(Author's Notes: Hey guys, here is chapter 14 & I shocked everyone with an unexpected death of a favorite Ranger, however things are about be spiced up I guarantee you. A tragic death has Tommy struggling with the reality of his future and the impact of the Ranger life.)

Chapter 14: Flightless Wings

June 28th, 2004

Reefside City Cemetery

3:30 p.m

Reefside, CA

Cemeteries are one of the rarest places the group would find themselves visiting, unless if it was for the funeral of a loved one in their own families. As the priest gave his last eulogy, they couldn't help but shudder that the funeral service was for one of them, especially for the likes of Kimberly Ann Hart-Oliver. Staring at brown oak casket none of them never imagine that it was their pink crane inside of there.

They were still feeling the effects of what happened four days prior. The mood was despondent and the loss of Kimberly was a ripple effect that swept across, similar to the loss of Zordon six years ago. Everyone had their own way of consoling each other and it was a kind gesture that all the other Ranger teams old and new offered their condolences of the loss of the first and original Pink Ranger.

For the veteran Rangers, it was difficult to grapple with the reality that their best friend, sister, teammate and the "other half" of the heart and soul of their original team is no longer alive. Each of them understood the risk the first time they put on the uniform and accepted the power. They faced life and death situations every time they gone into battle and manage to dodge death at every turn. Kimberly's death will be the haunting reminder of their mortality and that sometimes everyone lives on borrowed time.

It was why the veteran Rangers leaned on each for emotional and moral support, especially for Tommy. There were no words to describe what Tommy was feeling, but for him it was just more than mourning the loss of his crane. Sure, he and the Dino Thunder Rangers averted another crisis one more time and Mesogog was finally destroyed for no, but the cost of that victory came with a heavy price, one that shattered his world. It was a testament to his wife and the dedication she showed that she was willing to follow him into the frontlines of battle. Kimberly was a Power Ranger to the very end, it was why she sacrificed herself to save him and take away everything the Emissary held dear.

The last four days were a complete blur to him as he was too consumed in his grief, heartbreak and sadness over the loss of Kimberly. Jason and the others knew how much their best friend needed their support looking after him and Amelia and dealing with the arrangements for the funeral. Even the littlest reminders and memories of Kim hurt Tommy even more, although he tried to be strong for his daughter's sake, but the pain was unbearable. The gang all took turns checking up on Tommy, making sure he ate and slept properly, and took it upon themselves to plan the arrangements for Kimberly's funeral knowing their friend was in no state to do so.

Telling Kimberly's family about her death was the most difficult part after Tommy's parents were able to get in contact with her family. Although Kimberly was estranged from her family for eight years due to the incident in Florida, Tommy felt they had a right to know what became of their daughter over the years. Caroline and Andrew Hart knew how much Kimberly loved Tommy and part of her regretted the word they told their daughter that caused the estrangement. However, they were grateful for Tommy for being part of their daughter's and surprised when Tommy introduced their granddaughter to them. Hearing about the recent events in Reefside that contributed to Kimberly's death, he saw a sense of pride they held for their daughter, and although they offered to take Amelia for awhile, they sensed that father and daughter needed each other.

Everything Tommy spent years fighting for suddenly felt like it was worth nothing. In a blink of an eye, the person that was the centre of Tommy's existence and entire world was taken from him. He saw the glances and the looks of sympathy and pity he was receiving from his family and friends, but he was oblivious to it. The same can go for the whispers and solemn comfort of words the guests were comforting one another with. Overall, everything around Tommy he tuned out the last four days because he couldn't accept the reality that was now laying six feet underground at the gravesite he blankly stood staring at, even after the service was over.

Long after everyone left, only Jason remained and had Amelia brought back to the house by Tommy's parents for the reception. He just stared in silence watching his best friend standing by Kimberly's gravesite, unable to tear himself away from it. "Bro, it's time to go." Jason said, his heart aching for his best friend and brother.

"Part of me wishes this is all just a dream. It's just if I leave then I know it's all real, that this is reality. This is where she'll be from now on and I can't accept that she's...she's..." Mentioning the "d" word was too hard as it was too hard for Tommy to mourn or grieve although part of him was slowly coming to grips with reality.

"It's okay man, just let it out. I know how much you miss you, we all do." Jason said, consoling his best friend by placing a hand on his shoulder. "Take all the time you need."

"I keep seeing it in my mind, everything that happened these last few days. Is this...is this the price I paid for saving the city and stopping the forces of evil?" Jason started to understand it was more than the grief of losing Kimberly that got to Tommy. It was his belief and questioning the price of accepting the power. He saw that although Mesogog was no longer a threat, the consequences of that victory will forever haunt the Dino Thunder Rangers and especially Tommy. "They say that there's no victory without sacrifice right? So why...did it come at the price of the life of my wife? It hurts that the cost of victory can cause so much pain."

"Kim loved you and just like you she had a duty as a Ranger to protect this city. She chose to fight alongside you and the Rangers, she made the choice to follow you on the frontlines because she believed in the same thing you and all of us did a long time ago. We accepted the power to fight for the greater good, even at the cost of her life...she loved you more than her own life. If you in her position..."

"...I would have done the same thing." Tommy muttered reluctantly. "Is this my debt repaid for everything I did in the past? I spent years trying to atone for everything I did as the Evil Green Ranger. I was in a dark place, but Kimberly was my salvation, my light who helped me through all of it. I kept asking myself since day one if I was truly worthy of the power or being involved in this life. She used to remind me...that there was a life outside of the Power Rangers and she was right."

"That she was bro," Jason slightly chuckled. "We all learned that lesson the first time we transferred our powers."

"Yeah, but it was more than just life outside of the Power Rangers, it was everything that defined my life and how...how she became the centre of my world. I ask myself every night if I deserved her after everything I did? We weren't perfect and we didn't have the not so ideal normal life, but it was life we enjoyed together. It made living in the world less tense and I made a vow that I do everything in my power to keep that...to..."

"You have a right to grieve, to mourn. Don't let yourself hold your feelings in. I know it hurts and it will be a pain that will stay with you for a long time, Tommy. Don't for one second think Kim's death had to debts being repaid years ago because of your past." Jason explained. "You and Amelia meant the world to her. Everything you two had together mattered whether if it was life outside of being Rangers or life after it. Don't ever let yourself think it wasn't worth it to love someone who meant the world to you and never question it. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise..."

Tommy and Jason stopped when they noticed an uninvited guest standing across them from Kimberly's gravesite. Jason saw his best friend tense up looking at the older man across from them and it clicked who exactly this man was, Quinn. However, the last person Tommy wanted to see was his old mentor and a reminder of what caused this.

"I don't have to guess who you are. I heard the stories from Tommy and Kimberly." Jason snapped, stepping forward to block Quinn's path towards his best friend. "I never met you but from word of mouth you're someone whose teeth I rather knock down your throat. So Quinn, why are you here?"

"Tommy, I'm really sorry for your loss. I know how much Kimberly meant to you and how much she loved you." Quinn said with a sigh of regret. "I wanted to offer my condolences to you and your kid."

"Condolences?! After everything you put my best friends through all these years what gives you the right..." However, Tommy stopped Jason's tirade unexpectedly and looked up to face his best friend. Although he appreciated Jason coming to his defense, there were personal matters between Tommy and Quinn that he couldn't address.

"Bro...it's okay I'll be alright." Tommy reassured his best friend and then he turned his attention to Quinn. "As much as I want to be angry with Quinn, I can't deny him the right to pay his respects to Kimberly. Besides, he was a pivotal figure in both our lives since we were kids. Also, he and I have some things to discuss."

"Are you sure Tommy?" Jason asked as Tommy reluctantly nodded in confirmation. Part of him knew not to question Tommy's actions but he needed to respect his best friend's wishes. He allowed Tommy a few moments alone with Quinn at Kimberly's gravesite as he went to wait by the car. "I'll give you a moment. Take all the time you need, I'll wait by the car when you're ready." Jason walked away heading towards the car giving the former teacher and student a moment alone.

"Listen kid, I know you're hurting and I'm sorry for what happened to Kimberly. I failed her and you years ago and I thought by keeping the truth a secret, there would have been a chance to change your futures." Quinn explained, sighing. "Yeah, it sucked that she was destined to become the Scarlet Sovereign but at least she went out by taking away everything the Emissary believed in."

"Wow, you're something else you know that Quinn?" Tommy asked sarcastically. "What, are you for a loss of words? Are you here solely on business for the Garrison to make sure the threat has been neutralized? If you want to pay your respects, then say a few words about the woman who lost her life so suddenly for your war. I wanted to say a few words, but I don't have anything to say because no words can describe what I'm feeling right now. Also, you don't know how I'm taking this right now."

"God rest her soul. That should be enough for me to say." Quinn muttered. "Tommy, I know how you're feeling. Don't think...I know you're mourning the loss of someone you loved unconditionally. It was...it was what kept that untamed fire inside of Kimberly at bay, her love for you. It was why she sacrificed everything for you and your daughter."

"You know, once in college, I brought her roses. There were certain days of the year I buy her roses that were of importance of our relationship. There was one day this month that had significance to us: June 26th. I remember that day like yesterday because that was the day we found our way back each other after the letter fiasco eight months prior. I know you sent her back to Angel Grove to try to recruit me to join the Garrison. Did you know she had other plans instead? Now I get what she meant when she said "consequences be damned." Part of me thinks...you wanted her dead and that was the consequence she paid because I made her choose her heart over the mission."

"Kimberly will always choose you above everything else. Despite what the Garrison thought about her, there was still a light inside of an untamed fire that burned within. It is why it is still kept safe within you and your daughter. You hold her heart and soul just like she holds yours and despite what I tried teaching others in the past, you two were always an exception." Quinn explained. "In spite of all that has happened, was it worth it?"

"What was worth it?" Tommy asked curiously.

"Loving her unconditionally with all your heart, body and soul?" Quinn asked. "It...was the one thing I couldn't ever do to either one of you, cutting the ties that bind because it was your humanity and compassion that made you both strong. As I said again, you two were an exception."

"You taught me to cut all my ties to humanity to other people. When we were kids you said that attachments and connections to others were liabilities that would hinder us in the future. Despite of what you tried to teach us, there was always a flaw to the lessons you taught. I had only a few moments with Kim in the amidst all the noise, chaos, and the violence. We were together only for moments right before our final confrontation with Mesogog. In those last minutes we imagined our future, a plan that is now a dream and that was all. Oh and instead of roses, it was orchids. She preferred orchids afterwards. And, yeah, Quinn, my wife and my life with her was worth it."

"Tommy, you are the toughest son of a bitch I have ever met." Quinn slightly smiled. "That girl was lucky to have someone like you come into your life. The world may kick the crap out of you kid, but you have it in you to endure what comes next. Kid, the hardest part about the world is living in it and wondering about what's tomorrow. If we know our Kimmy she would want you to keep living and face tomorrow head on. Now, I think it's time we get you home."

6:00 p.m

Oliver Residence

Reefside, CA

Jason knew it was best not to ask Tommy about his conversation with Quinn as he drove to Tommy's house long after the funeral ended. It had already been a rough day for everybody, especially Tommy when they arrived back home for the wake. Part of Tommy was thankful for the support of his family and best friends, but he knew eventually they had to go back home to their lives, leaving him and Amelia to fend for themselves.

Walking into the house, once again he was greeted by guests offering their condolences and sharing with Tommy their memories of Kimberly. The day dragged on into the night and Quinn's words about tomorrow sank in. "What's tomorrow?" The thought lingered in Tommy's mind pondering what will the next day have in store for him? Tommy faced life without Kimberly the first time around for eight months due to the letter. He asked himself back then how he survived eight months without her in life.

He was fortunate the hand of fate granted him a second chance, one he vowed he would never take for granted. Suddenly, he was once again at this crossroads once again he was during his senior year of high school. The only difference was this time it was permanent and Tommy didn't know what tomorrow would be because he doesn't know. It was only hearing the sounds of Amelia that his crane was right. He had to face tomorrow head on, move on and push through life without her for Amelia's sake. If he had the option of ending it he would to join his wife wherever she was, but Amelia needed him. Their little defender was the last gift Kim left him and he needed to honor that vow.

"Dada, me wet." Melissa brought her two year old granddaughter over to her son as the toddler was seeking out her father. Tommy saw his mother and his daughter reaching out for him.

"She's been desperately looking for daddy the whole time. I tried changing her diaper but she only wanted you." Melissa told her son. "If you want I can go upstairs and change Amelia for you."

"It's okay mom, I can run upstairs and change Amelia. I'll be back down in a few minutes." Tommy said taking his little girl from his mother. He went upstairs to the nursery and as he laid his daughter on the change table. Tommy looked around the room and grabbed a pull-up diaper from the shelf. He and Kimberly were in the process of beginning to potty train Amelia before all of this happened. Amelia started noticing the lack of her mother's presence the last few days, but for a two year old how was he going to explain to Amelia that mommy is not coming home?

"Mama, no change me?" Amelia asked curiously looking at Tommy. For the last few days he was trying his best to hold himself together, especially for Amelia's sake. More than ever his daughter needed him just as he much needed her. He simply held his daughter trying his best not to breakdown in front of her, but the pressure became too much for him to handle. "Dada, why cry?"

"Oh baby girl, it's...it's okay daddy is alright." Tommy wanted to be strong, but how could he if it's too much to deal with. "Daddy is sad because mommy...mommy...had to go away for a little while. It's going to be you and me for a bit love."

"Mama go bye-bye?" She asked with wide, scared eyes. Amelia was very perspective for a toddler and the lack of her mother's presence was evident. However, she soon joined Tommy in a meltdown as the two year started crying for her mother. "No, mama go bye-bye. Mama no go bye-bye. Mama no go dada."

"I know it's hard to understand Amelia and as much as we want mommy not to go bye-bye, she had to go." Tommy murmured stroking her back. "Amelia Hope Oliver, I need my little defender to be strong for me because...I'm not sure how to do all of this without our pink princess. You're the only one who knows how I'm feeling and I know that everyone else is trying to help us out. In all honesty, daddy always needs mommy more than ever."

"Dada no go bye-bye?" Amelia asked with wide, tear stained eyes. "Dada, miss mama?"

"Yeah cutie, daddy misses mommy a lot and it hurts a lot. But daddy is not going to leave his little defender behind. You know what Amy, you're our little key that keeps mommy and daddy's love alive." Tommy slightly smiled through the tears. "Even though mommy had to go away for awhile...I promise you someday, somehow we'll see her again. Everyone keeps telling that tomorrow will be a brand new day, but in all honesty I don't know what will happen tomorrow. Mommy was good at all of this stuff and we had big plans for the future. I guess it's my turn...to try to figure out tomorrow for you and me kiddo and quite frankly it scares me. We were planning on quitting our other job to show you everything the world has to offer. It was going to be the three of us being the family we wanted to be but I don't know what happens now with us."

Seeing that Amelia wanted to settle down and sit Tommy sat in the rocking chair that Kimberly used every night to put their daughter to sleep. As he took a seat, he felt something hard and bind underneath as he got up. Tommy saw a book on the rocking chair "Sonnets from the Portuguese" by Elizabeth Barret Browning. He didn't notice the book on the rocking chair the last few days with everything going on as he grabbed the book and sat down with Amelia in her lap.

"No pretty pictures?" Amelia asked curiously looking at her dad.

"Sorry kiddo, no pictures in the book, just a lot of big, confusing words." Tommy slightly chuckled. "This is mommy's book. I'm guessing she was reading this to you, trying to educate you on poetry at your age. Mommy does love her poetry. Did you know back in college she made me take a literature course with her for my elective?" He let out a sigh thinking back some of the happy times with Kimberly. Although Amelia was only two years old, it was up to him to fill the void left behind by his wife for the both of them. However, he wanted his little girl to have memories of the woman who meant the world to them.

"Do you want to know a little secret princess?" Tommy continued letting out a sigh. "This isn't the first time daddy found himself flightless and in uncharted territory. I will honestly say that mommy and daddy worked well as a team, always planning three steps ahead as we say. However, life does teach us to expect the unexpected and boy when we found out about you, we weren't prepared for parenthood one bit." He smiled as Amelia started stroking his cheek as he resumed. "Mommy and I used to handle other "stuff" very well, but our personal lives were another story. For more than a decade, we devoted our lives to handling the other "stuff" at the expense of our future until the day you were born. More than ever she wanted a life outside the "stuff" we had to deal with and thought it was time for us to get out so we can show you a life beyond the one we lived more than a decade ago."

Looking at the book, Tommy turned to the page that was bookmarked by Kimberly seeing it was Sonnet 43 and recalled it to memory. Amelia wouldn't understand at her age and despite his reputation for his faulty memory, the sonnet remained etched in Tommy's heart and soul. It was because Kimberly recited the sonnet to him the day of their wedding when she couldn't come up with her own vows. As Kimberly once told him she couldn't express in her own words her feelings, so she used the sonnet to signify everything she felt for her white knight. Tommy started reading the sonnet out loud to Amelia as the two year old curiously listened.

"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death..."

There was something about reading that sonnet that somewhat soothed Tommy of the heartache and pain he felt. He noticed that suddenly Amelia was asleep as he gently got up and tucked his little girl in her bed. He wasn't sure what tomorrow had in store, but now he had to face it for Amelia's sake more than ever.

9:30 p.m

It seemed like Tommy was already exhausted out on receiving one too many condolences and sympathies for his loss as the Oliver residence was still once more. After bidding his parents goodbye for the night and reassuring them he'll call if needed, the longest and agonizing day of Tommy's life was drawing to a close. His parents offered Kimberly's family a place to stay for the night and promised their son-in-law and granddaughter support in their time of grief.

Silently, he walked around the living room seeing the leftover and unfinished catering trays of food still on the table and the array of bouquet of flowers and floral wreaths left in the corner. How he manage to hold himself together on probably the "worst day" of his life was a testament of itself. Part of him wishes that this day would end, but ironically part of him didn't at the same time.

The lab was the last place Tommy found himself being in, not since that fateful night he brought back Kimberly's body from the factory. The image replayed in his mind remembering seeing his beloved's crane laying lifeless on the table. Now he had to brave himself of facing tomorrow without her if Tommy didn't know what lies ahead.

"This is probably the last place I...well we expect to find you," Hayley said, being accompanied by the Dino Thunder Rangers. "It's the first time you been down here in days."

"I know it's only been four days but it feels like an eternity." Tommy muttered sighing. "I remember it because it's been haunting me the last couple of nights."

"Dr. Oliver what happened wasn't your fault. We all knew the risk, even Kimberly." Kira replied. "Maybe, if we did more to help or found some way of making sure Mesogog didn't come back, she still be here. We're sorry if we didn't do enough to save your wife."

"Hey don't think for one second believe you guys are at fault for what happened to Kim." Tommy reassured. "As you said, you all knew the risk of this life, Kim included and what needed to be done to protect this city. Heck, if my pink crane was here she would have told you all how proud she is of you guys. You were willing to go on the frontlines with us and put your lives on hold for the greater good. We couldn't ask for a better brigade than you four."

"You're not like him and neither was she." Trent added suddenly. "You're both not like Quinn because you care and whatever he put you both through in past doesn't define who you are today." Tommy was surprised by the young man's declaration. Part of him felt a small sense of satisfaction that there was a flaw in what his old mentor attempted to instill in their minds, hoping his students would pass his "lessons" to the next generation.

"I appreciate the compliment Trent. The last thing I wanted was for my issues with Quinn to spill into what we were doing for Reefside. He spent his entire life fighting this ancient war and it was the only thing he lived and breathed for. What's the point of living if violence and war is what you live for?" Tommy explained.

"Which is what separated the two of you from him," Ethan replied.

"He never understood what it's like to live for something besides the fight." Connor said.

"Yeah and Kimberly...she was worth it," Tommy slightly smiled. "We were exceptions to his teachings because we couldn't do the one thing he wanted his students to do in this war: cut our emotional attachments. You learn to live with everything you feel inside: the good, the bad, the joy, the pain and everything else in between. The hardest lesson you'll learn about the world is living in it and wondering what lies ahead tomorrow."

"So what happens now Tommy? What's tomorrow?" Hayley asked.

"I'm not too sure...but I have to figure out for my sake and for my daughter." Tommy muttered looking around. "I don't know what lies ahead tomorrow but there comes a time where you have to face the changes ahead. It's going to hurt and it's going to be painful facing a future without Kim...but I owe it to her and our daughter because it is what she wanted not only for me, but for all of us."

12:00 a.m

Meanwhile in Angel Grove

Somewhere hidden in the city of Angel Grove, California, the organization of the Emissary convened below the streets of the city. They knew the history of Angel Grove and it's reputation but after the fiasco in Reefside, the Emissary were force to retreat back to reclusive status away from prying eyes. However, the Emissary didn't retreat without taking a much essential item to their cause.

It is why they have assembled and all seven pillars of the Emissary have finally been rebuilt. The group are now ready to fulfill their fallen masters' legacy and finish the work they started. Their endeavours cannot be complete without the final piece critical to the foundation of the Emissary. As the pillars, it is now their mission to serve life itself and hold up the foundation as they stared at the stone sarcophagus placed in the center of the room.

"It has been done, Dalia we have found the weapon." one of the members Malo stated. "We have taken care of everything."

"Excellent, have Ashei and Salazar oversee the final preparations," Dalia instructed to her fellow pillar. "Time is of the essence before it will be lost to the void." Once Malo left the room, the seventh and final member of the Emissary emerge. The infarct leader of the Emissary smiled maliciously at her fellow comrade. "Malo and Ashei's revivals worked out in our favor and for a moment we thought we almost lost the last pillar of our group. I'm surprised you survived the tyranny of Mesogog, but yet despite our differences with him, he contributed to our cause. Wouldn't you say, Pan?"

"Contributed is an unconventional word to describe our puppet, wouldn't you say Dalia?" Pan stated with criticism. "You were all fortunate to have served masters who have mentored you throughout the ages. Mesogog was a recluse, a combustible wild card who nearly jeopardized the integrity of this organization. He and that miserable wrench Elsa were a thorn in my side. "

"Yes, the sacrifices you have made in the name of the Emissary and the one we devote ourselves to." Dalia stated. "It is true we all have questioned the integrity of our masters in the past, but you Pan are still the one true puppet master pulling the strings. Although we have been derailed from our endeavours in Reefside and Mesogog's demise almost ruined our plans, all is not lost. The sarcophagus has enough substance and the weapon is ready to be activated. However, it may take time and patience and as pillars of the Emissary it is our mission to maintain the foundation. You...have finally delivered on what we have seeked for so long."

"Our resources will be put to a worthy cause I assure you Dalia. Soon, we will bring upon a rebirth and new life to the Emissary." Pan replied as the two exited the room.

Dalia and Pan made their way into a grand hall filled with lit up candles, members of the Emissary standing in silence, and mystics standing by what looks like a stone altar. In the centre of the room the stone sarcophagus was open as the Emissary's mystics carried a gold ceremonial bowl. There was shrouded cover body being brought in on a stretcher by Balor and the rest of the pillars of the Emissary as it was placed on the altar and prepared for the ritual.

Thea brought red silk ribbon to wrap the deceased body in like a mummy after the Emissary exhumed the female body. It was buried earlier in the day and they dispatched the graveyard workers assigned at the gravesite. They made it look like the gravesite wasn't disturbed although no one wouldn't dare exhume a casket without knowing the truth of the supposed body that was sent to an eternal rest. However, the body of the young woman they retrieved was destined to be a vessel for the Emissary's greatest deity.

Seven pillars of the Emissary known as Dalia, Balor, Thea, Salazar, Malo, Ashei and Pan watched as the mystics wrapped the female body in red silk ribbon. She had been deceased for a few days but they manage to preserve the integrity of it. After the body was prepared, the mystics began the ritual as they placed the red silk ribbon wrapped body into the sarcophagus. The mystics started pouring the substance into the ancient sarcophagus as the container began to close. The Emissary watched as the body of Kimberly Hart-Oliver was soon locked away in the sarcophagus to bring upon the rebirth and new life: the Emissary's deity known as the Scarlet Sovereign.