Hello again my fellow readers. I am glad many of you enjoyed the last chapter; it was enjoyable to write. About the quiz, no one has correctly answered my question. For those who have attempted, you have another chance with this chapter. One of my reviewers only posted one of the answers, but made me realize there were 4 hints and not just 3. All the clues come before chapter 8. Enjoy this chapter and answer the quiz question if you'd like. Same prize as the last time: two page preview of the next chapter.

Chapter 9 I Dream and You Speak

Trini sat in one of the coffee shops downtown. She glanced over the daily newspaper as she tried to gather her thoughts. She knew she just couldn't leave Kimberly alone; that would make things worse. She knew her exit had been unexpected, but Trini couldn't stay for fear she would say something she'd regret. She had come here instead to gather her thoughts. Nothing seemed any clearer now than it had before.

Kimberly looked up as her door opened. For once her sleep had been peaceful, even if the dream had been the strangest one by far. However, it was better than having a nightmare. If only Rita hadn't been in this one….. she gave a whole new meaning to "off-key".

Earlier, at Rita's usual balcony

"Finster, I have a brilliant idea!" yelled Rita.

Finster shuddered to think of the kinds of ideas that Rita found "brilliant". He entered her balcony and bowed. "What have you come up with?"

"I've been entering Pinky's dreams with the intention of deepening her depression, but if she begins to suspect anything, we're doomed."

"What is your new plan?"

"An encore performance."

"Huh?" Finster was completely confused.

"If I act crazy and not like myself in her dream as I have been, she won't suspect we are tampering with anything. She'll just think it's her conscience."

"Ahh I see. Then you will want this," replied Finster as he handed Rita a gray J-shaped device with two red buttons attached to it.

"Huh? What is this thing?"

"It is an attachment for the Dream Intrusion device. I've now fixed it so that you can call up your own creations in Kimberly's dream."

"Perfect. This will fit in with my plans just fine," answered Rita as she took the device over to the table and hooked it in to the helmet before plopping the helmet on her head. "Finster! You know what to do!" Finster wordlessly adjusted the controls for Rita and then pushed the button.

Kimberly's Dream

Kimberly found herself sitting alone in a giant amphitheater. The seats were completely empty and no light shown except for a center spotlight on the stage. Kimberly watched confused and then heard music start to play softly. She thought the tune sounded very familiar. As the music got louder, a voice began to sing, a very high pitched, off-key voice.

"I'm dreaming of a red Ranger…." Sang Rita Repulsa as she entered stage right. "Just like the one I used to love…"

Kimberly was now officially freaked. There was no way this could be happening. No way. Not even in her dream could Rita of all people be singing.

"When he finds your letter and denies your love, he'll be devastated and scarred," sang Rita.

Kimberly could have sworn that if there were windows nearby, they'd all be broken. Kimberly tried to cover her ears, but found she couldn't raise her hands. Instead, she was forced to watch the hideous concert. As the next verse began, shadowed beings joined her on stage. Soft white light lit upon each being, and Kimberly recognized both Tenga warriors and Putties behind Rita. The only explanation Kimberly could think of was that they were back up dancers.

"I'm dreaming of a red Ranger… with every depresséd thought. May he live his life peacefully and may all his girlfriends be normal." As Rita sang, the Tengas and Putties slowly danced around her.

Kimberly really wished this concert would end. The insanity of it all was too much to handle. She couldn't move and she couldn't block out the terrible sounds or sights. She hated being forced to watch something so terrible.

"I'm dreaming of a red Ranger… with every depresséd thought. May he live his life peacefully and may all his girlfriends be normal." Rita slowly sang the last line, just as anyone would have sang the Christmas carol. She raised her hands to the sky, her pitch getting higher and higher. Kimberly winced at the sound. The putties and Tengas performed a few more moves before posing around Rita.

Kimberly was about to yell shouts of protest, but heard clapping coming from behind her. She strained to see who was clapping and groaned when she saw Squatt and Baboo clapping.

"Bravo! Bravo!" yelled Squatt.

"Encore!" added Baboo.

"Thank you, thank you," called Rita as black roses were thrown to the stage by invisible hands. "Thank you and goodnight!"

Kimberly closed her eyes, hoping the dream would end. The next thing she knew, she was back in her hospital bed. She blinked a few times to make certain that this wasn't part of her dream before being certain that she truly was awake. Of course, she couldn't help but smile at her dream. It was kind of funny to think of Rita singing a parody of a Christmas carol. Too bad the lyrics hit a little too close to home.

When Trini walked in, Kimberly was secretly glad. That is, until she saw the serious look on Trini's face. "Kim, we need to talk."

"I was afraid you'd say that."

"Kimberly, why did you do it? I want to know why. And no whispering this time either. No one's going to disturb us. I only want the truth," remarked Trini in a calm, steady voice as she pulled up a chair.

Kimberly sighed. This hadn't been the first time Trini had used that tone of voice around her. It was that cut-the-crap-and-give-it-to-me-straight kind of voice, Kimberly knew she couldn't try lying. Trini would be able to tell. "I couldn't help it, Trini. Tommy doesn't need me like this."

"Kimberly, you two have been dating for a couple of years now. I think Tommy would be able to stand it and accept you for you."

"No, no he couldn't. Not with the active lifestyle he leads. If I'm in his life, then I'm a threat to him and the Rangers."

"Kimberly, why would you be a threat?"

"Think about it. I would only be something for King Mondo to take as bait. He'd use the disabled girlfriend. And it would only make things sweeter that I was an ex-Ranger."

Trini listened with an open mind. What Kimberly was saying was true. She would be easy bait for King Mondo. However, Tommy would be there to protect her, as would her friends. They wouldn't let her down. It wasn't like Kimberly to willingly sacrifice herself like this. Sure, she would, but not at such a magnitude. Wait a minute…thought Trini. "Kimberly, is part of this the fact that you want to be independent?"

"Well…."

"You don't want the others to have to keep an eye on you to make sure you're safe. You don't want to be in anyone's way or anyone's problem. That's what this is about, isn't it?"

"Partly."

"Trini looked hard at Kimberly. "What's the other part?"

"Tommy… Tommy doesn't need a cripple like me. A gymnastic has been. My dreams are ruined. I don't want to ruin his too."

"But by breaking up with Tommy, you have ruined some of his dreams. Some of them were about you."

"They were about me as a normal person. Not a cripple."

"Kimberly stop with cripple. It's not fitting and you know it. Tommy would love you just as you are."

"You can't say that for certain, Trini. I'm different now, and not everyone likes different."

"Kimberly, I don't think you like different. I think you haven't come to terms yet with this accident. I think you have a lot of things to sort out," stated Trini.

"I… I know…. Trini, it's just so hard…." Tears well up in Kimberly's eyes. "When I think of what I could have been, and what I am now, I hate myself. I hate myself for staying late that night. I hate myself for thinking I could handle it. I hate my life."

Trini moved to the edge of the bed and placed her arms around Kimberly. Slowly things were coming out, one by one. "Kimberly, you can't keep referring to the past. It'll eat you alive."

"Trini, I could have prevented it! I could have prevented this whole accident! I just had to stay late instead to work on my routine. I was the one who did this to me. I have to suffer it for the rest of my life."

"Kimberly, you can't keep regretting this for the rest of your life!"

"That may be, but I cannot place the blame on anyone but me. It was my fault."

"You're going to make it through this. You're strong Kim, and your friends will help you along the way when you need it too."

"I don't want any help. I'm not a helpless baby."

"I didn't say you were Kimberly. I meant that we'd help if you needed us to and wanted us too. When are you going to tell the rest of the gang?"

"I'm not, not right now."

"Kimberly…."

"Trini, I don't want them to know yet. I'll tell them in my own time, but I don't want to right now. They'll find out when I am ready."

Trini sighed. "All right Kimberly. I'll hold you to your word." She wasn't going to push Kimberly on this matter. She felt she'd already pushed Kimberly enough to gather what information she'd heard.

Kimberly sighed. She knew that the hardest part was over with Trini. She knew Trini would make sure she told her friends in Angel Grove, and Kimberly wasn't planning on keeping it from them forever. It was hard enough to deal with this without having everyone else's sympathy weighing down on her. Unknowingly, she pulled the little red tiger closer to her.

Trini's eye caught the tiger and she wondered where Kimberly had gotten it. She knew that Kimberly had a white tiger at home, but not a red tiger. She wondered where it'd come from. "Kim, where'd you get that little tiger?"

Kimberly looked down at the tiger and smiled. "A little boy named Jayden. I met him in the lounge yesterday and he gave me this as a gift. It was his birthday, and instead of getting presents, he had his mom get him a bag of stuffed animals that he could give to every sad person here. He picked this one out for me."

"He sounds like a nice little boy."

"He is and a very happy one too. It's like he doesn't care he's in a wheelchair at all."

This tidbit of information intrigued Trini. Kimberly had met someone like her, though much younger. It was too bad he hadn't had more of an effect on Kimberly's mood, but that was to be expected. "Did you find out why he was in a wheelchair?"

"Yeah… he fell out of his crib when he was really little and became paralyzed. He's been in a wheelchair all of his life. You should meet him. I think you'd like him. He's one of those kids you can't help but love."

"I'm sure he is, Kimberly. I'm sure he is."

The girls' conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door and Trini's head turned to see who would enter. "Come in," called Kimberly. As the door opened, Kimberly smiled. Jayden had returned, and with his mother.

"Kimberly! I've got some great news!" he called to her. "Hey… who's your friend?"

"This is one of my best friends, Trini Kwan. She's flown in to see me."

Jayden held out a hand. "Nice to meet you Trini. My name's Jayden Mullins and I'm 7 now."

Trini smiled at the boy. He was just as Kimberly had described. "That's great Jayden. I hear you had a birthday yesterday."

"I did, and it was so cool. All my friends came to see me and party."

"What's your big news Jayden?" asked Kimberly.

"You won't believe it," replied Jayden as he raised his hands.

Well I hope you enjoyed that chapter. The part with Rita's song was my favorite to write. I think I got the idea from that one Power Rangers Christmas special. Once I got the idea, I just had to do it. Of course, it had to be changed to refer to Tommy as the Red Zeo Ranger.

Next time on Windmill into the Fall: Jayden's big news is revealed and Kimberly is given big news of her own. Now she must make a decision. Not wanting to do it on her own, she consults Trini for help. Find out how in the next chapter!