PASSING THE LANTERN
DISCLAIMER
Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban and Nickelodeon. I only own the subplots. I wanted to show Adam getting the lantern, so I incorporated it, but I'm not sure if there's supposed to be a ceremony or how it would work, so I humbly ask that you forgive any mistakes.
Adam grinned. Man, this family reunion's been a blast, he thought to himself. And the fact that Zedd and Rita hadn't sent down a monster was pretty sweet too. Just then, Adam was approached by his father and the rest of his family.
"Hey, Dad. Whatcha got there?" he asked.
"Son, I know you want to visit with your friends, but before you go, we want to give this," John Park answered, handing his son an orange cylinder-shaped lantern.
"The lantern," Adam said in surprise as he took the object. Wow. I can't believe I'm getting this, he thought to himself.
"This is a very special lantern and holds very powerful properties. It's been in our family for generations and you have to take very good care of it," Mr. Park told him.
"I won't let anything happen to it. I promise," Adam said. Then, he was bombarded by hugs and congratulations. Stammering, the boy managed to disentangle himself from his relatives. Then, he headed out with his dad.
"Hey, Dad, I've always wondered: what kind of properties does this lantern hold?" Adam questioned. The man laughed.
"I asked the same question when I got the lantern and I'll give you the same answer my father gave me: you're going to have to discover that on your own," he replied.
"Okay," Adam nodded, and then he got into his car and drove away. In Ernie's Gym and Juice Bar, Billy, Aisha, Rocky, and Trini were sitting at a table.
"So, what were you saying?" Billy questioned.
"I hope Adam had a good time at his family reunion. He sure was excited," Aisha stated.
"Yeah, it was a big chance to get in touch with his roots," Billy commented.
"That's always been very important to him," Rocky commented. "He doesn't want to ignore his culture," he continued.
"That makes sense," Billy mused.
"Hey, there he is," Trini noted. "Adam, over here!" she called. The boy walked up to them.
"Hey, guys," he greeted, walking up to them.
"Hey, Adam," Billy, Trini, Rocky, and Aisha chorused.
"Where'd you get that cool lantern?" Aisha wondered.
"They presented it to me at the reunion," Adam answered, sitting down. "It's been in my family for years. Apparently, it has great powers."
"Wow. That sounds like quite an honor," Billy commented, taking the lantern and looking at it.
"It is," Adam confirmed. "You see, a lantern keeper is chosen for each generation. So it's a big responsibility," he continued.
"Hey, what does this inscription say?" Billy wondered.
"I wish I knew," Adam replied.
"You mean they didn't tell you?" Trini asked in confusion.
"I'm supposed to discover it myself," Adam replied, gaining the attention of Bulk, Skull, and Jason. Help? They need help with something? I can help, Bulk thought to himself.
"So, you really don't know what this says?" Skull asked.
"Nope," Adam confirmed.
"Hey, no worries. We'll help you discover it," Bulk stated, grabbing the lantern.
"Hey! Be careful with that! It's a family heirloom!" Adam told him.
"Sorry," he apologized.
"Bulkie, you don't even know Korean," Skull pointed out as the boy looked at the inscription.
"Yeah, Skull's right, man," Jason agreed. Bulk looked at the symbols in confusion.
"Yeah, you're both right," he stated, giving it to Jason.
"Hey Jase, didn't you learn Korean when you were younger?" Trini asked.
"Only enough so I can follow my Sensei's instructions. I have no clue what this says," Jason answered, handing the lantern back to Adam. Then, "Hey, come on, guys. Lt. Stone said he wanted to talk to us."
"Oh, yeah," Skull remembered and they took off.
"I just wish I could understand the lantern's powers," Adam said glumly. On the moon, Zedd and Rita had seen the whole thing.
"THIS IS PERFECT! With that lantern, I can bring forth the evil Lanterra!" Rita screeched.
"Yes! What a brilliant idea, Empress!" Goldar enthused.
"Lanterra can trap the Silver Ranger and some of his friends in his dimensional maze, and then we can destroy the others!" Scorpina added.
"Wowee! Lanterra! We haven't seen him for centuries!" Squatt exclaimed.
"Yes, those Power Punks are in for it now. No one has ever escaped Lanterra's maze," Baboo agreed.
"It does have promise, My Pet. But how will you manage to call forth Lanterra without the lantern?" Zedd asked.
"Just leave it to me, Zeddy!" Rita exclaimed and began chanting in a foreign language.