Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers, and I never will (*sob!*)

** * To Hell and Back -

Chapter Five: Let Them Grieve

* **

Many miles away, very far from the stricken present and former Rangers, very far from Earth too, was a dark mountain where in a hidden black castle, evil spun its wicked web and no eye was sharper than that of the castle's residents.

On that day, however, something strange was about to happen.

Lord Zedd sat on this throne, his chin resting on his palm that was propped up upon the arm of the grand black seat. It was a classic brooding position, and Lord Zedd was indeed brooding. He had been there, almost motionless, for the past two hours. He had sent Goldar scurrying when the warrior and servant had come with lunch and some news about a new demon named Crayan who was rising in the west, and he had not seen his new wife Rita since the early hours of the morning.

He had seen something happen on Earth, and he was having trouble with the conflicting thoughts and emotions that were clashing inside him.

The dark warrior was not allowed any more time to his thoughts, however, as the grand doors of the shadowy throne room was flung open and a truly repulsive-looking female marched in. One look at her expression told Lord Zedd that she was in an uncharacteristically delighted mood.

"Zeddie!" Rita squealed excitedly. "You won't believe the most incredible news I have just discovered while spying on Earth."

He looked at her wearily. "Indeed, Rita? You were spying on the Power Rangers, as usual?"

Rita looked at him as if he had gone mad. "Of course! Who else would I waste my time spying on?"

"So I take it the original Pink and Black Rangers are still in Switzerland." Zedd said quietly.

His wife glared at him. "Honestly, Zeddie, you know I have exciting news for you; why do you want to talk about or even mention those pitiful do- gooders?"

Zedd knew he couldn't stall Rita forever, and so with an inward sigh that held more emotion that anyone would have believed the evil Lord was capable of, he shrugged and said: "Well, Rita, what is it? What delightful news have you discovered?"

Rita's smile was decidedly smug as she said: "You remember the original Pink Ranger, don't you, Zeddie? Little Kimberly Ann Hart? The one you wanted to take as your Que - "

"Yes, yes, I know." Lord Zedd snapped hastily, not wanting that topic to be touched upon, especially not now, not today. "I take it your discovery centers around her."

The Queen of the dark palace looked extremely thrilled. "It's a burst of good fortune, Zedd. It's a brilliant stroke of luck and the best news I've gotten in a long time! The Pink Ranger, our little Kimberly, is dead, Zeddie. Hit the bucket. Left the world. Her life was taken right from her body." She began to cackle.

Zedd tapped his fingers gently on the arm of the throne, watching his fingernails with unusual interest. "I know, Rita. I found out over two hours ago."

"You KNEW?" Rita shrieked, causing her husband to wince at her volume. "And you didn't tell me?! ZEDDIE!"

"How did it happen, Rita?" he asked, ignoring her outburst. "Other than the accident, of course."

Rita narrowed her eyes as she shot him a glare, but she couldn't help but answer the question; the news was simply too incredible and thrilling to her. "I told you, Zeddie, she was in one of those Angel Grove hospitals - in a coma, I think, is the medical term - and quite suddenly, her life was wrenched away . . . and she died." She pronounced the last three words with great happiness and a contented sigh.

Lord Zedd frowned down at his wife. "Did you do it, Rita? Did you steal her life force?" he demanded, a note of anger in his voice.

"Of course not!" Rita sounded positively outraged at such a suggestion. "I prefer watching a bloody massacre, not something as ridiculously pitiful as this! She died because of the accident, Zeddie."

Her husband was not so sure, but he said nothing more on that subject. He didn't believe Rita had tampered with Kimberly's life; it really wasn't her style. Her methods were usually more blatant and crueler.

"Why is it a brilliant stroke of luck?" he inquired of her.

Rita flung up her hands as if exasperated at her Lord's stupidity. "Zeddie!" she yelled. "Are you blind? Are you an idiot? Kimberly Hart, the beloved Pink Ranger, is dead! Zordon's favorite one, the original Red Ranger's heart's love, the other Rangers' best friend - she's DEAD."

"Yes," Lord Zedd sighed. "She is."

"Now, Zeddie," Rita looked at him suspiciously. "You don't have REAL feelings for the girl, do you? You're not upset because she's dead?"

Zedd exhaled heavily. "No, my love. I'm not."

"Good!" Rita clapped her hands. "Now, back to our good fortune. Can't you see it, Zeddie? The Power Rangers and their friends, and Zordon too, will be pathetically heartbroken by the loss of their dear, beautiful young teammate. They will be vulnerable. They will be grieving."

"Your point is?" Zedd asked, a little more harshly than he might have under different circumstances.

"THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO ATTACK!!!" Rita shrieked.

Lord Zedd did not even flinch this time when he was faced with the full blast of Rita's unnatural decibel level. He met his wife's eyes directly and said in a voice that bordered on icy: "I'll decide that, Rita. I will decide whether or not we attack."

For a moment, husband and wife of evil stared at each other, Rita's eyes full of rage and annoyance and Zedd's daring his wife to challenge him.

At last, Rita backed down. "All right," she spat out grudgingly. "Decide then, oh Lord and Master." She allowed a toothy grin to flash across her face. "If we attack, Zeddie, we should attack during the funeral!"

"Let me think, Rita." Zedd snapped.

He was now supposed to decide this in a matter of a moment. He had already spent two hours with his dilemma, and he hadn't come up with much of a solution. What kind of Lord of Darkness was he if he was letting his emotions break through him like this?

No, he didn't have any feelings for Kimberly, but Zedd hadn't been completely truthful with his wife. He was upset about her death, and he was sorry. He was sorry that he hadn't been able to turn her to evil and make her a great Dark Pink Ranger. He was sorry that she hadn't gone down fighting; she deserved at least that much. And he was sorry she was gone at all.

She was dead.

Zedd could remember many times that he had fought against the Pink Ranger, and many times that she had defeated him, gaining the opportunity to kill him or Rita and finish the battle once and for all. But she had never taken that chance. She had never taken the opportunity to kill them.

And the Rangers had all loved her in their different ways, Zordon especially and most of all, that brave original Red leader - Jason Scott. They would all be grieving all, all broken up and destroyed by the loss of their former teammate, younger sister, and friend.

If Lord Zedd ordered an attack during the funeral, it would be cruel and unnatural and if not for the others, Zedd knew Kimberly didn't deserve that lack of respect.

If he ordered an attack on the Rangers tomorrow, they would be grieving and vulnerable. They might actually fall against Zedd's forces and they might be defeated. Wasn't that what Lord Zedd wanted most of all? Free reign to take over and rule Earth? The deaths and defeat of the cursed Power Rangers?

Wasn't this his chance?

Lord Zedd took a deep breath to steady himself and lifted his eyes to meet Rita's eager ones. "No," he said gruffly. "There will be no attack on the Rangers until they are prepared to fight again."

If he expected Rita to scream and to rage at him like she normally did, he was wrong. She just stared at him, in complete shock, and then her expression changed to one that he couldn't read.

Strangely confused and alone, Lord Zedd stood up and went to the broad jagged window of rock that looked out over Earth, twinkling a vast distance away. He didn't know how long he stood there, but he was aware of the moment when Rita came and stood beside him.

"Why?" she asked simply, her voice softer than he had believed it could be.

He shook his head. "It's wrong. She didn't deserve to die like that." He sighed and gazed out at the planet far away, his eyes searching in vain for any sign of that telltale glow of original special pink.

"Let them grieve, Rita. We owe her that much."

** TBC.

*

A/N: This chapter may seem rather out of place, but I thought the story needed a brief rest-bite from the severe pain and angst of the previous chapter. Besides, there has to be a reason why the Rangers aren't facing any battles right now, and Lord Zedd isn't really so bad, is he? ;)

The next chapter, 'Beneath the Surface' heads back to the Rangers and begins with Kimberly's funeral . . . (. I'm very grateful to all the readers who have reviewed - thanks a lot! I'd love to hear more from you guys as I keep writing, and I'll update soon. Enjoy!