#last three i tried the age given/age acted did not match and it was jarring

[blaster-aichi]

Cardfight!! Vanguard Extra Story IF 17—19 things

feat some overdue screaming

IF 17

said overdue screaming

Without the context of epi 19, Kourin’s reference to original memories stands out as incredibly peculiar. Miwa’s response, while fitting for anyone else, could have an entirely new meaning after the revelation at 19′s conclusion, we’ll get there in theoryland.

Never knew needed Kai-kun working part-time jobs but it has become a huge need, thanks writers.

That’s gay. But it does suggest that the possible ruptures in IF’s reality aren’t isolated to Shin and Kamui in the previous episode. It would be nice to see any other instances from the possible ripple effect.

pre-19: “oh this face is a mood”. post-19: “different character but hmmmmm”

With all the Legion Mate comparisons floating around from the get-go, Naoki’s method in tackling his regret is an intriguing choice against his past efforts. In Link Joker, Legion Mate and the second half of the manga/Reboot, Naoki’s objective was to make for his inaction going forward and earn Aichi’s forgiveness. If given the opportunity to go back and redo things, he may have taken it, though having heard from Aichi personally that he’s thankful for everything and everyone that he’s connected with as a result of how events played out, Naoki may not have had the heart to do so. Without that talk, it’s natural that, instead of looking ahead and atoning, Naoki’s turning backwards, it’s a neat contrast.

The series has always built up the relationship between Aichi and Blaster Blade but the relationship between Kai-kun and Dragonic Overlord is so precious, it’s a shame that it wasn’t delved into prior to the past couple of years. The notion of evolving circling the both of them is incredibly fitting, with the history they’ve had in both continuities and the duality of their approaches. (It might have been occupying thoughts a lot since, the scene was so poignant).

Between his soldiers attacking during their first (onscreen) attempt to reach the root of the problem and Emi’s subsequent admission, props to Aichi for isolating it and cutting it off to anyone that tries to interfere, hoping it’s a part of any explanation to his reality warping (assuming it was him, until today, it seemed the only viable reason).

The comparison between Naoki and Kai-kun had me believe the former might join up with the main party as a nod to being there by the latter from beginning to end of Legion Mate, being both characters harbouring regrets (if Kai-kun were to regret that his IF life takes away from the happiness of the Outside World characters).

I just really, really, really love this scene. That is all.

Bless for highlighting the irony in the KaiAi units being adversaries.

Did I mention this is joint-favourite IF epi with epi 7? It’s not, it is and here’s one of many reasons why.

Reason #57 why: the battle choreography.

“Aichi Sendou isn’t the one you want to save”. Makes you wonder who was out to save the object of their regret and who was out to save themselves.

For a moment, had believed Naoki was not-dying (Retiring?) and being returned to the Outside World, somewhat surprised it hasn’t been utilized more beyond the Ultra Rare teams diving into the Akashic Book from.

Very Soft Cardfight. That is all.

Somewhere, original continity Naoki is screaming.

Tell this to your Link Joker self, please.

IF 18

On the one hand, Kai-kun walking around in Miyaji (with or without the context of IF), on the other hand, Bushi Eats.

Probably due to cracks coming from him getting a glimpse of the original reality, but Shingo cares an enormous amount for someone who, just a couple of episodes ago, said all the products in Card Capital were going to make him lose his mind.

“Awful big brother”. Laughs with shovel. (Comparatively, he’s brother of the year.)

PEDAL FASTER.

Love how Masaki and Shinji are named to overlap with their brothers’.

He’s going to fucking murder you.

[Kourin voice] Aichi is tired. [Me voice] As am I of your bullshit.

Wingal took so much time to train that it was only on his third appearance that he didn’t attack anyone. Also soft? So very soft.

NO THAT’S SO CUTE DAMN IT.

I have so much to say about Aichi missing Emi but also she’s barged in twice and you blasted out our of the castle on both occasions. Bullshit.

Do not pull the Legion Mate with me, boy.

Is he super dissociated because how do you even in the face of this?

It’s not just that he shouted her name, but the tone of his voice shouting at her. Thinking about just how extreme it is in comparison to the Aichi she knows and has kept company is pretty chilling.

Just how aggressive Aichi has become within the IF World is alarming; on only two occasions has he let anger get the better of him and one of those two wasn’t so bad. If this is to play on how warped he was going into the fight with Ibuki, good play on the writers’ part.

Semi-related to the above; with exception of three characters (Emi, Rati and Voidkuto), Aichi’s always used honorifics, and attached one to Kourin’s name, so to hear him address her without one is jarring, for lack of a better word.

THE BIG RED FLAG: Aichi’s expression in seeing Kourin having acted of her own accord (and potentially disobey him) smacks of two things:    — his perceived crumbling control over the Sanctuary Knights, coupled with Naoki and Shingo’s desertion (his lack of reaction to the latter is bizarre, as it lends itself to and could bolster his hatred of Vanguard)    — insinuates he never had control, but was allowed to think that he did. There’ll be a section beneath 19, which itself does a lot to fuel the flames of this suspicion, that will consolidate thoughts and the theory that’s been brewing since this episode last week.

On the subject of 19, Miwa being so nonchalant and passive about everything makes a lot more sense.

Let the girls fight physically more.

UBW Archer Class Meme-y Dialogue tingles.

Naoki and Shingo holding down the fort is very sweet, particularly when Shingo was alone in that task last time.

IF 19

Alarm bells rings first thing in the morning.

The irony in past Ibuki preventing Kai-kun going to Aichi after the past dozen episodes, there are no words.

Odd that the caveat of meeting yourself from another point in time presents itself when it didn’t occur in the first two episodes, unless, at least in this case, it applies only to past events.

There’s trying not to yell FGO at things and then there’s brain yelling “Lostbelt!” at Ibuki.

Rekka and Ren’s appearances gives me hope they’ll resurface; the main characters and audience know where their target is, so would like to think word will somehow get to them. (Speaking of. Nome? Where the fuck are you during all this?)

Episode loves playing with unsettling sights, very fitting for messing Ibuki’s head around, but simultaneously, making it apparent just how much of a threat Kourin specifically is.   — On a related note: Kourin beats out Ren, Leon, Sera, Voidkuto and IF Aichi to have the most nightmarish face and I Am Afraid. Give Aichi a face like that al you’ll irreparably wound my psyche.

Intense Vibrating. They’re setting up Ibuki’s Deleting Aichi is relevant, it was the only one Kourin didn’t touch on in the episode and I am burning.

How dare you montage their time together with that music and then cut to this!

Did everyone else forget Jammers were a thing or was it just me being dumb?

Everyday I relate to Kai Toshiki.

Just going to appreciate Kai-kun gushing over giant robots in the middle of battle.

Kai-kun!Blaster Blade vs Greion giving me intense flashbacks to Aichi watching Kai-kun’s image in Blaster Blade sacrificing himself to try and fend off Greion just before he got Deleted and SCREAMS.  — Once that fight is brought up directly, if you listen, you’ll hear Rena screaming in the distance.

If there’s anyone who has no room to talk it’s Miss This Thirsty For Aichi. Also when did you two switch places of tease and teased?

“Oh shit, he’s going to Delete Kai-kun”. “Oh okay, false alarm, thank G—” “OH NO SHIT HE’S ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT!”  — On an actual note, seeing the three regrets prominent in this season all take separate routes is interesting; Shuka working to correct her wrongs in the present and moving ahead, Naoki trying to travel back and alter things from the point of origin and Ibuki being twisted to no longer feel regret, seek repentence and rather to repeat his actions.  — Ibuki vs Aichi flashbacks intensify.  — Also, mid-fall dab.

Double Agent Miwa is a blessing, who knew his acting skills were so good? Although the begs the question (if he was flat-out planted as a mole) how he earned Kourin and/or Aichi’s trust to become a Sanctuary Knight in the first place

IF 20 preview: HYPE! HYPE! HYPE!

Theoryland (Screaming):

Miwa being Takuto or Nome’s Outside World partner:

In both Rekka and Suiko’s cases, there was a companion venturing in alongside them, both of whom are friends of Kai-kun and the same age. Perhaps, Miwa may have been in league with one of the Tatsunagi brothers (having determined Aichi’s motivation and Kai-kun’s position in all this, calling on his closest friend to match the girls’ partners) through whom he gained insight into the situation and moved in order to protect Kai-kun; working from the inside to weasel information out of the others, understand how they operate, monitor their activities to keep Kai-kun out of their sights, (find Takuto, if with Nome) and maybe (find a means to or actively make an effort himself to) drag Aichi out of his current state. It may be that, instead of Sanctuary, his abduction of Kai-kun had the destination of a rendezvous with Nome until the girls’ interference and the entire incident went off the rails.

Aichi as a puppet king and Kourin the true human antagonist:

Since his expression in seeing Kourin on the offensive without his say-so, it’s been on my mind that Aichi hasn’t actually been in a position of power whatsoever throughout IF, but he’s been led to believe he is, and the act might be withering. As "original" memories factor into it and Ultra Rare’s were lost at the end of the main Reboot continuity plot, it’s possible they may be on the line as they were in Link Joker/Legion Mate.  — As she’s aware there are such memories, it’s possible that they were triggered into resurfacing when Takuto appeared within IF World and encountered her and Aichi, leading to his capture and confinement, so as not to cause any further damage to the world fabricated.  — Alternatively, she might be acting in order to keep the force (a Brandt remnant remains my personal suspicion) that has Aichi in his current state at bay. Her unease in seeing him hanging above the scene outside Sanctuary as she attacked the others might suggest that she was worried it could break loose, as she’s never been one to be rattled. This is why “human” was specified above, because whatever the case, any corruption in Aichi is evidently the overarching antagonist force.

Additionally, throughout the season, Kourin has been fiercely territorial around Aichi, speaking and acting on his behalf, while keeping the other Sanctuary Knights at an arm’s distance. She alone enters his private quarters, sees him in pain, and (no, haven’t given up entirely on the right eye thing, there have been other people around when he’s outside his Alfred form and it was visible) privy to any secret circulating him (as well as IF’s true nature), while keeping the others in teh dark. Her reasoning may be wanting to keep him under he thumb or prevent whatever’s inside/in control of him from running rampant.

And in regards to Ibuki, Aichi made the declaration about casting him elsewhere, but Kourin was the one who enacted it, and the sole player in manipulating him to switch sides. There’s no certainty that Aichi is even aware, much like he might not be conscious of Naoki’s betrayal.  — Her being responsible for recruiting might also explain why Misaki was never a Sanctuary Knight: Kourin desired she have an ordinary, happy life, not unlike Aichi’s wish for Kai-kun.

In a truly ironic turnabout, it looks to be that Kourin is IF’s Sera.

[shy-badger]

Cyborg stepped as softly as he could. He knew he needed a plan. He wasn't going to get very far without one. Stealth wasn't his strong suit, but he was no stranger to it either.

Before he knew it however, he had reached his destination, still with no plan in mind. Deciding to wing it, Cyborg opened the mechanical door with a barely audible swoosh.

The room was dimly lit thanks to the early morning light peaking in through the blinds. Not quite bright enough for his human eye to see anything, Cyborg relied on his robotic eye to navigate his way to the bed opposite the door.

Carefully he made sure that he placed his foot away from any loud toy, or precarious stack of junk and noticed that he had much more space to work with than he was expecting. Last time he was here, the place looked like a tiny trash heap, now it simply looked like any other teenager's room.

After a tense minute of tip-toeing, Cyborg finally reached his goal. Beast Boy lay in his bed in aware of the multitude of plans being cooked up in his friends head. Cyborg ruminated on the best way to wake up his teammate. He didn't want to rip his covers off, as Beast Boy was known to sleep in the nude. He didn't have any cold water either. So he settled for a jarring musical number.

Cyborg qued up a popular song, set his communicator speaker to play the music, and got ready to press play... Until he noticed something else was off, besides the lack of comedically sized trash piles. The blankets were covering more than one person, he was certain of it. He couldn't see who it was as they were completely covered from head to toe by the soft emerald comforter.

As if on que however, the second inhabitant of the bed rolled over and began cuddling the sleeping shapeshifter, revealing her identity, and nearly giving the cybernetic titan a heart attack.

Beast Boy walked in to the Titan's common room groggy, but content. Seconds later, that would change. Cyborg, Robin, and Starfire all jumped out from their respective hiding spots waving colorful party poppers or flags.

"Surprise!" The three of them shouted, causing the shapeshifter to jump back and shift into the form of a very startled green cat.

After realizing what was going on, Beast Boy changed back.

"What the heck guys? You almost gave me a heart attack. I though you weren't coming back until next week."

Robin stepped forward and handed Beast Boy a party popper. "Well we finished things with the Justice League a bit early. I may have let it slip that your birthday was coming up, and Cyborg decided that since you're always trying to throw us parties, we should throw one for you too."

"Yeah well, we gotta show our little green ball of sunshine some love am I right?" Cyborg said as he slapped Beast Boy on the back hard enough to almost knock him over.

"Come friend! We have set up everything your Earth party needs. We have the sweetened baked goods, the drink known as punch, as well as games. Like the one where you reattach a poor animal's limb." Starfire was pulling Beast Boy buy the arm to display everything she had named, with the infectious joy of a child.

Beast Boy stood shocked for a second before saying anything. "Dudes, this is awesome. Thanks you guys."

Cyborg shrugged. "Of course man." Then he took out his communicator and flipped it open. "Raven says she'll be here in a minute. So I'll grab the ice cream out of the freezer. I didn't put it on the table yet since I figured you probably stayed up late playing video games." He began walking back to the kitchen when he threw under his breath "or you know, other things."

The common room door opened with a swoosh as Raven walked in to join the party. Cyborg called her over to the kitchen as soon as he saw her signature blue cloak.

"Speaking of 'other things.' Mind giving me a hand with this ice cream?"

As Raven walked over to the refrigerator, she gave Cyborg a questioning look.

Cyborg smirked at Raven as he handed her a tub of chocolate ice cream.

"Oh nothin. So how did you and BB get along while we were gone? I imagine three weeks alone with him left you two... at each other's throats."

Cyborg's smirk widened a little as his robotic eye picked up something his human eye couldn't.

A passive scan proved that a spot on her neck was covered in makeup, and was warmer than the surrounding skin, indicating a light injury such as a bruise, or, more likely, a hicky.

"I'll grab the big buckets of Neapolitan and Cookies and Cream, would you bring over those two tubs of sherbet?”

Raven grabbed the two plain looking pails and brought them over to the table where Beast Boy was enthusiastically telling Robin and Starfire about one of the only criminals that had bothered them in the rest of the teams absence. She tried to hide the small smile when she realized that he was exaggerating the whole thing to make raven and himself look better.

Cyborg started to hand out plates of cake and ice cream, giving Beast Boy some lime sherbet, Raven some grape, Starfire some orange, and Robin received some red velvet ice cream. 

They enjoyed talking and eating until Starfire decide to get some of the favorite yellow condiment/ drink from the kitchen with Robin accompanying her. As they took their time, doting on each other as lovers tend to do, Cyborg sat down with a plate that he finally made for himself.

“Dude, You color coded our ice cream but not yours?” Beast Boy asked as he noticed what was on Cyborg’s plate.

Instead of having some sherbet or ice cream that would match his color scheme, Cyborg instead had one scoop of grape sherbet, and one of lime.

“Nah,it was kind of a last minute decision. Besides, I like this combination of flavors.” His tone was becoming more and more teasing. “The contrast actually works well together. Oh sure the lime and the grape may seem and unlikely pair, but you know, I think they belong together.”

Beast Boy and Raven looked at each other, Raven with growing suspicion, Beast Boy with confusion.

“Don’t you two think that they work really well together?” Cyborg teased some more. “I mean, I can’t see one of these and not think of the other now.”

Beast Boy was starting to piece things together when a portal opened up below the three of them dropping them in the main hallway.

“Okay what do you think you’re doing?” Raven said pointing at Cyborg accusingly.

“Rae?” Beast Boy was just getting a grip on his surroundings.

“Oh nothin. Just makin conversation.” Cyborg retorted looking smug.

“Uh huh. I don’t believe you.” Raven replied still pointing.

“Raven come on. You act like I’m going to blow your cover or somethin. Like maybe I discovered something when I snuck into BB’s room this morning to scare him.”

“DUDE!” Beast Boy yelled “You broke into my room?”

“Hey you would have thought it was funny any other time. You’re just mad I caught you with miss cuddle queen over here.”

“Cuddle queen?” Raven seethed.

“Oh yeah. You were REAL cozy with string bean here.” Before either of them could respond, Cyborg raised his hand in surrender. His tone shifting to gentle. “Look, guys, I’m not the enemy here. Honestly, I think that whatever it is you have going on, it’s probably good for you. You two ARE good for each other. I just want to make sure you’re not going to get hurt. Either of you.” 

Beast Boy put on his signature cocky smile. “Relax dude. We know what we’re doing. Raven wants to keep this no stings attached right now and I’m alright with that. Thanks for worrying about us, but we got this. Right Rae?” 

Raven nodded, staring at the floor. If Cyborg didn’t know any better, he would say she was blushing. Cyborg leaned down and whispered in her ear.

“You really sure you don’t want any strings Raven? Or are you just scared?”

Raven didn’t respond, instead sliding her hood over her head. 

Beast Boy wanted to know what Cyborg had said but the doors to the hallway opened to reveal Robin and Starfire looking confused.

“There you three are. We were wondering where you went” Their leader commented.

“Oh yeah. I figured while you two were busy makin out in the kitchen I’d give BB his birthday present.” Cyborg lied. 

“Oh yes! We have the birthing day presents for you as well Beast Boy.” Starfire said clearly excited. “Come Robin, we must fetch them. Friend Raven, did you get a present for Beast Boy or did you not know in time? I would be thrilled to got to the mall of shopping with you to get him one.”

Cyborg cut in for Raven. “Oh don’t worry Star, I’m pretty sure Raven already gave grass stain here a present.” 

Raven hid deeper beneath her hood as Starfire apparently found no issue with that comment and carried her boyfriend down the hall to get the presents in question.

“Dude, really?” Beast Boy shot at Cyborg.

“What? You really think I’m gonna stop making jokes?” Cyborg jabbed back.

The trio returned to the common room while Cyborg told Beast Boy what his present was and that he would give it to him later. After Starfire returned with Robin they all sat down so he could unwrap them. Starfire gave him some strange looking device that she claimed was a ceremonial given to men during their coming of age back home. He still had no idea what it did. Robin had found a collector’s edition of one of his favorite comics, to which he was thanked profusely for. Cyborg eventually found a moment to sneak away and grabbed the present he had promised, one of the new video games that Beast Boy was excited about.

As the night Beast Boy and Raven excused themselves. Raven claiming that she was going to meditate, and Beast Boy bragging about a date he had with what he said was a “total ten on all accounts.”

As they were leaving Robin called out to then. “Have fun on your date you two.”

Beast Boy and Raven both turned around looking mortified. Raven looking to Cyborg like he had betrayed them. Beast Boy stuttering out an unconvincing explanation that he wasn’t going with Raven.

Robin raised one hand calling for silence. “You remember I was trained by Batman Right? Besides, why do you think I chose to leave YOU TWO to stay behind?” He said with a smirk. 

Beast Boy began another shaky attempt at a defense when Raven grabbed his hand and led him out the door. He could have thought she would be mad or upset, but she had a shy smile on her face instead. Beast Boy could help but smile as he waved a farewell back to his team. 

It was a good end to his Birthday.

[filmfanatic82]

The Long Game - Chapter 7: A Stroll Down Memory Lane

Link to AO3 (HERE)

Chapter 7: A Stroll Down Memory Lane

“J & W’s Auto Shop?” Zack slides out of the backseat of Kim’s Ranger Rover, taking a moment to stretch his aching muscles. He cracks his neck from side to side and surveys their surroundings. “Why are we pit stopping here?”

A few yards away stands a lone, two garage, mechanic shop that is in desperate need of some major TLC. Piles of random car parts, scrap metal, and half finished engineering projects pepper the ground around the shop, all in various states of disarray. The place looks like a strange cross between a traditional auto shop and a mad scientist's lab.

Kim hops out of the driver’s seat and follows suit in stretching out the kinks in her arms. “Not a pit stop.”

“It’s not?” Trini comes around the front of the car to join Kim and Zack. “Then who the hell--”

“You made it!” A voice calls out from beyond the side of the garage, instantly grabbing their attention.

Less than a second later, Billy emerges with arms full of odd bits and pieces of metal and an infectious grin plastered across his face. Unlike the rest of them, it’s as if he hasn’t aged a single day at all in the last eight years, looking like the spitting image of what he did back when they were seventeen.

“Billy?” Trini’s face lights up, instantly matching his smile.

Billy unceremoniously drops the metal from his arms, letting it scatter all over the place, and jogs over to the three of them. Then, to everyone’s surprise, he scoops Trini up into a slightly awkward, but good intentioned bear hug.

“Whoa. Look who’s turned into a hugger,” Zack chuckles as Billy releases Trini and goes in to hug Zack in the same manner.

“Not a full fledged hugger, but I have been working on it. I’m still not 100% okay with elongated periods of human contact, unless it’s Jason, but short hugs are okay. Like hugs hello. Or general sympathy hugs. Or--”

“Wait. Jason’s still in Angel Grove?” Trini asks picking up on the nugget of information from Billy’s excited rambling.

“Yes, of course. He’s my husband,” Billy responds with an even wider smile and then holds up his left hand, proudly displaying a simple yet elegant silver wedding band. “I really wanted to get us blue and red ones, but Jason said we should go for something a little more traditional.”

“What? You and Jason are--” Zack starts to reply but is immediately cut off by the sound of a car whipping into the gravel driveway and coming to a screeching halt.

All eyes turn towards the Ford pickup truck that has suddenly appeared next to Kim’s Range Rover. Jason sits in the driver’s seat, staring out at the scene before him in sheer and utter shock. His eyes are locked in on Kim and Kim alone.

“Billy, did you…” Kim trails off unable to pull her eyes off of Jason. She inches backwards slightly against her own car, shrinking inwards onto herself, almost as if preparing for what’s to come.

“Shoot. He’s not supposed to be back for another two hours.” A look of pure panic sweeps across Billy’s face, as he turns towards Kim. “Kim, I’m so, so sorry. I tried to tell him. I really did. But there was never a good moment. Not that there’s an optimal time to discuss these sort of things in general, but he’s been super stressed lately with the shop and his dad’s parkinson's’ diagnosis, and I--”

“Breathe, B,” Kim says, reaching out and placing her hand on his forearm in an attempt to ground him.

“I know, but I promised you I would and I didn’t mean to break my promise. I don’t break promises. You know that, right? I haven’t broken any of the other promises. I just--”

“Just breathe. It’s okay.”

Zack and Trini’s eyes ping-pong between Billy and Kim, unable to fully comprehend what is transpiring.

“Wait. You’ve been in contact with each other?! For how long?” Trini asks but it fall on deaf ears. Both Kim and Billy are too distracted to even acknowledge Trini’s question, let alone answer it.

“Let me handle it, okay?” Kim locks eyes with Billy, in an attempt to reassure him.

“But, Kim, I promised you I would--”

SLAM.

Everyone jumps slightly as the sound of the car door slamming shut cuts through the air, bringing all conversations to a jarring halt.

“What the FUCK is she doing here?” Jason emerges from the cab of the truck, practically breathing fire.

A suffocating silence falls upon the five of them, as no one dares to even utter a single, solitary word.

Kim shuts her eyes for the briefest of moments and runs her hands through her messy raven locks, releasing a long sigh as she does. Then, mustering all of the confidence she can find, she opens her eyes back up, meeting Jason face to to face. “Hi Jason. Good to see you too.”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

“Billy?” Kimberly cautiously makes her way down the steps into Billy’s mini fortress of solitude; the Cranston’s basement.

Billy pops his head up from behind a large, metal device that best resembles a strange hybrid between a miniature jet engine and an old school printing press and instantaneously greets Kimberly with a gigantic grin. “Hey! What are you doing here? I thought we didn’t have training today? Or at least that’s what Jason told me. Maybe I misunderstood him. Did he mean tomorrow? I thought--”

“Relax. You’re right. There’s no training today.”

“Oh. Okay. Then why are you here? You never just come by yourself. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. You just usually come with Trini or Jason. Or sometimes both of them. I don’t think though you’ve ever come with just Zack. But I could be wrong,” Billy rambles on as he momentarily gets lost within his own train of thought.

Kimberly sinks her teeth into her bottom lip as she tries to figure out just how to answer Billy’s question. Truthfully, she’s not 100% sure exactly why she’s there either.

After, yet another, anger inducing planning session with Zordon and Alpha, Kimberly had found herself simply wandering the streets of Angel Grove, with no real place to go. Her first thought had been to head on over to Trini’s and avoid dealing with her ever growing fears all together by having an impromptu “Netflix and chill” evening, but then had remembered that her girlfriend was at her little brothers’ soccer game.

Going to Jason’s or even Zack’s had also briefly crossed Kimberly’s mind, but for some strange reason, neither one felt like the right decision. At least not given her current head space. There would have been too many questions. Too many awkward lapses into skin crawling silence.

So, instead, Kimberly had somehow wound up on Billy’s front porch, praying to whatever gods there were that the boy would be home, and more importantly, willing to listen… Out of everything, she just needed someone to listen.

“Can you keep a secret?” Kimberly finally responds in a voice no louder than a whisper. Eyes locked in on Billy, projecting a desperation and vulnerability that she rarely lets anyone get a glimpse of.

“I think so. I mean I have before except this one time when I was ten and my mom wanted to surprise my dad with a new car for his birthday. She asked me not to tell him, but then I accidently mentioned it when we were out to dinner. See, my dad had asked me about how my day had been and I proceeded to tell him about the car dealership and how I had met this salesman who--”  

“Billy.” Kimberly gently cuts Billy off.

“Right. Sorry. Secrets. Yes, I can keep a secret.” Billy nods with a warm and innocent confirmation that’s both oddly comforting and jarring all at the same time.  

Kimberly takes a moment, fighting tooth and nail to keep the tears pooling in her eyes from falling. She knows she’s not supposed to utter a single word to anyone… especially not to her fellow Rangers. The less they know as to what’s to come, the better. Both Zordon and Alpha have been overtly clear about this…

And yet, she’s breaking. The weight of the secret is just too much. Too suffocating. Too isolating. Kimberly needs to tell someone. Even if it isn’t every last detail. She needs to share part of the soul-crushing burden with someone. Someone who can just listen and not necessarily act. Who can help her learn how to separate her emotions from all that’s to come. To just focus in on the tasks at hand and nothing else.

Kimberly needs Billy.

“Kimberly?” Billy’s voice breaks through Kimberly’s runaway train of thoughts. “You’re crying.”

It isn’t until Billy utters these words does Kimberly realize that she’s failed at holding back her tears. They flow freely down her cheeks like two steady streams of confessions, exposing all that she’s been withholding.

“I need to tell you something. Something important, Billy. But first, I need you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone. Not Trini nor Zack. Or even Jason. Can you do that? Can you promise me that?” Kimberly states as the tear continue to fall. There’s no stopping them now.

Billy slowly nods, searching Kimberly’s face for some sort of hint as to what’s going on. “I promise. I won’t tell a soul, Kimberly. Not even Jason.”

“Okay.” Kimberly matches Billy’s nod and pushes a smile through her tears. “Have you ever heard of something called the First?”

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

A short while later, and Kim, Zack, and Trini find themselves sitting side by side, squashed together on a couch in Billy and Jason’s living room in skin crawling silence as the muffled sounds of a heated argument echo out from the nearby kitchen.

After a nothing short of disastrous attempt at impromptu reunion, Billy had suggested that they all move back to his and Jason’s house so they could properly catch up and possibly cool off a bit as well during the drive.

The latter, though, hadn’t happened. No sooner as they had all got through the front door, Jason had verbally gone after Kim once again, only stopping when Billy had physically dragged him into the confines of their kitchen.

And now, a good twenty minutes later, Kim is stuck, literally sandwiched between Zack and Trini, trying her best not to think about the how she’s the sole reason for all of this. For everything that’s transpiring.

That maybe -- just maybe -- if Kim hadn’t made the choices that she did all those years ago, that they would all still be in each other’s lives. That they would’ve been at Billy and Jason’s wedding. That there would be no need for a reunion because they wouldn’t have ever lost touch to begin with. That her and Trini would--

“We should do something,” Trini’s voice cuts through the silence, pulling Kim out of her thoughts.

“Like what?” Zack answers back in earnest.

“I dunno. Like go in there. Try and help Billy explain.”

“No way, Crazy Girl. That’s suicide. I vote we make Kimmy do it. She’s the one that fucked all this shit up in the first place.”

Kim can feel Trini’s eyes on her, sensing her hesitation to verbally take a side. She lets out a sigh and then gets up off of the couch with a sudden burst of determination. “Zack’s right. It’s my mess to clean up. I’ll do it.”

“Kim, it’s not all your--”

“You did it again,” Kim cuts Trini off, shifting the conversation with a slight playful smirk. She can’t get into now… Can’t stomach any more “half-truths” at the moment.

“Did what?”

“Call me Kim.”

A matching smile crawls across Trini’s lips as a hint of a laugh slips out. “What can I say? It’s growing on me.”

Picking up on the unspoken vibes between Kim and Trini, Zack gives Trini a brotherly shove in the shoulder, knocking the tiny latina over onto the arm of the couch.

“Mother fucker! What was that for?” Trini retaliates with a two handed shove back to Zack’s chest.

“You know what.” Zack shoots Trini an all-knowing look as if to say that he’s aware of what is -- or possibly is -- going on between her and Kim.

“Stay out of it, Taylor,” Trini grumbles under her breath with a heavy exhale of air.

Kim digs into her jeans pocket, fishes out her car keys, and tosses them at Zack. “Here. You can still drive right?”

Zack catches the keys in a bit of shock. “Been a while. But it’s like riding a bike.”

“Good. Take Trini and hit up Mike’s. If it’s still there. If not, try that liquor store down by the old library. We’re going to need some major supplies asap.”

“Supplies for what?” Trini asks, trying to follow along.

“Bonfire.”

At these words, Zack breaks out into a skeptical bought of laughter. “Oh man. T, she’s got you beat on craziness. You’re freakin’ nuts.”

“You got a better idea?” Kim fires back at Zack. “We’ve got a bunch of faceless freaks hunting us down and we can’t even manage to protect ourselves, let alone morph. The sooner we hash things out the better. Even if we have to drink Angel Grove dry while doing it. Cause there’s a big, freakin’ evil coming and if we aren’t ready when it arrives, then all of this was for…” Kim catches herself before she finishes her thought. She’s already said too much. Exposed more than they need to know… at least for right now.

An unsettling silence falls back over the three of them as the sounds of Billy and Jason’s muffled argument fills the background once again.

Then--

“What do you want us to get?” Trini flatly asks with a sudden and distinct resolve to her voice, as if to say there’s no need for a further explanation. She gets it.  

“Um… Not sure. Maybe a few six packs? I assume everyone still drinks beer?” Kim reaches into her back pocket, pulls out her wallet, and hands Trini a rather large wad of twenties. “This should cover it.”

“Hello, Sugar Mama! You’re like a walkin’, talkin’ ATM, Hart,” Zack jokes as he attempts to touch the wad of bills, but Trini slaps his hand away.

Trini nods, tucking the cash into her pocket without even taking a second look at it. “Bulleit, right?”

“Huh?”

“Bulleit. That’s what you drink?”

“Yeah.” Kim lets out the slightest of laughs as the realization sinks in that Trini remembers.

“Okay.” With that, Trini gets up off of the couch and motions to Zack to follow her. “Good luck with them.”

“Thanks.” Kim watches as Trini and Zack walk out the front door and then lets out a long, exhale of air. Her eyes wander back towards the direction of the kitchen as a wave of stomach churning guilt washes over her. It’s nothing new. She’s been learning to live with this kind of guilt ever since the day she up and fled, but now, facing the actual aftermath for the first time, the guilt is almost unbearable. It’s just too real. Too raw for her to handle.

“Hold it together,” Kim whispers under her breath as her hand subconsciously reaches up to touch the outline of the sabertooth tiger pendant just beneath the surface of her shirt.

And suddenly it hits her--

The muffle sounds of Billy and Jason arguing have stopped.

Kim starts to head towards the kitchen, but Billy emerges before she can even reach the doorway. His normal cheerful demeanor is nowhere to be found. And in that moment, he looks older. More worn down than ever before by pure, undiluted worry and fear.

God, how Kim knows that look. She’s seen it every time she’s looked at her own reflection for the last eight years.

Billy catches Kim’s eyes and forces a smile. “Where’s Trini and Zack?”

“Sent them to get us supplies. Thought maybe we should head to the quarry and have a bonfire. I dunno. It worked last time. So maybe it’ll work again. Who knows? It’s stupid. But it’s the only thing I could think--”

“It’s a great idea.” Billy cuts Kim off, stopping her from spiraling down the all too familiar road of self-doubt and second guessing.

A moment passes between the two of them, as they simply stand in each other’s presence, neither knowing what to say or do next.

Then, out of nowhere, Billy pulls Kim into a sudden, bone-crushing hug, practically engulfing her body into his.

It’s shocking. Especially coming from Billy. But at the same time, beyond comforting. Kim can feel the tension that she’s been holding onto since they stepped foot into Angel Grove, instantly melt away.

“Sorry. I didn’t hug you earlier. I meant to. I’ve been planning on it ever since you said you were on your way. You were going to be my first hug, then Trini and then Zack. I had it all planned out. But I got distracted and then Jason showed up early and--”

“B, it’s okay.” Kim responds in slight amusement as they pull apart. “I’m okay.”

“I know, but I had it all planned. I really did. I was going to hug you and then tell you that I’ve really missed you. Cause I have. I know we talk but I recently realized that I haven’t told you that. Not once during any of our calls. And I should have. I’ve missed you, Kim.”

“I’ve missed you too, B.”

Billy glances towards the kitchen and then back at Kim. “He wants to talk to you. I explained what I could. At least what we agreed to share for the time being and he gets it. At least I think he does. He’s been noticing the signs as well.”

“You haven’t had—“

“No. No direct attacks yet. But we’ve been having a lot of tremors and there’s been a steady uptick in strange animal behavior. Oh, and there was this weird report of a green light coming from the alleyway behind the Krispy Kreme last week. I went to investigate it but the manager got annoyed at me for snooping around. I tried to explain but he didn’t believe me and then called the cops. Jason had to close down the shop early and come—“

“Billy.”

“Right. Sorry. Jason. He’s out back on the deck. I’ll be right in here if anything goes south. Which he promised it wouldn’t but just in case.”

“Thanks, B.” Kim gives Billy a slight nod of reassurance and then, after a quick exhale and stretch of her neck, she makes her way into the kitchen towards the sliding glass doors.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Kimberly steps out onto the deck and immediately spots Jason sitting on the top step of the stairs, silently staring out onto the expansive backyard before him. She slides the door shut behind her, but doesn’t dare to move any further, nor say a word. It might have been almost a decade since she last saw her once best friend, but she knows some things never change… especially when it comes to Jason. He needs time and space.

So, Kimberly just stands there, staring at the back of Jason, as she fidgets with one of her bulky, silver rings. She slips it on and off and on again, twirling it as she does. It’s a compulsive trick she’s learned to master throughout the years, more out of necessity than boredom. Something to focus in on to distract from the non-stop thoughts.

Kimberly goes to flip the ring from her index to her middle finger, when suddenly it slips out of her grasp.

CLANG.

The ring ricochets against the wood and then rolls to a stop only a few inches away from Jason.

“Shit.” Kim mutters under her breath, torn on whether or not to retrieve it. But before she can make a decision either way, Jason reaches out behind him and scoops it up.  

“Never would’ve pegged you as the silver jewelry type,” Jason quietly says as he examines the ring, never once even glancing back at Kim.

“Uh yeah. Me either.” Kim runs her hands through her hair and then shoves her hands deep into her front pockets, rocking a bit on her feet. “Just something that sorta happened.”

And back to silence for a moment or two as Jason continues to stare at the ring.

Then--

“Billy explained to me what’s going on and I can’t say that I fully get it. But it’s not surprising. Things have been outta whack around here for a while now and getting worse by the day.”

“Jason I--”

“Don’t.” Jason cuts Kim off, voice completely devoid of any emotion whatsoever. “Just don’t, okay?”

“Okay.”

“How much time do we have?”

“Not much. Maybe a few days if we’re lucky.”

Jason nods his head as he lets that piece of information sink. “Way less time than we had before.”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s get cracking.” Jason pushes himself up off of the steps, oddly only using his right arm to do so. His left arm, hangs almost dead like at his side, showing little to no sign of actual mobility. This isn’t a temporarily injured.

Kim eyes briefly fall upon Jason’s limp arm as a sudden tidal wave of guilt crashes down upon her. She doesn’t have to ask him what happened. Kim already more than knows. She’s the reason for Jason’s permanent paralysis.

Jason tosses the ring back at Kim and then passes by her without another word, heading into the house through the sliding glass door.

Kim, though, doesn’t follow suit. She simply stands there, once again flipping her ring from finger to finger, allowing herself to fully get lost within her own thoughts.