*************************Falcon Zord***********************
The golden crane gazed at Kimberly silently for a moment before it began to chip and move its wings this way and that. Clearly trying to convey something important to the teenager.
"I don't understand..." Kimberly mused quietly, her eyes never leaving the golden form in her hands. It was like the trinket on her mother jewelry box had come to life. "What about Tommy?"
The crane made a strange deep throat sound followed quickly by more chirps.
"Kim?" Tommy ventured, taking a step closer to her.
"Hold fast young falcon. She must have this conversation on her own." Ninjor spoke, holding up a hand to urge Tommy to stop moving forward.
Tommy frowned but did as told. His falcon hadn't spoken to him like this... or had it? Tommy couldn't be sure now but the powers, when he had received them... it was so fast and absolute. Zordon's words came back to Tommy mind. Kimberly was still the Fire bird and all that came with it.
The last of the original rangers and if the crane didn't accept her, then what would happen? Without a morphing grid to control the power, would the fire bird inside Kimberly, eventually destroy her?
Tommy had barely had these thoughts when another golden light made its presence known. Only it didn't come from him. It had come out of Kimberly! Its neck long, wings arching, with a tail that was like a peacock. The crane called to it and made room for the golden form of the fire bird to land on Kimberly's hands as well. Now all three seemed to be having a conversation. Kimberly's eyes took on a deep sadness. "... I don't know." She responded quietly to both of the golden birds.
The fire bird's song like whistling sounded once more. Kimberly shook her head. "I can't destroy you. I won't. You are part of me."
Kathrine was surprised when the crane looked straight at her. After a moment, she realized all three were gazing at her. She turned her eyes to the ground, feeling suddenly so shy.
More chirping and whistling...
"The very last... I understand." Kimberly said, suddenly looking very determined. "If you'll have me, I accept the conditions."
The fire bird and the crane both called out at the same time. The sudden glow they gave off combined was blinding. When the light faded, Tommy could no longer see the fire bird. Just the crane in Kimberly's hands. She smiled reassuringly at him before taking a few steps towards Katherine. "She's yours, if you want her." Kim said, holding out the golden crane spirit.
Katherine blinked. "You mean? I'll be a power ranger."
Kimberly grinned brightly. "Yup."
"But what about you Kim?" Billy found himself asking without thinking. Being a ranger always meant so much to her. To lose that now after everything? It wasn't a blow he thought she could take right now.
She simply smiled. "I'm still a ranger Billy. The fire bird is still here. Look I'll explain just..." She turned back to Katherine. "What do you say? Wanna be a pink ranger?"
"Yes." Katherine found herself answering with no hesitation. Ever since she had come to be on the falcon zord, Katherine knew all she wanted was to be like her friends, to be a power ranger. At her acceptance the golden crane burst into Katherine and she morphed into a beautiful light pink ninjetti outfit. "I don't believe it. I'm the pink ranger."
"Well one of two. I hope you don't mind sharing the title because Thunder Fire Bird!" Kimberly shouted. Tommy and Billy couldn't believe there eyes. Kimberly was in her thunderzord power suit but the light baby pinks were replaced now a deep rose pink. Still elegant and beautiful but different.
"How...?" Tommy asked, reaching his hand out to touch her suit. It felt so warm.
"I believe it is a gift, young falcon." Ninjor said, also coming closer studying Kimberly's new outfit. "Fascinating."
Kimberly demorphed. "Yes, it's a power boost, an upgrade, to help put me on par with the ninjetti powers." She nodded at Katherine, who was still checking out her new look, before turning to Tommy. "But as a down side I can't stay morphed for nearly as long as before. I'm just suppose to be for emergencies now." Her voice held a touch of sadness that only Billy picked up on. "I'm the last mystical power on earth..."
Tommy pulled her into his arms. "Beautiful, I don't care if you're a ranger or not. I'm just so glad we are together again."
Ninjor said nothing but he remembered what Zordon had said. If Kimberly and Billy, were no longer fully human. There would be no happy ever after for these two love birds.
But that knowledge could wait.
************************ Three days later*****************************
"Finally done." Adam said, flopping into the used sofa that had been dragged into the rubble of the command center. It wasn't much. The rangers had scrounged up some fabric to make shelter with from the desert sun and Ninjor had provided them with the basic necessities but they were basically camping out in the open. If the people they had saved knew just how the rangers were living. They would either be impressed or seriously doubting there abilities.
"Done? Now the real work starts." Rocky said. The little group was tired. It had taken this long just to get everyone back to earth and to check the moon for anyone left over. And rescue all the farm animals from the kitchens because The girls had refused to leave the animals to suffer. Not that they wanted them too but humans had to come first.
"I'm just so tired." Adam mumbled back. Putting his arm over his eyes.
"We all are." Aisha tried not to snap at her friend but there was no use in complaining. She grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler. Another found item. "Any idea where the others are?"
Rocky glanced towards the rocks and cliff-side. "Billy, Ninjor, Kim and Alpha went to try and find the opening to the command chamber." Rocky hoped they found it today. He wouldn't mind getting out of this heat and while sleeping under the stars was lovely. He didn't care for being out in the open this much. At least Ninjor has kindly taken most of the late night watch shifts. Rocky had no idea how they would be doing if they were sleep deprived.
Adam sighed, had trouble getting over just how quickly Billy, with a little help from Justin, had been able to rebuild the little robot from junk and trash they had scavenged. "Tommy, Kat and Justin went to see Ernie at the juice bar."
"There's been more fighting between people. Some just don't want to pitch in and help." Aisha added. Every since it came to light the power angers were back, people had been having mixed reactions. Some blamed them, some down right hated them, some we worried they would just abandon them again. Tommy had explained what happened but it wasn't until Kim appeared, well they knew her suit, and she explained how she was the last of the rangers they had known and the others were dead and... Aisha shook her head. Girl had to be tough to deal with all that.
Especially having to help bury the remains of there friends. Tommy, had insisted on that as one of the first things they did after getting this little shelter built. The bodies were still where they had fallen. Except for something wrapped carefully in red cloth Tommy had taken from the castle. He had buried that with one of the bodies. And while she had not known the other originals, seeing her new friends in such pain had made her heart ache too.
"At least Ernie has been a big help." Rocky added. "He's opened his doors to everyone."
The trio soon feel into comfortable, albeit, tired silence. There was still so much to do.
And they were running ragged.
********************** Juice bar********************************
"Here are those supplies." Tommy said, carrying in a few boxes of fresh fruit. "It's not much but..."
"It's plenty falcon ranger. Thank you." Ernie said honestly as Tommy put down the boxes of apples and oranges. "I appreciate anything the rangers bring."
Tommy smiled. "How are things going?"
"Good, thanks to you and the others, we've been organizing well. We've got people checking for supplies, the hospital is up and running though its on low power, the park is being turned into a garden and farm fields."
Tommy nodded, this all sounded good. Right now it was about survival. "And the lost/ missing persons board?"
Ernie pointed to where the pink and blue ranger were across the room. "Crane and Wolf seem to have a handle on it and we've had a few family members reunited though it. Falcon..." Ernie's voice was suddenly serious. "Can I talk to you in my office for a second?"
"Of course." Tommy was surprised but not worried, not even when Ernie closed the door. "What's up?"
Ernie's eyes had a sharpness to them as he looked the white ranger up and down. "Tommy Oliver." There was no doubt, no question or waver in his voice.
Tommy blinked, denial on his lips but Ernie simply shook his head. "I know your voice kid. Took me awhile to remember whose voice that was but after the original pink ranger gave that speech. I remembered."
Tommy swallowed hard. "I... what are you going to do?" If people learned he was just some teenager, angel grove and the world would fall back into chaos. It was only just hanging on by a thread as it were.
Ernie stretched out his hand. "Thank you Tommy."
Tommy shook his hand as Ernie continued. "And you don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone. I swear it."
"Thanks Ernie."