Trying To Say Goodbye
4: True Enemies
A/N: Don't Own Power Rangers
And Thank you to the lovely people that reviewed and viewed this story.
Kimberly sat on Falcon's back and looked out over the lake. Her head was spinning from everything that had happened thus far. There were moments she cursed him for this trouble that is at their front door, and yet at the same time it made her heart flutter that he thought for a moment she had the strength to overcome this evil. Falcon started dancing nervously underneath her. Someone dressed in black and white stepped out of the tree line. She grabbed the reins ready to bolt if she had to.
"What do you want?"
"Kimberly please listen."
"I don't have to listen to anything you have to say. You have his blood on your hands."
"I didn't tell him to kill himself. I just…"
"You know the thing about dimensions is that they're not all the same. We're not the same people, and we don't always make the same choices."
"I know that."
"Do you?"
She turned Falcon around to head into the woods. Dawn followed them.
"Wait!" he called out to her.
He rushed up in front of her causing the stallion to rear and paw angrily at the air. She kept her seat easily.
"I suggest you back up or he's going to smash your skull in."
Trent had the presence of mind to back up quickly. She whispered softly to him getting him to calm down a little.
"You're right," he finally said.
She reached down and patted the stallion's neck.
"About what?"
"He wouldn't have told anyone who he'd left those things to in order to protect them."
"Of course I am. I knew him at one point in time very well."
She turned Falcon around. "And it wouldn't have been about the items it would've been about the person."
"Why do you think he'd entrust them to you?"
"We'll never know will we?"
"Are you going to keep blaming me for what happened to him?"
The stallion stopped and she turned him around to face the white Dino Thunder Ranger.
"This isn't about you or me, or even his death. There is an Evil out there hunting me down for what I supposedly have in my possession and he's got an assassin former Ranger too."
"I'll help you."
"Trent…"
"I know he would've been more useful than I am but will help you in any way I can."
A soft sigh of annoyance escaped her.
"Don't undervalue your skills as a Ranger Trent."
"I failed everyone."
Kimberly shook her head. She knew these feelings all too well, but she'd struggled on.
"You couldn't have predicted what was to happen. Last time I checked you weren't psychic."
"Wes would've been better or the others."
"Only time will tell if Wes's faith in you was justified."
Kimberly turned to leave. She was exhausted from all this and she had the feeling it was just going to get worse.
"Kimberly wait!" Trent called.
He seemed almost hesitate to tell her, but he knew he should. "There's something you should know about this blade and crystal."
"What about them?"
"It's said that the only way to transfer the power to someone else the wielder has to die."
She stopped Falcon and looked at him over her shoulder. Then things started making more sense. "And another thing it's Billy."
"It's Billy what?"
"He's the Evil's agent and he has Eric under his control."
"The Quantum Time Force Ranger Eric?"
"Yes."
"And Billy pulling the strings, I don't understand..."
"It didn't make any sense that he turn, but I…"
Her phone started going off, but it wasn't the Dragonzord Summons call. It was the alert system that Ethan had installed. Cursing softly she held out her hand to Trent.
"Come on you're going to help me."
He gave a curt nod and managed to get up behind her. Falcon danced underneath them at the added weight. "Hang on."
He wrapped his arms around her waist as she turned the stallion and headed back towards the house.
"That would explain how he's able to jump dimensions the way he did."
"I didn't think about it before."
"Don't blame yourself Trent no one would've thought for a moment that Billy was capable of this."
She clicked her tongue a couple times to get him to start running. Trent was having trouble keeping his balance.
"Stop fighting the gate," she snarled at him.
His grip on her tightened as he buried his face against her back. She fought the urge to laugh really hard at this grown ass battle hardened Ranger was afraid of a horse ride. Thankfully they weren't far from the house. She pulled on the reins making Falcon rear and Trent was dumped into the dirt. She swung off with grace and ease. Before she could hit the front step a familiar form in black leapt for her. Her Ranger training kicked in and managed to barely dodge the attack.
"Trent alert the others!"
He gave a curt nod. Though, she knew the break in would alert the Dino Thunder team.
"Come on Eric don't make me do this."
"You couldn't win the last time. What makes you think…"
She got into a fighting stance. It made Eric hesitate for a moment seeing her like this. Kimberly caught his hesitation.
"Come on Eric. You're the Quantum Time Force Ranger you're better than this. Billy is controlling you."
"You think he's controlling me?"
"Isn't he? Wes entrusted Trent to help us against this supposed Evil."
"You think Billy is the Evil as Trent calls him?"
He started laughing darkly. That sent chills down her spine. Then something clicked in her mind making her heart ache and race at the same time. Things started clicking into place and it made her hurt on the inside.
"No," she murmured. "Not now."
"You're not as slow as you seem."
"What do you want?"
"I believe Trent told you what we're after Kimberly."
"And what makes you think I have it?"
"Tommy told me before I killed him."
Anger rolled inside of her at his words but she wouldn't let it show. Despite what they all thought of her she knew that he wouldn't lead anyone to her. Especially when it came to her life. The Crane and the Falcon would always be two sides of the same coin. Even if they didn't see eye to eye anymore.
"Then you know nothing about him."
"You have so much faith in someone that abandoned you."
Her eyes flashed dangerously as she morphed. He just laughed darkly at her bravado. What Eric didn't know is they thought she abandoned them but it didn't really matter at this point. He was gone and she was all that was left.
"You honestly think even if I had it that I would willing give it over to you?"
"I know you have it. But have hidden it very well."
Before more could be said the Dino Thunder team showed up along with Jason.
"Always needing help Kimberly not very impressive. Makes me wonder why he would even think to leave it to you."
She chose not to answer him. Jason was about ready to blow his top but she gestured to him to keep quite. "What nothing to say?"
Then she felt it. The tingle down her back that alerted her to danger. Whipping around she landed a punch in the nose. A wet crunch echoed the punch. The person reeled back from the hit. A smirk crossed her features, but they couldn't see it. She started seeing Billy standing before her. Her eyes narrowed. Just like Trent there was something off about him. Blood was running down his face. His eyes were darker with his hate and anger.
"Nice one Kimberly," he complimented her as he wiped the blood from his nose.
"Why?" she demanded harshly.
"I'm the lesser of the two evils Kimberly."
"What did he do?"
"Oh so you did figure it out? That's kind of shocking, but you did have a connection to him once upon a time. One that hadn't been seen before, a bond so deep we all thought it would last forever."
She glared at him at his implication. Once upon a time she thought they'd be forever too, but things changed as they always seem to do. This man wasn't the Billy she knew. Before he was a man of compassion and now there wasn't anything left. Eric was strong, but she knew that she had to keep the sword and crystal away from those seeking it for their dark purposes.
"You have a vendetta against him."
"He destroyed our dimension. Killing everyone looking for the power you have so well hidden."
Then a half thought came to her and she decided to voice it.
"Did he kill your family?"
"He killed them all except for myself, Eric and Trent. All because someone killed his wife."
Kimberly frowned at his words. The intense anger got to her that he was exhibiting. Eric was standing there blankly waiting for some signal to start the fight again.
"Did you kill her?" she asked Billy.
"No," he scoffed darkly. "But in the end it doesn't matter."
"I'm sure it does to him. You of all people Billy. I would've never thought you'd shed innocent blood."
"I don't but Eric does."
"The blood is still on your hands regardless of who kills you should know that."
"He betrayed all of us for what? The power you have and for the death of his wife."
"I'm not condoning his actions, but striking out at others for the faults of another."
"Give me the sword and crystal Kimberly and I will end this."
"No. It'll destroy you and whoever possesses it."
"Then why leave it to someone like you?"
"I know my own limits and that power will remain hidden for as long as it can be."
He scoffed at her words. She got herself ready for a battle that might be more dangerous than anything she'd ever faced, except the demons she'd carried for the longest time. His eyes narrowed at her.
"Make it easy on yourself Kimberly and hand it over, or their blood will be on your hands."
"I expect they can take care of themselves in a fight."
Billy looked towards Eric and gave him a curt nod. He smirked darkly and went for her. The others jumped in trying to keep him away from her, but he just plowed through them and got in close to her.
"Eric snap out of this!" she called to him again. "Wes would kick your rear if he saw you now."
That made him start.
"It doesn't matter does it? He's gone."
Kimberly hadn't wanted to do this, but she needed every advantage against him. She'd sunk into a fighting stance that would be familiar to him. In one of her darker moments she'd met the two remaining Time Force Rangers left and trained with Wes. There were times when Eric got annoyed at how Wes was training her that he'd step in to help too.
"Where did you?"
"I reached a dark place at one point in my life, and I found other teams to train me. Wes helped me and sometimes you'd step in to."
"You?" he scoffed. "I'd really waste my time helping you."
"As I said Wes helped me. He saw a soul that needed help."
"And your own team couldn't help you?" Billy called out.
"No they couldn't."
She got down into her fighting stance ready to take Eric on. The sound of hooves made her start for a moment as Merrick showed up in full Ranger gear and landed beside her.
"You don't have to explain yourself to them."
She looked at the Lunar Wolf Ranger.
"Don't interfere," she told him.
If something happened to her she would want all those able to fight the Evil that was coming.
"If that's what you wish."
"It shouldn't have come to this, but they've given us no choice," she told her friend.
Merrick shook his head and gestured towards Eric. Taking a deep breath Kimberly knew this was going to be one of those fights that she was going to have a hard time walking away from, but those who trained her made her she could give as good as she got. The two of them leapt towards each other as they started trading blows. Fighting in the background told her the others were taking on Billy while she tried to deal with Eric. He was naturally stronger than she was but she used her agility to its fullest to avoid most of the damaging hits.
"Stop hopping around and fight me."
She managed to dodge just right and came up and kicked him across the face. Everything stilled for a moment and then the world seemed to speed up and tilted on its axis. A grunt of pain escaped her as Eric's kick struck true and she felt her ribs protest. The hit made her breath leave her in a rush. He sent her towards a tree. Trying to brace herself for the pain she was scooped up by red clad arms that she didn't recognize.
"Easy I got you. Let us take it from here."
Kira moved forward and took her arm over her shoulder holding her up. The armor looked familiar, but she wasn't sure who he was. The unknown Red joined Merrick and Jason in their fight against Eric.
"Are you alright?" Kira asked her softly.
"Not really. He might've cracked ribs with that kick."
"You know I thought the Ranger teams were always there for each other."
"They normally are. I was just a special case I guess. Didn't help they thought I abandoned them."
"Did you?"
She grunted in pain as she shifted. Before she could answer the three Rangers had Eric down. Trent rushed forward and cuffed the Quantum Ranger. Jason stepped back and turned to the Red Galaxy Ranger. Leo looked towards the Quantum Ranger in confusion.
"What are you doing here Leo?" Jason asked his fellow Red Ranger.
"Was in the area for business. Saw Connor hauling ass thought I'd offer my help."
"Thank you," Kimberly offered.
He took his helmet off and dipped his head at her thanks. She recognized him from the funeral.
"What's going on here?" Leo asked as he gestured to the mess with Eric.
Kimberly looked at Jason and he wouldn't look at her. She knew he was angry at her. She didn't know why he bothered being mad at her for things that happened so long ago. Shaking her head she looked at Leo. Trent hauled Eric up and moved to grab Billy's arm.
"Long story short. They're from a dimension that was destroyed by an Evil. They're his minions."
"Just sugar coat it Kimberly," Billy snapped.
"Oh did I mention their turn coats and responsible for Tommy's death in this dimension?"
"He'll kill you when he gets here," Billy told her.
"Then he does," she said softly. "But I won't make it easy for him. Trent…"
"I'll be back to let you know what happens."
She gave a curt nod as Trent vanished with the two of them.
"Seems like I've missed a lot in the last couple weeks."
"It's okay Leo. This is our problem but we will call if we need you."
The look on his face told her that he didn't like that answer, but wasn't going to get a better one.
"We'll help you if you ever need us. All of us."
"Thank you."
Jason took Leo away from the others to talk to him softly. She looked up at Merrick as he remounted his horse.
"Take Falcon back to the house. If I need you I'll call."
He gave a curt nod and turned his own horse away and Falcon followed him. Kimberly looked at Kira.
"No I didn't to answer your question. He got a Dear John letter from me that I didn't send. Only Jason confronted me about it only to find me near death's door from an accident."
Leo left leaving her, Jason and the Dino Thunder Team. Kat came running up the driveway looking worried. Jason moved forward and put Kimberly's free arm over his shoulder.
"Let's get you patched up."
His paramedic side kicked in knowing that she was hurt, but he was still a bit mad at her. She'd never hear the end of it like she'd never heard the end of it when she made him swear not to tell anyone what had happened to her. Shaking her head softly she moved as Jason and Kira moved. Connor and Ethan followed. There were a lot of things they didn't know about her after the accident and she didn't want them to know. Though, considering things as they were they'd come out in the open soon enough.