Title: A Chance to Live
Author: Dana
Rating: PG
Warnings: Normal Power Ranger warnings.
Summary: The Zeo Quest doesn't end the way it should leaving the team to make a decision that will change one person's destiny.
Author's note: This is an AU that starts at the end of Hog Day Afternoon Part 2. Some of the lines are borrowed from that episode.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers. I claim anyone else you don't recognize from TV.
Billy connected the Zeo Crystals and the earth shook and then there was a flash of light as the children turned into teenagers.
They all sat up and stared at each other. Tommy was the last one to sit up and when he did everyone gasped.
"What?" Tommy asked. Then he looked down and froze this wasn't right.
"Zordon what happened?" Rocky asked.
"I'm still eight years old!" Tommy answered. "Zordon why am I still eight years old?"
"RANGERS THIS IS SOMETHING WE FEARED COULD HAPPEN. THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE AGING PROCESS WOULD BE REVERSED FOR EVERYONE. WE DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR WHY IT DIDN'T TAKE."
"It's always me." Tommy mumbled. He couldn't believe this. He was stuck at eight years old and he had been told once they retrieved the zeo crystals everything would go back to normal.
Kat placed a hand on his shoulder. "It'll be alright."
"Can we fix this Zordon?" Billy asked.
Zordon didn't answer right away and that was enough of an answer.
Tanya, who had just met everyone, was sitting there wordlessly watching everything. She didn't know what to say. She had changed just as three of the other Rangers had and she knew it wasn't right.
"ALPHA." Zordon said. "IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE AISHA MADE THE SAME TRANSITION."
The viewing globe showed Aisha walking in Africa at her correct age.
"IT IS ALSO TIME TO BID FAREWELL TO OUR OTHER FRIENDS." Zordon continued.
"We should do that in person." Kat said.
"Tanya we would like you to remain here so that we may fill you in on some details." Alpha said.
"Don't worry Tanya you will be in good hands." Kat said smiling at Tanya.
"TOMMY WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO ALSO REMAIN SO THAT WE MAY DO A FEW SCANS." Zordon said.
"I want to say goodbye." Tommy said and they all teleported out of the command center.
When they teleported down to Earth the Rangers of Aquitar seemed surprised as the Rangers had been to see that not all of them had returned to their correct ages. They all shook hands and watched as the Rangers returned to their home planet.
"We should get back to the Command Center." Tommy said but he seemed to hesitate. Where was he going to go? He wondered. When he was eight years old, he and his family lived in Los Angeles. They didn't move to Angel Grove until Tommy was a freshman in high school. If he went home, he'd lose complete contact with his friends. He'd have to wait till the time came.
They teleported to the Command Center where they were told Rito and Goldar had stolen the Zeo Crystals. They barely let that sink in before the Power Chamber started to explode.
The first rumble caused Tommy knocked him against one of the consoles as did the others. Another one caused him to hit his head against a console and barely remained conscious. He barely held his footing when more explosions rocked the Command Center. They were teleported out.
They watched helplessly as the Command Center exploded knocking them all to the ground again. Tommy lifted a hand to his forehead where he had struck the console and felt blood but that wasn't his main concern. His main concern was for Zordon and Alpha. He no longer cared that he was eight years old.