But there's only so far I can go
When you're living in a hallway that keeps growing
I think to myself, "five more minutes and I'll be there
Inside your door"

Poe

Billy arrived at the scene to see the backfire of Kimberly's energy. Of course, the spell that Rita had just cast was the cause of the boomerang effect.

"And when you are given the chance to sentence someone…" He quoted. But it wasn't supposed to injure her!

He rushed forward when she buckled to her knees. In one swift motion he had somehow kneeled down and caught her small, limp body in his arms. Quickly, he situated her legs and turned her body over so that he was now cradling her body as if she was a little child. Her dark brown eyes, completely glassed over, stared into his. No, not into, but passed. It frightened him. He shook her slightly and softly whispered the words,

"Hey, Kimber, it's me, Billy."

She didn't move; her eyes remained still. He shook her again. Tears threatened to fall from the corners of his eyes, but he refused to give up. Finally after a few moments, the glass seemed to dissolve, and her eyes acted. A soft yelp escaped passed Kimberly's lips. Then, brown met blue.

"Billy?"

"Kim?" Billy didn't even flinch when his voice cracked. Her voice was low and hoarse.

The small woman burst into quiet tears. Billy's heart flipped. It had worked. She was all right. He saw that her breathing was forced and difficult. He quickly brushed the observation out of his mind. She had just been through something more traumatic than any of them all…and survived.

"Shh, it's all right, Kim. Everything's fine." Billy embraced and consoled her by rubbing her back.

He pulled away to look at her again, overjoyed that she was back. The real Kimberly. Their heart. However, through the joy, he did notice that her body was still limp and she did not return his embrace. In fact, even though he had pulled away from her, he was still supporting her full upper body. The familiar worried expression returned to his face.

"What's wrong?" He heard Jason ask. Billy had not noticed that Tommy and Jason had crept up behind him during his act of white knight saving the damsel in distress.

Billy shook his head, unsure of the solution. "I…don't know."

"What's the matter, Kim?" Tommy examined softly. He cupped her face that was resting against Billy's bicep with his large hand. She seemed slightly dazed and only returned their gazes when he said her name. She smiled gently.

"Can you move?" Billy concluded nervously. Maybe the energy bolts had paralyzed her. He don't know what they would do if that was the case.

She opened her mouth to speak but, after a moment's contemplation, shut it again. The only thing she managed out was, "I'm sorry."

Her eyes glazed over again, and her attention turned to the sky above them. Billy's heart dropped to his stomach, and he knew he was going to be sick. She was dying. Giving in. They had done this to save her and killed her instead.

He held her until she heaved a ragged breath that was to be her last. The moon shone brightly above them.

Billy sighed as he entered the glum scene. All of the original rangers and the current rangers were standing in the delicately flowered room with purple flowered wallpaper. This seemed so familiar.

That's right. Billy thought to himself. Because we've done this before.

Except, this time, to save themselves the trouble of having to explain their earlier mistake about Kimberly's death, they had all agreed to keep this funeral strictly private. Instead of dragging the "event" out for two days with a visitation and then a funeral, they decided to combine the two. Why put any of them through more torture?

Five years before, her parents had not had the heart to stick an empty coffin in the ground and had settled with placing an intricate headstone in the ground where her body would be had this been a normal death. Now, there was a body of a beautiful petite brown haired girl placed in an oak coffin ready to be buried beneath the earth.

Billy didn't know which was easier. No body and proclaimed dead or body and pronounced dead.

Kat looked at him through the tears in her big blue eyes and reached for his hand. He took the comforting gesture and looked at the floor. Gently, he squeezed her fingers and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I can't believe it." Zack finally voiced. He had arrived shortly after the whole incident ended. "We were so close."

Aisha sniffled but spoke positively, "At least…at least she was as we all knew her when she went. Not an evil bone in her body."

Billy winced despite her optimistic view. He knew that it was how he should be thinking, but it was so hard to cope with the fact that he had failed her once again. What had he done so wrong to deserve this kind of torment? Yes, he had been blessed throughout his life, but nothing was worth it if he had to suffer this consequence. He'd give everything, his diplomas, inventions, awards…his experience as a Power Ranger, and hell, his life to get Kimberly back.

"I'm sorry."

Those were her last words. She had used her last moments to declare her true feelings. To some people the words "I'm sorry" would not reveal much, but the way Kimberly had said them exposed her soul to the three men whom she had grown into a woman with. Only Kimberly would be able to say a thousand words in only two. She was sorry. She loved them and had no hostility towards them. Only forgiveness and compassion- just like the spell had been meant to restore in her heart.

The spell would not have worked had those emotions not existed in her heart to begin with.

Tommy sat in a tacky plush chair, isolated from everyone else. He had his face buried in his hands. Billy considered approaching him but decided against this notion. Tommy needed solitude to think things over. Only Kimberly had been the one who had been able to truly console him in dire times, though others had tried.

Jason occupied himself by pacing on the other end of the small room. He had not isolated himself completely; when other's talked to him, he would respond. However, he seemed deep in thought and like he wished that everyone would not bother him.

Andros seemed equally affected by the current events even though he had not been fighting along with them. He had argued, but Jason had shot him down. Jason had explained that when Kimberly had been observing everyone in the Youth Center, she had fire in her eyes when she recognized Andros. While she had anger in her eyes for the others, her reaction for seeing Andros seemed to imply that there was a deeper hatred for the red space ranger. After hearing this, Andros withdrew from the argument and meditated to himself. Billy wondered what his relationship was with Kimberly.

The one person he could not explain was Rocky. The second red ranger had been so quiet the evening before. It didn't make sense. Usually he was the one to come up with an idea or to lighten the situation. Kat had mentioned that the only time she had ever seen Rocky so down was when he was in the hospital just before the kidnapping of Kimberly and Jason. Billy had no idea Rocky felt so deeply for Kim or if there was something more to the equation. At the moment, Rocky was sitting on the floor in the corner, his arms propped on his knees. He wasn't crying now, but the ex blue ranger could see moist on his cheeks reflecting in the light.

Billy pulled his hand out of Kat's grasp and exited the building. He needed fresh air. No, that's not the whole reason. He needed to go back to the coffin one more time Billy just hoped that her coffin had not been sealed or even buried yet. He knew he had to get there before he could never gaze upon her angelic face again.

And it was angelic. When he had observed her earlier, he scolded himself for being surprised. She had the battle scars, including long scabs above her right eyebrow from her newest injury. Kimberly's natural beauty had never been more visible than the way she looked then- so peaceful and in bliss.

When he arrived at her coffin, he was surprised to see that it was open, despite being dropped into the ground. He had thought that the man had closed it after the group had commenced their way to the funeral home. Nonetheless, half of the coffin was completely exposed to the summer air.

No one was around to bury her yet. How long did these men take?

The former blue ranger's instincts immediately told him something was up, but what, he did not know. His questions were answered when he reached Kimberly's casket. His jaw dropped dramatically.

What surprised him was that while he was expecting to see his best friends body peacefully lying in oak coffin, he did not. She was nowhere to be seen. There was only a piece of blue parchment placed neatly where her head should have been resting. He picked up the paper and slowly unfolded it. A long letter filled the page…addressed to him. He recognized this handwriting. Which meant…

Kimberly was alive.

This place feels so unfamiliar
And yet I know it well
I think I used to belong here

She watched him until he picked up the letter; after he began reading, she walked away snapping a blue leather wristband onto her hand. It had been a gift from Billy before she left for Florida, and she had recently found it in her father's house. He had been the one to keep all her old belongings.

She had wanted to talk to him in person, but knew that she couldn't. He would have to find her if he wanted to talk to her right now. She wasn't ready to confront everyone. Those feelings of betrayal had been hers, but now she felt as if she had betrayed them. She had let her mind become twisted with the anger and hatred of Divatox and power.

They thought she was dead. This time, it was by her hand. She had thought she was going to die the moment her energy had reflected. In fact, Kimberly didn't know why she hadn't passed on. It wasn't as if she was holding on to anything.

All that she knew was that she had been given a second chance to make things right, and she was not going to waste time. The former ranger remembered waking up in the coffin. She had immediately thought that she had passed onto the afterlife, but because of her actions, she was to forever remain on earth and watch all the ones she cared about die. An ultimate punishment.

Then she realized once she had fallen out of the coffin (because she had been so startled) and her knee crashed into the ground that she was alive. When you're dead, you can't feel right?

Her eyes rested on her brown backpack hidden at the bottom of a tree. She sorted through it and found what she was looking for- her spell book. For some reason she had an urge to name the book, but she didn't know what. It had been an ingredient in her downfall, but would also be the cause of her revival. They would not notice that it was gone until she was far from here.

As she prepared to exit the cemetery, a gust of wind stopped her. She was there. She could not leave without paying her respects and asking forgiveness. With a deep breath, she turned around and proceeded back towards the graves. Her time in Angel Grove was not up.

It was not hard to find the grave. Kimberly had been there once before but not under these circumstances. She had not been alone that time. Quietly Kimberly kneeled down and maneuvered until she was sitting Indian style. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye. Then others came. It was as if a dam had been lifted. Yet, as the tears cascaded, Kimberly still made no sound.

She reached out to the gray headstone and fingered the rough edges. Taking a deep breath, her lips parted to speak a hoarse whisper that could barely be heard above the soft wind, "I'm so sorry, Trini."

A strained gurgle bubbled out of her mouth followed by a cry out sorrow. Trini had been her best friend. She would always be her best friend. It was as if they were made for each other- to walk in eternity with each other- to never be separated. But life had taken over, and Trini had gone onto a different life in Sweden. The corners of Kimberly's mouth turned slightly upwards at the thought of Trini's good will. The original yellow ranger was the most genuine of them all, and she had been the first to pass on.

In a way, Kimberly was relieved that Trini had not been alive to see her great downfall. It would have broken Trini's heart to see her pink ranger so immoral. Then again, Kimberly also realized that Trini probably knew anyway. She had always been connected spiritually, so why would death be able to stop her from living on earth? It was because of Trini that Kimberly had decided to not stick around in Angel Grove.

Instead, Kimberly would take her new powers and devote them to helping the world. When her mind twisted, she had wanted to end corruption and destroy the evil in human culture, but now she could clearly see that the way she went about everything was wrong and just adding to the problem. In doing so, she had lowered herself so far below what she had tried to stop.

Sadly, she traced the engraving of Trini's name. Her throat swelled. "I didn't even get to say goodbye."

Zordon. At the time of his death, she had been too far gone to care, or so she had thought. She had been to involved with herself to think about anyone else. How could she have been so selfish? The emotions that she had kept hidden, even from her own mind, finally erupted. He had been a good surrogate father when she had not been with her own.

"I promise to take over for you, Zordon. I now devote my life to your cause, to act on the life that you should still be surviving. In this, I will not only restore my honor, I will achieve the peace that you once dedicated your existence to. You had faith in all creatures, and now I will follow your example."

A twig snapped behind her, bringing her out of her trance. Immediately she came out of her reverie and searched for the cause, but she saw nothing save a small squirrel. She looked down and saw that she had subconsciously grabbed her crane necklace. The only reminder of Hygelac. Then, a sandy blond haired man stepped out of the shadows of a tree.

Billy had tears streaming down his cheeks, a sight that not many saw. Kimberly saw more than sorrow in his eyes. She saw betrayal and guilt. It wasn't betrayal for her recent transgressions but for what she had just been about to do. Run away. She saw guilt in his eyes because he blamed himself.

"Why?" Hearing his voice startled her. She had not truly heard his voice, not through her own rational ears, in half a decade. Words could not express the ecstasy of hearing something familiar.

Her eyes returned to the grave, then to the ground. "I guess I'm good at sending letters that bring bad news then disappearing without further explanation."

"But why were you going to leave?" Billy knelt down and while facing Kimberly, sat Indian style beside her. She turned to him and prepared an answer.

With no visible hesitation she replied, "I can't face you guys. Not right now. I can't. There's too much guilt. Too many wounds that might never heal."

"Everyone in that group has dealt with pain equal to this. They will heal and move on like always, Kimber." Billy protested. "You know that."

The small brunette shook her head defiantly. "No, not this time. There are too many scars."

"But others have been evil before." Billy urged. She couldn't keep herself from looking into his deep blue eyes. "Tommy was evil. Kat was evil. Almost every one of us has been turned evil by a spell—"

"I wasn't under a spell! Everything that I have done in the passed six years has been of my own accord. No one ordered me to kill people or to seek you all out to destroy you! No one commanded me to use my powers for evil!" Kimberly cut in. All of the other incidents were not the same. She had not been brainwashed like Karone, Tommy, or Kat. She had been Kimberly Ann Hart.

"Kimberly, that doesn't matter to anyone. It doesn't matter to me." His large and surprisingly soft hands grasped hers. Her gaze dropped down to see their clasped hands. The emptiness seemed to be ebbing away, but his touch still felt wrong. He was with Kat, and Kimberly would not interfere.

"I'm sorry, Billy." The phrase that, for years, had not been uttered seemed to keep slipping from her mouth. She felt that she would never stop apologizing for what she had done. Suddenly, a thought came to mind. "Lot Leeto."

Billy eyed her strangely, and although she knew that he would not completely understand, she explained. "That is what I will call the book. The book has taken me on a hidden journey that I do not think has yet ended. On every journey, one must make choices. I, as you know, have made both wrong and good choices because of this book. Now I plan, to continue the journey that I have started, but instead, seek for peace. That is why I will call the book of spells Lot Leeto, an African name for Hidden Journey."

Kimberly eyed the man sitting next to her in order to see his reaction. Billy remained silent. However, in his silence, she found peace and acceptance. Silent, yet wise, like a wolf.

Her hand fingered the crane amulet once again. "And Hygelac will be Hygelac Lysander from now on. One who is freed."

This time, Billy chose to speak. "Kimberly, I do believe that your wisdom has surpassed all."

The statement surprised her. She had always considered herself…well, not the brightest of the group. She had proof that she was susceptible to almost anything, and she had not been exactly an A student. The former pink ranger had always admired Billy for his intelligent mind. It was something that she considered beautiful. Cautiously, she asked, "What do you mean?"

"You've seen what both sides lead to. You have suffered deaths of loved ones and betrayal of the ones you trusted most. You've committed murder, but you have rescued so many. You've experienced loyalty, passion, love, hate, goodness, evil… We've all grown, but you are the one who has grown the most. The fact that you have taken these experiences and have used them to your knowledge is what makes you wise. In the beginning, I must admit, you were the most shallow of us all. But now, you have more depth than any of the Power Rangers could ever dream to achieve. You would make Dulcea or Zordon proud." Billy finished his appraisal with a slow, steady breath, waiting for her reaction.

All she could give him was a blank stare. He had taken every one of her negative thoughts and turned them positive. Watchfully, she asked, "Billy, how can you be so benevolent? Why do you care whether I'm here or if I go? I would have gladly killed you in a second."

Billy didn't answer right away. She could almost see his mind working, either trying to figure out his reasoning or the right words. "All I know is that I'm better off having you with me, and I could never forgive myself if I let you walk out of my life again."

"How can you be so sure of that? I don't even want to live with myself."

"I don't know how I can be so certain, but I know that I am." He added shortly after another pause, "Will you stay?"

Kimberly tore her eyes away from his and looked up at the sun that was shining brightly. It was amazing how serene nature could make her. The feeling of warmth that the sun gave her was immeasurable and seemed to give her strength. If there was only one good thing that had come out of this whole experience, it was that she now had a strange connection with the environment around her. The power of the sun helped her with what she had to say next. While looking at the great light, she found her answer. She would only stay until the sun disappeared that night. Then she would travel by moonlight to a distant land to act on her promise.

Kimberly smiled casually. "That is something that is not up to me now."

She stood up and reached down for Billy's hand. He willingly took her arm, and she pulled him up. "I'll stay until tonight."

He seemed to understand, despite the grief that he was hiding from her. She knew that he would not openly protest against her wishes. With a goodbye to Trini, they began walking to the funeral home in silence. Before they reached the pathway, however, Billy rested a hand on her arm. She stopped and faced him. "One thing I was wondering was why it took you so long to reappear? You've been gone since 1998. That's six years that you stayed invisible to us all."

Kimberly had often wondered why she had taken so long herself. At the time, she had figured she was just waiting for the right time. "I was waiting for the right time. I didn't want to start something I wasn't willing to finish. I engrossed myself in training my magic and new powers. During these years, when I wasn't training, I was taking care of business with some men, women, and aliens that I knew were corrupt and taking advantage of others. By the time I had completely mastered the majority of my abilities, it had been five years since I disappeared. It took me a while to locate everyone, and I was stuck on Trini. That's when I went to Tommy."

She paused. That wasn't the whole reason, she realized. "And…I guess I hadn't completely crossed over until I killed the first person. I had never killed on the offense before. Only out of self-defense, and even they were aliens that had no heart. These people had hearts, no matter if they chose to use them or not. They had their own minds and friends and families. I knew that it was too late to turn back then. I turned into a sort of zombie-like creature. I went with the motions, passionate about what I was doing, but completely detached from the justification of it. Little did I realize what I was doing to myself. I had made myself completely hollow. No emotions other than anger and revenge."

During her speech, they had begun their walk again and were now at the door. She took a deep breath, refusing to let the panicky emotions surface. Billy glanced at her before opening the door, waiting for some sign of permission. After taking another deep breath, she nodded silently. Kimberly grasped the crane amulet and thought of the passed six years of her life. "I'm ready for anything now."

Hey guys, (wow, this is so lame. I don't know where to begin.)

Surprise! I'm still alive. I guess you're probably not laughing right now.

I felt that I should explain, just in case someone was to stop by the coffin and didn't automatically assume that my body had been napped again. Trust me, I'm not that wanted in other planets or anything.

You're wondering how this could be possible. I'm not even sure myself why I was spared a horrible punishment. I've done so many things to not only you guys, my best friends and family, but to people throughout the universe. I am so sorry for that. I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself. I feel so stupid for letting Divatox's ways take over me.

I know that others have been through similar experiences, but they have never been the person to decide the fate of another's. Yet, they still feel guilty for their services on the dark side. No matter what he says, I know that Tommy still goes to a quiet spot to meditate like he once did by the lake. And no, it's not just for achieving a calm sense of mind, but to also center his emotions and guilt about being evil once. Kat wishes that she could have been stronger and stood against Rita sooner. Billy wonders what might have happened had we all chosen the evil clone and not him. And, Karone, who is the only one who can truly understand, has felt exactly the way I do since the moment that she woke up in Andros's arms. Andros, I know that you still feel guilty for Zordon's fate. It was his own choice, and it's only human to think "What if…"

I'm leaving because I need time alone to settle my own thoughts. If I were around everyone, I know I'd be overwhelmed with everyone's sympathy and for their constant reaching out to me. Don't deny it. I was once like that myself. But that's not what I need. I don't need sympathy or pity from anyone. I wouldn't be able to separate my own feelings from everyone else's if I was continuously bombarded by their comfort. That's not who I am anymore.

And please, even though I am alive and kicking, don't take…it… down. The original one, I mean. Kimberly Ann Hart is dead. We're two different people now. No matter how hard I try, I could never be her again. Try to understand where I am coming from. I'm not being bitter or emo. Don't feel horrible for following my request.

Someday I will return. Right now, I have my own duties to take care of. I won't go into any more detail; I know that one of you will just try looking for me. Please don't. If I need you, I will contact you if at all possible. I really hope that you will be able to forgive me. Remember that I love you and you are all in my heart.

Thank you for not giving up on me. I know that I can always count on you- all of you.

Much love (always)

Kim

If you cannot bear the silence and the darkness, do not go there; if you dislike black night and yawning chasms, never make them your profession. If you fear the sound of water hurrying through crevices toward unknown and mysterious destinations, do not consider it. Seek out the sunshine. It is a simple prescription. Avoid the darkness.

It is a simple prescription, but you will not follow it. You will turn immediately to the darkness. You will be drawn to it by cords of fear and of longing. You will imagine that you are tired of the sunlight; the waters that unnerve you will tug in the ancient recesses of your mind; the midnight will seem restful- you will end by going down.

Loren Eiseley The Night Country

mmk, ultimate disclaimer and credit...thing

-The spells, save one about cloning I think, were alleither based offsomespells used in the WB TV show Charmed or completely from the show. I got them from a websiteby typing "charmed spells"in a google search bar

-power rangers is definitely not mine.

All righty, like I promised: responses:)

As all of you know, this is the last chapter. I am thinking of continuing this universe. However, I'm not sure if I'll have the time or drive to do so. If I did, it'd be a few months and probably completely different than what happened here and not focusing entirely on Kim either. Tell me what you think!

the online dreamer- oh ye of little words. I love your comments! Thanks for sticking around throughout the development of this story. And I really do love your username. I am definitely a dreamer as well. Never change! Dreamers are cool. Haha :)

IsabellaPaige- Well, you got your wish! She was saved! Isn't it sad how she was mad that she was always a damsel in distress and the moment she becomes something huge, she needs to be saved yet again? Thank you for sticking around as well. I hope that this chapter didn't disappoint you!

Daniaryezel- I was going for visualization, so I'm thrilled that you liked it and it was easy for you to picture. I've always admired and tried to achieve that type of writing. Although, I cannot stand it when authors put in too much detail, so I hope that I didn't do that.

karone-sakura- hah, It took me about a month this time. Is that too long? ;) Sorry that I didn't get it out sooner, but I was a tad sad to end it. And I was trying to figure out which ending I wanted to stick with. You see, I had three endings running through my head, but I wasn't sure which one to go with. I ended up with this one, but I might change it later on if I decide to write the others.

C2- Of course I didn't forget about the story! It haunted me for months before I wrote it, so I wouldn't dream of pocketing it before it was finished. Thanks for encouraging me to end it though.  Don't worry about the TKness. There's just no room for romance in this story. I considered it early on, but then my fingers ran away with the story and Billy ended up with Kat. Then Jason ended up calling her a little sister, and Tommy realized he didn't think that the love he held for her was the same. On the other hand, I would never write a TK just because I am so annoyed with the "Tommy Oliver" persona. "The best ranger ever"? Psh. I can think of better. He just can't move on with his life.

Funky in Fishnet- you know what your username reminds me of now? Have you ever read the British series that starts with Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging? The screen name reminds me of something the main character would say. Anyway, Kim turned back! She's not completely healed, but she'll get there. I hope that this is satisfactory.

Taeniaea- Thanks! I hope this was soon enough!

freestyler2- I love new readers! I just wish we could have "met" before the story ended. Mais, c'est la vie. Thanks for reading; I'm glad that you enjoyed the story. Thanks for all the reviews, especially to the ones who kept coming back. They really kept me going! I'd name them all, but I'd have to go back through the review page and haven't figured out any other way to do it. Hah.

Everyone- Thanks for reading my story! The reviews really kept me going, even when I had no motivation to write at all. I hope that I can talk to you again through possibly another story sometime later. Or perhaps through one of yours!

Much love,
rembrandt