Tommy Oliver smiled as he walked to the red pick-up truck that was parked in front of his high school. Having just graduated he felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. Now he could focus on his duties as the Red Turbo Ranger. He looked toward the blue sky and found himself thinking back to the first time he became a ranger. As the evil green ranger he had almost destroyed the original rangers. He had almost murdered his best friends, and his mentor/ father figure, Zordon. Now here he was, still a ranger. Tommy felt that even if he spent the rest of his life fighting all the forces of evil, he could never make up for the evil and destruction he had almost caused.
He took a deep breath before sliding into the pick-up and driving off down the road. Reaching the youth center, he parked and headed inside. He looked around, taking in all the familiar sights.
"I guess some things never change," he said to no one.
"Well, you've certainly changed. I hear your sporting a different color these days," answered a familiar voice from behind.
Tommy quickly turned to find himself face to face with Trini Kwan. The young petite Asian American girl had changed from when Tommy had last seen her. Her hair was slightly longer, but the air around her seemed even more dignified and mature. She was now a woman. Tommy smiled brightly before pulling Trini into his arms for a hug.
"Trini! I didn't know you were back in town," he spoke happily to his friend.
The Ex-yellow ranger smiled and hugged the man back for a few seconds, before they finally pulled apart. She stood there a moment taking in her friend's sight. His hair was even longer than when she had seen him last. He seemed more grown up as well. He had become a man.
"Yeah. I wanted to come visit my parents before I go to college," Trini spoke.
"Well it's great to see you again. I'm the only one left of the original six. I really miss everyone," Tommy spoke with a hint of sadness in his voice.
Trini quickly took his hand and led him toward the Juice Bar area. There they sat and began to talk about all the different things that had happened, since Trini, Zack, and Jason had left. After almost an hour of conversing, Tommy's communicator went off. He sighed before looking at Trini.
"Sorry, But I guess evil never takes a break."
The woman smiled and nodded knowingly.
"It's ok Tommy. Go do your hero activities. Then maybe later we can grab a bite to eat. I'd love to meet the new rangers too."
Tommy smiled as he got up.
"That would be really great. The others will be excited to meet another original. I'll see you later," Tommy spoke before quickly heading to the exit.
Trini smiled to herself and sipped a smoothie. She sat there feeling an odd sensation in the pit of her stomach. She had known Tommy for a long time now, but being around him now made her giddy. Whatever it was, she couldn't wait to meet his friends.
A week had passed since Tommy and Trini had reunited. The two were currently walking around the Angel Grove Park. Tommy had yet to tell Trini that he would no longer be a ranger. However, whenever he was with her he felt weird. He was happy, but it felt like his stomach was doing flips inside him. He had only had this feeling one other time in his life, and it had ended with a letter that broke his heart. He decided to tell her later. At the moment they just enjoyed one another's company. Trini looked at Tommy and smiled. She was happy being around him again. She was about to say something, but Tommy stopped her as 7 Piranhatrons appeared and gathered around them. The two quickly got into fighting stances.
"Trini, these guys aren't like putties. If you fight, you keep fighting until they retreat," Tommy spoke quickly to his companion.
Trini nodded as the two headed toward their adversaries. The ugly henchmen of Divatox responded with their own attack. The two humans clashed against the fishy crooks. Tommy was quick to his high flying kicks to send a Piranhatron flying into two of its companions. He rushed headlong into another dodging and countering with his martial arts expertise. Trini stood firm as she held a tai chi stance. The Piranhatrons quickly moved in on the former yellow ranger. She smirked as they attacked her. Trini easily dodged and weaved through the attacks while simultaneously attacking them back. The two veteran rangers seemed invincible. The henchman of Divatox quickly realized they were no match and fled.
Tommy moved back to Trini's side and smiled wide.
"I see you haven't lost your touch," he complimented his friend.
She smiled softly and nodded to him.
"And you've gotten even better," She spoke to him.
Tommy laughed softly and gently rubbed the back of his head. Trini was one of his oldest friends, and now he wasn't sure what to make of her. The feeling quickly came back to his stomach as he watched her. He gulped as quickly stared up at the sky.
"Hey, Tommy are you ok?" Trini asked, concern evident in her tone.
The ranger quickly shook his head and smiled to her.
"Yeah, I was just thinking is all."
Trini smiled and quickly grabbed Tommy's arm.
"Then come on. Let's get out of here, I promised my parents I'd be home to see them."
The Red Ranger smiled as he followed Trini out of the park and to his red pick-up. Once inside Tommy began to drive them back towards Trini's parent's house. A small idea began to form in Tommy's head. He grinned as he pulled up to the driveway and he looked at his friend.
"Hey! I have an idea," he states proudly.
Trini quickly looks over and nods her head.
"Ok, what is it?"
"Well, you only have a week left, before you go back. So I was wondering if you wanted to go camping with me this weekend?"
Trini smiled widely and nodded her head.
"That sounds like it'll be really fun. Sure, I'd love too. Pick me up here Friday morning ok?"
With that the former yellow ranger slipped out of the vehicle and vanished into her parent's house. Tommy smiled as he drove home humming a soft tune to himself. He couldn't wait for this weekend.
The lavish forest seemed to spread out for miles around the two former rangers. The leaves a deep rich green hung high above the teenagers from above, allowing only brief amounts of sunlight to peek through to the ground below. As Tommy finished pitching the two tents, Trini was setting a fire pit and gathering kindling. The multicolored ranger peeked over towards his friend's direction and frowned, not at her but to himself. The new feelings that were welling up inside him felt as if they could burst at any moment, and it made him nauseous. Tommy hoped he wouldn't make himself look foolish in front of Trini.
The ex-yellow ranger was having similar thoughts about her long haired friend. Once their camp site was secured and set up, the two decided to relax for awhile and take time to just enjoy nature. As Tommy lay back on a dry patch of earth, Trini roasted a marshmallow for a smores.
"Hmmm, Hey Trini," The male asked suddenly.
"Yeah Tommy?" Trini replied.
"Well, that day when we fought off those Piranhatrons, you hadn't lost your touch at all. So, I was wondering if you maybe wanted to spare with me."
The teenage girl smiled softly as she stood right up and began to stretch out.
"Only if you promise not to cry if I beat you," she challenged in a friendly manner.
Tommy was quick to his feet and stretching out beside his friend. The two then moved away from their camp-site as not to accidently hit anything. Once the two deemed a good spot, the two got into their fighting stances and proceeded to stare the other down. The two searched the other for weakness' in the others defenses, both sizing the other up not just in their martial art, but the spirit as well. Finally Trini made the first move, she made a quick jab at Tommy's chest, then proceeded to drop low to the ground for a sweeping kick to the male's legs. Luckily, Tommy knew better than that, as he jumped above the sweeping leg and through a low kick at his friend's side. Trini caught the leg and pulled him into her range to throw a punch with her free hand. The young woman's fist connected into Tommy's palm. The male quickly grasped onto the fist and held it tight, the two a lot closer than what they realized. Tommy's chest pressed against Trini's causing the female to blush slightly. Tommy was also a slight crimson, so the two quickly broke apart and got back into stances.
"Not bad Trini, you sure you quite fighting Putties when you were way?"
The ex-yellow ranger smirked at her friend and shook her head, "Nope, but after fighting them for so long, it's hard to forget."
"Ok, Then no reason to hold back."
Jumping toward his friend, Tommy through a quick combo of kicks and jabs, while Trini proceeded to counter every move with a delicate flow of Tai Chi. Tommy marveled at how graceful the young woman appeared to be while moving. But while admiring, he failed to notice Trini whip around to his side and with an Aikido maneuver flip him onto his back. When Tommy blinked he was staring up into the face of his friend. He couldn't help but smile and start to laugh. He then grabbed a hold of her and pulled the girl down on top of him and the two laughed together. The two stayed that way for awhile until they began to feel drops of rain coming down on the two.
Quickly jumping up, the teens ran back to their dry tented shelter. Once inside, the rain began to fall a bit harder until it was pouring. Tommy sighed but smiled.
"The weather channel said nothing about this. I'm sorry Trini, I didn't mean for this to happen."
Trini simply smiled and hugged her friend from behind and laughed.
"It's just a little rain; we're safe here in the tent Tommy," Trini said and placed a soft kiss onto his cheek.
The ranger leader shivered softly and flushed. Biting his lip he turned to face the girl in the tent with him. The two staring into one another's eyes and wondering why they had never seen the other like this. Tommy slowly leaned in towards Trini until he pressed his lips lightly against her own. The sparks were flying as their lips melded into one and arms wrapped around the others. Only whispers and soft names where called out as the now lovers shared their passions with the other through the rain filled night.
The next morning, Tommy Oliver awoke to find himself warm. Peeking an eye open he could make out the black tangled locks nestled against his chest. A small smile crept to his lips and he held Trini Kwan tightly. A few minutes later, the young woman opened her dark eyes and peered up into Tommy's brown irises. The two smiled and shared a loving kiss and nestled together.
"Trini, there's something I have to tell you," Tommy whispered into his lovers ear.
The naked female peered again into the brown pools and nodded her head.
"It seems I'm done with being a ranger, me and the other will be picking new rangers to take our place, and then I'm off to college. I was wondering, what college you were attending."
Trini smiled and pecked the young man's cheek, "If this is your way of asking me out on a date in which we won't be running off to save the world, then I might say The College of California."
The two stayed in one another's arms for almost the entire day, and when they returned home, the other rangers could tell something good had happened between the two.