Disclaimer: This is not a recording, but it should be. Amber, Amy, and Cora are mine, as well as the Wizard. Alexis Darling belongs to Rachael West and is used with permission. The rest of the Power Rangers belong to Saban.

Zack, Kimberly, Jason, Cora, Tommy, Kat, Andros and Ashley left the movie theater after seeing Ghost Ship. They had been amazed they even had the time to see the movie, given The Wizard's intense dislike of them.

"That was so creepy." Kimberly told them all.

"I thought it was kinda cool." Cora told her. "But you would be surprised how much thought I put into those type of things."

"I'd love to hear them sometime." Kat told her.

Andros looked a little confused. "I'm not sure I understood the point to the movie." He told Ashley.

She smiled, leaning up and kissing him on the cheek. "I'll try to explain later, when we don't have the comedy relief." She told him.

"I think it's to early to go back to the Megaship." Zack told them all as he faced Jason and Cora. "We should go somewhere. To the park, or a club. Something. I'm sure we."

He was interrupted by a voice calling out, "Zack!"

They all turned to the sound of the voice and were surprised by who they saw.

"Angela." Zack whispered.

"Who is she?" Kat asked Tommy.

"She was only Zack's crush throughout high school. Until he left with Jason and our other friend Trini for the peace conference." Tommy told her.

"Zack, it is so good to see you." Angela told him as she hugged Zack, and it took a moment but Zack hugged her back."

"Angela, hey." Jason said. "Long time no see."

"It has been a long time." She said, smiling at Jason. "You left about the same time Zack did. Was the conference fun?"

"It had its ups and downs." Jason said neutrally.

She now looked at Zack. "So who are your new friends?" she asked.

"Oh. Well, you know Kim, Jason and Tommy. This is Cora, a friend of Kim's from Florida. This is Kat, she's Tommy's new girlfriend, and this is Andros and Ashley." Zack introduced each of his friends.

"It's nice to meet all of you." Angela said. She then looked at Zack. "I'd love to catch up with you. Maybe over coffee?"

Zack nodded. "Sure, that'd be great. I'm not doing anything now if that would be cool." He said.

"Now would be good." Angela agreed.

Zack looked at his friends. "Great. Now you guys can go on back home if you want. I'll see you guys later." He said.

"Okay, we'll catch up to you tomorrow." Jason told him.

"Have fun." Kimberly called after them.

Kat and Cora exchanged a glance, and both of them knew the other had sensed the slight tinge of sadness in her voice.

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The Wizard had been very impressed with what he received from the last fight against the Purple Ranger. He knew he now had to draw upon the many resources he had control over to defeat these Rangers.

But first, when the time was right, he would clue the Rangers onto a fraction of what he's capable of.

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It was about four in the morning when Zack finally came aboard the Megaship, not at all tired. He made his way down to the Simudeck and entered, oblivious for a moment it was active.

He realized it was when he heard a slight thumping and turned to see Amber landing on the ground from her simulation in Angel Grove Park and then giving a really hard kick to the last Craterite in the room.

"I see fighting Lightning Falcon didn't do too much to you." Zack said. "Didn't Alpha say you should be in bed?"

"I've been in bed for about twelve hours now. I've never been that type of girl. I'd rather be on the move." She told him. "So, what's up?"

"I was coming back from a date, but I wasn't tired so I thought I'd come down here and to.kind of what you're doing." He explained.

"Practice, never thought I'd see that happen." She said lightly. "So, who was the lucky girl?"

"Angela." He said.

Amber perked up a little. "Angela? Wow, we haven't heard from her since graduation day." She said.

"Yeah, she told me she kept in contact with you and Kim for a while. Keeping her up to date about me." He said.

Amber nodded. "Well, yeah. She seemed interested in how you were for a while. Of course interest went down a little, since you hadn't been to Angel Grove for several years. I think she eventually did her best to move on." She replied.

"Until tonight, when she saw us after the movie was over." Zack said.

"I had thought that you were going with Kim." Amber admitted.

"Kim and I are just friends. We used to go to the movies all the time like that. Except it was usually Jason and Trini that went with us. We even went to the movies when she and Tommy were dating." Zack replied.

Amber nodded, a little absently. "Well, that's good. But you and Kim did seem to make a good couple, especially now that Kat and Tommy are together." She said.

"Get out." Zack said.

"Seriously. Alexis agreed with me on that one." Amber added.

"Get out." Zack repeated.

Amber looked at him. "Are you saying you couldn't see you and Kim as a couple?" she asked him.

Zack gave it a moment's thought. "Well, yeah. I guess I could. But I could also see Jason and Kim together. And I thought Tommy and Kim were destined, whatever that means." He replied.

"My father always said you wouldn't find the one you were meant to be with in high school. I don't entirely doubt that. But sometimes I think that you could have the person of your dreams right by you without you even knowing it." She pointed out.

"Which would kinda back Kim and Jason. Or Kim and me." Zack said.

"I really thought Kim and Tommy would make it. Now I hold the same hope for Kat and Tommy. The same for Andros and Ashley. I haven't really seen Zhane and Karone, as they weren't together too long. But I think they might be okay." Amber said as she pressed a few buttons to end her simulation. "I'm calling it a night. Have fun."

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Kat awoke from a horrible nightmare. She couldn't say what it was that was so horrible exactly. She usually didn't remember her dreams. But she had the vague impressions of fear and death.

She sat up abruptly, feeling her nightgown clinging to her back. She looked at her clock and realized DECA would wake her in an hour anyway. And after the feelings she had from her nightmare, she wouldn't be sleeping in that hour. So she got up, grabbed a change of clothes and went to shower.

While she was showering, she felt the vague impressions disappear. Well, not disappear but fade into the background. And the sadness in Kim's voice when Zack had left with Angela came back to her mind. She knew that sadness. It was the same one she felt had been in her heart when Tommy and Kim had been together.

She never would have interfered in their relationship, of course. She loved and respected Tommy and Kim too much for that. She couldn't deny the vague happiness that had overcome her when Kim broke up with Tommy but had also known that that was no guarantee that she would be with Tommy. In fact, it had surprised her when it had happened. She was used to things she wanted not actually happening.

Nor could she shake the feeling that as soon as their Ranger careers were over that for a reason she would never understand, that Tommy would decide to leave her. Go back to Kim, or maybe to someone else. But she was surprised once again when Tommy stayed with her, and they had even talked about moving in and getting married. She didn't know how much of the conversation was true, but it made her happy to think of spending her life with Tommy.

She felt she owed Kim, because everything that had happened would never have happened if Kim hadn't broken up with him. She felt she should do something to show her how appreciative she was but without seeming like she was insensitive or something like that.

And Kat figured trying to help Kim sort out her feelings for Zack would be a good start.

She finished showering, drying and dressing quickly, and left her quarters. To no surprise she found Kim on the bridge, going over some of the sensors readings that DECA had collected. "Couldn't sleep?" she asked.

Kim turned to Kat and smiled. "Oh, hi. Yeah, you could say that. So I decided to do some good while I was playing the insomniac." She said.

"I understand. That's why I came up here. I had a really bad dream." Kat explained.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Kim asked her.

"I would. If I could remember anything about it." Kat told her.

"I hate those type of dreams." Kim said.

"You can tell to mind my own business if you want, but you seemed upset when Zack left with Angela." Kat said.

Kimberly paused, feeling vaguely as if she should tell Kat to mind her own business. But that was not what came out. "I.I don't know. Zack and I have been friends since.I don't know how long right off hand. I kept in contact with Zack, Trini, and Jason when they went to the Peace Conference." She said.

She took a deep breath and went on. "I kept in contact with them when the conference was over and Jason came back to Angel Grove to become the Gold Ranger and Zack stayed with Curtis and a few other friends, and Trini went back to live with her family. Jason and I even got together to scuba dive, which ended in getting captured by Divatox. But you know that story." Kim smiled a little.

Kat smiled in return.

"And then Jason lost the Gold Ranger powers, actually he did that before Divatox, but he and I talked about moving in together, with Cora of course. And then Amber came to us and told us about Darkconda taking their powers, which was just after Jason had discovered the box holding the essence coins. I was looking forward to being a ranger again, being a little disappointed when I thought it wouldn't happen when the Pink Coin wouldn't work. Then Alpha discovered I was the Yellow Ranger." Kimberly continued on.

"When I discovered Zack was our Black Ranger I was happy. I hadn't seen him in a long time. But since that day, it's like.like something was opened up inside of me, and I've been denying, not sure what to think. I figured it out when Angela came back last night. I think I love Zack." She blurted out.

"I got that impression too." Kat told her. "By the tone of your voice. It was one I had recognized."

Kim nodded and smiled. "From what you felt watching Tommy and I." She concluded.

Kat nodded. "I'm afraid so. It felt awful, me feeling that. But I couldn't help it. But I did what I could to hide it. I hid it well from everyone, except for Amber. She could.god, I swear she's psychic or something."

"I always thought that way about her too. Too bad we can't prove it." Kim said, and both girls smiled a little. "You and Tommy look cute by the way."

"Thanks." Kat said.

"Almost as cute as Tommy and I did." She joked and both girls laughed again.

"I'd ask why you don't talk to Zack, but I think I get it. You don't for the same reasons that I didn't do anything for Tommy. You love and respect both Zack and Angela to much." Kat guessed.

"You're right." Kim admitted.

"Amber kept her peace, until you broke up with Tommy. I waited, not sure what to expect. Amber told me that we could be so much more, but not if I didn't act. I didn't want to damage our friendship. Then Billy suggested going skiing and he met Heather. I felt a little.okay, very upset. But whatever was good for Tommy, that's all that mattered. Then Heather gave Tommy another chance, with help from me. Amber thought I was out of my mind, and maybe I was." Kat told her.

"Amber thinks that might have actually been the final thing to show Tommy how much you care for him and vice versa." Kimberly pointed out.

"Maybe it was." Kat admitted. "But I wouldn't advice trying that with Zack."

"We've been friends for a long time, Kat. If it were going to happen, it would have happened already." Kim said.

An alarm went off and DECA reported, "There is a massive power reading in the park. Sensors indicate it is the Wizard."

"We better get going, I bet the others will meet us in the launching bay." Kim said as both of the girls got up.

They met Zack and Amber, and a few minutes later the rest of the Essence and Space Rangers came down, looking tired but ready. "Let's Rocket!" "It's Morphin Time!"

"Orange Ranger Power!" "Purple Ranger Power!" "White Ranger Power!" "Green Ranger Power!" "Black Ranger Power!" "Pink Ranger Power!" "Blue Ranger Power!" "Yellow Ranger Power!" "Red Ranger Power!"

The seven Space Rangers and the nine Essence Rangers intercepted what looked to be an old man in the typical sorcerer get up, the star spangled hat and a gown. But he held a wand that looked very much like Rita's.

"Greetings, Rangers. So you are the ones that are responsible defeating several of my monsters. I expected better." He said.

"Sorry to disappoint you." Tommy commented.

"No matter, there is no reason why I shouldn't kill you now." He said, and then shot bolts of energy from his wand, which struck all the Rangers, even Amber.

"This guy is going to be tough." TJ said.

Karone drew her sword and leapt out at the Wizard. With speeds none of the Ranger's had ever seen, he blocked Karone's downward swing and smashed the base of his wand into her chest.

"We can't fool around." Zhane said. "We need to bring out the big guns."

"I agree. I'll get the Spiral Saber booster mode." Andros said.

"We'll get the Quadrablaster ready." Carlos said.

"We'll get the Power Cannon ready." Jason said.

Tommy, Alexis, Amber and Zhane exchanged glances. "We'll check on Karone and distract the Wizard." Tommy said.

Zhane naturally ran to check on his girl friend while the two girls tried to double-team him. The Wizard struck Alexis with the base of his wand and while he tried to attack Amber, she blocked it. But a blast of power from his wand struck Amber and she fell back.

"This guy is going to be our death." Karone commented, only have sarcastically, as Zhane helped her up.

"Alright, guys." Jason said, and the Wizard turned to see three super weapons pointed at him. "Lock on and fire!"

The three Ranger groups fired their weapons, but The Wizard merely set down his staff, and a force shield not only blocked the blasts, but also deflected it at the Rangers. It caused all of them but Kat to demorph.

"That's enough!" Amber exclaimed as she tried to strike The Wizard, but all he did was to catch her arm and fling her right into the Rangers that were not caught up in the blast. Karone lost her sword just a moment before they were all forced to demorph.

Kat grabbed Karone's fallen sword and tried to strike what she believed to be his power source, the wand. But he saw her coming and grabbed her arm. "If they couldn't beat me with their 'super weapons' then what makes you think you can do it on your own?" he asked her. He then surged energy into her body and through her into a tree. She demorphed.

The Wizard laughed. "I should kill you now, but this is too much fun. This isn't over, you little pests." He then vanished.

Most of the Rangers got up and made their way over to Kat. But Kimberly saw the fear in her eyes and made the connection. Something about this battle must have reminded her about her dream.

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The Wizard was amazed at how easily he had defeated the 'most powerful' fighters in the world. Even thought he knew Amber could possibly defeat them, but part of him knew she would never truly be able to draw upon the power she needed to have that chance.

It would only be a matter of time before the Earth fell under his rule.

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"You need to be more careful. I warned you last night your powers hadn't fully recovered from the Lightning Falcon's attack. But instead you went to fight the most powerful being that anyone's ever seen." Alpha lectured as he tended to the Rangers.

"If the Wizard is so powerful, then why did Dark Specter not call upon him?" Carlos asked, thinking the excuse was rather dumb.

Karone cringed a little. "Because Dark Specter was too afraid that the Wizard would be too powerful." She informed him.

"Ay yi yi." Alpha muttered. Zack stood up. "I have to go. I promised Angela I'd meet her at that fancy French Restaurant. I can't cancel or else she might get suspicious." He said.

"Go ahead." Andros told him. "We'll call you if we need you."

Zack left the medical bay to get ready for his date, but Kat could see the sadness in Kim's eyes. A sadness she knew all to well. But she was powerless to advice Kimberly on how to handle it.

Adding to the fact the Wizard had totally beaten all of them; things did not look so well.

Will Kimberly admit her feelings to Zack or lose him to Angela? Is Kat's dream relevant to the fight they lost to The Wizard? Do other crushes exist aboard the Megaship that is being unexplored? What do the Rangers do against the Wizard now? And what is plan? Stay tuned.