Chapter 4
Kimberly Hart had won the Pan Globals after a year of dedicated hard work. It wasn't easy. She felt homesick almost every other day and missed her friends deeply, especially Tommy but then she made new friends in Florida, people who made her realize just how much being a ranger had affected her life and changed her perspective on things. It wasn't bad but it wasn't healthy either. As she slowly eased into a life without spandex and aliens, she found herself questioning her life choices, especially her relationship with Tommy.
She doubted their relationship would have lasted if they were normal teenagers. They made it work even when there were obvious problems in the relationship. She had often acted like a damsel in distress and relied on Tommy to fix her problems when she could have done it herself. Whenever they had an argument, they never had the time to sort out their issues due to the impending threat of a monster invasion and instead pretended that it never happened.
She didn't blame him. Kimberly still loved him with all her heart but she owed it to herself to find out who she was without him.
She couldn't find the courage to tell it to his face or even call him. She sent him a stupid cowardly Dear John letter. What surprised her was that he never tried to contact her again. He didn't fight to win her back.
Kim had half a mind to go back to him and explain everything. Then Kat and Billy teleported to ask her about the letter. She told them, expecting them to call her silly or naïve but both of them understood her reasons and supported her. They promised to stay in touch with her and they did, with Billy giving her a communicator which she could use to contact them. A few months later, Kat told her that Tommy had asked her out on a date. That dashed all her hopes of getting back together with her 'white knight'. Kat wanted to make sure that Kim wouldn't have any hard feelings if she did date Tommy. Of course, she and Tommy were perfect for each other! Both of them were victims of Rita's spell and shared similar experiences.
Kim smiled and gave Kat her approval.
She later broke down in front of her roommate, Rachel and told her about how she ruined a perfect relationship because of one stupid mistake borne out of homesickness and loneliness.
Rachel told her that if the relationship was perfect, Tommy would have fought for her instead of moving on. She told her to trust her own choices instead of doubting them.
After winning the Gold medal, Kim decided to move back to Angel Grove. That's when everything went wrong again! She and Jason were kidnapped by a space pirate during a freaking scuba drive and sacrificed to a fire demon. The rangers saved her but it was too late.
Maligore's pit had changed her. Unlike Jason, whose residual powers had protected him, she was turned into a half demon. A few days after the sacrifice, she noticed another presence in her mind… someone who called herself Kalamity, a psionic entity rising from the embers of Maligore's flames. A voice in the back of her mind that craved destruction and vengeance. Whenever her demonic alter ego took control, she basically became a fire demon, something Divatox's pirhanatrons found out when they were burned to a crisp while trying to ambush her one day.
When she and Jason told Zordon of this, he scanned them and found out that they were no longer completely human. Jason was triforian and she was muranthian. Muranthians were a race of powerful energy demons before the Liarians defeated all of them.
Zordon sent them to people who would help them harness their powers – Jason to Triforia and her to the mages in the Mystic Realm, a hidden dimension where magical creatures lived in harmony with humans.
The mages taught her to accept Kalamity as a part of herself and not something to be feared. The fire mages taught her alter ego how to control her fire powers without hurting others while Udonna taught her magic. Apparently, the demon energies in her were a source of strong magic which she could use as a focus for casting spells and enchantments.
She accepted that her life would never be normal again, especially with a secondary personality sharing her headspace.
While witchcraft and pyrokinesis was fun, she loved learning battle magic. It was when her thoughts melded with Kalamity's and their mind became unified again and she could use both pyrokinesis and magic simultaneously.
Her bow clashed with that of her sparring partner and trainer, Arella, one of the many knights who protected the dimension.
Arella was a moon elf with brown skin, deer like antlers rising from her head, pointed elf ears, silver runes marked all over her body and four fingers in each of her hands. Her hair was white and reached till her waist. White runes decorated her forehead and cheeks. She wore a lithe dark green battle suit, which blended with the surrounding forest.
Kim was in her normal clothes- a white shirt, denims and a pink leather jacket. Wherever she went, the people of the forest would stare at her. She was the first outsider they had seen in years and her fashion sense was quite flamboyant compared to the medieval clothes everyone wore here.
"Channel your magic through your weapon. Become one with it." The elf instructed, jumping back, splitting her bow to a pair of nunchuckus. "The weapon you wield is merely a construct of your own magic. You can transform it to be whatever you need."
Arella charged at her, swirling her weapon, her movements graceful and mesmerising as if she were dancing. Kim barely blocked her attack with her bow.
"Focus, Kim."
"Right." The former pink ranger nodded, channelling her magic through the bow. She pulled a arrow from her quiver and as she nocked it to the bowstring, she felt the flames raging within her. She released it, aiming it at Arella.
As the arrow flied towards the elf, it started to burn up and a fiery phoenix took its place. Arella ran towards the spectral attack and her nunchuckus transformed to a bronze shield. She started to glow in a silver aura and an image of a winged warrior in majestic silver armour appeared behind her as she raised the shield and took brunt of the attack, which pushed her back by a few feet.
Kim watched in awe as the astral projection of the warrior mimicked her movements before lashing out with her sword, unleashing a crescent wave of silver energy at the phoenix.
The phoenix disappeared and the fires sizzled out. A single broken arrow dropped to the ground before reducing to a pile of ashes. The giant glowing figure nodded her head at Arella, before disappearing.
"That was so cool!" Kim squealed. "What just happened? Who was that?"
"That was my spirit guardian, the Valkyrie." The knight smiled. "And you discovered your guardian as well. A phoenix. Quite rare but extremely powerful."
"A spirit guardian?" Kim asked confused. "Is it like an animal spirit?"
"It's a physical manifestation of your magic, taking the form of either an ancient mythological creature or a legendary warrior. We don't entirely know what it is, except that it enhances your magic and protects you." The elf informed. "Most wizards take years to properly understand and harness their spirit guardians. You did it without even realising it. That's impressive."
"Thanks. I wish I knew how I did it though. It just happened." Kim shrugged.
"You have all the time here to learn how to control your magic. That's why the Great Sage sent you here, isn't it?" Arella reminded her gently. "I would like to hear more of your exploits as a Power Ranger. You may be a novice to the ways of magic, but you are an experienced warrior and a hero, who has fought countless battles and saved many."
"I am not a ranger anymore. I passed on my powers." Kim said sadly.
"Once a ranger, always a ranger." Arella told her firmly. "With or without fancy armour or powers. Besides you are far from powerless. In fact, you are easily one of the most powerful people in this dimension and quite possibly, the entire universe."
"You are kidding." Kim said disbelievingly.
She is not. Why do you think everyone was so afraid of Maligore? A cold snarky voice hissed in her mind. No matter how many times Kalamity spoke to her, it still sounded creepy.
Oh please. You should be used to it by now.
Kim's eyes flashed red.
"I am not." Arella said. "I suppose your sister agrees."
"She is not my sister." Kalamity's voice lashed out through her lips. "Don't trivialize me, puny elf. I am power incarnate. A goddess trapped in the pathetic mind of this flimsy little girl!"
"Yeah. That's enough." Kimberly said. "I'm sorry Arella. She always gets mad when anyone calls her that."
"That's fine, Kimberly."
"The reason I'm in this whole mess." Kim deadpanned. "I've accepted that she is here to stay. Doesn't mean I've to like her too."
You should. I made you powerful, you ungrateful whelp.
She ignored the ranting half demon inside her head. "My magic has grown stronger. Is there a way to restore my ranger powers with magic, Arella?"
"It is possible. Though you don't need them to be a hero. We can ask Udonna if you want." She replied uncertainly.
"Let's go now!" Kim grinned widely, grabbing her hand and running towards the nearest tree. Another thing about this place that absolutely fascinated her… trees were magical gateways and connected to each other through the earth. Wizards could use trees as a means of transportation. She imagined Billy would have a field day trying to wrap his head around that.
She closed her eyes and rammed against the tree only to pass right through it. She opened her eyes to find herself facing the closed mouth of a giant wooden dragon, which connected to the bark of the tallest tree in the forest, which was also the home of Udonna the white sorceress… Rootcore.
She placed her hand on the dragon, and stepped back as its eyes snapped open and glowed red.
"A hollow tree… that's where she lives, in the middle of nowhere, instead of a mansion." Arella mused. "I will never understand that witch."
"Well to be honest, it is one cosy tree." Kim quipped. This is where she had been living for the last few months. Somehow in spite of looking as if they were stuck in the medieval period, the people of this dimension had access to electricity and some form of futuristic technology, which Kim suspected ran on magical energy.
"Arella!" The knight stumbled as a young girl jumped to her arms.
"Little one." The elf kissed her forehead. "How are you today?"
"I am good. Udonna is teaching me ancient runes." She babbled excitedly before turning towards Kim. "How was your training, Kim?"
"It was eventful. Clare, where is your aunt?"
"She is the library." She replied, leading them to the chairs circling the crystal ball.
With a shower of white sparks, a red headed woman in a purple gown with white embroidery and a red shawl around her neck. It was Udonna, the white sorceress and one of the leaders of the Magic Realm.
"You are early for your lesson, Kimberly." The witch said gently.
"I wanted to ask you something." Kim said excitedly. "Is it possible to restore my ranger powers?"
"It depends. Do you still have your morpher?" She asked.
Kim nodded, taking out her burnt morpher from her sling bag, which she always kept with her.
"I am no expert but it appears that it has been disconnected from the Morphin Grid. There's no way to permanently fix it." She said sadly. "I am sorry, Kimberly."
"Ho ho ho. But I can!" A new voice echoed through out the chamber. All of them reacted instantaneously. Udonna stepped protectively in front of Clare and raised her wand. Arella summoned her sceptre.
"Reveal yourself." Udonna demanded.
A blue armoured figure appeared before them.
"Ninjor!" Kim exclaimed happily, rushing in to hug him. "It's been so long! How are you?"
"I am good, my dear crane. I felt you awaken the phoenix spirit and traced you here to this dimension." He explained.
"How did you get past the wards around Rootcore?" Clare asked curiously.
"He is a Morphin Master like Queen Fienna, who built Rootcore." Udonna explained. "I can't believe it. It is truly an honour to meet you, Master Ninjor."
"The honour is all mine, Lady Casterwill." Ninjor lowered his head. "I wish we could get to know each other better but time is of the essence. Kimberly, Earth is in danger of being destroyed by a great evil who calls himself Ivan Ooze. Your friends need your help."
Both Arella and Udonna shared looks of fear and disbelief.
"I am ready." Kim said, as Ninjor took the coin from her and closed his palm around it. Blue energy pulsated in his wrist.
He gave it back to Kim, who smiled on seeing the morpher good as new. The cracks in her coin were gone and the image of pterodactyl stared right back at her.
"Ivan Ooze is a monster. We have heard tales of how he almost destroyed the entire universe. Kimberly, this is no mere monster or villain." Udonna cautioned. "I will go with you."
"You can't." Ninjor said bluntly. "You are the leader of the Magic Realm and it's last ranger. Dark Spectre is amassing his forces. Sooner or later, he will attack this dimension. You need to be here."
"Then I will go with Kimberly. I may not be a ranger but I'm a damn good battle mage and a knight of the realm." Arella stated with finality.
"Are you sure?" Ninjor asked.
"Yes. The other knights and Udonna are more than capable of handling anyone who dares to attack us." The elf said. "Besides Kim needs to continue her sorcery training. I can help her continue with her studies while she is on this mission."
Kim hugged her. "I can't wait to show you around my home."
Udonna pursed her lips and waved her hand. A wooden box from one of the shelves flew to her hand. She opened it to reveal a silver bracelet with the symbol of the mystics engraved on it.
She took out the silver wand and handed it to Arella. "If you are going, you will need this."
The elf faltered, stepping back. "Udonna, I cannot. It belonged to her. I can't be the Lunar Knight."
"She would want you to have this." The elderly witch smiled. Arella's eyes watered as she received it.
Clare's eyes became teary as she clutched Arella's hand. "Don't go."
The elf took the girl in her arms and hugged her. "I will be back, little one. Be good to your aunt while I'm gone."
"Promise?" Clare asked.
"Promise." Arella smiled, setting her on the ground. She turned towards Ninjor and Kim, steeling herself.
"Udonna, thank you for everything." Kim hugged the witch and patted Clare's head. "I will miss you two."
"Be safe, Kimberly." Udonna said. She nodded at Arella.
Ninjor clapped his hands together, and all three disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
So, the zeo rangers are facing Ooze and Ninjor is recruiting past rangers, who are scattered across the ranger universe.
Hope you enjoyed and please review.
Thank you to everyone who reads this and special thanks to those who follow, favourite and review.