The Forgotten

Kimberly was working on something in her own sketch book. Changing the page she started another one in the same vein as the other one. Reaching down in her bag she pulled out markers and started going over the lines she'd done. Trent as he worked in his homework beside Kira. Her markers flew over the page. He'd told her about the battle between the Evil White Ranger and himself for the control over the White Dino Gem. Trent looked over at her drawing and saw himself going at it against the Evil White Ranger. He looked at her in confusion wondering how she'd got that kind of detail.

"What?" she asked in confusion then back down to her sketch book. "Is something wrong?"

"No, but you weren't there…"

"You said you fought your other self… If it's not right…"

He gestured to her for it. She handed it to him and he examined her work. He was careful to not touch the drying ink.

"This is better than…"

"Hey I've been doing this a long time. Though, believe it or not I wasn't always good at this. This level of skill took time to cultivate. Once upon a time gymnastics was my thing."

A memory of so long ago hit her but she shook it off. She knew he wanted to ask but something was holding him back. It was easier to talk with other Rangers but with his team it seemed to come harder to say something. Though she knew exactly why it was harder to talk with his team than those who only knew Tommy by name or in passing.

"Can I have one of these?"

He handed her back her sketch book carefully. Kimberly looked at him in confusion as she looked back at the drawing in her hands. It kind of surprised her that he'd want something of the darker side of him.

"You want to remember this fight?"

"I will always remember that fight," he said softly his eyes looking at something far away that she couldn't see.

"Well there are always fights that you remember more vividly that others. I can understand that."

She smiled at him softly. Going to her bag she pulled out the shipping tube and held it out to him. The Tube was marked with her Falcon and Crane emblem with the newest addition the mark of the dragon in the back ground. "Until I deem this one to be done, I have this one for you."

He took the tube and opened it. Unrolling it, it was a team drawing. They were all morphed ready for a fight.

"Why?"

"It's something I started doing when I ran with Andros's team. Not everything makes it into the team books, so I give to the ones that would apricate it the most."

"Team books?"

"Yes, I keep records of teams I run with well not records per say but memories. Ones I can pull out when I want to remember something important. I have a lot more books than just the team books."

He smiled and rolled it back up and put it back in its tube. Then he looked at the emblem.

"Can I ask about this?"

"Spirits that protect me. Once upon a time two of them protected him."

She smiled sadly and went back to her book. Kimberly tensed mid stroke and felt the Call wash through her. Trent noticed her freezing.

"Kimberly?"

"Something isn't right."

"Do we need…"

She tried to shake off the grip of the Call, but something was keeping her from ignoring it. There wasn't any blood though which confused her. Shaking her head back and forth she tried to clear her mind. Something was majorly wrong.

"No this is something else. A call for help but not at the same time."

Getting up she gathered her things in her bag and walked towards the exit. She bumped into a figure outside the cafe. The electrical feeling that crossed her senses told her who it was. She'd completely forgotten to check his Motocross schedule. There were times she tried to make it to see him race but with Tommy's team things had gotten so messed up so fast. Her hourglass was damned near empty. She looked up into familiar eyes. His head cocked to the side seeing her.

"Kimberly?" Blake asked in confusion.

"Hey Thunder. I have to go. I'll be back later, and we can catch up."

"Are you sure you don't…"

"Not right now."

"What are you doing… right you live here."

She nodded her head and moved past him and his friend to follow the Call. She vanished and got to a stretch of woods so she could determine where to go. Zen-Aku appeared behind her as she walked through the woods. The edge of the Call wasn't abating any.

"What is it?"

"I don't know. This Call is different somehow, but I can't pinpoint why. No blood which makes it even worse that I can't pinpoint this."

"Is it distance?"

"No trust me distance isn't going to be a thing that affects the Call. Leo's team when they needed me was so much further away than the distance now."

"What is it then?"

"I'm not sure. It's not happened before like this. Let's go."

Closing her eyes, she focused herself as Zen-Aku laid his hand on her shoulder. Confusion washed over her as she recognized where she was. The pulsing of evil washed through her like a tidal wave. Zen-Aku looked around also recognizing the area they were standing in. Unease washed through her standing before the Abyss of Evil. Something had gone down and she was sure it wasn't going to be a pleasant treat when it came.

"This isn't good," Kimberly murmured.

"Something has happened here, but I am unsure of what it is."

She tensed feeling something creep up her spine. Someone had stuck behind to greet anyone that came looking. Cursing inwardly, she waited for them to make their presence known. Getting her phone out she hit the dial button on a number she had saved but never called. He picked up.

"Kimberly…"

"Tommy… The Abyss…"

Her phone went dead, and she cursed. Putting it away she readied herself for whoever was going to show they're face. She hoped he'd be ready for whatever was thrown his way.

"So alone aren't you little Pink Ranger," a voice purred darkly behind her.

Whipping around Vexacus stood there with his arms crossed over his chest. If he was standing there that meant the Abyss of Evil was open again. She knew she had to get out of there. She wasn't egotistical enough to think she could take the shark like alien alone even though she knew that Zen-Aku would step in if she faltered.

"Zen-Aku," she murmured softly.

The Duke Org stepped forward to stand just beside her.

"What is a creature like you doing helping a weakling like her?"

"That is none of your concern."

"You're a powerful creature and could defeat her easily."

"What I choose to do with her is none of your concern."

"Join me and we can rule this world together."

Zen-Aku snorted at the offer. Ruling the world had never been on his agenda and he didn't think it would ever be. Vexacus leapt forward and attacked the two. He managed to get a hit on Kimberly that sent her to her knees. Blood was staining the side of her uniform. Zen-Aku saw her go down and stared only for a moment before shooting forward. He scooped her up and vanished.

They landed in front of a familiar house. Someone rushed down the stairs inside and jerked the door open.

"I'm not going to even ask," a voice growled from the doorway. "Come inside and I can get that taken care of for you."

She powered down once Zen-Aku sat her down on a table. Zen-Aku turned away so she could lift her shirt off enough to get to the wound. Kimberly winced as she was being stitched and bandaged up. Even with the numbing agent she felt the pokes of the needle. She sat as still as she could, knowing that he was doing this against his better judgement.

"I'd suggest you not go back and step into the fight that's coming. You're not going to listen to me, are you?"

"No, I'm almost gone anyway so this battle or the next doesn't matter to me."

"He's not going to apricate your death."

She snorted at his words. There were so many that had relayed that message to her and she knew it would cause him pain when she died but she didn't have a choice in the end. None of them understood what she was paying, but she didn't want them to. As sappy as it was, he was her strength even when she was angry as hell at him.

"Maybe not, but Tori and the others are my friends too. I helped him in the beginning, and I'll help any rangers in kind until I am unable to. That is my Curse to live under until I go."

He sighed softly knowing that she was right and so was he but that wouldn't change the outcome for anyone.

"You can't say that I didn't warn you."

"Your warning is dually noted and has the other ones before you."

"This is going against my better judgement. Dana would say the same thing."

"Yeah its going against mine too, but this is my final stand, not to sound cliché or anything."

She rose and morphed. Going over her clothes she straightened it up a bit and was grateful the rip in the unform and the blood were gone.

"I still can't get used to seeing you in the Ninjetti gear."

"To everyone else I should be Kat."

"But you're not Kimberly."

She cringed as she remembered how fast she'd turned on Connor for calling her Kat.

"Yeah Connor learned that the hard way. Sorry I have to go."

"Be careful Kimberly."

She looked back over her shoulder and nodded her head even though she wasn't sure she'd make it out of this one.

"Word of warning. If I come to you when I go, be aware if I get back up, I might not be me."

"I heard from Ashley."

"Good, you understand."

"May the Power Protect You."

She vanished from in front of him. That made her heart ache hearing that after so long. It reminded her that Zordon was gone. She didn't blame Andros for one bit knowing how Zordon was. Closing her eyes she readied herself for what was coming to whatever end.

Kimberly watched her friends destroy the town. Knowing she had to get down there and do something she readied herself to leap down off the bridge but a hand on each shoulder stopped her. Turning just the right way to look made her side protest in full force.

"Hunter?" she asked in confusion.

"You're hurt," Cam said softly as he pushed his glasses up.

"Vexacus got the jump on us. The Call sent me to the Abyss of Evil."

"Then wait."

She turned to see Blake show up.

"Hey Thunder," she murmured softly.

Exhaustion was washing over her. She sagged against Hunter. Both of them always felt the jolt of electricity when they were near.

"I've missed you guys."

"Kinda missed you too," Hunter joked softly.

"If I wasn't almost done I'd punch you for that."

The smirk on his face washed away and the other two also.

"Are you sure you should be fighting now?" Cam asked her.

"I shouldn't be as per my paramedic side but my Ranger side is always insisting on helping."

"Tori wouldn't forgive us if you went into that battle by yourself," Blake told her.

"Who said I was walking into that battle alone?" she asked with a huff. "You guys would have to follow me."

She straightened up. "We have to get your powers back to have any chance of helping the others."

"You're staying here," Hunter told her.

"I warned Tommy," she panted softly. "About the Abyss. I don't know if he got the message."

"We'll go get our powers."

Zen-Aku moved forward and took her from Hunter.

"Go I will take care of her until you right this."

They nodded their heads and vanished.

At their absence she let her weakness fully overcome her. Zen-Aku carefully picked her up and transported her to her apartment.

"Are you ready for this?"

"No, but I need to be for a little while longer."

"Sleep for a bit," He murmured softly. "I'll wake you when the Thunders get back with Cam."

She nodded her head as she closed her eyes and drifted off. Zen-Aku saw how pale she was. It was getting closer to the end. He needed to keep her strong enough to be able to ride this out until its end. One last battle before the Curse ends her.

Kimberly breathed a sigh of relief once Tori and the others returned to their normal selves. She kept her distance at that moment. Worrying them wasn't her plan but she knew they would be worried.

Kimberly stood with Zen-Aku overlooking the soon to be battle zone. Morphing she stood ready. Leaping down she went to fight some enemies with the Duke Org when Vexacus zeroed in on them. Zen-Aku growled darkly as he heaved his blade over his shoulder and shot forward. Vexacus was his. The two locked in combat neither gaining or losing ground. She didn't know who to help since Vexacus was to busy fighting against Zen-Aku.

The few small enemies went down under her sword strikes. Kimberly rose up panting heavily and turned just in time seeing that Vexacus was about to play dirty and strike Zen-Aku. Sheathing her sword she pulled out her Powerbow and drew back and shot Vexacus in the back between the shoulders. He whipped around ready to strike out at her. Kimberly drew back ready to fire but Vexacus was faster and sent a blast her way. Knowing this might be her end she let the bolt go and went to try and block the attack, but she didn't have anything that could block the oncoming attack. Then the blast was deflected off familiar shields. Crimson and Navy stood in front of her. That took the moment that Zen-Aku needed to eliminate Vexacus. Kimberly sat there and took a deep breath. Reaching down she touched her side and winced. Kimberly stumbled and grunted as her wound got the better of her. In seconds she had Connor and Tori grabbing each arm. She leaned heavily against them only for a moment.

"Tori," she murmured softly. "Don't let him come close."

Tori understood and nodded her head.

"Let go of her Connor I have her."

Connor nodded and backed away from her. Tori moved Kimberly in a way that wouldn't let Tommy see her reopened wound. The Duke Org moved forward and carefully took Kimberly from Tori. The duo moved forward and Zen-Aku picked her up and vanished.

"You just let him take her like that?" Connor asked.

"Zen-Aku is her Guardian of sorts," Blake told them.

"How bad is she?" Tori heard from behind her.

Tori knew who it was and it made her ache that she got back to him but didn't have the time she wanted to with him.

"She reopened her wound that Vexacus gave her, but I'm sure that's probably not what you're asking me."

Tori turned to face him. "She's fading faster and that wound isn't helping. Zen-Aku is doing his best to protect her but he can't protect her from himself or the Curse."

She left him standing there and moved towards Blake. Tori brought her hand up and looked at the blood she saw there. Time was almost up.