Disclaimer: I own none of this. This is just a story I wrote for the enjoyment of others who also love the Power Rangers series, and a good Tommy/Kimberly fic.
Chapter Ten: It's A Long Story
Kimberly awoke with a stabbing pain in her head. She pressed both of her hands to her temples, hoping that somehow that would dull the throbbing pain. She could hear his voice, soft and gentle inside her head. It brought back memories of a sweeter time, leaving her enraged. Curse that infernal Tommy Oliver! Her good side had managed to send him a telepathic message, and now all that she had locked away came crashing to the surface. Her eyes glowed pink as the evil inside her fed off the misery.
Balling her hands into fists, Kim lashed out, punched the solid wall beside her. There was a distinct snapping sound, and wave of pain washed over Kim but she hardly felt it.
"You'll pay for breaking my heart Tommy Oliver!" Kim hissed. Sitting up in the darkness, Kim swung her legs off the uncomfortable cot that she laid on, trying to ignore the headache. Despite it, she was ready to go back into battle.
"Good. You're awake! The Master wants to see you." Elsa's voice sneered. Kim looked into the darkness, searching for the dark warrior.
"Where is he? I want to fight the rangers again!" Kim snapped.
"That's up to Master Mesagog. Move your ass, and report to him. You've slept long enough." Elsa shot back.
"Fuck you!" Kim snarled. She'd finally located Elsa near the doorway, and shoved right past her on the way out. She didn't care to hear what else Elsa had to say. She traipsed through Mesagog's fortress, grateful that the lighting was dim, staving off her headache for the time being.
She found Mesagog in the main lab, and immediately snapped to attention when she saw him.
"Master Mesagog, you wanted to see me?" Kim inquired.
"Pink Ranger, you had the rangers on the run before, but you retreated instead of defeating them. Your connection with Tommy Oliver impeded your progress." Mesagog pointed out.
"Yes Master, and that's why I'm going to remedy the situation now. I want to kill Tommy Oliver for what he did to me, and those pathetic rangers of his are next!" Kim promised.
"Go my pink ranger, and do your worst." Mesagog ordered.
"Yes Master," Kim replied. She disappeared in a beam of pink light and, landed just outside a building known as Haley's Cyberspace Café. Ugh, what a tacky name, Kim thought. Stepping into the alleyway Kim called out, "It's Morphin Time! Pterodactyl!" She walked back out of the alley fully morphed, and with her bow in hand.
Standing in front of the plate glass window, Kim notched an arrow, lifted the bow, and fired. There was a shattering of glass as the arrow flew into the café, embedding itself in the wall. People began screaming hysterically, and there was a rush of people either trying to escape or hide behind something. Kim stepped through the window, another arrow ready to fly.
"Shut the hell up!" She hollered. Everyone froze, and the screaming stopped as all turned their eyes to her. "That's better. Where are the power rangers?"
"They're not here. Please, leave us alone." A red haired woman informed from behind the counter. Kim turned her gaze on the woman, walking towards her slowly.
"And who might you be?" Kim asked.
"I'm Haley, the owner of this café. There are no power rangers here. Now leave!" Haley ordered, glaring at Kim.
"You're a brave one." Kim sneered.
"I'm not looking for a fight. I'm just trying to make sure none of my patrons get hurt. They're innocent people." Haley growled.
"And how would you know?" Kim asked suspiciously.
"That's enough Pink Ranger! We're right here!" a familiar voice called out.
Kim whipped around to see the Dino Thunder Rangers standing outside the broken window.
"Well, you were faster than I anticipated. Good thing because I'm ready to fight." Kim grinned. Without speaking she fired the arrow in her bow. The rangers dove out of the way, distracting them long enough for Kim to get outside. Leaving the café behind Kim searched for the black ranger. She found him getting to his feet, having fallen in a haste to avoid her arrow. Before she could get any closer to him the red ranger grabbed her arm.
"Stop!" he commanded. Kim just smiled, and used her free hand to punch him in the chest. He flew back several feet, groaning in pain. Blue and yellow came at her next, but she bypassed them without much trouble. It was all just like before, and white fell as well. When it was just black and pink on the field Kim sneered, "Did you miss me?"
"Kimberly, you have no idea how much I've missed you." Tommy admitted gently.
His words threw her off guard momentarily, but she snapped, "You can't have missed me too much with your beloved Kat waiting in the wings."
"Damn it Kim! Why do you keep bringing Kat up?" Tommy demanded.
"Why shouldn't I? She was obviously better for you than I was." Kim answered bitterly.
"Dr. O, what did you even see in her? It sounds like she's blaming the world for her problems." The red ranger pointed out, disgusted. He'd made his way over to where the black ranger was standing. The blue, yellow, and white rangers followed suit.
"Connor, that's enough." Tommy growled.
"Why? He was only making astute observations wasn't he?" Kim asked coldly.
"Kim, please let's go back to our command center, and we can talk about this." Tommy urged gently.
"You want to talk? That's ridiculous! Besides I'd rather not waste time with idle chatter. Ready or not, here I come." Kim laughed. She rushed at the rangers, flipping open her Blade Blaster along the way.
"Don't move! I've got this!" Tommy ordered. He rushed forward, drawing his Brachio Staff, and using it to block Kim's first attack.
"You think you can protect them Tommy? They'll go down easier than you." Kim chuckled.
"Kim, that's enough. It doesn't have to be like this." Tommy pleaded.
"Dr. O, please let us help!" the yellow ranger begged.
"Yes Dr. O, please let them help. It will be fun." Kim taunted.
"Now Rangers!" Tommy shouted. Kim pulled back from her strike, and said sarcastically, "You didn't need to shout. They're right behind you."
"He's not talking about them!" Someone shouted.
That voice. She hadn't heard that voice in years. Behind the Dino Thunder Rangers another group made themselves known. The Mighty Morphin team had returned. There were two red rangers, two black, one yellow, and one blue. Kim's eyes narrowed as her eyes fell on the pink Zeo ranger, her replacement on the Mighty Morphin team.
It was shocking, but Kim began to laugh, "Pathetic! You know you and your team can't beat me, so you brought them into it."
"It's not about beating you Kimberly. We've all come to help you." Tommy soothed.
"Is that why they're all morphed?" Kim challenged.
"Come on Kim, this isn't you. You're one of us." Jason pointed out.
"One of you? Now you give a damn about me. Why? Did you come because Tommy called? Typical. You don't care about me! You care about your precious Tommy, Rainbow Ranger. You wouldn't be here if he hadn't asked you." Kim informed darkly.
"You're right. We came when he asked, but we're also here to help out our fellow ranger. That's you Kim." Zack pointed out.
"And why would you help me regardless of Tommy? I'm not your friend." Kim scoffed.
"Well maybe you still would be if you hadn't acted like an asshole, and dumped him the way you did!" Rocky exclaimed.
Instead of getting angry with him Kim burst out laughing, "Oh Rocky, your honesty is quite refreshing. I should've known that you wouldn't beat around the bush with the trying to save me nonsense. You want to fight me don't you Rocky?"
"Yeah I want to fight, but I want to fight someone who is truly evil. You're not evil Kim. I know that, no matter what bridges have been burned between us." Rocky added.
"All right fine. Anybody else got a speech on good, love, and all that shit?" Kim demanded crossly.
"When did you get so bitter Kim?" Adam asked.
"Oh God! Moving on." Kim said, rolling her eyes.
"You're the pink ranger. You were one of the most determined. When things got tough you were always there to lend an ear and a shoulder to cry on. When our Thunderzords were destroyed you still tried to fight." Aisha blurted out.
"Charming." Kim yawned.
"Trini wouldn't want to see you like this." Billy said softly.
He'd struck a chord. Kim felt as if she'd been punched in the stomach at the mention of the original yellow ranger. She allowed the hand holding up her Blade Blaster to drop down, as a wave of grief washed over her.
"Trini. She was my best friend, my only friend." Kim whispered brokenly.
"Well not anymore. We're here for you now Kimberly." Kat assured. Kim snapped her head in Kat's direction, rage replacing the grief.
"Here for me now. How dare you claim to be my friend! How dare any of you! You were never there! Trini was the only one who stood by me! How dare you use her loss to further your cause!" Kim shouted furiously.
"But Kim, we're here for you. It's time we mend those bridges burned so long ago." Kat pleaded. Hatred burned inside Kim as she listened to Kat's words. That brainless idiot! How could she even think that she was anything akin to the friend that Trini had been?
"You! You're dead!" Kim screeched. She rushed forward, bringing her Blade Blaster up into an attack position. The other rangers rushed to Kat's defense, jumping in the way swinging their fists, feet, and weapons at her. Kim blocked all their attacks without an issue, getting closer to her intended target.
With one final leap, Kim cleared the rest of the space between them, raised her weapon, and brought it crashing down towards Kat's head. There was a ringing of steel as metal struck metal. A staff had blocked her attack from ever reaching Kat. She looked at Tommy as he forced her blade back.
"Stop it Kimberly!" Tommy ordered.
"Well, well, well, isn't this a surprise? Tommy has come to his precious Kat's rescue again." Kim sneered.
"Precious? Kimberly, what are you talking about?" Kat asked baffled.
"I trusted you! I trusted you to wield the power of the pink ranger in my stead! I trusted you to be a loyal friend and teammate to the power rangers! I trusted you around Tommy, and how did you repay me? You stole him from me!" Kim screeched hysterically.
"Stole him? Are you out your mind? You broke up with him in a letter! I remember it well because you sent it to the Youth Center!" Kat replied outraged. Kim swung her blade again only for Tommy to block it once more.
"Damn it Kimberly! Knock it off! Kat's right! You were the one who broke up with me. Don't take it out on her." Tommy snapped.
"Typical Tommy! Yes, go ahead and protect her! Do what you did on Muranthias! Protect Kat from your evil, cruel, ex!" Kim spat.
"Now you're going on about Muranthias! For God's sake! Tell me what's the matter!" Tommy demanded. Instead of answering Kim switched her blade back into a blaster, and fired off several shots at Kat and Tommy from close range. The two went crashing to the ground after being struck, giving the other rangers a chance to go after Kim. Jason was the first to reach her, kicking the Blade Blaster out of her hands. Kim growled in fury, and went after Jason. She threw a punch in his direction, but he blocked it easily.
"Come on Kimberly, I thought you were better than that." Jason taunted.
"Fuck you!" Kim hissed.
"Come on Kim, there's no need to get testy. We fought on the same team together. I know how you fight." Jason reminded pleasantly.
"You said you came to help me, but you're taunting me. Do you claim to be my friend too?" Kim asked darkly. Jason hesitated at her question, but Kim never gave him a chance to answer. She threw a right hook into Jason's kidney, and finished him with a spinning kick to the head.
Zack was easily distinguishable with his graceful, dance like moves as he approached her. His attacks even mirrored some of his old hip hop dances he used to practice.
"Come on Kim, dance with me girl! Like old times." Zack offered. He sounded genuine, but Kim would not be fooled.
"You want to dance with me Zack? Do you recall that we once sung together too?" Kim questioned coolly.
"Yeah, I remember the song too." Zack replied. Even with his helmet on, Kim could tell that he was grinning. His cheerful demeanor towards her threw her off balance for some reason.
"Why in hell would you remember a song that wasn't even for you?" Kim asked baffled.
"It didn't matter who you wrote it for Kim because the song represented all of us. You know that." Zack reminded. Humoring her former teammate, Kim began to move in a similar fashion to Zack.
"Does it really matter?" Kim asked irritated.
"Yes it does because I want to jam out with you again sometime soon." Zack confessed. Zack continued with his dance moves, throwing a few jabs at her. Kim ducked in order to avoid them then sent a spinning side kick in his direction. Zack smoothly bent backwards to avoid her strike. She traded non effective blows with him for a short time before becoming bored. The nostalgia was beginning to get to her. Running towards Zack, she feigned preparing for a front flip. Zack's knees bent slightly as he waited for her to leap over him. Instead of doing so Kim rushed headlong into him, her head colliding with his stomach. The original black ranger fell to the ground gasping for air.
"Was that really necessary Kim?" Aisha asked.
Kim faced the yellow, red, and black ninja rangers as they circled around her. The bear, the ape, and the frog had returned, but they were on opposite sides this time around.
"What part of evil did you not understand?" Kim shot back critically.
"Have you tried reconnecting with your Ninjetti spirit Kim?" Adam inquired.
"I am connected with the crane Adam, and like me, she is evil too." Kim answered.
"That's it! You want to fight Kim then let's fight!" Rocky challenged. Rocky charged at her without Adam or Aisha. He didn't hesitate to attack, leaping up in an ape like fashion, trying to crush her under him. Kim somersaulted out of the way, gracefully, feeling a rush from this newfound challenge. Rocky had always been hotheaded, but she'd always found it a slightly endearing trait.
"Come on Monkey boy! Land a real hit." Kim teased.
"I'm not the one flying away Bird brain." Rocky shot back.
"Hahahaha! Oh Rocky, I've missed you." Kim confessed without realizing it. Rocky had been about to kick Kim when he heard what she'd said.
"You missed me?" He asked stunned. Kim froze up, realizing that her true feelings had come forth. Fuck! The good inside her was breaking through again.
"Oh please, it was just a slip of the tongue. I was enjoying your pitiful insults. So sue me. That doesn't mean I give a damn." Kim scoffed.
"Actually, I think it does." Adam pointed out. He and Aisha were now closer, but they weren't attacking.
"What, you think I missed you too?" Kim sneered.
"Maybe. You always were the emotional one." Aisha added.
"If you're trying score points with me, try again." Kim said sarcastically.
She grabbed Aisha by the throat, and with incredible strength, lifted her off the ground.
"Kim, please don't! I know you're angry with me! I wasn't there for you! I should've been! I should've called you and asked what the hell was going on when I found out about that letter! That didn't seem like you at all!" Aisha gasped.
"Stop it! Stop trying to win me over! It'll never work!" Kim shouted angrily. She tossed Aisha at Rocky, sending them to the ground.
"Are you ready for your demise Frog prince?" Kim asked darkly.
"Will this really make you happy? You want to kill all of the rangers just to get your revenge on Tommy? I have an idea about what happened, and I can see that the darkness inside of you is being fueled by your misery." Adam explained wisely.
"Are you done?" Kim snarled. Adam nodded before bending down to tend to Rocky and Aisha.
Rolling her eyes, Kim turned to Billy, the original blue ranger and the wolf.
"I have no qualm with you Billy." Kim said hardly.
"Why? I abandoned you like the others." Billy pointed out.
"Trini loved you. I won't hurt the man she loved." Kim said simply. Ignoring the blue ranger, she ran at Dino Thunder Rangers. It was easier to take them on because she had no real personal connection with them. The battle seemed strangely similar to their first encounter. Kim was able to knock the rangers away rather easily. Unlike the others though they got right back up. Perhaps age had affected the others more than she'd realized.
"I feel sorry for you." The yellow ranger said, after getting back up.
"What?" Kim demanded.
"You must've been through hell and back to be hurt this much." She replied.
"Oh my God! What is it with you people?" Kim snarled. She tried to punch Kira, but the yellow ranger didn't move.
Unnerved by her brazenness Kim stopped, and stepped back. The other rangers had surrounded her, but no one else had moved.
"You said Dr. O broke your heart, but the others said that you broke up with him?" the red ranger said.
"Way to piss her off Connor." The blue ranger grumbled.
"It's a long story." Kim sighed defeated.
"We've got time." The white ranger informed.
"I gave my power coin to my successor when I chose to leave the team. I knew she had feelings for Tommy, but I wasn't worried. I'd come back to visit a few times, and everything was fine." Kim began. Tears had already begun to well in her eyes.
"But." The yellow ranger prompted.
"One time I went home without telling anyone because I wanted to surprise them. I saw them at the juice bar together. They were talking and having a great time when I saw Kat grab his hand. He didn't stop her or anything, just smiled at her. That's when I knew that it was over. He hadn't told me it was over because he didn't want to hurt me. Tommy was a bit overprotective sometimes, so I think he wanted to shield me in a way." Kim explained.
"So you wrote the letter." The blue ranger guessed.
"Yes, I wrote that letter, and set him free. I figured that the only way he could be with Kat was if I ended it for him. I made up a story about meeting someone, but there was no one. I even had the letter sent to the youth center, the popular hangout for us. I knew the others would be there too. I didn't just end it there I gave him a reason to hate me. I gave them all a reason. I just wanted him to be happy, and I knew he would be with Kat. She was what he wanted." Kim concluded, tears streaming down her face now.
Her voice had softened, and she'd begun to whimper.
"That's not all." The yellow ranger figured.
"No. I never wanted to end it, and I was secretly hoping that he'd come to see me demanding an explanation. He never did. After that letter none of the rangers ever talked to me. Trini was the only one who stayed by my side. A year or so after the letter she managed to convince Jason to take me with him back to Angel Grove to go scuba diving and see the others again. Trini was there for me when no one else was. She was like a sister to me, and my best friend. And because of me she's dead." Kim sobbed. She fell to her knees, unable to stay up any longer.
"What the hell do you mean because of you?" Billy asked confused. She hadn't even noticed that the other rangers had made their way over to the group of Dino Thunder rangers to listen to her story.
"I asked her to come over that night to celebrate my new job in law enforcement. She never would've been in that car if it hadn't been for me!" Kim cried anguished. Billy went over to the sobbing pink ranger, and dropped down onto his knees in front of her. Taking her by the shoulders, Billy made her look at him.
"You couldn't have known that those events would happen! Trini's death was an accident! It wasn't your fault!" Billy exclaimed desperately.
"I'm so sorry Billy, I'm so sorry! I miss her!" Kim sobbed.
"I know. Me too. I miss her too." Billy admitted.
Tommy felt his heart break upon hearing Kim's story. She thought he'd wanted to be with Kat, and had given him a reason to hate her. No, she gave them all a reason to hate her. Kim had the bonds she'd shared to make sure that he was happy and had a support system. She'd hoped he'd come to her after receiving the letter, but Tommy remembered with a heavy heart that he hadn't even thought to. He hadn't even thought that there might be some other motive behind the letter.
Maybe he could've handled all that he'd heard if not for the rest of the story. When he heard that she blamed herself for Trini's death he wanted to go to her, and sweep her into his arms. He wanted nothing more than to soothe the hurt away, but Billy it seemed was already one step ahead. The blue ranger was soothing the pink ranger, something he'd wanted to do. Tommy couldn't help but feel a little jealous that Kim had let Billy get so close but not him. It was bad enough that the very sight of him seemed to trigger that evil response.
Tommy was starting to feel at ease again when an Invisportal opened, Elsa and Zeltrax leaping out with a horde of Tryannodrones. Damn it!
"Well isn't this a touching scene? It seems that Mesagog didn't channel enough evil energy into you pink ranger, so now you'll be coming with us." Elsa sneered.
"You're not taking her anywhere!" Tommy snarled viciously. He blocked Kimberly and Billy from view, his Brachio Staff held high.
"That's not up to you Black Ranger. If Mesagog wants her back then he will have her." Zeltrax informed.
"Just try it." Tommy threatened.
"No! Dr. O, let us handle this." Connor urged. The other four Dino Thunder rangers had taken up positions on either side of him.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" Tommy asked seriously.
"You bet. Now go with Kim." Kira ordered warmly. Tommy looked back to see Kim clinging on to Billy for dear life.
"All right. Veteran rangers, return to base. We won't let them take Kim." Tommy commanded. The rangers teleported away, soon finding themselves in Tommy's basement command center. Haley was already there awaiting their return. When she saw the Mighty Morphin pink ranger among them she was shocked to say the least. Kim's suit still had the black on it, indicating that the evil had not been eradicated yet.
"Power Down!" The rangers called out. Once their suits were finally gone, Tommy was able to get a good look at Kimberly. She was still with Billy, her eyes red and swollen from crying. His heart caught in his throat when she looked at him with those same doe brown eyes he loved so much.
"Thank you." She whispered.