God Only Knows Chapter 6: Finding The Strength, a power rangers fanfic

God Only Knows
Chapter 6: Finding The Strength
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Started: April 4, 2011
Finished: May 26, 2013

Summary: The hardest part of faith is the last hour. - David Wilkerson
Rating: M
Characters: Kim, Adam, Tommy, Jason

Thank you to all the fans of GoK, your support is so appreciated.

Special thanks: Shawn, Ang, Enigma, Liz, Ms. J and psycochick32 - As Shawn once said, thank you doesn't seem enough. I love you works best

(6/6/2012) In Loving Memory of psycochick32 – your warm, funny personality, talent, inspiration, and most of all your friendship, will be sorely missed. RIP Kim!

Please Visit www . valhallaboard forum / index . php(without the spaces) - this is the multi-fandom message board I co-run with Shawn, Ang, Enigma and Liz.

gok

I feel so alone,
Can't seem to find my out of this low?
No, it don't seem right
I didn't have a chance to say goodbye.

In this silent space,
I close my eyes I can hear you say
That it's alright,
But my world's such an empty place tonight.
Cause I know that,
It's all part of life.

I wish I had the chance to say goodbye,
Yeah I still miss you.
So hard to see through the tears I've cried.
Yeah, I still need you.
Cause I don't want to,
If I don't have to ever let you go.
The longest I'll hold on... God only knows.

As the time goes by,
It gets a little easier to smile.
I know I'll never forget
Everything that you said.
You said it's alright,
It's all part of life.

And the lights above you will never fade if you keep looking up
Right around there is a better place if you believe in love.
Cause I know that, it's all part of life.

I wish I had the chance to say goodbye, yeah I still miss you.
So hard to see through the tears I've cried.
Yeah, I still need you.
Cause I don't want to, if I don't have to ever let you go.
The longest I'll hold on, the longest I'll hold on.
The longest I'll hold on... God only knows.
God only knows.
Ya, God only knows.
God only knows.
- Orianthi, God Only Knows -

gok

Monday
May 11, 2009
6:45 A.M.
Scott Residence

She was absolutely seething as she stood in Jason's kitchen, her arms folded across her chest, nails digging into her forearms. Jason stood next to the island, his hands braced against it as he repeated the dream from the night before. She could see the sluggishness in his movements, could hear the fear and uncertainty in his voice, and in that moment, for that singular moment, she felt like becoming her namesake and ripping Kimberly's unmoving form apart, limb by limb. She had the unnatural urge to scratch her predecessor's eyes out. If it hadn't been for Hayden's sick obsession with Kimberly, Jason wouldn't feel the need to protect the petite former Ranger at all costs.

For a solitary second, she felt like she'd been shoved back over a decade to when they'd still been in high school and it seemed Jason and Tommy's attention, no matter what, would always be focused on the petite former Pink Ranger. Graduating high school and leaving the Rangers behind, Katherine had assumed she'd finally worked past all her insecurities where the original Pink was concerned, but the feelings storming around inside of her made it abundantly clear that was not the case. Katherine's gaze narrowed in on Kimberly's back, watching the former gymnast stare at the counter she was sitting at, unmoving; it looked like the brunette was barely breathing.

"I'm so sorry for what he's put you through," came the whispered, barely audible response to Jason's terrifying nightmare. Katherine watched Jason's head snap up as he stared at the woman he called sister, the anguish in his countenance and expression more than the second Pink Ranger could stand. When the former Red and Gold Ranger reached out to bring Kimberly to him for a hug, the tiny woman merely shook her head and jumped out of her chair, rushing out the back door. Kat felt guilt seize her when she heard Kimberly gasping as she hit the door, struggling to control the panic attack they all knew was threatening.

Shaking her own head, the blonde motioned for Jason to remain where he was. "I love you," he spoke, his voice transmitting his feelings quite clearly for her.

And her walls came down. Katherine looked from Jason's haggard face to the figure on hands and knees in the center of his backyard, body heaving as she struggled to breath. Teammate. Friend. Sister. It was a bond, Katherine finally realized, that went deeper than she thought possible. The pair had forged it practically as infants, and it had never, despite all the obstacles they'd faced, been snapped. Jason's need to protect Kimberly from harm was as much a part of him as his absolute devotion and all encompassing love for Katherine was. It made him who he was. "She needs someone who isn't in the middle of this with her, someone objective, to talk to," she murmured softly before she turned and strode out the door, gently shutting Jason in the house as she moved across the lawn before crouching before Kimberly. Reaching down, she rubbed a hand over her friend's back in an attempt to soothe as she used the other hand to brush the waterfall of brown silk from Kim's face. Her fingers grazed Kimberly's forehead and she felt an electric jolt rocket down her arm from the contact, reminding her of her own link to the original Pink Ranger.

"You need to stop gasping for breath and breathe slowly," the blonde ordered, tempering her harsh words with gentle hands. She felt her friend tremble and sit back on her legs, face turning up to the sky.

"I don't blame you for being angry," Kimberly uttered, her eyes squeezing shut. "I didn't want any of them involved with this either."

Staring at the woman she had both despised and admired for nearly half her life, Katherine was struck by one blaring fact – Kimberly had been one of the most selfless individuals she'd ever met. After all she'd been through she still put others before her own well-being. She was by no means perfect, because no one was, but this was the same woman who had given Katherine her own shot at redemption when she herself felt like she hadn't earned it. She had been the one to welcome each of the new team members with open arms, who had made their adjustments easier. Whatever hurts Kim had inflicted in the process of growing up, they were between her and those she'd hurt. Kat realized she had no business judging something that really wasn't about her. Kim needed a shoulder, something she so rarely asked for. This was one of her friends, one of her best friends, one who never asked for help, even when she needed it most. "They had every opportunity to tell you and Rain no," she finally voiced the thoughts she'd gathered.

"I should have kept them out of it; done something to make them leave," Kim declared through clenched teeth.

Katherine's laughter rocketed out of her as she fell back on her butt, watching Kim turn to glare at her. "You really think you'd have been able to stop the three of them?" she pointedly asked, highly amused at the brunette's words. "That's actually comical, Kimberly," her voice was a tinge mocking as they stared at one another.

"Something…"

Shaking her head at the still amusing comment, Kat leaned back on her arms. She was still angry, hurt, and scared, but she also had a few years of experience as a Ranger behind her and she knew life was weird sometimes. You could be upset and still be supportive. It was a trait found commonly among the Rangers, particularly the Pinks. "You and I both know how futile that would have been. Regardless of the danger, they'd have jumped in to help you, that's just who they are, how they're built. They're Rangers, plain and simple. It's that part of them that Zordon recognized from the start, it's the same thing he saw in you, when he gave you the mantle of Pink Ranger," she softly pointed out.

"I'm terrified."

Blue eyes blinked before the settled on Kim's face. "If you weren't, I'd be worried," the blonde honestly answered. "You've been scared before, but Kimberly, you're legendary for not running from your fear."

"Being scared and being terrified are two different things," Kim uttered. "It's paralyzing, Kat; I feel like I'm drowning."

"And that's what the boys are there for," the second Pink Ranger told her bluntly. "They love you, Kim; you're teammate, best friend, sister….to all of them. They're not going to let you fail."

Watery brown eyes turned to sky blue ones, a depth of emotion swimming in both. "I can't lose them, I won't survive it again."

Moving with a speed she wasn't sure she possessed, Katherine threw her arms around Kimberly's shaking form and hugged her tight. Just because she was pissed at Kim didn't mean she loved her any less, and she knew the former Pink Ranger needed the hug. "Yes you would, because to do anything else would be a dishonor to their lives and any sacrifices they might make. Living for them is the only option you have." Kimberly stiffened, hearing the double meaning in the quietly spoken words. "This is your destiny, and while part of it is foretold, you and I both know from experience, that you forge your own path if the one you see before you isn't what you want. Having been a Ranger, you know that one of our most infamous mottos is…"

"Anything's possible," Kim finished the maxim, wrapping her arms around her friend. "Thank you."

10:00 A.M.
NASADA Spaceport
Angel Grove, CA

He hurried off the massive ship, careful not to rattle what he carried. He was grateful to see T.J. and Carlos waiting for him in T.J.'s car at the entrance to the hanger. Given what was inside the chest, he hadn't wanted to wait to get transportation off the base. "I owe you," he uttered, handing Carlos the chest before hopping into the front seat next to T.J.

"You can start by explaining what the emergency is," T.J. quipped as he peeled away from the hanger, going much faster than the allowable limit, particularly when he hit the highway from the base and headed for Angel Grove.

"Look, I just spent two weeks going back and forth between Eltar and KO-35. I want to get this chest out of my possession and to its owner soon as possible."

Carlos sat forward, his head between the two front seats. His expression was clearly one of confusion; particularly since the chest seemed to be glowing an unnatural pink color. "And who exactly is its owner?"

"Kimberly Hart."

10:30 A.M.
Angel Grove General Hospital
Dr. Chapin's Office

He sat absolutely still as Tanya's doctor relayed the happy news to them. He knew he had a dopey expression on his face, but the words 'you're going to be a father' kept cycling around in his head and he couldn't stop smiling. His dream of a family was finally coming true; he and Tanya were going to be parents, after everything they'd been through over the years. He could see her eyes shining and her smile overtake her face. His beloved was as happy as he was at the prospect that they were finally going to have a baby.

"You know what will happen if you persist in helping her, don't you?" the dark, familiar voice all but hissed in his ear. "Everything you hold dear will be in constant danger. Your wife, being the woman she is, will try to help you, and the life you've been building will be destroyed. Can you afford to kill your unborn child? Who would you pick - the Guardian or an innocent babe?"

Adam's whole body trembled as the doctor's office around him shifted to a scene straight out of his worst nightmare. Kimberly stood shaking, her eyes on the crumbled form at her feet. His eyes welled with tears and his heart throbbed and ached when he recognized what, or more accurately who, she was staring down at. Tanya's lifeless body was sprawled beneath the former Pink Ranger, limbs broken and angled at positions that shouldn't have been possible. Her abdomen, which should have been slightly rounded with the beginnings of their child, was nothing but a bloody hole; muscles, organs, and skin torn and jagged. Below her body was a dark, ever-widening circle of what had been her life sustaining blood. Bile scorched the former Ranger's throat, attempting to escape at the sight before him.

"This is what will happen if you continue to help the Guardian. She'll bring destruction to everything you care about, and everyone." Adam felt himself spun around, his eyes landing on the decapitated, disemboweled, and bloodied forms of his friends. He could vaguely make out body parts, like Katherine's blond head, but overall it was a horrifying, sickening scene. And of course, Kimberly was standing in the center of it all. "Remember, you have been warned."

"Adam?" Tanya's soft, imploring voice drew him back to what he realized was reality. He stared into her worried eyes, noting she was holding his hands tightly in hers, and they were shaking. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"Tanya…"

Her eyes narrowed. "Adam, what's wrong? You're shaking. A few minutes ago, you had a huge smile on your face, now you're cold and clammy and your face looks like death warmed over."

"I have to make a choice," he said softly, reaching out to cup her face with one hand and her belly with the other. "If I keep helping Kim, I'll be putting both of you in danger. I love her dearly, she's my sister, but I can't risk you, either of you."

The fierceness of her Ranger color jumped into her expression and her eyes. "Adam, that's absolutely ridiculous. You don't have to choose, because I can protect myself and our baby, and I'm not involved in what's happening. Neither Hayden or Kallisto has bothered with…" she stopped short when he flinched at the mention of Hayden. "He threatened me, and the baby, didn't he?"

Adam could only nod and pull her into his arms, his face buried against her shoulder. "I can't lose you."

"And you won't, unless Kimberly loses this fight. You know as well as I do that he's just trying to hurt her, through me, our baby, and by making you doubt your choice to help her," she angrily told him. "For God's sake, Adam, we were Rangers; I know that you know he's doing this to destroy her, to destroy the strength and security and support she needs to make this choice. He's afraid she's going to beat him."

Adam's head snapped up when she said that, and found that her doctor had obviously left the room before he'd completely spaced out. "But I can't risk you."

"You're not," she confidently told him before holding her arms out. She shook her wrists and watched him suck in a breath as her Zeonizers appeared out of thin air. "I've been carrying these with me ever since Tommy had his little showdown with Hayden at the dojo," she explained. Reaching out, she cupped his face in her hands. "Do you honestly think Kimberly of all people is going to let something happen to any of us, let alone me, when she finds out I'm pregnant? This is the original Pink we're talking about here."

Adam gave a slightly watery, crooked smile and leaned forward to kiss her softly. "I'm going straight over to the dojo to tell her. She needs to know."

A luminescent smile flew onto his wife's face. "That sounds like a lovely idea. I'm going to go meet up with Kat and Aisha for lunch, why don't we call everyone over for dinner tonight?"

"Sounds like a plan. I love you."

"I know. I love you too."

12:00 PM
Emerald Dawn
Adam and Rocky's Office

The former Black and Green Ranger bit his lip as he watched his sister in all things pace in his office, her face twisted in a pissed off, dangerous snarl as she digested what he'd told her. "I'm going to tear certain appendages off, if he even has them, and ram them down his throat!" she hissed furiously, her eyes sparking with unnatural shades of pink and white. Rocky remained leaning against one of the desks and Rain stood in the corner, arms crossed over his chest. "This is unacceptable!" she roared, spinning to face Rain, who looked as relaxed as anyone could with a raging former Pink Ranger bearing down on him.

"What would you have me do, Guardian? I am not to interfere beyond helping the four of you."

Rocky shook his head. "You've got a lot to learn where Kim's concerned," the former Red and Blue Ranger uttered under his breath.

"I know that," Kim spoke through clenched teeth, ignoring Rocky's smart remark. "I don't know how to get in touch with her, but I want you to tell Kallisto I want to speak to her. NOW."

Rain's dark eyebrows shot up into his hairline as he stared at the Guardian. Instead of the frightened, timid woman who wanted no part of this war, he found himself staring at a true Guardian, a woman who was finally coming into her own. If his conversations with Zordon were anything to go on, then this was the Kimberly the legendary one had often spoke of; the one who had the strength and skill of the pterodactyl, the passion and tenacity of the firebird, and the agility and grace of the crane. Perhaps her desire to protect what was left of her family was finally overcoming some of the grief she'd wrapped around her like a shroud. "You don't need me to call her; you have that ability all on your own."

A brilliant flash of light blinded them all before it disappeared, leaving Kallisto standing in the center of the room. "You called."

A delicate, coral tipped finger suddenly found its way into the goddess' face as Kimberly bore down on her. "YOU. You want me to fight this war, to save the known universe!" the petite brunette accused, watching one of Kallisto's slim eyebrows shoot up.

"Careful," Rain started, only to have Kallisto wave his comments off.

"She is the Guardian, she need not be careful around me with her demands and desires," the goddess laughed softly, before turning her attention back to Kimberly. "Continue."

"This isn't a joke," Kim's voice came out, barely a whisper. "I fight for what I know is the right side, for the people who cannot fight for themselves. I don't fight for you, Kallisto, and after what happened to Tommy, and Adam today, I'll never fight for Hayden. I'll die before I fight for either of you, but I'll fight for the innocents, and since you seem to be the ally of those innocents, I demand you do something."

"What would you have me do, Guardian? I've given Rain the power to give the Teacher, the Protector and the Lover abilities to aid you. What more could you possibly want?" Kallisto sarcastically asked, watching as Kimberly's hair literally began to rise off her shoulders.

"I want your word that Tanya and her unborn child will be protected, at all costs. Either of you can take my life if you have to, but that sweet baby deserves a chance to be born, to live, to be loved by the parents that so desperately want it."

Several gasps were heard when Kallisto tilted her head to the side and tears slid down her face. All-powerful goddesses weren't supposed to cry. In Adam, and even Rocky's, minds, they were startled to see this woman shed tears because of Kimberly's passionate pleas. Violet eyes turned to stare at Adam, and the former Ranger knew before she even asked. "He threatened Tanya, our child, and our friends."

"He was never supposed to be able to hurt the others," Rain reminded them all, but specifically Kallisto. "He shouldn't have the power to hurt them, but we all know he does."

"He never did know how to follow the rules," the goddess sighed, closing her eyes. "He is no longer bound by the laws of the other side, and unfortunately, there is no one there who can make him play by those rules. Our world is in utter chaos, and everyone is choosing sides. A division of power is happening, and my powers to help you, Guardian, are limited."

"This isn't to help me; it's to save an innocent life. Because let me tell you something, if he hurts Tanya or her child, I'm going to send him straight back to hell where he belongs, and I'll do it even if it means damning my own soul."

The goddess' eyes opened, noting the sincerity and threat in Kimberly's eyes and her voice. The guardian would give anything to save this one child, not because it was the unborn offspring of her friends, not because she simply cared about it already, but because it was the right thing to do. Protecting the innocent, keeping them from harm, it was what the legacy she'd been a part of was all about. Perhaps, she thought silently, there was hope yet. "You have to choose."

"I choose to fight for the people, for the innocent and helpless, and for those who don't know what's happening," Kimberly bit out angrily. "I choose the side of this fight I've always chosen, because it's the one that gives the people the ability to make their own choices, not to have someone make it for them."

"Kimberly…" the quietly strong feminine voice prompted.

"I choose to fight for good."

Kallisto nodded. "Then I will do everything in my power to remove Tanya and the child from the playing field. It's all that I can promise you. They have the strongest protection I can give them."

Violet and brown clashed for several moments before the stiffness in Kimberly's body seemed to ease and she turned her head to look at Adam. "I promise you…"

"I'm going to help you end this, Sis," he told her resolutely. "Because he just played the wrong card."

Tuesday
May 12, 2009
5:00 PM
Reefside, CA
The Clearing at Tommy's

The grunts, pants, ki-yahs and slaps of weapons hitting each other echoed around the clearing where the four were training. They were each dressed in workout clothes – Jason, Adam and Tommy in gi trousers and tank tops; Kimberly in a black and pink leotard. They had forgone setting up the practice mats, instead acknowledging the need to be use to fighting on the ground again. Rain, Tanya and Katherine sat nearby, watching them while the girls unpacked the picnic lunch they'd made.

It had been just a day since the confrontation with Kallisto in regards to Tanya and the baby's safety and Kimberly had been aggressively training to combat what she already knew was going to be the biggest fight of her life. She expertly jumped over the bo staff Jason swung at her, blocked the nun-chucks Adam swung at her, but couldn't quite deflect the blow of Tommy's sword, which she was vehemently grateful was wood and not steel. It slammed into her left arm, causing it to go completely numb as she crashed to the grass.

Katherine and Tanya tensed, but a shake from Rain's head had them sitting back in their spots. None of the guys jerked in shock and stopped as they'd been prone to in the earlier days of training her – Tommy merely reached down and helped her to her feet before they started again. All of them were aware that Kimberly was going to have to take some blows, that they couldn't shield her from any of it anymore.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Kimberly shook off the ache in her arm, gripped her staff, and went back to sparring, three on one, again. Rain watched in satisfaction as she began subconsciously tapping into her wind powers. First it was just a gentle rush at Adam's nun-chucks to cause them to swing back at him, and then it was a bit more toward Jason to throw him off balance. However, when it came to Tommy, the pair were evenly matched. Tommy's control over the power of air allowed him to deflect her shot at him even as he swung his sword down in an arch.

The entire group blinked in surprise when Kimberly dropped her staff and caught the blade between her palms, stopping Tommy's forward progress. Seconds later, the former Ranger leader was gasping in shock as the sword began to glow a deep, dark red and started steaming as if hot before it burst into flames. He dropped his hold on the hilt immediately and fell backwards with a cry of shock, palms raw and obviously burned. "Second is the power of fire," Rain murmured to himself as he pushed up from his place. "Well done, Guardian. You've discovered your second power."

"Fire," Kimberly acknowledged, dropping what was left of the sword on the ground before starring from it to her own hands. They were glowing red and giving off what would normally have been an unbearable heat to anyone else, but she felt comfortable and protected by the sudden shimmer of power. Shaking her head, she blinked and let the power go, before bending down next to Tommy's prone form. Rain joined her a second later, his own hands reaching for Tommy's. His power flared a light purple and when he pulled back, the former Ranger's hands had been healed.

"Rain?" Adam asked as he and Jason knelt with the trio, all looking either delighted or shocked.

"I take it we're going to fire-proof all the workout areas now huh?" Jason joked, cause them all to chuckle. He leaned over to squeeze Kim's shoulder and let out a gasp of disbelieve as he started glowing red himself. "What the…?"

"Dragon's fire," Rain grinned, watching Adam shake his head while Tommy's eyebrow arched, the pair staring at Jason and Kim.

The former Pink Ranger swallowed and then let out a long breath. "Should have known."

Pushing up, the five made their way back toward where Tanya and Kat were sitting and suddenly found themselves surrounded by what looked to be grotesque versions of the tengas they'd fought as teenagers. "You have got to be kidding! REALLY?" Adam uttered in disbelief before he quieted down at the looks Kim and Tommy were giving him. "Come on, haven't we done this before? Does he really have to recycle the ones we've already fought?"

Shaking her head, Kimberly turned her brilliant white gaze to Rain. "Protect Katherine and Tanya," she ordered as he nodded, dropping back away from the group to guard the two former Rangers who were not involved with this fight. "Spread out."

The three men, too use to orders, didn't question Kimberly's sudden command. Tommy and Jason moved toward her left while Adam went right. The four assumed ready stances, eyeing the mutated Tengas. When the birds let out a horrid squawk and rushed forward, the four former Rangers were ready for them.

Tommy and Jason both lashed out with side kicks while Adam went low, hoping to knock the four coming at him off their feet. Kimberly took a running leap, launching herself into the air at the last second. Calling her powers, she let her body fly up and over the Tengas in a full layout before landing on the other side of them, arms up and palms toward them. She only had a split second to make a decision, hoping her friends would know what she was doing as she blasted the Tengas with her air powers. They went flying forward and right into the waiting arms of her friends, who took them down as quickly as they could.

When Kim rebounded from the ground, she found herself cut off from the guys and facing an angry Hayden, his once blue eyes glowing red. "Guardian."

"Go to hell," she muttered, packing the full force of her air power behind her punch as she threw her arm at Hayden. He caught her fist in his palm just centimeters from his face, his fingers crunching down on her hand. She let out a scream as pain radiated up her arm, bringing her to her knees.

While Hayden's attention was on Kimberly, the boys quickly finished off the Tengas. "We have to help Kim!" Adam gasped, pulling Tommy and Jason's attention to him.

"Let's do it!" Tommy ordered. "It's Morphin' Time!"

Tommy and Adam shook their wrists while Jason reached behind his back and pulled his morpher from its resting place. "Tyrannosaurs!"

"Zeo Ranger IV, Green!"

"Zeo Ranger V, Red!"

Hayden grinned when he heard the three calls, his eyes boring into Kimberly's pain-filled ones. "Your friends do not know when to quit," he hissed at her.

"That's right, they don't," Kimberly ground back, reaching deep inside of her for the power she'd just unlocked earlier in the morning. When she felt the deep, warmth of the power, she pulled it up through her soul and unleashed it on him.

The God stumbled back several steps, releasing Kimberly as he went, and found himself suddenly surrounded by three Power Rangers. "Your puny ties to the morphin' grid are not going to save you!" he yelled suddenly, throwing his hands up as he hit his knees, sending out bolts of power from his fingertips.

Adam, Jason and Tommy jumped back but couldn't avoid the power Hayden was releasing. Each was struck in the chest, causing them to slam back into the ground, demorphing in the process. "GUYS!" Katherine screamed from where Rain had her and Tanya back away from the fight.

"You are going to die this day, Pink Ranger, for interfering" Hayden vowed as he pushed to his feet and started stalking the trio.

"Think again," a deadly whisper drew his attention. He looked over his shoulder to see Kimberly floating a foot off the ground, glowing an unnatural pink in color. Inside the pink swirled white, red and green power, each with a faint line going from Kimberly's form to their respective counterpart lying on the ground.

"You dare threaten me, Guardian? You, who has refused to make a choice! The power is not yours to control yet!" he threw back at her, watching her eyes go from doe brown to a luminescent pink.

Kimberly smirked briefly when she saw the fear enter his eyes. He'd underestimated her one too many times. "I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves," she told him, tilting her head. "I don't fight for either you or Kallisto, but for them. That is my choice. You've bullied my family long enough, you've thrown around your power and your weight, and you've thoroughly pissed me off."

"Bad move Sparky," Adam grinned from the ground, his body glowing green as he pushed to his knees.

"They never learn," Jason muttered sarcastically, adopting the same pose as Adam only he was surrounded by red light.

"Kick his ass, Beautiful," Tommy spoke to Kimberly, his eyes on her and her alone even as his body took on the unearthly white of his power.

"I WILL NOT LOSE!" Hayden roared. "The power of the morphin' grid is mine!"

Kimberly silently pinned each of her three friends and partners with her gaze, communicating with them as only she could. "Power of Air!" Tommy shouted, raising his arms to the sky.

"Power of Fire!" Jason's voice lifted seconds later, hands over his heart.

"Power of Water!" Adam called, having already guessed his shared power with Kimberly. His hands were touching the earth, power seeping into the ground.

Three beams of power joined together, creating a yellow tinged column that surrounded Kimberly. "With the powers of air, fire and water, I call the power of Earth!" Kimberly's voice echoed out. Seconds later, the power slammed forward into Hayden. He let out an inhumane scream and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Once he was gone, the power Kimberly had been commanding dried up and she dropped to the ground, only to be caught in a pair of familiar, comforting arms. She let out a huge sigh and looked up into Tommy's face, seeing the worry etched there. "I'm okay," she murmured, reaching a hand up to cradle his cheek. He bent his head forward, resting his forehead on hers and closing his eyes.

Rain finally let Tanya and Katherine go to help Adam and Jason while he watched Tommy and Kimberly. Zordon hadn't been lying when he'd told him once that theirs was a strong bond, one that despite what had happened between them was still there. Rain had heard of the myths of the Ninjetti soul-bond, but had never had the chance to see it first hand. The Falcon and Crane may have moved on, loved others, and in the Crane's case started a family with someone else, but their hearts and souls would forever belong to each other. It was the first time a Guardian, to Rain's recollection, had ever held a bond so strong with another. With a raised eyebrow, Rain pondered on whether or not the two of them knew that. And if they did, was it going to hinder or help the guardian's journey.

In case you didn't read the Author's Notes at the beginning of the chapter, we lost a very special friend in 2012 – Psycochick32 passed away in the spring. While not as close to her as other members of my group of friends, she was still a cherished friend and her passing has left another hole in my already battered heart. She was an extraordinary person with so many unique gifts, especially making you feel strong and capable and like you mattered. Her presence is so very keenly missed, particularly for me as I worked on this chapter. I had all but the final scene written prior to her passing, but every time I started to work on the last scene, I couldn't bring myself to. I would sit staring at the blank page, remembering the many email discussions her and I had about this story, one that she told me time and again she loved so much (mostly because I was making Kimberly Hart tough as nails and not wimpy). She was a champion for this story, and her reviews reflect how much encouragement she gave me when I started it. Simply put – I miss her. This last September I finally found the grief had eased enough to look at this chapter again, to start work on the story again, but even then, it was in fits and starts as you can see by the date of the posting. But I know this with certainty – she'd want me to finish the story. She'd have wanted to see Kimberly find her destiny, to forge her own path. I hope that you've all enjoyed the chapter, and I apologize for the long wait. Kim, this one's for you girlfriend. I miss you.