Summary: The Battle is over for the Rangers, but what about Conner?

Author's Summary: This chapter is in sequence with Chapter 21, however, I chose not to finish the Trey/Ranger vs. Vertox/Merios fight and I will explain why. I decided that I'm gonna play this 2, possibly 3 part mini-series in the rangers prospective. Enjoy my friends. I hope you aren't to confused.

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To be a Power Ranger is to learn how to deal with pain, responsibility and selflessness. To be a Power Ranger is to risk one's life every time they step out onto the battlefield. Every second against an enemy could prove to be the last of one's life, dreams and hope. To be a Power Ranger is to be the dreams and the hopes of many. Their job is to uphold peace, to see that Earth will see another day; to see the humanity strives.

To be a Power Ranger is to be a savior.

Conner McKnight stirred but quickly went stiff from the mind numbing pain. He stirred again, this time a little more slowly, and adjusted the bed beneath him. But all strength left him and he collapsed to the bed again. A wave of pain washed over him and moaned in protest.

A door opened in the distance and he heard the soft patter of footsteps approaching. He opened his eyes to slits, peering at the approaching intruder. Kimberly smiled lightly at him and knelt down at his bedside. Her hand slipped into his and even that time bit of movement sent his body into another spasm of pain.

"Sorry Conner…" Kim whispered, but did not draw her hand away. "How are you feeling?"

Like a corpse. "Perfectly fine." He answered and coughed. Pain shot through his chest, forcing him to breathe harder.

"You know, Billy thinks you'll make a quicker recovery." Kim said, laughing slightly. But he heard the pain in her voice and her tears hit the side of his bed. Though he could not see them (it pained too much to keep his eyes open), he could sense them.

"Really?" He said quietly, inhaling powerfully. "That's good…maybe I'll recover…in time for my date…" Another deep breath. "…with Kira."

The two shared a laughed and he felt her squeeze his hand tighter. The pain shot up his arm, but it didn't matter anymore. He'd only just met her, knew nothing about her, but was already dearly missing her.

"H-How long do I have…" He choked out, feeling his throat tighten. He felt her grip loosen and the tears continued to strike the bed.

"N-Not long…" She whispered, resting her forehead against his forearm. "I'm so sorry, Conner…"

He choked back his own tears as his lip quivered; his entire body quivered. Kim looked up at him, seeing his head shake.

"I-It's ok, Kim…" He whispered, swallowing hard. "A R-Ranger has to be p-prepared for death, yes?"

Kim smiled as she gave his hand another squeeze. He sensed her stand and her eyes linger on him for a moment more.

"Kim…" He opened eyes for just that moment. "Is Kira…?"

She nodded. "Tommy is up stairs with her now, explaining the situation." Kim looked up at the ceiling, the tears spilling again. "Did you want me to get her?"

He shook his head. "Send her in w-when she comes down…is Trent here?"

Kim smiled and nodded. "I'll get him." She gave his hand one last gentle squeeze and leaned down, kissing his forehead. "Goodbye, Conner."

He just stared at the ceiling but closed his eyes from the pain. "Goodbye, Kim…take care of Dr. O." They forced a final chuckle and then barred his teeth again, fighting against the threatening tears.

Silenced settled upon the room after the door shut and it was silence he didn't like. Silence brought on thinking; thinking brought on pain, both physically and mentally. The silence crept up on him, consuming him and drowning him in fears. He felt the tears ready to spill, his body numb with pain. At this point, he just wished death would take him.

Then he heard the door open and everything vanished. He forced his eyes open and saw Trent cautiously approaching him. The look on his face was unreadable – shrouded in mystery, as usual.

"So did the White Ranger save the day?" Conner asked quietly, staring at his friend. His lip quivered as he fought back the urge to laugh.

"Apparently not." He said, his eyes scanning his broken form. "Some ranger I turned out to be…couldn't even save my best friend."

Conner used all the strength he had to smack Trents hip. The White Ranger flinched, but just gazed down at Conner. In return he received the most spine tingling, bone chilling glare he'd ever seen in his life.

"O-Oh…don't give me that crap…" Conner huffed and winced, clutching the sheets. "Look, White Ranger, as your leader I have one last mission for you…"

"What's that, sir!" Trent asked, mocking a salute and military stance.

Asshole…you always were the sarcastic one. "Keep Kira happy when I am gone." He said. The looked on Trents face faltered and his knees shook. "She…she is going to need someone around her at all times now, Trent…" He whispered and looked to the door. His vision blurred and was becoming harder to breathe. The world around him began to swim in a sea of lights, but he squeezed his eyes shut, wiping git all way. "Promise me, T-Trent…promise me, you'll take care of her." He raised a shaky hand, one opening to a slit.

Trent bit back his tears and clasped his friends hand a final time. "You have my word, Conner…"

Before anything else could be said, the door swung open as Kira came rushing into the room. At first, she seemed genuinely horrified; shaking to the bone. She took a shaky step towards Conner, tears spilling down her cheek.

Trent glanced back at Conner and nodded at him. He turned for the door but rested a hand lightly on her shoulder.

"Be gentle, Kira." He looked back at Conner, seeing his chest rise fall faster then before. "He doesn't have much longer…"

Trent sighed and shut the door behind him, letting the two have privacy. Kira fell to her knees beside the bed and cried. She didn't know what else to do, at this point. Her hear slammed rapidly against her chest and the tears soaked the sheets as her hand gripped Conner's blanket. The Red Ranger could only watch on helplessly. This hurt him more then anything in the world.

People die and that's the fact of life. Conner knew that, but to have lay her, broken and destroyed, and have your true love watch you die hurt more then anything. He raised a shaky hand, resting it on her head.

"B-Big Girls don't cry…" He whispered, chuckling lightly, but coughed from the strain.

He groaned under the sudden impact as she threw herself against him; the tears flowing faster.

"Conner…you can't die!" She cried, shaking her head. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to stifle the tears. But it didn't work; they just seemed to flow faster. She gasped, feeling his cool hand rest against her cheek; his thumb brushing away several tears.

"Everyone…has to go…sometime." He whispered, smiling as she nuzzled his palm.

It felt so good to feel her touch. Her fingers ran down his bruised forearm as her other clutched his hand tightly. He felt his palm become wet from the tears and a simple kiss on his hand seemed marvelous. His own tears broke now, trickling down his cheeks as he barred his teeth. He wished he could feel the pleasure of that kiss for eternity; to see her laugh, to see her smile.

He pulled his hand away and pressed both against the mattress. With a painful cry, he slowly sat up; his back popping in several places. Kira tried to push him back, but he shook his head and fell sideways…

…and he felt her strong arms catch and draw him close. His head rested against her chest with a soft smile and nuzzled as close to her as he could. For a moment, both of them were lost in time, their eyes locking together for a long moment.

What he saw pleased, yet hurt him at the same time. He saw their wedding flash through her crystal blue eyes but then the vision switched a headstone; his headstone. He saw her standing over his grave, trying so hard not to cry. But suddenly, it vanished, replaced with two red-headed children playing tag in the back yard. Standing on the porch was the two love birds; Kira's head resting against his shoulder.

But all of that was washed away when he felt her cold lips press against his. He felt a new found energy race through his veins and he wrapped his arms around her neck, holding the kiss just a little longer.

When one finds their soul mate, it is said they are forever bound by its love and passion. At this moment, the Red Ranger believed it, feeling it. His body was slammed with the pleasure of the cool kiss and nearly cried when they broke apart. Her once crystal blue eyes were scared with sparkling tears. He felt his heart break again and he drew her close, letting the last of his strength leave his body.

"I-I…I love you, Kira…" he whispered, clutching the back her shirt tightly. "S-so…very much…"

She returned the hug with all her strength. The tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped against his neck and then to the floor. Her sobs fell on deaf ears as she felt his grip relax and his arm fall. Her eyes widen for a moment, feeling his last breath brush across her cheek and she bit back to the urge to scream.

When an Angel dies it is believed that you will see a feather descend from the sky. Her eyes fixed on the pearl white feather as it fell lazily towards the ground and watched as it landed against the cold floor.

She could only stare…

This is what's like to be Kira Ford:

Dead.

There is no other emotion inside you except pain and suffering. You heart breaks as you gaze at the broken, battered body of your first true love. Your eyes sting painful as the tears continue to fall, unable to control them. Your mouth is dry from the constant crying and sobbing.

And to be Kira Ford, is to be confused.

You don't know, or understand why this had to happen. All you know is that it did. But even if you knew, would it ease the pain in anyway? You recall upon the phrase "God Works in Mysterious Ways" but it doesn't sooth your pain and suffering. No, instead it amplifies it, cursing all those who took him from you.

To be Kira Ford is to be what we are all born to be at some point…

Dead.

Her eyes sparkled with tears as she gazed down at Conner. An Arrow of Pain raced through her heart, shattering it into a thousand pieces and her mind hurt to think. She drew him closer in a last desperate attempt to fight reality.

Suddenly she threw her head back, screaming the only word that she knew and understood…

"CONNER!"

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There is nothing to say…if there is, I don't know what…makes a simple prayer for Conner as he brushes away his own tears

May the Powers Protect You…Forever.