POV: Kim

Woah, did somebody get the name of that Zord? I feel like I just ran up the all the stairs in the Empire State Building...and then ran back down them. It was a struggle just to get my eyes open.

"...all going to freak," came Billy's voice. Since when does Billy say "freak"?

"Who...who's going to freak?" I said, trying to turn my head. I felt EXHAUSTED!

"KIM!!!" the cry came from five throats simultaneously. A ring of faces appeared all around me, smiling widely. I mananged a smile in return. "Guys...what happened?"

Well, THAT god rid of the smiles in a hurry. In fact, I get the distinct feeling I'm not going to like this.

Five minutes later, I realized that was the understatement of the century.

My powers were GONE. I wasn't just tired; I felt like half my soul had been ripped away. There was this big, gaping HOLE in me, and it HURT. Tommy put his arms around me...Tommy. Oh, God, Tommy, I thought I understood what you were going through, but apparently I didn't have a freaking clue.

Tommy gently rocked me back and forth. "It'll be all right, Beautiful."

No, Tommy, it's not all right! Your powers are gone, my powers are gone, we can't form the Megazord, god knows what this Donovan freak is going to do next, and we have to totally upend our parents' lives...

It was too much. I pulled away from his comforting embrace, wrapping my arms around myself and walking rapidly to the wall of the Command Center, trying not to cry. I hadn't felt this hopeless since the Evil Green Ranger and friends destroyed the Megazord.

I was vaguely aware of Tommy trying to follow me, only to be stopped by Jason. "She needs time," I heard him say softly. I was too miserable to care.

I don't know how long I stayed like that. It probably would have been a lot longer if my gaze hadn't happened to land on the figure on the diagnostic table. I stared dully for a moment, then to my surprise the Ranger part of me (which was apparently not tied to my powers) gave me a swift kick in the ass.

Buck up, girl! While you're feeling sorry for yourself, think about her! If Donovan is anywhere near as sadistic as Rita, this girl's been through hell! Turned evil, ripped away from her own time and her friends, and probably made a Ranger against her will! You're not the only one suffering, Kimberly!

Whoa. It was a little surreal to have part of my brain lecture the rest, but it worked. With an effort, I shook off my misery. Throwing a word-less apology to Tommy (the look on his face told me he understood) I approach the young blond on the table. Billy had said her sleep was one of pure exhaustion, but it obviously wasn't a peaceful one. Oh, she wasn't tossing and turning, but her whole body was tense as a board. I could only imagine what her nightmares were like.

Staring at her like that, I felt in instant kinship with her. It wasn't just that we had both worn the Pink armor; it was the bond all of us Rangers feel with each other. It was what had let us forgive Tommy for his time in darkness. It was what had turned already close friendship into a bond so deep that no non-Ranger could understand it.

And, I suddenly realized, it was still there for me. Being a Ranger isn't about having the Power; it's about who you are. It's about a frame of mind, a lifestyle. It's about helping people; not for compliments or rewards, or even because it's the right thing to do. It's doing it because it needs to be done.

Once a Ranger, always a Ranger.

Shaken by this epiphany, I turned and ran towards my friends. It started with me hugging Tommy, but then the others joined in, understanding my feelings without needing words. As we hugged each other, as we gave comfort to each other, I felt my confidence returning. They were there for me, just like I was there for them. Just like we would be there for that young, traumatized girl on the bed.

Let Donovan do his worst. He may have taken my powers, but he couldn't take this.