A/N: Plot bunny that I haven't seen specifically explored. Some guidelines here. In this story, Kimberly is technically born on M-51 and is Master Vile's youngest daughter but is whisked away to Phaedos, then Earth at birth before she can be fully corrupted. As such, in this story she is adopted.

A/N 2: Also, Dulcea is evil in this story - the Ninjetti and Phaedos is under different leadership in this story as Dulcea betrayed the Ninjetti once to join Master Vile. Phaedos doesn't come into play until Kimberly leaves the team. Dulcea is Kimberly's mother and Master Vile's wife. Finale of the story here. I may do a one-shot of the fight that is hinted at in this chapter at a later date, maybe.

A/N 3: Usual disclaimer. Power Rangers does not belong to me. Nor does Drakkon. RIP JDF.

Chapter 26 – United as One

June 8, 2004, early in the afternoon

1492 Valencia Drive

Reefside, CA

24 hours after Earth's Power Rangers had driven Master Vile off the planet – again, and things were suddenly looking up. Everyone was suddenly a little more optimistic.

That was because the night before – the very night that Kim had beat both her parents and forced them to retreat for the second time in less than a decade, was the night Tommy had proposed to his soulmate, the Princess. Vile and Dulcea's last sole remaining child, at least on this plane, was going to be married to the Greatest Ranger Ever in about a year's time.

And the news was potentially about to get better. Tommy and Kim were about to see a guest that claimed, according to Galaxia, that she could help them take down Vile and Dulcea.

The problem for them both was that they were wary…they didn't trust anyone in the orbit of those two necessarily, but Galaxia claimed that their soon to be guest was tired of the current rule of the two tyrants and wanted a more democratic rule of governing.

Not only that, their guest allegedly hated what Dulcea would do to boys and what she tried to do to Adam as well.

That being said, they headed down to the lab that afternoon. School was still off for a couple of days so the town could recover from the damage that had been inflicted in the final battle. When they got to the lab, they found Galaxia, Fienna and the one who they assumed was Galaxia's and Fienna's guest.

Kim whistled nervously – the woman was a very tall blonde. Even though she was from Master Vile's home world, she looked like any other human. Kim guessed she was really strong which would fit – Vile wouldn't have wanted a weak warrior.

"Ah, there you are," Galaxia said.

"This is the Princess? Kamara, or Kim as she is called? Vile's sole remaining child, at least on this realm? And the White Falcon?" the person they assumed was the guest asked.

"That is correct," Galaxia said. "Tommy, Kimberly, allow me to introduce you to Aurora, one of Vile's top assistants."

"Nice to meet you both," Aurora said and as they greeted each other, Kim took further stock of Aurora…she seemed nice enough, at least. Looks could always be deceiving, but so far so good.

"You said you have something to say to us?" Tommy said.

"Yes, and I wish Adam could be here to say this too," Aurora said. "I've seen what Dulcea does to young men…many of the men she's captured are still prisoner in the catacombs of her and Vile's castle. Adam is only so lucky he was able to be freed from Dulcea's evil grip."

"Unfortunately those scars do not go away easily," Kim said. "Which is one of the reasons she cannot be queen. She is a predator."

"I wish he could be here too, but he does his own dojo and is also is a major investor. You'd be surprised at how much money he makes," Tommy added. "Kids really wanted him to go back to work today, so he did."

"Probably why Zordon chose him…his smarts," Aurora said. "As to Vile and Dulcea, unfortunately, this is not news I want to bring but I must anyways."

"Kamara, I would love for you to rule. You're a good woman. You turned back both your parents in outstanding fashion. Unfortunately, knocking those two off their throne for good is going to be anything but easy," Aurora said. It was clear she was displeased to bring the news and wanted change.

"For one thing, they have deep pockets and interdimensional abilities and Wanderlustress had it even more so. There is no doubt in my mind that if you had lost, Vile would not only have taken you captive he would have been able to find the Zeo Crystal easily," Aurora said.

Tommy's face visibly paled as Kim gripped his hand.

"So what does that have to do with me ruling?" Kim said. "Vile can't touch the crystal, can he? It would burn him up."

"True, but my point is as someone with interdimensional abilities, he can do much worse," Aurora said. "There is a dimension much, much worse than even the Vigilante Dimension you friends were just in. A dimension worse than the now forgotten Island of Illusions, even."

"You're kidding," Kimberly said. "Even worse? No way."

"Way," Aurora countered. "It is called the World of the Coinless and it is ruled by a merciless leader called Lord Drakkon. This evil ruler actually killed most of Zordon's original Rangers and rules over this dimension with an iron fist."

"Drakkon," Tommy said. "Why does that name give me the heebie jeebies all of a sudden? I've never heard of him until now."

"He gives you the heebie jeebies because Tommy, that is the version of you who breaks Rita's spell but does not join the Rangers…rejoins Rita's side and eventually becomes a tyrannical dictator himself. Too powerful for even Rita and Zedd," Galaxia said.

This time they both paled and Tommy nearly fainted.

"And you're telling me Daddy, at his peak, can hop dimensions and summon this Drakkon in case we invade?" Kim said.

"He can, and I am absolutely certain he will forge an alliance with Drakkon once he returns to full strength. Drakkon has long wanted to conquer worlds other than his own," Aurora said.

"Be warned, Rangers," Ninjor said as he suddenly appeared, "Drakkon's army is no picnic either. His army is composed of Ranger Sentries, which are militaristic versions of Power Rangers. With far more weaponry than you have dreamed before."

"And you have been in meetings where Vile has openly mentioned his desire to bring Drakkon in as an ally to kill us all if we invade?" Tommy asked.

"No, but I have sources who say he would. Very good ones. Our galaxy wide military is on your side, Kamara, but I am not even sure they will be enough against Drakkon's army of soldiers should Vile go through with this alliance."

"Does my father know his military is against him?" Kim asked.

"No, but he doesn't trust them. That is why he wants an alliance with Drakkon," Aurora said.

"That means this trip can only be done once and there is a real damn good chance some of us are going to die in that trip," Tommy said.

"There is, however, a bit of good news," Aurora added. "And that is that you know what he is planning. He was planning on you storming the place someday, but not knowing he has that ace in the hole."

"Small comfort, but yes, we can plan around that now," Tommy said. "Aurora, you seem like a nice lady who just wants the good old days back. Thank you for telling us the truth."

"I do, and I always respected Zordon's chosen even though for many years, I fought against his forces. I have had enough. Evil cannot be allowed to win in the end…though, ruefully, it has for many millennia in our galaxy and I was a reason for that," Aurora said. "You're welcome. And may the power protect you all."

Saturday, July 2, 2005

Surfside Gardens

Surfside, CA

"By the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Dr. Oliver, you may now kiss your bride."

With those final words, and the kiss that followed, the bonds of destiny that had once been forced apart for many years were now tied together forever.

Kim had been surprised when the day began how many people from across the universe were there. Not only were all former Rangers there, but many across the universe had come too. She had met some of them beforehand. Some were parliamentary members and politicians from their respective planets. Others were dignitaries like Trey and Prince Dex and Sabrina who held the legacy of Zordon in high esteem.

The former Divatox, and her sister Dimitria, were also at the ceremony and Kim had met them both. In fact, the two sisters had pulled Kim aside and confronted her about her admitted skittishness she'd exhibited at times in the last year since she found out Vile was going to call, and had now, called Drakkon to help him in case Kim should invade.

The two sisters assured her they would help her in any ways possible, since they had helped the King against an overthrow attempt on their planet by a wannabe autocrat.

Hayley's Cyberspace, two hours later

With the party in full swing, the newly wedded couple entered for the first time to a raucous ovation. The ovation, as expected, came from Tommy's former Dino Thunder Rangers, comprised of old veterans and Tommy's new team, and members of Zordon's legacy. Every Ranger who could be there was there, but that was where the loudest shouts came from.

Udonna, the mystic who had worked with Kim was there too – this was a down time for the Earth Ranger history actually, but Udonna would be mentoring the next team as the Rangers understood it. Kim had worked with her many times, but this was the first time the rest of the Rangers had met her.

"Speech! Speech! Speech! Speech!" everyone thundered. They weren't just asking for a speech from the newly wedded couple, they were flat out demanding it.

Kim and Tommy looked at each other, then Tommy was the one that decided to take the podium, to thunderous applause.

"Man, this is overwhelming. Almost as overwhelming as what just happened earlier today," Tommy said, which drew some laughs from the patrons.

"In all seriousness, this day has been a long time in coming. That was doubly true when we found out years ago that the three headed snake that we beat, again, over a year ago was Kim's father. Kim and I got separated for a bit for her protection," Tommy said. "But now, as he fully knows, we are united as one and when we are united as one, there is nothing that can stand in our way."

"That includes the almighty Lord Drakkon," Tommy said. As soon as he said that last word, there was a hush around the room. At some point in the last year since Master Vile's retreat, every Ranger in the room had gotten wind of Aurora's news. About Vile, Drakkon, everything.

"He's tough. He rules his dimension with an iron fist…for a reason," Tommy said. "But I said what I said for a reason – there's nothing that can stop Kim and I. If he wants to bring himself and his Ranger Sentries to M-51 to ally with Vile, Kim and I will make him wish he never came."

"As to when that's going to happen, I don't even know, and neither does Kim. But, each one of you needs to be ready for that fight when it comes. Stay sharp, and train well, but enjoy life."

"But be ready when that fight comes," Kim said as she stepped up next to Tommy. "Because when that fight does come, it's going to be nasty and some of you may have to sacrifice yourselves to defeat Vile and Dulcea for good."

The Rangers exchanged glances and a brief pall was cast over the room. They'd all felt it when Zordon passed, but none of them had ever thought they'd have to sacrifice their own lives. However, that was now a real possibility.

"But then, those of you who have walked with me for years, including my team of Rangers, know that sacrifice might always be a possibility – for anyone. After all, if Zordon hadn't sacrificed himself on that day years ago, none of us would be here. Kim would be in her father's wicked grasp as we speak."

The Rangers all nodded numbly. If Vile was going to ally himself with Drakkon, there was a pretty good chance that if Kim was to become queen, that she and Tommy might survive, but some may not.

"But today, we're not going to worry about that. So let's party!" Tommy shouted and everyone shouted with joy again.

The music came back on and moments later, another major round of applause came as Kim…the hopeful future queen of another galaxy…cut her wedding cake.

She wasn't queen yet…that was to be decided another time. But today, she felt like one and Tommy was her man.

Forever, until their dying breaths…whenever that may come.

The End...for now

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