course not! What's wrong with you?"

"It's hard to believe you with everything you've done to me." Thomas Oliver finally confessed.