Power Rangers Zeo - Venusian Encounters - Heather Ray (good books for 8th graders .TXT) 📗

feel that bond of love. However, on Earth, there is the irreplaceable bond of friendship waiting for you."

Billy turned away from Tympanus, obviously unconvinced.

"You finally have what you've been yearning for for months! Restored Power! Now, as the Silver Ranger, you are a much-needed addition to the Zeo Rangers. They have made a new enemy this day, who will return, more powerful than before. They need you to stop her. And you will finally return home."

Billy turned to Cestria once again, and breathed deeply. "Still... she didn't deserve to die."

"Very few truly deserve to die, but Cestria is in a better place now. When the time is right, you will be reunited with her. In the meantime, however, you must live your life with the people who love you. Your family and your friends. They will help you through this tragedy."

Billy looked up to the wise sage, his face still grim. Tympanus picked up the Sword, and handed it to the Silver Ranger.

"Now there are more pressing matters. The water is still evaporating. You must break the spell Divatox has cast, and allow the rains to restore Aquitar's ocean. Only you can do it, and you must do it quickly. Already the water is only about two kilometers deep."

Billy nodded, and strapped on his silver helmet. After gazing at Cestria a little longer, he grasped the sword, and vanished in a streak of silver light. Tympanus smiled, and placed his hand above Cestria's head.

"Rest well, child. You accomplished your life's mission. You made sure the Chosen One found me. You shall not be forgotten."

That said, Tympanus vanished from Triton before anyone besides Billy ever saw him.
Chapter Thirty-Eight

Billy appeared atop the mountain, now among many spots on the planet above sea level. He glanced up at the tremendous cloud cover, and unsheathed his sword. He instinctively knew how to use the healing power of the sword. He raised the sword high, and closed his eyes beneath his helmet.

"Silver Rush," he said unenthusiastically.

A bright beam of silver light struck the clouds, the force of which pushed the Silver Ranger to his knees. After he lowered the sword, the patch of sky suddenly began to rain. After a moment, the surrounding cloud area began to rain, and so on across the horizon. Billy sank down on the rock, panting heavily from the exertion. He pulled off his helmet, letting the rain soak his light brown hair and pale face. The streaks of rain water washed away the sweat on his brow, as well as the tears forming in his eyes, as he looked at the mighty Sword of Tympanus. He then lay it down beside him, and picked up his helmet. He stared into the visor, and saw his face in the reflective tinted glass.

"Its ironic," he thought aloud, "The powers of the Silver Ranger include healing, even on a scale such as an entire planet. The water was actually down to about one-sixth of the total water on the planet, and it wasn't too late. The power to save a planet, but not the power to save the woman I love."

Billy wiped his face with the back of his hand, and touched his forehead.

"I didn't realize the situation she was in. I didn't realize she was dying. Delphine knew it would worry me, and then I'd make mistakes. Mistakes could have cost us the fight. But, didn't I deserve to at least try

to save her? By the time I arrived, all I could do was stand by her side when she... when she..."

Billy started to sob outright, into the sleeves of his uniform. Slowly the water levels rose as water poured from the skies as it would from a bucket. As his heart mourned the loss of the love of his life, his overachieving mind couldn't help but ponder the irony of the situation. The day that should have been the greatest day of his life -- the day he was restored as a superhero and saved a planet -- has become the worst.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Tommy was lying down on an extremely comfortable water bed. The room was darkened, save for the glowing silverly light of an orb, filled with a strange glowing liquid that the Aquitians use for light. Tommy is dressed in a black tunic with red hem, similar to those of the Aquitian Rangers. He laid on the bed, staring at the clear glass wall across from his bed. He looked at all the different fish that swam by his chamber, marvelling at the array of color they displayed. Although he was extremely exhausted from the trying adventure he and the other Zeo Rangers faced, he could not fall asleep. He was too worried about his friend.

"Billy's been gone for hours," Tommy thought aloud, tightly clasping his hands on his stomach, "He never came back to Triton after he broke Divatox's spell. I don't know if I should follow him, or just let him mourn in peace. I know I can't comfort him, and he probably wants privacy. But still, I should let him know that I'm here for him. He's been my friend for so long, and he helped me when Kim and I broke up. True, this is a far different situation, and I know I can't relate. I mean, how would I react if Kim had died? I can't even fathom life without her... and I know Billy's feeling something similiar. But can I help him, or would I just get in his way?"

Tommy frowned, and rolled over on his stomach. After Divatox fled, the Zeo Rangers returned to Aquitar. That's when Billy learned that his fiance Cestria was dying. He only arrived minutes before she died, and he couldn't even communicate with her. He left soon after, using the Sword of Tympanus, the weapon of the mighty Silver Ranger, to cause the clouds covering the entire planet to release the water trapped within. The Aquitian Rangers had thanked the Power Rangers for their help, and had sent each ranger to an elegant guest room to rest. Adam had spoken up, saying that he wanted to visit Billy. But the Aquitians said that Billy was in mourning, and would probably like privacy. After all, if he didn't want to be alone, he would have returned to the city. So the rangers grudgingly retired. But that didn't mean they could rest, knowing the pain and suffering their friend and fellow ranger was going through at the moment.

"Forget it," Tommy grunted, sitting up on his bed and slipping his feet into the shoes the Aquitians provided for him, "I'm getting outta here."

Tommy walked towards the door, which immediately opened to allow him to pass. He then navigated his way through the busy halls, heading towards the Zord hangar, where he knew the Aquitian Rangers were. Each Aquitian citizen he passed greeted him respectfully, and made room for him to continue. That was how they showed gratitude to one of the heroes who helped save the planet. Soon, Tommy reached the hangar, and entered. Not surprisingly, Corcus, Aurico, and Delphine were busy at the Zeozords, along with a team of expert technicians. By the computer relays away from the pool of water, Tommy noticed his fellow Zeo Rangers-- Katherine, Adam, Tanya, and Rocky -- standing with Tideus in front of the screen. Tommy approached them, and glanced over Kat's shoulder at what they were looking at. It was an image of the Power Chamber.

^Is he alright?^ Kimberly, the Pink Ninjetti asked.

"We... we don't know," Adam sighed, "I haven't seen him in hours! But we don't know if we should comfort him, or what."

^It's so terrible,^

Renee Ryan said, shaking her head sadly, ^It must be excrutiating to lose someone you love so deeply.^

^WHEN SHALL YOU RETURN TO EARTH?^

Zordon inquired.

"The Zeozords are in no condition for warp speed travel," Tideus said, "We are working on them as we speak, but it shall take at least four axis rotations to complete repairs. I would assume the rangers will leave as soon as they can. Once again, Zordon, thank you for hearing our request for assistance."

^WE ARE PARTNERS AGAINST EVIL, AND THEREFORE WE MUST HELP EACH OTHER WHEN TIMES OF DIRE NEED ARISE. MAY THE POWER PROTECT YOU ALL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON.^

"Bye," said the Zeos, as the image on the screen went black. Kat then turned to Tommy, and smiled at him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, "We thought you were asleep."

"I'm dead tired," Tommy admitted, "but I can't sleep a wink."

"Yeah," said Rocky, "same with the rest of us."

"We all had the same idea," Tanya said, "We wanted to contact Zordon, and let the gang at home know we're okay, and to check on Billy."

"Did you check on him?"

"Yes," Adam said, "He's still on the Azure mountains."

"In the rain?" Tommy said, frowning, "Won't the mountain get covered up in ocean water soon?"

"Negative," Tideus said, "Billy is on the highest peak. That peak always remains above sea level. However, he may grow ill from sitting in the rain for so long."

"Maybe we should do something," Kat said.

"We keep checking on him every ten minutes," Adam said, "just to make sure he doesn't do anything... drastic. I think he just needs to be by himself, and say goodbye to Cestria in his own way. He's really a sensitive guy, and we all know Cestria's death was a shock."

"I can't think of any worse news to give a homecoming hero," Tanya said with a frown, "Poor guy."

"Do you think he's going to come back to Earth with us?" Rocky asked, "Or would he want to stay here?"

"That's a good question," Tommy said, "We'd be glad to have him home again, but he has been living on Aquitar for months. I don't know if he wants to go back, since he established a life for himself here."

"True," said Kat, "but Cestria was the focus of that life, and now, she's gone. He may want