i'm just a lonely ghost burning out songs of love and of violence and sorrow
i beg for just one more tomorrow
where you hold me down and fold me in deep in the heart of our sins
FATA (not exact)
"Kimberly, come take a look at these rangers." Astronema beckoned to the brunette who was busy muttering some spells she had been working on. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Astronema was getting too obsessed with this "I must destroy the Power Rangers" thing. Personally, Kimberly thought it was only because she had failed to kill them all the first time like she thought she would. No matter how many times Kimberly told her that the Power Rangers never lose, Astronema would go out for days working on new strategies.
"What is so special about them?" Kimberly ridiculed as she watched them fighting Quantrons through a viewing screen.
Astronema pointed to one of the rangers on the team. "What do you think of the Silver Ranger?"
"Uh…he's a great fighter? Yay?" Kimberly answered quizzically. Astronema gave her an exasperated look. "What? Oh…I get it. You like him, don't you?"
A smile grew on Kimberly's face as a flush automatically appeared in Astronema's cheeks. "I can't believe it." She raised her hands up and made large gestures as she spoke, "Astronema: Princess of Evil, Miss Independent, Miss…No-Man's Land, likes a guy!"
"Shut up! Someone might hear you!" Astronema snipped.
Kimberly leaned over and rested her elbows on the control center panel. The rangers had won and were leaving the site. "So what are you going to do about it? Ask him on a date?"
"I haven't thought much about it…" Her voice wavered when Kimberly threw her a look. "Okay. I've thought about it a lot, but I don't know if he likes me back! I mean, yesterday when I sent that wolf monster on them, the wolf monster attacked me, and he saved me…but that doesn't mean anything right?"
"What happened afterwards?" Kimberly prodded wanting the details thinking, Hey, I have no love life…I've gotta live through other's!
"Uh, well, I woke up in a strange wooded area and immediately grabbed my staff for protection. Then I saw…him crouching by the fire roasting something. When I aimed my staff at him, he just smiled and stuck a marshmallow on it and made me try one. It was really good. But just because Zhane helped me doesn't mean anything right?" Astronema's eyes darted back and forth between the screen and Kimberly's stare.
"No of course not, Astro. The guy is your enemy, sworn to protect the world from you and possibly kill you in doing that, saves you from that very occurrence because a plan of your own backfires. That means absolutely nothing at all." Kimberly replied sarcastically crossing her arms. "Of course it means something!"
"Really?" Astronema asked in a small voice. "You really think so?"
"I know so." Kimberly said assuredly. "If you're still not sure, then just go down there dressed in your normal garb, including normal hair because that's a dead giveaway, I'm sorry. Oh look, they're going to a movie. Here's your chance!"
Astronema beamed and bobbed her head at Kimberly who waggled her eyebrows in response. "All right. I'll see you later."
Kimberly gave her a small wave and watched her teleport to Earth. She sighed. Ah, young love. Hmm, I think I'll explore the City of Love today, Kimberly thought to herself. She had found herself longing to be a part of the city that her mother called home for so long but was always interrupted before she could act on anything, either by Divatox's rants and rages, or by Astronema's requests…not that she minded spending time with the girl. She just never found any time for herself like she had before.
Her head slung low as the familiar blue haze encased her frame and the world around her disappeared. She did not look up until her feet were settled on the hard concrete of the sidewalks.
Before her, she saw the very reason why her mother moved so far away from her factual homeland in California when really her heart had always been in France, in Paris. Kimberly had always believed that one of the fundamental causes of her parents' divorce was because her mother was always dreaming of going somewhere far away, something her father was not willing to commit to.
Not that she loved her father any less…she just wished he would have compromised more instead of expecting her mother to give up her own dreams and live his.
But everything was as it should be now according to everyone else. Her mother was married to Pierre, an artist, and was "hitting up all the latest parties" as she had once told her daughter over the phone. And her father was happily married to a surprisingly lovely and devoted housewife and had two children with her; Kimberly had never gotten used to not being her father's baby and didn't think the time would ever come when she would entirely accept Sharon, Michael, and Anne. However, her brother Keith had welcomed them with open arms…something that maddened Kimberly the core. How could he forget about their mother so quickly?
Besides, Sharon was too friendly. She had tried so hard to become Kimberly's friend, but Kimberly would have nothing of it. The overly effervescent woman, moreso than Kimberly ever had been, had made a large mistake while doing this. She had resulted to buying Kimberly presents to warm her up to the idea of them getting married. Her father tried to explain it and twist the situation into Sharon loving Kimberly so much that she wanted to win her over. Kimberly glared at the stoplight in front of her. Win her over? Like she was some prize?
Kimberly shook her head. She was still standing in the same spot she had appeared in. Oh, dang it! Her hand flew up to her mouth. I appeared right in public! She looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary; no one was staring at her awkwardly. She laughed a bit. Paris was just too busy to notice anything like a girl randomly popping out of thin air. This should be called the city that never sleeps if you ask me.
She took her first step and found herself wandering down a strip of stores. Around her, people spoke the beautiful language she had found most enjoyable to learn in the books from Divatox's library.
For a motive unbeknownst to her, she found herself in a neighborhood. It took her a moment to realize where her subconscious was taking her: to her mother. Somehow, she remembered the way to her mother's home, even though she'd only been there once before.
When she finally arrived, Kimberly could not find herself able to walk up to the door and knock and something in the backyard caught her attention. It was a lovely rosebush that seemed to be a start of a lush garden. As she made her way around the side of the house, Kimberly's interest was again averted, this time by something in the window. She peered through the glass and saw her mother lying under white sheets in a white room. Kimberly frowned; it was a beautiful day. Her mother would not waste a day like this unless something was wrong.
Kimberly watched her mother cough and continue to cough; it seemed that she was choking for air, but never able to attain any. Finally, a doctor walked in with a grave look upon his face and sat on a chair beside the bed. Pierre followed soon after with a matching expression. He took her mother's hand in his and spoke to her. Moments later, her mother relaxed and seemed to drift into a sleep. Pierre and the physician exited the room and shut the door.
Confusion filled her brain as Kimberly took this all in. What was wrong with her mother? Without thinking, she teleported inside of the room and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her mother's jagged breaths. Tears filled her eyes at the painful sight.
Then, something Kimberly wasn't prepared for happened, her mother opened her eyes and stared into her daughters deep brown ones. "Kimberly?" Her eyes filled with tears.
"Mom?" Her voice trembled and the tears fell.
"Kimberly!" Kimberly fell into her mother's arms and closed her eyes.
"What's the matter, mom? Why are you so pale?" Her mother shushed her and stroked her hair.
"Kimberly, I…" Her soft voice broke off as a cough came out. "I am sick."
"With the flu or bronchitis or something?" Kimberly pulled back to look into her mother's eyes.
Her mother smiled feebly at her daughter. "You are so beautiful. Look at your hair. It's gone curly, like mine was when I was your age."
"Mom, why was there a doctor here?" Kimberly changed the subject. The way her mother was speaking was not normal. Sure, she had called her only daughter beautiful numerous times, but never did she avoid answering her questions.
"I have tuberculosis, darling." Her mother finally replied. "I'm dying."
Kimberly furrowed her eyebrows. "But can't they fix that?"
She shook her head. "It's too late for me, dear. We found out too late. Oh, my Kimberly, I'm so glad you're here."
"No!" Kimberly cried out and fell back into her mother's embrace. "Mom, you can't die!"
Her mother was too young to die. She was only in her forties. She had a full life before her. So many more adventures to live.
"We tried to get a hold of you earlier. Jason said that he nor the others had made contact with you for a while. Is anything the matter?"
Kimberly shook her head automatically, not wanting to spend her last moments with her mother talking about her own problems. She didn't dare to look up for fear that her mother would see right through her lie and to the depths of her soul. She feared that her mother would be ashamed of her for being so weak. She just wanted to push them back and pretend everything was going to be perfect again. She would be back in with her mother without a care in the world.
Her mother pushed her head back slightly and held her cheeks between her hands. She stared intently into Kimberly's eyes and softly stated, "I was waiting for you."
"What?" Kimberly choked out, her eyes searching her mothers for some hope of life. The only thing she saw was love for her daughter. Some daughter she had been. She had never taken the time to visit her own mother. She was too late now. Her mother was leaving this world and would never return.
"I am ready to go now. I would not leave without seeing my baby girl once more." Tears brimmed her mother's eyes as she spoke. "I love you."
"I love you too…Mom, please, no!" Kimberly sobbed. Her mother only smiled and closed her eyes. Kimberly sat back and watched her mother take her last breaths. Then, nothing. She backed away from her mother's lifeless form and stumbled on the chair the doctor had used before. She heard commotion outside the door and whirled her head in that direction. Pierre and the doctor would be checking on her mother soon, and she did not want anyone to witness her there. She knelt over her mother and kissed her on the forehead. A single tear fell from her eye onto her mother's petite nose.
Kimberly concentrated on her room at the lair without her gaze leaving her mother's peaceful face.
The next day Kimberly felt no motivation to get out of bed. Divatox had entered the room early in the morning yelling about something that had nothing to do with anything important and was astounded as a deeply enraged Kimberly threw her out of the room. When Hygelac entered, all he received was a curt "Go away!"
Kimberly was in no mood to talk to anyone. Of course, this was the perfect time for Astronema to show up in her bedroom. She had teleported from outside the bedroom, but had climbed up the window and hopped inside agilely.
"Kimberly, you have not answered any of my calls!" Astronema griped but halted when she saw her friend still in bed, lying face down in the pillows. "Kimberly, what's wrong?" She shook her form. "Are you sick?"
Kimberly finally turned her head towards Astronema to reveal red puffy eyes and a bright red and runny nose. "Oh, Kimberly! What's the matter?" She sat down and cradled a currently sobbing Kimberly.
"My mother died." She spoke softly after calming herself. "I visited her yesterday to find her on her deathbed."
"Oh, Kim. I'm so sorry." Astronema closed her eyes in sadness. "If it makes you feel any better, Zhane stood me up."
Kimberly exhaled a long breath and dropped her head in the pillows again. "You know what makes me feel better? Killing something. Let's go kill a Quantron or something. Even better, let's rid the world of The Queen of Self Pity herself: Divatox!"
"You think I want you to pity me?" Came a muffled reply from the pillows.
"No, definitely not. I just think you need to get your mind off of this."
"How can I? I was a horrible daughter. I never visited her, nor did I even try! Hell, I could have at least tried to be involved with her life other than phone calls!" Kimberly wailed.
"I know, I know. I'm sure she understood. You said you were busy with training…she seemed like a good mother from what you have said before. She would have wanted you to continue with your dreams." Astronema inwardly surprised herself for saying that. She never had a mother of her own nor was it in her nature to be so kind to someone; then again, Kimberly was not just someone. She had grown on the Princess of Evil, breaking barriers that no other had been able to do. Still, Astronema felt proud that she could at least try to console who she considered her best friend in a time of tragedy. "Kimber, please, just come out with me. We'll practice shooting again!"
Kimberly lifted her head from the pillows somewhat and smiled faintly. "Tomorrow. But can you just leave me alone for today? I need to think."
Astronema's face dropped a bit, but she ignored the hurt feelings and nodded. "All right, but I'm taking your word for it. Tomorrow, bright and early, and you're going to listen to all the details of my day today. Ooh, Zhane is such a jerk." She grumbled the last sentence more to herself than to her companion and disappeared without a second thought.
Kimberly laid her head back on the pillow but turned her head to the side so she could stare at the scenery outside her window. A few tears escaped her eyes; some fell onto her pillow. One, however, found itself stuck in between the crater of her cheek and her nostril, but she made no effort to wipe it away.
Weeks passed by, and the pain of losing her mother dulled until she could feel it no more. Astronema consumed most of her time with the annihilation of the Power Rangers, and Divatox annoyed Kimberly more and more everyday with the subject of Astronema.
"I know you've been seeing her." Divatox accused menacingly.
"So?" Kimberly growled while pulling a pair of ripped jeans on. "What if that's a part of my plan?"
Divatox looked at her skeptically. "What plan?"
"You know, keep your friends close…but your enemies closer?" Kimberly raised an eyebrow and grabbed a black halter.
"Oh. Well, keep it up then, and I want to see results! Soon!" Divatox's shoulders loosened and she stalked out of the room.
Kimberly groaned in frustration falling backwards onto her bed. She bounced a bit before settling completely into the downy comforter. "I wonder what Astronema is up to." She whispered to herself and climbed out her window into the tree. Immediately she found herself on the Dark Fortress. However, instead of the normally cool headed girl, Astronema was yelling and knocking things over. Apparently, something had not gone well today probably involving the Power Rangers.
"Astronema?" Kimberly asked and the girl whirled around with fire burning in her eyes. "Are you all right?"
"Does it look like I'm all right?" Astronema snapped then covered her eyes with her hands. "I'm sorry. I just found out and remembered something terrible."
"Care to talk about it?" Kimberly asked lightly.
"No. Not right now." Astronema shook her head. "I just need to get out of here."
"Let's go to Earth then…" Kimberly suggested. She wanted desperately to know what was going on in the head of Astronema, but she didn't want to press.
"All right." Astronema nodded and took the shorter girl's hand. "First let me change. This might be a little absurd to be walking around in." As soon as she said the words, her clothing changed to jeans and a tank top. Her hair shortened and colored blonde as opposed to the bright blue it had been before. The two exchanged smiles and both disappeared in a mix of purple and blue.
Seconds later, they were in Angel Grove, forcing Kimberly to shudder. She was in no disguise now, so hopefully she would not have a run in with Jason again.
The girls instigated their walk silently. Kimberly occasionally glanced at her blonde friend but refused to speak first. The Princess of Darkness would speak when ready. Kimberly's thought was interrupted by a few laughs in front of her. She looked up from her feet and saw a group of teenagers, a few feet from where the couple was currently standing, each dressed in a suspicious choice of color.
She noticed that Astronema had halted walking, her gaze targeted on one in particular. Kimberly looked carefully at the group again and frowned. So these were the new Power Rangers. She had never seen them, excluding the red ranger, in person. Her eyes fell on the one dressed in red. She laughed a bit at the streaks in his long hair; hair that reminded her of Tommy. A frown formed on her features at the memory of her ex boyfriend.
Astronema grabbed her wrist as the red ranger recognized her and stopped laughing. He stared at her. "Karone?" He spoke.
Kimberly narrowed her eyes and glimpsed at her friend who stiffened at the name. She returned her attention to the rangers before her and glared. His gaze was averted to Kimberly. "Kimberly?" She blinked in response. Obviously he was the reason Astronema was in a horrible mood, and she was not very happy with the silver ranger for standing her up either. These rangers were jerks compared their predecessors.
"Andros?" The one in pink questioned, obviously confused. Kimberly smirked as she examined her. She didn't look like much competition. "Are you sure this is the best place?"
"Karone, you don't need to worry about anything." Andros told her. Kimberly inwardly snorted after pondering his name. What were his parents thinking? She looked at Astronema who had yet to speak a word. What is going on?
"Astronema?" Kimberly nudged her out of her daze.
"I know. We'll talk about it later, Andros." The blonde finally said. Hope filled the red ranger's eyes as she spoke these words. Astronema turned away and pulled Kimberly along with her. They didn't walk very far before Kimberly was fed up with being excluded from what was going on.
"What was that?" Kimberly demanded "And who's Karone?"
"I am." Astronema looked her in the eyes. "Do you remember my locket?"
Kimberly nodded, still oblivious to what was going on. "Well, inside my locket are two pictures. One of me and one of a boy, who turns out to be my brother…and the current red ranger."
"Oh…kay." Kimberly started slowly. "But that doesn't answer what is going on."
"I can't tell you everything, but I think I might plan on joining him." She held her finger up as Kimberly began to protest. "All my life I've been told I was something I'm not: evil. I just can't take this anymore. What I remembered earlier was that I was kidnapped by Darkonda. That's why I was so upset."
"But, how can you be so sure this is the right thing to do?" Kimberly argued grabbing Astronema's forearm tightly.
"Because, right after I remembered, I ran into Andros again and talked everything out with him. I became upset during the talk and returned to the fortress to relieve myself of some of the anger. That's when you showed up. Kimber, I believe him, and I want to live a normal life!" Astronema emphasized the last sentence passionately.
Kimberly took a step back breaking all contact with the two. "I…"
"Kimberly, you can come too!" Astronema smiled.
"Astronema…that life isn't for me anymore. It's in the past." Kimberly opposed weakly. "I can't go with you."
Astronema's gaze dropped with her posture. "Oh."
"I won't tell anyone though. I promise." Kimberly took another step back. "I have to go." She looked to her left and saw Andros and the other rangers still staring at the two of them intently. Her eyes narrowed, and she faded into the blue miasma, this time not caring if anyone saw her.
End chapter 8! Woo. I wrote this last night with the inspiration of Finding Neverland. Well, that and Johnny Depp. I absolutely love his work...and his looks. But that's besides the point. This wasn't the slight foreshadowing I mentioned last chapter, but I had been planning it for a while. It was perfect that Finding Neverland gave me the motivation to actually write it though.
Daisyz- I didn't get your review until after I had posted, I'm sorry for not mentioning you! Yeah, I stopped watching shortly after Kim left also. It just wasn't the same. I'm sad to say that with time, that hope might dwindle. But I'm not hinting or anything. hah
C2- Thanks! Wow, still in school?I guess today was your last day though...so that's good. What subject do you teach? My sister is a math teacher in California. This chapter might not make you as happy as the last one, but hopefully you'll still like it. :)
Ghostwriter-Stupid, stupid letter it was! My goodness. Although, it does seem to be a haven for fanfic writers, so maybe that was what the creator of that idea had in mind. "Hmm, I wonder what will make fans crazed and give them ideas to write stories of?" or something along those lines.
Funky In Fishnet- I never really watched the episodes where he and Kat dated. It pained me too much to see him with anyone else besides Kimberly. However, I do not hate the idea of them together because Kat seemed like a genuinely cool person. (I watched the Show Biz episodes again on Jetix this passed weekend. I wouldn't have been able to do what she had done) Yeah, I like writing Astronema because she's also really cool, and because Kimberly needs someone else in her life. Unfortunately, not all good things last.
the online dreamer- a new reader! Yay! welcome. yes, there is definitely more. I have the majority of the end chapters written, so these middle chapters are working their way up to them. I won't stop til I'm finished. :)
Thanks for the reviews!