Hi all, I'm back
sorry this update took a bit longer, I was in the hospital this past week and looking at a screen to type (since I usually write on my phone) proved to be a bit difficult
but here I am with the next part and I hope you enjoy!
It is good to have you back, Billy, Zordon started. We must be sure to scan you for the effects of the Midnight Crystal, besides the connection it gave with with Kimberly.
"I never thought I could be a ranger again," Billy admitted.
"Maybe we should be a little grateful that Rita tried to turn you evil," Rocky said, without thinking.
Tanya gave him a little snack on his shoulder.
"Ow! Sorry…"
"It's alright. It is my understanding that I'm not completely at fault," Billy looked down, pursing his lips. "I just wish I was stronger in resisting."
"Hey man," Tommy placed a hand on his shoulder. "It can happen to anyone."
"We know you would never have done all of that if you were in control," Kat comforted from his other side.
"And if you ever need to talk about it, Kat and I are here," Tommy let him know.
"Sort of an 'formal evil ranger' support group?" Rocky asked, which only earned him another slap in the shoulder from Tanya. "Ow!"
Billy, Tommy and Kat all chuckled at that as they looked at one another.
"Yeah," Tommy agreed with the name. "The important things is that we are here for each other."
Billy smiled at them and nodded. Then he turned his attention back to Zordon as Alpha approached him to run a scan.
"The Midnight Crystal took to my body despite the negative proton energy my body absorbed…" He looked at Alpha, there was a question in his words.
The Midnight and Twilight Crystals are composed of different minerals than the Zeo Crystals. Zordon clarified.
"They differ from the other crystals in a few different ways," Alpha continued. "For one, they bind those that wield them to each other."
Kim stepped up next to Billy, "that's how I was able to find you in your mind."
Billy faced Kim, "when you all came…it felt like you were giving me some of your own strength."
You and Kimberly can be a powerful duo, Zordon noted. Your crystals connect you to one another.
"Well, I already know I can connect to your thoughts," Kim told Billy. "I met the original owner of the Twilight Crystal, Polla. At least, I met her spirit. The Midnight Crystal belonged to her twin brother."
One cannot truly function without the other, Zordon found himself repeating. Polla and Castor were "rescue" warriors. They appeared when they were needed most. Kimberly and Billy, as the new owners of these crystals you may fight a battle alone, and will be of considerable strength…but without the other you won't last very long and begin to weaken.
"A true Yin and Yang," Jason commented.
Exactly, Jason.
"Polla said we could aid each other with our strength," Kim told Billy. "That they have even 'revived' one another."
"You mean..?" Kat looked nervously at her friends.
Kim nodded.
Billy found himself instinctively clasping Kim's hand, "let's hope we never have to test that," he said with a small smile.
Kim smiled back and nodded, the newly linked pair unaware of the looks they were receiving from some of the others.
"We should do some tests on both of you," Alpha said.
"We could also test our limitations," Billy suggested.
Kim nodded. "Better to get an idea of what we can do."
-PR-
Tommy, Kat, Billy and Kim gathered around the bench in the Power Chamber's training room.
Jason was off to see Emily, Adam and Tanya were out together and Rocky was needed at home.
Billy and Kim asked Tommy and Kat to stay-, in case they needed any type of assistance, or would be able to see something the two involved wouldn't be able to.
"So how are you thinking of testing out your connection?" Kat asked them.
"Well… morphed we can hear each other's thoughts," Kim said. "And I think that's how I was able to get into your dream…well, your mind, when I was also unconscious."
"Now the question remains if we can unmorphed."
"What number am I thinking of?" Kim gave Billy a look.
"4… and I don't have to read your mind for that, you always pick 4." Billy gave a knowing smile with a tilt of his head.
Kat and Tommy glanced at each other.
Billy and Kim grew up together, and only a few houses down from each other, it's expected that they would have this kind of banter.
"Ok…" Kim thought for a moment. "What am I thinking now?"
Billy took a moment and gave her a questioning look, "you're wondering how we'll look in our new shades of purple," he chuckled.
The other two turned to Kim waiting for her to confirm this.
She smiled. "This is kind of creepy. But then again, there was that time I was in your body for a day…"
Kat looked at Billy and then to Tommy, who had a smirk on his face, obviously familiar with this story.
"Wait, seriously?" Kat asked.
"Billy had a machine that went a little wonky on us. Switched us."
"And she constantly reminds me," Billy laughed.
"What about physically?" Tommy asked, changing the subject. "You guys can lend strength to each other, right?"
Billy and Kim glanced at each other.
"How can we test that?" Kim asked.
Billy thought for a moment. "Tommy and I could spar while morphed? He clearly has an advantage over me. We can see if you sense when I tire and maybe discover how we can lend strength."
"Is that safe?" Kat asked.
"There's a possibility that it isn't," Billy told her. "But it's better to find out in a controlled environment, rather than during the next battle."
"Let's give it a try," Kim agreed. She looked at Tommy. "Are you up for it?"
Tommy looked at Billy, "I don't know. I would feel terrible if something happened."
"It's alright. In the end this could help Kim or myself."
Tommy nodded and morphed.
Billy and Kim morphed as well.
"Don't pull your punches," Billy instructed Tommy.
Kim found herself anxiously watching, sure that her face under her helmet matched the nervous look Kat was wearing on her face.
Tommy and Billy were keeping pace with each other, switching offense and defense. "I told you not to pull your punches," Billy scolded Tommy.
"I'm not, man," Tommy replied. "You've gotten really good."
They kept the pace for a while, and Kim started to feel fatigue wash over her. She took a breath and focused on Billy, willing him to continue.
"I can feel it working," Billy said outloud.
Suddenly his kick landed against Tommy's lower back.
The red ranger dropped to his knees.
"Tommy!" Kat called out.
Billy and Kim rushed to his side.
"Tommy, I'm so sorry," Billy apologized.
Tommy took off his helmet, the other two doing the same.
"It's alright," Tommy reassured him. "No worse than when an opponent gets in a hit at a meet."
Billy gave a smile and then looked to Kim. "How do you feel?"
"I'm ok," she gave a little nod.
"Doing that didn't make you feel weak?" He inquired.
She shook her head. "I don't think it was enough to. But doing it felt almost… natural."
"Billy, Kimberly?" Alpha called to them from the doorway. "We got some results back from the scanner."
"You guys go ahead," Tommy said. "I'll be right there."
Billy and Kim headed back to the main room of the Power Chamber.
"Are you really alright?" Kat asked Tommy.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Tommy looked after where the others had gone.
"You still have feelings for her…" Kat said tentatively.
Tommy froze and then looked at Kat. "I don't know…" he admitted. "I thought I was over her, and then seeing her here… working with her again. But…I don't know if I still love her that way, or if I just love the memories we have."
"I understand," Kat nodded. She kept herself close to him for a moment, enough for him to catch her vanilla scent.
"We should go catch up to them," Tommy said after a beat.
Kat nodded in agreement.
-PR-
"So Kim was able to help Billy in battle?" Tanya was asking Kat on the phone.
"It seemed so. You could tell that the guys were getting tired because they were slowing down. Then Billy got the push from Kim and he was able to get a point on Tommy," Kat was explaining, as she was running her brush through her hair. "Then Alpha called Kim and Billy out of the room."
"Leaving you to tend to Tommy?" Tanya had a tone of suggestion.
"Nothing like that," Kat sighed. "He's not sure if he still loves Kim or the idea of what they had."
"To be fair, you don't know if you're interested in him or Billy," Tanya commented.
Kat bit her lower lip. "Billy has always been so comforting and welcoming, and he always takes the time to take note about something in my life…he's caring and sweet."
"And Tommy is Tommy," Tanya threw out there. "Strong, compassionate, and a leader through and through."
"I know I'm not the first person to feel completely confused when it comes to crushing on two people," Kat glanced at a photos on her mirror. One had the whole group, one of her and Tommy, and another with her, Billy and Rocky.
"Well just don't make yourself sick over it," Tanya told her.
Suddenly her communicator went off.
"Uh-oh," Tanya gave a small huff.
"Guess I'll see you in a moment," Kat said.
-PR-
"Didn't expect Mondo to be back so soon," Adam complained.
But sure enough there were cogs and a new monster attacking pedestrians in the park.
Then the Tengas appeared.
"Uh-oh," Kat pointed out. "Looks like Zedd and Mondo made up."
"Or they are fighting for our attention," Jason suggested.
"They could just buy us flowers," Rocky quipped as he flipped over a cog, spun around with a kick to another, then switched feet to kick the one he jumped.
"This is a bit overwhelming," Tanya admitted.
The monster took this opportunity to shoot at the rangers- hitting Tanya, Kat and Rocky, while the other three managed to dodge.
"Are you alright?" Tommy rushed to Kat, as Adam helped Tanya and Jason checked on Rocky.
"Fine, but this is getting intense," Kat replied.
Suddenly there was a zig zag of purple as Billy and Kim ran through the foot soldiers at a great speed- a gift that came with their new powers.
They ended up by their friends' sides.
"Sorry we're a little late," Kim apologized.
"Nope, you're right on time," Tommy said.
And with that the monster grew.
"Well, let's do this," Jason said.
They created the Zeo Ultra Zord and went into battle.
"I guess this is as good a time as any," came a voice behind Billy and Kim, who remained on the ground.
They turned to see another, unfamiliar, figure. She wore clothing that would make one think she was a Greek Goddess, armor and helmet with wisps of her black and purple hair flowing out. She had more of a presence than "the monster of the week" which led the Gemini Rangers to go back into their defense stance.
"Who are you?" Billy inquired.
"I am Clytemnestra, a rightful heir to the crystals you bear."
"This Crystal was entrusted to me by Polla," Kim argued.
Clytemnestra turned her gaze to the Midnight Ranger, "but you have not proven yourself worthy of the one you now wield."
Billy hesitated and looked at Kim then back to the warrior woman in front of him. "I may not have achieved it the traditional way…"
"No you haven't. You must face the trial to be deemed worthy."
"Trial?" Kim didn't like the sound of that.
"Your trial will come soon, Midnight Soldier," Billy was warned. "If you succeed you will hold onto the Crystal. If not, back to my family it goes… along with the Twilight Crystal," Clytemnestra turned her gaze to Kim. "For one cannot be without the other."
"I…will face the trial," Billy swallowed hard.
"Then I will be seeing you soon," and with a shock wave that sent the other two off of their feet, she was gone
Billy and Kim turned to look at each other.
They heard a loud noise and they looked up as Mondo's monster fell.
"As if we didn't have enough to worry about," Billy said.
He stood and held a hand to Kim, pulling her to her feet,
She kept her arm clasped on his. "Billy," she kept his focus, even though she couldn't see his face through the helmet. "It'll be alright. You are worthy of the Crystal and you can do anything."
"But if I'm not, then you'll lose your power too." He let out a small sigh as he demorphed, Kim following after.
"There are worse things," Kim said, giving him a reassuring smile that he could now see. "Whatever happens, we can get through it."
"Hey guys… what's going on?" Tommy asked as the other rangers met up with them, victorious from their battle.
But while they should be happy for another win, Tommy saw the look in Billy and Kim's eyes as they stood close, as if to try to protect each other.
Billy let go of Kim and said to the others, "there's
more to worry about than just Mondo and Zedd," he told them. "We should get back to the Power Chamber."
As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Hopefully the next one won't take as long to write.
Comments and such are always appreciated!
