Ranger Tales
Chapter 1: Hello's and Goodbyes
A/N: This story is set in an alternate universe where the Alien Rangers arc never happened, although the Alien Rangers do exist. I'll find another way to explain to eventual Zeo Crystal search. Carri Hillard and all things relating to Carri belong to KJ with many thanks. I used Phaedos as the source of the Ninjetti Powers, but Ninjor exists and is the acknowledged creator of Ninjetti. Also, this story has nothing to do with my previous two.
Tommy Oliver sighed, his junior year in high school was coming to an end, one more year and then he'd be off to college. He couldn't believe it, it seemed like yesterday that he had moved to Angel Grove and become a Power Ranger. Time had just seemed to fly by. He picked a picture of himself and the former team up, smiling as his eyes fell to Kimberly Ann Hart's picture. She had left for Florida just three months ago, and now Katherine Hillard was the new Pink Ranger. No one, he thought, will ever look as good as Kim did in that suit though. He set the picture down and turned off his light and hopped into bed, exams started tomorrow and he needed to be well rested for them. Hopefully Rita and Zedd, and even Rita's father, Master Vile, could stay quiet long enough for him to take his exams this week. A few minutes later he was sound asleep.
The next morning the group of teens, Tommy Oliver, Kat Hillard, Rocky DeSantos, Adam Park, Aisha Campbell, and Billy Cranston met in the middle of the hall. Standing beside Kat was a strange brunette, Tommy didn't recognize her. "Hey Kat, who's your friend?" he asked as he approached his friends.
"Hi Tommy," Kat smiled as she looked at the White Ranger "this is my cousin from New York, Carri, and this is Tommy Oliver," she said, gesturing with her hands as she did the introductions.
"Hi, nice to meet you," Tommy said as he held his hand out, which Carri shook.
"Nice to finally meet you too. I've heard a lot about you," she put emphasis on the a lot.
"Yeah and I'm sure it's nothing good, right?" he joked glancing at Kat.
"Of course, why would I say anything nice about you? You're the most horrible person I've ever met," Kat continued the joke. That wasn't how she felt, she adored Tommy, she was sad that he and Kim had decided to try long distance, she really wanted to date him.
"I'll work harder on being a better person," he said as he turned to go "later guys, I've got to get to class!" he waved by to everyone.
"Oh shoot, we've gotta get going to!" Rocky said as he glanced at his watch and tugged Adam's shirt. "See ya!" they both called out as they jogged in the opposite direction.
The foursome looked around, Billy and Aisha were at their classroom, Kat's was next door to theirs, and Carri going to head back to the Hillard household until they all finished that days exams. She had exempt her exams for that semester, and her parents agreed to let fly out to California to visit her cousin Kat. She was hoping she could talk them into letting her stay, hopefully Kat could help convince them. Carri said bye the three remaining Rangers before heading out. She had flown in the night before and couldn't wait to meet all of Kat's friends. They seemed nice enough, though was going off of a brief meeting. The one that really caught her attention was the guy in red, Rocky, he was cute, though she thought he might look cuter with shorter hair. She sighed as she climbed into her yellow Camaro, it was going to be a long four hours.
Tommy finished his test earlier than he had expected, even going through and double checking everything. He sighed, still two and a half hours until he could leave. He heard whispering coming from behind him, he chuckled silently to himself. Bulk and Skull were trying to cheat on their exams, again. If they would just pay attention in class instead of sleeping, he let his thought trail off. Sleep didn't sound so bad right now, it had been nearly two in the morning when he turned his light out. She sighed and layed his head down on the desk, his hair swallowing the desk.
When he woke up he moved his hair out of his face and peered up at the clock, five minutes left. He felt refreshed now, ready for just about anything. As the teacher dismissed them he made his way out to the parking lot where he found the other five Rangers. "So what now?" he asked.
"Youth Center?" Adam asked, he'd been itching for a good sparring match all day.
"Sounds good to me," Rocky agreed, he just wanted food, he'd had to skip breakfast that morning.
"See you there," Tommy said as he hopped into his black Jeep and started the engine.
A few minutes later they arrived at the Youth Center and grabbed a table. Tommy and Adam headed over to the mats to spar while Rocky ordered two burgers and an order of fries. Kat and Carri walked in a little later, Carri had gone back to bed and was still sleeping so Kat had gone to get her. "Hey there they are," Rocky said "What took you so long?"
"Sleepy head here," Kat pointed to Carri "She had to shower and redo everything."
"I felt dirty," Carri defended herself and Kat laughed.
Rocky looked over at the girl he had met this morning, she was beautiful, and she seemed nice enough. Not to mention funny. He thought about getting to know her, maybe ask her out. But he'd wait and see how she really was, he was after all going off a brief meeting.
Tommy and Adam made their way over to the table, apparently finished with their match. "Who won?" Kat asked curiously, hoping it had been Tommy.
"I let Adam win for once, as a gift for his upcoming birthday," Tommy said with a smile, knowing full well that he had actually flat out lost.
"Yeah right, I won fair and square and you know it," Adam said with a smile. He was quite proud of himself, it wasn't often that someone was able to beat Tommy in a sparring match. In fact, the only other person to do so had been their friend Jason Lee Scott, the original Red Ranger.
"Just don't let that victory go to your head," Aisha said. She knew what an accomplishment it was, but she also knew that it didn't mean Adam would start beating him all the time.
"Don't worry, I don't think his head can get any bigger, unless he grows his hair out," Rocky poked fun at his best friend.
"Yeah, yeah," Adam said, taking a seat next to Aisha. He knew they were just messing with them, which is why he didn't get angry with them. Actually, Adam never lost his temper, ever. It was a quality that everyone admired about him.
"You want to go now?" Rocky asked Billy as he finished his second burger.
"Are you sure that's wise? You just finished eating," Billy pointed out.
"I'll be fine, c'mon." Billy assumed Rocky was correct, he did usually eat, spar, then eat again. He stood and followed Rocky over to the mats where the two proceeded to spar.
Carri watched as Rocky continually dodged Billy's punched and kicks. "Got your eye on one of them?" Kat asked, snapping Carri back to reality.
"Oh what? Oh, no. Not at all," Carri stammered, she was interested in Rocky, but she didn't want that to be public knowledge yet. She wanted to wait until she got to know him better. She looked on as everyone discussed their exams earlier, and was disappointed when she saw Billy pin Rocky down. She had been wanted Rocky to win.
"So Carri," Aisha said after the boys returned to the table, "tell us about yourself. Why'd you leave New York to come here?"
Carri thought for a moment then said "Well, I've always loved California. I visited Angel Grove a few times during my childhood, and I liked it. I always hated having to return to New York and go back to the same old routine. My parents always refused to let me move though, but now that Kat's here I'm hoping I can persuade them to change their minds."
"You do about the, uh," Adam paused, not sure how to phrase what he wanted to say in a way that wouldn't scare her.
"Monster attacks?" Carri finished for him, "Yeah I know, Kat told me everything."
"Everything?" Tommy raised an eyebrow to Kat, she knew better than to tell others their secret.
"Not everything," Kat defended herself, "I told her about the monste attacks, the gold monkey and the walking bag of bones, and the giant birds. That's about it."
"You also told me about the Power Rangers, and how they always save the day," Carri chimed in. Tommy looked at her, he wasn't sure if she knew or not, but it seemed like she did.
"So," he said, trying to change the subject, "what's everyone doing later?"
"I've got a dance class to teach tonight," Kat answered, she loved teaching her classes, except when Tommy proposed something to do. She wanted to be near him, even it was just as friends.
"I've got a self defense class to teach," Adam answered. He had begun teaching people how to defend themselves if they ever came into contact with the Tenga's, or worse.
"And I promised Al I'd help with study," Billy said, hoping they knew he meant help Alpha Five in the Command Center "Actually, I should be going now." The five Rangers and Carri watched as the Blue Ranger made his way out of the Youth Center.
"You guys doing anything?" Tommy asked, looking at Rocky, Aisha, and Carri.
"Nope. Not a thing," Carri replied, hoping Rocky's answer would be the same.
"Same here," Aisha replied.
"I've got a job interview later, but I could meet up afterwards. What'd you have in mind?"
"Basket Ball?" Tommy questioned, waiting for everyone's answer.
"Sounds great," Aisha said.
"Yeah," Carri added, she didn't play Basket Ball, but she knew the gist of it. Plus Rocky would be there, it'd be another chance for them to talk. "How about us girls against you athletically challenged boys?" she joked.
"Us? Athetically challenged?" Rocky asked, he knew how absurd that was. If he wasn't athletic he'd have died a long time ago. But he knew she was joking.
"Well you are the both the losers of your respective sparring matches," she pointed out. The boys looked at each other thinking they had to make up for that.
"You're going down," Tommy said, and Rocky gave them the thumbs down sign.
Carri smiled sweetly and said "We'll see."
Meanwhile up on the moon a familiar witch was storming about. It had been about two weeks since her father had sent Dischordia down to her death, since then they hadn't had a decent monster, and Goldar and Rito always ran away. "Finster!" she screeched. The little white alien came scurrying in like a mouse.
"Yes my Queen," he said.
"Make me a monster that will finally destroy those puny Rangers."
"Do you have a plan you excellence?"
"Of course I have a plan, one of the Rangers family members is visiting, what better way to torment them by capturing and killing her?" she cackled.
"A brilliant idea!" Finster exclaimed, then hurried back into his lab to create Rita's monster.
"Haven't you tried something similar to this before?" Lord Zedd asked from his throne.
"This time it will be different, you'll see!" Rita said, she had full confidence in her plan, as always.
"We shall see," Zedd said as he let his head drop into his hand.
"Yes we will," Rita said, "Goldar!" The big monkey apeared in the throne room. "I want you and Rito to go and attack the Rangers, give them a taste of things to come. And if you can, snatch that girl that's with them. That'll have them unfocused when my monster attacks."
"Yes Rita."
Later that afternoon the four teens were out on the court playing Basket Ball, Rocky and Tommy were winning by a point. "He shoots," Rocky said as he tossed the ball at the net, "he scores!"
"And that's game," Tommy said as he walked up after getting the ball.
"So who's athletically challenged?" Rocky asked as he exitted the court next to Carri.
"You are, Tommy did most of the work," she said with a smile. Rocky laughed and replied with a whatever. He knew she was just giving him a hard time.
"Well I gotta go," Aisha said as she glanced at her watch. "Mom wants me home by five, and its four-forty-five now." Aisha didn't know why her mom wanted her home so early, she never cared what time she came in before.
"Alright, we'll see you later," Tommy said as he jumped in the driver side of his Jeep. Rocky and Carri each went over to their cars, they had to study for tomorrow's exam, and they figured they'd get an early start on it.
Carri was almost back to Kat's house when a giant skeleton appeared before her. She slammed on the gas, this was one of the guys that Kat had warned her about, and she wasn't about to stop for him. Rito yelled for her stop, and when she didn't he said "Uh-oh," Carri's Camaro slammed into him, flipping him over the top of it. "That hurt," he groaned. She looked in her mirror, satisfied with a job well done when out of nowhere a giant golden monkey appeared on her hood and ran his sword through her engine.
"Hey, this is a perfectly good car and you're ruining it!" she complained.
"You have more to worry about than your precious car," he told her.
Rocky had just pulled in his driveway when his communicator chirped. "Can't we even study for exams?" he groaned. "Go ahead."
"Rocky, Goldar and Rito are attacking Kat's cousin, you have to hurry," Alpha said frantically.
"I'm on it," Rocky backed out of his driveway and took his car to the nearest parking lot, he'd tell his mother he meant to stop by the store. As soon as he was parked he found a safe place to hide and shouted "Ninjetti Ape!" In a red flash he was standing in his Red Ninjetti robes, and he teleported out.
When he arrived on the scene he found the White Ninjetti and the Blue Ninjetti already battling an army of Tenga's. He quickly joined the fight and tossed two Tenga's aside while making his way to the others. "Where's everyone else?"
"They can't leave their classes unsupervised, I'm not sure about Aisha," Tommy replied as he kicked a Tenga back. The three formed a protective circle around Carri, trying to keep her safe.
Aisha arrived home and entered her house, sitting on the couch were her parents, and in the chair was a man she had never seen before. "What's going on?" she asked, and her communicator chirped.
"What was that?" the man asked, looking around.
"That was my pager, someone's trying to get ahold me," Aisha quickly explained, it wasn't a total lie. Someone was trying to get ahold her.
"Well tell them to wait," her mother said. You don't tell bad guys to wait and attack at your convenience mom, Aisha thought. She excused herself to go and 'call' the person trying to contact her to explain that she was busy. As soon as she was out of earshot she explained her situation to Alpha, and he and Zordon understood.
"Alright, that's taken care of," she said as she walked back into the living room. "So what exactly is going on?"
The man stood and introduced himself. "I am Mr. Perry Mosby, I am from Michigan State University. We don't normally approach you in person, but we found you to be a special case. We received your application, I have to say, we were very impressed."
Aisha had a feeling that she knew where this was going, but she couldn't just drop her Ranger duties. They would be short one Ranger then, Mr. Mosby went on about how delighted they'd be to have someone as talented as her enroll in their school. "I'll give you some time to think about it, let me know by this time tomorrow." Aisha nodded and excused herself, saying that she needed to think, which again wasn't a total lie.
After she had been informed of the situation she ran behind her house and shouted "Ninjetti Bear!" and teleported off.
The boys were glad to see Aisha arrive on the scene, the Tenga's weren't so tough, but Rito had pulled himself together and began attacking Rocky, while Goldar fought Tommy. Aisha ran over to help Billy take on the Tenga's and protect Carri. Seeing that they were fighting a losing battle the Ninjetti's decided to morph into full-fledged Rangers.
"White Ranger Power!" Tommy shouted.
"Red Ranger Power!" Rocky yelled.
"Blue Ranger Power!" Billy shouted.
"Yellow Ranger Power!" Aisha cried.
The four Rangers jumped back into the fray, Tommy summoned Saba and began clashing swords with Goldar, while Rocky summoned his Power Sword to take on Rito. Billy and Aisha didn't see the need to summon their weapons for mere Tenga's.
Rita looked through her Repulsascope and shouted "Baboo!"
"Yes your evilness," Baboo, a tall black vampire like man said.
"Go down to Earth, grab the girl the Rangers are protecting. Apparently it was too hard of a task for Goldar and Rito."
"At once your evilness."
"You had better not fail me, if you do we'll be having bat wings for dinner!"she cackled at the horrified look on Baboo's face.
"Yes your evilness, I'll go and get the girl." With that he teleported out of the palace and down to Earth.
Baboo materialized behind the Rangers and Carri, grabbing her quickly and teleporting off. Rocky turned just in time to see Carri disappear with Baboo. "No!" he screamed, just as he turned to take his frustration out on Rito, he and Goldar, along with the Tenga's, vanished.
"What happened?" Tommy asked, although he already knew the answer.
"They kidnapped Carri," Rocky said sullenly.
"Let's get back to the Command Center, see if we can find her," Billy proposed, the others nodded and they all teleported away.
When they arrived at the Command Center they found Alpha already hard at work trying to locate her. "Anything?" Rocky asked.
"Nothing yet, I'm sorry Rangers," the little robot replied.
"It's not your fault Alpha, we should have done a better job of protecting her, right?" Aisha said as she placed a hand on Alpha's shoulder and turned to look at the others.
"She's right Alpha," Tommy agreed "It's our fault, not yours."
"If you say so."
"We had better tell Kat what happened," Billy stated the obvious.
"I'll do it," Tommy said sadly.
"And I'll tell Adam," Rocky said. The two teleported out, leaving Billy and Aisha to wait for the results.
Up on the moon Carri was being held by Goldar, she had manged to knock Baboo off of her and tried to make a run for it. "Well," Rita said as she approached her prisoner, "seems as though you've got spunk. I like that." The evil witch eyed Carri, dozens of thoughts racing through her head. Should she kill her? Should she torture her? Or should she just make her evil like her cousin had been?
"What do you want with me?" Carri asked, struggling against Goldar's grip.
"Your capture will leave the Rangers unfocused, they'll be sitting ducks when my monster attacks." Rita cackled as she took Carri's arm. "Now come with me, I'll give you guest of honor's suite." She teleported herself and Carri into one of her Dark Dimensions and chained her to the wall. "Comfy?"
"If this is how you treat your guest of honor, I'd hate to see what you to your prisoners," Carri said as she continued to struggle.
"You'll find out soon."
Tommy explained what had happened to Kat as best he could, but tears still escaped her. Tommy assured her that everything would be alright, that they would get Carri back safe and sound. Kat looked at him and smiled, she knew he was right, he always was. Tommy checked in on Alpha's progress, to which the little robot told all the Rangers to go home and get some rest, he would notify them when he had something.
The next day the Rangers went to school, took their second exam, and teleported to the Command Center. Alpha announced that he was still scanning when the sensors went off. "Ay yi yi! Rita and Zedd have sent a monster down in the park!"
"We're on it. It's morphin' time!" Tommy shouted.
"White Ranger Power!"
"Black Ranger Power!"
"Pink Ranger Power!"
"Blue Ranger Power!"
"Yellow Ranger Power!"
"Red Ranger Power!"
The six teens teleported down to the park in their Ranger outifts, ready to face the monster known as DrainHead. "Oh look, the Power Rangers, I'm so scared!" he laughed.
"You should be!" Tommy pointed at him "Your boss kidnapped our friend, so now we're gonna make you pay!"
"Bring it on pussy cat." Tommy and the other attacked DrainHead, quickly gaining the upperhand until an army of Tenga's arrived and began attacking Aisha, Kat, and Adam. DrainHead fired a beam of energy at Tommy, knocking the White Ranger into a tree.
"You alright?" Rocky called as he punched DrainHead, knocking him back a little.
"Peachy!" Tommy replied as he flipped over DrainHead and kicked him from behind. Billy followed up with kick to his stomach.
"Prepare, to die Rangers!" Goldar growled as he arrived on the scene.
"Oh not you too," Tommy said as he went off to face Goldar. DrainHead knocked both Rocky and Billy into each other and blasted them with a beam. "No!" Tommy shouted as saw them go flying through the air. He quickly kicked Goldar and ran over to his friends. "Are you guys alright?"
"I'll live," Rocky grunted as he pulled himself to his feet.
"Same here," Billy agreed.
"Rangers! I found her, I found her!" Alpha exclaimed excitedly.
"Great!" Tommy said "Let's hurry and finish this guy!" he heard a chorus of right's as they summoned their weapons to form the Power Blaster, DrainHead retreated before he could be hit though.
Up on the moon Rita was furious with DrainHead for retreating. "You useless dolt! Why did you retreat?"
"They were gonna blast me," DrainHead whined.
"Yeah, so what? We'd have just made you grow!"
"Oh, I forgot about that. Let me at'em, I can take'em!" DrainHead said with renewed confidence.
"No. You gave me a headache, at least I know I can take care of one nuisance," Rita said as she blasted DrainHead with her wand, destroying him. "I feel slightly better now. Finster!" she bellowed as she entered his lab.
"Yes my Queen?" Finster asked.
"Your monster was pathetic, one of the worst ones you've ever made!"
"I'm sorry your evilness, I'll start working on another right away!"
"You do that. He'd better be perfect, unlike this thing," she stomped down on a copy of DrainHead's mold and scattered it. "He was a bitter disappointment."
"I apologize my Queen. I promise my next monster will be even greater!"
"He better be, or this will be you," she pointed to the smushed clay that was once DrainHead's extra mold, "Got that!?"
"Yes, you evilness."
"At least I've still got the girl, I think I'll pay her a little visit."
Rita teleported into her the dimension where she was keeping Carri, the girl was fast asleep. "Oh, poor baby. She must've tired herself out trying to escape," Rita said as she walked over to her prisoner. "Hey, girly, it's time to wake up!" Carri's eyes opened and she quickly put all her energy into one kick that sent Rita flying. "Damn, I knew I should have restrained her legs!"
"Let me go!" Carri demanded, she was pissed about having to stay here for what she assumed was overnight.
"Now why would I want to do that?" Rita asked as she picked herself up. "I like you right where you are. You do make a lovely decoration after all."
"Bitch," Carri muttered.
The Rangers teleported to the Command Center to find out where Carri was being held. "She's in one of Rita and Zedd's dark dimensions," Alpha told them, "I can teleport one of you in there, the rest will have to stay here in case there is an attack. The Rangers looked up at Zordon, their mentor, who nodded in agreement with Alpha.
"Power Rangers, you are needed here. DrainHead was not destroyed, he retreated before the blast could reach him," Zordon explained.
"Aw man, I thought we had him," Adam complained.
"Alright," Rocky said "I'll go."
"Don't be absurd, she's my cousin," Kat argued.
"But she might recognize your voice," Billy pointed out.
"Billy's right Kat, you should stay here," Tommy said, and Kat obliged. She didn't know how to tell them that Carri knew, she had been under Rita's spell at the time, but she didn't think that would excuse her actions.
"Fine, but you bring her home safely," Kat said.
"I will," Rocky assured her.
"Teleporting now," Alpha said as he hit a few buttons on the console. A few minutes later the alarm sounded, a new monster was attacking Angel Grove, but unlike the others, this one came down at city wrecking size. "Ay yi yi! Rita and Zedd have sent down another monster!" Alpha cried.
"Back to action!" Tommy called as the five Rangers made their way to the city.
When they arrived they all shouted "We need Shogun Zord Power now!"
"Blue Shogun Zord, Power Up!"
"Black Shogun Zord, Power Up!"
"Yellow Shogun Zord, Power Up!"
"White Shogun Zord, Power Up!" both Tommy and Kat said at the same time. The Shogun Zords prepared for battle, charging into BeachBum, attack ready.
Rocky arrived within Rita's dark dimension and saw the witch standing before Carri. "Leave her alone!" he shouted as he ran at them.
"The Red Ranger? How did he get in here?" Rita questioned "Time to fly!" she teleported herself out, she was too cowardly to face a Ranger head on.
"Power Sword!" Rocky called, cutting the chains that held Carri. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"I am now, Rocky," she smiled.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he lied.
"Oh come on, Kat told me everything," she removed his helmet and stared into his eyes. "My Ranger in red spandex," she said with a laugh.
"Let's get you outta here," Rocky said, replacing his helmet. He, and most certainly Tommy, were going to need to have a talk with Kat later. "Hold on tight," he said. She squeezed his waist as he teleported them out and back down to Earth.
Rocky left Carri in the Command Center just to be safe, also so Zordon could talk with her. He arrived on the battle field just in time to see the Blue Shogun Zord get knocked down. He quickly summoned his own Zord and combined with the other to form the MegaZord.
"Took you long enough," Adam joked.
"Space traffic, it's horrible," Rocky said with a grin.
"Is Carri safe?" Kat asked, eager to know how her cousin was doing.
"Yes, she's at the Command Center now having a little chat with Zordon," Rocky replied, a little bit of anger creeping into his voice. Kat knew she was supposed to keep quiet about their identities, so why did she tell her cousin? Tommy looked back at Kat, piecing together why Carri would have a chat with Zordon, he had to admit, he was disappointed.
"Let's finish him off," Tommy said as the Shogun Fire Saber appeared in the MegaZord's hand and it sliced through BeachBum, effectively destroying him.
"What happened my dear? Did your brilliant plan not go as planned?" Zedd asked as his wife, Rita Repulsa, stormed through the throne room and into Finster's lab. "Guess not. Poor Finster," he cut loose laughing.
"Finster! That monster you made was a dud! A dud you hear me?!"
"Yes my Queen, I'm sorry," Finster apologized.
"Finster hasn't made a decent monster yet that could bring down the Power Rangers," Goldar pointed out.
"Shut up you walking garbage can, no one's talking to you!" Rita snapped. "Finster, if you fail me again, you will not live to regret it!" She kicked her minion and stormed out to go sulk beside Zedd's throne. "I wish Daddy were still here," she griped.
"Do not say that!" Zedd said, sitting up. "I am glad that he is gone, no one tries to take over my palace, and my Earth!"
"Oh give it a rest Zeddie, you're making my headache worse."
"Sorry pumpkin," Zedd grumbled.
The Rangers teleported back to the Command Center, where Tommy demanded to know why Kat had told Carri their identities.
"It wasn't her fault," Carri piped up. Tommy and the others turned to look at her. "She was under the spell of someone named Rita Repulsive, or whatever. The person who kidnapped me."
"Rita Repulsa," Tommy said, he remembered Kat's time as Rita's servant all too well. It was because of that nasty witch that he nearly lost his girlfriend, Kimberly Ann Hart, for good.
"Right, so you see, it wasn't her fault," Carri explained. Tommy turned to Kat and apologized for snapping at her, and she replied that it was alright as Tommy brought her in for a hug.
"I give it a year and he breaks up with Kim for her," Rocky whispered to Adam and Billy.
"Are you crazy?" Billy asked "He's been with Kim forever, he would never do that."
"Yeah, you're right," Rocky agreed.
"Zordon?" Aisha said "I have an announcement to make, but I want your opinion first."
"Go ahead Aisha, speak what is on your mind."
"Well..." she began, not exactly sure how to put it, "I've been offered a chance to graduate early and go to college at Michigan State University, to become a veterinarian. If it's alright with you, I'd like to go."
"Of course it is Aisha, though I am sad to see you go. You have been a very important part of this team, and I thank you for your services. But you know you must choose a successor for your Yellow Ranger Powers."
"Of course, and if it's alright with you guys, I choose," she looked at Carri.
"Me?"
"Well you are wearing the right color," Aisha joked, pointing to Carri's yellow T-shirt.
"I guess I am, huh?" she said with a smile. "But why me?"
"Because, you know about us for one, and two, something just tells me you'll make an excellent Ranger," she glanced at Rocky. Aisha held her Ninjetti Bear Power Coin out, and Carri cautiously took it. After she held it for a minute or so, the image in it began to shift.
"What's going on?" she asked, afraid she'd screwed it up.
"Strange," Billy said "It seems to be changing into your own animal spirit."
"But it didn't do that with Kat," Adam pointed out.
"True." Billy thought for a moment then suggested a theory, "Maybe it's because they're both agile. Remember? Dulcea said said that Kim was agile, light as a feather, and she's a gymnast, and Kat is a dancer, so..." he let his voice trail off.
"So it makes sense that the two of us have the same spirit animal," Kat finished.
"Precisely, but that's just a theory," Billy reminded them. "What's your animal?"
Carri forgot all about the coin, she had been listening to Billy. She looked down "Oh, it's, um, a panther."
"That makes sense," Kat said with a smile, "a beautiful, yet vicious animal."
"Are you calling me vicious?"
"Maybe," Kat said with a laugh. Carri crossed her arms and huffed, causing everyone to laugh.
"Alright, we've got our third exam tomorrow, we need to get going," Tommy said, and everyone nodded in agreement. Together the seven teens teleported out.
Three days later, after they spent two finishing their exams, the teens gathered together at the airport to say goodbye to Aisha. She had decided to leave early so she could get a feel for the area, as well as find a decent place to live. As they entered the airport and found Aisha's gate Billy and Tommy carried her bags over for her.
"We're really gonna miss you," Kat said as she gave her friend a hug.
"I'll miss you guys too," she said as she moved on and hugged Adam.
"Stay safe," Tommy told her as he hugged her.
"I will," she moved on to Billy.
"Keep them out of trouble," she told him as they hugged.
He laughed and said "I'll try, but you know them."
"Yeah. Rocky, take good care of her."
"Who?" Rocky asked, confused. Aisha laughed and hugged him.
"You'll find out soon enough," she said as she gave Carri hug.
"It was really nice meeting you Carri," she said.
"You too, and thank you for," she looked down at her communicator.
"You're welcome, I know the Power is in good hands." She smiled as she waved goodbye to everyone and left to board her flight.
"I'm really gonna miss her," Kat said, choking back tears.
"We all will," Tommy said as he placed his arm around her shoulders. She looked up at him, glad that he was holding her. Even was just as a friend.
"Guys, let's go down to the beach and have some fun, lighten the mood a little," Rocky suggested. The other nodded their heads in agreement as they turned to leave the airport and enjoy summer vacation. Kat watched as Rocky and Carri exchanged glances here and there. I give it a month, she thought as she smiled to herself and left with the others.