AN: The drawing of the silver ranger on the cover was done by another writer on Wattpad eddmspy
Chapter 1 Getting the Message arrow
Normal POV
Fourteen years have passed, since the divorce. Roslyn De La Rosa is the kitchen, in their room at the Tellico Halfway House. She is putting the groceries away while she waits for her daughter, Traci, to come home from the library. Meanwhile, at the library, Traci walks up to the main desk. She takes the book she needs to return out of her book bag. The librarian, Hallie Frazier, her black eyes looks up from the computer.
"Hello, Traci, what did you think of The Perks of Being a Wallflower?" Hallie asks.
"I loved it," Traci says.
"I printed out a list of books that you may like," Hallie says.
Hallie hands her the list. Traci takes a folder out of her bag and puts it in one of the pockets, closes the folder before putting it away. She zips her bag back before putting it back on her shoulder.
"Thank you, I'll look at it later, I want to look around but I can't. I promised my mom that I would just come here to return the book, and that's all I'm going to do." Traci says. "I wish there were more kids out there like you," Hallie says.
"I know the world would be a lot nicer," Traci says.
Traci leaves and decides to take the long way back from the library to check to see if her training area was intact after the big storm a few nights ago. She arrives to see her shelter, scattered all over the ground.
"I guess I have a lot of cleaning up to do when I come back tomorrow," Traci says.
She turns around to head back down the path. She hears a thump when the message arrow hits the tree. She walks over to the tree to remove it from the trunk. She takes off her bookbag and puts it in the section where her library book was.
"I can't believe this is happening. I'm happy that graduation was last week. I guess I won't be coming back here again after all." Traci says.
She puts it back on her back and continues 'home'. Traci walks to the Tellico Halfway House and one of the staff, Samantha Lopez, walks up to her.
"Hi Traci," Samantha says.
"Hi, Ms. Lopez, have you seen my mom?" Traci asks.
"Yes, I saw her going to your room with some groceries a few minutes ago," Samantha says.
"Thanks," Traci says.
Traci heads to the room that she and her mom are living in, and opens the door.
"Mom, I'm back," Tracy says.
"I'm in the kitchen sweetie," Roslyn says.
Tracy walks into the kitchen. Tracy sets the arrow and her bookbag on the table. She sits down. She watches her mom put the last can in the cupboard. Roslyn walks over to the table. Traci unzips her bag and sets the message arrow down.
"Mom, does this mean that it is time for me to join the samurai rangers? " Traci asks.
"Yes, sweetie," Roslyn says.
"Mom, I can't be a ranger, I'm not ready," Traci says.
"Honey, I know you're worried about how things will go because of your dyslexia. What You need to remember is that you're part of a team, and team members always support each other ." Roslyn says.
Roslyn leaves the room. She comes back with a small bag filled with a few things to help her daughter during her journey as a samurai ranger. Traci takes the bag from her mom. She opens it, and the snow leopard climbs out. It stands next to the bag. Traci closes the bag and puts it on her back. She holds out her hand, and the zord jumps into it and returns to its hexagon origami form. She puts it in the pocket of her coat. She hugs her mom goodbye. Ms. De La Rosa gives Traci one last thing the plane ticket to Panorma City. She puts in her other pocket and leaves the house. After Traci's plane lands at the Panorma City airport, she walks out the front door to see a car with the Shiba emblem on it. She gets inside to see one of her new teammates sitting in the back seat. Traci takes sets her bag on the floor and sits down next to her.
"Hi, I'm Mia, I'm the pink ranger, what's your name?
"Hi Mia, I'm Tracy De La Rosa, the silver ranger. It's nice to meet you."Traci says.
Ten minutes later the car comes to a stop when the driver hears someone telling him to stop. Traci rolls down her window.
"Hi, I'm Kevin, I'm the blue ranger. I came here to fight with you and follow you into battle." Kevin says.
"I'm sorry Kevin, but I'm not the red ranger, I am the silver," Traci says.
Traci and Mia get out. They talk for a while trying to guess who the Red Ranger is. Traci hears running footfalls, so she looks over Kevin's shoulder to see a girl wearing a necklace that uses her zord a the charm run up.
"Hi, I'm Emily, are any of you, the red ranger?" Emily asks.
"Sorry, I'm blue," Kevin says.
"Pink," Mia says.
"Silver," Traci says.
"It's nice to meet all of you," Emily says.
A few seconds later, Traci sees another one of her teammates walk up. This boy gave Traci a prankster vibe.
"Hey, you guys must be my new crew," Mike says.
"So, I have a feeling that you are the green ranger, right?" Traci says.
"Yup, I'm Mike, the might green ranger," Mike says.
The group hears a horse whinny, so they turn around. They see a boy with brown hair ride up. He makes the horse rear up before showing them his zord with a red fire symbol on it. Jayden introduces himself. He takes the Samuraizer out of the saddle bag.
"I'll give you this only if you're 100% committed to fighting as a Samurai Ranger," Jayden says.
"I'm with you all the way," Kevin says.
"Me too," Mike says.
Mia and Emily say the same thing. Jayden tosses them their morphers. Jayden walks over to Traci
"Wait a second, Jayden," Traci gasps.
"Traci, I can't believe that I didn't recognize you, how have you been?" Jayden asks.
"Good," Traci says.
"How do you two know each other," Kevin asks.
"I came here once when I was five." Traci answers. "I'm with you too, but I rather you hand me my morpher."
"How come," Jayden asks.
"I'm not very good at sports." Traci says.
"Gotcha," Jayden says.
Jayden hand Traci her morpher, and walks back to his horse.
"Let's go," Jayden says.
"Go where exactly?" Emily asks.
"To the Shiba House," Jayden says.
"Okay, are we taking the car?" Traci asks.
"No, it would be faster if we ride a horse." Jayden says.
"Sweet," Mike says.
"Yeah, I love riding horses," Emily says.
"Not me," Traci whispers.
The group draws the symbol, and their horses appear. Jayden gets on his horse and notices that Traci didn't draw the symbol.
"Traci, how come you didn't draw the symbol?" Jayden asks.
"I don't know it," Traci lies.
"I guess that you'll have to ride double with me." Jayden says.
"Okay, you're the leader." Traci says.
Traci walks over to him. Jayden holds out his hand. Traci grabs it, and he pulls her up on his horse. She puts her arms around his waist. Then the group rides off. Jayden feels Traci tighten her grip when they get a few feet down the road. Traci didn't know she was squeezing the air from his lungs.
"Traci, are you okay?" Jayden asks.
"Yes, I'm fine, why?" Traci answers.
"Because you're holding on a bit too tight. I can't breathe," Jayden says, as he gasps for air.
"Sorry," Traci apologizes as she loosens her grip.
Ten minutes later they arrive at the Shiba House. Jayden dismounts and helps Traci down.
"Thanks for the ride," Traci says.
"You're welcome," Jayden says.
Jayden sees Traci's eyes light up seeing the Shiba house again.
"Wow, It's just a beautiful as it was when I stay here before," Traci says.
"We're going to live here?" Emily asks.
"Yes," Jayden says.
Ji walks up to them. Jayden introduces the team to their mentor.
"Welcome, I know that all of you came from different families." JI says.
"I bet those families are made up of two loving parents, unlike the one I have." Traci mumbles to herself.
"The one thing you all have in common is your goal to defeat Master Xandred." Ji says.
Everyone walks inside and goes to their rooms. Traci unpacks her things. She sets a picture of her mom on the nightstand next to her bed, looks over at the deck to see her Vihuela Case and walks over to it. She sees a note taped to the lid. She removes it and reads it.
Traci,
I thought that your new teammates would love to hear the beautiful music you make when I hear whenever you play it for me.
Love,
Mom
"Thanks, mom," Traci says.
She smiles, sets the note down, and continues to unpack. After putting her clothes away in the dresser, she hears a knock on her door.
"Come in," Traci says.
Traci turns around to see Jayden walk in.
"It's time for dinner," Jayden says.
"Okay," Traci says.
Jayden turns around to leave the room. Traci follows him into the kitchen. They enter to see Mia, Kevin, Emily and Mike are sitting at the table. She notices that the table only had four seats.
"Where are we going to sit?" Traci asks.
"There is a bar area next to the sink." Jayden says.
"Okay," Traci says.
They walk over to the bar area and sit down. Ji sets a plate in front of her. Traci sees one of her favorite dinners that her mom makes - Wild Salmon and Potato Casserole.
"No way, how did you know that I this is one of my favorite meals ever." Traci says.
"Your mom stopped by a few days ago and told me." Ji says.
"I was wondering how my Vihuela got here." Traci says.
"What is a Vihuela?" Mike asks.
"It's a guitar except it only has five strings," Traci says.
"Do you think you could play something for us after dinner?" Emily asks.
"I don't know," Traci says.
"Please," Emily says.
"I guess so, since you said please, one more thing the only three people that have heard me play are my mom, my uncle, Jorge and Aunt Adrienne." Traci says.
"What about your dad?" Mia asks.
"My dad was too busy working to care about anything that was going on in my life." Traci says.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Ji says.
"My dad didn't want around," Traci says.
"What do mean?" Jayden asks.
"He and my mom would fight a lot. He always told her that I was a disgrace, and didn't deserve to be a member of the family." Traci says.
Mia's heart sank like a stone hearing Traci's last statement. After she recovers the pink ranger walks over to her new friend. Mia gives Traci a hug. Mia's hug felt so much like it would if she were her big sister. Mia lets her go and goes back to her chair. She sits down, and the team eats dinner.
Afterward, they met in the living room. Traci walks carrying her Vihuela case and portable speakers for her iPod. She sets it down on the table. She opens it, takes it out and sits down in her chair. The Vihuela has flower petals around the sound hole. The white and pink petals go around the border of the body of the instrument.
"Wow, Traci, it's beautiful," Mia says.
"Yeah, I can't wait to hear you play it," Emily adds.
Traci tunes it and plays a few scales to make sure it's in the right key for the song she is going to play. She finds the song she needed on her iPod, and presses play. The group hears Amazing Grace start to play. Traci listens carefully, so she knew where she needs to start playing. After the intro ends, they hear the Vihuela music fill the room. Two minutes later the music fades, the silver range hears her teammates and mentor applause. She sets her instrument down on the table.
"Traci, that was beautiful, how long have you been playing it for?" Emily asks.
"Thanks, Emily, I got it for my thirteenth birthday. I'm 17 now, so that would make it..." Traci says.
"Four years," Kevin says.
"Yup," Traci says.
"I have one more idea, how about we go out for ice cream." Mike says.
"Mike, we just ate dinner. Man, your stomach is like a bottomless pit," Traci says.
"I didn't mean right now. I was going to say that we can go out in an hour." Mike says.
"I think I'll pass, I'm not up for ice cream." Traci says.
"Come in Trace, I thought it would be a good way for us to break the ice." Mike says.
"I said that didn't want to go, and there is nothing you can say to persuade me to change my mind." Traci says.
Traci gets up from her chair, puts her Vihuela back in the case and heads to her room. She set the case back on her desk. Then she walks over to the bed and sits down.
"I know that want to be my friends, but it's best for everyone if I don't let them break down the walls I put up." Traci says.