Wake up! Happiness is Calling
This story is dedicated to Bradlee Scott and is partially inspired by one of his drabbles which I cannot find again. This takes place in an alternate reality. Canon be damned.
One note: any recognizable monster that the rangers meet after passing their powers to someone else appears completely human.
() = Brad's letter
[] = Rocky's letter
{} = appearing in both
'Finally! My first day at Arizona State! After saving the world from Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa, being reverted to my 10-year-old self by Master Vile, and fighting the forces of the Machine Empire, I finally get to go to university!' Rocky muses while setting the final load of belongings into the dorm room he'll be occupying for the next academic year. He carefully selects a box and opens the flaps to reveal the contents inside after placing it on one of the bare mattresses.
He unwraps what is obviously a framed picture and reveals not the likeness of his parents or siblings as one would expect, but rather the image of his foster-brother, Adam. Another startling happenstance comes to pass as the ex-Ape Ninjetti lifts the souvenir to his lips and kisses it.
"If you two want to be alone, I can come back later." A voice startles the former hero, making him turn to the doorway. What he saw there, made his mind instantly regret living in the dorms. There was a gothic god standing in the threshold, just under six-feet tall and clearly showing off the spoils of the labor that comes with hours in a mosh pit.
Rocky nervously chuckles, placing the photograph on his desk. The other student proceeds to enter and dump his load onto the unoccupied sleeping apparatus. "The name's Bradlee Chet. You must be Rocco." The slightly lesser man offers his hand in welcome without hesitation.
"Please, it's Rocky. Nice to meet you." Shaking the proffered limb with enthusiasm.
"So, when's the wedding?" Bradlee queries. Rocky responds with a look of complete confusion. "Picture Guy. How long you two been together?"
"We're not a couple. That's my brother." Rocky answers through a major blush. "Plus, neither of us is gay."
"Sure you aren't." Bradlee goads while crossong the room. "That's why he's wearing a Chap-Stik mask, right? Because you aren't gay?" He snickers while examining the picture more closely. "Are you two full-blood brothers?"
"No. There's no blood relation at all. I came to the States as a foreign exchange student. He's from my host family." Rocky explained.
"That's cool. I dated my best friend in high school, too. I'll always love Trist — Tristan in some ways." Bradlee muses in an effort to acquaint himself with his new roommate. With those words, Bradlee leaves, presumably to get more of his things.
Rocky takes the chance to get some fresh air as Bradlee returns. "I have to get out of here for a while. You want to wander with me?"
"No, go ahead. I need to get this organized before it drives me insane." the eyeliner-sporting hunk of a compatriot says. And with permission Granted, Rocky bolts.
***
I arrive back to my dorm at about 10 PM. I spent the day with Tommy, Jason, and Adam, all of whom are living in an apartment just off of campus, preferring not to live in the student residence halls. I do, solely because it's paid by my scholarship.
I open the door to see Bradlee's half of the room covered in blacklight posters and various paraphernalia connected to the occult. Out of habit, I make the Sign of the Cross. A large bookshelf has been placed next to where my desk lay when I left. Though the two study tables had been juxtaposed along a common wall lengthwise, they now sit away from said wall, running towards the middle of the room. The added bookshelf laying between the sides of the desk and the wall itself.
As I peer to the content of the shelf, finding the entire Vampire Diaries and Twilight series as well as DVDs of The Crow and The Craft, Bradlee walks in and gives a startled yelp at my presence.
"Sorry. I'm just not used to having someone in my room when I walk in." He tries to explain.
"It is my room too." I sound a little put off.
"No, it's just, back home. I lived in a palace. So, I got used to having privacy." I know that he's trying to be friendly, but he just so smug about everything.
"Whatever, Loser." I grumble as I flop onto my bed and attempt to sleep.
"If that's how you want it, fine." He snaps back. I take this moment to turn my head to him and fire a hateful response when I truly see him for the first time. He had been returning from the shower, his skin still wet. He removes his towel and I get two views at the same time.
The first thing I see, is that he's using a Scooby-Doo beach towel. The second thing is his tattoo. Right where the coccyx meets the obliques, is a raven and violet star heart. One of those new-age pentagrams where the two top points are rounded into a heart. "For the love of God, you're just a walking Joss Whedon wet dream, aren't you?" I attempt civility, but all I can sense from myself is disgust.
"Whatever, Asshole. I promised the butler that I'd e-mail before going to bed. When I'm done, I'll turn the lights off." Bradlee sneers.
"That's actually a good idea. I'll write My folks too." With that, I pull my laptop over from the desk and position myself against the wall, sitting upright.
[Dearest, darlingest Mommy et Papan,]
(Oh my God, Finster!)
{There's been some confusion over rooming here at ASU.}
(Of course, I'll care for Acotl.)
[Of course, I'll rise above it.]
{For I know that is how you'd want me to respond. Yes, there's been some confusion for you see, my roommate is}
[Unusually and exceedingly peculiar and altogether, quite impossible to describe.]
(a Power Ranger!)
[Love always, Rocco Guillome "Rocky" Toussaint]
(Deepest regards, Thrax)
AN: I don't own Power Rangers or Wicked. The song is "What is this Feeling?" If you youtube it, the rest of the song is pretty much verbatum for this story. =)