DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS FROM POWER RANGERS. RHIAN IS MY OWN CREATION AND IN NO WAY RESEMBLES ANY REAL PERSON

Chapter 1: New Girl

I had just walked into my science class right as the bell rung. I was new to this school and almost got lost even though I had toured the school when I moved to Reefside. I didn't pay much attention during the school's mini orientation. To me, it was just another school, another town, another foster parent. I didn't intend to make any friends because I would be out of here and with a new family within a few months. It never failed. No one wanted to keep around a teenager with attitude. I was outspoken, opinionated. Foster families didn't like that. They wanted me to comply, to obey them in everything. I was treated like I was a meal ticket. I had a father, just never knew where he was at. My mother had passed away when I was young. I was promised this time would be different just like I was every time I was rehomed. Mr. Mercer tried to ensure me that I wouldn't have to go through another home, but they all said that. They always would. They were always wrong.

"Class, before we being, we have a new student. Rhian just moved here from Angel Grove. Please make her feel welcomed. Rhian sit by Trent." Dr. Oliver said before motioning me to Trent.

I took my seat, placing my school bag on the floor beside me. I made the mistake of wearing a black lacy skirt and the cold chair made me want to jump right back up out of it.

"Don't worry, Dr. O just makes this class seem hard. It's actually really easy." Trent leaned over. I smiled at him and opened my science book to the page written on the chalk board.

My mind wandered while I sat there listening to Dr. Oliver talk about dinosaurs. I ended up doodling in my notebook. Using pink and black pens in my doodles was something I always did. I knew most of the things that were being taught in class. It seemed to always get repeated when moving from place to place so often that it had become repetitive to the point I could practically teach the class myself.

Sirens suddenly began to sound and Principal Randall came over the intercom "A state of emergency has been declared. There is a monster attack on the city. Everyone is advised to head home immediately." I looked at Trent.

"What's going on?"

"The city's under attack. Come on, we have to head home." Trent responded, gathering his things and grabbing my hand.

He led me down the halls out to the parking lot. We jumped in his car and he sped us home.

"What do you mean monster attack? Those are real?"

"Yes, they're real. Didn't Angel Grove used to get attacked by monsters?"

"Yeah, but that was a long time ago. It's been quiet for a long time. Wait, does that mean power rangers are real?" I started freaking out. Actual monsters? I had only heard about them in Angel Grove.

"Yes, rangers are real." Trent replied when he pulled into the driveway of the Mercer residence. We got out of the car and ran into the house. You could still hear the sirens blaring. Mr. Mercer wasn't home. "What do we do?" I ask.

"You stay here." Trent replied. Heading back towards the front door.

"Stay here? Where are you going?" I asked, following him.

"I need to check on a friend. I promise, I'll be back. Just stay here. Dad will be home soon." Trent walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

I didn't know what to do so I went up to my room that was so generic in look. I hadn't bothered to unpack everything. There was no point in doing so. I knew I'd be sent packing eventually. The only thing of mine that I kept out was a picture of my mother when she was a gymnast. She was standing on the first place podium at the Pan Global Games. I dug out an old green plaid jacket that she had worn all the time when I was little and held it close. She always told me a great man had given it to her when she was in high school and she couldn't get rid of it because it reminded her to always stay strong in everything she did. I held the jacket close. "Mom, I wish you were still here." I whispered to the jacket as a tear slid down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away and put the jacket on. It always felt like she was still there with me when I wore it. The green jacket was the only thing that wasn't pink or black in my wardrobe. It stood out against my pink shirt, but I didn't care.

The sirens stopped after a while. I decided to go outside and walk through the wooded area near the house. Being in a new home felt more like a prison to me. I enjoyed the outdoors. Twigs and leaves crunched beneath my pink converse as I walked aimlessly through the trees. A shimmer caught the corner of my eye. I looked over at what was causing it and saw a pink crystal dangling from a low tree branch. I walked over to it and grabbed it from the tree. Looking at it, I was drawn to it. Not in a bad way, more like a good way. Like I was supposed to have it. While looking at it, I saw an image of a crane in my mind. A graceful bird.

Then, all of a sudden, I was surrounded by monsters. I wanted to scream, but a part of me told me to fight, to not let them have the crystal. They rushed me, I started fighting back. When I got the chance, I ran back towards the house. I tripped and fell, I realized I wouldn't make it to safety. So I got back up, fought off some more monsters and climbed into a tree. That's when the white ranger appeared. I was shocked to see him. He fought the monsters off with ease. They disappeared. "Rhian!" he yelled. "Up here." I called back. He looked up at me. I climbed out of the tree.

"Are you ok, Rhian?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"You're welcome. You better head on home."

"How'd you know my name?" I asked

"Mr. Mercer reported that you weren't home. We were sent out to look for you after we defeated the monster."

"Oh. What about Trent? He left the house hours ago."

"We'll find him. You should get going. Don't need to have Mr. Mercer worried."

"Or have him send me back," I mumbled.

I started walking back home. I turned around and the white ranger had disappeared. "Weird." I said to no one. As I was walking, I started thinking about what had happened. Those things had defiantly wanted the pink crystal I had found. I had shoved the crystal into my jacket pocket when I got attacked and pulled it out to look at it again. It was pretty. It was on a leather cord like it was meant to be worn as a necklace. I put it on and tucked it under my shirt.

When I got to the house, Mr. Mercer was pacing the front room. "Where have you been, young lady?!" He boomed when he saw me. Shit, I was in trouble big time.

"I, ugh… I…" I stammered.

"Well?" He looked at me impatiently.

"She was looking for me. It was my fault, I left her alone. I should've stayed." Trent said behind me. I didn't hear him come into the house.

"Trent, you should've known better. You're grounded. Rhian, I'm letting you off with a warning. When the sirens go off, you stay put in this house. Now, both of you, homework, now." Mr. Mercer walked off.

"Thank you." I said to Trent.

"You're welcome." He replied. We both headed towards the study.

"Trent," I looked at him.

"Yeah?"

"I saw the white ranger. He saved me from some weird monster things."

"Really?"

"Yeah. In the woods."

"Interesting."

"You don't believe me, do you?"

"No, I believe you. Rangers have been known to show up and save people from those things. They tend to know where weird monster things are at." He smiled.

We walked into the study and did our homework. The rest of the evening was uneventful. I sat on my bed staring at the picture of my mom. "Mom, I saw the white ranger today. He saved me. I miss your stories of the power rangers. I would love to hear those stories again." I curled up on my bed and held her picture close as I fell asleep.