Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, only the plot and the circumstances.

A/N: The title is a number from the musical Aida. Look it up on YouTube.
Have a great read and don't forget to tell me what you think in a review!

Enchantment Passing Through

Chapter One

It has been a hard day; a tiring, over-the-top, hateful, elaborating, endless day, and Kelsey Winslow just wanted it to end. Now. But it was only early afternoon and she had an inkling this was not going to be a quiet night. Why did she deserve all of this?

Around three o'clock AM there was an attack on the city that required the Power Rangers. Of course they were blocking the attack and fighting the hoards of Batlings led by none other than Loki. It was Three O'fucking-Clock in the night, or morning! They returned to the Aquabase a little after sunrise, straight to Carter's no-nonsense, no-skipping-even-if-you're-dead morning training.

She didn't even manage to have breakfast because just as she laid her bottom on her seat at the table, Ms. Fairweather beeped her for some good old "seasonal" Evaluation.

In which she has been slain for being lazy (at times), quiet (she was not her usual self, to Ms. Fairweather) and sloppy (and when will that ever change?). Kelsey said nothing, not even bothering to defend her behavior in the last few weeks. Whatever, right? They didn't take her Morpher, so why was this feedback even relevant?

Maybe she wanted them to take her Morpher.

Sure, she's miss her Zord, the Adrenalin Rush, the satisfaction of winning, but – See? There never used to be a but! And now…

Well, after Ms. Fairweather's Evaluation of her, Kelsey needed a time to herself, away. It was so strange of her not to turn to Dana or Chad for encouragement or just to talk this bad mood off. Not that she was in any kind of mood, of course. So she decided to go rollerblading, it was her choice of sport if she had a lot on her mind, because she didn't need to pay too much of attention to her surrounding, just not to skate into people or trees.

She hurried to her room, to change, pulling on black tights and a yellow and white tank top on which she threw a gray hoodie; she pulled on her rollerblades and skated out of her room and then – the Aquabase – so fast, that she forgot her headphones.

Sometimes she just wanted to throw her Morpher to the Ocean.

It's not that she hated being a ranger, she really didn't. Being a ranger was probably the best and the most important thing she has ever done in her life, the only thing she never regretted, not even now. It had matured her and got her to think seriously about life, priorities, other people! Who would've thought she could give so much of herself to something? To dedicate and commit to such a long period of time? Yes, being a ranger proved her she was an able person.

And still…

She skated in Mariner Bay's Park, enjoying the wonderful breeze coming from the ocean and the fading colors of the skies, surrendering to the darkness.

There was such a big world out there.

Beyond the Aquabase, beyond the Ocean; people to see, places to explore, new cultures to meet! And she was stuck, here, in little, old, boring Mariner Bay. Okay, maybe not all that boring now with all of those monsters and demons, but still, even defeating monsters and demons was part of the grueling, day to day agenda.

It frustrated her;

She stopped and sat on a bench at the top of a small hill looking at a view of the City and the Bay. Two street lamps were already alight, while the sun was nearly all gone in the horizon now. Kelsey sighed.

What does she want? To stay, to leave? What will make her happy?

She didn't know.

Someone was walking near by and Kelsey tensed; a moment later a man walked her way, he was tall and broad-shouldered, his hair of dirty blond. He was wearing a black jeans and a black button on shirt, that had three buttons open at the front.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He said right as he noticed her. "I'll come back later – "

"No, I was just leaving. Stay." She said, feeling slightly shy at his politeness.

"You shouldn't leave, the sunset here is spectacular." He blinked sort of innocently. "You'll miss it."

She nodded, blushing at his honesty.

"Well, you should join me, then. I wouldn't want you to miss it." She offered simply and scooted to the left side of the bench.

"Thanks." He said and sat to her right. "You seemed in a deep thought and I didn't want to disturb."

"Yes, I guess I do have a lot on my mind recently." She shrugged. "I don't know if I'm here because I needed to run away or because I needed some quiet."

"I think it's the same, wanting peace and a passion to be away. Are you not happy where you normally are?"

"I am, most of the time." She shrugged and bent down a little to free her legs from her rollerblades. "It's just that only recently I've realized how much there is to see out there."

She pulled her legs close to her, so that her chin rested on her knees.

He smiled at her, a small, no-teeth, showing one dimple sort of smile.

"It's normal to want to see the world, you know, there is a lot to see."

"Have you…?" Her voice trailed, shy. She blushed;

"I've been to great many places, I could tell you a thousand stories of my travels." He paused, trying to understand her expression; her eyes were a little glazed and she bit her bottom lip.

"You want this, huh? Travel the world?"

She nodded; she was jealous and hopeful and so, potently wanting.

"I want to be free…"

Guilt has immediately flooded her; wasn't she free? She could go everywhere with anyone, no one ever gave her a curfew or tried to take over her life. Sure, there was Carter's 'well-planned' agenda but other than that…

"What's binding you?" He whispered softly.

"Well, my job." She rubbed her neck. "It's not that I don't like it, I'm just..." She had no words to describe exactly what. She was at a loss for words.

"I think you need a vacation." He said gently, looking straight ahead, at the darkening skies.

"Vacation doesn't exist in my vocabulary." She smiled ruefully.

"It should." He smiled. "It would ease that tension from your shoulders and would put a smile on your face."

She smiled shyly.

"You have a pretty smile." He complimented.

"Thanks." She said, embarrassed; it was the first time she has ever received a compliment from a guy. "You know, I don't even know why I'm telling you this, when you're a stranger that I've just met?"

He chuckled.

"Well, I'm listening."

She smiled. "Thanks again."

Her morpher beeped and Kelsey sprung to her feet. "I have to get going." She excused. "Thanks for the listening."

"I enjoyed it. I'll be here tomorrow, same time. I love watching the sunset."

She blushed as she slipped her feet to her rollerblades and stood up.

"Maybe." She shrugged and skated away.

The stranger, whoever he may be, gave her some things to think about; she did like her job as a ranger, maybe she was worn off a little and did need a break. A vacation. She decided she would make an appointment to see Captain Mitchell and then she would ask for a few days off. Maybe it was, indeed, all she needed to shrug this heavy weight down.

It was new: not to consult Dana before taking this step, but Kelsey thought it refreshing, a beginning of a positive change in her life. She hoped the vacation, which its destination she hadn't set yet, would lift her spirits and give a push to her motivation.

She tried not to think about the handsome stranger any more than that, because soon after she found herself admitting his suggestion of taking a vacation was a great idea, she couldn't help but think of his light blond hair and athletic build and her heart started racing.

Heck, she wasn't even sure if she should return to that hill the next day, for sunset.

But she did.