Author's Notes- This is in response to Ars Amatoria Ranger Romance Themes

Couple- Sky/Z friendship

Disclaimer- I do not own Power Rangers and do not profit from the use of its content.

40 Moments to WhereWe Are

Knight

"What about this one?"

Z stared hard at the picture in an attempt to discern the image.

"What is it?" she questioned after tilting her head sideways and still being unable to make it out.

"Sponge Bob. You know the sponge from that old cartoon show kids used to watch all the time. Lived in a pineapple under the sea."

Her lips parted in a small 'o' of comprehension. "So you want me to go as a mildly perverted bathroom scrubber who has a gender confused starfish for a friend."

"Patrick was not gender confused, just a little slow."

White teeth bit down on pink lips to hide a smile. "You sure do know a lot about this Sponge Bob thing, Sky. Sounds like you were a devoted fan."

A frown creased his forehead. Sky crossed his arms over his chest. "If you don't want me to help you, Z, there are more important things I could be doing." The yellow ranger huffed a sigh and she threw her hands up in surrender.

"All right. All right. No more Sponge Bob cracks, I promise."

He gave a satisfied nod.

In front of them was a wall stacked with packaged costumes and Halloween accessories; so many that it boggled the mind. There was everything from vampire cloaks…to a cheap Sponge Bob getup. Yet, after forty-five minutes of browsing, nothing held up to Z's hopes.

"Do you see anything you like?" Sky inquired.

Z shrugged. "I see lots of things I like, but I want to wear something I love. It's my first Halloween party, and I want it to be special."

It had been a surprise to Sky when earlier that day Z confessed that she had never dressed up for Halloween or gone trick-or-treating. As a kid it had been the highlight of Sky's year. Mountains of sugar slung over his shoulder in an old batman pillowcase hardly slowed him down as his mom and dad took him door to door in a neighborhood close to SPD headquarters. And every year, of course, he had adorned a red ranger suit with a plastic mask. Those were some of the happier moments in his life, and he felt sympathy for Z not ever experiencing that.

"Oh! How pretty."

The exclamation drew Sky's attention to the silver, sparkling item held tightly in Z's hands. His lips corked into a smile as he recognized the gem-encrusted plastic as a tiara. A typical first costume for a girl.

"I never really thought of you as the princess type."

She slid a finger over the curve of the crown. "All girls are."

It was true. Normally the role of fluffy, delicate princess was more of Syd's part to play, but it didn't mean that spunky, down-to-earth Z didn't like to be the dolled-up, fairytale damsel every once in a while. A girl could indulge herself, couldn't she?

Z swiftly found an appealing dress and a string of plastic pearls to decorate her throat. Once satisfied, she turned to her companion and asked, "So, what are you dressing up as?"

He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets. "I think I'm a little old for costumes."

Z scoffed. "What! And disappoint all those kids? You're only like…a whole two years older than me."

A 'zip' was heard as Z rummaged through her purse for a certain piece of paper. With a smile of success she unfolded the letter and began to read it out loud. "Dear Volunteer, we would like to thank you for donating your time to help out the children here at St. Amy's Orphanage this Halloween…hours will begin at 5:30 and last until 8:00…please be at the south entrance already dressed in your costume by 5:00 so that you can be assigned a group to chaperone."

She waved the letter triumphantly. "It's practically a requirement." The hopelessness of the situation dawned on him, and he gave in.

"Alright I'll do it…for the kids."

"Great. Since I'm going as the dainty princess, you can be my gallant knight."

Z made quick work of finding a chain mail shirt and a white tunic imprinted with a red lion on the front. A shield and sword finished the ensemble. The two were through checkout and in the car before Sky could make any objections.

Later that night…

The halls of the SPD academy were dark as five strangely clad B Squad cadets returned from their night of community service.

"I told you, Jack. All the kids absolutely adored your costume." The scarecrow sent a wink at Miss Universe.

"Yeah, they did. Didn't they?"

Syd smiled and shook her head.

"No one knew what I was," muttered Bridge.

"That's okay, Bridge. Buttery toast was a very…unique idea."

"Yeah, unlike Princess and Knight in Shining Armor over there," Jack said jerking a thumb in the direction of Sky and Z.

Z shrugged. "Actually, Sky and I got several compliments on our costumes. This little old lady even took a picture."

"I still don't think its fair you guys got to work together," Syd pouted, "I had to go around with this woman named Janice, and she kept singing and singing and singing. Plus it was killer on my feet having to walk around in these heels."

All of them chuckled, with Sky simply saying it was the luck of the draw.

Bridge wagged a finger. "Not true. I over heard Ms. Hoover, the lady in charge of St. Amy's, and she thought you guys were a young couple 'in love'." Bridge made his eyes wide and puckered his lips dramatically.

That drawled more howls of laughter from the group. Z winked suggestively at the pink-faced Sky. "We've been figured out. Darn you guys are good."

And the group went their separate ways, the night's festivities giving them all sweet dreams. Some sweeter than others…

To be continued