She stood outside the building where never-ending friendship had formed and strengthened. First with Jason and the others. Then with the second set of Red, Yellow and Black Rangers. Looking over the large building which had a sign reading ‘Juice Bar’, memories flooded back. Smiling, she walked into the bar.

This was the place where everything had begun, the Rangers, the friendships, her dream to be the best gymnast the world had ever seen; Trini, Jason, and Zack’s peace conference announcement. Jason’s winning of the karate championship. Every memory was here.

This was also the place where she and the others gave Tommy his first and only farewell. This place was a window into the past, present, and hopefully the future.

Taking a good look around, she noticed the changes that had amazed her at times, but what hadn’t changed was what still surprised her.

--

It was then she saw him, practicing on the mats. He was one person who never seemed to change a bit; his skills were a little rusty, due to his injuries, but he was still the same old person she remembered. Goofy and fun-loving.

Oh, God, she had missed a lot, more than she counted on. Her emotions swelled her heart; he was the only other person whom she had fallen in love with, other than Tommy.

She broke up with Tommy in hopes of being with him, why had she been so stupid, to think that he would see her as anything more than a friend? Why? Why?

It was because he was the only other person who could understand her, besides Trini. Over the years of their Ranger experience both had become fast, and good, friends.

She saw him look up as he moved, his smile lighting up at the sight of her. Her heart jumped, she mentally ordered herself to calm down.

He made a few quick cooling down moves before making his way to her, joining her at her table. Grinning, he gave her a big, “Hey!”

“Hi yourself,” she said.

--

Her conversation with him was hard, only because her mind was on someone else. Someone who had played a very important role in her life, bigger than that of a parent. That person was a mentor, a friend and a father.

“So he really is gone, isn’t he?” she asked in a small voice, wanting to know for sure, to hear it from someone else; so she wouldn’t wake the next day from a bad dream and find it wasn’t true. Then wouldn’t she feel silly.

“Yes, he’s gone,” he confirmed.

The silence of sadness spread over the table.

“K—” he began.

“No,” she denied. “It’s okay. I’m fine.” Yeah right, you’re more than fine, your heart is empty; your life seems pointless, her inner voice said.

“Would you like me to take you there?” he said, knowing what she needed.

NO, she wanted to scream. Instead she forced herself to say, “That would be nice,” her voice full of sadness, tears already forming in her eyes, but she wiped them away before following him.

She had let him drive, since she was in no condition to do so, she let him find the way. Since her mind was not under her own control, she didn’t really see the ruins of the Command Center, instead she saw the damage done by Ivan Ooze.

“Oh no! Zordon!” She blindly ran to the ruins, before it struck her that the Command Center was now nothing but piles of broken concrete.

Suddenly all this was too much for her to bear, she couldn’t take it anymore. “No, No . . .” she chanted over and over again, falling to her knees.

--

“Hey,” he tried to calm her down, stroking her hair.

She buried her face in his chest. “Tell me all this is a nightmare,” she said between her sobs, pressed within his arms.

“I wish I could.” He framed her face in his hands, looking into her eyes.

For the first time, she took a good look around; there was nothing but rubble, and more rubble. She stood up, and walked to the middle of the Command Center, where he had once stood. The Rangers were defeated once and for all.

“You let me live my dream and never asked for anything in return except to protect the planet I live on!” she shouted, her voice echoing in the empty desert. “This,” she pulled out her gold medal, “is for you!” She walked up to the broken tube. On seeing Zack’s medal, she softened. “Oh Zack,” she whispered, and placed hers next to his.

“You’re my father, and your memory shall live on,” she promised.

Kimberly Ann Hart, soon to be Oliver, had said her goodbye to Zordon. The promise she had just made would be carried out with honor.