A/N Power Ranger Zeo Settings and Characters all belong to Haim Saban and Toei Company and the Fox. Any original characters and this story are copyright © 2011-2023 to Hopelessromanticgurl, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
Thank you mae-E for being my beta and helping to write this chapter.
Everyone nodded and teleported away to get ready.
Kat raced to The Youth Center.
"JJ, LJ!" She called as she ran inside and over to them at the counter.
"Whoa!" JJ cried as she ran into his arms. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"I have to leave," Kat answered.
"What? Why?" LJ asked. "Is this because we know your secret? We promised we wouldn't tell. It was our fault, not yours. You shouldn't be in trouble! We can talk to him."
"Calm down, LJ. Let Kat explained." JJ chuckled.
Kat looked up from JJ's chest and sighed. "No, I'm not in trouble. My fellow rangers and I need to go on a mission for something, and for that, I have to leave."
"I'm sure you'll be ok. I don't think your mentor Zordon would send you somewhere dangerous. You'll be back before you know it."
Kat just sighed. She knew she had to leave. But to be honest, she didn't want to. "JJ...I don't want to leave you...you're the only thing that's made me happy these last few months. You and LJ are my only friends."
"Maybe this will give you a chance to make up with your other friends. Maybe this is what you need. I promise we will be waiting right here for you when you get back."
Kat inhaled and exhaled a deep breath and nodded. "I know, but...but just in case I need to do this..."
"Do wha..." Before he could finish Kat reached up and kissed him on the lips, holding it for a few seconds and then pulling away. She blushed and took a step back.
JJ was speechless with cheeks as red an apple. LJ giggled. "I've never seen my brother speechless before."
"I'm sorry, I just...I needed you to know how I felt before I left." Kat said softly. "Please say something."
"I'm not sure he can," LJ said. "But trust me when I say he feels the same way."
Kat sighed. "It's ok. You don't have to make me feel better." She turned to walk away when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her back and seconds later JJ was kissing her again. This time it lasted a few seconds longer before they pulled away.
"Kat I've been crushing on you since I first laid eyes on you. I've liked you from the second we met. You have no idea how excited I am that you feel the same way." JJ smiled.
Kat smiled. But then frowned. "But I'm leaving, what if things change between us?"
"Don't worry, I won't even look at another female until you come back."
Kat giggled. "You work in a cafe, that's going to be pretty hard. Besides, your sister is a female."
"I'll wear a blindfold. LJ is my sister, so she doesn't count as a female."
"Gee, thanks." LJ teased.
Everyone laughed.
"Kat, I promise, until you come back I won't be interested in any other girls."
"Thanks, JJ, but..."
"Don't worry, I'll keep him in line. I won't let him do anything stupid." LJ said.
Kat giggled. "Ok, I feel better now."
"Oh sure, you believe her." JJ teased.
Kat smiled, and they shared another kiss. "I'll come to find you as soon as I get back. I promise." With one last kiss, she took off running out of The Youth Center.
At the Command Center, Tommy and Kim were in their room getting ready.
"Tommy, I'm not too sure about this," Kimberly said softly.
"It's going to be fine, Beautiful. I promise. I won't let anything happen to you."
"It's not you I'm worried about." Kimberly went and sat down on the bed.
Tommy went and sat down next to her. "You're worried about being alone with Kat?"
Kimberly nodded. "We don't know what kind of danger we're going to be facing out there. What if I need help and Kat won't help me, and you aren't able to? What if she hurts me again?"
Tommy sighed softly and rubbed her back. "I know it's hard for you to trust her right now. But I really think she has changed. You two have slowly been getting back to being friends again."
"Yeah, but someone else was always around, like the other rangers, or her new friends, but this is the first time we will be alone with her."
"Hey, I'm not going to let Kat do anything to you. I don't care what I have to do to make it happen. I will keep you safe. I promise."
Kimberly nodded.
Tommy kissed her forehead. He stood up and put his hand out to her. She looked to him and then his hand. Smiling softly she reached out and took his hand. Together they teleported to the main room.
They landed at the same time as Kat.
"Welcome back, Rangers, are you ready?"
"Yes, we are," Tommy answered.
"I have prepared some water and a few snacks for your trip. Once you run out, I will not be able to provide more for you. So please only use what you really need."
"We will, Zordon."
"Zordon, why can't we go?" Jason asked.
"Dulcea requested only the three of them. Tommy, Kim, and Kat. The rest of you are needed here in case of emergency."
Jason sighed but nodded. "I understand."
After a few goodbyes, Tommy took Kim's hand and looked to Zordon. "We're ready."
"Teleporting now."
In a flash of different colors, the three of them were gone.
They landed in the same location they had landed last time. As they landed, they all took a look around. There were rocks everywhere, a few mountains, and the ocean was behind them.
"Wow. It's exactly like I remember it." Kimberly said.
"Yeah, except this time Zordon's life isn't in danger," Tommy said.
"Hopefully we don't encounter any of those freaky birds things again. Those Tanga's were awful." Kimberly answered.
"Well, there is only one way to find out." Tommy took her hand, and they headed in the right direction.
"Wait, shouldn't we go the other way? There are fewer rocks. It might be easier." Kat said.
"It's this way, Kat. I'm positive." Tommy said. "I've been here before. I remember the way."
"Well, maybe we can find a shortcut," Kat said.
"If you want to wander off on your own, that's your choice. But Kim and I are going this way."
Kat sighed and decided to follow behind them. It was completely silent for a while. Nobody said a word to each other.
After walking for a while, Tommy noticed Kim was slowing down a little and struggling a little more to keep going. She was sweating and panting as if she had just run a marathon.
"You doing ok, Beautiful?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kimberly lied. She was exhausted. Her legs were cramping, her lungs were burning as if they were on fire, but she wasn't about the tell them that. She was stronger than that.
"We can stop and take a break. It's ok if you're tired. You haven't been doing a lot of physical work lately. Your body isn't used to this. Plus you don't have the extra energy from the ranger power." Tommy said.
"I'm fine. Tommy. Let's keep going." Kimberly said. She wasn't about to show weakness in front of Kat. She wasn't going to be the one who slowed them down. No matter how much she needed it.
"Actually Guys," Kat started. "I could use a break. Can we stop for a minute?"
"Of course." Tommy smiled. He knew Kat was perfectly fine to keep going. She just didn't want Kim to be embarrassed by asking everyone to take a break.
They all sat down on a large boulder. Tommy handed out the bottles of water a few energy bars for snacking. He caught Kat's eyes and mouth a small 'thank you.'
She just smiled and nodded. But then it was silent again. Nobody knew what to talk about.
"So...Kat, how's JJ?" Tommy asked.
"Good," Kat answered. She smiled, blushing as she thought about the kiss.
"What's with that blush?" Kim asked.
"What blush?" Kat asked quickly.
"The one on your cheeks."
"Nothing."
Tommy chuckled. "Based on that smile and your blush I think things are more than good between you two."
"Ok, fine," Kat blushed harder. "Before we left I might have...maybe...kissed him..."
"Kat that's amazing!" Kimberly squealed. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Thanks." Kat smiled. She knew things were already starting to get better between them.
"He seems like a great guy. I'm glad you found someone who can make you happy." Tommy said.
"Thanks, Tommy."
As they finished their last bites and last sips of water Tommy stood. "Are you guys ready to keep going?"
"Yeah, thanks for stopping for me," Kat said.
"Yeah, thank you, Kat," Kimberly said softly. She knew what Kat had done for her, and she appreciated it more than she could say in words.
They shared a smile and stood up and continued on with their journey.
As they continued the land around them started to flatten out, and there were fewer rocks. The ocean began to vanish, along with all the trees. Soon enough they were in a desert area.
"Wow, it's really getting hot," Kim said softly. "I don't remember it being this hot."
"That's because we were a little more occupied with finding the cure for Zordon. So we didn't really focus on where we were." Tommy said. He stopped walking and grabbed a water bottle from his bag and handed it to Kim. He handed another to Kat before grabbing one for himself. "But this is good. At least we're going in the right direction."
"How did you guys survive this without your powers?" Kat asked as she took a sip of her water.
"Dulcea really helped us. But a lot of it was determination and the knowledge if we failed Zordon would die. So we did what we had to do to save his life." Tommy explained.
"It wasn't easy. But we made it work." Kimberly continued as she took a long sip of her water. "I've never missed the ranger powers as much as I do right now."
Tommy chuckled. "You're doing fantastic without them."
"He's right. You're really doing well." Kat nodded.
"Thanks." Kimberly smiled softly.
"Let's keep moving. We're about halfway there." Tommy said. He put the water bottles back into the small cooler and lifted it back onto his shoulder.
Just as he turned to head on, he heard Kimberly scream. He spun back around and saw giant sandmonsters were attacking her and another was attacking Kat. It was almost like a snowman, one giant ball at the bottom, a medium ball in the middle and a smaller one on top for his head. His eyes were nothing but holes, and his mouth was made of sticks.
"Well...that's new." He said before throwing the cooler on the floor and jumping into action to help fight the monsters.
As horrible as this situation was he was really proud to see Kim fighting back and holding her own against these monsters. The only downside to fighting something made of sand, every time they kicked or punched a hole in one, it just closed back up with more sand.
Everyone fought their hardest, Tommy and Kat even morphed but it was a useless battle. Until finally everyone was back into a wall.
"What do we do?" Kimberly asked as more sandmonsters continued to surround them.
"These guys have to have a weak spot somewhere. We just have to find it." Tommy asked.
"How? No matter where we kick or punch it doesn't even hurt them." Kat said. "I even kicked off this one monster's head, and a new one just came back in its place."
"Tommy, I don't know how much longer I can take. Without the rangers powers, I'm powerless against these guys." Kimberly said honestly. "I don't know what to do."
"Hang in there, Beautiful," Tommy answered. His mind started to go a mile minute. How did they destroy these sandmonsters? Suddenly it hit him, how did sandcastles at the beach get destroyed? A wave would come and make them wet, forcing them to fall over and not able to hold their shape. "I've got it!" Tommy shouted suddenly. "We have to use our water."
"Tommy now isn't the best time for a drink. These freaks are multiplying by the second." Kat answered.
"No, I'm not thirsty. Think about it, at the beach, how are sand castles destroyed?"
Kat's eyes lit up with she realized what he was talking about. "The waves."
"Exactly. So here is the plan. Kat you and I are going to fight as much as we can and distract them. It's easier for us to fight. Kim, I need you to run and grab the cooler. Grab as much water as you can and start splashing it everywhere. Do you think you can do that?"
"I can do it, Tommy."
"All right, let's do this." He and Kat ran at the sandmonsters fighting off as many as they could at once as Kimberly ducked under them and made a run for the cooler.
A few sandmonsters followed her, but she fought them off with ease.
Just as she grabbed the cooler it was flung out of her hands, and she was knocked to the floor. "Hey!" She cried out. Before she could stand one of the sandmonsters moved, so it was covering her feet, not allowing her to get up. "Let me go!" She cried out. Being pinned down only made her remember one thing and it was not anything she wanted to remember right now. She let out a scream. "Tommy! Tommy! Help!" Her crane cried out as the flashbacks attacked her.
"Kimberly!" Tommy cried as he was surrounded by Sandmonsters. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get to her. "No! Kimberly!"
Kimberly squeezed her eyes shut trying to block out the flashbacks, and a few seconds later her legs were free. She quickly stood up and opened her eyes ready to hug Tommy as tight as she could. To her own surprise, it wasn't Tommy who had saved her.
"Kat?"
"Are you ok? Are you hurt?" Kat asked.
"A little shaken up, but I'm ok," Kim answered. She looked to see Tommy completely surrounded and fighting off the sandmonsters. "You saved me?'
"I made the mistake of not saving you once, Kim. I don't plan on ever making that mistake again." Kat said. Without another word, she rushed back over to help Tommy fight.
Shaking off the shock Kimberly rushed over to the cooler and opened it quickly grabbed as many water bottles as she could carry. As she ran toward the battle, she opened all the water bottles and started throwing the water every direction.
She handed some to Tommy and Kat, and they started to splash the water all over the sandmonsters until finally, they were all destroyed and nothing more than a mushy pile on the ground.
Everyone stopped to catch their breath. "We did it," Kimberly said.
"No Kim, you did it. We couldn't have done it without you." Kat said. "Thank you."
"Thank you, Kat. You saved me." Kimberly said. "I honestly didn't think you would."
Kat sighed and nodded. "I know. I don't blame you. But I was under a spell when we were at the ski lounge. I wasn't myself. If I had been in my right mind, I would have helped you the second I saw you. I promise from now on I will always help you when you need it. No matter what."
"Thanks, Kat. I appreciate you saying that." Kimberly smiled softly.
"Is everyone ok?" Tommy asked. "I know that was tough. Kim, did you hit your head when you fell?"
"Yeah, but I'm ok. It was the flashbacks that hurt me the worst."
"I'm sorry I couldn't get to you. I tried." Tommy pulled her into a hug.
She hugged him tightly burying her face into his chest. Letting the warmth of his arms comfort her.
He let her go and looked to Kat. "Thank you, Kat. For helping Kim. I can't tell you how much it means to me. Are you ok, are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. A little tired and hot. But other than that, I'm ok." Kat answered.
"The only downside to that plan was now we're out of water." Tommy sighed.
"We should be ok. We don't have too much farther to go, right? We still have a few snack bars too." Kimberly said.
"It's going to have to do. Come on, let's get out here." Tommy said.
This time, they headed on side by side, ready to defend each other at the first sign of danger.
They stopped just outside a massive jungle.
"Well...at least it will be cooler," Kat said. "All these trees will provide us with shade from the sun."
"Yeah, but it also goes on forever," Tommy said. "By the time we get out of here you're going to be wishing for sun."
"On the plus side, we're almost there," Kimberly said.
"You two have been saying that since we started this journey." Kat laughed.
Tommy chuckled. "This trip seems longer than the last time we were here."
"Come on, let's keep moving. It's going to get dark soon. I don't want to be in this jungle when that happens." Kimberly said.
Together they ventured into the jungle. If it weren't for all the dead animal bones everywhere, it would have almost been like a nature walk. There were trees everywhere a few flowers, most were dead, a few were still alive. As well as the sound of nature all around them.
They had been walking for a while when Kat said "You're right. This jungle does go on forever."
Tommy chuckled. "I'll take this jungle over that desert any day."
"Me too." Kimberly nodded. "I really wish we hadn't used all our water bottles."
"You need a break?" Tommy asked.
Kimberly shook her head. "Just thirsty."
"Me too." Tommy nodded. "But we're almost there. Think you can make it a little further?"
Kimberly nodded. "I can try."
"I know you can." Tommy took her hand, and they continued on.
They continued to walk until they reached what looked like a graveyard. There were dead dinosaur bones everywhere.
"Whoa! This place is freaky." Kat said.
"Welcome to Jurrasic Park," Tommy and Kimberly said at the same time before laughing together.
"That is scary accurate." Kat chuckled.
"Yeah, but let's keep moving. The last thing I feel like doing is riding a dinosaur." Tommy said.
Kat laughed. "You rode a dinosaur?"
"Oh yeah! Then he ripped it's head off." Kimberly chuckled. "It was pretty cool now that I think about it."
"Yeah, but back then it was terrifying." Tommy chuckled.
They all continued to walk, not wanting to fight a dinosaur.
A few more miles Kimberly stopped and panted. "We have to stop." She said.
"It's ok, let's take a break," Tommy said.
Kimberly leaned back against a tree closing her eyes, trying to catch her breath.
"It's not much farther," Tommy said. "Remember, the dinosaurs weren't too far away from where we needed to go."
Kimberly nodded. Suddenly she felt something strange wrap around her waist. She opened her eyes thinking it was Tommy. But as she looked down, she realized it was a vine. "What the...hey...I'm stuck." She tried pulling away from the vine held her firmly in place.
Tommy went over and tried to break the vine with his hand, but without him noticing another one wrapped itself around his waist and pinned him to the tree next to Kim.
"What's going on?" Kimberly asked. "Let us go!" She struggled to break free as did Tommy.
"Hey, let them go!" Kat yelled as she rushed over to try and break the vine. But a second later she was pinned to the tree as well not able to break free.
"What do we do now?" Kat asked.
"I don't know. We didn't face anything like this before." Tommy said. "I'm not even sure what this is."
"We have to break free somehow," Kat said. "Anyone have any ideas?"
"None." Kimberly sighed. She was too physically tired to keep pulling.
"Fighting against it only seems to make it wrap around us tighter," Tommy said as she stopped struggling.
Kat sighed and stopped struggling as well.
"I think I'd rather fight the dinosaurs." Kimberly sighed.
"Me too. But we're going to find a way out of here." Tommy answered.
"How?" Kimberly asked.
"I'm not sure."
"Maybe we should call out to Dulcea and see if she can save us?" Kat said. "You said she saved you once before right?"
"Yeah, it's worth a try."
"The answers you seek do not lie within me. The answers can only be found in yourselves." They heard Dulcea's voice echo throughout the jungle.
"What does that mean?" Kat asked.
"I don't know." Kimberly sighed.
"It means we're on our own to figure this out," Tommy answered. "It must have something to do with us though, like something we have to do for the tree to release us."
"We are pretty limited as to what we can do since we are tied to the tree," Kimberly said.
"Maybe it's something we have to say," Tommy replied.
"Abra Kadabra alakazam release us!" Kat said.
Nothing happened, and three of them laughed.
"It was worth a try," Kat said.
"Please release us?" Kimberly asked in her sweetest voice.
Still, nothing happened.
"Maybe it's a test," Tommy said suddenly. "Maybe this is because we haven't been as close to each other as we used to be."
"But we're friends again," Kat said. "Kim said she forgives me and you have said you forgive me. Tanya forgives me. The other rangers are slowly following. Unless it's about trust, that I'm not sure I've earned back."
"You have," Tommy said. "You saved Kimberly when I couldn't. That's good enough for me."
"Yeah, after you saved me from Mr. Sandman, back there I trust you. Maybe not 100% yet but I still trust you."
"So then what is it?" Kat asked.
"Hang on..." Tommy said as another thought hit him. "Kat, you named a list of people who have forgiven you for what you did. But you aren't one of them. Kat...have you forgiven yourself?"
"No, of course not. I can never forgive myself for what I've done. I nearly killed Kimberly. I'm the reason she was taken the second time." Kat answered. "I can't forgive myself for those things." She let out a sharp gasp and a groan as the vine tightened around her.
"That's it!" Tommy said. "It must be holding on to our guilt. Once we let it go, it will release us."
"Easier said than done, Tommy." Kimberly sighed. She would never forgive herself for cheating on Tommy. Even if he didn't consider it cheating and forgave her without hesitation, she'd never forgive herself. She groaned as the vine tightened around her waist.
"Kat, what happened to Kim wasn't your fault. You were under a spell. I know better than anyone what that is like. I wasn't responsible for the things I did when I was evil, and neither are you." Tommy said.
"You never hurt Kim," Kat replied.
"That's not true." Both Tommy and Kim said. "I battled her, I knocked her down more times than I care to admit. Not to mention I was verbally mean to her. I know I hurt her feelings on more than one occasion."
"Really?"
"Yes, and it took me time to forgive myself too. But finally, I realized when I was under a spell I wasn't myself. I was not in control of the things I said and did. So how could I be responsible for what I did, if it wasn't really me who did it? Someone else did it, not me."
"Is that where Dragon came in?" Kat asked.
"Yeah. Dragon is the one who hurt everyone. Not me. Once I accepted that I could forgive myself. What you did wasn't you, Kat. It was someone else pretending to be you. Had you really been you, you never would have left Kim."
"I never thought about it like that before." Kat inhaled and exhaled a deep breath.
"He's right, Kat. It's not your fault."
Kat inhaled and exhaled a deep breath again. Seconds later the vine around her waist vanished, and she dropped to the ground.
"I'm free." She said with a smile. "In more ways than one. Thank you, Tommy."
"My pleasure, now can you help us out of here?" Tommy asked.
"Only you can help yourself, Tommy. What guilt are you holding onto?" She asked.
Tommy let out a dry chuckle. "I didn't think I was holding on to any guilt, not after that crazy nightmare. Kim and I promised each other we wouldn't blame ourselves for what happened."
"I hate to say this, but...you're both pinned to a tree. So clearly you're both holding on to something." Kat said.
Tommy racked his brain, and he couldn't come up with anything. He no longer felt guilty for what happened to Kim. He knew it wasn't his fault. That's when it hit him. It wasn't him. "It's our connection." He said to Kim. "You're still holding onto something, and it's strong enough that I feel it too. I've already forgiven myself. Kim, I thought you had too."
Kimberly sighed, and seconds later Tommy was released from the tree.
"Now it's your turn to get free," Tommy said gently. "Whatever it is, just let it go. It wasn't your fault."
Kimberly didn't respond. She just couldn't believe him. She had cheated on him. She was no better than her lying cheating father. Tommy was the definition of perfect, and she had cheated on him. That was something she'd never forgive herself for. She let out a groan of pain as the vines tightened around her.
"Let me in, Beautiful. What are you thinking about? What are you still holding on to?" Tommy said softly. He stood in front of the tree and took Kimberly's hands.
"I'm sorry, Tommy. I can't." She whimpered. "I can't forgive myself."
"We made a promise." Tommy reminded her gently. "What happened to you isn't your fault. Just like it's not my fault, remember? We promised each other we weren't going to blame ourselves anymore."
"I know." Kimberly whimpered. "I've kept my promise. I know what happened to me wasn't my fault."
"Then what are you holding on to so tightly?" Tommy asked. "I know you aren't lying to me. So there is something else. What is it?"
"Kimberly, whatever it is, let it go. I feel so much better now that I'm not weighted down by guilt." Kat said. "If you want me to leave I can...well maybe not too far away, but just enough to give you guys your space."
"She's right, Beautiful," Tommy told her gently. "Talk to me."
Kimberly shook her head and then let out a cry as the vine wrapped tighter around her. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. I can't. I just can't." She let out another cry of pain as the vine continued to wrap itself tighter around her. She started to struggle to get the vine off her, pulling her hands away from Tommy, but it only got tighter.
"What is it, Beautiful? What are you feeling guilty about? Just tell me that much?"
"No, no, I can't. I can't." She cried as the vine was now wrapped painfully tight around her, making it harder for her to breathe. Her crane cried out to her Falcon.
Tommy grabbed her hands again to stop her from struggling. "It's only going to get tighter if you struggle." He said gently. "Look at me, trust me, talk to me. I love you, nothing is going to change that."
"Let me go, let me go! Please! Please! Let me go!" Kimberly cried as she continued to struggle.
Tommy sighed. He stepped closer to the tree until he was face to face with Kim. He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes.
"What's going on in your head, Beautiful. Share it with me please." He said softly.
"I know it wasn't my fault, Tommy." Kimberly thought to him. "But I did something horrible to you, and I can't forgive myself for that."
"Does this have to do with what happened between you and your coach?"
Kimberly nodded.
Tommy sighed when it finally registered what she was holding on to. "You feel guilty because you feel like you cheated on me."
Kimberly nodded.
"Kimberly, listen to me very closely." He said pulling away to look her in the eyes. "I do not feel hurt by that. I do not see it as cheating. Someone took advantage of you, that means it was done without your consent. That means you didn't want it and you didn't do it willingly. That is not the definition of cheating. Cheating means both parties involved willingly make love while one is with someone else. You didn't want it. You didn't even like it. How can you still feel like you cheated on me? Baby, when something like that is done to you against your will, without you wanting it, or consenting to it, it's called sexual abuse. It's called rape, Angel. Not cheating. You didn't cheat on me. I do not feel hurt by what happened, I do not feel like I've been cheated on. Baby, it's only hurting me because I can see how much it's hurting you. Please, let it go. Forgive yourself. I won't forgive you, because there is nothing for me to forgive. So please, Baby, please, forgive yourself." Tommy said. He had tears in his own eyes as he talked to her. "I love you, nothing is ever going to change that."
Kimberly continued to cry. Hearing the different definition seemed to register something in her mind. She looked at the situation in a completely different light. He was right. She didn't want it, she certainly didn't like it. So how could she have cheated on him? That monster took advantage of her, that wasn't her fault. That was all on him. Tommy loved her and nothing was going to change that. She loved him and would never make love to anyone else willingly. Kimberly cried as the vine around her waist vanished, and she dropped to the ground. She never knew this feeling of being free could feel so amazing.
Tommy hugged her and kissed her. "I'm so proud of you. I love you so much. You're so strong and so brave."
"I'm sorry, Tommy. I'm sorry for ever doubting our love." Kimberly cried.
"All is forgiven, Beautiful. I love you. You love me. That's all that matters."
Kimberly sniffed and nodded. They both stood up, and Kimberly wiped her eyes. "You're right, Kat. I feel amazing."
"Good. Don't worry, everything I heard is staying with me until the day I die."
"Thank you."
"Now, let's keep going," Tommy said. "It's not..."
"Let me guess, it's not much farther?" Kat teased.
Everyone laughed as Tommy nodded. "Yes, exactly."
"This time he is right." A voice said.
As everyone looked, Dulcea, came out of the shadows. They hadn't even realized they had entered into the Plateau. Knowing Dulcea couldn't go beyond that point, told them exactly where they were.
"Dulcea, it's good to see you again," Tommy said.
"You as well, Tommy. I am very impressed with how you all handled that tree. Very few are able to break its hold." Dulcea said. "Now, I'm sure you're all tired and in need of some rest. Follow me, I will help guide you the rest of your journey."
Together the four of them followed Dulcea with ease. They all felt a lot lighter than when they had first arrived.
Finally, they arrived at their destination. Dulcea turned to face them.
"Now, I have received your message from Zordon with your questions."
"Yes." Kimberly nodded. "I feel stronger, braver, confident when all the rangers are surrounding me. Without them, I feel...lost, scared, confused, unsure about things. I don't understand why. It only happens with Aisha, Adam, Rocky, Billy, and Tommy. But I love Jason and Trini. They practically my siblings."
"The spirit animals will always be connected by something stronger than words can ever express. However, that day when all the spirit animals were used to bring you back to life, even if only in your mind, an even stronger bond, was formed. When you feel unsure or scared, or maybe stressed about things your Crane feels it. She cries out to her friends for support. Because she feels stronger with them around. That is why it effects you as well. Your crane feels stronger, so you feel stronger." Dulcea explained. "But look around you, only your Falcon is with you now. And you seem pretty confident and strong to me."
Kimberly smiled. "Yeah... you're right. I didn't even notice that."
"As you gain strength in yourself, and move on from what has happened to you, that need to have them by your side every second of the day will lessen. Your Crane is your spirit, Kimberly. She knows what you feel and needs even before you do. Lately, she's needed the other close, so you needed your friends closer. But as your Crane gets stronger so will you. Soon you and your Crane will be able to fly solo without the constant need of your friends. However, she will always need her Falcon, just like Tommy's Falcon will always need your Crane."
Kimberly smiled and nodded. She hugged Tommy and shared a kiss.
"Now, I have called you here for another reason. Another reason your Crane is clinging to the others is because someone else is trying to control the Crane and it's upsetting to your Crane to have someone else in control."
"You mean me?" Kat asked.
"Yes, now I understand when you first joined the team you were able to control the Crane zord without issues. But it's like driving a car. Almost anyone can control it with a key. Now that the zords are no longer needed you've still held onto and have that spirit in you."
"That's why I kept landing in front of Kat and not Tommy," Kimberly said. "My crane was trying to find it's whole self?"
"Yes. That is right. Now I am not blaming you, Katherine. I understand you were given those powers fair and square. Now, it's time to give them back."
"You mean I..."
"Yes, Kimberly. It is time for you the regain full control of your Crane. As well as full control of the pink zeo crystal."
"But I..." Kat started and was cut off.
"Do not worry, Katherine. I have plans for you."
"Good or bad plans?" Kat asked.
Dulcea chuckled. "Trust me, I'm not going to harm you. Everything I did to you since you arrived was to test you. I tested all of you."
"Wait, so the sandmonsters and the trees it was all set by you," Kimberly asked.
"Yes."
"But why?"
"Think about it, a few days ago would you have been able to fight in a battle with the cogs, or even left Tommy's side to grab a weapon without Tommy at your side?"
"No, I...I guess not."
"Katherine and Tommy, you haven't been able to work together as a team in a long time. Today, you did just that. Together all three of you worked as a team destroy the sandmonsters and rebuild your friendship. Kimberly and Katherine, your friendship was rebuilt because Katherine was able to save you in a time when Tommy couldn't. I loved what I saw, but I knew you could never fully fill that gap until you all let go of the guilt you had. So I had you let that go first. I've tested you from the second you got here, and you all passed with flying colors. I couldn't be more proud. With that said, Katherine, I am taking away your pink ranger powers. However, I am granting you with a spirit animal of your own, and the purple zeo crystal."
"Wow, that's amazing, I don't even know what to say."
"Wait," Tommy said quickly. "I don't understand. I thought we had found all the zeo crystals already?"
"Zordon and I believed you had also. However, it seems one of them has made its way here, waiting for the right person to claim it."
"And that's me?" Kat asked.
"Indeed it is. Now please, Come, gather around the fire, Kimberly and Katherine only."
"Oh I get it, girls only, no boys allowed." Tommy pouted playfully.
The girls giggled as they followed Dulcea to the small fire pit in the center.
"First, I will restore Kimberly's crane." She waved her staff over the fire pit. The flames roared up before settling back down. Dulcea bent down and gathered the ash into her hands and then blew it at Kimberly.
Kimberly inhaled and exhaled a deep breath like it had been the first breath she had ever taken. A golden light in the shape of a Crane flew around her before landing on her chest. Seconds later Kimberly was back in her pink Ninjetti robes. She couldn't stop the smile on her lips.
"Zordon will help you with the zeo crystal transfer upon your return. Now, Kat, it is your turn."
"Your spirit animal the Phoenix. After a Phoenix dies, it is reborn like new and rises from a pile of ash. That what I feel has happened to you, Katherine. Your old life, before and during the spell is in the past behind you. When you let go of that guilt, you fell to the ground, but then stood back up ready to give it a second try and help your friends. That was you rising from the ashes and becoming new. You have been reborn."
Kat smiled and nodded.
Once more Dulcea waved her staff over the fire. Flame roared up, this time in the shape of a Phoenix, before settling down again. Dulcea grabbed the ash and blew it onto Kat.
Kat smiled as she felt the familiar ranger power surge through her veins, but this time it was stronger than ever before. Seconds later she was standing there in her own purple Ninjetti robes.
"This is amazing." She smiled. "Thank you, Dulcea."
"Young Phoenix, you have proven that you can work as part of the team, but your journey is not yet complete, for your piece of the Zeo Crystal is waiting for you," says Dulcea.
"Ok what do we have to do? " asks Kat.
"This you will have to do by yourself young Phoenix, but know even so you will not be alone for your spirit animal brothers and sisters are always with you."
Kat looks back to Kim and Tommy, and they nod in support.
"Come young one," states Dulcea as she starts to walk towards the right towards the back corner of the temple ruins. She stops near a small pond being fed by a small spring. She picks up a small shallow cup-shaped stone and dips it into the water.
"kneel and drink young Phoenix to start the last leg of your quest."
Kat follows her command and does so. The water is cold and crisp, but bitter in taste, like medication. Mere moments after she swallows, she collapses to the ground unconscious.
She awakens alone in the middle of the jungle. Unfamiliar with the part she was in, she scrambles to her feet. She panics at first, but then stops and breathes remembering Dulcea's words. She calms and tries to feel for the others. She surprised when she feels that she can, but more strongly she feels something stronger that almost pulling her forward like a magnet.
Hours pass as she travels through the jungle. Driven onward by something calling her. Just as the sun starts to dip to the tree line, she comes to a clearing that at its heart has large stone outcropping. She could tell that a major battle took place here, weapons littered the ground, the walls and surrounding areas are pockmarked and covered in oddly sized rocks. The stone walls have empty cavities carved in them as if something once sat in them. In front of her stood a massive boulder with a golden crest on it. One that matched symbols on hers and Kim's robes. She knew she didn't need to be told that these were the Sacred animals that she was now a part of. The massive crest started to glow as she started to see hers suddenly start to appear on it. She was drawn towards it, possessed with the urge to reach out and touch it.
Just as she was about to, she hears a voice, "Did you really think it would be that easy?"
Kat turns and sees herself. It was like looking into a mirror, except something was off with the reflection. It took a few minutes, but as the copy stared her, she saw it, the flash of red in its eyes. She knew what she was dealing with right then and there.
"You don't scare me, not anymore. You're here to test me aren't you?" Kat shouts at her.
"Clever girl!" her double said. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't still scare you a little."
Kat looked at her copy and says, "you're wrong. You can't use fear to control me anymore or guilt. You're just a mere shadow of me."
Just then the strangest thing happened. At Kat's words, all the color drained out of her evil double. After a few minutes, she looked something out of a black and white movie.
Kat dropped into a defensive stance as she could tell her now grayscale counterpart was pissed. Not long after she went on the attack against Kat. It didn't take long to figure out that while they might share the same skill set, Kat found that she was now much more powerful than her opponent. She knew this wasn't all her power alone, she could feel the power of the others around her as she fought, helping her out. After a final kick to her copy's abdomen, driving her back against the stone. The light from the crest started to glow brightly, and like all shadows, she burned away at the lights touch.
Once gone Kat approached the crest and laid her hand upon it. She was surprised to feel her hand pass thru it until it connected with something solid. Then felt a sudden surge of energy rush through her as she suddenly could hear the calls of all the animals including her own. She retracted her hand and found a purple crystal shard within it. She saw it for only a moment before it shown so brightly she was blinded.
When she could see, again she was laying on her back with the others standing over her.
"Welcome Back young phoenix, you have done well." Commended Dulcea.
"Thank you, Dulcea." Kat smiled.
"It is my pleasure. Now, return home and continue working as a team. That is when you will all be at your most powerful is when all the Spirit animals unite and work together. You young Katherine are now a part of that pack."
"I will treasure it always. I promise. Thank you."
"Thank you," Kimberly said.
"Thanks, Dulcea," Tommy said. "But I think now it's time for us to head home." He walked over and grabbed Kimberly's hand. Kimberly took Kat's hand.
"Of course. Stay well rangers, and may your spirit animals watch over you."
In a flash of white, pink, and now purple the Rangers were gone. Only this time, they left together as a team, as friends, as a family.
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