Thanks again for the reviews and the advice. I'll keep it in mind. Hope you guys like this chapter!

Chapter Six

"Weird, isn't it?" asked Tommy as he and Kim walked by the rocks.

"Yeah, and a little awkward, too," answered Kim. They both chuckled slightly as they looked off into the distance.

"Hey, that's where we first fought the putties." Kim pointed to an area surrounding them. Tommy smiled. He remembered when the originals told him about their first experience with the putties.

"So, you're a doctor, now."

Tommy nodded. "Of paleontology."

"I never would've expected."

Tommy laughed. "Which one? The teacher or the PhD?"

"Mostly the PhD. I always thought you'd be a teacher of a dojo or a martial arts class. Like you'd own your own set of dojos and teach there. They would be called something like 'Rising Sun Karate Academy'. But I never would've thought science."

Tommy shrugged. "I really don't know how I got into it. I was in college and I always thought about the first times when Zordon gave you guys your powers. The power of the dinosaurs. So I went into it and just kept going. Did a whole lot of research and found out about the Dino Gems and everything else."

Kim nodded. "So what's up with the kids? What made you choose them?"

"I didn't choose them. The Dino Gems did. Conner, Kira, and Ethan were in detention while I was on duty for that week. I brought them to the museum and they found the gems. It chose them and bonded with their DNA." Tommy stopped at an oversized rock and helped Kim up to sit down. "I taught those three how to become rangers and how to control their powers."

"Oh yeah. The 'Zordon'." Kim laughed while Tommy rolled his eyes again, with a smile on his face. "So, what about the other one? Trent?"

"He's a different story. His father is actually Mesagog." Kim's eyes widened. "Well, not anymore. Trent's father, Anton Mercer, my old colleague, he experimented on himself, which resulted in him turning into Mesagog. Mesagog somehow found a way to separate them two. Trent was in his father's lab and came across the white Dino Gem. Mesagog had turned it evil, so he turned too."

"An evil white ranger."

"Exactly. Anyway, we helped him overcome the evil and he agreed to help us."

"Sounds familiar."

"Yeah."

"It's so weird seeing you as their teacher. I mean, you've always been a leader, but this seems different."

"It is different. I have to keep reminding myself that they should learn themselves and I should offer my guidance and not do everything."

"And you seem different too." Tommy looked at Kim, brows furrowed. "More serious, maybe a bit more subdued. You don't seem to smile as much as you did before."

Tommy thought back to the letter. He knew that's when he changed. "You're different, too. More—"

"I've grown up, I guess," interrupted Kim. She looked off, thinking about the letter as well.

"Kim…we should talk about…"

"The letter? I don't think there's anything left to say. Don't get me wrong, it's good seeing you again, and I really hope we could be friends. I think that's what I missed the most. Us hanging out. Watching movies. Picnics in the park. The friendship."

"No, Kim. The letter…I think it was a fake. I never sent you a letter telling you I wanted to break up. Instead, I got this." He pulled out a folded piece of paper from his wallet and handed it to Kim. She read through it quickly, her expression becoming more incredulous with each word.

"Tommy, I never…" said Kim as she finished.

"I know. I talked to Jason when you were missing. He told me."

Kim took a letter from her wallet and handed it to Tommy. When he finished, Kim said, "I thought I had lost you to her. I thought you wanted some time apart so I left you alone after your mom told me you guys went skiing. Then Jason convinced me to go back to Angel Grove during the tournament, when they were considering closing the shelter. I thought maybe you and I could start something up again. You know, talk everything out. But you were with Kat." Kim looked down. Tommy pulled her into his arms.

Tommy sighed. "Kim, I'm so sorry. We should've talked then. When the letters first came out. Maybe we would've realized it was a fake then, and we wouldn't have gone so long without each other. I've missed you so much." Tears rolled down Kimberly's face. Tommy wiped it away as he kissed her temple. "I still love you. I never stopped." More tears rolled down Kim's face. "Hey, no more crying." Tommy wiped Kim's tears again. "If it makes you feel any better, she and I broke up a couple months after Murianthias. I think she knew I was still in love with you."

"I'm sorry, too," cried Kim as she buried her face into his shoulder. "I shouldn't have believed it."

"You have nothing to be sorry about, Beautiful." He felt more tears seeping through his shirt.

"I love you too. And I never stopped either." She pulled her head back as he leaned down to kiss her. "I missed you so much," she said as she settled into Tommy's arms.

Tommy and Kim were outside for a couple of hours, enjoying each other's company and talking about where they've been for the past few years. When the sun shined a little much, they decided to go back inside.

Jason looked at the two with a raised eyebrow. Kim smiled. 'Everything's okay,' she thought. 'Not exactly together, not exactly apart.' She hoped Jason got the message when he nodded.

"Is everything okay?" Tommy asked. "Have we found anything new?"

"We've found traces on one of the outer planets," answered Billy. "On or near Phaedos. But we're just having trouble extracting enough power. It seems to be an extremely slow process."

"Are we in Angel Grove, Zordon?" asked Kimberly suddenly.

"Yes," he answered. "I apologize for not mentioning that earlier. You may visit there if you like."

"So, she was the Crane?" asked Ethan to Billy as Kim walked by them.

"Affirmative," he answered. "And Tommy, Dr. O to you, was the Falcon. And I was the Wolf."

"Wait, Dr. O was the Falcon?"

"Yes, I believe I mentioned that at Reefside."

"I was probably not listening. That's interesting."

"How so?"

"I had to do a project for Dr. O once. I chose a falcon and – hey, was there anything going on between Dr. O and Kimberly?"

"A long time ago, yes. Why do you ask?"

"Because Dr. O's reaction to my project was pretty weird. At first, he seemed a bit happy to see me pick the falcon, but during the presentation, he got more quiet."

"What was the project about?"

"Dr. O had us choose an animal. Look absolutely everything up on it and then liken it to someone I knew or myself. I compared it with Dr. O."

"Interesting choice. What did you say?"

"Well, I gave the history of the falcon and all that, but then I talked about falcons in mythology. He got this weird look on his face when I mentioned that the Crane and the Falcon were soul mates. And that when they unite, a great power is unleashed. Then he got even weirder when I said that Dr. O reminded me of the falcon."

"Tommy and Kimberly did have a bad break-up. I'm sure he was reminded of Kim during the presentation."

Ethan nodded. "But they're okay now, right?"

"It looks that way." Billy and Ethan glanced at Kim and Tommy.

"Maybe they worked things out."

"Hmm. Maybe."

"Rangers, gather around please," called Zordon.

"You found the source?" asked Jason.

"I'm afraid not. I fear this task is more daunting than we thought. This process may take a long time to be placed in effect. You may visit Angel Grove if you wish. I know that some of you have relatives here and they will no doubt be happy to see you. Alpha, the communicators."

Alpha took out the communicators and handed them to each of the rangers.

"Our old communicators!" exclaimed Kimberly.

"Oh no," said Alpha. "These are much more advanced than the old communicators, though they do retain the same characteristics."

Everyone clasped it too their wrists.

"So...in the event that we may have to spend the night," began Trent, "where are we staying?"

"Well, if you don't want to spend the night, here in the Command Center, you could stay over one of our houses," said Tommy. "My parents, Jason's and Zack's still live here, so I could stay at home and we could spread out from there. You guys should call your parents, though."

"We should, too," said Zack. "I know we're probably welcome, but at least give them a heads up or something, you know?"

Tommy nodded. "You'll call us, Zordon?"

"Certainly, Rangers."

Jason looked around. "Where to go? I'm hungry."

"It's still early. How about the Youth Center?" asked Billy.

"I haven't been there for so long!" exclaimed Kim.

"Then let's go," said Zack. He looked at Zordon with an eyebrow raised.

"Personal gain, Zack." Zordon answered Zack's unasked question. "But since you are here on Ranger business, for this one time only, okay then. Alpha, prepare for teleportation."

"Thanks." Zack grinned while the teens groaned.

If you didn't know already, all that 'mythology' stuff that I said about the falcon and the crane are completely fabricated or coincidental. I have no idea what's the deal, I just wrote what came to mind.