Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers or the concept of it--and using the characters? It's just a once in awhile thing, and without any profit. Really!

Author's Notes: Had the idea of doing a journal thing for Alyssa during PRWF--and maybe beyond. Since it's journal entries, everything'll be in italics except for "real-time" moments. I'm sure you'll understand when you get into the story.
It'll be basically how I think Alyssa felt during the series with a some changes, of course.

Journey
Complete Circle
By: stargazer_1017

February 15

Whew, was today ever a wild day, journal (no pun intended). Know how I've been saying that maybe four rangers wasn't enough? I mean sure, Taylor's a great leader--I never doubted her leadership, but it seemed that the Org's had somehow gotten stronger. After last night's encounter with the Orgs, I couldn't help but feel that four rangers wasn't enough.

"Calm down, guys," a voice said hastilly. I turned around to see Taylor demorph out of her Yellow Ranger suit. She crossed her arms and looked at us. "We're doing just fine."

Now I know Taylor. I know that she was fine with me joining the team but she got even less ecstatic when Max and then Danny joined the team. I knew she would probably be more than less excited to have another ranger join the team.

"Don't all ranger teams usually have five anyway?" Max blurted out. I reached over and nudged Max. He turned to me with a confused look and I widened my eyes at him. Max still didn't understand what I was trying to say. Boys. . .

I turned to Taylor. "Well you've gotta admit, Taylor, battles have been getting hard lately. Maybe we need another ranger."

Taylor pursed her lips and looked at me thoughtfully. Then she sighed. "Maybe we should talk to Princess Shayla."

What did Princess Shayla have to say? She gave us a new hope.

Princess Shayla smiled gently. "I've just seen the answer to our problems, rangers." I turned to look at Taylor with a hopeful look--and cringed slightly when I noticed she was scowling. Maybe she could see it coming. "The Lion has spoken, and he said that he has chosen a person. He will become the new Red Ranger and your leader."

"When will he get here?" Danny asked.

"Who is he?" Max added.

"Is the Lion sure about this?" Guess who that came from.

Princess Shayla smiled again. "His name is Cole, and he will join you shortly."

She told us where we'd find Cole, and early the next morning, we scoped out Turtle Cove Park. It took awhile before we found him, and when we did, I couldn't help but feel relieved. Somehow, looking at Cole even as he slept made me feel optimistic. I could tell everything would be all right.

I didn't even realize I was staring at him until Max nudged me from behind.

"So, are you gonna do it?"

"Huh?" I blurted.

Max gave me a funny look. "Taylor obviously hates the guy. . ."

"I don't hate him," Taylor cut in. "I just don't think I should be the one to confront him." She gave a frustrated sigh. "Are we even sure this is the right guy? For all we know, it could be just a homeless guy--and this is who the Lion sent to us?"

I smiled at Taylor gently. "I'll find out," I said. I turned around and walked towards Cole. I had the feeling that I shouldn't even had to ask, but I know Taylor--she needs a solid answer. I could hear her foot tapping the ground impatiently as I knelt down to be face-to-face with Cole. "Cole?" I asked gently. I could see Cole's eyes open slightly. "Is your name Cole?"

Cole's eyes suddenly widened in horror and I jumped up as he lept to his feet. "Whoa!" I said, holding up my hands. "It's okay!" Cole looked frantically around.

It must've freaked him out to see all of us huddled around him. What would you think if all of a sudden you were awakened by strangers? For all he knew, we could've been muggers or something--which is probably what he was thinking because he started to tense up. If Cole was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, I bet he'd probably have bursted through his shirt. *ahem* Yep, I'm getting off subject. Anyway--

"Please, we need you to come with us," I tried again.

"Yeah come on! It'll be great!" Max called out, grinning ear to ear as he grabbed Cole by the arm and started dragging him off. I was about to warn Max to take it easy when Cole jerked his arm back and started backing away from Max--only to bump into Danny.

Danny looked shyly at Cole. "You can come with us, and--uh. . ." He trailed off after that. What was he supposed to say? You can come with us and save the world?

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a flash of yellow. I watched as Taylor marched off to Cole. She spun him around--

And she punched him, journal--right in the stomach. I wince even just remembering it. Guess what she told him as he doubled over from pain.

"Sorry Jungle Boy, you've just been drafted"

Then she stalked off. I turned back to Cole, who had fallen into Danny's arms, out cold. I shook my head and took off after Taylor.

After we reached the Animarium, Taylor stalked up right to Princess Shayla.

"How do we know this is really him?" she demanded.

"Have faith, Taylor," Princess Shayla replied. "When Cole awakens, then we'll know the truth."

And did we find the truth? Yeah, we did--Cole showed us his Animal Crystal, with the Lion inside. He was surprised when we showed him our crystals.

And then came the trial by fire--the Orgs we had fought the night before showed up again. Cole did fine for his first fight with the Orgs. I thought he would feel awkward, and I guess he did at first, but afterwards, he kicked butt.

The only person that didn't warm up to Cole was Taylor. After the battle, she basically just nodded at him--then turned around and left. Cole seemed slightly disappointed that he didn't earn Taylor's respect. I could only put my hand on his shoulder and give him a comforting smile. Taylor would come around--it would just take some time.

February 17

Okay, note to myself? Hide this journal in a better spot. I caught Max *almost* looking in here. I would kill him if he ever found it and actually *read* through it.. Knowing Max, he'd probably go around announcing everything to everyone.

It's the usual routine for us--I get up before everyone else and make breakfast. I'm getting used to Cole being here with us, and again guess who's the only person not yet adjusted to our new leader. I feel sorry for Cole because I know he's trying, but Taylor's not budging.

Wait, hold on. I'll have to finish this up later. The Sacred Fountain just started erupting.

9:08 P.M.

Okay, I'm back. Another fun-filled, Org butt-kicking day =) I got pretty beat up from the Org protecting Cole. Cole's totally not into violence--he tried to talk the Org out of fighting with us, and I felt so bad for him when he realized that there wasn't any other choice than to fight the Orgs. He was trying to convince Taylor that Orgs were probably just like lost animals and that maybe we could talk them out of hurting other creatures.

Taylor was irritated with Cole's outlook on the Orgs, and I could see why. She was a ranger and had been dealing with the Orgs for over a year now--she knows what they're like.

"I just. . .I don't like the idea of hurting anything," Cole said.

I nodded and sighed. "I don't like the idea either, Cole--but we have to. These Orgs won't listen to us."

"They'll understand. As long as they have hearts, they'll listen."

The big surprise? Orgs don't have hearts. Cole has this ability to listen out for creatures' hearts, and he didn't hear one with the Org's. When he finally decided to fight, he had this heartbroken look on his face, like he had lost a battle--even after we had won the battle against the Org.

I looked for Cole after we got onto the Animarium, and tried to see if he was okay.

Cole smiled sadly. "I just wish we had another way to stop this. All this fighting. . .it doesn't solve anything."

"Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't--but I think what we're fighting for is worth the fight. Our mission is to protect the Earth against all enemies. We were chosen by our Spirit Animals because we proved worthy to them that we could handle the mission," I replied.

Cole turned to me. "How were you chosen by the Tiger?"

"It was nothing special," I said, shaking my head. "I don't really want to bore you with that story."

"Come on!" Cole said, his eyes widening expectantly. He smiled. "I'll tell you why the Lion chose me if you'll tell me why the Tiger chose you."

I grinned back at him. "And how would you know why the Lion chose you?"

"Because he told me," Cole said matter-as-factly.

He was so cute, journal. Almost boyish--and he was asking so nicely, I couldn't refuse.

"He told you?" I asked, surprised. When Cole nodded, I looked at him, confused. I had never known any of the Wild Zords to speak before.

Before I could even ask Cole, he said, "Come on, tell me how you were chosen."

"Okay, okay. . .well, one day on my way back to the dorm, I saw an Org attacking a dog on the street. For some reason, the Org was picking on just that dog and I felt so sorry for him, since I love dogs so much. Anyway, I just fought off the Org and after the Org ran off, my lucky charm, which was actually my animal crystal, started glowing."

I turned to Cole, who was smiling. "That's nice of you," he replied softly.

"You didn't think that was a wimpy way of being chosen?"

Cole shook his head. "No! I hope you don't either."

"Well, Max laughed his head off when I told him the story." I said wryly.

"And how'd he get chosen?"

"Oh, he just saved two people from an Org."

Cole shrugged. "We all have different talents and skills--just because you had saved an animal from an Org and Max saved people, doesn't mean that he's better."

He was giving me advice--and here *I* was supposed to be the one comforting him! But he's a pretty good talker.

I smiled at Cole. "You're right," I agreed. "Oh and Cole? About Taylor. . .don't worry, I'm sure she'll come around."

"She doesn't seem to like me too much," Cole replied. "It's like everything I do isn't good enough for her standards."

"Well, that's just the way Taylor is. You should've seen how it was when Max first joined the team. She used to rip him left and right for small mistakes he made during battles. It used to frustrate Max, but it actually made him stronger. He made even less mistakes during battles and he fights a lot better now than when he first started." I put my hand on Cole's shoulder reassuringly. "If I know Taylor, I bet she's priming you up for battle against the Orgs, because you're an awesome leader, Cole."

"Really?"

I nodded. "You care about your team--and you care about others and because of that, you're willing to put yourself on the line for everyone else. To me, that's an awesome leader."

When Cole smiled, I could tell he was touched by the words I said. "Thanks, Alyssa."

I smiled back at him. "We don't all bite Cole, and if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

Know what else I found out about Cole? He's away from his home--and searching for his parents. I don't know the full story (he wasn't ready to give me all the details), but I knew one thing--Cole need a friend. And I'm totally willing to be there for him.

Oh yeah, and the Lion said he chose Cole because he was the right person to complete the team. He was the only one that could lead the team in a way that would allow all of us to use our individual talents.

Honestly? I don't know what the heck the Lion meant by saying that, but of all the things I learned since being a ranger, I know that the Lion is wise--he knows what he's talking about.

I *do* understand one thing the Lion was talking about. Even though I don't consider the team complete yet, I know we will be--and I don't think we'll have to wait very long.