Hi all! Your last reviews made me so happy that I thought I'd give you all another heartwrentching chapter to hold you over. I hope you like this one because I really liked writing it. As always, a thousand thank yous!

"Okay Kira, good as new," said Haley cheerfully as she secured the small peach band-aid across Kira's forehead. "Well, as good as new as your going to get right now."

Kira smiled at the woman sheepishly, it seemed lately that every time she was with Haley it was only to get bandaged up or scanned for injuries. But luckily the diagnosis was good, there was no sign of a concussion and besides the small cut and big bruise on her forehead, which she had no idea how she was going to explain to her parents, things were looking up.

"Okay, let's go," said Trent as he lowered his helmet down over his head.

"Oh, don't forget Dr. O's coin," reminded Kira as she fastened her dino gem bracelet on her wrist, Trent had saved it for her.

"I got the coin," responded Conner, examining the gold disk as if it were a rare and precious stone.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" asked Ethan, who was halfway out the command center's door. Everyone turned and stared at Kira.

"Oh yeah," she said standing up, "Dino thunder power up, ha!"

The four Dino Rangers had been running through the forest for just a few minutes and were very focused on the trail left for them by the other Rangers. Kira was delighted to be back in uniform and everyone else was glad to have her with them too.

"Wait!" yelled Ethan who was at the end of the line.

Everyone stopped running and joined him next to a dead tree. Ethan bent down to the ground and picked up the object, which had attracted his attention.

"What is it?" asked Trent curiously as he tried to poke his head into the circle of helmets surrounding Ethan's find.

"It's Jason's morpher," answered Conner in awe.

"Well, it's not like it's of any use in here," added Kira, "but I'm sure Jason is probably missing it by now. Let's go."

Ethan was nice enough to allow Conner to hold the silver gadget because he noticed how captivated by it Conner was. Soon, everyone was following Kira's lead.

"Hey," said Conner curiously, "why do you guys suppose Billy wanted us to bring the white power coin?"

"I don't know," yelled Kira behind her, "it's not like he can morph in the fog. And even if he could it's not like it matters because he has the black dino gem."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and find out," finished Trent, somewhat annoyed that their focus had been broken by Conner's useless question.

"Um, we might have to wait a little longer than we thought," said Ethan slowly as his jog turned into a dead stop.

Everyone stopped with him confused at first, but they quickly caught his drift. Standing in front of them was an army of gray men with red eyes and Zs on their chests. They definitely were not a pretty picture, but Kira had seen worse.

"What are they?" she asked in confusion.

"Beats the hell out of me," answered Conner stepping up to the plate, "let's drop 'em guys!"

Immediately the Rangers jumped into action, fighting the creatures, which were surprisingly just as difficult to battle as the tyranodrones.

"It's like nothing phases them!" commented Ethan, who had just kicked a putty down but was very disappointed to see that he got right back up.

"Just keep going guys!" ordered Trent, "They have to wear out eventually!"

"Now what?" asked Katherine in annoyance and disappointment as the trail they had successfully followed up to this point had pretty much vanished.

"I don't know," answered Billy, "what do you suppose happened to the trail?"

"Maybe we just got mixed up and started following the wrong one," said Zack optimistically, "We should just turn around and I'm sure we'll see where we went wrong in no time."

"I sure hope so," whined Aisha, " we really don't have time for mess ups."

"You can say that again," added Katherine, turning around to retrace their steps. "Just hang on Tommy," she said to herself quietly.

The Rangers had been running for what felt like forever, but Billy had attributed it to the fog. It seemed to have very mysterious ways and in all reality had they actually been running for as long and as hard as they'd felt then they would have reached the other end of the forest by now. It was like a never-ending maze and Billy hoped that if nothing else, then at least the trail had been accurate. But, judging by their dead end it was entirely possible that they'd been running in circles.

"I hope this little detour doesn't confuse the kids," commented Aisha as the Rangers finally discovered where they'd taken a wrong turn.

"I'm sure they'll be fine," answered an unfamiliar voice. Everyone nodded their heads in agreement, eager to continue their journey, not yet recognizing the intrusion.

"Uh guys," said Katherine questioningly, "who just said that?"

Everyone stopped dead in their tracks, processing just what Katherine was getting at. They all turned around and immediately spotted the source of the voice.

"Oh man," said Zack taking a fighting stance, "will someone please just give us a break!"

"Not very likely, Black Ranger," said the monster. It was Scorpina and she was not alone, accompanying her was an army of tengas.

"We don't have time for this," announced Aisha, "so why don't you just tell us where Kim is and then kick your own asses!"

"It doesn't work that way, Yellow Ranger," responded Scorpina with a hateful smile, "Tengas attack!"

"Come out, come out where ever you are," said Goldar hatefully as he searched the perimeter of the clearing for Jason.

Jason sat crouched behind a bush still trying to catch his breath. He knew his cover wouldn't hold out forever and he also knew that Tommy and Kimberly were about to meet their doom. He had been watching the events as they unfolded; it was particularly upsetting when Kimberly entered the picture because she looked so beaten and worn. But, Jason knew that making his presence known would only agitate Zedd and cause himself to end up tied to a tree as well. He had to lure Goldar away from the site, divide and conquer. So Jason began working his way away from the clearing, and Goldar was hot on his trail.

As Lord Zedd and Scorpina approached Tommy and Kimberly, Scorpina disappeared into thin air. Tommy and Kimberly both knew that she was on her way to distract the other Rangers, no doubt. But, things could still work out for them because now all they had to contend with was Zedd and both of them had been renewed with energy from each other's confession of love.

Lord Zedd first approached Tommy confidently and merciless. He stood so close to Tommy that he could feel Zedd's warm breath. This of course was meant to intimidate him but Lord Zedd could no longer scare Tommy. Looking strait into Tommy's eyes Lord Zedd spoke,

"Well I hope you said your good-byes Dr. Oliver, because you will never see your precious Kimmy again. Ha, ha, ha…"

Tommy stared at Lord Zedd in disgust, but made no effort to struggle or appear agitated in any way. But with every chuckle, the fire in Tommy grew bigger and bigger.

"Please! Don't hurt him!" yelled Kimberly from across the clearing. Tears still dropped from her eyes but they were no longer tears of joy, they were tears of fear.

Lord Zedd's laughter ceased at Kimberly's plead, he turned around and glared at her, "Oh don't worry my dear, no harm will come to your sweetheart," he paused, "It's you who will die!"

"No!" Tommy immediately began to struggle, he wanted nothing more than to pound Lord Zedd into oblivion. But, struggling was useless; it only made Zedd's laughter grow in intensity as he taunted Tommy. Tommy was beginning to realize that there was nothing he could do to stop Zedd in the position he was in. Right now, about the only thing he could do was delay Zedd from approaching Kimberly. He had to keep him there with him.

"Wrong Zedd," declared Tommy, interrupting Zedd's glory, "it's you who will die."

"And just who's going to stop me!" yelled Zedd, his face only inches from Tommy's. "It certainly won't be the other Rangers, they're all a little preoccupied right now. If you catch my drift."

"What have you done to them Zedd!" demanded Tommy as he inched his face closer to Zedd's, showing no sign of weakness.

"Nothing yet," replied Lord Zedd, "I'll worry about them later. But for right now it's payday for Kimberly. It's time I paid her what I owe her for a mission poorly done. And it's time I paid you back for all of the grief and distress you have put me through."

Lord Zedd turned away from Tommy and headed in Kimberly's direction. He took a small detour to obtain his staff but soon returned on his path.

"Get back here Zedd, you coward!" yelled Tommy frantically. This couldn't be happening, he couldn't lose Kimberly. "Why don't you fight me like a real man instead of using and innocent girl to take revenge!"

"Innocent girl!" snapped Zedd, "Innocent girl! There is nothing innocent about this woman! She has lied, cheated, played, and destroyed ever since she gave up her power coin! Have you forgotten Tommy? Do you remember the pain and anguish you felt when she selfishly broke your heart, not even having the respect to tell you to your face that you weren't good enough for her?"

Zedd's words hit Tommy hard. He knew that they weren't true and he now knew the real reason why Kimberly had sent that letter. But, he still couldn't help but wonder if Zedd was right. Did Kimberly leave him because he wasn't good enough for her? If that had been the case then Zedd could just take him now. He couldn't handle her rejection again.

Kimberly watched, horrified, as Lord Zedd approached her. Her vision was blurred from the tears, but that was for the best because she didn't need to see Zedd's anger and she certainly didn't need to see the look on Tommy's face now. She was literally shaking from her head down to her toes, but Lord Zedd was not her biggest fear. Her biggest fear was that Tommy would doubt her and she would have to leave him, with him never knowing just how much she truly loved him.

"Tommy, don't listen to him!" she yelled, "He's wrong Tommy, you know why I sent that letter!"

Tommy starred at her; his eyes appeared empty and confused. Had she lost him?

"Tommy," she continued, "Tommy, the truth is that I wasn't good enough for you! You were always so good to me and I didn't deserve you!" Kimberly began to sob so hard that she couldn't finish her thought. Her shoulders jerked uncontrollably and her pulses were so fast she couldn't even catch her breath.

Tommy closed his eyes, he needed to figure things out and fast. But he couldn't do it while looking into Kimberly's beautiful hazel eyes. They were sad and pleading with him. He needed to know for sure if Kimberly loved him, he couldn't lose her without never really knowing.

Lord Zedd finally reached Kimberly and stared her directly in the eyes, just as he had done to Tommy.

"Give it up Kimberly, he doesn't want you anymore."

"No, no, no, please," she pleaded, "Stop it! He does love me, he said so!"

"Oh really?" questioned Lord Zedd sarcastically, "Then perhaps he'd like to say it again! Tommy," he called, "Why don't you tell Kimberly exactly how you feel about her. Tell her exactly how she makes you feel when you look into her eyes and you see the girl that didn't want you. Tell her how she makes you feel whenever you're at the park or even at work and you see a happy little couple that reminds you of how things used to be. And tell her how she makes you feel whenever you see a cute girl that you would just love to wine and dine but can't get up the courage to ask out because of Kimberly's rejection! Tell her Tommy! Tell her!"

Tears now fell from Tommy's eyes. How could it be that it was Lord Zedd who would reveal the truth to him? How could it be that all this time the answer had been right in front of his face? He didn't need Kimberly to tell him how she felt about him, because he had known all along.

"Okay, Zedd," answered Tommy angrily as he raised his head and stared at the two, "I'll tell Kimberly how I feel. I'll tell her how she makes me feel every time I look into her eyes and I see the girl that sent me that painful letter that changed my life forever. I'll tell her how she makes me feel whenever I see another couple, a daily reminder of how things used to be. And I'll tell her how she makes me feel every time I see another woman who I think could possibly be the one, but I can't bring myself to ask out."

Kimberly held her breath; her eyes were as wide as a deer's in front of headlights, waiting to hear Tommy's response. And finally he continued,

"She makes me feel like I could be a better man. She makes me feel like I could do anything, go anywhere, and achieve anything if I just had her love. Whenever I look into her eyes and I'm reminded of that letter, it makes me realize just how much I need her. Every time I see another happy couple it makes me smile because I remember the smile on her face and the laughter in her voice that made me fall in love with her. And every time I see another woman that sparks my interest I can't bring myself to ask her out because I know that Kimberly is the only one who is meant for me!" Tommy paused and stared directly at Kimberly, who still hadn't let herself breathe. "So there you have it Zedd, I love Kimberly Hart. I always have and you better believe that I always will!"

Kimberly erupted into tears once again; laughter escaping her mouth as joy filled her heart. "I love you too, Tommy Oliver!" she shouted to him. For a brief moment the two forgot that Lord Zedd was even there.

But Tommy's response only infuriated Lord Zedd even more. He couldn't stand the fact that they were in love and that while all of this time he had thought they were so miserable they had actually had everything they ever wanted. It would end here, if he couldn't be happy then neither could they. Raising his staff high Lord Zedd pointed it directly at Kimberly and said,

"Love is such a wonderful thing, too bad it can't last forever."