Disclaimer: We don't' own them, in fact, who does these days? J Anyway, this is something Daylight and I have come up with. Please enjoy and review for us. We like reviews. Anything with a * either side of it are thoughts. Set before PRiS. Fixed the formatting and got it now in the correct order.  Mouse and Daylight, March, 2003.

Forever Friends

By Daylight and Mouse

To anyone else looking at them, they were two older men, walking along the pathway, chatting softly, most likely about grandchildren or other such things old men talk about. But you'd be mistaken. If you had the occasion to take a second look you would notice something different about these two men.

They had the air about them of men that had fought long and hard during their lives. They had about them the sort of wariness of their surroundings that only the most seasoned and experienced of fighters get. They were the same height, neither of them having the stooped shoulders so prevalent in older men. One had short silver hair and the brightest blue eyes. Laughter lines crinkled around his eyes and his eyes were merry but full of wisdom and kindness.  The other had grey and white streaked longish hair, pulled back away from his face. His brown eyes were kind and serious, yet still had the spark of hope in them after so many years.

Both of them were dressed in black trousers and boots. One had a silver top and the other a red one. Both wore dark brown over robes of the ruling elders of KO35. Both were former Power Rangers and both had been each other's partner, friend, companion and trusted soul for the other. And their names were Andros and Zhane. The former Red and Silver Power Rangers respectively.

Zhane laughed softly and gently elbowed Andros, his voice teasing his long time friend.

"Come off it Andros, you know Ashley wants to go home. What's stopping the two of you taking the Astro Mega Ship mark 4 to Earth for a quick trip home so she can see her family."

"Well there's the council meeting next week, the trip to Triforia to the Academy to pick out the next generation of Rangers. Karone and your Joining ceremony anniversary… need I go on?" Andros smirked slightly at his friend. Over the years their friendship had deepened even more, especially when Karone and Zhane had gotten joined when she had returned from her stint with the Galaxy Rangers. Zhane smirked back, raising one eyebrow at his friend. Two could play this game and he was a master at it.

"I can do all of that with Karone, and our anniversary isn't that big a deal. Besides, I'm surprising Karone with a trip away to the beach on the southern continent, so I'm not going to be here anyway."

"Oh, I didn't know that." Zhane laughed softly, pleased to once again to have out witted his dearest friend.

"That's because you didn't ask silly. So, take her already for heaven's sake." Andros sighed and gave in gracefully. Long experience led him to know when he was on a loosing streak.

"She set you up to do this, didn't she?" Zhane blushed slightly, caught out for once.

"Yes, well, her, Karone, Cassie and just about everyone else we know." Andros laughed and smiled at his friend.

"Alright, I'll take her home. Now, where's this group of kids we're supposed to be meeting?"

They came upon them by the pond, naturally. Karone and Zhane had fond memories of a pond and an abortive date all those many years ago on Earth. After speaking softly to his wife, she left them to it. The two rangers sat down on the grass under the shade of a rather large tree that had been brought in from Earth. It was flowering a lovely little yellow flower and the smell was fresh and new. Idly Zhane recalled that it was a Wattle tree from Australia, back on Earth. A present from a former Ranger from that country. This park was dotted with various faunas from that continent, something that the former ranger had taken great delight in doing for them when it had been discovered that KO35's climate and her home nations were extremely similar. Zhane brought himself back to the present and grinned at Andros. *So many memories of good times in this park.* Andros silently nodded to his thought and then looked at the children as they settled down with them on the grass.

"So, what story would you children like to hear today?" They all looked at each other and then one little boy raised his hand.

"We'd like to hear all about how you two first meet and your first battle together." Andros glanced at Zhane, concern in his eyes. *Do we tell them everything? I don't want to bring back bad memories.* Zhane smiled slightly. *It's okay Andros. It was a long time ago.* Andros nodded and began.

Tbc…