The Forgotten 18

An: Don't Own Power Rangers.

Things are starting to heat up. The end is coming soon. Hope ya'll enjoy!

Kimberly knelt in the forest in her Ninjetti gear waiting. Her eyes were closed as she listened to the forest waiting for the disturbance that another presence would bring. Footsteps alerted her to the approach of another person. He moved forward and stood in front of her. Before she or even he could speak a black blur shot into the clearing and knocked Trent on his back. The crescent blade was pressed to his vulnerable neck.

"Move the wrong way and I will end you."

"Did you bring me out here to have him to beat me up?"

"No, that wasn't my intention. My intention was to fight you myself for the hit that almost killed me."

He rose enough to look at her in confusion. "Zen-Aku let him up."

The Duke Org snorted and lifted the blade and moved to stand behind her. Kimberly reached up and pushed back her hood and pulled down the face mask. Trent rose and moved forward and knelt down in front of her.

"Kimberly…"

She knew he knew what he'd done. There was remorse in him.

"I almost…"

"Yes. Had I not been wearing my armor and the three spirits protecting me you'd have to explain my death to a more unforgiving audience."

"Zen-Aku mentioned that."

Kimberly smiled softly at his uncomfortable posture. She held up her wrist to show him the watch looking communicator that was always present even when morphed.

"When something happens to me this alerts my Core Four and any Ranger that is close, but there is a flip side to that. Had you killed me, you'd have to deal with my Core Four. Three Red and One Lunar wolf Ranger. Though, they wouldn't beat Zen-Aku to me though and he's a really unforgiving audience when it comes to me."

Trent tipped his head down. She felt bad for him.

"What is he? That sounded rude I'm…"

"Zen-Aku is a Duke Org. His counterpart Merrick was a Wild Force Lunar Wolf Ranger."

"He looks like an enemy no offense."

Zen-Aku snorted at the White Ranger's words.

"He was at one point in time, but is on the right side now. I've had a couple people attack him before I could say he's on my side."

"Tori wasn't even a challenge for me."

"She gave it her best shot Zen-Aku, besides she thought I was in trouble since we were sparring."

Zen-Aku snorted. Trent looked back and forth between the two in confusion. "Zen-Aku has been my shadow guardian for years. My Core Four and others can't help me sometimes so Zen-Aku can get to me faster than they can."

"You keep saying this Core Four."

Kimberly reached around her and grabbed her bag. Pulling out the first book she grabbed she handed it to Trent. The spine was embossed with PRCF.

"Go ahead I figured you would ask."

Trent opened it to see four Rangers standing together. It was done in ink. Flipping the page they were standing there with their helmets tucked under their arms. Flipping the page the four were in some kind of uniforms except for the long haired Ranger.

"Andros Space Ranger, Wes Time Force Ranger, Eric Quantum Ranger, and Merrick Lunar Wolf Ranger."

"How did you choose them?"

"I didn't, they did. They worried about me because of the Curse I'm under."

"Curse?"

"Yes, despite what Ethan thinks curses are real. I've been underneath mine for a long time."

He kept flipping through the pages admiring the detail.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Why me?"

"Why you what?" she asked in confusion.

"You believed there was good in me when I was sure there wasn't any left. So why me?"

"Because of Tommy," she murmured softly. "No Ranger, except of course the Psycho Rangers, is meant to be evil."

"Psycho Rangers?"

"They're clones of the Space Rangers. They thought they defeated them but they came back when I was with Leo's Lost Galaxy team and they took Kendrix. It was a blow to all Rangers far and wide."

"You've helped a lot of teams haven't you?"

"Under the Curse? I helped the Zeo team just once. Space, Lost Galaxy, Lightspeed Rescue, Time Force, Wild Force, Ninja Storm, and to you guys. At first it was just Andros then when Time Force came around I got Wes and Eric. Then did Merrick join the team in Wild Force."

"You only helped the Zeo team once?"

"That isn't something I'm going to talk about with you. It wasn't one of my finest moments I assure you."

His wrist started beeping. She smiled softly.

"Well I gotta run…"

The two of them rose. She stood there for a moment looking at him like she was contemplating something.

"Trent?"

"Yeah."

Before he knew what was happening her fist connected with his cheek knocking him down. He stared up at her as she stood over top of him.

"That's for what you did to Tommy with the amber."

He rubbed his face trying to figure out what just happened. Her eyes were green as she stood over him. She blinked and they were back to her normal brown.

"Not for that hit?"

"No, that battle is for another day. That one's for Tommy. Maybe another day I'll explain it to you but now go help the others like you were meant to do."

She turned to walk away leaving the White Ranger to wallow in his confusion before he rose and went to help his friends. She rose and something rocked through her making her gasp in pain sending her to her knees.

"Kimberly?" Zen-Aku asked worriedly.

"Something is wrong with him."

"Go then," he murmured. "You will not rest until you do."

She nodded her head and vanished. Standing outside the door of his room her heart pounded in agony. The bond between them was pulsing but it was weak. Something was happening to him but she wasn't sure what it was. Reaching up she touched her chest trying to push down the urge to fight.

"Kimberly?" Hayley asked softly grabbing her attention.

"Can I…" she murmured as she gestured to Tommy laying on the bed.

"Of course. I'll go speak to the doctor."

She nodded her head and waited till Hayley left the room. Kimberly moved into his hospital room. Something inside of her ached at seeing him. Moving forward she brushed a strand of hair away and smiled softly as she leaned down and kissed his forehead. She never thought she'd see him like this. She thought for a moment that this scene would be reversed. Reaching up she brushed her thumb across his forehead. Her power wavered for a moment and she hoped it would help him. Telling the spirits that he needed them one last time.

"Come on Handsome. You're stronger than this. Those kids need you."

She watched him for a moment before taking a deep breath. Knowing there wasn't anything she could do for him at that moment. "I love you more than you'll ever know."

She placed another kiss on his forehead before she stepped back closer to the window. She heard footsteps coming her way so she backed up and vanished. She landed in her apartment and went to her sketch books and utensils and slid down the wall and started working not caring about the low light. The fit's grip eased up on her when he woke. Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes and sat her last work down. Her hands ached.

"Time is running out."

Zen-Aku melted from the shadows and knelt beside her.

"I will stand beside you till the end."

Kimberly nodded her head and leaned it back against the wall and closed her eyes.

Tommy saw Kimberly sitting at a table in the back at Hayley's Café a couple days later. She had her laptop out and she was working on something in her book and then typing something on her laptop. Moving forward he stood beside her.

"We need to talk."

"Give me a minute," she murmured softly.

She went back to her sketch book and finished something before laying a blank sheet of paper over what she'd done before closing it.

"I'm sure this conversation isn't one that can be said in present company."

Carefully she saved and shut down her laptop and put it away along with her book. Shouldering her bag she went towards the door. The other four Rangers and Hayley watched the duo. Once outside she stopped and looked at him.

"Are we going to discuss this or will there be a battle involved?"

"Kimberly."

His impatience in his voice made her roll her eyes she gestured with her head. They walked into a door three doors down from the other side of Hayley's Café. She stopped at her door and opened it but made him wait for a moment so she could drop her stuff off. Then she reappeared locking the door behind her and lead him to the roof. She sat down on the bench and he stood there looking around.

"Welcome to my home. What is it that you needed to talk about with me?"

"When I was in that coma I fought my Zeo Five, White Tiger, and Green Ranger selves for my life."

"Okay? What does this have to do with why you're angry at me?"

"I'm not angry per say."

"Tommy," she murmured.

"That was dangerous what you did."

"What I did?" she asked pleading ignorance even though she knew what she did.

"You were there, but I couldn't see you. You were whispering not to give up that the kids needed me."

"I didn't do anything Tommy."

"They hesitated a second when I heard your voice. I felt…"

She smiled and dipped her head.

"You didn't need any help Tommy. I had faith you could overcome any test that they presented you with."

"How did you know?"

Kimberly rose and turned to face the street. Her arms crossed over her chest.

"I can feel you because of the Falcon and Dragon. I told Jason the same thing. Rangers feel different to my senses because of the Curse. I can feel you but your presence is stronger because of the connection we once had."

"That doesn't…"

"I always had faith in you even at your worst."

She felt pain wash through her and felt blood slid down her mouth. Reaching up she touched the blood and went for the towel that was always ready.

"Kimberly?"

She wavered a bit. In seconds he was behind her scooping her up. She smiled against his neck behind the towel covering her face. Her heart was pounding.

"It's almost over," she murmured softly.

Her wrist started beeping, but it stopped as she leaned against him. He carried her down the stairs and when he reached her door it opened. Standing there was Zen-Aku. Tommy moved inside and carefully laid her down on the couch.

"Kimberly…"

"Don't," she murmured softly.

Zen-Aku took the towel she had away from her and gave her a warm washcloth. She washed her face and leaned back against the cushions. Her eyes closed slowly. He moved and touched her face.

"I'm not dead yet. You'll know when I go. Our team will know when I go."

"The lost memories?"

"Yes, you'll have to bear a burden and I'm sorry for that."

He didn't know what to say to her. Nothing would make this right. In moment she was out. Zen-Aku moved forward and carefully picked her up and carried her into her room. Tommy turned and froze seeing the stand with the Dragon Dagger and her sword. A soft light glinting off something drew his gaze to a picture. His heart pounded seeing it. He went to touch it but Zen-Aku grabbed his wrist.

"Don't. This is hard enough on her knowing that you will remember this when she dies."

"There isn't anything to be done to stop this?"

"No. She grows weaker and weaker as the days go on."

"You can't keep her out of this."

"Even with what little you know about her do you really think I could keep her away from you? This is what she wants. She wants to go out helping you till the end."

Tommy looked to the cracked door where she was sleeping. He couldn't explain the draw to her but if that picture was correct there had been something between them before the Curse was struck.

"You'll keep her safe?"

"As long as I am able."

"How many have wrangled that promise out of you?"

Zen-Aku looked Tommy in the eyes. His golden eyes glowed.

"All of them."

Tommy looked back over his shoulder and felt his chest ache. His wrist started beeping. "Go I will make sure she stays here for this fight."

Nodding his head he moved out the door throwing one more glance at the picture of them. Without a word he left shutting the door behind him. There was a feeling of finality to it and it made him hurt more.