Breaking the News

Billy, Zack, and Kim gathered inside Trini's house in Angel Grove. They had tried to reach Trini's daughter Minh in Angel Grove High, but the class hours were over and they supposed Minh was on her way home.

Jason and Tommy were with the Mystic Mother, trying to hunt down Rita along with their allies from other ranger teams. Nancy was back in Grid Battleforce, doing the same with the scientists there,

"So, what are we going to tell her?" Zack asked, gesticulating with his arms. "Maybe her mother drowned?"

"No. Minh is too smart for that." Billy quickly refuted the suggestion, pacing across the living room.

"Well, we gotta decide something quick because school is out." Zack shot back, his eyes drifting to where Kim sat on the couch numbly. "The others might need help searching the Dark Dimension."

"They have it handled and every other ranger on the planet is helping them. Minh needs us more than anyone else. You can't rush this. You can't decide quick on how to tell someone the worst news of their life. We can't lie to her. It's gotta be the truth." Billy stressed.

"Look, Zordon's rules-"

"Zack! Rules can be broken for a good reason!" The blue ranger cut him off harshly. "And for the record, if Zordon was here, I am sure he would say Minh needs to know."

"It's always been her and Trini. She doesn't have anybody else." He spluttered, a look of horror dawning on his eyes. "Who is gonna take care of her now?"

"Is that even a question?" Kim spoke up for the first time since Trini's death, her voice hoarse. She looked at them with puffy cheeks and red eyes. "We will."

The other two nodded.

"Our team… We have never been through something like this before. No, we must tell her the truth." Billy sighed. "Otherwise, how's she getting closure?"

"Billy, she is a kid!" Zack shouted. "She is a kid, Billy. She doesn't need to know that we are power rangers!"

"She needs to know Rita Repulsa killed her mom!"

"Guys!" Kim called sharply, standing up and looking past them. They turned around to see Minh looking at them shocked before her books and bag dropped from her hands.

"Oh, Minh." Kim said softly but the young girl looked at their faces with disbelief and horror, before turning around and racing towards her room.

The three looked at each other. Minh hadn't even tried to deny what they said. She knew from their faces.

In their grief, they had forgotten Minh had gone through her fair share of losses… her father and both her grandparents. And now, her mom…

"I will handle this." Kim told them firmly, following her goddaughter.

"We have to tell her everything." Billy repeated to the black ranger, both their faces ashen at seeing Minh.

"Is it true?" Nancy turned around from the surveillance monitors as the doors to the command room opened and her son burst in.

"Aunt Trini… What everyone is saying…" Ravi halted seeing the grim look on his mother's face.

"It is." Nancy nodded stiffly.

"No…" The blue beast morpher ranger murmured, tears welling up in his eyes. "Does Minh know?"

"Kim, Zack and Billy are going to tell her." She told him, turning back to the monitors. "I am scanning for any dimensional rifts."

"Mom, I can take over here." He offered. "You can take today off, be with the others."

"No." She said sharply. "What I need to do is find Rita."

Kim hesitated for a moment before entering the room. Minh was sprawled on her bed, clutching her doll, Mr Ticklesneezer.

The pink ranger closed her eyes at the sight of the doll Trini was fond of, before taking a moment to compose herself.

She sat down at the edge of the bed and placed a hand on Minh's shoulder. The girl looked up from her tear-stained pillow.

"She is gone?" Minh sniffed.

Kim nodded. It took everything for her to not break down sobbing. She couldn't afford to do that, not now, not in front of the person to whom Trini meant everything.

"It happened so fast. She was a hero." Kim said softly. "I am sorry we couldn't protect her."

"Where is she?" Minh asked. "Her… Her body?"

Kim gulped, her face contorting in pain and tears slipping out from her eyes involuntarily.

"The attack… It destroyed her completely." She said slowly.

"What?" Minh asked, sitting up. "I can't even see her one last time?"

"I am so sorry, Minh." Kim sobbed, pulling Minh into a hug.

"What will I do now?" Minh muttered slowly, pulling away from her.

"I am going to be with you Minh, whatever happens." Kim promised. "I am not going anywhere."

"None of us are." Zack said from the door as he and Billy stepped in.

Billy winced, taking out a charred device from his pocket. It was Trini's power morpher and coin.

He held it out towards Minh. "This was your mom's power morpher. It is the only thing that made it out of Rita's attack intact."

Minh faltered.

"Take it." Billy urged. "Trini would want you to have it."

The young girl sniffed, taking the coin from the blue ranger's hands.

Tears splashed on the golden coin as Minh looked at it, her fingers tracing the etching of the sabre-toothed tiger.

"Mom…" She gripped the coin tightly as she broke down into uncontrollable sobs. Kim looked at the other rangers helplessly, all three of them unsure of what to do.