One Day after the Battle

The day began with cloudy skies and the chirping of birds nearby. Smoke and fire hung in the air and assaulted the nose with the smell of burning red wood. Kimberly looked back and forth at the space that had been her home. As they had learned after the battle, the giant monsters weren't the only thing Kirai had sent down to attack the Earth.

Having taken over the Machine Empire, she had access to their technology and weapons. She had interfaced putties with the machine warriors that Tommy and the others had been used to fighting when they had become the Zeo Rangers. Word was that they were horrible looking amalgamations, something like out of the Island of Doctor Moreau. Tommy, Jason and the others may have kept the giant monsters within city limits, but there was no way they could have stopped the new foot soldiers. They simply were not ready for them.

They watched on the news as the President of the United States declared Angel Grove, and the ten mile radius surrounding it, a disaster area that night. They stood proud has he hailed the return of the Power Rangers for coming to the aid of the world once again. But the peace that had come after was only to be temporary. Their war would go on as it had when they first took up the battle against Rita when they were in high school. But at least there were more Power Rangers now.

F.E.M.A. and the National Guard were moving in to help the battered city of Angel Grove and the surrounding affected areas. It was then that the scope of the disaster area became clear to Kimberly. And then Billy realized it too.

Before they could do anything, Kimberly was rushing, telling Alpha Five to teleport her back down to the surface, as close as he could near her home. Or rather, what was left of it. She stood for what seemed like days, transfixed by the burning wreckage that had replaced the home she had worked so hard to build. Now it was only cinder, fire and ash.

The only sign of life was finding her dog, who had managed to hide during the attack. Fire fighters would not allow her any closer or into what was left because it was still so dangerous. She wanted to cry out, scream and cry, but she only stood as she saw the remains of her life. There were some bodies that were found, but they could not be identified as yet.

Jason, Trini and Aisha walked up and stood with her. Kimberly looked to Jason and the others. She turned and the rest of her friends were there, Tommy, Zack, Billy, Rocky and Adam. She saw that even Katherine, Andros and Karone had also come. Kimberly sighed and she coughed. Jason touched her shoulder and Trini put her arm around her back, bracing Kimberly.

Kimberly's mouth had gone dry and she merely signaled with her head that she was ready to walk away. They turned, along with the dog and walked over to the others. Kimberly crossed her arms in a self embrace and allowed another breath to escape. Tears welled in her eyes.

"I…it..it's gone." Long streaks of tears went down her face, "They…they don't know who it might be, but it –it could."

Tommy hugged Kimberly and the others formed a tight protective circle around her. She sniffed and said she was fine.

Kimberly's mind was a wash: was this part of the attack, totally random and destructive; or retribution against her? The answer remained elusive. She looked from her house to the state of the rest of her neighborhood. She looked next to the faces of all of her friends, filled with concern.

"I feel like I failed… everything." Kimberly said.

"Don't say that," Aisha replied, "there's no way you could have known that this attack would have happened."

"I just think, he must have felt so alone, wondering where I was. And I couldn't save him…because-because of all of this. Maybe if I hadn't"

"Kim," Jason said, "You can't do that to yourself. You went because you knew you could do something, you knew you could help. Don't blame yourself for this."

"I know, I know." Kimberly said, trying to fight back her sadness. She breathed again. If her mindset was what it first was when she was called back to fight, she would have blamed herself and the others. But she knew that was impractical. She went to Eltar not just for her friends, but for her loved ones.

Tommy said, "I promise you, Kim, we will make Kirai pay for this. We will bring her to justice." Kimberly smiled at that and shook her head yes.

"I know we will, Tommy. That's why I am here, and will help you all to bring her to that justice." Kimberly replied.

They all smiled, glad that she was fully committed and back with them for good. Katherine walked forward to Kimberly and held out an open hand to her.

"If you're going to do that, you'll need this." It was the Pterodactyl Power Coin, "Now that you are back, it should be yours again. Kimberly's mouth dropped with surprise and reached for the coin, but then she hesitated and thought for a moment. Then she cupped Katherine's hand with her left and then closed it with her right hand.

"No, you hold on to it for now." Kimberly replied.

"What?" Katherine replied, "But I'm the Pink Zeo Ranger, there's no need for me to have what is rightfully yours. Please."

"It's hard for me to explain right now, maybe it was the quest for the Green Ranger power or maybe it was the journey to realize I wanted to become a Power Ranger again, but for the way things have changed, and the way I have changed, I wish to be only one type of ranger for now. I want to remain the Green Ranger for the future ahead. I feel I must."

"Are you sure?" Katherine asked.

"The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers worked best when we were six, I think it important that the green ranger power be amongst us once again, especially after Zordon's final sacrifice for us. For that I gladly carry that responsibility and power."

They all saw that Kimberly's words rang true, because her street clothing matched her changed attitude, for she now wore a green top. She was now fully committed to her restored and new ranger power. They all reflected that in their respective attire.

Andros smiled upon hearing of Kimberly's story of her meeting with Zordon, "It's so amazing that he talked to you. He told me that he would always live on in all things that were good. He was true to his word once again."

"And that's why he called us all together in the beginning, because he was true and he knew we would be true to one another." Kimberly said, "He said as much."

"Then we go on, united once again?" Trini asked. Kimberly smiled and it was understood. Kimberly stretched out her hand, palm down. The others shook their heads in understanding. It was the reminder of the promise they all made so long ago.

"Power Rangers." Kimberly said. The others all placed their hands in as well, it was a little difficult, but they all managed.

"Power Rangers." They all said together.

END