"Back off Clay Brain! HIYAAA!" Kimberly yelled as she landed a sidekick to the gut of a putty patroller sending it stumbling back into a swing causing the swing to flip over and comically dump the simple-minded foot soldier on its head. She glanced over at Billy, and couldn't help but smile slightly at him. When morphed The Power guided him and he was as skilled and confident a warrior as any of them. Unmorphed he had always struggled, at least until meeting Trini's Uncle Howard. Since then, his unmorphed fighting prowess grew and grew.
"HEYA!" He yelled as he sidestepped and tripped a putty sending it sliding down a picnic table, then turned his attention to two more putties charging towards him. He began to do backhand springs across an open area of the park before launching himself into the air doing a backflip and landing on one of the play sets in the park taking the high ground.
"HIIIYA! HIIIIYA! HIIIIYA!" Trini yelled as she quickly took down three putties, the first by blocking a strike, then countering with an open and palm strike to its chest, the second with a spinning back roundhouse to the head, and the third with a defensive throw after blocking another attempted punch.
"AAIIYA!" Jason yelled after ducking a putty strike and kicking it in the back sending it stumbling into the pole of a basketball hoop, and crumpling to the ground. "Hang on Billy!" he yelled upon seeing Billy holding his own on the play structure.
"Hey Clay Head! Catch!" Zach yelled as he kicked a soccer ball at a putty charging at him. "Ooops," he laughed as the ball struck the putty in the stomach causing it to double over. Zack charged at the putty at an angle and rolled over the putty's back before sweeping the putty's legs out from underneath it, then finally kicking it in the face as it tried to sit up.
The five rangers then regrouped on the play structure and quickly dispatched the rest of Rita's foot soldiers with minimal effort. "You guys think Rita's up to something?" Zack asked as the group of young heroes dropped out of their fighting stances after the putties' unconscious bodies teleported back to the moon.
"Isn't she always?" Kim asked with a slight roll of her eyes.
"Guys, let's get to The Command Center," Jason said as he glanced around and saw no one.
"Affirmative, Zordon and Alpha may have some inclination as to what Rita has planned this time," Billy agreed. The rangers then teleported away and seconds later, their colored streams of energy came to rest in The Command Center.
"Welcome rangers," Zordon said greeting his team of young heroes.
"Zordon, we were just attacked by putties in the park," Trini said looking at the group's mentor.
"Any idea's what Rita might be up to?" Kimberly asked.
"Unfortunately no," Zordon answered. "I fear with her most recent failure with Hatchasourus, Rita is biding her time as she works out her next evil scheme."
"Man," Zack said in frustration. "That Hatchasourus was no joke, I hope whatever creep she sends down next isn't that tough."
"You're telling me," Jason said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "It was weird enough fighting inside of that thing, but, using Tommy's shield, The Dragon Dagger, and Dragonzord without him fighting with us."
"I know what you mean Jase," Kimberly said as she rested her hand on Jason's shoulder.
"Speaking of Tommy," Billy said stepping forward. "Can you tell us anything about him Zordon?"
"Only, that he has met with Yoda, although he does not know it."
"What?" Trinia asked.
"When I first contacted Master Yoda, he told me his initial plan was to test Tommy's patience. He would do this in part by hiding his own identity."
"Why would he do that?" Jason asked.
"Most likely to test how long Tommy would be able to keep his calm, and not give in to frustration."
"Alright, I guess that does make some sense," Zack said with a slight shrug.
"Affirmative, remember what Zordon told us about the Jedi that turned against the order?" Billy asked the group.
"Right," Jason said with a nod. "Let's get back to Angel Grove, all we can do is wait for Rita to make her next move."
"Alright, let's go," Zack agreed. The other rangers all nodded, pressed their communicators, and teleported away.
Mean, while on Dagobah, Tommy sat in Yoda's hut leaning up against the wall and sleeping. For the last two days, it had been a torrential down poor. According to the little green alien, such storms were common on the humid swamp world. He slowly opened his eyes and saw the alien who had welcomed him into his home moving about in the small kitchen and throwing ingredients into a pot.
"Ah, awake you are," Yoda said with a small laugh. "Almost ready breakfast is."
"Thanks, Jar Jar, but, it looks like the rain has finally stopped, and I've imposed on you enough. Is Yoda far from here?"
"Yoda not far," the small alien answered as he began ladling the food from the pot into a bowl. "Eat first, time for breakfast for the Jedi too it is," he added as he slowly made his way over to Tommy and handed him the tiny bowl.
"Thank you," Tommy said taking the bowl. "There is wisdom in what Jar Jar said," Tommy thought to himself as he took the first bite of the stew-like food his host had prepared. Tommy had no idea how the little alien did it, but every meal he had eaten here was extremely filling, even though he had eaten so little.
"Why wish you to become Jedi?"
"Well," Tommy answered between bites. "Mostly to help my friends."
"Important to you they are," Yoda said as he carefully eyed Tommy.
"Yeah, they're the best. When I barely knew them and they had every reason to turn their backs on me they didn't. They were determined to help me even with all the things that I had done to them."
"Knew they did that your actions were not your own doing. As should you, the guilt you carry, misplaced it is."
"How do you..." Tommy began before a look of realization washed across his face. "Yoda?" The ancient alien looked at Tommy with a smile and nodded his head.
"Told me of you, Zordon did. Of what you did while under the control of Rita, of how you have fought to defend your world," Yoda said as he sat across from Tommy.
"I'm guessing you asked him not to tell me who to look for?" Yoda responded with a laugh.
"A test of patience, it was."
"Yoda, uh, Master Yoda, will you please train me in the Jedi ways?"
"Older, you are than I would like. But, in you, I sense a good heart, with little fear."
"No disrespect Master Yoda, but, what does fear have to do with this?"
"Everything Tommy. Fear, anger, hatred, The Darkside are they."
"You think I might turn as Anakin Skywalker did," Tommy said in understanding.
"A possibility it is, ignore it I cannot."
"Master Yoda, I know the pain and damage that I caused when I was under Rita's control. I don't want to be like that again. I won't be like that again."
"If trained you are, what would you do?"
"Return to my home, defend it with my friends."
"And Rita? Revenge would you seek?"
"No, revenge wouldn't fix anything. I'd like to seek, Justice."
"Invision Rita, defenseless she is, defeated. The decision to destroy her or imprison her you must make. What choose do you?"
Tommy sighed as his shoulders slumped ever so slightly. He had thought of this often since being freed from the witch's control. "As much as I, hate," he began with an uncomfortable look on his face upon saying 'hate,' "what she did to me, I'm no murderer. If imprisoning her was an option, I'd try especially if she truly was helpless."
Yoda gave a nod as he made a growling sound deep in his throat. "Begin at once we must, my padawan."
"Thank you, Master Yoda," Tommy said with a look of joy and relief. "I promise you won't regret this."
"First, to become a Jedi, The Force understand you must," Yoda said.
"Zordon said it had something to do with midi-chlorians."
Yoda nodded, "Exist life would not without them. The Force exists because of them. It surrounds us, flows through us, and binds us. To one another, to every creature, every planet across the galaxy. Luminescent beings are we, not the flesh and blood we see ourselves as. Through the force many things you will see. The future, the past, wonderous far-off places, friends long gone. Close your eyes, breathe, calm your mind, and reach out with your feelings you must."
"Alright," Tommy said with a slight sigh. He did as Yoda had instructed when he did, Tommy felt a warm sensation and oddly, familiar sensation overtake him. A few seconds later, he saw flashes of a battle. Jason had lept from the Megazord into the mouth of one of Rita's monsters. Shortly after he began battling a strange heart-like monster within the larger monster. "Come on Jase, you can do it," Tommy thought to himself. Jason summoned The Dragon Shield and Dragon Dagger. He then played the tune that summons the Dragonzord. The mighty zord used its drill-like tail to tear open the monster's stomach throwing Jason and the other monster out of it. Once on the ground, Jason charged at the monster his Power Sword glowing with red energy, and The Dragon Dagger going with green energy and destroying the monster. "Way to go Jase!" Tommy thought smiling.
"What does The Force show you?"
"A battle, my friends against a gigantic plant-dinosaur monster."
"It is the recent past you see."
"I knew they'd be alright without me," Tommy said with a genuine smile of pride.
"Come, come, more you have to learn," Yoda said with a slight laugh. Yoda led Tommy out of the hut and into an area of the clearing that had several large rocks arranged in a circle. "Through The Force, a world of possibilities open to you will be," Yoda said as he held out his hand. A split second later, one of the stones began to float in mid-air, before setting back down gently.
"How?"
Yoda began to laugh. "The Force is my ally, and a powerful outlaw it is," he answered. "Reach out with Force, envision the stones moving to your will."
"Alright," Tommy said as he stepped forward and held out his hand. He had no idea how the ancient Jedi had moved the stone. But, he had seen it, he knew it was possible. He focused first on his breathing. Then, he imagined the stone his hand was pointed at began to rock gently from side to side. Tommy smiled, he almost couldn't believe it. Slowly fraction of an inch by fraction of an inch the stone began to lift off of the ground. Tommy felt its weight and found it heavier than he might have thought.
"Good Tommy, now lift another," Yoda instructed. Tommy repeated, this time brimming with confidence. He closed his eyes and reached out with his feelings, With The Force.
"Feel The Force, flow through you, through the world around you, and concentrate," Yoda said as he glanced around at the rock. One by one each of them lifted into the air and slowly turned in place. Feeling the weight on his arm, and in his mind, Tommy slowly opened his eyes. When he saw all of the stones floating he began to laugh breaking his concentration and sending the stones crashing into the muddy soil.
"Wow," Tommy said looking around in awe at the stones he had just used his mind to lift.
"Now, a handstand do. Use The Force, you must maintain your balance." Tommy nodded and quickly performed a handstand, this time focusing on himself to help maintain his balance on the slick ground. Using The Force Yoda lept into the air and landed on Tommy's foot, and took a seat. "Reach out, and the stones again lift."
"Master like this, it's going to be difficult," Tommy said as he began to slow his breathing again.
"Good, Always calm a Jedi's mind must be," Yoda began. "Obstacles always in your way will be. Through distraction, pain, fatigue focused you must always be."
Trying to ignore the slight burning in his arms and the sensation of blood rushing to his head, Tommy again reached out with The Force and began to lift the stones. As the warm feeling of The Force flow through him the burning in his arms went away and his blood began to flow almost normally through his body. He was quickly learning to enjoy the warm embrace of using The Force. He slipped into a meditative state as he moved the stones around them.
"Now, stack them."
"I'll try," Tommy said his voice somewhat strained. While his newfound telekinetic abilities came somewhat easily, they were still taxing.
"Do or do not, there is no try." Yoda said. Tommy almost laughed at the Jedi Master's words. There was an undeniable truth to them. Even though his eyes were closed, he could still see the rocks floating around him. He gently set the largest and latest down first. Then, he gently set the next stone down ontop of it, making it sure that it was entirely stable before shifting the bulk of his focus to the next stone
One, by one Tommy gently set the stones in place. "Good," Yoda said admiring his new Padawan's work.
The next morning, Tommy ran through the swamp with Yoda in a cobbled-together backpack. He knew by now he should be tiering. But, he wasn't tapping into The Force was becoming easier, and feeling more and more natural with each and every exercise the Jedi Master put him through. After hours of practice moving the stones with his mind felt like child's play. He flipped over a large log, then leaped from stone to stone to stone crossing a large pool of murky water. Reaching the other side he climbed up the gnarled roots of a large tree before running across a wide low branch. When he reached the end he called on the Force and took a flying leap through the air. He took a firm grip on a vine and swung gracefully through the air. He let go and landed in the clearing near Yoda's hut.
"That's all for today Tommy. Much you have learned."
"Thank you, Master," he said as he gently set the backpack down and Yoda climbed out of it. "Master, I have a question," he said as he sat down on the ground in front of the Jedi. "How do I know the good side from the bad?"
"You will know, when you are calm like this," Yoda answered placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Tommy nodded in understanding.
"Relax, dinner I will make," Yoda said with a smile before heading towards his hut.
"Yes, Master," Tommy said as he stood and moved to the center of the clearing. Once there he began an intricate Kata. "AAIYAA! SEEAAIIYAA!" he yelled as he threw two jumping spinning back kicks in quick succession. He then blocked an unseen incoming blow, and threw a punch in return. Yoda turned to face his padawan. In days gone by he would have been concerned that a padawan was practicing fighting outside of lightsaber practice. But, Tommy's dedication to martial arts was something Yoda had glimpsed in Tommy's mind. For him it was a way to improve his physical and mental health, not a means to intimidate others. A method of last resort self-defense not a means of aggressive attack. Lessons that were taught to him by those that thought him. The lesson he now passed down to every student he himself thought.