Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers Dino Thunder, Zeo, or Ninja Storm. The entire franchise is the property of Saban Brands and this story is for entertainment purposes only.
Seasons of Change
Chapter 1: The Call
By: Kadeana
It was a beautiful summer day that only the seemingly enchanted New Zealand could provide in Doctor Thomas Oliver's honest opinion. He found himself in these perfect surroundings because he'd been asked to head a dig there. He had eagerly accepted the offer because it was one of the few places on Earth he'd never been before but always wanted to visit.
As he took a rest near a clear stream, he didn't even try to stop thoughts of his past from slipping from the box he carefully placed them in. He'd accomplished so much in the short years that were granted mortals and still had many more years ahead to continue his traumatic wins and bitter losses of life.
Who could possibly guess that the seemingly mild mannered man had held the fate of Earth in his strong calloused hands, many times?
He thought of the original team of power rangers. Had they forgotten him? Did his mysterious "death" still haunt them?
Did Trini Kwan fulfill her dreams of becoming a doctor? Did Kimberly Hart marry her mysterious man from Florida? Did she have children now? Did Jason and Emily Scott make their marriage work? Did their son, Tommy, know about his namesake? Did Zack Taylor become a hotshot lawyer with a lady on each arm? Did Billy Christian find the happiness he sought on Aquitar?
Thoughts of them, his original life line, brought images of the Zeo Power Rangers, his life support, to his mind. When Adam received the red shard of the Zeo crystal, as request in Tommy's will, did he understand that he was passing on the role of leader to him? Was Tanya happy with her decision of moving back to Angel Grove when he "died?" Was Rocky and Penny happily running their dojo? Did Katherine still mourn him? Did she still wear that ring he gave her?
His thoughts then drifted to Reefside and his Dino Thunder Rangers. His students were now twenty years old. Ethan James was a sophomore in college. The young man was on his way to becoming a great graphics designer. Who knew his obsession for video games would carry him so far? Conner McKnight went straight to professional soccer after graduating high school and was still dating his beloved Krista. Kira Ford now toured different parts of California and with the financial backing of the Ethan, Conner, and Trent Fernandez . . . she'd dropped her own album. She'd gotten her self quite the fan base that could only grow even bigger. Trent, the one who's beginning story was the most like his own, studied art in New York. He also had a popular comic in some big name newspapers over there.
His best friend Hayley Viktor—the only person who knew just how deep his sacrifice ran and supported him through it all—still owned her Cyber cafe. He would back her always. His loyalty to her ran deep.
The ringing of his satellite phone interrupted his peaceful solitude. He answered it with a sigh. As he listened to the caller on the other end, his insides froze. It was a call no teacher, mentor, and friend wanted to receive. When he hung up, he quickly got ready to fly back to Reefside.
Kira Ford just got over the euphoria of a successful set. The crowd still chanted her name long after she had left the stage. She didn't know when it ever felt so good to be alive. Her life was definitely on the right track and she was determined that it remain that way.
Her cell phone started ringing, bringing her back to Earth. "Yeah?" In victory of the successful set, her band members walked by slapping her on the back. Her vocal range still wowed them. Her smile faded as she heard the news. Her sax player, Dustin Brooks, noticed just as her phone slipped from her fingers. It crashed on the cement floor. He closed his instrument safely in its case and then sauntered over to her.
"Kira," he said worried.
"I need to go home."
"I could be blind, handless, and deaf . . . and I still could annihilate you in Madden," Ethan James taunted his opponent, as he scored the winning touchdown. He dropped the controller to the game, stood, and raised his arms in victory.
"Funny," his bitter opponent muttered. "Let's play again."
Ethan's cell started to ring. "If only everyone in the world was so happy to lose," he replied, fishing the small phone out of his pocket. His free hand balled into a fist as he got the news. Without a word to his roommate, he grabbed his jacket and keys. He got prepared to make the hour long drive to Reefside.
Trent Fernandez was trying his hand at a portrait from memory. It would be of himself, Dr. O, Conner, Kira, and Ethan. He'd never attempted a project of this scale before.
His specialty was comic book characters, but now that he was a sophomore in college, his professors had him branching out in different areas of his field of study.
He'd just finished Conner's profile when his cell rang. The noise interrupted the silence and the rhythmic sound of his charcoal touching the canvas. The phone in his studio apartment was disconnected so interruption was down to a minimal. His cell was for emergencies only.
"Hello." He didn't even try to hide his exasperation. He'd bet his life it was that infuriating Cassidy Cornell. She also attended college in New York, making it her mission in life to get on his last nerves. Who knew he would be drafted as her best buddy when he made the decision to go to school in New York?
"Trent?" He was right. "I have some bad news." They didn't share the same definition of the phrase bad news. He wondered which one of her favorite stores closed early.
"I just got a call from Hayley," she said softly. "Something happened to Conner."
"Conner," Trent repeated confused. This was a new form of manipulation.
"She hasn't been told everything, but apparently he must've walked in on a burglary in progress in his apartment," Cassidy said softly. "He was hurt really bad Trent."
That's not possible, he thought. Conner was an Ex-Power Ranger. What mere petty thief could have . . . taken him down?
"Your father has sent his private jet to pick us up," she revealed. "Pack what you can in thirty minutes."
"Cassidy."
"Yes, Trent?"
"He's okay? I mean he's not—"
"It didn't sound good Trent," she replied honestly. "Will you be al—?"
"I'll be ready." He turned off his cell and then just stared at it. Damn it, Conner, he thought shaking his head. He threw the cell against the wall. He spent ten of his thirty minutes trashing his apartment.
A/N: So that's my first chapter. I hope you all liked it. Since most fiction is read on what couples you write about so here's fair warning. The pairings will eventually be: Kira/Conner, Cassidy/Trent, Tommy/Kat, and Jason/Kim. I know Cassidy/Trent is a new one, but the roles they play in this story, will make the pairing more logical.