SABAN owns the Power Rangers, not me.
Princess Shayla is showing up in this one-shot since there is apparently going to be a Princess Megan in next year's season. And an eleventh Pink.
37: Helm
It was between classes at Kimberly's gymnastics studio, so she was doing some practicing of her own on the balance beam. As she did so, she let her mind wander.
Tommy's tenure as the Black Dino Ranger had recently ended, overlapping with Power Rangers Space Patrol Delta twenty years in the future. Her baby brother was still restless, going from relative to relative. Both he and Kimberly hoped he'd figure what he wanted to do with his life soon. Although working on a range of high-tech projects, nothing Billy was currently working on featured Power Rangers, so he had a little more free time than usual. Which meant more time they spent together.
It still surprised Kimberly sometimes, how much closer the two of them became after dating. Sure, she had known that she had loved him but… they were truly soul mates. Just thinking of him made her heart glow.
Flipping off the beam, Kimberly entered the traditional ending pose. Upon realizing that her next class would start in twenty minutes she started to ensure that the room was ready, pushing back thoughts of Billy for a bit so she could focus on her class.
Billy was visiting the Animarium, doing some final repair work on the 'new' Dino Zords as Zack insisted on calling them. His insistence made no sense to Billy, as Zack had used the mastodon- an Ice Age mammal- instead of a dinosaur as a Zord. As the Stegazord grumbled contentedly under him, Billy patted one of its spikes and hopped off down to the ground. Or at least, the ground of an island flying a few thousand feet above sea level.
"He says thank you," Princess Shayla told him, dressed as always in her white dress with her garland of white and blue flowers on top of her brown curls. Billy looked up at the Zord.
"You're welcome."
With a deep-throated growl of contentment the Stegazord slowly moved off to rejoin its teammates. The lilac Armadillo Zord at her feet Princess Shayla asked, "How is Kimberly?"
"She's great," Billy smiled. "I love her so much."
"I can tell," Princess Shayla agreed as they started to walk back towards the central area of the island, the place where Wild Force had spent much of their time. "And I can tell how much she loves you."
Her tone was slightly wistful, making Billy feel awkward. Merrick had literally dropped off the grid- no one knew where he was or what he was doing. Billy had been trying, but the Lunar Wolf Warrior simply did not want to be found. Making matters worse, Zen-Aku had united with Rita, Zedd, and Divatrix during Ninja Storm, meaning that he was all alone wherever he was. Billy had himself brushed into the Wolf tendency to believe himself infallible as well as the Wolf hard-headedness. Merrick had been displaying a lot of both since the end of Wild Force nearly three years ago.
"What are you thinking about?" asked Princess Shayla. Half-fudging the truth Billy replied, "Oh, just worrying if you're okay, living on Animaria alone."
"But I'm not alone," Princess Shayla observed. "The sentient Turbo Zords, the Galactabeasts, the Wild Zords, and now these Dino Zords are all here with me."
"No offense meant," Billy told the Armadillo Zord, who only flashed its neon red eyes friendlily at him (all the Wild Zords wanted Princess Shayla and Merrick to get together too), before looking back up at the Princess, "but I don't know if being surrounded by only Zords is good for you."
"Taylor, Cole, Alyssa, Danny, Max, and you all visit regularly. Lost Galaxy and the later Turbo Rangers do as well. And I'm sure as soon as Tommy explains matters to them Dino Thunder shall be visiting as well."
More than ever Billy was grateful for Kimberly's presence in the Command Center. Waking up next to her was the most perfect way to start his day. And her presence even before they started dating guaranteed daily human contact- something everyone needed, but sometimes forgot to get. But Princess Shayla had resigned herself to being alone.
Seeing the concern in his eyes, she smiled bravely at him.
"It'll be fine."
"I just hope your fairy tale ends soon," Billy informed her. "All this waiting must be hard."
"I'm not waiting exactly. Just hoping," she shrugged simply, without expectations. That just made Billy more concerned for her.
When Kimberly returned to the Command Center that night, she could smell the cooking pasta. In the kitchen she found Billy making spaghetti. An unusual occurrence, as he typically kept his chemistry workings in the laboratory. Leaning against the door frame she asked, "What's the occasion?"
Instead of answering, Billy went over to her and kissed her. Reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck, Kimberly returned the kiss. When they had to part for air Kimberly managed to ask, "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that about?"
"For being you, I suppose," Billy smiled, nuzzling her cheek. "For letting me love you."
"Yeah, that's a real hardship for me," Kimberly dryly retorted, splaying her hands against his chest. "Love ya."
"Love ya," Billy agreed, leaning in for a second kiss. Kimberly didn't even consider stopping him.