Chapter 25: The Final Battle

Conner smiled as he led Kira through the trees. "Conner where are we going?" She asked. She had a blindfold over her eyes.

"You'll see it's a surprise," he answered.

Kira sighed. "I hate surprises," she whined. Conner laughed.

"You'll like this one," he replied.

Conner pushed back a branch and came to a clearing. "Can I take this stupid thing off now?" She asked.

"Yep," he replied.

Kira removed the blindfold and smiled. "Conner what is this?" She asked. Conner smiled and sat down.

"Lunch," he replied.

Kira laughed and sat across from him. "You had this planned?" She asked. Conner grinned and shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"Can't a guy appreciate his girlfriend?" He asked.

"I guess," she replied.

Conner smiled and kissed her cheek.

(The Lair)

Nerak walked back and forth in front of his army. "Leave no prisoners. Kill the Blue, Black, and White Rangers. Leave the Red and Green Rangers to me," he instructed. The army agreed. "KILL THE POWER RANGERS AND CONQUER EARTH!" Nerak shouted. The army cheered.

(The Woods)

Conner took a deep breath once they were done eating, this was it, he had to do it now or he was never going to be able to get it out. "Kira…" he started.

"Yeah?" She answered.

"Um…there's something I want to ask you."

"Okay."

She sat up and looked at him. "What's up?" She asked. He let out a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Um…you and I have gotten close during the past few months," he started.

"Uh-huh," she agreed.

"Well…um…I…"

Conner was mentally kicking himself now. "Okay cool it McKnight," his brain told him. He took a deep breath and looked over at her.

"Kira…will you…" He started.

But then their communicators went off. "Damn it," he hissed. Conner held his communicator up. "What's going on Dr. Oliver?" He asked.

"Nerak's attacking, he's got a huge army with him," Tommy replied.

"On it," Conner answered.

Conner looked over at Kira and they ran out of the woods.

(In Front of the Lair)

They stopped when they came to the lair. "Well, Rangers, this is the day you'll meet your end," Nerak laughed.

"You'll never win," Conner snapped.

"We shall see," Nerak answered.

"Ready guys?" Kira asked.

They nodded and held their morphers up. "RED COYOTE RANGER!" Kira shouted.

"GREEN HAWK RANGER!" Conner shouted.
"WHITE FALCON RANGER!" Tommy shouted.

"PURPLE COYOTE RANGER!" Kitty shouted.

"BLACK TIGER RANGER!" Trent shouted.

"BLUE ORCA WHALE RANGER!" Ethan shouted.

Conner's staff appeared as he spun around and slammed the end of his staff to the ground while the others spun around and slammed their fists to the ground. Nerak laughed. "ATTACK!" He shouted.

"Spread out," Tommy instructed.

The Rangers went their separate ways and fought Nerak's army. Nerak watched with amusement to see the Rangers overpowered. He held his staff up and walked up to Conner. "RED DRAGON FLAME!" He shouted.

Before Conner could react, he was hit in the chest with Nerak's blast and hit the ground hard. "CONNER!" Kira shouted. Conner held his chest in pain and saw Nerak running at him. He grabbed his staff and held it above his head to block Nerak's attack.

"You won't win this time around," Nerak laughed.

"I beg to differ," Conner snapped.

He lifted his foot and kicked Nerak square in the chest. Nerak stumbled, but then he took his staff and hit Conner in the chest with the gem. A dark red blast came from the staff, knocking Conner back. Kira bit her lip as she kicked one of the hooded figures away and she ran over at Conner. "PANTHER DAGGERS!" She shouted. She blocked Nerak's attack and kicked him away. "You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah," he replied.

Kira helped him stand up. "The two Ranger lovers, together for one last time," Nerak laughed. Kira looked over at Conner.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Read as I'll ever be," she replied.

Conner held her hand as he raised his staff and a green light appeared at the end of his staff. Kira closed her eyes and swallowed as she lifted one of her daggers and a red light appeared on the end. "PANTHER, HAWK CRYSTAL FIRE ATTACK!" They shouted. Nerak raised his staff and the blast was absorbed into his staff.

"What?!" Kira gasped.

"No way!" Conner gasped.

Nerak laughed. "Thank you for the power boost," he laughed. He threw a blast at Conner, making him fly back and hit the wall. He tripped Kira onto her back. "Your job here is finished my servant," he sneered. He raised his staff. "FLAME OF DEATH!" He shouted.

"CONNER!" The Rangers shouted.

Conner looked up to see the blast coming, but then everything froze when Kira jumped in front of the blast. Time seemed to have stop and Kira's eyes widened in pain as the blast hit her. She de-morphed from the blast. "KIRA! NO!" Conner shouted in agony. He grabbed her before she hit the ground. "Kira! Oh God!" He gasped. He kneeled down on the ground holding her. "Kira…please answer me…" he nearly begged. The tears pressing against his eyes. Kira opened her eyes and saw Conner staring down at her.

"Conner?" She asked.

Conner sighed and held her hand. "That blast wasn't meant for you," he told her. Kira looked at him.

"Remember, Conner? I wasn't going to lose you again," she answered.

Conner took off his helmet and looked at her. "Kira, don't you dare leave me now," he told her. Conner pressed his forehead against hers.

"I love you," she murmured.

"I love you…" he answered.

Kira smiled slightly and fell completely limp. "Kira?" He murmured. Tears fell down his face and held her. "Kira no, no, no," he sobbed. He held her close to him and tears fell down his face. "No, Kira, please don't leave me," he sobbed.

"Well, one Ranger down," Nerak laughed.

Conner set Kira down on the ground and he stood up. "She was beautiful though," Nerak added. Conner picked up his helmet and put it back on. He turned and looked back at Nerak.

"This is for Kira," he snapped.

Conner picked his staff off the ground. "HAWK FIRE FLAME CRYSTAL POWER!" Conner shouted. He swung his staff around and was glowing green. "POWER UP NOW!" He shouted. He slammed his staff to the ground and the ground shook. A large crack formed into the ground and headed straight for Nerak.

"NO!" Nerak shouted.

The Rangers watched as Nerak fell through. Conner stood up from the ground and he walked over to where Nerak was. "THIS ISN'T THE END!" Nerak shouted. Conner pulled off his helmet.

"I'll see you in hell," Conner snapped.

He took his staff and slammed it in the ground and watched it close. Conner de-morphed and the Rangers watched as he walked over to Kira's lifeless body. He picked her up and walked by them without saying anything. However, he stopped in front of Kitty and the two stood there, both mourning the loss of someone who was so close to both of them. Then he left the hill.

That night, Conner was lying awake in bed with Kira's pillow in his arms. Her scent was intoxicating. But with every breath he took he felt like just fall over and dying. He looked up when there was a knock on his door. "Conner, can I come in?" Kitty asked.

"Go away," Conner answered.

"Conner…"

"Please just go away."

Conner closed his eyes and buried his head in the pillow. "Conner, um…I want to give you something," She informed.

"I don't care," he answered.

"Conner."

Conner sat up, picked up a glass that he had sitting on his nightstand and threw it at the door. "GO AWAY!" He shouted.

Kitty let out a sigh as she left what she wanted to give him by the door. "Kira had me hide it. It was for your birthday, Conner, but it I think it would be fair if you got it now," she told him through the door. She turned and walked away.

Conner got up and opened the door. He picked up the box and went back into his room. He closed the door and sat on his bed. He opened the box and found a picture of him and Kira that was taken at their high school graduation. Inside was a note. He picked it up and read it.

Hey,

Been keeping this with me since the day we graduated? Remember? Happy birthday Conner. Love you always.

Kira

Conner set the note down and he looked at the picture. "Oh God! It should've been me," he sobbed. The picture dropped to the floor and Conner lowered his head in shame. "It should've been me," he repeated.