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<p>Disclaimer: Saban is the almighty ruler, owner
and guy who gets rich off of the Power Rangers…lucky dog. I
am the owner of… not much but my ideas, which are all
original unless otherwise stated… most of the time,
it’s kinda’ late right now and I can’t seem to
recall… never mind.<br>
Timeline: Directly After Mutual Malice. First of a three-phase
story… I think… it’s still late…<br>
Warning: Mild swearing and violence. Don’t say you
weren’t warned Mwa ha ha ha ha…I should be in bed…<br>
Notes: Number five in ‘The Gathering’<br>
As always the grammatical errors are entirely intentional. In
light of a few recent flames I’d just like to say :p--------
I’m actually just happy that people are reading them. Any
e-mail, be they criticisms, comments, grammatical pointers,
flames, or just to say hello would be appreciated. <a
href="mailto:Randelm@hotmail.com">Randelm@hotmail.com</a>. <br>
Side Note: SilvorMoon, I tried, I really did, but by the time I
got your instruction I was most of the way through the fic and
It’s kinda’ late right now. I’ll do better on the
next one, I promise. ; )</p>
<P align="center">Time Stands not Still: Part 1<br>
By Randel
<p><br>
<br>
Kimberly opened her eyes to find herself in a forest. The bark on
the trees was a reddish color as were the leaves. </p>
<p>"Huh, that’s odd, I thought it was still summer.
Where am I? Oh yeah, dream state, Grid Warrior Powers…"
Kim shook her head. "Oh man… wha…" Turning
around she saw a small village. Everything in the village was in
shades of Red and pink. "How weird…" She shook her
head again and suddenly the troubling thoughts were gone. Happily
she stepped out of the forest and began to walk towards the
village. </p>
<p>"Hello Kimberly."</p>
<p>"Hello." "Who… Laree…"</p>
<p>Kim walked down the dirt street, not entirely sure where she
was going. </p>
<p>"Good morning Kimberly."</p>
<p>"Good morning Brand." "Brand… who’s
Brand? The innkeeper…"</p>
<p>Kimberly eventually found herself in front of a large wooden
building. Walking up to the door she pushed it open and saw a
large common room with long rectangular tables and benches, all
made of a dark Redwood</p>
<p>"Ah good morning Kimberly. Good to see you up and about,
are you up to working today?"</p>
<p>"Why of course Marie. It’s been too long since
I’ve been useful." "Marie… wife of Brand the
innkeeper…" Kim closed her eyes and reopened them.
Marie was standing before her. She wore a light pink wool dress
with a dark red sash at the waist. Around her neck she wore a
pendant of a winged creature with a crest upon its head.</p>
<p>"Kim, are you sure you’re alright?"</p>
<p>Kim nodded. "Yes Marie, just a bit dreamy." Kim
closed her eyes again and opened them. Glancing at Marie she
noticed the pendant was gone. "Huh? Marie, what happened to
your necklace?"</p>
<p>"What necklace dear?" Marie’s face was
beginning to look worried.</p>
<p>Kim shook her head again. "Nothing, never mind, lets get
to work."</p>
<p>Marie nodded and watched Kim closely at first, but as Kimberly
dove into the cooking and cleaning Marie began to believe that
Kim was back to her old self.</p>
<p>That evening at dinner in the Inn’s common room Kimberly
sat staring into the fire, the merry music playing in the
background barely registering. The fire was a bright red and cast
odd shadows. Everything was red and pink. The sky was light pink
during the day and dark red, almost black, at night. Red and
pink, red and pink. Those colors should mean something. The
winged and crested beast had appeared several times that day. Red
and pink, red and pink. An etching in crockery, a pattern in
spilled water, even in her own reflection. Red and pink, red and
pink. There had been others too, a fierce bird of prey, a small
and graceful bird, and a fantastic bird of fire. The four
birds… they meant something too. Red and pink, four birds.
They meant something. She was certain of it. But what? </p>
<p>"Kim… Kimberly." The kindly voice of Marie
ousted Kim from her thoughts. "Would you play for us this
evening?"</p>
<p>"Huh? Oh… certainly Marie." Kim stood and
walked over to the raised area of the common room. Situating
herself on the Redwood stool she picked up the stringed
instrument and strummed it softly. Finally her fingers picked out
a melody, and she softly began to sing. </p>
<p>‘There once was a young girl,</p>
<p>From very far away.</p>
<p>She journeyed on a dire quest,</p>
<p>To keep the evil at bay.</p>
<p>It’s been a long time now,</p>
<p>And the girl has yet to come home,</p>
<p>The question of her survival…’</p>
<p>Kimberly sang the song of the young warrior maiden, the sounds
of the instrument and her voice blending well together. The crowd
listened silently, all eyes were on her and she was lost in her
song. At long last she ended and the final chords drifted through
the room and finally died away. A moment of silence followed, and
then the crowd in the common room exploded into applause, and
even a couple of cheers. </p>
<p>Kim thanked them quietly, set down her black guitar and
slipped to the back of the room where Marie was smiling broadly. </p>
<p>"That was beautiful Kimmy."</p>
<p>Kim ducked her head shyly. "Thank you Marie, I think
I’ll go to bed now."</p>
<p>"Not just yet Kim, I believe Thomas wishes to see
you."</p>
<p>"Thomas?"</p>
<p>"Yes Beautiful?"</p>
<p>Kimberly turned around to see the owner of the voice as a face
she knew all to well. "Tommy!" The sight of the man she
had loved for over a year jolted her senses and everything came
crashing down on her awareness. </p>
<p>"You sang the song about The Quest wonderfully."</p>
<p>"Th-thank you Tommy." She replied a bit
distractedly. "The Quest…" his words echoed in her
head. "The Quest, The four Birds, Red and Pink…"</p>
<p>"What? Kim, what did you mean by that?"</p>
<p>"Oh, sorry Tommy, nothing."</p>
<p>"Would you like to dance?" asked Thomas, changing
the subject with his famous grin. Kim smiled in response and took
his hand, all thoughts of Colors, Avians and Quests gone from her
mind. The two of them danced the night away, swirling around the
floor to the awe of all present. After nearly two hours of
dancing in each other’s arms, the music finally stopped and
the common room began to empty. </p>
<p>"Goodnight Thomas Oliver," she whispered. They stood
close together, their faces almost touching.</p>
<p>"Goodnight Kimberly Hart," Thomas replied softly.
Slowly he moved his face close to hers. She responded and soon
the two were engaged in a long tender kiss. Kimberly saw the
world through barely opened eyelids, but that didn’t keep
from noticing a girl dressed in pink and white. She had long
blonde hair, and a look of remorse on her face. </p>
<p>Sensing something was wrong Thomas broke the kiss and looked
at Kimberly. "Is everything all right?"</p>
<p>"Yes. Yes Tommy, everything is all right. I’ll see
you tomorrow." With that she turned around and quickly
walked upstairs to her room at the Inn. </p>
<p>"Red and pink, the four birds, the quest…"
"Argh! What is wrong with me? I am Kimberly Ann Hart. I live
in Terran Village in the Rosewood district. I work at the Terran
Village Inn with Marie Bradock and her husband Brand Bradock who
is the innkeeper. I am in love with Thomas Oliver," An image
of the blonde girl in the pink and white dress flashed through
her mind. "I do not know what those other things mean, but
they are not a part of me and I want no part of them." </p>
<p>Red and pink, the four birds, the quest. Red and pink, the
four birds, the quest. On and on the words floated through her
head. She was no more able to stop them than she was the sun from
rising. And finally it did so, lightening the pink sky and
bringing about a new day. </p>
<p>"Kimberly, wake up Kim." Kim opened her eyes to find
herself being shaken awake by Marie. </p>
<p>"Goodness girl, it certainly took a lot to wake you this
morning."</p>
<p>"Sorry Marie," muttered Kim.</p>
<p>"No matter. Get dressed and meet me down I the
kitchen." Kim nodded and waited for Marie to leave before
getting out of bed and getting dressed in a loose fitting shirt
and pants, with a red sash at the waist. </p>
<p>Hurrying down stairs she entered the kitchen put on a pale
pink apron and began kneading dough. </p>
<p>"Kimberly, Thomas is quite handsome you know."</p>
<p>Kim smiled and glanced over at Marie who was mixing flour and
spices in a large wooden bowl. "Yes Marie, I know."</p>
<p>"I thought I should tell you that it wouldn’t have
bother Brand and me if Thomas had joined you in your room last
night…"</p>
<p>Kim gasped and stared, shocked at Marie, her face red. </p>
<p>Marie shrugged. "It’s up to you and Thomas of
course, but I just thought you would like to know."</p>
<p>Too shocked to speak Kim looked down at the dough and saw she
had kneaded an image of the crested bird into it.
"Pterodactyl…" </p>
<p>Suddenly her mind was working furiously and her body went into
automatic. She shaped the dough into a loaf and plopped it onto a
pan, and handed it to Marie. Marie took the pan from Kim, and Kim
noticed she once again was wearing a pendant. This time it was
red and in the shape of a bird of prey. "Eagle…" </p>
<p>Marie bent down to place the bread loafs in the oven and when
she stood up, Kim was not surprised to notice the pendant was
missing. Kim plopped down on a stool, her mind still struggling
to decipher what was going on. A movement at the window
distracted her. Turning her head to look, she caught sight of a
small graceful bird. "Crane…"</p>
<p>A loud commotion brought her the rest of the way out of her
mental struggles. "What’s going on?" She asked of
Marie.</p>
<p>"I don’t know Kim, let’s go out and see."</p>
<p>The two women walked out of the kitchen, through the common
room and into the street. A group of people had huddled together,
staring fearfully at a great bird of fire. </p>
<p>"Firebird…" said Kim under her breath.
"Red and Pink… The four Birds… The
Quest…" "I’ve got it!" Her sudden
exclamation startled those around her as the Firebird came in for
a landing on the dirt street. </p>
<p>Slowly she walked towards the bird and away from the crowd.
"Red and Pink. Pink is my color, the color of the Healer. It
is the color of the one who is nurturing, and caring, and
trusting. Red is… red is also my color." There was a
hint of a question to that last statement. "Yes… Red is
the color of the Warrior. The color of the one who is solid, and
strong, this is the color that was deeper inside me. I am really
all the colors as are most, but I am predominately Red and
Pink."</p>
<p>"The Four Birds. My Spirit Guides. Pink Pterodactyl, of
Body. Red Eagle, of Mind. Pink Crane, of Spirit. Red Firebird, of
Self." She turned around and as she named each Spirit guide,
each appeared behind her, the Firebird glowing brighter at its
name. The crowd of villagers stared at her in awe. </p>
<p>"The Quest. This was my quest to find the Amalgam Ranger
Power." </p>
<p>Kim turned back around to face her Spirits. There was a pause
as the Spirits scrutinized her. The Pterodactyl nodded once in
satisfaction, and the spoke. "I am Pterodactyl, the strength
and standard."</p>
<p>The Eagle spoke next. "I am the Eagle, quick and
fierce."</p>
<p>"I am the Crane, beauty and grace." The voice of the
small Spirit was light and soothing. </p>
<p>"And I am the Firebird. Of passion and of light."</p>
<p>As one the Spirits spoke, "We are Spirits, and we are
you." Slowly the Spirits dissipated and their energy flowed
into Kim. Closing her eyes Kimberly concentrated inward </p>
<p>"ROS’CRI GRID WARRIOR!"</p>
<p>In a flash of Pink with Red, Kim had morphed into the
Ros’cri Grid Warrior. She wore the odd plastic/metal alloy
armor of most Rangers on her chest and legs. Her sleeves, gloves
and boots were the thick cloth-like armor normally worn by Ninja
Rangers. Her helmet was a featureless Pink with a black visor and
gray mouth plate. Emblazoned on her chest was her crest, her
coin. Depicted on the coin were the Crane in flight, and the
Eagle in mid swoop. Standing behind them was the Pterodactyl and
behind even the Pterodactyl was the regal figure of the Firebird.</p>
<p>"Kimberly!" Kim looked up to see Thomas running
towards her. "Kim, please… please don’t leave
me." </p>
<p>Kim’s heart sank. Searching for something to say she
glanced behind Tommy and saw the same girl wearing her pink and
white dress. "Katherine!" She called the girl’s
name. Slowly the girl approached. "Look Tommy, we’re
not right for each other. Trust me on this. Katherine… you
and Tommy should…" Even though Kim was now aware that
it was only a dream state, it was still difficult to do what she
was about to do. "You two should be together. It was meant
to be." Katherine smiled shyly as she and Thomas walked away
together, hand in hand. </p>
<p>Kim sighed as she watched them go. A hand fell on her shoulder
and she spun around to see Marie staring at her. "Well,
congratulations Kimberly, Ros’cri Grid Warrior."</p>
<p>"You knew all along didn’t you Marie?" Accused
Kim. </p>
<p>"No, you knew. This is all you. This is your
subconscious. Everything here was a manifestation of yours in
order to find you power. And apparently clear up a few other
loose ends."</p>
<p>Kim smiled behind her helmet. "Thank you Marie."
Stepping back she looked at the creation of her subconscious one
last time. "Catch ya’ on the flip side." With that
she placed both hands on her belt and was gone in a column of
Pink with Red highlights.</p>
<p><center><hr>
</center><p>
<p>"That blasted Lord Zedd!" The large monarch of the
Machine Empire was finally beginning to calm down from his
tirade. He opened his mouth as though about to yell some more,
but all that came out was unintelligible grunts. He had hurled
insults at Lord Zedd, Empress Rita, Master Zordon and the Rangers
of Earth for well over an hour, while stomping throughout his
fortress, venting physical anger upon panicked Cogs. He had ended
up back in his throne room where Machina, unperturbed by his
royal fit, was calmly waiting for Mondo to wind down. </p>
<p>"Do remember dear that your attack today had a superior
motive?" asked Queen Machina calmly.</p>
<p>"What?" snapped the King</p>
<p>"Yeah Pop. Remember your Kieroo?" Prince
Sproket’s voice piped up from behind his mother. </p>
<p>"Why… of course. Yes, WarMech was merely a prelude
to my Kieroo. Klank!"</p>
<p>"Y-yes yer Majesty?" The mechanical footman
nervously stuck his head into the throne room. </p>
<p>"Send my Kieroo to Earth."</p>
<p>"Yes yer Majesty." Klank disappeared down the hall
with Orbus in tow.</p>
<p>Mondo gave vent to a low evil laugh. "Thank you my
family, for I might have forgotten if not for you. Now we will
give those Rangers of Earth something to think about…"</p>
<p>"Of course dear," replied Queen Machina.</p>
<p><center><hr>
</center><p>
<p>Zackary Taylor finally opened his eyes after what seemed an
eternity to find himself sitting in a chair at the end of a long
metal corridor. Standing he almost wished he hadn’t. His
body ached all over. Stretching out he tried to ease the pain he
was experiencing, but was only able to reduce it to a dull throb.
</p>
<p>"Oh man…" he muttered. "What a boring
place. So this must be my quest for my new power." Zack had
to smile at that. He was finally going to be a Power Ranger
again. When he had left the Rangers for the Peace conference and
handed his powers over to Adam, Zack had felt he was doing the
right thing, that he would be helping the world in a more
political way. </p>
<p>It had only taken two months before he realized his mistake.
He loved being a Ranger. When Jason left to assume the Gold
Powers, Zack had been incredibly jealous. Finally Zack had
decided to go back home to Angel Grove, and to try to convince
Trini to come along. Convincing Trini hadn’t been so
difficult, especially when he had played on her affection for
Billy. He had regretted doing it that way, but she had seen
through it and decided he had been right and the time to return
home had come. </p>
<p>Zack began to walk as he finished stretching. The hall seemed
to go on forever. There were no landmarks or inconsistencies of
any kind. The walls, ceiling and floor were smooth dark gray
metal with no breaks, meeting at precise ninety-degree angles.
There was no obvious source of light although Zack could see
clearly. </p>
<p>"So this is my sub-conscious… I never realized I was
such a boring person." Zack’s joke hung dead in the
air. There was no echo as he’d expected; the hall was silent
except for the scraping of his sneakers. </p>
<p>With a small sigh Zack continued on down the hall looking for
something to break the monotony. Finally he spotted the end of
the hallway, with an excited shout he sprinted the rest of the
way and found a door made of dark colored wood. Reaching out he
had almost touched the door when it swung open and an icy
landscape was revealed beyond. Drawn forward by an unexplainable
force Zack stepped through. </p>
<p>With a start the young man spun around to find that the black
door and gray hallway were gone and he was now alone in the
barren snow-scape. The flat plane of snow stretched in all
directions with a gray overcast sky and a diffused orb, which he
assumed was the sun, high above him. Looking down at himself he
found that he was clothed in a black fur trimmed cloak and coat
with fur trimmed leather boots as well. Strapped to the boots
were wide snowshoes. </p>
<p>"Even if my subconscious was mean enough to leave me out
here in the snow all by myself, at least it was kind enough to
provide warm clothing." With nothing else to do Zackary
began to walk… and walk, and walk. He was almost beginning
to wish for the grey metal hall, when he realized that the wind
had begun to pick up and the temperature was dropping. Glancing
at the sky he saw that the sun was nearer the horizon. The clouds
were darkening as well and Zack instinctively knew a storm was
coming. </p>
<p>"Perfect, just perfect… why couldn’t my
subconscious just conjure up a nice warm living room where I
could find my Spirits in book or a magazine in front of a roaring
fire with a cup of hot coco?" Despite his complaining Zack
felt a kind of exuberance knowing he was on a quest, and began to
look for a shelter as the first snowflakes began to fall. </p>
<p>Zack continued to search in vain. He wandered about until the
storm had become blinding and still he stumbled on. "Stop,
quit, it’s not worth it. Just lie down in the snow and let
it cover you up…" the thought was tempting, but thought
of his friends and his responsibilities kept him going. Finally,
after what seemed endless tripping and stumbling around in the
storm the wind was suddenly cut off. Slowly Zack reached up and
pulled back the hood of his coat, ice and crusted snow flaked
off, and fell to the ground with audible splats and cracks in the
pitch-blackness. The wind howled somewhere behind him and he
turned to see the barely visible opening of a cave. The air in
the cave was heavy and still, and warmer than it should have
been. </p>
<p>Carefully Zack walked with his hands held before him until he
came to the cave wall. Gratefully he slid to the floor with his
back to the unusually smooth rock surface. Curling into a ball he
was immediately sound asleep.</p>
<p>Zack opened his eyes slowly in response to… something, he
couldn’t remember what. He was quickly reminded by another
small nudge in the ribs. Zack sprang up and was face to
‘face’ with a large shaggy creature sporting a trunk
and large ears. Scampering backwards, he was relieved when the
creature merely watched him curiously. </p>
<p>Zack studied the creature racking his brain. "I’m
here on a quest to find my Spirits and in turn my Amalgam
Powers… But instead I get stranded at the North Pole, caught
in a blizzard, finally find shelter in this cave and am woken up
by a… large, shaggy… Argh!" Zack sighed and looked
at the large creature. "Well girl, do you know where I can
find my Spirit Guides?"</p>
<p>In answer the creature wrapped its long trunk around
Zack’s waist and placed him softly onto her back. </p>
<p>"Whoa… that was fun." Then the large beast
began to move at a surprisingly light gait out of the cave and
into the snowfields. The sky was no longer over cast having
dumped its burden the night before and the sun shone brightly in
the sky. With his hood thrown back, Zack felt the warm sun on his
face and the cool air whipping past it as his ride picked up
speed and was galloping sending sprays of snow up behind her.
After a time that could have been hours but was actually just
minuets they stopped at the peak of a large hill and looked into
the valley below. </p>
<p>Within the valley there was a huge lake, too big to have been
completely frozen over. A whole pack of creatures like the one
Zack was riding, were milling around, rooting for vegetation
under the snow and drinking from the lake. "Wow, look at all
of them. There what you are a… you’re a…
damn!" Zack yelled in frustration. The beast he was riding
reached up with its trunk and patted his knee comfortingly. </p>
<p>He should know the name of the creature. He had seen it before
many times, he had had power based around it… no, he had
been it. It was him, and he it. It was a…
"…Mastodon," Zack breathed softly. The pack of
Black furred Mastodons down in the valley reared upon their hind
legs and let loose with tremendous trumpet blasts from their
trunks. </p>
<p>The Mastodon he was sitting upon lifted him off herself and
set him on the ground. "You are my spirit guide…
wow." To Zack’s right there was a flash of light and he
turned to see another black doorway. "Guess I’m
supposed to go through that huh?" The Mastodon nodded its
shaggy head. "Well, thanks for showing me to…
well… to you." He patted her trunk affectionately.
"See ya’ around girl." </p>
<p>With that he turned and reached out to push open the door, but
before he could touch it, it swung open. He took one more look at
his Spirit Guide and stepped through the door. As the door closed
behind him he groaned aloud, he was back in the metal hallway. As
he began to head down the hallway again a sudden thought struck
him. He had been referring to the Mastodon as ‘her’.
And as he understood it, he and his Spirits were one and the
same, if that were true… He stopped himself before that
train of thought could get out of hand. </p>
<p>"Alright, one down, three to go." Zack began his
hike down the hall, determined not to lose his patience again.
That lasted almost five minutes. Soon he was bored out of his
mind, and muttering curses at the guy who had thought up this
part of the quest. Needless to say, Zack was excited to finally
catch a glimpse of the end of the hallway, and the black doorway.
</p>
<p>"Finally." He yelled and began sprinting towards the
door. Reaching out a hand to touch the door, it opened without
contact just as before. The scene on the other side was that of a
vast grassy plain. "Huh, from a sea of snow to a sea of
grass." He stepped through the doorway, which promptly
closed and disappeared behind him. As before he began to walk,
and walk, and walk. This time he was clothed in the black
T-shirt, jeans and sneakers he had been wearing in the hallway
and before he’d started on the quest. After no more than ten
minutes he had topped a small hill and was staring down at a
group of tawny colored animals currently basking in the sun. </p>
<p>"…I know what those are… Damn it. Why do I have
to forget?" Suddenly Zack felt eyes on him. Slowly he turned
around and saw a creature like those resting in the small valley
below. This one had darker fur and a black main unlike the others
who were yellow colored. </p>
<p>He knew he should be afraid. He knew he should be thinking of
a way out of here. The dark furred creature slowly stalked
towards him. Zack remained still, paralyzed not by fear, but by a
force he couldn’t identify. The creature came closer and
closer, and still Zack remained still, watching it. Finally its
face was within a foot of Zack’s, it regarded him for a
moment more and then opened it’s mouth and gave a tremendous
roar. The sound assaulted Zack’s ears and echoed off the
empty plain. And still Zack stood still staring into the
creature’s eyes. </p>
<p>"It doesn’t want to hurt me," the thought slid
through his mind. "He’s just playing mind games with
me. Wants to try and shake me up a bit… we’ll see about
that."</p>
<p>Zack’s lips curved into a small smile and he opened his
mouth as if about to say something but what came out surprised
him much more than the beast he was facing. When Zack’s
mouth opened a roar escaped his lips, and it was every bit as
powerful as the other’s.</p>
<p>The Black Lion nodded its head once and licked Zack’s
forehead before loping over the small hill and into the valley
with his pride and basking in the sun. </p>
<p>"What a trip," Muttered Zack. He then stood up and
turned around to see a black doorway waiting on him. Looking down
into the valley he noticed the Black Lion still watching him.
"Thanks man," was all he said before stepping through
the doorway and looking around with a sigh. "Maybe this is
supposed to be testing my patience…"</p>
<p>Zack again walked down the featureless gray metal hallway and
again was overly excited to see a black door set in a gray wall
that marked the end of the hallway. The door swung open with out
having to be touched and Zack stepped through and found himself
on a dirt street in the middle of what looked like a
stereotypical ‘Old West’ town. </p>
<p>"This is different," he said to himself as he began
to walk down the street. He was clothed in black denim pants, a
black plaid shirt and boots. "This is just too
weird…" He continued to walk, not knowing what he was
looking for. The ‘locals’ of the town barely noticed
him, giving him no more than a passing glance as if strangers
were nothing new around. </p>
<p>That was fine by him. Zack wasn’t really sure they would
buy the story that he was on a quest to find his Spirit Animals,
which would give him access to the Amalgam Ranger Power more
commonly know as Grid Warrior Power. Not to mention the fact that
as soon as he did they would all disappear because they were
merely a manifestation of his subconscious…</p>
<p>Now that he thought about it, he wasn’t so sure he bought
it himself. Zack wandered through town and before long he was
standing in front of a structure that smelled of hay, sweat and
manure. Not quite sure why he stepped into the dimly lit
interior.</p>
<p>"Howdy mister. You looking to buy a horse?" Zack
looked over to the man who had spoken. He looked and dressed like
a typical rancher or cowboy. </p>
<p>"Well, I thought I’d look at what you have."
The cowboy nodded and led Zack through the stalls. There were
Paints and Buckskins and Roans and Chestnuts, all very beautiful,
but none of them seemed right. </p>
<p>"Well sorry mister, that’s all we got," said
the young man a bit irritated as Zack turned down yet another
horse. </p>
<p>"What about that one." Zack walked to the back of
the building where a black horse stood in the shadows.
"He’s beautiful." </p>
<p>"Oh no, you don’t want that one mister. That there
is a green-broke Stallion, he ain’t been tamed yet. A real
free spirit that one." But Zack wasn’t listening. He
just kept staring at the beast. </p>
<p>In a flash the scene changed and the glossy black Stallion was
running through a green field of grass with Zackary Taylor riding
bareback. They galloped through fields for what seemed like
hours, enjoying the thrill of the run, until finally the horse
slowed and stopped. In front of them was the familiar door
standing in a field of grass in the middle of nowhere. Zack slid
down from the Stallion and patted his neck. Looking deep into the
creature’s dark liquid eyes, Zack saw a mirror of himself in
the ‘free spirit’.</p>
<p>"See ya’ later man." And with that he stepped
through the doorway, cringing inwardly at the thought of another
hike through the gray metal hallway. </p>
<p>He was surprised, and grateful when he stepped into a small
room. The walls and ceiling were gray again, but the floor was
covered in a dark violet carpet. The room was empty except for
him and he was beginning to get a bit nervous until a whispered
voice came from… somewhere. That’s when he was more
than just a bit nervous. </p>
<p>"Zackary Taylor. Congratulations. You have discovered
your Spirit Guides. The Black Mastodon of Body, the Black Lion of
Mind, and the Black Stallion of Spirit." As each Spirit was
named they appeared before him.</p>
<p>"Zackary," said the Mastodon "I am the
Mastodon, I am Strength and Perseverance, I am you."</p>
<p>"Zack, I am the Black Lion, watching and waiting, I am
you."</p>
<p>"Zack Taylor, I am the Stallion, wild and free, I am
you."</p>
<p>Zack nodded and stared at his three Spirits. Three…
"Wait a minute, where is the fourth? Where is the Spirit of
Self?"</p>
<p>Mastodon chuckled. "Zackary, the three of us are black,
your dominant personality color, the color of the Artist and
Entertainer."</p>
<p>"However," Continued Stallion, "Purple is your
second dominate color, the color of the Rouge and…
Trickster." </p>
<p>"Your Spirit of Self, the Ace Shadow, the same whose
whispery voice introduced us to this room is of that color. It
was he in his trickster like ways who decided to have you walk
through long monotonous hallways," Black Lion guffawed. </p>
<p>"So in effect what you guys are saying is part of my mind
was playing tricks on me and now is embarrassed to show it’s
self?" Zack looked a bit incredulous. </p>
<p>"I’m not embarrassed… well not
really…" A purplish shadowy blur appeared before Zack
"I’m sorry Zackman, I just couldn’t help myself.
Do you forgive me?"</p>
<p>"Sure man, no biggie." Zack’s face broke into a
huge grin at the impossibility and humor of the situation.
Sticking his hand out, his Spirit of Self, the Purple Ace Shadow,
grasped it.</p>
<p>"Ahem, have to do this formally," the Ace Shadow
moved backwards to stand with the other spirits. "Zackary
Taylor, I am the Ace Shadow, the trick and the smile, the whisper
and the wink, I am you." Slowly the four Spirits began to
lose substance and their energy flowed into Zack. He stood there
a moment feeling the power that had just infused him and
then…</p>
<p>"DAR’KET GRID WARRIOR!"</p>
<p>…he was clad in the armor of the Grid Warrior. The Chest
plate and leg armor were the metal/plastic alloy characteristic
with most Rangers, while the sleeves, gloves and boots were the
cloth like armor that Ninja Rangers were known for. The armor its
self was black with purple highlights. The helmet was black and
featureless but for an even darker visor and the gray mouth
plate. Set in the chest plate was his coin. Upon the coin were
the depictions of the Mastodon, Black Lion and Stallion. Behind
those three, barely distinguishable was the odd, angular symbol
of the Ace Shadow. </p>
<p>Zack sighed, "Can’t believe my mind was playing
tricks on me…" and he teleported out in a column of
purple on black.</p>
<p><center><hr>
</center><p>
<p>The cockpit of the Zeo Mega Zord shook. Zeo Ranger V braced
himself against the blow and attempted to get the offensive
systems back on line. </p>
<p>"Shields down thirty-seven percent!"</p>
<p>"We’re losing power."</p>
<p>Suddenly a black and gold blur sped past the Zeo Mega Zord and
slammed into the mechanical Kieroo, which was the Zeo
Ranger’s most recent foe, the third in one day. </p>
<p>As the evil Kieroo stumbled back a small distance the Zeo Zord
regained most systems and prepared for battle. </p>
<p>"Rock-o, you take Warrior Wheel."</p>
<p>"You got it," responded Blue Zeo to Red Zeo’s
command. Rocky was soon at the controls of the small quick Zord. </p>
<p>The Kieroo fired missiles and again the Zeo Mega Zord shook
and alarms began to go off. </p>
<p>"Damn," muttered Red Zeo. "Alpha, how’s it
coming with the Zord Auto Pilot?"</p>
<p>"Aie yi yi Tommy, I’m working on it."</p>
<p>"Alright guys, I don’t like it, but were going to
have to abandon Mega Zeo and Warrior Wheel for the Super Zeos for
now." The others nodded a bit reluctantly. </p>
<p>"SUPER ZEO ZORD POWER!"</p>
<p>In flashes of light the humanoid Zords with shapes upon their
chests were surrounding the large metal tower just outside of
Angel Grove. Zeo Mega Zord and Warrior Wheel stood a silent vigil
over the unfolding battle. </p>
<p><center><hr>
</center><p>
<p>"Baboo! Squatt! Where’s my food!?" Rita sitting
in her bed awaiting the two bumbling idiots. She’d been
waiting for ten minutes. Sourly she began to mutter under her
breath.</p>
<p>"My dear."</p>
<p>Rita looked up to see Zedd standing in the doorway holding a
tray of food. "Zedd? Where are Baboo and Squatt?"</p>
<p>"I sent them on a mission dear," replied Zedd as he
set the tray down on the bed.</p>
<p>"Oh, I see." Slowly she began to eat as Zedd watched
her. She had been angry with him earlier, but now she had had
time to cool down while he was off trying to conquer the Earth.
She almost hated to admit it, but she was excited at being
pregnant. Sighing she leaned back against her pillow, just then
the importance of Zedd had just said hit her. </p>
<p>"You what!"</p>
<p>Zedd chuckled evilly. "I sent them to the Ninja
Temple."</p>
<p>"What for!?"</p>
<p>"To steal some blank power coins."</p>
<p>"Wait a minute. You sent Squatt and Baboo, two of the
most incompetent fools in our empire, through the Desert of
Despair to the Ninja Temple, residence of Ninjor, a Grid Master
and Coin Smith, in order to steal Power Coins… Why? They
don’t stand a chance."</p>
<p>"Of course not Rita, but Goldar, Scorpina, and Rito do.
Squatt and Baboo are merely a distraction."</p>
<p>Rita nodded slowly. "I see, and should they succeed, what
will you do with Power Coins?"</p>
<p>"Trust me dear, the time is drawing nearer… I can
feel it."</p>
<p align="center"><a href="gathering1.htm">Part 1</a> - <a
href="gathering2.htm">Part 2</a> - <a href="gathering3.htm">Part
3</a> - <a href="gathering4.htm">Part 4</a> - <a
href="gathering5.htm">Part 5</a> - <a href="gathering6.htm">Part
6</a> - <a href="gathering7.htm">Part 7</a> - <a
href="gathering8.htm">Part 8</a> - <a href="gathering9.htm">Part
9</a> - <a href="gathering10.htm">Part 10</a> <br>
<br>
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Time Stands not Still: Part 1 By Randel