Chapter 12
It had been a week since the rangers had found out that Billy was back on earth and helping the enemy. Through Kimberly and Kira, they had found out the motives of Brandon and Mike. It was clear to Kim that Mike wanted Anna back and would use Kim's past as a ranger to get her, while finding out about Brandon had been more of a challenge. Kira had told them that when she was getting close to Trent, he had told her about a brother that was off working on another island for their father. Brandon was adopted by Anton Mercer as well, several years before Trent. Anton had sent Brandon to a remote island to work on discoveries. The rangers shuddered to think about what Brandon was discovering considering what his father had discovered on the island that blew when working with Tommy. As hard as it was, Tommy and Kim needed to get back to work on their wedding plans. Somewhere between the madness, everyone forgot that there was still a wedding to plan. While they were going over plans, Conner, Kira and Ethan were at the mall.
At The Mall
"Kira, why did you drag us here?" Ethan complained.
"Because, we weren't doing Dr O. and Kim any favors hanging around their place and there's something I wanted to show you guys. I think it would make a good wedding gift."
"We're getting them gifts already." Conner exclaimed.
"Seperately yes, but I was thinking this could be a group gift."
"From us or everyone?"
"Everyone."
"Well, babe, take us to it." Conner said with a grin.
"Keep that up and I'll leave you here."
"You haven't learned yet?" Ethan asked.
"Chill dude. I know what I'm doing." Conner replied with an evil grin on his face.
"I don't even want to know. What you two do is your own business."
"Yep, it is and we're not telling." Kira said.
"I said I didn't want to know." Ethan complained.
"Where's Anna? She's been distant for the past week." Ethan asked.
"She's been stressed. Finding out your father wants you back after going AWOL for years and the fact that he's our enemy at the moment is really messing with her." Kira said.
"She's not regretting being an Oliver is she?" Conner asked.
"No, she loves being Dr O's daughter but she is afraid that he'll tell her to have a relationship with her father."
"Why?" Conner asked.
"Because, she's used to Dr. O as her father, he's been there for the last three years. Anna doesn't even remember her real father. She's finally got a stable family and now he comes back acting like nothing ever happened. She told me that Dr. O is her dad and Mike is just another person."
"That's gotta be tough." Ethan said.
"Ah, we're here."
"Exotic Replicas?" Conner and Ethan asked simultaniously.
"I thought that same thing, but look at this." Kira said as she pointed to what she wanted the guys to look at. Just then, the store manager walked in.
"Can I help you?"
"Yes, could you tell me a little about this piece here?"
"Certainly, in China, the animals are very sacred. The dragon is the most ferocious. They have several colors that they become as they age. Green is the color they take when they are very young, such as a teenager. As the dragon gets older, he takes on a white color. Eventually, as the dragon reaches adulthood, he takes on a dark red."
"Then why is the dragon black?" Conner asked.
"The dragon takes on black as he reaches his full maturity. Black dragon represents strength and power. There is no other color for a dragon to reach than black."
"And the bird?"
"Ah, the crane. The only animal in Chinese ancestry that could tame a dragon."
"But the dragons bigger." Conner stated.
"Yes, he is, but sometimes very stupid. The crane uses her intellect and gracefulness to win the dragons heart."
"Why does it look like the dragons getting ready to eat the crane?" Conner asked.
"Take a closer look, the dragon has the crane wrapped in it's tale. It's a form of protection. The dragon will not let anything harm his crane. His mouth is open in the ritual mating call."
"So what happens when the black dragon and the pink crane form this bond?" Kira asked.
"It doesn't happen very often, but when it does, for however long they are together, the world is at peace."
"And that's according to China?" Conner asked.
"According to Chinese legends."
"And how accurate are they?"
"Unless you lived in that time, no one really knows. But I guess if you really beleive in stuff like that, they can be very accurate."
"How much is it?" Kira asked.
"$65.00"
Kira looked to Ethan and Conner, trying to decide. She knew she wanted to get it but it was a little too pricy and she wasn't going to ask them if they could pitch in. However, they read her expression perfectly.
"Don't worry. We'll help. Let's get it." Ethan said.
"Marvelous." The manager said. "And it's my last one."
After they paid, they walked out with their gift.
"That was weird." Conner said.
"But this gift is perfect." Kira said.
"I agree, and it's something they won't expect." Ethan added.
"Let's get this home and put somewhere safe." Conner said.
"Then what?" Ethan asked.
"Did you guys have anything planned?" Conner asked.
"Nope."
"Nope."
"Let's go to Angel Grove."
"Why?" Kira asked.
"I'm not entirely sure, I just want to get out of town for a day and it's not that far."
"Everything okay man?" Ethan asked.
"Yeah, everything is fine. Just with everything going on the past week, I need to get away and recharge."
"I know what you mean, do you think we should get Anna first?"
"It couldn't hurt to ask." Kira added.
"I'll call her." Ethan said.
After a few rings, Ethan heard Anna pick up the phone.
"Hey Anna."
"Hey Eth."
"You doing anything right now?"
"No, mom and dad are going over wedding plans and I'm stuck here with them."
Ethan could almost hear her smile over the phone as she looked at her parents.
"Well, Conner, Kira and I were thinking of heading to Angel Grove for the rest of the day and were wondering if you would like to go with us."
"I'm not sure Eth."
"Oh come on Anna. I don't want to be stuck with them two all day besides, how long has it been since you and I have been able joke?"
"I'm not sure, it's been a while."
"Remember our prom? We had no worries, Mesogog was gone and we could enjoy each others company. You were one of my best friends three years ago and you still are today. I don't want to see you worrying yourself to death about everything that's going on."
"You're not going to give up are you?"
"Nope, I care about you too much. I promise, if these two bore us to death, we'll go and do our own thing."
"Alright, I'll go."
"You were always going to go. You know how it is, we call and ask you to hang out, you decline then we pull the guilt trip on you. It's routine."
"I know."
"We'll see you in a few minutes, get ready."
"I'm already ready."
"Good, we'll be there soon."
As he hung up the phone he turned to find Kira and Conner chuckling.
"Don't start again."
"Well dude, could you be any more obvious?" Conner asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh come on Ethan, we've known that you've liked Anna for years. I know you asked her to prom as friends but it wasn't long after that when you started really liking her was it?"
"How do you know?"
"I'm a woman."
"Dude, why haven't you told her? It's been three years."
"I don't know."
"Well if you don't tell her by Dr. O and Kim's wedding, I'll be spilling it to everyone after I've had a couple drinks in me at the reception." Conner warned.
"And you know he'll do it Eth." Kira warned.
"Yeah, yeah I know. Let's just go get Anna and enjoy the day."
A few minutes later, they arrived at Anna's house and picked her up. In the front seat was Kira in the passenger seat and Conner driving. In the back was Ethan and Anna.
"Where are we going?"
"I was thinking the beach." Conner said.
"There's a beach in Reefside." Anna complained.
"Yeah but I've heard Dr. O talk about the one in Angel Grove and I've always wanted to check it out."
"Okay." Anna agreed.
As they arrived at the beach in Angel Grove, they noticed a lot of families and groups of friends were out on this particular day. Conner and Kira walked ahead and left Ethan and Anna behind.
"It's good seeing you again Anna."
"I see you all the time Ethan."
"Yeah but it's always in group settings, this way you and I get to talk. Which is a long time overdue."
"Three years right?"
"Well we've talked since prom but not like that night. I felt closer to you that night than I have with anyone."
"I felt the same way."
"You know I never told you something."
"What?"
Meanwhile a little further ahead Kira and Conner were whispering to each other.
"Do you think he'll tell her?" Kira asked.
"Yeah and not because I threatened him."
"Why?"
"Because he told me that he was planning on telling her when the time was right. That's why I had us come here. I knew he'd been thinking about her alot so I knew he would fall into my trap when I said we should go to Angel Grove."
"But how is now the right time?"
"Think about the date, three years ago at this exact time, we were getting ready for prom."
"Oh my god, today is three years since prom? Wow where does time go?"
"I saw the look in my buddy's eye when she walked down the stairs. That's when he fell for her. He asked her as friends with no other feelings until that moment when she walked down the stairs."
Anna was waiting for Ethan to finish what he was saying.
"What is it Ethan?"
"Okay, I'm just gonna say it. I like you."
"I like you too Ethan."
"No, I mean I really like you. I've fallen for you."
"Oh wow. When?"
"Prom. When I asked you, the only feeling I had for you were friendly but when you walked down the stairs, I knew I was in trouble."
"Ethan I don't really know what to say."
"I had to tell you. I'm not expecting you to feel the same but I had to let you know."
"I thank you for telling me. I'm not sure what I feel for you. I know that you mean a lot to me, you're one of my best friends but I don't know if I feel the same."
"I understand."
"I've got so many things going on right now, that I don't have time for a boyfriend. I'm not saying no but I'm not saying yes either. Can we just see how everything goes?"
"I'd like that. The chips will fall where they fall right?"
"That's right. Maybe when all this is over for good, maybe then we can have something. I just don't want to start this and not give it my all because if that happened, we could lose our friendship and I'm not going to lose you."
"You couldn't lose me if you tried Anna."
"Are we okay?"
"Yeah, as long as I've got you."
"You've got me forever, in some way."
"I'll take you."
They caught up to Kira and Conner and stood at the pier and watched as the sun set. Conner gently kissed Kira as the sun set. Ethan looked over at Anna and the two shared a quick smile as Anna put her head on his shoulder and linked her arm with his. His own words echoed in Ethan's mind. "I'll take you." And he would. As long as Anna was there, he was okay. When she linked her arm with his he also knew that they would be okay. Tommorrow was another day. And even if it was to be ruined by something, at least at that very moment, everything was okay. He had his family and for that brief time, that was all he needed.
TBC.
