(Author's Notes: Hey everyone I hope you're all enjoying the story. So Chapter 3 is still another story set in the past but takes place after the events of Good as Gold; Shift into Turbo & Passing the Torch. The story will move forward up to the present day. Plus, the truth of the letter will take place.)

Chapter 3: The Untamed Fire Tamed

April 20, 1997

The Power Chamber

Angel Grove, CA

Part of him hoped he find a successor to take the mantle of the Gold Ranger Powers and relieve him of his duty in order to focus on the ongoing war about to occur upon the horizon. He knew one war was about to commence up beyond the stars and another war will soon set the pieces on Earth. It was why, Prince Trey of Treyforia remained in the Power Chamber after he retook the Gold Ranger Powers back.

He had great respect for Zordon and their many years as allies form a comradery along the galaxy as time moved forward. It was why he felt guilty for the Gold Ranger Powers nearly costing the life of one of Zordon's Rangers and a skilled fighter, Jason. However, Zordon knew there was more to it and there was no hiding secrets between one another.

"Once again Zordon, I must apologize for the transgressions with the Gold Ranger Powers." Trey said. "The last thing I wanted was to put one of your Rangers like Jason in great peril to take on such a massive burden."

"It will take time for Jason to cope with the loss of his powers, but he has his brother in arms Tommy to help him deal." Zordon informed. "He can sympathize with what his best friend is going through after facing the loss of his powers on two separate occasions."

"Still...if there was some way to change the mechanism of the Gold Ranger Powers..." Zordon knew what the young prince was talking about an unbeknownst to the Rangers, he figured out the reason behind Trey's guilt. It stemmed more than just putting Jason's life at risk, but it also was in regards to the current Red Zeo Ranger. "...Even after all these years, they don't know the truth, especially young Tommy."

"Maybe it was fate and destiny that Tommy, Jason and the other Rangers were destined to take the mantle. However, even when their tenure will come to an end one at any time, something else will lie beyond the horizon after life as Power Rangers."

"There is a war coming from two fronts, one beyond the stars and one that will commence on Earth. Those heretics will not stop until they claim their weapon and sooner or later the band will get back together once these heretics find themselves without masters to serve. The pillars are beginning to rebuild the foundation of the Emissary and we spent years keeping The Scarlet Sovereign off the streets." Trey explained. "However, soon I have to keep myself in stasis and reawaken as a member of The Garrison. It was with this situation with the Gold Ranger Powers I had to return to my vessel."

"And yet...they do not know that Prince Trey of Treyforia is a member of The Garrison who occupies the vessel of Quinn?" Zordon question slightly chuckling. "My comrade, you do know these amateur body jumping parlor tricks of yours will soon catch wind among my Rangers. Or is it your intention to rally them to the cause of The Garrison? I watched what you did years ago at that camp which is why I was drawn to young Kimberly and Tommy."

"They have powers beyond your imagination...something I haven't sense in many years. However, there will be others drawn to it." Trey warned.

"My question is what...will you do now?" He asked.

"Make sure that we're ready should the second front war come on the horizon and make sure fate remains in tact." Trey simply answered. "Please, do keep the Rangers safe from harm and give my regards to Jason. Also...please do not let young Tommy falter after everything that has happened to him."

The issue Trey was addressing regarding his Red Zeo Ranger was all too familiar and Zordon knew the truth. Six months since the infamous "Dear John" letter the Rangers wondered what became of their former Pink Crane, Kimberly. Trey, or Quinn as he was known by The Garrison had their mission. However, apart of Zordon wished that the fates and destinies of his Rangers weren't intertwined with The Garrison, but the universe always had other plans in store.

"You can't tame that fire alone, Quinn." Zordon said addressing the young prince by his Garrison identity. "The Garrison may know what is best, but sometimes you underestimate the strength of something else that most warriors possess: the heart and soul of humanity. Do...give my regards to our pink crane."

June 24, 1997

Oliver Residence

Angel Grove, CA

It had been more than a month since they graduated high school and for Tommy and Jason the two best friends can say that it was one to remember. Between the final confrontation with the Machine Empire, the loss of Jason's Gold Ranger powers, their battle with Maligore on Murianthias Island, the upgrade to their Turbo Powers in order to rescue Kimberly and Jason, battling Divatox, Zordon's departure from Earth and Dimitria's arrival as the Rangers' new mentor, the last final weeks of high school was one for the ages.

For Tommy it was a blessing that despite the loss of his best friend's powers, Jason was able to graduate from Angel Grove High alongside his friends and remained in the loop of the latest happenings with the others alongside Rocky. After the karate tournament, Rocky made the decision to step down and give his spot to Justin. However, a couple weeks after graduation he, Kat, Tanya and Adam stepped down and passed on their powers to begin a new chapter in their lives: life after the Power Rangers.

"Come on bro, we got a whole summer left before we all officially start the next chapter of our lives." Jason said. "What is the next big adventure up ahead for Tommy Oliver? Where does the future have in store for our former fearless leader?"

"Are you seriously going to ask me that question?" Tommy replied. "Besides surviving high school, the next adventure that is up ahead for me besides the whole going to college is one thing. It has been the one thing on my mind since the whole Murianthias crisis and the letter: finding a way to get Kimberly back."

"Well we're all rooting for you on that one," Jason said. He knew that it wasn't like his little sister to send the letter and end things with the one person who meant the world to her. It wasn't until a startling revelation was revealed from an unexpected source: his girlfriend, Kat. The others suspected that Kat was hiding a secret from them and it wasn't coincidence after Kat's visit to Florida over eight months ago the "Dear John" letter arrived for Tommy.

"Is it wrong to say that I still love her despite the stupid letter? Even when Divatox kidnapped you and her, all I could think about was saving her." Tommy said sincerely. "I feel like something is trying to keep me away from her, but it's not going to stop me from loving her or being with her. It all hit me when she was under Maligore's spell and the realization I nearly came close to losing her to evil. There was a part of me that felt this shift inside of Kim of this internal struggle she's fighting."

"Yeah we all saw that even though I too fell under Maligore's influence." Jason reflected in thought. "Do you believe that even the most pure hearted individuals have a darkness inside of them?" The truth behind the letter left Jason speechless, but he knew deep down that Kimberly didn't have the power to take or give life. He heard from Kat about the incident that happened in Miami eight months ago and how Kimberly swore Kat to secrecy not to reveal to their friends and especially Tommy what happened. It wasn't until after the Murianthias crisis he discovered the truth after inadvertently eavesdropping on a conversation between his girlfriend and sister.

"Anything is possible and everyone of us had our dark sides to deal with." Tommy said. "For me, the source of light that helped me pull out from the darkness is Kimberly and that light is one I can't live without in my life."

"Then I pray bro, you find a way back to her and for what it's worth, you don't let her out of your sight." Jason replied. "Whatever were her reasons for the letter must have been for the sake of keeping those around her from getting hurt. Let me ask you something Tommy, do you love my little sis for all she is?"

"What kind of question is that? Of course I still love Kim no matter what is going on with her. When you love someone with all your heart and soul like I do with Kim you accept her all parts of her: the good, the bad and everything in between." Tommy replied smiling. "I never told anyone this and you're the first person to learn this...but Angel Grove wasn't the first time I met Kimberly."

"I'm sorry...did you say you met Kim before you moved to Angel Grove?" Jason asked shocked by Tommy's confession.

"Would I be lying to my best friend about something very personal in my life? Actually, the first time I met Kim was when I was eleven years old at a sports summer camp in Phoenix. She and I somehow ended up signing up for a martial arts activity group at the camp." Tommy continued explaining. "I remember one day one of our camp counselors, his name was Quinn pointed me out to her because we were the youngest campers in the class. I remember one day we were sparring in class and I watched Kim sparring with her partner. However, she scared the crap out of the sensei and the other campers because her skills and no one didn't want to spar with her afterwards."

"Except for you. I seen Kimberly spar a few times although her parents were against her learning martial arts." Jason explained. "When we were kids she used to sit in on me and Trini's karate classes although she wasn't a student. However, whenever she sparred with anybody it was like this whole side of Kimberly emerged."

"It was what drew me to her and we bonded because she was the only one that can match me on the mat." Tommy smiled. "After camp ended, I found out my former camp counsellor Quinn started working at a dojo in Phoenix and I lost contact with Kim until I moved to Angel Grove. Quinn sort of became a mentor to me until one day he suddenly just...left. Seeing Kim again helped fill the void Quinn's sudden departure left inside."

"Promise me if I ever meet your semi Yoda one day remind me to kick his ass for making my best friend and bro feel like he has no friends." Jason replied.

"So now you know one of my many secrets about my history with Kim and what it means for us." He added.

"Wow that's one hell of a story to spill. I got to say that I understand where you're coming from." Jason said. "If I were you, go with you heart and soul and if you believe with everything you in your power...don't give up on Kimberly. You love her for all that she is, regardless of what is going on."

June 26, 1997

Angel Grove Park

Angel Grove, CA

Being back at her and Tommy's "spot" by the lake at Angel Grove Park held a special place in her heart. It was the reason why she needed to come home, and it wasn't for the benefit of Quinn's request. After eight months since that night in Miami, the life that Kimberly once knew was slowly fading into the shadows.

She didn't know that the aftermath of the letter left a ripple effect that carried thousands of miles across the country all the way back home. Despite not being charged for the incident involving the attacker, Kimberly felt that she couldn't bring upon a scandal with the Pan Global team over her accidental killing of a man. The last thing she didn't want was to tarnish the reputation and the prestige of the Pan Global Games after news of the incident became known to the management.

Kimberly recalled the day she quietly withdrew from the Pan Global team citing "personal matters" according to management and after her parents were informed of her withdrawal, she suddenly found herself disowned for what she did. It was her life for eight months being isolated and alone without any support or purpose and her dreams abruptly ended because of an untamed fire burning inside of her.

Of all the places Kimberly ended up retreating to why did she choose Phoenix, Arizona? It was somewhat close to home, but at least she wasn't alone in her quest to regain a sense of normalcy. It was by some miracle she got reacquainted with her former camp counsellor Quinn whose martial arts skills helped her "channel" the untamed urge inside of her. He was man of mystery to Kimberly during the last eight months living at his dojo as if he was hiding something from her.

"I...I made a promise that my next adventure would be to get my pink crane back." Kimberly stared out at the water as she felt a familiar presence she longed for desired and yearned for the last eight months. Her eyes teared up as she turned around and found herself in the presence of her white falcon, Tommy. "So...much for wishful thinking."

"Am I dreaming? Or is it a figment of my imagination." Kimberly murmured. "Tommy...for everything I put you through, for all the pain I caused you...I just...I just..."

"You're here, it's all that matters." Tommy said and without hesitation took a step forward and for the first time since the infamous letter eight months ago had finally had his beloved crane back in his arms. The gesture left Kimberly speechless as Tommy buried his head in her shoulder to familiarize her scent and touch. "It's all I need."

"Why do you have so much faith in me? I broke your heart, I sent you that letter and yet you still love despite it all?" Kimberly sighed as she leaned into his embrace. "Don't ever think I didn't love you, I still do even after all these months which is why I came back. It's because you deserve to know the truth...of what I become."

In the moment of relishing over the feeling of having his pink princess back, Tommy and Kimberly reluctantly pulled back for catch their breaths. His mind started to register that the girl who had capture his heart didn't resemble the optimistic, carefree, and perky girl full of light and innocence. In her place was a woman who had become a former shell of what he was before he came to Angel Grove: a brooding lone warrior in the shadows trying to quell an untamed burning fire inside of her.

"I can see in your eyes, Beautiful. It's the same struggle you helped me deal with a long time ago of the darkness that lingered inside of me. If you think I deserve so much better than you than I'll tell you that no one will compare to you. You were able to love me for both the shadow and light inside of me. Whatever it is you're dealing with and if it is why you wrote the letter I'm not going to turn my back and run." Tommy said taking a hold of her hand. "Please Beautiful, don't let yourself be left in the dark alone."

"It's true I love you Handsome for both the shadow and light inside of you. A long time ago you told me I was your light to bring you out of the darkness. But I'm afraid that the light inside of me is beginning to dim out. Instead it's being replaced by an untamed fire I can't explain and it will burn those around me. I've tried so hard to tame it but the flames continue to burn wildly as if I want it to torch everything in my path. It...it was why I sent the letter...because of what happened in Florida eight months ago."

"Part of me figured it had to do with something that happened in Florida." Tommy murmured. "Katherine...she knew didn't she? It wasn't coincidence you sent it a few days after she came back from her trip. What...what...happened?"

"As Power Rangers we were only suppose to use our powers to battle the forces of evil and destroy those who threatened Earth. Our credo was that we never physically harm the wellbeing of human life regardless of who or what they did." Kimberly explained looking down at the ground. "Sometimes we get curious to wonder the extent of our power even after our tenure ends. I learned that lesson eight months ago...I discovered for my own volition I had the power in me to take a life."

"Who...was it Kim?" Tommy said stuttering at Kim's admission. "Did...did you kill someone?"

"Kat and I went to a club one night with a few of the girls from the gym. They went home ahead of us and Kat decided to accompany me after I had to go back to the club to get my purse. We attempted to take a shortcut back to the training facility in order to get back in time for curfew. She and I found ourselves being confronted by some guys in an alleyway. They tried attacking us and one had me pinned down. I found a steel pipe and I struck the guy over the head to get him off my friend. His buddy who had Kat stopped the minute he heard his friend fall over, his head heavily bleeding and the steel pipe coated with his friend's blood."

"Kimberly...I'm so sorry...I didn't know..."

"But I wasn't done and then I went after the guy who attacked Kat seconds later. I beat that guy to a bloody pulp until his body laid lifeless on the ground, but manage to traumatize one of my good friends in the process. The police ruled it as an accidental death because according to them it was out of self-defense." Kimberly continued. "We went back to the dorms after we finished up at the police station. Kat tried to tell me that I saved her life that night and it wasn't my fault. However, deep down there was this part of me that didn't hesitate in that alleyway to strike those guys down in cold blood. I felt it once before, but then that night...I figured out."

"Now it makes sense why Kat kept it from us for all these months what happened in Florida." Tommy replied. "However, it doesn't redefine who you are. It was an accident and you saved a friend that night. You're a good person Kim and although sometimes accidents happen it doesn't mean..."

"...Part of me rationalized I did it in order to save Kat and myself. However, I did it out of my own volition. Some can justify it as self-defense but it wasn't as if I was saving another or trying to protect myself even more. I kept going even after we were safe because part of me want to know that I could do it. I took a life and for some reason...I enjoyed it as if my adrenaline spiked getting a rush from it. The moment I took a life for the first time, everything I knew about myself changed, but yet it was going to corrupt those around me like what I did to Katherine that night. I couldn't do that and part of me wonder if there was good in me still?"

"It was why you wrote the letter? You wanted to protect me from whatever is burning inside of you since that night?" Tommy asked as she nodded her head. "Everything you wrote in the letter was a lie to cover up this side of you that you struggled with since you were a kid? I saw it before when we were kids at summer camp during your sparring match with Ian. Your adrenaline spiked as if you got a sudden rush in the violence and brutality."

"I couldn't let that side corrupt you or the people I love although it cost me everything I held dear. This untamed fire cost me my dreams on the Pan Global team, my family who didn't want anything to do with me and possibly my reputation. I ended up going to Phoenix, Arizona and attempted to salvage anything left of a normal life by finishing up high school and living in the dojo of our former camp counsellor, Quinn." Kimberly said but the mention of Quinn's name triggered something inside. "Unfortunately, he was the only person I knew in Phoenix. Oh god, Handsome...I'm sorry if I mentioned Quinn's name. Don't worry, nothing happened if you were wondering..."

"...At least you had someone help you cope with what was going on with you." Tommy sighed. "I wish I was there with you to help you cope with what you were going through. It must have been lonely and if I figured out where you were, I would have followed you."

"But you had your duty as a Ranger, to the others and a life in Angel Grove. I couldn't let you give it all up just for me and I thought you deserved much better. I spent eight months trying to tame that fire inside of me after that night and I'm channeling it into something I can't understand. I wish I could go back to the girl you fell in love with and things weren't complicated as they are today. I was told that there will be consequences for my actions. I...I can't do it anymore and I risked coming here because the only thing right now that makes sense in my life is my love for you...if it's still there."

There was still hope that maybe the Kimberly he fell in love with was still inside the girl before him. Sensing Kim's skepticism, Tommy tilted her chin up and smiled. "Does this prove the spark is still alive?"

Then, Tommy's lips descended upon hers in a kiss that reignited the passion, affection, and pure emotion into something deeper and genuine. It was as if the events of the last eight months faded away in the background as the falcon and crane once again found their way back to each other. "The falcon and crane still fly." She smiled.

"That they do, the falcon and crane still soar as one. I know the Kimberly Hart who I love more than life itself is in there. She may have changed these last couple of months and she's struggling with a fire burning inside of her that is untamable. If I know what my next adventure is that is to help tame the untamed fire burning inside the pink princess I love. We need to rediscover that light that shines in her because she is worth living for."

Kimberly's reawakened emotions were getting the better of her, but at this moment it didn't matter. The spark was still alive for the falcon and crane and she felt as if that untamed fire inside of her was being quenched by a balance of love and light. It was a calculated risk and in the back of her mind, Kimberly felt sooner or later she would face the repercussions of her choice. If Tommy believed that the girl who captured his heart still was still, then she take that risk to find her once again.

"Consequences be damned," Kimberly simply replied staring at her beloved falcon. "You may not know what I have seen or did, but I'll risk it in order to hold onto to the one thing that matters to me: my Handsome White Falcon."