DISCLAIMER
Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban and Nickelodeon. I only own subplots and characters you don't recognize. I use a line from the original ep. Reference to "On Fins And Needles".
After Coach Schmidt left, the other Rangers and their friends walked up to Kimberly.
"Wow, I can't believe you met Gunthar Schmidt," Tina breathed.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool," Aisha agreed.
"So, this is probably really exciting for you, huh?" Trini asked.
"I suppose," Kimberly said. Jason looked at her in surprise. Getting into the Olympics was her dream. Why wasn't she more excited?
"Uh, Kim, this news is most prodigious. Why are you not experiencing a feeling of jubilancy?" Billy wondered.
"I know I should be excited, but really, I'm not," Kimberly stated.
"Well, why not?" Zack wondered.
"It's just-it doesn't seem all that important anymore," Kimberly answered. And it wasn't. She had the best gig ever, how could being in the Olympics ever compare? She sighed. "Look, I know that seems really weird, but going to the Olympics just doesn't have the same appeal that it used to," she continued.
"Kim, are you just saying this because you think we expect you to?" Jason asked gently.
"Jase!" Tommy chided.
"No, he's got a point. If she thought someone would disapprove of an endeavor, she'd willingly give up whatever it is she desired to partake in," Billy answered.
"Jase, I know what you're thinking, and I promise you this is how I'm actually feeling," Kimberly stated.
"Should we tell Zordon about this?" Katherine asked.
"That's a good idea," Jason agreed. The Rangers went to the entrance of the youth center, looked around furtively, and then teleported to the Command Center.
"Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi! Rangers, is something wrong?" Alpha wondered.
"No, but we do have something of importance to discuss," Billy replied.
"There's nothing to discuss," Kimberly protested.
"Kimberly, are you referring to the man that approached you in the youth center?" Alpha asked.
"Yes," Kimberly answered.
"We are aware of his offer, Kimberly," Zordon told her. "And though being a Power Ranger requires many sacrifices, it was never my intention to deprive any you of a lifetime opportunity such as this. If you desire to train for the Olympics, I will support you in your endeavor," he continued. Kimberly smiled.
"Thank you, Zordon, but the truth is, it just doesn't-it doesn't hold the same appeal as it used to," she told him.
"Doesn't hold the same appeal?" Alpha repeated. He and Zordon shared a knowing look. For the last three years as he and Zordon had watched the team, it had become obvious that gymnastics was a big part of the Pink Ranger's life. During her first year as a Ranger, they had even heard her mentioning that wanting to go to the Olympics. If something that had previously meant so much to her didn't seem important anymore, that could only mean one thing. But they had to be sure.
"Kimberly, how have you been feeling during battles?" Zordon asked.
"Energized, it's a rush. And when we get through eliminating a monster or stopping another one of Rita and Zedd's plan, it's satisfying," Kimberly answered.
"And what about your dream of being a famous Olympian? Do you still want to be a gymnast?" Zordon continued.
"It'd be cool, but it's really not as a big of a deal I used to think it was. I can't think of anything better than being a Power Ranger," Kimberly answered.
"Zordon, why all the questions?" Jason wondered. Does he think there's something wrong? Or is the Power doing something to her? he asked himself.
"It would appear that Kimberly has made such a strong connection to the Power that anything else would appear pale in comparison," Zordon replied.
"You mean it's a part of her?" Rocky queried.
"Yes, Rocky. You all have a connection to your powers of course due to the Coins, but once in a while, a Ranger will connect to the grid so strongly that they can't even fathom doing anything else," Zordon answered.
"And Kim is that connected?" Tommy queried.
"It would appear so, Tommy," Zordon responded. "And given the way the rest of you have reacted to the Power, I would not be surprised if you reached the same connection level as Kimberly very soon," the wizard continued. The Rangers looked at each other in surprise. Wow. That's pretty major, Rocky thought to himself. On the moon, Rita quickly went into Finster's laboratory.
"Finster! I need a monster now! A fast and nasty one, but not the Slippery Shark! The Rangers would just destroy him," she stated. Finster quickly looked through his clay molds.
"I have just the perfect monster, My Queen," Finster announced a few moments later. He picked up the mold and put into the Monster-Matic. Rita cackled.
"That's what I like to hear, Finster! So, who is it?" she asked.
"In the book. Page 235," the dog-like monster replied. Rita picked up the book and quickly turned to the page. She laughed in delight when she saw the creature.
"Ah, yes! Speedtron! Incredibly fast with a poisonous sting as well as the ability to evaporate any body of water! I love it!" she approved. There was a blast and the creature landed on Earth by the Angel Grove Lake. In the Command Center, the alarm blared.