Green with Evil

With love, Tommy

It was an unsettling mental state he found himself in—a torn landscape of moral ambiguity. Initially disorienting, Tommy's purpose crystallized with each passing day: to serve Rita in her bid for Earth's dominion and to vanquish Zordon and the Power Rangers. He achieved one aspect of this mission in his own manner. Ever since he decimated the Rangers' Command Center, they had been at a distinct disadvantage, yet remarkably resilient. It was maddening.

But then, there was also a part of him that like this was all wrong. Something in him, something faint that was pressed against his inclination to fight, to destroy. A voice that was very familiar and foreign at the same time. He once knew this person. He was once this person.

"Tommy, are you sure you don't want dessert?" his mother's voice called out as he swiftly turned down the hallway, engaging in yet another strained interaction. He shut the door abruptly, cutting off any further dialogue, and dropped his gym bag, his Dragonzord Power Coin clattering beside it. Instinctively, he snatched it up before collapsing onto his bed.

He gazed at the coin with a consuming fascination, twirling it between his fingers, occasionally witnessing sparks of green energy dancing around them. It was a gift from Rita, his Empress—a token imbued with the potential for greatness. He felt a relentless pull towards the darkness, a darkness so meticulously crafted, and a burning desire to surrender to its allure.

"You don't have to do this," a voice echoed in his mind. It was faint, yet unmistakable. His own voice, a remnant of his former self. A voice that spoke of doubt and resistance. Tommy dismissed it, denying its validity. He believed his old self to be naive and weak.

"Rita has you under a spell," the voice persisted, though barely audible. "This isn't who we are. We don't hurt people!"

"Shut up," he snapped, perhaps too forcefully, attempting to drown out the dissenting voice. He didn't want to bring more attention to himself and knew he needed to get a grip. He leaned up and reached for his bottle of water attached to his gym bag, and took in a big drink. The voice seemed to quiet, at least for now. And hopefully soon, he'd be rid of it completely.

Tommy's room was a sanctuary of conflicting emotions, a battleground where his two selves waged an unending war. The walls, adorned with posters of martial arts legends and motivational quotes, seemed to mock him with their messages of perseverance and honor. Once, they had inspired him, fueled his dreams of becoming a great fighter for the right reasons. Now, they were silent witnesses to his internal struggle.

The Dragonzord Power Coin glowed faintly in the dim light of his room, casting eerie shadows on the walls. He held it up to the light, its green hue mesmerizing, a symbol of his power and his curse. His fingers traced the intricate designs on its surface, feeling the raw energy pulsating within.

A knock on the door shattered his contemplation. "Tommy? Are you okay?" His mother's voice was soft, concerned. She had noticed the changes in him—his mood swings, his secretive behavior. She didn't understand, couldn't understand. He was trapped in a nightmare that he couldn't explain to anyone.

"I'm fine, Mom," he replied, forcing a calmness into his voice that he didn't feel. "Just tired. I'll be out in a bit."

There was a pause, and then he heard her footsteps retreating. He sighed in relief, but the respite was brief. The inner turmoil resumed, more intense than ever.

His mind wandered back to the moments with the Rangers. He remembered the camaraderie they had shared, even in the brief time before he became the Green Ranger. There was a sense of belonging, of purpose that he hadn't felt in a long time. But those memories were tainted now, overshadowed by his allegiance to Rita and the destruction he had wrought.

"Why do you fight for her?" The voice in his head was stronger now, more insistent. "You were meant for more than this. You were meant to be a hero."

Tommy clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. "I don't want to be a hero," he muttered. "I want to be powerful. I want to be feared."

"But at what cost?" the voice countered. "Your soul? Your humanity? Think about what you're doing, Tommy. Think about who you are."

He stood abruptly, pacing the length of his room. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions, his heart a battlefield of light and darkness. He wanted to scream, to lash out, but he knew it would solve nothing. The power coin in his hand felt like a burning coal, searing his flesh, a constant reminder of his curse.

In a fit of frustration, he hurled the coin across the room. It hit the wall with a sharp clang and fell to the floor, its glow dimming. Tommy sank to his knees, feeling a wave of despair wash over him. He was trapped in a nightmare of his own making, a puppet to Rita's will.

And yet, there was that voice. That stubborn, insistent voice that refused to be silenced. The voice of his true self, the part of him that still clung to hope, to goodness. It was a small flicker of light in the overwhelming darkness, but it was there.

Tommy took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "What do you want from me?" he whispered to the voice in his mind.

"I want you to remember who you are," it replied softly. "Remember the good. Remember the light. Fight for it."

He opened his eyes, staring at the power coin lying on the floor. Slowly, he got up and walked over to it, picking it up with trembling hands. The green energy within seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.

Maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance. A chance to break free from Rita's spell, to reclaim his humanity. It wouldn't be easy. The path ahead was fraught with peril and uncertainty. But maybe it was possible. But did he want it?

He tucked the power coin into his pocket and Tommy's eyes grew heavy as he lay back on his bed. The turmoil within him was exhausting, and despite the chaos in his mind, sleep claimed him swiftly.

The darkness behind his eyelids shifted, transforming into a surreal landscape. He found himself standing in a vast, starry expanse, the cosmos stretching infinitely in all directions. Ethereal lights danced around him, flickering like tiny fireflies, and a faint hum resonated through the space.

"Where am I?" Tommy muttered, turning around in the void. There was no ground beneath his feet, yet he felt solid, anchored. It was a disorienting sensation, but oddly peaceful.

"Tommy," a deep, resonant voice echoed through the expanse. He froze, recognizing the voice immediately. It was a voice he thought he'd never hear again.

"Zordon?" he called out, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and confusion. "Is that you?"

From the shimmering lights, a familiar face began to materialize. It was Zordon, the wise and powerful mentor of the Power Rangers, yet he seemed different. More translucent, more ethereal, as if he was part of the very fabric of the universe around them.

"Yes, Tommy," Zordon's voice was gentle yet commanding. "It is I. We are within the Morphin Grid, a place where the boundaries between dimensions blur. I have been searching for a way to reach you."

Tommy's heart pounded in his chest. "I... I destroyed you. I thought you were gone forever."

"My physical form was destroyed, but my essence persists within the Morphin Grid," Zordon explained. "And I have seen your struggle, Tommy. I know the battle you are fighting within yourself."

Tommy's eyes hardened, a flicker of defiance in them. "Struggle? What struggle? I finally have power, Zordon. Real power. Why should I give that up?"

Zordon's visage grew closer, his presence a comforting force. "Tommy, the power you wield under Rita's spell is not true power. It is a corruption, a perversion of the strength you possess. Real power comes from within, from the goodness in your heart."

"Goodness?" Tommy scoffed, shaking his head. "Where did goodness get me before? I was weak, naive. Now, I can command an unbelievable power. I can crush anyone who stands in my way. There's a part of me that likes this, Zordon. The destruction, the fear I can instill—it's exhilarating."

"But at what cost?" Zordon asked, his voice tinged with sadness. "Your soul? Your humanity? Think about what you're doing, Tommy. Think about who you truly are."

Tommy's fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms. "Maybe this is who I truly am. Maybe the weak, naive Tommy was just a facade. Maybe I was meant to be powerful, to be feared."

Zordon's expression remained calm, yet determined. "No, Tommy. This darkness is not your destiny. Rita's spell is clouding your mind, twisting your desires. Deep down, you know the truth. You are not a destroyer. You are a protector."

Tommy took a step back, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. "I don't know if I can do it, Zordon. I don't know if I can be the person you think I am."

"You are stronger than you realize," Zordon said firmly. "The first step is to believe in yourself. To remember the good within you. The power Rangers are not just a team; they are your allies, your support. You can find the courage to break free, but you must allow yourself to believe in that possibility."

Tommy's gaze flickered with uncertainty. "But how? How do I fight this?"

"Trust in your own strength, and in the power of your friends," Zordon advised. "The Power Rangers are there for you, Tommy. They have not given up on you, and neither should you give up on yourself."

The stars around them seemed to pulse with Zordon's words, each one a beacon of hope. Tommy felt a surge of determination welling up within him, but it was mixed with a deep-seated fear of losing the power he had come to crave.

"Thank you, Zordon," he said, his voice steadier now but still laced with doubt. "I'll try. I'll try to be the person I was meant to be. But it's hard."

Zordon's face softened into a proud, almost paternal expression. "I have faith in you, Tommy. Remember, the power is within you. Trust in it, and you will find your way back."

The dreamscape began to dissolve, the stars fading into darkness. As Tommy drifted back to consciousness, Zordon's final words echoed in his mind.

"The light will always triumph over the darkness, Tommy. Never forget that."

Tommy awoke with a start, the dream still vivid in his mind. He reached into his pocket, feeling the Dragonzord Power Coin warm against his skin. It was a reminder of the power he held, both a blessing and a curse.

But now, it was also a symbol of hope. A hope that he could break free from Rita's spell, reclaim his humanity, and fight for the light once more. The battle ahead would be arduous, but for the first time in weeks, Tommy felt ready to face it.

He wasn't alone. And he wasn't defeated. Not yet. But the road to redemption was steep and fraught with challenges. There was a part of him that still yearned for the power and destruction, that reveled in the fear he could command.

Tommy took a deep breath, steeling himself for the battles to come. He knew it wouldn't be easy, and he knew the darkness within him would fight back. But he also knew that he couldn't let it win. Not if he wanted to reclaim his true self. The darkness within him pulsed again, sending vibrations through his body, feeding his urges to serve and destroy.

He wasn't just fighting Rita's spell. He was fighting himself. And he didn't know if he could – or, if deep down, he even wanted to. And that was the scariest part of all.

This chapter is a tribute to Jason David Frank (JDF). Having met him several times at conventions, I came to see the profound impact he had. While I personally felt the character of Tommy was sometimes overrated and inconsistent, JDF himself and what Tommy symbolized were far more significant. The loss of JDF had a profound ripple effect on the Ranger community. No one united people like he did. He genuinely loved his fans and cared deeply for all of us. I remember in 2017, I waited four hours in line to meet him. The convention ended at 5, but he stayed until 7 to meet all of us and I was one of the last ones. We had a lovely dialogue about Tommy, and what he would have liked to see Tommy go through more. That conversation inspired this chapter and it means so much to finally write it.

In my version of the Green Ranger arc, I aimed to portray a more ruthless Tommy, one beset by an internal struggle that wasn't fully explored in the original. Whether I've succeeded or not, writing this has been very cathartic for me. As we approach the conclusion of this arc, I hope you will see the Tommy I envisioned—the formidable force he was to the Rangers and how, together, they were truly stronger.

I hope you're enjoying the story that is over 10 years in the making. Please let me know your thoughts. Commentary is motivating. Thank you all for your support!