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It had been a week since the dream date Kimberly had shared with Tommy, and on this day love was the farthest thing from her mind.
At times the responsibilities of being a power ranger and a teenager could dampen a Ranger spirit. Today was one of these days for Kimberly, but the stress was not caused from one of Lord Zedd�s newest monsters. For once the source of her depression was a result of real life, usually when her spirits would be down it was a result produced from her ranger duties or a combination of her teenage life along with her ranger duties, which would most often be her getting a detention at school. Mrs. Applebee would never allow the fact Kimberly was saving the human race as an excuse, that�s if she knew.
It seemed everything Kimberly touched on this Sunday was made of glass, she had several drinking glasses explode in her hand just at a mere touch. Adding to her list of destruction was her C.D. player, phone, and her bedroom doorknob, these all broke at the slightest touch. Her mother was agitated when the glasses broke, but furious by the time Kimberly ripped her doorknob out of the door. Unknown to the young teenager, her bike would soon be added to the list.
In spite of being grounded Kim thought the day could be redeemed by a bike ride. Taking her pink bicycle out of the garage she rode to Angel Grove�s park speeding through the beat down path that was known as the �Bike Trail�.
The chirping of the birds replaced the horn honks and swears produced from traffic, the removal from society, along with the wind blowing her brown locks around seemed successful in accomplishing her goal to regain happiness - how foolish she was. Kimberly should have realized today was no ordinary day and that harmony was not an option.
Approaching a bend in the path she mindlessly turned her handle bars to the right. She let out a scream as she lost her balance - the handle bars had ripped off the bike! The petite female hit the path with a thud, dust particles flying in every direction. She let out an �Ow� and the tears that had been threatening to surface poured down her cheeks. Kimberly did not cry because of her bloody knee and bruised elbow that she had acquired from the accident. Nor was it the stress from being a ranger, it was the stress from being a teenager girl, quite a clumsy one at that.
Everything she touched broke, why was she so clumsy?
�Wait a second!� Kimberly exclaimed as she wiped a tear from her cheek. A stunned look came across her pretty face as she stared at the objects next to her. Her broken bike and the handle bars, the steel handle bars. Steel doesn�t rip like paper..."What?" Kimberly asked to no one. Weird things had happened to Kim ever since she had became a power ranger, really weird things, but super strength was not one of them, unless she was in her ranger form. She highly doubted even morphed she could do such a thing.
NO!* Her heartbeat raced and her mind panicked, doubt consumed her thoughts. Two people dominated the thoughts that passed through her mind. Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa. What if this unusual power was a result of some spell they had put on her, it wouldn�t be the first time. She returned from her thoughts and came back to reality. Looking at her bike, a force more terrible, more powerful, and sometimes vile came to mind, her MOTHER!
*Dammit my mom is going to be so worried when she sees the bruises on me!* It was bad enough when she would come home sore and weak from monster battles, but the suit protected her from most of the damage and large wounds were rare - BUT when she did come home with a swollen cheek her mom would interrogate the hell out of her. *And not to mention pissed about the bike* The bicycle was relatively new, and it cost her mom a pretty penny for the bike was customized.
�WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?� she yelled into the sky as if she was pleading to God.
�It�s quite simple my dear. I would have explained it to you before but I was oh so busy, and now seems an appropriate time to do so.�
The teen jumped in surprise, she was positive she was alone. The man neatly dressed in a black suit proved her wrong. He was a hefty bald man; his appearance gave him a harmless look.
�Who are you?� Kimberly asked.
�My name is Duncan Bolster; you can call me Mr. Bolster. My dear you should not be asking who I am, you should ask me who you are.�
�I?I am Kimberly Hart.� Her muscles tightened, the way he was talking started to scare her. It seemed as if he was indicating he knew of her secret identity. *No! He can�t, whoever he is.*
�Yes but you are something more. Kimberly Ann Hart not only are you a beautiful teenager you are also the Pink Ranger?.�
�How do you know that?� Kimberly snapped interrupting the man. �Did Rita send you?� Kimberly�s hand traveled to her backside where her power morpher was located.
�I would never work for that witch!� The man snorted, �I told you my name is Mr. Bolster and I work for the Watchers Council. Your identity is not a secret to the Council neither is your comrades; don�t be alarmed though Zordon is aware that we know of you.�
�He is?� Kim felt a surge of relief calm her body; she did not want to be the first one to break her vow.
�Yes. The Council has been around for a very long time. We helped Zordon battle against the witch Rita.�
�What is this council?�
�I thought you would never ask.� The British man smiled to himself. �The Council is an?organization devoted to protecting the safety of the world, very much like the Power Rangers. Our common enemy is the Vampire, but watchers also train our slayers to deal with ghosts, monsters, witches, and many other things that go bump in the night.�
�What!?� The power teen had dealt with some pretty freaky things before but this guy seemed off his rocker. �Vampires, ghosts, monsters, witches, slayer!?�
�Yes, all those dreadful things you were afraid of as a child are real and many more. You, Kimberly, are the Chosen One. Into each generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers,� Mr. Bolster preached.
�Okay?Did you ever consider taking medication?� Kimberly couldn�t believe this guy. �I don�t know what you�re talking about, I am Kimberly, not this chosen one. The only time I have special powers is when I morph?Sorry I can�t help, but you got the wrong girl.�
�Your bike tells me otherwise. Listen here, I did not come here to bicker and argue with you. You are the slayer, you do not have a choice in the matter, and it is your destiny!�
�LOOK, I make up my own destiny. I�m not this slayer girl you talk of, and if I were you I�d stay out of my way from now on!� This guy was starting to get on her nerves. As if on key her communicator went off.
�Kim, this is Billy. We need your help!�
�I�m on my way, Billy.�
�WAIT!� The man yelled. �Meet me at the Angel Grove Park tonight at midnight and I can prove to you that I am not lying.�
�Whatever!� she said before teleporting. Pink energy enveloped her body she flew to the command center.
---
Kimberly crossed her arms as an attempt to stay warm. It was late at night and temperatures were dropping fast. Kimberly wore an unusual match of black sweat pants and a pink tank top. Not the most flattering fashion but Kimberly wasn�t aiming to impress.
�Where is this guy?� The feminine teenage girl asked herself. A quick glance at her watch told her the man was fifteen minutes late. Kim had not planned on showing up, in fact she intended on not, the guy gave her the creeps. Even though on a daily basis she battled terrifying monsters, the prospect of vampires and ghosts seemed absurd.
*Then why am I here?*
She wished she didn�t, but for some reason she believed the man. Kimberly wasn�t the gullible type, but she wasn�t ignorant either. During today�s battle against Zedd�s latest monster Kim couldn�t help but marvel in her newfound strength, and checking in the Command Center�s archives she discovered that Mr. Bolster had told the truth, the Watchers Council DID help Zordon fight against Rita thousands of years ago.
�I hope I didn�t keep you waiting?� Kimberly jumped, the voice had startled her.
�No, not really,� Kimberly lied. �Let�s get this over with.�
�As you wish, but there are a few things you need to know. One, there are four ways to kill a vampire. One is to stake them through the heart with a wooden spear, two decapitation, three fire, and last but not least sunlight. A cross along with holy water will be necessary tools in fighting a vampire.� He had a black duffle bag next to him, unzipping the zipper he handed a wooden stake and a cross to Kimberly.
�The way a vampire multiplies is that it sucks the blood of a human and mixes it�s own blood with him or her. Do not hesitate to kill these creatures, they are demons. At times they may look human and pretend to show emotion?but they are purely evil; do not let them trick you.�
�How do I know what they look like?� Kimberly never got her response. It was dark so she had trouble seeing but a fierce growl roared in her direction. Luckily she was able to make the outline of an arm in time as she ducked a punch.
�What the hell?� she asked shocked. Her battle instincts kicked in and Kim assumed a fighting stance as the creature charged. Sharply turning left dodging the monsters blow Kim swept his feet with a powerful kick to the bottom of the legs.
The monster hit the grass bluntly and the power pint pounced on top of her foe and raised the stake. Her eyes widened and her arm froze in mid-action � she got her first good look at the creature. The face was distorted full of creases and muscle, large white fangs bordered with red lips illuminated the pale face. The beast seemed horrifying and romantic all at the same time. A puzzled look came over Kimberly�s face as she became absorbed in the vampire�s eyes.
�Kimberly, quickly drive the stake through the monster�s heart?NOW!� Duncan Bolster howled. Snapping out of her trance she obeyed the watcher�s command. The monster burst into ashes and the only thing left as a reminder of the vampire�s legacy was dust and a stake embedded into the ground.
Kim stood up, her body trembling, hands shaking and her heart pumping. The smell of sweat and grass stains filled the air, tears threatened to pour down the teen�s cheeks. Her mind was in awe delicately recapping the events that had just taken place in a matter of seconds.
�And that my dear is a vampire.�
---
* I never thought I would leave, not this soon!* Kimberly contemplated, * First Jason, Zack, and Trini - now me! Who�s next, Billy?*
�Is something wrong honey?� Ms. Hart asked placing a loving hand on her daughter�s knee.
�No, Mommy,� she falsely answered. �Everything is fine.�
�That�s good. I know you�re going to miss your friends but trust me things are going to be much better. I heard Sunnydale is a great and...hip place to live in. Plus with my promotion I will be getting paid A LOT more money.�
�That�s always good,� Kim said not knowing what else to say - she was trying to sound enthusiastic but her heart wasn�t in it. Her mom was so happy with the new job offer she couldn�t tell her the depressing truth.
�Well, if you need to talk, I am here.� Ms. Hart immersed herself back into the book she was reading, after she gave her daughter one more encouraging glance.
The awe of the plane ride took her mind off her depression, for now. Yes, Kimberly was on a plane. A plane headed for Sunnydale, Florida.
It was months since she had killed her first vampire and things had changed. Some things for the better while most were for the worst. For the most part life was hard she had to juggle between being a teenage girl, a slayer, and a Power Ranger. It was a struggle but she had managed - somewhat. Sadly one of these duties was now eliminated.
It was bizarre how much being the �Chosen One� took a toll on her life. Kim had regarded her ranger duties as time consuming, but being a slayer was far worse. Her grades were starting to slip and teachers began to call home with complaints for Mr. Bolster was constantly pulling her out of school to either teach her a new skill, further her knowledge in the world of the paranormal and such, or raid a vampire nest while the monsters were sleeping. When being a slayer did not pull her out of class her Power Ranger identity would.
Homework was barely done and tests were usually failed as a result of not studying. Kim didn�t deserve that, it wasn�t as if she was being ignorant of her school work, she was out killing monsters!
Not only did her mother hound her because of school, she also got punished for staying out late! Vampires regularly come out late at night, so that is when Kimberly went hunting with Mr. Bolster. Ms. Hart being a good mother would discover her daughter being out of bed at these late hours and have a fit. She couldn�t tell her mom she was out saving the world - like a power ranger a slayer couldn�t tell family or friends about her unusual life style in fear they would get hurt or worse. Bruising was another big problem, at least as a power ranger her suit protected her from most of the damage. Occasionally she would have a big bruise, but it was rare. As a slayer the only protection she had was her intelligence, strengths, and skills - as a result she would come home beat up. It was a major temptation to combine her slayer powers along with her ranger ones...but one of the rules of being a ranger was never use your powers for personal gain. While slaying a vampire wasn�t exactly personal gain, it wasn�t a part of her ranger duties.
Kimberly would come home from school tired, depressed, sore, aggravated, and stressed. Topping it off her mother would question her as if she were on an episode of NYPD Blue.
Her mom was not the only one who noticed the change in the pretty teen�s life style. Her friends constantly pondered with concern over their teammate sometimes expressing their worry other times keeping it to themselves.
Isolation had become a big problem for the once teenage valley girl, the only time she got to hang out with the gang was the rare times she was at school, or when Rita and Zedd would cause trouble by sending a monster to terrorize Angel Grove. Her answer machine was plagued with a dozen messages from her boyfriend Tommy.
As ironic as it seemed she was going to miss this hectic life-style. Now in Florida Kimberly wouldn�t be able to see her friends at all - sure they would call once in a while, but it would be rare, long distance calls were not cheap. A beautiful Australian girl would be taking her place as the pink ranger. The girl from down under who had once been a sly spy was now a valuable asset to the team. She was blonde, tall, and attractive. Smugly Kim had to admit that the guys would get aroused when she was in spandex - especially Tommy.
Her comrades believed in the fable of why she was moving. They all thought their teammate was moving because her mother was receiving a better job and she would be under the guidance of world famous gymnast Coach Schmidt who was supposedly training her for the Pan-Globals.
While it was true her mother got a raise and was relocated to Florida, there were still lies to be found. The Watcher�s Council was a powerful organization even if not recognized by the public. They arranged a deal with her mom�s company to have the woman moved and be paid a more respectable salary. Kimberly was not training with Schmidt the meeting had been established to further the fable of her departure. The REAL reason why she was being moved was because of her Slayer duties. For reasons unknown she was being relocated to Sunnydale, Florida where she would have a new watcher. And that is all she knew.
Kim did feel bad about lying to her mother and her teammates, but she had to, it was her responsibility as slayer to protect the world from the beast known as the vampire, at ALL cost. The only one the former pink ranger confided in was Zordon, him she told everything. While Zordon was disheartened by the fact Kimberly would leave his guidance, he understood the fact she had a new destiny and a new set of responsibilities. Respecting her wishes he promised he would tell no one.
It was hard saying goodbye to every one, but with eyes full of tears she said her goodbyes, even to Tommy. The two were still together but reality came crashing down on her and Kim knew their love wouldn�t last much longer.
All the teenager wanted to do was cry, but she couldn�t, not now. Now she had to be tough. Now she had to be strong.