Trying To Say Goodbye
Chapter 5: Struggle For Power
A/n: Don't own Power Rangers
Also thank you to the lovely people that reviewed and read this story. I hope you enjoyed it.
Happy Holidays to Everyone.
They got her down to the Command Center. Kimberly groaned softly as she felt her ribs protest. The fight with Eric and Billy was a tough one, but they managed to win. Kira and Kat were there to help Jason patch her up.
"You're lucky he didn't break your ribs."
"It wasn't for the lack of trying I'm sure."
Jason shook his head. Kimberly raised her shirt up to show the black and blue of the bruising on her chest and side. A gasp escaped Kira and Kat seeing the scarring on her side. She tilted her head to the side at their reactions to her scar. The top of the tattoo on her hip was barely visible. Only the tip of feathers could be seen. Once Merrick had brought her back to the right side of the Power she got it done as remembrance of a time where she felt complete. It was the falcon and crane yin and yang symbol. Their noses touching in the middle and their wings formed the circle.
"Starts at my ribs and goes down my leg to the knee. Accident about a year after I left the team."
Jason wouldn't say anything. He was the only one that had known about it only because he'd come to confront her about the letter that she'd supposedly sent but found her in the hospital dancing between life and death. Once she'd managed to be lucid enough Jason had told her what happened. It had shattered her but in the end she decided it was for the best. She'd made him promise not to tell anyone.
"A year…" Kat started.
Then something clicked in the blonde's mind.
"You didn't send the letter."
"No, I was in and out of surgeries to fix me. Some days I was okay and sometimes I was about ready to step across death's threshold."
"Why didn't…"
"I would've thought that would've been obvious. Besides once I was healthy enough to be on my own I went searching for something. I found other teams to walk beside for a while, then I found horses."
"Why didn't…"
"Leave it alone Kat," Jason said.
"He thought the worst of her."
Kimberly snorted and shook her head. None of them would understand what she went through much less believe what she'd told them.
"You want answers Kat. He looked happy with you so I figured it was best to leave it alone. Beside I wasn't in the right frame of mind for a long time. It took Shayla and Merrick a long time to get me back on the right side of things. Then others helped me go forward to find a happiness in the world. A world where I walked by myself without him or anyone else."
Kimberly felt Jason start at her words. She wondered if he figured it out. Jason wrapped her ribs up. Once he was done he tugged her shirt back down.
"Take it easy…"
"You know that's not possible. We still have one more threat to go and he's going to be the hardest. He's after me."
"You have this sword and crystal."
"Yes."
"Why are you protecting it so fiercely?"
"It was the last thing he asked of me. To keep it out of the wrong hands."
"At the cost of your life?"
"If necessary."
"This is insane. Don't get me wrong he was my friend, but he shouldn't have left it to you."
"You're probably right, but it can't be taken back now."
"I don't understand you anymore."
"I've changed Jason and it's okay that you don't. I have days where I don't understand myself anymore either. Though I'll face this threat like a Ranger should."
"That coin is weakening Kimberly."
She held up the pterodactyl coin and there were fractures in the shiny surface.
"I know, but for right now it's all I have. One of the changes I went through fractured the coin even more, but I managed to get it stable enough to use."
"Do you know how dangerous that is?"
"Of course I do. I've felt the backlash more than once."
"Kimberly…" Jason started.
"He probably won't wait long to confront me."
"You were touched by evil."
"I was."
"How long ago?"
"About a year and a half after the accident. No almost two years after the accident."
"How did…"
"Once Merrick understood what was happening to me he helped and Shayla too. Though, the Wild Force team had to get Merrick on the right side of things too. Zen-Aku was a tough opponent."
"Why didn't…"
"Come on Jason. I was in a dark place and wasn't ready to face anyone from before much less with the emotional and mental scars I had."
She'd spent a lot of years avoiding just this conversation and Tommy had to die and bring her back here. It wasn't that she didn't want to reunite with her old teammates but right now she wasn't ready to confront the baggage that she carried for so long and forgive herself and others for the past. Trent came down the stairs slowly. Blood was dripping down the side of his face. He was holding his side and walking in an unsteady manner. Kira and Connor rushed forward to help him down the remaining stairs. Jason stood up ready to help.
"What happened?" Kira demanded.
"It's okay Kira. Just got into a fight. He jumped me when I was transporting Billy and Eric back. He killed them both and stole Eric's morpher."
Kimberly inwardly cursed softly knowing that this was going to go down sooner than she wanted.
"Looks like we're going to be having this out soon."
She sighed softly. Inwardly she wasn't ready to face him not knowing what kind of state he'd be in. Before when he was under Rita's control he'd never scared her just made her a bit nervous especially after learning his identity and trying to confront him. This him would be entirely different.
Kira and Trent saw her struggling with the entire thing and they both felt bad for her. They didn't know what to say so they looked at each other then towards the others in the room.
"Can you guys leave? I just need…"
Jason understood and took his wife by the arm and guided her out of the basement. The Dino Thunder team left behind them. She'd struggled before but this was a whole entire level. Once all of them left she sank down in the small room where the case was. She opened it to stare at the cause of all this trouble. It was dark in the room except for the soft white and green glow from the crystal and sword. The pain in her body was ignored as she was trying to shove down the emotions rocking her world. Her hand ran over the half Dragonzord symbol on her hand. She ran her hands through her hair and grabbed handfuls and bowed her head trying to get a hold of herself. She was fighting the tears. Letting go of her hair she leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. Tears slid down her cheeks unhindered as she remembered the past. Once she felt she could go out in the light without breaking down she rose and shut the case and locked it. Walking out into the main room of the Command Center she looked around at it. Knowing she would have to face this soon enough she took the first few steps with hesitation. Then determination struck her as she moved.
She got upstairs and stood on the porch and let out a loud whistle. Falcon paced out of the trees. Dawn wasn't with him thankfully. He stopped in front of her an tossed his head. The charm in his mane jingled softly. Knowing she wouldn't be able to swing up on his back she gestured for him to get down. Once he was down she got on his back with a small hiss. Falcon rose to his feet and she turned him towards the cemetery. It didn't take long for her to come in the back way. Knowing the grounds keepers wouldn't like a horse among the graves she gestured for Falcon to kneel. She slid off his back with a soft hiss. He rose and looked at her with his deep chocolate colored eyes. She brushed some of his mane out of his eyes and kissed his brow. Her fingers brushed over the charms in his mane before pushing his head away gently.
"Stay here."
He snorted and tossed his head. Turning she turned to walk to his grave. She reached out and touched the stone before bowing her head. Then she felt it. The familiar tingle of danger, but at the same time it was a familiar feeling that told her he was near.
"That was fast. I didn't expect you for another couple hours. At least long enough to give me a moment to breathe. Your minions were a little rough."
He didn't respond at first and she wondered how much he'd changed.
"You're hurt."
Her eyes slid shut hearing his voice.
"Doesn't matter in the end. I know what you're here for and you can't have them."
"I don't want to fight you."
"Then don't. Go back to wherever you came from and make a life. Death hurts but she would've wanted you to be happy even if it was without her."
"How did…"
"Eric told me."
He scoffed at her voice was colored by the darkness in his heart.
"Don't make me hurt you."
She tiled her head down. Part of her didn't want to see him like this but at the same time she wondered what hardships death had put him through to drive him to do what he'd done. Sighing softly she turned to face him and her heart broke at the man before her. His hate and anger had aged him considerably. His helmet was tucked underneath his arm. His beautiful brown eyes were as hard as stone.
"Trent said you killed Billy and Eric."
"I did."
"Why?"
"They betrayed me."
She shook her head at his answer. In her hand was the pterodactyl coin. Her hand curled around the coin as she prepared herself for the fight to come. There would be backlash this time she was sure of it, but it would have to be done.
"Don't," he growled softly.
"I have to. There's no one but Trent left to stop you, and we know he's strong but not strong enough to take you down as you are now. And Jason, Kat and the Dino Thunder team are too far away to help me now. So this is between you and I."
Then she watched him for a second and realized he didn't want to do this anymore than she did.
"Kimberly, don't."
Hearing him say her name made her heart ache all the more.
"You gave me no choice."
His name was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't want to say it out loud to make it real that he wasn't on the side of good anymore. He held out his free hand to her.
"Join me."
"No."
Kimberly looked at his hand as he offered it to her. She was fighting the darkness that was baying for him underneath the surface. She was fighting that urge down. Her eyes flashed for a moment as she fought down the darkness. "No. I can't…"
He seemed to hesitate as he looked at her. The question was on tip of his tongue, but he didn't know if he should voice it or not.
"You've suffered."
"Doesn't matter," she growled softly. "I won't let you have the sword and crystal."
"Kimberly…"
She looked up at him as he said her name. "Join me."
"No."
Shaking her head she rose slowly and stood there ready to fight him. She missed him and missed the feeling when they stood together as a team. Though, she knew she couldn't walk down that dark path again. It wasn't who she was not anymore.
"What did they do to you?"
"It's in the past."
"Is it really if you have to fight it now?"
"I'm stronger than any of them give me credit for."
"I had faith in you."
That set her off as her eyes flashed red for a moment before she shook her head. Her back straightened as she tried to look stronger than she felt at that moment. At one point those words meant the world to her, but now they weren't on the same side anymore.
"At the beginning and the end, never in the middle."
His eyes narrowed at her words. She stepped back and her hand rested on his stone. "We thought he'd killed himself."
The darker version of him snorted at her words.
"You believed that?"
"At first but then Eric said he'd killed him. Then I realized something."
"What's that?"
"His death wasn't without purpose. His death was a means to protect, to protect me in his own way even though we've been apart for a long time."
He moved forward and reached out for her. His fingers brushed against her cheek, but she turned her head away.
"Beautiful…"
Her eyes widened at the nickname she hadn't heard in a long time. She faced him her heart pounding. Then her phone at the inopportune time went off. The sound startled him for moment before his eyes narrowed. Grabbing it she silenced it. It was Merrick. He'd probably felt the spike in the darkness from her. His wolf senses seemed heightened when it came to the shifting powers of darkness. As good as it was to hear him call her that once more he wasn't her Tommy anymore.
"Don't call me that."
"The Dragonzord summons..."
"Yes, something from the past that centers me even though they all thought I betrayed you… him."
"He should've known better."
Taking a deep breath she centered herself she readied herself for the fight of her life. The battles against him as an agent of Rita would probably be nothing compared to this battle. Then she felt something heavy in both of her hands. Confusion washed over her. The crystal was clear with what looked like liquid silver inside moving around. The sword was in the other hand. In her mind the items sung to her whispering to become one with them. She frowned at it but not because of the song itself, but because it didn't feel malevolent like they'd told her.
"Kimberly don't it'll destroy you."
"Like it almost destroyed you?"
"How did…"
"Trent told me some say the power is malevolent and others say it's good. In the wrong hands it'll be malevolent. There's something telling me that this power wasn't made for you."
"Don't…"
Knowing she had to keep it out of his hands she looked down at the crystal and took a deep breath. With a force she didn't know she had she crushed the crystal in her hand and white smoke exploded around her. The power wrapped around her and it felt like coming home. The power swirled around her all her chaotic thoughts stilled as everything came together around her. He'd said that this power was from a link of darkness but it didn't feel like that. It pulsed inside of her and allowed her to calm for once since she'd left his side so long ago. There were soft sounds echoing in her ear, but she couldn't put names to them right at that moment. With a sweep of the sword she cleared the smoke from around her. It was almost like their ninjetti gear except she was decked out in a darker green than what Tommy wore as the Green Ranger. The darkness baying in her mind quieted to a soft whisper than to a silence that she'd not been able to achieve since before her accident. Closing her eyes she felt like someone was wrapping their arms around her whispering it would be alright. She looked at him readying herself for the fight to come.
This power was warmth pulsing inside of her. It was almost like the first time she morphed. Her hurts didn't hurt half as bad as they'd done before the transformation. With a snarl he put his helmet on and readied himself for a fight. She knew she'd put him in a bad spot since the only way to pass this power on according to Trent was by death. He knew that too.
"Back down," she started.
"You've given me no choice."
"You've eliminated all the Power Rangers in your world, what could you possibly need this power for?"
"You wouldn't understand."
"I guess I wouldn't."
She readied herself to fight. Then something overcame her. It was almost as if she were mirroring his moves. She'd not worked with a sword in a long time but it was coming back to her. Then realization washed over her. This power was created to protect one person, and that was her. Tears prickled her eyes in realization. He'd created this to protect her. To her senses it almost felt like a mash up of his first three powers combined into one. The echoes she'd heard were the scream of the Falcon and the roar of the White Tiger and Dragonzord. He lunged for her and as if someone was guiding her steps she countered the strike he threw at her. It was almost like an out of body experience where someone was controlling her movements. Her eyes hardened as she watched him. His anger was rolling off of him in waves. It almost reminded her of when they first faced each other as enemies after Rita got her claws into him.
The two of them traded blows. She knew even with this new power she knew in an all-out battle he would crush her. He was holding back even though he wanted what she had. Finally he seemed to get annoyed how long the battle was taking her managed to fake a strike but get up under her guard and kicked her in the chest. Her breath left her in a rush and the taste of blood exploded in her mouth. She grunted in pain but kept her feet even though pain exploded through her chest. She yanked the mask down and spit out the mouth full of blood. Her eyes came up as she tried to get breath into her lungs. Her eyes were wild and blood was dripping down the corner of her mouth.
"Give up. You know you can't win against me."
"No, this power wasn't made for you."
"How could you…"
"It was designed to protect. To protect someone specific. Your rage is going to be your downfall."
"You don't understand my rage."
"You think I don't? You don't think I know what it is to lose someone so precious to me? To lose my dreams and things I've worked hard for? I assure you I have."
"You know nothing."
She didn't let his word affect her like they normally would. This man would never know the struggles she'd had to face on her own. Trials she'd had to face without him, someone that she thought would stand beside her forever. His words distracted her enough. Tommy kicked her wrist sending the sword flying. It landed at the base of his grave. Tommy went for it and she let him. He yelped as the sword shocked him. His gloved hand was smoking from the shock. She'd warned him, but he hadn't listened.
"I told you this power was meant to protect."
He snarled and turned and leapt for her. She wasn't ready for him so she stumbled a bit trying to get some distance from him. He delivered a kick to her side making her stumble and fall backwards. She knew his stone was right behind her, and she had a feeling she was going to crack her head. Something warm stopped her fall and managed to right her. Her entire body stopped functioning for a moment as a familiar scent washed over her. Looking down she saw arms clad in white and it started making her shake. She knew that armor like her own. From the darker him's reaction he was having a sense of déjà vu too.
"Let's do this together," he murmured softly to her.
"Together," she agreed softly.
His softer voice washed over her bringing a calm she'd not felt in a long time. She nodded her head not knowing what to say to this other version of him. He made sure she was steady before letting her go and standing beside her.
"You think you can win against me? Even with his help."
She looked over her shoulder at White Tiger Ranger decked in his armor. She felt something wash through her as she faced forward and stared at the other him. Reaching up she brushed the blood off the corner of her mouth and pulled up the mask. She grabbed the sword and moved to mirror the stance of the White Tiger Ranger. "I'm stronger than he ever was."
"That's only a matter of opinion."
The darker version just started laughing at her words. The two of them moved as one entity in two bodies. The two of them moved in sync as they fought the Dark One. The White Tiger Ranger managed to get a good kick in sending the Dark One to the ground. He'd landed on his back in front of the stone that bore his name. He was heaving at the exertion he'd been trough fighting the two of them. The White Tiger Ranger went to finish the fight but she grabbed his arm.
"Let me."
She saw the hesitation in him. Knowing who he was he was always protective of her, but this time she had to protect him. A curt nod was his only answer. Her steps were slow as she approached him. She leaned over him and pulled his helmet off. His angry eyes met hers. Everything inside her ached seeing what loss had done to him. The blade was pressed to his neck. She needed him to back down and leave willing back to his world. Before her was a broken man that had lost his way.
"Finish it," he growled.
His eyes clenched shut and tears trailed down his cheek. It twisted her heart to see him like this even though he wasn't hers, and he hadn't been for a long time.
"Let it go," she murmured softly. "Let this go and try to find some small piece of life in that world that makes you happy. She would've wanted that for you even if it was without her in it. We love you and always will, but holding onto all this anger and sadness drove you to this point. Had you taken the sword and crystal it would've destroyed all that you are, and I mean everything."
"I am nothing."
"You are a brave and fearless. You are a friend and a teacher. You are a partner and the strongest thing that you are is a Leader."
"And you know me so well."
"You have come back from darkness before Tommy, and I have the faith you can do it again."
"So have you," he murmured softly.
The White Tiger Ranger stood a distance away knowing he wouldn't be able to help her if the Dark One decided to do something to her.
"Walk a path that makes you happy."
"I don't know what that is anymore."
"You'll have to try."
"You look good in my colors," he murmured softly.
A soft laugh escaped her.
"Just grateful it's not all your colors or I'd look like a Christmas Tree."
A soft laugh escaped him. He laid his head back on the ground and looked at her. He gave her that smile that made her heart race. The man she'd fallen in love with back then was somewhere underneath that hardened exterior. Reaching up, he brushed his thumb across her cheek gently. She felt her heart aching knowing that she was going to lose him again.
"It was you, you know."
"It was me what?"
"My wife," he murmured softly.
Her heart twisted at those words.
"Then that makes my words more meaningful doesn't it. Go in peace Tommy and may the Power protect you always."
A heavy sigh escaped his lips as his eyes closed and he vanished into a green cloud of light. She slammed the sword into the ground as she sank to her knees to try and steady herself as she bowed her head. Her hands were shaking. She heard the clicking of the White Tiger helmet. The other him moved forward and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes I'll be okay. Just this power is strong and I just…"
She knew he'd seen through her and knew what she was really trying to say. He knelt down beside her and took her into his arms. He'd always known what to do back then to make things less black and lessen the sorrow.
"Let it out."
She turned and wrapped herself around him as she let out her sorrow in the form of tears. He rubbed her back as she sobbed into his shoulder.
"Kimberly," he murmured.
"I'm going to lose three of you in a matter of a couple weeks."
"I cannot justify either of their actions because I'm not them and they aren't me."
Once the tears stopped he rose and held his hand out to her. She grabbed the sword and placed it in the sheath on her lower back before taking his hand and rising. She looked up at him. He gave her a halfhearted smile and reached up and brushed her tears away with his thumb. "Though it makes me sad that it's hurt you so much. There's a lot of hurt inside of you that they didn't see."
"After I almost died I didn't want them to see it. I tried to be strong and stand on my own but it made it worse."
Tears slid down her cheeks. He reached up and brushed her tears away with his thumb.
"I hate it when you cry. I always have."
"I wish you could've stayed. It's not right that there is a world without you in it."
"Trent told me that you needed me so I came from my dimension. He told me what he'd done and that someone needed to help you but wasn't sure who could against a dark version of myself."
"She's probably missing you. I know I did, always."
"I'll remember that, by the way you look good in my colors."
She laughed softly even though it hurt to laugh.
"He said the same thing. Don't take their paths please. I know it's your life but don't take their paths no matter what happens. You have so much to give."
"Beautiful…"
She knew he didn't know what to say to reassure her that everything would be okay in the end. Kimberly was quivering on the inside knowing this is the last time she'd see him alive. A soft whimper escaped her. He moved forward quickly and wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She couldn't help the tears that escaped her eyes as they pulled back. They separated slowly and Tommy stood next to Trent and looked at her sadly. The two vanished before her eyes. What seemed like hours when it was only minutes Trent returned.
"He would've been proud of you. You couldn't bring yours back, but you saved his life for her."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it."
She turned and walked away. Falcon met her and she got up on his back and turned him away from the cemetery.
Trent looked over his shoulder at the stone that bore his name. The name started changing on the stone and smiled softly. He watched her get up on her stallions back and vanish into the tree line.
"It's the least I could do for you," he murmured.
A hand on his shoulder made him look back and a smile crossed his features as he dipped his head in a nod. Then both vanished.
Kimberly sighed softly as she returned to the house. The ninjetti armor washed away. Everything hurt and she just wanted a hot bath and sleep for the next couple days. Falcon without prompting went to his knees so she could slide off his back. Once the stallion was on his feet again she praised him and patted him before telling him to go home. Taking a deep breath she went inside the house. Once she got into the house something felt off. Inwardly she cursed under her breath. Quietly she drew her sword and readied herself for a fight with some unknown assailant. Slowly she stalked towards the Command Center. There was someone standing in the middle of the room. She didn't wait to assess the situation and she leapt forward. The man managed to kick the sword out of her hand sending it skittering across the ground. With a loud grunt he had her pinned to the ground. Both of them panting from the fight.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she growled.
"I live here," he told her.
Everything inside of her froze as she recognized his voice. "Sorry I'm late. I had to take the long way around."
She stared up at him in disbelief.
"I buried you."
"Trent lied."
"About?"
"He didn't pull me from another dimension. He pulled me from your past and you saved my life."
He gave her one of those smiles and leaned down and kissed her softly. "I'm home beautiful."
He moved so she could sit up. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she cried against his shoulder. They held each other close knowing finally at last this was where they were meant to be, together.