Disclaimer: I do not own any characters related to Power Rangers they are owned by Saban/Disney et. al

I do however own all things Tanzetti and reserve the right to reuse them as I please.

I'm working on pictures of the Tanzetti uniforms. I'm thinking a cross between the Ninjetti uniforms from the movie, and something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. Haha! Marcy in a corset!

*****

The community went all out for the festival. Within hours they had erected several tents in the town square, set out tables and chairs and a dais with a podium, and food, more food the imaginable in a single space. A band was sitting on the dais playing songs Billy had never heard before, but somehow felt familiar and fun. And the whole village seemed to be there. There were more people than he could imagine milling about the square. A space in front of the band had been cleared for dancing and it was filled to capacity with people of all ages enjoying the revelry.

He stood just inside the tent entrance. Before leaving Katrin's house he'd changed into the Tanzetti uniform Dracos had shown him. Katrin had sent him to one of the back bedrooms to freshen up before leaving and he'd found the uniform neatly laid out on the bed.

He felt Marcy approach behind him and slip her hand into his. "What do you think?" she asked.

"They know how to throw a party," Billy replied. She'd changed into a uniform of a Tanzetti warrior as well. A scoop neck shirt of the same silk-like material as his, only in a deep pink, almost magenta. Her middle was wrapped in a tight leather bodice of the same brown leather as his vest, with similar woven lacing down the front. Her pants matched the shirt and tucked into high leather boots that laced down the side.

"You look beautiful," he said.

She looked down at herself for a second, as if she couldn't believe the clothing was still there. When she looked back up her cheeks flushed a deep pink that rivaled her shirt. "You're not so bad yourself. Dance with me?"

Billy smiled and squeezed her hand. In seconds they were in the midst of the dance. People cheered and shouted. They stayed out through several songs, until the dance floor started thinning out and people began gravitating toward the tables. They milled through the crowd, Marcy half-leading him by the hand. It took forever for them to reach the opposite end of the room because they could barely take two steps before someone stepped up to greet them. Marcy was gracious with everyone. She remembered the names of nearly everyone who begged for her attention, and even the ones she didn't remember received the same smile and kind words. Billy was impressed with her diplomacy. He also had a new understanding of why Zordon was adamant they keep their identities secret. It was clear they would have no privacy or peace while they were here.

Just before they reached their table Billy heard someone call his name. He turned and saw Dracos standing behind him.

"William," he said, "Sister, I'd like to present my bond-mate, Cera."

For the first time, Billy noticed a tall blond woman behind Dracos. He took hold of the woman's hand and pulled her forward. She had a small frame that was swollen with an advanced pregnancy. Her eyes were downcast as she stepped forward, only peering up through her eyelashes, and curtain of cornsilk hair.

"Dracos!" Marcy said in breathless shock. "I don't believe it."

"It's good to meet you, Tanzetti," the woman said with a small bow.

Marcy reached out and took her sister's hand. "Madala," she said. "And William." She threw Billy a glance that conveyed the humor in the use of his full name. "That Tanzetti stuff doesn't exist between family."

Cera nodded and looked up fully at this and smiled. Her face was rounded but something about the set of her cheekbones and line of her jaw that made Billy think she was a much stronger person than her shy exterior showed.

"When are you due?" Marcy asked.

The woman's hand went protectively around her swollen belly. "Within the month we hope," she said. "You're mother says it could be any day now."

He saw Marcy's hands squeeze on Cera's slightly. "Then we have more reason to celebrate."

She let go of her sister's hands and stepped back as if preparing to move on, but Dracos stepped forward.

"There's one other thing," he said. Marcy turned and waited for him to speak. Cera stepped forward with a confidence she hadn't had before.

"We would be honored if you would consider staying in our home," she said. "At least until your own home can be arranged."

"Oh," Marcy said, a trickle of fear that only Billy could feel coming through. "We would never want to impose on you in your…situation. I assumed we'd stay with mother, or in public accommodations."

"Nonsense," Dracos said. "We have a house near the square, it's perfect. And mother had visitors all hours of the night. You remember how it is, patients coming and going…you'll be much more comfortable somewhere else."

"What does mother say?"

Dracos flushed a little. "She said it was up to you."

Marcy looked at Billy, the question roaming through her mind. Billy wasn't sure how to answer. He liked Dracos a lot, but Katrin was kind, and had been more than welcoming. He just shrugged.

"Well, I-"

But she didn't get an answer because there was a shout from somewhere and Marcy's hand was pulled from his as she was lifted away. Billy jumped at the action but Marcy just laughed as a mysterious man lifted her and spun her around.

"Davin!" she shouted embracing the man. He was taller than her, but thin and agile like Dracos.

"Look at you!" he said. "You look pretty good for a dead person!"

Marcy punched him. "I may be dead but I'll still kick your ass!"

The man laughed and Marcy gestured to Billy. "Billy this is Davin, he's been Dracos's best friend since we were kids."

The man shook Billy's hand. "Good to meet you."

The man laughed and clapped Dracos on the shoulder. "Can you believe this guy? Bonded and child in less than a year? And now you?"

Marcy laughed at that. "There was a time that if Dracos did something you were never far behind."

Davin put his hands up defensively. "Wasn't a part of this one. Isn't a woman on this rock who'll have me, Dracos or not."

"We should sit," Dracos said. "Everyone's waiting."

"Of course, you'll be joining us, Davin?"

Davin's arms went wide and a smile graced his face. "When do I ever turn down a meal."

"Please," Dracos said. "You'd move in with Mother if she'd have you."

"Not my fault she's all the family I have left in the world."

Marcy paused at that and Billy felt a flicker of pain from her, but the others seemed to take the comment in stride. They continued walking through the crowd as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Perhaps for them it was.

Dracos came up behind him and put an arm around his shoulders. "Brother's in arms, eh? I'll take you to the training ground in the morning and you can join me on my shift."

"Shift?" Marcy said suddenly. "What do you mean 'shift'?"

"For the guards," Dracos said. "I have morning rounds. Lucien changed my schedule for today so I could be there to greet you, but sunrise is my normal posting."

A wave of shock and anger hit Billy and he had to struggle to close the conduit and not be affected by her emotion. "You're in the guard?"

"Of course," Dracos said.

"But you're an artist," Marcy said. "You've never fought in your life."

Dracos's eyes narrowed just a bit. "There's no room for an artist in this community," he said softly. "We had to make changes. I was lucky Lucien took me in, I'd be banished to the fields, or trapped in a metalshop if it weren't for him."

Marcy's eyes flashed and Billy had to take a step back from the intensity he felt from her. She wasn't often angered this way, and it took several minutes for her regain control.

"I see," was all she managed to say.

They took seats at a table where Katrin and a few of the girls he'd seen with her at the clinic were sitting. The girls all looked down when Billy arrived. It was a little unnerving. He wasn't used to being watched like that, found attractive simply for his celebrity status. Again he understood why secrecy had been so important to the Power Rangers.

On the whole, however, he couldn't have felt more welcome in the village. Hundreds of people came by their table to introduce themselves and wish them well. Many brought gifts or other things which Marcy politely waved away.

Food was served from several large tables at the end of the tent. Many people were standing in line for food but several people brought plates to their table for them. Billy tried to listen to every conversation going on around him to learn as much as he could about the village and the people in it. He learned that the community was divided into three parts, the village proper, the outer farmlands surrounding the village, and the small community that lived near the mine.

The three girls sitting at their table were Katrin's apprentices, she was training them as healers and midwives. Her oldest, a girl named Olyve was nearly done with her training and planning to move to the mining village in a few months because they were in need of more medical personnel there.

The governmental structure was pretty basic. There were regular meetings that the public could attend and voice concerns, and the day to day operations were run by a handful of people voted into office on a quarterly basis.

In a way, Billy felt like it was stepping back in time. It reminded him so much of the villages and towns on television and movies that took place in Greek and Roman times. There were tradesmen of every sort: Blacksmiths, tanners, bakers, butchers. Invitations to visit the shops around town were extended from everywhere and Billy hoped they would have a chance to visit them all.

But the revelry came to a screeching halt about two hours in when there was a shout from the entrance of the tent and Billy turned to see Lucien, in a stunning leather uniform, flanked by at least twelve men. Fear washed over him at the site of the men as Lucien marched slowly across the room through the hushed crowd. He gripped Marcy's hand, ready to call on his power if needed. Her own emotions were wary at her brother's appearance.

Lucien stopped three feet from the table and reached for his belt, withdrawing a long, thin knife. Billy tightened his grip on Marcy instinctively, but she remained calm so he hesitated to act, for the moment.

Then Lucien made a move that shocked both of them. He bent on one knee and plunged the knife into the ground. "The Caldyne guard swears its allegiance to the Tanzetti Warriors," he said in a loud voice. "Every man in my platoon has sworn a blood oath to always protect and serve your call. We await your command."

Billy had no idea what to do, and he was shocked when Marcy calmly reached down and pulled the knife out of the ground. She stood over her brother, holding the blade in her fist just above his head.

"The Tanzetti are grateful for your loyalty," she said evenly. Not a trace of the shock or suspicion Billy felt coming through in her voice. "You will be an asset to us. Stand up, Brother. You and your men are equals here."

Lucien stood and Marcy returned his knife to him. Their eyes locked together as he wrapped his hand over hers briefly. Billy couldn't read thoughts, even through his connection with Marcy, but he knew something happened in that moment that made Marcy think a little more coldly about her older brother.

The moment came to an abrupt halt however when Katrin Selana stood suddenly and raised her glass to the crowd.

"The Tanzetti have returned to Caldyne!" she said. "They will rebuild the warrior race and bring our people back to their former glory!"

A cheer went through the crowd at those words and Billy felt something cold and hard form in his chest. Marcy sat next to him, her eyes frozen on her mother.

"New warriors will be chosen, new protectors for us all," Katrin continued. She raised the glass a little higher and most of the room joined her. "To the rebirth of the Tanzetti!"

The cheers were deafening, but neither Billy nor Marcy joined in them. Marcy didn't move until the roar of the crowd died down and everyone went back to their food or other revelry. Then, slowly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Marcy stood. She walked around the table, stopping where Dracos and his wife sat.

"Brother, I would be most honored to stay in your home during our stay here." Then she rounded the table and placed a hand on Katrin's shoulder.

"Mother," she said in a strained but pleasant tone. "I need to speak with you."

*****

Yet more family drama! *sigh* Marcy just can't win. Hope you're enjoying the new story! Please leave a Review I really, really love that!