I've Always Been Here
I haven't written a Power Rangers fanfic in years so… here's what I got.
Don't own power rangers. So on and so forth.
Kimberly looked down at her hands as she sat down on the edge of the roof. The trials she had to go through were getting tougher and tougher of course nothing to her was as tough as leaving her beloved behind. Her eyes then glance at the ocean. She came up there to think when her emotions got the better of her. There was an aching loneliness deep within her heart. She knew what it was but she wouldn't admit it out loud. She missed her team. Warmth spread through her made her smile. The echoing call of the crane resonated through her head. Even at her lowest she could feel the crane's gentle touch trying to lift her spirits up. The sun was setting casting its fire colored hues across the ocean and sky. It made her mind drift back to Jason. She hadn't heard from him in forever, or the others. It worried her some but she didn't want to get too worked up over something that could've been nothing. Tommy hadn't sent her a letter in awhile and that worried her too. She'd tried to call him but he never called her. When she tried to get a hold of Jason the same thing was happening.
"Why so alone, little ranger?"
Her heart started to race knowing that voice without having to turn around. The woman's presence felt like icy fingers running down her spine. Without her powers she might not be a match for the woman even with Jason and Tommy teaching her the ways of the warrior. She didn't know how it was possible. Standing up on the ledge she looked upon the withered form of Rita. There was some power still in her but it seemed diminished. For a brief second she wondered what had happened to her but then brushed it aside. Anger coursed through her at that point. If this woman was here then there was something going on, and if she had to fight she will. Kimberly got the weird feeling that this was bigger than Rita being here. She'd almost developed a sixth sense to it.
"What do you want Rita?" she snapped.
"Why to get my revenge before my husband and I leave."
Kim blinked owlishly. The revenge part she got but they were willingly leaving the earth. Then she realized something bigger must be coming and was driving the two out. Stepping down off the ledge she faced the sorceress. It wouldn't due to fall off the roof before the battle even started. The former pink ranger was on guard at her words and after a smirk spread across the older woman's face. Before she could even comprehend to run or fight Rita blew a gold and silver dust in her eyes. She started coughing as she inhaled the stuff. A tingling feeling rushed through her at first and her eyes burned, then she felt a sharp pain shoot through her chest. The crane screamed wildly in her head. Something was terribly wrong. Things became sharper all around her. She could hear the crashing of the waves and the cry of the gulls on the beach. Her eyes clenched shut as things became brighter. Once the pain faded Rita moved forward and hauled her up by the neck. Then did Kim realize something was terribly wrong. She had white fur and paws. Kimberly was trying to comprehend what had just happened. Rita did something to her.
"Even now that damned crane protects you, but no matter. You are an animal now and have no way to help your friends, especially my former Green Ranger."
Rita pulled her closer and whispered something in her ear. She could feel them twitch to catch every word that she said, and everything in her shattered at the woman's words. If she'd been able to shed tears she would've just for her beloved. The price was way too high to pay for freedom. She'd rather remain an animal and help him from the sidelines than to sacrifice him for her human body. To lose him would shatter her soul and the soul of the crane deep within. Her body went lax in Rita's grasp. She laughed mechanically. The older woman took her limp form as a sign of surrender. Kimberly's mind shifted through everything that could be done to get out of this situation and get back to her Green Ranger.
"You will die before too long I'd imagine. You won't be able to survive long enough to get to your precious Green Ranger." Anger sparked through Kimberly then and she flashed her white fangs and sank them into Rita's forearm making the sorceress drop her. Kimberly spat the disgusting liquid out of her mouth.
"Still some fight left but it will vanish in time when the animal instincts become more pronounced, and nothing will be left in that head but the animal."
'I'll kill you somehow…' Her mind raged.
"You can try little fox."
Kimberly leapt for her but Rita vanished and reappeared on the ledge opposite her. Rita just smiled at her and held up a letter addressed to the youth center with her beloved White Ranger's name on it. "And this will break them further."
The letter vanished and in a gust of wind Rita was gone too. Her laugh echoed in the wind. Kimberly sank to her haunches and keened for all the world to hear. Then she realized she had to get to Tommy somehow he'd need her. Dashing towards the door she realized even on her hind legs she wouldn't be able to reach the handle much less get it open. An angry growl escaped her muzzle. Then an odd sound made her pause and look over her shoulder. Her now blue eyes widened white wings lay folded on her sides. The two wings unfurled and spread. The wind tossed around her as if trying to encourage her to use them, to fly to the greatest heights. Her wings flapped a couple of times. Knowing she was probably going to regret this she walked towards the edge of the roof. Looking over she notice overhangs on the balconies below her. If her wings failed her she could always leap from overhang to overhang. Carefully she flapped her wings to test them again. Inwardly she called upon her guardian animal for aid. She needed to get to Tommy and quickly. The crane answered with a resounding cry of pain. 'Hold on Tommy I'm coming.' She tells herself as she leapt into the air.
Tommy stopped suddenly. He gasped in pain. His fist curled over his heart trying to ease the pain. Something was wrong but he couldn't figure out what it was. The falcon who'd been silent up to point Kimberly left the Rangers was screaming something akin to a war cry. It was urging him to find his crane and quickly. Confusion washed through him. His spirit wanted him to find Kat? Shaking his head, he moved towards Kat's place. Though something deeper than the falcon was crying out in pain. If he'd analyzed it further he would've figured out that it was his soul an its mirror was crying out for help. He reached Kat's door but his hand paused in mid knock something felt wrong. Shaking it off he backed up and headed toward home. His chest still hurt a bit. Deciding that working out would do him some good he went to the youth center to get some exercise and try to work out what the hell had just happened earlier.
Kim looked down and noticed she wasn't going anywhere. Her legs were kicking and her wings flailing. She was dangling from someone's hands she realized. Looking back her eyes widened seeing a familiar face. He had that shit eating grin on his face. His deep masculine chuckle escaped him. Jason hadn't lost his affinity for red and that was a small form of comfort.
"Trying to go somewhere Kim?"
He pulled her back over the edge and held her at arms' length to inspect her. Kimberly couldn't decide what he was thinking about her new so called look. Her tail swished back and forth as she dangled there. Then he smiled knowing that he wasn't disgusted by her new form.
'Jason!' she yipped happily her tail flicking back and forth.
He tilted his head to the side in confusion. Her ears sank when she realized he didn't understand her at all. Then she started to struggle. She had to get to Tommy and fast before what Rita planned went into motion before the new evil arrived to wreak havoc on the world.
"Easy Kim," he said softly. "I didn't hear all of what Rita said but I know it's you, and we have to fix this."
She wished that she could tell him that he couldn't fix it. The price in her mind wasn't worth it, but she would go and protect him for as long as her body would hold out. "Maybe the others can find a way to get you back to normal."
A strong nod answered his question. They couldn't help her but if they could get her to Tommy faster she'd agree to anything. "The question is how do I get you to Angel Grove?"
Her ears laid back. It wasn't like he could put her on a plan having wings like she did and she was sure that she was bigger than a normal fox. She knew that she had to get there somehow and she would no matter what it took.
"We might just have to drive," Jason murmured.
Kim tilted her head to the side. If they could only teleport then they'd get there sooner. Knowing she had to get one or two things from her room she gestured with her head for Jason to follow her. She led him down to her room. Thankfully her roommates were in class now. Kim pulled a box out from under the bed. It was a small wooden box that had a falcon and crane intertwined in flight. She patted that with her paw. He picked it up carefully. Jason opened it and was shocked to see an old communicator in it.
"You kept this?"
She nodded her head. Leaping up on the bed she patted it. Jason took it out and closed the box not seeing the other things in the box. He pressed the button.
"Zordon can you here me come in?"
"Jason?" Alpha's voice came over the communicator although a bit of static.
"Alpha I need you to transport me to the command center its urgent."
"Ayiahaiyah."
"Hurry Alpha."
He grabbed the box and Kimberly. The familiar feeling of being transported washed over him as he landed in a heap on the floor. Kim was sprawled over his chest. She realized that she was sprawled over Jason's chest hopping up she sat at his side patting his chest.
"I'm all right."
She yipped happily.
"Jason what…"
"Rita turned Kimberly into this fox."
Kimberly moved forward and sat down in front of the time warp Zordon was trapped in. "She couldn't speak in this form but Rita managed to understand her. There was something about a price but I didn't catch that part."
Zordon looked down at the small fox who had once been the first pink ranger. Her ears were laid back and there was a lot of dejection in her form.
"So much you've suffered my Pink Ranger."
"We need to do something," Jason demanded.
"Alpha," Zordon started.
"Already on it Zordon."
Alpha started tapping on the boards.
"Can you teleport me back I have something to attend to?" Jason asked. "I don't want to leave her like this but I have to go."
Kimberly gave him a half hearted smile and nudged his leg.
'It's okay brother. You go I stay.'
Zordon looked down at the white fox and understood her completely which confused him.
"It'll be all right Jason we can send you back and we'll take care of Kimberly."
They sent the former red ranger back home leaving the white fox with them. Her paw rested on the wooden box. Her heart was aching so much. "So Kimberly I wonder how it is I can understand you."
She tilted her head to the side while looking at him. "What was needed to break the curse?"
'It's not worth the sacrifice Zordon. I would rather him not know it's me so I can protect him from the sidelines. Rita sent a letter in my stead to try to break the team.'
"You are sure of this?"
She nodded her head. Zordon closed his eyes knowing that Kimberly was sacrificing a lot for Tommy and he didn't even know it, but he would keep this secret for her. "Will you tell me of what the curse entails someday?"
'Maybe someday.'
Alpha brought a pink blanket and laid it on the ground. Kimberly mused on how from now on she'd probably be treated like a pet but as long as she could stay and protect Tommy she'd do it. She fell asleep soon after laying down.