A/N I don't own the power rangers!
Time to Celebrate
April 13th 2010
AISHA
The rangers arrived at the Command Center, Jason and Trini held Natalie up to make sure the sudden landing didn't knock her off her feet. Alpha immediately came up to her, she backed up quickly into Billy.
"It's ok it's Alpha, he assists us immensely." Billy told her.
"Ai-yi-yi look at you, I must administer first aid immediately!" Alpha said to Natalie. "This way to the infirmary, I will fix you quickly!" Tommy looked at her and realized she was still in her blood soaked shirt. He went to the locker room next to the training room, then went to the infirmary, while the rangers watched him amused. What's with this girl, she's cool and all, but I don't know if Tommy should be this crazy about her Aisha thought a little jealously. It wasn't that she wanted Tommy, she just wanted someone to run around after her like he was for Natalie.
"What did you do Tommy?" Zach asked him.
"Oh I realized that she was still covered in blood, so I just got her a shirt from my locker, you know, so she doesn't meet Zordon with blood all over her..." Tommy said.
"Uh huh..." Zach said. He rolled his eyes just to annoy Tommy, but he had to admit it was a good idea, sitting around in your own blood was never a good time.
Natalie returned a little later,looking much better all ready. She was wearing a green wife beater, even though he was the white ranger now, Tommy was still partial to green.
"RANGERS EXCELLENT JOB DEFEATING THE PUTTIES THIS AFTERNOON" Zordon said. Natalie saw him, and her eyes widened. We probably should have briefed her on the whole Zordon is a floating head from another dimension thing Aisha thought to herself.
"NATALIE, I'M PLEASED TO MEET YOU. YOU WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE THIS AFTERNOON."
"Thank you, I don't think I was very impressive at anything except getting hurt" Natalie said, having trouble looking Zordon in the eyes. For a pretty girl, shes got zero confidence. it's like she thinks if she looks at someone too long they're gonna smack her Aisha thought to herself making a mental note to ask Kim if she was like that growing up.
"NATALIE, IT'S TIME TO GIVE YOU YOUR POWER COIN. DO YOU ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING A RANGER" Zordon spoke to the girl.
"Yes. I do" Natalie replied. The rangers watched her, remembering the day they received their coins. The power rushing through them when they touched them. After that day, nothing was the same.
"NATALIE PLEASE TAKE THE MORPHER OFF THE TABLE" Almost immediately after taking the morpher, a coin appeared in its place. " NATALIE YOU HAVE EXTREME BALANCE, GRACE, AND DEXTERITY. YOUR PRESENCE SEEMS TO MESMERIZE YOUR ENEMIES, AND YOUR STRENGTH IS HIDDEN BENEATH YOUR SLEEKNESS. BECAUSE OF THAT, YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL IS THE PANTHER, PLEASE TAKE THE COIN" Natalie took the coin off the table, a glow came over her as she touched it, her power filling her. She immediately felt stronger. She placed the power coin in the morpher, and her uniform appeared on her.
"Whoa... sweet!" Rocky said, looking at the newest ranger in front of them. Her outfit was similar to the others, but like Tommy's she had slight variations to hers, including shade.
"RANGERS, WE OFFICIALLY HAVE A 10TH RANGER. NATALIE, THE SILVER RANGER" Zordon said proudly. Natalie pressed the button on her morpher to morph back to her regular clothes and faced the other rangers. They surrounded her, hugging her and shaking hands. Tommy shook her hand and held it for a minute while congratulating her. Zach and Adam exchanged a look and rolled their eyes at it, Trini smacked Adam on the back of the head not wanting Natalie to see their obvious gesture towards Tommy.
"I BELIEVE IT WOULD DO YOU ALL GOOD TO GET SOME REST. NATALIE, YOU MUST RETRIEVE THE ADIVANTIUM NECKLACE AS SOON AS YOU ARE ABLE. IT IS HIDDEN IN THE CAVE OF THE ANCESTORS. YOU WILL HAVE TO GO ALONE, AND WILL BE FACED WITH THREE TESTS TO PROVE YOUR WORTH THE ANCESTORS AND TO SHOW YOU WHAT POWERS YOU WILL POSSESS. I HAVE NO DOUBT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS." Zordon said.
"Yes sir" She said to him, still looking at the morpher in her hands, clearly not completely believing what she had. The rangers prepared to teleport when Alpha ran in.
"Wait! We forgot something!" He said.
"What's wrong Alpha?" Trini asked. He took a box off of one of the control tables and handing it to Natalie.
"You have to have one of these to be a full ranger!" Alpha said happily. The other rangers realized what he gave her and smiled to each other. Alpha was so proud of the invention he helped Billy create when the rangers first received their powers. Natalie opened the box to reveal a watch, with a silver face on it. "It's a communicator, you can speak with the rangers or command center at any time, it will also teleport you even if you don't have your morpher with you!" Alpha said to her as she took it out of the box and put it on.
"Thank you" She said smiling at the robot and placed a kiss on his metal head.
"Ai-yi-yi!" Alpha said, clearly pleased with himself. ** I bet Tommy wishes he was Alpha right now** Aisha thought grinning.
"Alright let's get out of here, we need to celebrate!" Zach said. The rangers all pressed the buttons on their communicators, and their rainbow of colors had one more added to it, as a flash of silver flew the sky with the others.
TOMMY
Zach decided that celebrating meant going to the club for a few drinks and him showing off his newest break dancing skills. Trini and Adam agreed to DD under the understanding that they would only stay a little while, then continue their celebration at the houses where they could all drink. Kim and Natalie were upstairs getting ready, where as Jason Rocky and Tommy were sitting on the couch, having been ready for 20 minutes. The boys greeted Billy, Adam and Zach as they walked through the door and sat down with the other guys. "Trini and Aisha still primping too?" Jason asked them.
"Affirmative, it would seem that being males we simply 'don't get it'" Billy said. Trini and Aisha walked in as he finished his sentence.
"You're right you don't get it" Aisha said smiling at him. She looked the boys over, "Well don't you guys clean up nicely." The rangers hardly ever dressed in their ranger colors anymore, they had at the beginning, but it was starting to limit their wardrobe significantly, so they all kind of fell out of the habit, but Kim said that in honor of the newest rangers, they should all wear something with their colors. the guys didn't put too much imagination into their outfits. Jason chose a black button up with a red shirt underneath, Zach wore his standard black polo, Billy wore a blue fitted shirt. Adam chose a black t shirt with orange writing. Tommy had a white button up with a green undershirt, and Rocky had a brown polo. Trini wore a yellow tube top with black leggings and heels, making the already tall girl seeming taller and leaner. Aisha wore ballet flats with a purple skirt and black shirt.
"What the hell are they doing up there?" Jason asked impatiently. He went to the stairs and yelled, "If you two don't come down right now we are leaving your asses"
"No you will not, and we're coming!" Kimberly yelled back, clearly annoyed. The two girls came downstairs, and the guy's reaction were exactly what Kim had wanted. She had a form fitting pink dress on with her chestnut hair pinned up in a messy bun. Natalie chose to be more understated with her outfit, wearing a dark green halter dress with a silver chain holding it up by her neck and black shoes with silver accents. She had her hair down and straight, framing her face. Her shoulder was almost completely healed thanks to her new powers and Alpha. You could still see the faint marks, and you could tell it was still sore. Unfortunately, the rangers healed quickly on the outside but the aches and pains on the inside did not disappear as fast. The group piled into the cars and arrived at the only club worth going to in Angel Grove. The girls got a table while the guys went to get the first round of drinks. She's gorgeous Tommy thought taking the drinks back to the table while Zach ordered a round of shots. \But it's not just that, she's so... gentle... I can't be like this. This is what I always do, I rush into things and then it crashes and burns. Nice and slow, it's not like she's going anywhere. Tommy was pleased to see the group left a seat open next to Natalie, and sat down, handing her a drink.
"Thanks Tommy" she said with a smile, hearing her say his name made him think of hearing her say his name in other ways, like in the throes of passionate lovemaking... He snapped himself out of it quickly as Zach and Jason came over with shots.
"Alright guys, to Natalie's, newest ahem... job opportunity. Oh and to her finding a place to live!" Jason said raising his shot up to cheers everyone.
"Wait, a place to live?" Natalie said.
"Yeah with us duh!" Kim said. Everyone raised their glasses and took their shots quickly. Trini and Adam told them if they got drunk before they got home, that they were going to cut them off till they could catch up, making the whole group laugh. After a half hour and another shot, Zach got out on the dance floor with Aisha. The club was getting crowded, and the girls were clearly attracting the attention of the male crowd. A group of drunk guys came over to the table, Zach and Aisha stayed on the dance floor but stayed close enough to hear what was going on and intervene if necessary. Jason put his arm around Kim, and Adam did the same to Trini, both becoming extremely protective of their girlfriends. The drunks looked disappointed until they saw Natalie.
"All alone tonight?" One of them asked her, uncomfortably close to her. "I'll keep you company, why don't we go get you a drink, and go dance?" he grabbed her left hand and pulled her out of chair, and caused her shoulder pain to flare up. Tommy wanted to get up and get between them, but knew that she was single, and for all he knew, maybe she wanted to go with him.
"No thanks, I'm fine here." Natalie said to the guy with a smile as she slowly pulled her hand away from him, not meeting his eyes, instead focusing on looking past him.
"Come on baby, don't be stuck up" he said pulling her up against him, his face inches from hers. The rangers started to stand up, but before they could do anything, Natalie yanked her hand from the guy and pushed him back from her with her other hand. She wasn't used to having her ranger powers yet and pushed harder than she meant to, and the guy flew back and fell backwards, his friends laughing at his rejection. He got up and started to raise his hand to slap her, when Tommy's hand flew out and grabbed his wrist.
"Walk away. Now." Tommy said evenly to the drunk while squeezing his wrist. The guy nodded and walked away angrily with his friends. Jason started laughing as did the rest of the table, minus Tommy and Natalie.
"Did you see his face when she knocked him on his ass!" Rocky said between laughs.
"Thanks... again Tommy. I seem to be thanking you a lot lately." Natalie said to him once again not looking at him for more than a brief second while talking to him. Tommy wasn't drunk by any standards, but was buzzed and decided to make a small, but for him, important move. He put his hands under her chin and pulled her face up so her eyes met his.
"I like your eyes, I wish you'd let me see them more" He said to her.
She didn't pull away from him or look away this time. She bit her lip while looking at his deep brown eyes before saying "Ok" to him and smiling. He dropped his hands and turned his attention back to the table. Everyone decided it was time to go back to the house where the drinks were free and bed was only a few steps away.
JASON
Man, if Zordon could see us now Jason thought looking around the room at the rangers. Everyone had probably had enough to drink, they were happily talking and laughing, but they knew there was a small difference between happy and bringing back the terrible memories of battle buried in their minds. She fits in perfectly Jason glanced at the girl he considered his sister. The girls finally admitted there was nothing comfortable about their outfits and had changed into pajamas. Natalie was sitting cross legged on the floor in front of Kim who was playing with her Auburn hair while talking about all the different things she could teach her about being a ranger. Tommy sat on Kim's left, and Jason on her right. The rest of the group was spread out around the living room. Aisha watched Natalie talking to Rocky doing the whole I can't look at you and talk to you thing again.
"Hey I have a question Natalie" Aisha said to her.
"What's up?" Natalie said.
"How can you be so confident on stage, and so much like a scared bunny when talking to people. it's ok to look at people..." Aisha said. Aisha you idiot Jason thought to himself instinctively putting his hand on Natalie's shoulder. Kim was now running her hand down Natalie's hair, as if attempting to sooth her. Everyone had stopped talking to look at Aisha and Natalie.
"If you don't wish to discuss it, it's quite all right..." Billy began. At the same time Kimberly said "They are like your family now, maybe you should tell them."
Natalie looked at Jason for an answer, he simply said "It's your choice" By this time the 4 rangers unfamiliar with the other rangers childhood growing up together looked confused.
"Um, Aisha, my stepfather used to knock me around sometimes... well a lot of times. He used to say I was being defiant and rude when I looked him in the eyes. He said I was challenging him, and that he would show me who was in charge in the house. I guess I shouldn't be like that anymore... it's been six years." Natalie said clearly trying to mask the pain the memories brought it up.
"Well, I'm a gigantic bitch. I'm sorry Natalie. Why didn't your Mom call the cops? Or you?" Aisha said. Drop it Aisha. Jason tried to communicate his feelings to Aieha silently. The rangers had grown together so much, they could often sense when one was in danger, and each others moves in battle. Unfortunately, they hadn't progressed to telepathy yet.
"He was the cops." Natalie said simply.
"Natalie's REAL father was in the military. He deployed during the Gulf War, and died. she was only 4. Her mom took it pretty hard, and met her step-dad and got married by the time Natalie was 5. He was a cop, and eventually was the Chief of Police when he died. He was also a mean nasty drunk and hated that Natalie was a constant reminder of his wife's first husband" Kim said trying to spare her friend the pain of saying it herself.
"What about your Mom?" Adam said. Well for fuck's sake let's make her have a breakdown that will help Jason thought as he shot Adam a 'shut up' look.
"Her mom.." Kim started when Natalie cut her off.
"My mother decided being addicted to pain killers was more important than anything else. He had a lot of connections, so he kept her drugged up and she turned a blind eye to his unique way of de-stressing himself" Natalie said, the hate in her voice a surprising thing to hear from the quiet sweet girl.
"Why did you leave Angel Grove?" Adam asked.
Natalie was getting clearly upset, and the alcohol flowing through her system was not helping. "Because their dying was my fault! My Mother called me that begging me to come home so I could take her to her friend's house, code for to get more pain meds. I heard my stepfather screaming in the background about how pathetic I was and how I needed discipline and if my Mom wasn't going to do it, then he would have to, another favorite line of his. I was at Kim's, the group were the only people that knew, and I suspect their parents had a feeling too. I was staying the night at one of their houses almost every night, and none of them ever said no. I was so tired of being scared, and helpless. So sick of hiding the bruises. I told my Mother I wasn't coming home. I already had a scholarship to a school in Texas, so I planned on spending the last week until graduation with the gang and leaving as soon as I could. I just figured she would settle for going tomorrow when she was sobered up enough to drive, but no, my Stepfather decided to drive them to Kim's to get me. He was so drunk he wrapped the car around a phone pole." Natalie's eyes glinted with tears and the rangers hurt for her. She had only been a ranger a mere hours but they already felt her as a part of their family. "I hated them, I won't lie, but I didn't want them to DIE! No one knew how fucked up my family was, all they knew was my stepfather and Mother died trying to come get me. I could hear everyone's whispers and their disapproving looks. I had to get out" Natalie stood up and walked towards the backyard. " I'll be right back" she said as she shut the door behind her.
The rangers sat for a moment before Tommy broke the silence. "Shit" he said quietly.
"Aisha, Adam that was totally out of line!" Jason said. He wasn't normally an angry drunk but this wasn't a normal situation.
"I'm so sorry..." Aisha said, looking genuinely upset at what she brought up. "Me too Jason, I was being an idiot" Adam said quietly. Natalie walked back inside looking much better than she had a few moments ago. She sat back down where she was and said, "Alright, enough of that... I have a question. Can anyone else the the bubbly looking thing surrounding the houses?"
"Alpha and I installed a barrier similar to the one in the Command Center today after the attack" Billy said. "It prevents anyone with a power coin to teleport in. And anyone with a non human energy sets off an alarm. Of course we are the only ones that can see the barrier, and hear the alarm." Billy looked pleased with himself.
"Huh, alright then" She said looking at Billy with admiration.
"If you and Kim hadn't taken 4 hours to get ready tonight, you would have heard about it" Jason said playfully to her, trying to lighten the mood back up. The tension broke quickly as Kim started in on Jason. "it was NOT 4 hours and if you want me to just go out looking like hell then I'll start wearing sweats everywhere..." she began in on her rant. The group laughed as Tommy picked up a lime slice leftover from tequila shots earlier and stuffed in Kim's mouth.
After another hour the group decided that they should get some sleep, just in case they got an early morning ambush, trying to get to Natalie. Natalie and Tommy walked upstairs next to each other. Jason tried his best to be nosy and listen in but their quiet voices made it impossible. When they reached their rooms Jason did walk slowly enough to his room to see Tommy brush Natalie's hair behind her ear and pull her into a hug. Kim suddenly pushed Jason into his bedroom as Natalie and Tommy went to their rooms. "Nosy man" She said to him pushing him onto the bed. God I'm lucky he thought as Kim straddled him, kissing slowly down his body. He flipped her onto the bed gently and started undressing her.
