Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me, nor does Dekarangers or Sailor Moon. The plot, as well as some of the script for this story is not my own. Shout-outs to TV-Nihon as well. I again, I apologize if the language or characterization is off in some places. I am just following the episode.

Chapter 8: Goodbye

"Z," said Bridge softly as he saw her stand in between him and Two-Timer to block the green ranger's shot at the fiendish feline. Bridge actually found himself wondering for a second if Z might come to the defense of the one she once was in love despite all he had done. Yet with Z's back to him, Bridge couldn't read the emotions in her face, but the tone of her voice quickly gave him his answer.

"S.P.D. Emergency," said Z in most somber tone Bridge had ever heard her use. "S.W.A.T. Mode on."

Bridge in a flash of light saw Z morph right to S.W.A.T. mode, but watched her hesitate to approach Two-Timer. The green ranger couldn't even fathom how hard it must be for Z to be around the being that betrayed her. Two-Timer on the other hand seemed to have no such reserves about approaching his ex-girlfriend. The cat slowly prowled toward Z; his hands clasped in manner of desperate pleading.

"Lizzie, wait!" begged Two-Timer evilly, eying her Delta Enforcer gun. "Please wait! I said wait!" growled the feline as he suddenly pulled a sword out from behind him and proceeded to charge at Z.

Bridge stood in shock as the one who seduced Z now literally was attempting to stick a knife through her heart. The green ranger let out a small gasp when he saw Z start to slowly move toward Two-Timer, realizing that she finally seemed to have lost all sympathy for the shroud of the man she'd fallen in love with. Bridge wanted to help Z fight, but realized that the finale of this lover's quarrel was one where he had no place.

Ron swung his sword at Z's neck, but the yellow ranger easily blocked its motion with her Delta Enforcer. Wanting to make Two-Timer hurt as much as she was, Z rammed her revolver hard into the feline's stomach. Yet it was Z out a small cry; one clearly stemmed from emotional rather than physical pain. Again Z hit Two-Timer in the stomach this time with a powerful front-side kick before next dealing him a blow to the head with a devastating roundhouse kick.

Yowling loudly, Two-Timer tumbled to the ground and tried unsuccessfully to regain his balance. Yet as the sun set over New Tech City, so did the last bit of compassion Z held for her ex-fiancée. With the light leaving the sky, Z felt chillingly numb as she leveled her Delta Enforcer at the one who only this morning she had been prepared to marry. Z's body quaked with emotion as fire came pouring forth from her Delta Enforcer.

"Goodbye," whispered Z in a voice choked with tears.

Z watched as her former fiancée screamed in pain; his body careening side to from the force of the gunfire. It was a strange – yet seemingly cathartic – sight for Z to watch her love go up in flames. Normally she turned away when confining criminals as per the ranger tradition of finishing off an enemy, but this time Z kept her view glued on Two-Timer. At last her eyes filled with tears when she saw his body finally fold into the containment card.

It's not like Z was still in love with the one who had used to be Ron. Any romantic sentiments for him had vanished the moment she had overheard his confession to Bridge about his heart crystal stealing, criminal activity. Rather the ache Z felt in her heart was the one of loneliness and fear of never finding someone that would truly love her and that she would love in return.

Darkness fell over the plaza, echoing the black emptiness that filled Z as she demoprhed. Lifting Ron's engagement ring off her finger, Z immediately felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her emotionally besieged body. She heaved the stone into the ocean, so glad to be rid of her last memory of Ron.

Yet Z didn't want to rid of her memories of what it felt like to be in love. To be completely yourself presence of the person you cared the most for. To feel so safe and comfortable when they were near. To feel the warmth of a lover's touch. To feel the passion coursing through your body at their kiss.

Then Z remembered that everything she had experienced with Ron had been a lie. In fact there had never been anyone out there at all, Z realized, who had ever felt all those things for her. What if she never found love again? And finally the girl who had prided herself on being so strong all her life suddenly could not hold back her tears any longer. Even though she was sure Bridge could hear her sniffling, Z refused to turn around and let him see her so vulnerable.

"Z," murmured Bridge in concern as he demorphed, never taking his eyes off her shaking form even when he heard the other four rangers run up behind him.

"So…I…I guess this means I won't be getting married," said Z nonchalantly, determined to play off how much she was hurting. "Too bad."

Bridge grinned at her feeble attempts to hide behind her usually tough-as-nails façade. "It's OK," soothed Bridge warmly. "You don't have to force it."

Z let a small gasp of surprise at Bridge's response, not realizing that he knew her well enough to realize that his words were exactly what she had really needed to hear at that moment. She hadn't anticipated it would be kooky and crazy pal Bridge that could also be the one she could turn to when her world was falling apart. Z turned around hesitantly and looked at Bridge, silently questioning him whether it was really ok for her to let her guard down around him. Bridge, still smiling softly, nodded at Z tenderly. Bursting into tears, Z flew into Bridge's arms and buried her tear-stained face in his shoulder.

Although his arms automatically came around Z's waist, Bridge for a few seconds stood in shock unable to move. He couldn't believe it was after all this time – and after these circumstances – that he finally held the woman he loved in his arms. Tightening his embrace around Z, Bridge slowly rocked the yellow ranger comfortingly back and forth as she continued to cry hard.

As he sweetly stroked the back of her brown hair, a small smile spread across Bridge's face. He knew at this moment Z's presence in his arms resulted not out of any romantic affection for him, only out of the aching from Ron that had blackened her heart. Yet under the night sky, getting the chance to show Z how much he wanted to and always would be there for her made Bridge beam despite in the midst of all this darkness.

A/N: Last chapter coming up, so stay tuned!