Power Rangers Zeo - Venusian Encounters by Heather Ray (the ebook reader TXT) 📕

weakly, "if you'd... like to talk."

"About what?" he asked, still not looking at her.

"Um, about what's been going on recently. I... uh... I'm really glad you and the guys came to my coronation."

"Of course we did," said Tommy, turning to her. He stood there for a few moments, gazing at her. Kim felt him drink in her ethereal appearance, and felt even more uncomfortable under the intense scrutiny.

Kim did her best to smile at him. Vaguely, she remembered how easy it was for her to talk to him... once upon a time. They would talk about anything, from the most mundane of topics to the most serious. They would switch back and forth, each unveiling their deepest thoughts, and laying their inner selves bare.

Oh, how she missed being so connected

to someone!

"Tommy," she said suddenly, "come for a walk with me?"

Tommy looked at her questioningly. Kim wracked her brain for a good reason. "I'm really bored with these festivities, and I really just wanna get away for a few minutes. Besides, I haven't had much time to explore Venus Island. What d'ya say?"

Tommy shrugged noncommittally. "Sure. Lead the way, Your Highness."

Kim paled at the title, and turned away from him, walking through the garden to the main gate of Ambrosia. Tommy followed her, snapping his helmet back on his head.

Kimberly was crying outright, but not uttering a sound, for fear her voice would be tainted by her grief. She tried her best not to shudder or start sobbing. She didn't want Tommy to see her in tears. She couldn't help but feel hurt by the blandness of his voice. She also didn't like him calling her that.

She wanted to bridge the gap between them, at least to tie loose ends. Perhaps, they could even put aside the pain, and become friends.

Instead, Tommy seemed more than willing to keep them apart.

What if Katherine was wrong? What if Tommy didn't have feelings for her any longer? What if the rose that had blossomed from their love was already withered beyond restoration? What if... the only feelings he harbored were bitterness and anger?

That was a reality Kimberly knew she wouldn't be able to bear. Kimberly startled slightly when she heard the crashing waves on the shore. The trek down the mountain seemed to fly by, most likely because she wasn't looking forward to what she had to say. Sighing, she walked to the shoreline, staring out at the sea. The gentle waves licked at her sandalled feet, and her head tilted upwards to gaze at the stars. Tears slid down her face, as the warm sea breezes and smooth water calmed her tense muscles.

"Tommy," she whispered, "I'm sorry."

She remained silent after her confession, waiting patiently for Tommy to respond. After a full minute had passed, she fought the urge to turn around, and see if he was still behind her.

Nevertheless, she didn't turn around. She wanted to regain her composure first.

"For what?" he answered finally.

Kimberly felt herself tremble, and kept her voice low in order to force it to remain steady. "For being a fool. For breaking your heart. For breaking my heart."

"You mean the letter," said Tommy grimly, shrugging his shoulders slightly, "It's okay. I mean, I can handle it. If you've found someone else, I'm happy for you. He's probably better for you than I could ever be." He paused for a moment, as if finding the best words to encapsulate the deluge of feelings that were tapped by the very mention of the letter, "I'm... just sorry I failed you. I wasn't good enough for you."

Kim spun around, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her fawn eyes flashed with anger, and she stepped out of the water right up to Tommy.

"Are you crazy?" she shrieked, completely astounded by his answer, "I'm the jerk here! You never did anything but love me, and I just couldn't see it! You'd do anything for me, and I just didn't believe it!"

"What?" asked Tommy. Kim sighed. He certainly wasn't making this easy.

"Look," Kim said, averting her eyes from his and nervously fumbling her fingers, "I guess I'm a little paranoid when it comes to relationships. I mean, I've never really been in love before, and it was really a shock to my system. I don't think I realized how much you meant to me until I left Angel Grove. It really hurt not having you with me, to talk to every day, to hold me when I'm down, to lift me up when I fall. It scared me."

Kim glanced at Tommy one more time. She couldn't see his face, since he still wore his helmet, yet he seemed to be absorbing all she unveiled.

"But, if you loved me, why...?" Tommy stammered.

"Because long distance relationships never work. Whoever said 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' was severely mistaken. There are dozens of stories of relationships breaking up when the couple is separated. Renee broke up with her boyfriend when she moved to Florida from New Jersey, because he was cheating on her. My mother and father got divorced a year after my dad got that promotion, and was always on business trips."

The Red Ranger's muscles tensed, and he folded his arms ominously. "Oh, I get it," he muttered, "You just don't trust me. Is that it? You thought as soon as you boarded the plane, I'd be sneaking around behind your back! Am I right?"

"No!" she shrieked, slightly panicked at being so misunderstood, "That's just not it! I trust you, but... I just wanted you to be happy is all. I wasn't planning on returning to Angel Grove after the Pan-Globals. I would train for the Olympics, and then I'd move to Paris, and go to college there. It wouldn't be fair for me to ask you to wait for me, while I go off to another continent. Can you think of any relationship that could survive that amount of alienation?! You're better off with someone else. Especially now."

Kim turned away from Tommy, overcome with frustration and anxiety. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as she reflected upon the fact that, in all likelihood, she'd never lay eyes on him again... and he'd probably want it that way. Why wouldn't he just want to close forever that painful chapter in his life, with a selfish girlfriend who didn't have the nerve to speak to him face to face until now?

Kim jumped slightly when she felt Tommy's gloved hands fall upon her bare shoulders, gently turning her around to face him. He then retracted his hands and slowly removed his helmet, revealing a tear-streaked face. Kim fought the urge to brush his tears away with her fingertips.

"You know I would've done it," he said softly, a faint grin tugging on his lips.

"Done what?"

"Waited for you. We could've worked it out, figured out some way for us to be together. Not having you in my daily life was hard, but thinking you didn't love me anymore was far worse. The sting still lingers."

"I'm so sorry, Tommy," Kim repeated, shaking her head in self-disgust, "I know you must hate me for what I've done..."

"I could never hate you, Beautiful," Tommy interrupted, "You mean the world to me."

"Still?" she choked, taking his hands into hers, "After all I've done to you?"

"Still. I've never stopped loving you, Kimberly Hart. Not for a moment."

Chapter Three

Not even for a moment. His love for her didn't fade, even after how cruelly she treated him.

Kimberly knew she didn't deserve a love like that.

During the next several months, Kim and Tommy saw very little of each other. Not long after the restoration of the Venusian throne, the Power Rangers were forced to deal with Divatox herself, who came to Earth seeking Lerigot and the mystical island of Muiranthias. The Zeo Rangers had to make a shift into Turbo to defeat her. It was another change in power. Also, due to an unfortunate accident, Rocky was unable to join the team to Muiranthias, so a young boy named Justin Stewart was selected to be the Blue Turbo Ranger.

For the veteran Rangers, however, this new power was short-lived. The team remained Turbo during the summer between high school graduation and college. At that time Dimitria, who replaced Zordon as the Rangers' mentor, decided that the Rangers had come to the end of their service. She claimed that they had the Power too long, and needed to give it up. Kimberly didn't buy that, especially since Tommy had been a Power Ranger for three years, while Tanya had only been a Ranger for less than a year. Also, Dimitria couldn't have meant the teens had been Turbo Rangers for too long, since Justin would remain on the team.

Kimberly came to the conclusion that Lady Dimitria of Inquiris wanted to grant the Turbo Rangers freedom from the responsibility of protecting the world, so they could move on with their lives and attend college without feelings of guilt for abandoning their positions as Earth's defenders.

Kimberly wasn't around when these momentous events happened. She only learned of the Rangers' retirement after the fact, because she had remained out of contact for so long. She was on Phaedos for four solid months, working with Dulcea in coming to a greater understanding of the Great Power. The arrival of Divatox to Earth brought the Venusian culture to the brink of war, yet Kim knew a full-out attack wasn't the best way to handle the situation. In fact, it wasn't even certain if Divatox was or wasn't aware of the existence of Venus Island.

Kim wanted to beseech the Great Power for answers to her questions regarding her responsibility. She felt sure the Great Power would have the answers she sought.

Also, four months didn't seem that long. Once a person becomes ageless, years pass like days. To an immortal, four months is an eyeblink. Kim was astounded by the length of time she remained on Phaedos on that pilgrimage, and once she returned to Earth, she immediately tried to reach Tommy.

She was startled to discover that Tommy was no longer living at home. Rather, he was attending Brown University, in Rhode Island.