WooWhoo! I really, really, really enjoyed writing this chapter. But, I have to warn you that it might be pretty confusing, so you may have to read it more than once to understand everything. I decided to make you guys have to think for this one. Also, I appreciate the reviews from the last chapter very much. I was afraid my explanation wouldn't fly with some of you and those of you that it didn't fly with were gracious enough to not totally dog me. Thanks a million times over for that. But, I'm extremely interested in hearing what you think of this chapter because it's pretty dense. In particular I would like to know what you all thought of how I handled what I call the 'transformation'. Okay, I'll shut up now, but enjoy okay!
Kimberly angrily plopped herself down on the cold marble stone that would have to serve as her bed for the evening. Goldar had just escorted her to the basement level of Serpentera II where the cells were located. As he shoved her into the cell she cursed at him, and unfortunately it brought no satisfaction to her because he was free and she was a prisoner behind the steel bars.
"It's not fair!" she screamed with all her might as the tears began to pour out of her eyes.
She had busted her butt for Lord Zedd and still he was not satisfied. She continued screaming and yelling obscenities until she felt near exhaustion. Before collapsing onto the hard marble surface she fiercely hurled her pink, black, and gold helmet into the door, it bounced off the dull bars and landed roughly with a giant thump. She couldn't see where it ended up because of the two-foot high fog that perpetually hovered over the floor. But, she knew the ridiculous piece of armor probably didn't even get a single scratch.
Sitting on the stone she pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. Rocking back and forth she continued to cry, but the reason for the tears was rather difficult to pinpoint. Was she scared? Was she angry? Was she sorry? With each rock the reason changed and in accordance so did her thoughts.
They started out as a distant memory of just three days before. She remembered waking from her nightmare and finding herself in the comfort of her own bed, in her own room, in her own house on Rose Avenue. That time she had felt scared, what if she never got over the guilt?
Her next memory brought her to the Youth Center on Friday night where Skull had offered her a ride home in another sad attempt to work his way into her heart. For that she felt sorry, but not really for Skull, it was mostly for not taking him up on that ride home. Realistically she knew that it would have only delayed the inevitable, but who knows, maybe things would have turned out different. She clenched her eyes shut not wanting to remember the next part.
Suddenly she could feel the cold wet raindrops pierce her skin like little nails falling from the sky. She could hear herself heaving for air as she ran through the dark. She felt her muscles begin to ache as she pumped her legs faster and faster, the cold grass below her bare feet turning into ice. Finally she felt herself come to a halt as an indescribable pain surged through her shoulder. Sitting in the small cell Kimberly covered her head with her arms as she struggled to protect her mind from the horrible memory. What followed wasn't any better.
Standing before Lord Zedd and Rita was like standing on a ledge of the Empire State building, only she didn't have a choice. Eventually she knew she was going to have to jump or else be pushed, and pushed she was. Recalling, the moment she realized that she was no longer the same woman she had been just hours before, Kimberly felt herself grow warm. As she remembered discovering her new self for the first time she began to sweat, and she could no longer distinguish it from the tears.
Her eyes were cloudy with water and the room was a blur, yet a part of her knew that she had to remember what lay ahead or else she might never be able to rationalize reality from the Evil Pink Ranger's world. Bracing herself for the shame and defeat she wiped her eyes clean with her black fingers and she sat up strait against the cool wall behind her.
Kimberly's head was immediately flooded with one image in particular, an image that she would not soon forget, nor would she really want to. But, right now she didn't know if she had the strength to endure it. The image was of Dr. Thomas Oliver walking carelessly down the streets of Reefside, California. It looked as if he hadn't a care in the world and he had aged perfectly. Despite the obvious physical changes like the short hair and the glasses he still looked just like the boy Kimberly had fallen so madly in love with in high school. It was a moment she had dreamed of for many years, but if she could change the past she would have given it all back if it meant that these past few days had never happened. She would have given up the chance to ever see Tommy again if it meant that she had never hurt him or the others. But, it was too late.
Now her mind was not her own, she had no control over what she saw next, Tommy hitting the hard wooden floor like a pile of dirt while she was radiant with satisfaction. Next, she saw herself back in the Youth Center gingerly kissing him on the cheek. She once again began to grow warmer in her cell. She couldn't feel the chill of the stone surfaces below her or behind her. She was in another place, Angel Grove.
Soon, voices entered her head, one belonged to her and the other belonged to Tommy. She could hear him talking about college, about his job, and about becoming a Ranger again. She could hear herself dropping subtle hints that she hoped would ruin his day, like how fond she had grown of Skull. But then the calm conversation was suddenly replaced with screams and hollers. He was yelling for her as he selflessly fought to protect her from the putties. But she was yelling for help in an attempt to lure him into trouble as she eyed the gem, which rested safely on his wrist. In the cell, Kimberly once again found herself curled up in a tiny ball, she felt like she was inches from the sun yet she couldn't unroll herself.
Next came the disappointment of Tommy's goodbye, he had shrugged her off like she had been merely an acquaintance to him. She would not stand for it and in the next flashback she proved it. She could feel the muscular heavy weight overtake her. On her fingertips she could not feel the coarse black gloves, but the smooth yet rough texture of Tommy's chest. In her mouth she could taste the Listerine on his breath, which she had not noticed at the time, yet she remembered it so clearly now. Most importantly she felt wanted, more than that, needed. It had been so long since she had that feeling and she wanted it again. But, it was broken when a cold metal object, the bracelet, replaced the soft skin beneath her fingertips.
Kimberly began to sob out loud in her cell, and she hadn't noticed when it happened but at some point during her vision she had actually ripped off her gloves. Opening her eyes she found herself struggling with the bracelet on her left arm. It was stuck like glue, she scanned it for the clasp, but it wasn't there, it was like it had been soldered around her wrist. Taking deep breaths she attempted to compose herself but before she could the bracelet took over her and the terrible memories once again invaded her.
They came in flashes like a strobe light. First she felt the dirty blond, wavy hair of the petite teenage girl in her hand. She could hear the girl attempt to muffle her cries of pain, but worse she could see herself beating the poor girl to a pulp.
The next flash was of the Red Ranger and the Blue Ranger. Quickly she saw herself zap them to the ground, and then they were once again just regular human, lifeless boys. The memories were eating at her and she just wanted to give up and let them go, but she had to remember, she had to face what she had done. She had to force herself to see the monster she had become in hopes that the good in her would not let it stay.
Soon Tommy entered the picture once again, accompanied by the White Ranger. It hurt so much to watch Tommy shoot that blast at her. Why would he hurt her? But, then the image of the White Ranger kneeling over her unsuspectingly entered her head. Soon, he ended up like the rest as she rammed her weapon directly through his stomach. That was why Tommy had done it, she wasn't human, she didn't deserve to be.
Suddenly it was just her and Tommy, the battle should have ended then, but thank God it didn't. Thank God that the other's showed up. High in the tree they shined like the rarest diamond. They were there to save her; not Tommy, and she realized that now.
Once again the pain was taking over Kimberly's body as she lay down on her side. The fog had consumed her and she couldn't see an inch in front of her face. Her eyes were clenched tighter than ever and she was sweating puddles beneath her. But, it was all about to end.
Tommy took Kimberly's face in his hands, he stared deep into her eyes and she never wanted him to leave. Everyone was there; they were all so close to reconciliation and maybe even happiness. At that moment she was ready to trade her power coin in for her friends, and for him. But no, SHE had to go and speak; she had to ruin it all, just like in high school. The pale white face, the piercing blue eyes, and the silky blond hair of Katherine Hillard engulfed Kimberly's mind. Kimberly screamed out in pain. She didn't want to hate the girl, deep down she knew it wasn't Katherine's fault. None of it was, not the resurge of evil, not the loss of the power coins, and definitely not her loss of Tommy. Deep down Kimberly knew it was her own fault. She's the one that left, she's the one that became paranoid, and she's the one that wrote the letter.
The letter, that stupid letter! It was the cause of all of this, more directly though, Kimberly was the cause of all of this. If she hadn't harbored all of that hate deep down then she would have been broken of Zedd's dastardly spell a long time ago. She would have given up her black coin to Tommy and she wouldn't be here right now.
Bringing herself back to reality Kimberly slowly eased herself into a sitting position with the help of the stone bench. Her vision was once again blurry with water and the stray strands of hair that hovered over her face were sticking to her, glued with tears. Her body was so hot she could see the red reflecting off the fog. But, Kimberly persevered after realizing that she had been responsible for this whole mess she realized that she too was responsible for ending it.
Heaving for air and composure, Kimberly reached down for her morpher. She tugged at it so hard it almost ripped her belt in two. Once it was free she stared at the mechanism briefly and didn't hesitate to hit the release button. The small, dull, black coin popped out quicker than Kimberly expected and it fell to the floor with a metallic ring followed by a short lived chime as it rolled across the smooth surface.
"Please, no!" whispered Kimberly cursing herself in her head for letting it fall.
She was never going to find it now, not with the stupid indoor cloud around her. The tears came full force again, she felt like she was made of water. It didn't matter though, it wasn't like she could see anyway. Returning to her hands and knees Kimberly blindly searched the floor for the tiny metal disk. Becoming frustrated she broadened her parameter and scaled across the floor desperately.
"Well, found the stupid helmet," she said agitated before once again tossing it to the side.
Returning to the bench she pawed the floor beneath it, but she found nothing but the cold chill of the marble floor.
"I have to find it!" she sobbed taking a second round across the floor, but nothing. It was as if the coin had disappeared.
Kimberly then realized how ironic it was that just five minutes ago she was dying to get rid of the damn coin, and now she would have given just about anything to find it.
"Come on Kimberly," she tried to motivate herself, while at the same time struggling to keep her cool.
After a while, Kimberly had no idea how long it had been, hours maybe, she finally stopped her search. By then she was too frustrated and tired to continue the disappointment, so she surrendered and took her spot on the bench and lay down on her side, with her hands tucked under her head as a pillow. Of course the perpetual flow of tears continued their steady stream down her face as she began to doze off, but she never fell completely asleep. It almost felt like she was in limbo, she was conscious but at the same time dreaming. Before long she came out of the trance only to find herself speaking one name over and over again.
"Tommy…Tommy…Tom-" she whispered softly, only to be interrupted by a sudden chill that engulfed the ear she had been laying on.
Sitting up she looked down at the hand she had been resting her head on, it was Tommy's bracelet. The black gem began to glow white first and then green. Kimberly wasn't sure if she was dreaming or if it was actually happening. But soon the glow began to generate a green and white beam which lead to the floor. Following the beam Kimberly sprung up from her seat and rushed to the floor again, going strait for the beam's trajectory. Feeling the ground for what she hopped was her coin she was disappointed that the bracelet had only led her to that stupid helmet once again.
At first she started laughing, she had imagined the whole thing! Picking up the helmet she held it at eye level to her, examining the face, her face, in the eye shield. Her reflection was somewhat pathetic. She had gigantic circles under her eyes, her skin was pale, and various strands of hair were crusted to her face.
"Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all," she choked to herself, accompanied by a giggle.
As if waiting for a response she grew silent and that's when she saw it. It was the tiniest glimmer of light and it was pink. Kimberly blinked several times figuring her eye's just needed adjusting, but her curiosity got the best of her as she dug her hand into the helmet's neck hole. She searched the vessel with her bare hand carefully, finally resting on a cold metal object. After a slight tug the object was freed in her hand. Kimberly was elated to discover that she had found her coin. It had somehow gotten lodged in a crevice inside her helmet and it had been there the whole time!
Relieved and somewhat confused Kimberly hugged the coin to her chest, silently thanking God for the discovery. But, she now knew what she had to do. Still sitting on the freezing marble floor she examined the coin carefully. The little pterodactyl relief stared up at her almost apologetically. She slowly ran her shaking fingers over the insignia. For so long the pterodactyl had brought her such comfort and luck, how was it possible that now it was the source of her undoing? The time had come to let go, to let the hurt go, to let the grudge go, and to let him go.
Kimberly slowly brought the coin to her lips and kissed it. It felt like ice against her lips, which were still warm from the evil. She didn't know if she could do it alone, destroy her coin. But, it was now or never.
Solemnly she raised the coin in her right hand and held out in front of her. Somehow she knew exactly what she had to do; she could feel it inside her. Mustering up all of her strength she raised her left hand directly in front of her chest, parallel to the coin. Closing her eyes and preparing for the separation she allowed the black dino gem to take over.
She could feel the gem release it's energy and opening her eyes she saw it begin to illuminate, releasing three figures. The first was a small brachiosaurus; it floated over to the black coin where the pterodactyl innocently rested. But suddenly the coin also began to illuminate pink. Before long the tiny pterodactyl came alive just as the brachiosaurus. The two small figures began to dual inside the tiny coin, firing and attacking like an animation. Kimberly felt every blow inside her no matter who it was meant for.
Soon the second figure emerged from the dino gem in the form of a green dragon. It joined the battle alongside the brachiosaurus. Kimberly began to really feel the pain now, it hurt so much she wanted to drop the coin and forfeit, but something inside of her kept her going, the third figure.
It was a tiny white tiger and as it emerged from the Dino Gem it let out a loud cry that somehow was reassuring to Kimberly. It too joined the battle and after some time all three of Tommy Oliver's spirit's emerged from the black coin, bringing with them the pink pterodactyl. This left the coin empty it was nothing now but a piece of metal. The black brachiosaurus, the green dragon, and the white tiger returned to the gem on Kimberly's wrist and the illumination was gone.
But the pterodactyl had another destination, directly into Kimberly's heart. She felt the spirit enter her as her body returned to it's normal temperature and her strength returned even though she felt as if she could sleep for a year. Then, in just a quick flash she found herself unmorphed and still in the short pink dress she had worn on her date with Skull the night before. She was once again Kimberly Hart, and she had once again been rescued by Tommy Oliver.