Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twelve of "Hopeful Hearts." I didn't mean to take more than a week to it out. I had a case of writer's block. This chapter has some Tommy/Kim. It has Ranger action. I am so glad to have finally gotten to this point. Stay tuned for chapter thirteen.

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Chapter 12: Surprise Attack

Wal-Mart was a little more crowded at noontime. Tommy, Kim, Billy, Kat Rocky, Adam, Aisha, Bernard, Angelina, and Alyssa were gathered in the toy section's bike aisle. Aisha examined her partially filled cart. She repeated her action with another that was half-full. She looked at the others with a big smile on her face.

"Great job, guys! We have just a few more toys to get before we have enough for the kids at the hospital!" Aisha announced.

Everyone cheered and high-fived each other. Rocky heard his stomach growl and rubbed it to quiet it down.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready for lunch," Rocky commented.

"So am I. I could go for a tasty cheeseburger at McDonald's," Kat said and smacked her lips.

"I second that," Kim added.

"You know me. I love cheeseburgers," Adam said.

"Who else wants McDonald's?" Billy asked, eyeing the others. Everyone smiled widely and raised his or her hands. He laughed and shook his head while crossing his arms. "I guess that makes it unanimous. McDonald's it is."

"Before we leave, I need to go to the bathroom," Kim said, jerking her thumb over her shoulder.

"Me too," Rocky said.

"Me three," Adam added.

"Okay. We'll go to the checkout lane," Tommy said. "Kim, don't take too long in the bathroom, all right?"

"Tommy, I'm just going to the bathroom, not putting on a bunch of makeup!" Kim shouted in annoyance.

"I just want to make sure you're not getting any ideas," Tommy snickered.

"You are so crazy!" Kim growled and slapped her boyfriend in the chest. "Yes, you are."

Tommy pinched both of his girlfriend's cheeks before flicking her chin. She tweaked his nose and gave him a punch to the chest. She attempted to punch him again, but he used his arm to block her. He squeezed her side, smiling when he heard her squeal. He kissed her on the forehead. They smiled lovingly at each other.

"All right, that's enough!" Rocky said. "We should get to the bathroom before the lines get too long."

"That is if any lines have formed," Adam said.

Kim snorted. "Yep."

Rocky, Adam, and Kim walked away. Tommy started pushing the first cart. Aisha came up beside him with the second. Billy, Kat, Bernard, Angelina, and Alyssa were right behind them.

"This was a great shopping trip. I never thought we'd get this much done," Aisha said with pride.

Tommy laughed. "Me neither. The best part was watching Rocky, Adam, Alyssa, Bernard, and Angelina bounce around on those kangaroo hoppers! They looked so funny!"

"They sure did!" Aisha said, letting out a soft giggle. "It was like they couldn't stop bouncing around. For a minute, I thought they'd turn into kangaroos."

"I bet I could bounce really high if I were a kangaroo!" Alyssa said gleefully.

Angelina squeaked. "I think I'd bounce higher than you!"

"I'd bounce the highest because I'm the tallest!" Bernard shouted, jumping up and down.

Alyssa shook her head. "In your dreams!"

Bernard stuck his tongue out at Alyssa and Angelina, but they ignored them. Tommy, Aisha, Billy, and Kat gave shrugs. The group continued toward the checkout lanes.

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Kim came out of the women's restroom four minutes later. She pulled her hair behind her neck and stretched her arms above her head. She jumped in fright when she heard an ominous noise. She spotted two shadows on the wall and watched them move off. She shifted her attention the greenhouse's entrance. Becoming curious, she decided to head toward it.

Kim went inside the greenhouse, finding five aisles filled with plants. She walked down the first aisle, looking around. She turned around the corner into the second. She heard rustling and peered over her shoulder, but she didn't see anything. She felt her heart pounding against her chest. She started to believe she was being watched by someone or something.

Kim heard a door open and close. She ran outside and found herself in the alley behind Wal-Mart. She spotted movement in the bushes and took slow yet even breaths. She approached them carefully. Just then, Squatt and Baboo came out from behind them. They appeared to be nervous. She put her hands on her hips, looking at them weirdly.

"Well, well, if it isn't Squatt and Baboo! Of all places, you end up in the alley behind Wal-Mart!" Kim said with a shake of her head. "What happened? Did Rita and Zedd finally decide to get rid of you?"

"You could say that," Squatt gibbered.

"However, looks can be deceiving!" Baboo pointed out.

All of a sudden, two Tengas pounced on Kim from behind while cawing loudly. She elbowed the first Tenga in the beak and punched the second in the stomach. She grabbed their arms and smacked them together. She went under them in which she twisted their arms around. She leapt upward and kicked them in their backs, which caused to them collide with another bush.

Two more Tengas grabbed Kim and gave her hard punches to her stomach. She broke free of their grasp. She jammed her elbows into their chests before turning around. They rushed their fists forward, but she caught them in her hands. She gave them kicks to their stomachs and flipped them over their backs. She growled and curled her hands into fists, looking very determined.

"No one messes with the crane and gets away with it!" Kim declared. "That's right!"

Unfortunately, Goldar and Scorpina ambushed Kim, taking hold of her arms. She struggled against their grasp, but she couldn't get free.

"Let me go, you ugly creatures!" Kim shouted.

"Not a chance, Kimberly!" Goldar growled.

"You're a fool if you think we're letting you go!" Scorpina shouted.

Vile walked toward the group, rubbing the tip of his wand. Rito was beside him, holding his sword high. They stopped close to Goldar, Scorpina, and Kim. Squatt and Baboo joined his side.

"Excellent work, Squatt, Baboo! You managed to lure Kimberly into our trap!" Vile said proudly.

"Thanks, Master Vile!" Squatt answered.

Baboo chuckled. "If you need us to be decoys again, we'll gladly do it!"

Scorpina rolled her eyes and shook her head. Vile looked Kim right in the eye, letting out an evil chuckle.

"Nice day for Christmas shopping, isn't it, Kimberly?" Vile asked. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you face to face."

"Master Vile!" Kim shouted and exhaled sharply. "My friends told me all about you! You're even uglier than what they described!"

Vile leaned closer to her. "I learned a lot about you from Rita and Zedd. I have to say you're even prettier up close!"

Kim made a disgusted face and looked away. Vile decided to move back and reached out with his wand to touch her cheek. He pushed her head to where she was looking at him again.

"You don't need to be afraid. I'm not going to harm you. You're much too beautiful for that. You're going to make a fine addition to my army and a perfect queen for me," Vile said sinisterly.

Kim shook her head. "You've got another thing coming if you think I'm joining your side!"

Kim stepped on Goldar's foot, causing to lose his grip on her. She punched Scorpina between the eyes, forcing her to let go. He attempted to grab her, missing when she moved aside. She spotted a broken broomstick lying on the ground nearly. She raced to it and picked it up. She jabbed it into his stomach as he charged at her. She slammed it into his back, knocking him down. She pushed her hair out of her face while panting heavily.

Kim saw Scorpina coming at her with sword raised high. She held up the broomstick to catch it when her opponent brought it downward. They struggled to gain the upper hand. Scorpina backhanded her across the cheek. She aimed her fist for her head, but she missed when Kim headed under it. Kim hit her in the back with the broomstick. She swung it at her feet, sweeping them out from underneath her. The broomstick was knocked out of her hand by an energy beam. She turned around to face Rito, who pointed his sword at her.

"You're useless without that broomstick, Pinky!" Rito yelled.

"Let's see how useless I really am, Rito!" Kim growled, forming a fighting stance. "Come on."

Rito roared and charged at Kim. He swung his sword, as he got closer to her. She jumped over it and observed him spinning around. She blocked a punch and got hold of his arm. She delivered a series of kicks to his side. He pulled himself out of her grasp and jammed her in the face with his elbow. He grabbed her arm and threw her as hard as he could. She landed in a bush with a loud groan. She looked up as he made his way toward her.

Rito kicked Kim in the stomach. He relished at her letting out a loud groan. He put his hand around her throat and forced her to her feet. He threw her again, seeing her hit the ground on her back. She saw him coming toward her and rose to her feet. She formed a fist and aimed to punch him in the face. She nailed her target. He stumbled backward, but he remained standing. She swung her arm at his feet to sweep them out from underneath him. She stood up, taking deep breaths.

"I hope you had a nice trip, Rito," Kim joked. "Never look a gift skeleton in the mandible."

Kim was ambushed from the side by a Tenga. It landed multiple punches on her. She shoved it away with her foot. She went to it while clasping her hands together. She swung them upward in which she nailed it in the beak. She kicked it into a metal crate. She ran toward two Tengas charging at her.

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Rocky and Adam turned the water off at the first two of four sinks in the men's restroom. They got paper towels and dried their hands on them. They tossed them into the trashcan. They exited as two young men came in. They stopped to near the door and looked around. They didn't see Kim anywhere. A teen boy walked past them, going inside the restroom.

"Where is Kim? I thought she'd be waiting for us," Adam said.

"She could still be in the bathroom," Rocky suggested.

"I don't know, Rocky. I'm getting a bad feeling," Adam responded, swallowing hard.

"You think she's in trouble?" Rocky wondered.

Adam rubbed his chin. "I can't say, but we should go look for her."

Rocky pressed his lips together. "All right. Let's try the greenhouse."

Rocky and Adam raced into the greenhouse and walked down the first aisle. Cawing caught their attention, and they ran out the door and into the alley. They found Kim being punched in the face by Scorpina. Vile looked at them, cackling loudly. Squatt and Baboo stood behind him.

"Well, well, look who decided to crash the party!" Vile yelled.

"You'll be barbecue for us once we're done with you!" Scorpina hissed.

"You wish, Scorpina! It's Morphin Time!" Adam shouted. "Black Ranger Power!"

"Red Ranger Power!" Rocky called.

The Red and Black Rangers leapt into the air and performed a double dropkick on Scorpina. She flew backward, colliding with a tree. She fell to her knees and rose to her feet as her enemies stood in front of Kim defensively.

"You're not getting anywhere near Kim, Scorpina!" Adam shouted with determination.

"We mean it!" Rocky added.

"If you think you can protect Kimberly from Master Vile, you've got another thing coming!" Scorpina snarled, gripping her boomerang tightly with both hands. "She'll be in his grasp before long!"

Adam formed a fighting stance, as did Rocky. "Not if we have anything to do with it!"

Scorpina flared her nostrils. "If you want me, come and get me!"

Rocky and Adam rushed at Scorpina, who charged her sword with energy and threw it at them. They got hit and flew backward in which they hit the ground hard. They looked up just in time to see her rushing at them. They aimed their fists for her head, but she blocked them by holding up her hands. She performed a double backhand. Rocky and Adam stumbled, yet they remained standing.

Scorpina attempted a double punch on Rocky and Adam. They held up their arms, blocking her easily. They gave her kicks to her stomach and punches to her face. They jumped and did another double dropkick on her. She flew through the air, slamming her head on the same tree. She sank to the ground and slipped into unconsciousness. They raced to Kim as she got to her feet.

"You okay, Kim?" Rocky asked.

"Yeah. Thanks, guys," Kim answered.

Without warning, six Tengas ambushed the trio. They poked their quarry with their beaks and beat on them with their fists. Rocky grabbed the arms of the first and second Tengas and smacked them together. He leapt over them backward, throwing them into the air as he landed. They landed in the bushes. They rolled out of them with loud groans.

Kim performed a spinning heel kick on the next two Tengas, nailing them in their beaks. She punched them in their chests before backhanding them across their faces. She leapt over their heads and bounced off a tree. She kicked them in their backs, sending them barreling into the wall. She landed gracefully before balling her hand into a fist.

Adam nailed the beaks of the fifth and sixth Tengas with his fists. He took their arms and twisted them around while going under them. They let out painful groans. They tried to pull away from him, but they had no luck. Adam flipped them over on their backs. He jammed his elbow into each of their chests, immobilizing them. He, Rocky, and Kim dove for the ground when energy flew their way. They jumped up and stared at Goldar and Rito.

"Close call, wasn't it, brats?" Goldar sneered.

"We're not in the mood for your wisecracks, you overgrown monkey!" Adam yelled, curling his hands into fists.

"You and your friends are going back to the moon where you came from!" Rocky declared.

"Are you sure about that, Red Ranger?" Rito asked.

Just then, three Tengas ambushed Rocky, Adam, and Kim. They hit them with multiple punches. Rocky, Adam, and Kim disposed of them. Kim spotted a Tenga coming toward her and ran for it. She was pounced on by another one, but she kicked it into the wall. She proceeded to fight its companion. Rocky and Adam summoned their weapons. They raced toward the charging Goldar and Rito.

Goldar raised his sword high and brought it downward rapidly. Rocky held up his Power Sword to catch it. Goldar pushed down, forcing him on his knees. Rocky grunted with effort and managed to stand up. He swung his weapon around. He knocked Goldar's out of his hand. He took his arm and kneed him in the side. He delivered three punches to the stomach.

"Had enough, Goldar?" Rocky asked.

Goldar snarled. "Never, Red Ranger!"

Goldar swung his arm at Rocky, who ducked and kicked him upside the head. He did a roundhouse kick to his back. Goldar barreled into the wall and fell on his side. Rocky performed a backflip in excitement.

"Yeah! The ape has it going on!" Rocky yelled. He saw two Tengas running at him and headed for them.

Adam swung his Power Axe at Rito, who moved out of the way. Rito swept his feet out from underneath him with a swing of his arm. He wrapped his hand around his throat to choke him. Adam jammed his heel into the skeleton's side to free himself. He made it back to his feet and punched him upside the head. Rito stumbled, but he maintained his balance.

"A little wobbly, aren't you, Rito?" Adam wondered.

"You're really starting to get on my nerves, Power Geek!" Rito roared, his eye sockets flashing red. "Yes, you are."

Rito charged his finger with energy and fired it at Adam, who leapt for the right. Adam got up very quickly. He switched his Power Axe to gun mode and fired twice. Rito was hit in the head and chest. He fell to the pavement, a moan leaving his mouth.

"Never underestimate the courage of the frog!" Adam yelled and laughed. "Nope, nope, nope."

Adam spotted Scorpina charging his way. He leapt through the air and landed behind her. He spun around with a hiss. She skidded to a halt and turned around. She hissed angrily and raised her hand to shoot lightning from it. He moved aside, narrowly avoiding it. He charged toward her. He delivered an uppercut to the chest once he got to her.

Scorpina attempted to swing her sword at Adam, who blocked it with his Power Axe. He kicked it out of her hands. He caught her fist in his hand when she tried to punch him. He twisted her arm in which it made her cry out in pain. He jammed his heel into her back before throwing her to the pavement. He growled in much ferocity.

"I forgot to tell you, Scorpina. I don't like scorpion-ladies with bad attitudes," Adam said and smirked. He raced at three charging Tengas.

Vile looked toward the greenhouse for a long moment. He turned to Rito, who had just gotten to his feet.

"Rito, take some Tengas inside Wal-Mart to terrorize the shoppers while Kimberly and her Ranger friends are distracted!" Vile ordered.

"It'll be my pleasure, Dad!" Rito replied eagerly.

Rito glanced at twelve Tengas and whistled loudly. They looked up and saw him gesture toward the greenhouse as he went toward it. They nodded at him and followed him. Kim spotted them and rushed at them, but she was tackled by a Tenga. Rocky attempted to stop the group. Unfortunately, Goldar shoved him into the wall. Adam started for it, only to be stopped by Scorpina. Rito and the Tengas rushed into the greenhouse.

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Tommy, Billy, Kat, Aisha, Bernard, Angelina, and Alyssa waited at the fourth of seven checkout lanes. Three shoppers were ahead of them. Alyssa bit her lip and fidgeted slightly. She kicked at the floor with her left foot and put it over her right. Aisha laid a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look up into her eyes. She furrowed her brow, tilting her head slightly.

"Don't worry, Alyssa. We'll be out of here in a few minutes," Aisha assured.

"It's not that, Aisha. Rocky, Adam, and Kim have been gone for too long. They should've been here by now," Alyssa said worryingly.

Billy nodded in agreement. "Alyssa's right. It shouldn't take fifteen minutes to go to the bathroom unless there's a long line. That'd be unlikely with the store not being that crowded."

"You've got a point, Billy," Kat responded. "I have a feeling something is wrong,"

"I'll take Aisha and go look for Rocky, Adam, and Kim. You and Billy can stay with the kids," Tommy said.

"Okay. Be careful," Kat said seriously.

Aisha gave her a thumbs-up. "We always are."

Tommy and Aisha were about to search for Rocky, Adam, and Kim when screaming came out of nowhere. They and the rest of the group observed a man running past them with a Tenga on his tail. Aisha spotted Rito chasing three teens through the clothing section. Angelina shrieked when a Tenga grabbed her. Tommy pushed it off her. He performed a tornado kick, sending it barreling into a shelf. He shifted his attention toward the children.

"Kids, you need to get to safety now!" Tommy shouted urgently.

"We can't just leave you here!" Bernard responded frantically.

"Those monsters will hurt you!" Angelina exclaimed.

"Don't worry about us. We can take care of ourselves," Aisha assured.

"Hey!" a male voice yelled.

The group turned to see Bulk and Skull standing a short distance away from them. Shoppers fled past them, screaming and crying.

"We'll take you to safety, kids," Skull said.

"We promise we won't let those monsters harm you," Bulk added comfortingly.

Though a little hesitant, the children walked to the former bullies. They huddled with each other tightly. Bulk and Skull looked toward their friends, swallowing hard.

"Thanks, guys," Tommy said.

"You're welcome," Skull replied.

Bulk waved his hand toward himself. "Come on, kids."

Bulk and Skull led the children toward the exit. Tommy, Billy, Kat, and Aisha raced for the back. They headed through the greenhouse. They went into the alley to find Rocky, Adam, and Kim fighting Goldar, Scorpina, and the Tengas. Vile gazed at his enemies, smiling evilly.

"Look who decided to join us!" Vile cackled.

"Too bad that it'll be over when we're finished with you!" Goldar growled with a loud snort.

"No way, Goldilocks! It's Morphin Time!" Tommy shouted. "White Ranger Power!"

"Pink Ranger Power!" Kat summoned.

"Blue Ranger Power!" Billy called.

"Yellow Ranger Power!" Aisha yelled.

Kat listened to the screams of the shoppers coming from inside. She looked toward the greenhouse with much worry.

"Guys, we can't leave the shoppers to the mercy of Rito and those Tengas," Kat said, shuddering somewhat.

"We'll split up. Billy, take Kat inside and deal with Rito and the Tengas. Aisha and I will help Rocky, Adam, and Kim with the rest out there," Tommy said.

"You got it, Tommy," Billy responded. "Be careful."

Tommy nodded and watched Billy and Kat run into the greenhouse. He and Aisha turned their attention to unfolding fight.

"You ready, Aisha?" Tommy asked.

Aisha growled in determination. "As ready as I'll ever be!"

Tommy and Aisha breathed deeply and rushed into the fight. They helped Kim deal with the Tengas. Rocky and Adam continued dueling with Goldar and Scorpina.