Disclaimer: Don't own Power Rangers, Saban/Disney does. Reviews are much appreciated.

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." ~From the television show The Wonder Years

Remembrance

1 week later

Jason stuffed his hands in his pockets once he reached his destination. The first leader of the Power Rangers thought back on his biggest failure as the Red Ranger and how his mentor had helped him through it.

They were all back in the Command Center, debriefing after their battle with Hatchasauraus and Cardiatron.

"What is it Jason?" Jason lingered behind as the others teleported out. The teen didn't know what had made him pause, but something just felt off, like something was missing.

"I don't know Zordon," Jason shrugged and leaned back against a console not wanting to rejoin his teammates until his thoughts were settled.

"Does this have anything to do with the other day?" Jason sighed and ran his hand over his face. He knew his mentor was referring to the fact that Tommy had lost his powers because he had failed to get the green candle. Then realization struck: that's what had been missing from the battle today. This was their first battle without the Green Ranger, without Tommy.

"Maybe," he admitted, eyes downcast not wanting to see the disappointment in his mentor's eyes at his failure.

"Jason, it was not your fault. You did everything you could and in the end you made the right decision. Tommy's life is much more important than the Green Powers and we were able to keep them out of Rita's hands." Zordon comforted the teen that had chosen to set aside his childhood in order to save the world.

"I just feel like I should've done more, that there was something else I could've done. That it didn't have to end that way… I don't know."

"Listen to me Jason, as leader you have to make the split second tough decisions, and if I didn't think you were right for the job, I never would have offered it to you."

Jason interrupted him, "Maybe you shouldn't have," he bitterly spat.

"You have shown time and again that you are the man for the job. It was you that recognized that you needed to put the past behind you and extend a hand of friendship to Tommy after the spell was broken. It was you that kept calm and led your friends to safety after your first encounter with the Putty Patrol. It was also you that convinced the others to give the idea of aliens and Ranger Powers a second chance. This team has followed you into battle and trusted your instincts to guide them safely through it and you have always returned triumphant. There is no man better for the job, Jason. You are the Red Power Ranger, leader of this team for a reason."

Jason finally looked up at the man that had placed this burden on his shoulders, "Thank you, Zordon."

Jason stood straight, ready to carry this weight until he no longer could.

Trini leaned into one of her oldest friends and Jason wrapped his arm around her waist as she got lost in her memories.

Duty and honor were values that the Yellow Ranger held in high esteem. This was why she was so conflicted upon finding out that she was accepted to the peace conference. How could she leave her position as the Yellow Ranger? Was it not her duty to help save the Earth?

There was only one person that would understand what she was going through and she hoped that he would be able to provide the guidance that she desperately needed.

"What brings you here Trini?" Zordon asked as the yellow sparkles that announced her arrival faded.

Trini wrung her hands nervously, not really sure where to start. Zordon waited patiently, not that he could really go anywhere being stuck in a tube and all.

"I don't know if you've heard, but Jason, Zack, and I have been accepted to the Peace Conference," Trini began.

"I have," Zordon nodded allowing Trini to continue.

"But that would require us to leave Angel Grove, leave California, leave the United States…"

"Leave the Power Rangers," Zordon came to the conclusion that Trini was having trouble saying out loud because then it would be all the more real.

"Can we do that? Well physically we can… err can we?" Trini wasn't all that sure how the powers worked.

"Yes Trini you can," Zordon assured her, "and I would not blame you for leaving and neither will your teammates. I never expected you to be soldiers forever. You have done your part."

"But what will you do without us?" Trini still didn't know what to do: leave or stay? She would still be promoting peace if she joined the conference, just in a different way.

"I'm sure we can find three worthy individuals to pick up the mantel," Trini smiled as she realized the three people Zordon was referring to. And she felt comfortable leaving, knowing that the safety of the world would be in their capable hands.

Zack came up on Jason's other side and swung his arm over his former leader's shoulders.

"Is something wrong Zachary?" Zordon had noticed that his Black Ranger had been spending a lot more time in the Command Center in his free time as if he was hiding.

"Nah, everything's cool," Zack brushed him off.

"I'm always here if you need to talk. I don't bite," Zack laughed as his mentor poked fun at himself and the fact that he was stuck in a tube.

"It's just, lately I've been feeling like a total screw up," his virtual reality glasses had caused him and Tommy to attack their friends, thinking they were putties. Also, every chance he had with Angela seemed to blow up in his face. Such as the earring he gave her turning her into a virtual statue or running out on her because of Rita. His family was starting to question his absences and the bruises that he claimed were from hip hop kido. It seemed like nothing was going right lately.

"Zack you are not a screw up," Zordon laughed.

"What's so funny?" here he was opening up to a floating head in a tube and he was being laughed at.

"I'm sorry but the idea is just so absurd," at Zack's puzzled look Zordon continued, "You save the world from Rita everyday as the Black Power Ranger. And you single handedly took on that Knasty Knight. It was you that took control of the team when Jason was temporarily distracted by his grief. You are the calm voice of reason that keeps this team together. I am proud to call you my Black Ranger, Zachary."

"Thanks man," Zack smiled his confidence back and he teleported out making his way to the youth center to hopefully convince Angela to go out on another date with him.

Zack threw his other arm around Billy's shoulders as he joined their group. Being a Power Ranger had really changed Billy's life and it had been hard to leave it behind.

The former Blue Ranger had been disappointed when the Gold Ranger Powers would not work for him. He had wanted to get back on the frontlines instead of behind the scenes where he had been ever since he had stepped aside and allowed Tanya to take the Zeo Powers.

Tanya was an excellent Ranger, but Billy missed it and at times felt forgotten.

Zordon had taken note of that fact that his tech advisor and former Blue Ranger was moping about the Power Chamber.

"You know Billy, you don't have to stay," Zordon had hit the nail on the head. Billy was feeling useless. "We appreciate your help and expertise, but we would make do without you if you wanted to go out and lead a normal life."

"I don't know what else I would do," he confessed, for Billy being a Power Ranger was everything, he was a nobody without it. He had gone from a geeky nerd in overalls to a kickbutt Superhero.

"I'm sure there are many opportunities for a smart young man such as yourself," Zordon didn't want Billy to become bitter stuck in the Power Chamber his whole life he was sure that there was more out there for the intelligent man.

Billy thought about it. He could go to college, having accidentally graduated early but that would mean leaving behind his friends, the Power Rangers, and everything that he knew. He would be thrust into an unknown world alone.

Zordon sighed as Billy just shrugged and got back to work, but the next time Billy came to the Power Chamber he spied some college applications tucked under his arm.

Kimberly linked arms with her best gal pal and tears misted her eyes as she remembered the man that was more of a father to her than her actual father.

She had waited in the Command Center after everyone else had left. This was back in her early days as a Power Ranger. She had a question to ask the man that had bestowed these powers on her.

"Why me?"

Startled Zordon took a moment to collect his thoughts.

"I mean Jason, Zack, and Trini are amazing fighters and Billy is like super smart," Kim continued her rant.

"My dear Kimberly everyone has their role to play on the team." Kim still didn't get it.

"Yeah, well what's mine?"

"Simple. You are the heart of the team. When the others are down and wondering why they are doing this, you remind them and lift their spirits up. You are the reason this team is still fighting the good fight,"Zordon revealed to his Pink Ranger.

Kim blushed surely she wasn't the reason for all that. Zordon sensed her disbelief.

"It is true Kimberly. They may not realize it, and you may not know that you are even doing it but I see it."

"If you say so," Kim tried to dismiss the emotions this brought on like it was nothing, but Zordon saw the twinkle in her eye as she now knew her place and that she did truly belong on this powerful team trying to save the world.

Tommy slipped his hand into Kim's as he joined the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Kim gave his hand a squeeze, silently acknowledging his presence. Tommy remembered when he rejoined this team after losing his Green Ranger Powers as the White Ranger and took over as leader.

"Sorry to bring you here with such short notice," Zordon apologized after teleporting Tommy to the Command Center without warning.

"It's cool, what do you need?" Tommy wondered what was going on, he hoped his friends weren't in danger. He hadn't exactly been keeping up with the Power Rangers because it was too painful at the moment after the loss of his Powers and knowing that he couldn't help them.

"I have a proposition for you, Thomas."

"What is it?" Tommy's interest was now piqued.

"Alpha and I have been busy creating the White Ranger Powers and since you have proven yourself worthy as the Green Ranger I would like to first offer them to you," Zordon didn't want to put any pressure on the boy seeing as how he had just suffered a great loss.

"Uh…" Tommy was speechless he had never in a million years thought he would be a Power Ranger again, "Yeah, yes I'll be the White Power Ranger." He was ecstatic about joining the fight once again.

"Excellent and there is one other thing I would like to discuss with you," Zordon began, "I would like you to lead the team."

"But Jason's the leader," Tommy was now really confused, he couldn't take his best friend's place. Would the others even follow him?

"I sense that it is a time of change. Trust me," the wise sage had never steered him wrong before.

"Now follow Alpha down to the chamber where you will receive your Powers and I will call the others," Tommy nodded and followed the little robot down to a smaller room.

Rocky trekked up to the group and put his hand on his former leader's shoulder giving him a squeeze of support. The former Red turned Blue Ranger remembered how Zordon had taught him a valuable lesson on being a Power Ranger.

They had all just been aged to their rightful ages again and were gaining their new Zeo Powers.

"I am very proud of all of you. As Power Rangers, you have served your planet well, but the Power Rangers as you have known them are gone forever. In their place has emerged a new and more advanced fighting force. You have now become the Power Rangers Zeo-the next level in the fight against evil." Zordon proudly announced.

The crystal had split but Rocky looked up, his was the color blue, not red. He confirmed the fact that he was now the Blue Ranger after he pulled off his helmet and looked down at his suit: it was blue!

The new Blue Ranger hadn't even noticed when everyone left, so lost in his thoughts.

"Rocky?" Zordon's booming voice startled him.

"Yeah Zordon?"

"Is something troubling you?"

Rocky shook his head in the negative, but then realized he should get this out now before he exploded in front of the wrong people, "I'm blue!"

"Yes, yes you are."

"I'm blue!" Rocky reiterated.

"Is there something wrong with that?" Zordon didn't understand what his Ranger was getting at.

"I'm the Red Ranger! I'm nowhere near as smart as Billy. I can't be the Blue Ranger," Rocky admitted his short comings and nervously paced around the new Power Chamber, wondering how this was ever going to work.

"Rocky stop," he stopped his pacing and looked up at his mentor, hoping he would have the solution to the problem. He still wanted to be a Power Ranger, but he didn't know what to do, he would never be able to fill the genius's shoes. "A Power Ranger's color is just that a color. It holds no meaning. Rangers come in all colors."

Rocky let that sink in for a moment, thinking it over. Billy was still going to help out in the Power Chamber, he just wouldn't be out fighting with them. He could bring his own talents to the blue color, and he didn't have to feel weird about not being the leader even though he was red.

He smiled up at Zordon, "Guess I have to stock up on some blue clothes."

Aisha interlocked her fingers with Rocky as she reached them. Tears clouded her vision as she reminisced on her time as the Yellow Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.

She came up to the Command Center after they had received their ninja powers from Ninjor. All this talk about different powers, coins, and animal spirits had made her curious.

"Hey Zordon, I was wondering if you could tell me more about these animal spirits and the ninjetti," Aisha felt so much more connected to the bear than she ever had to the griffin.

"Of course," Aisha plopped down on the floor cross-legged as she sat listening to the story of the ninjetti.

"The ninjetti were an ancient race from the planet Phaedos. They communed with the animal spirits and were one with nature. Unfortunately Master Vile ravaged their planet and nearly wiped out their race. The lone survivor is restricted to the temple and guides warriors to the Great Power which you now possess through Ninjor. It is said that once an animal spirit bonds to you they are with you for life."

"Wow," Aisha had never known that so much was out there.

"Why the bear then?"

"Because you are fiercely protective of the ones you love, just like a mother bear is with her cubs," Zordon explained.

Aisha grinned and stood up, "Thanks Zordon."

"You are always welcome here."

Aisha grabbed Adam's hand as well when he stood on her other side. Adam gazed into the distance, lost in his thoughts.

"I feel like a fool," the Black Ranger confessed to Zordon after Scorpina had tricked him into thinking she was this beautiful girl named Sabrina. He thought there was a real connection between them, but she was really just out to destroy him and the rest of the Power Rangers.

"Do not feel that way Adam. Scorpina is a very skilled assassin and you are lucky to have caught on to her act and come out relatively unscathed." Zordon comforted the teen.

"I just can't believe I fell for it. Yeah right, like a girl as pretty as her would ever be into a guy like me," Adam scoffed.

"You are wrong. Any girl would be lucky to have a man like you. You are very kind and courageous Adam. You will find someone someday, just have patience."

The shy boy blushed at the kind words, but he did feel a bit better after hearing them.

"Thank you, Zordon."

Adam was shaken out of his thoughts as Tanya laced her fingers through his. Zordon had been a great help as she joined the Power Rangers after coming from a totally different time and place.

Tanya had returned to the Power Chamber with the crystal in Aisha's place. She was so confused as she saw a tiny robot and a head floating in a tube.

"It is ok Tanya," Zordon tried to reassure her, but his booming voice just scared her even more and she backed into the corner, trying to hide.

"I understand this is confusing for you and you do not have to accept the Power if you do not wish to," Tanya looked down at the crystal in her arms, and she could feel the power running through it. And she knew she wanted to experience it for herself so she stepped forward.

"This is an amazing group of teens and they will be able to help with anything you need in order to adjust. And I will always be here if you need me."

"Ok," this was all still so overwhelming for her so she would take it one step at a time.

She did take Zordon up on his offer and visited him many times during her tenure with questions or looking for comfort.

Kat bumped hips with her sister in yellow as she linked arms with her. She sighed as she remembered the wise old man that had given her the best gift.

Kim had just passed her powers onto her and the team had finished celebrating when Kat made her way back to the Command Center. She felt as if she didn't belong with them.

"Zordon can I really be the Pink Ranger?" Kat looked up at Zordon, hoping for the best but fearing the worst.

"Yes Kimberly made a fine choice when she chose you Katherine." She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.

"But I was evil, they are all so good. How can they forgive me after all that I've done? How do they trust me with these Powers?" Kat had tried to destroy them as Rita's minion and she had nearly succeeded when she stole Kim's power coin.

"Maybe you should talk to Tommy. He also started out on the wrong side, but like you it was not of his own volition. It is up to you whether or not you are good or evil; no one can force you to be one or the other. What you did under Rita's spell is not your fault and we all know that."

Kat smiled and pocketed the coin embossed with the crane, making a mental note to talk to the White Ranger, "Thank you."

Justin stood off to the side when he reached them, but Kat quickly pulled him in with a hand around his waist, it used to be she would wrap her arm around his shoulders but he was now taller than her. Justin had really come into his own as the youngest Power Ranger ever. All thanks to Zordon.

"Welcome to the Power Chamber, Justin," Zordon welcomed the young kid who had just overheard that Rocky and the others were Power Rangers.

"Wow, this is so cool," he looked around the huge room and couldn't believe his eyes. There was so much technology to play with, a robot, and even an alien!

"I understand that Rocky recommended you to take his place as the Blue Power Ranger."

"Uh yeah," now Justin was nervous would he really be able to become a Power Ranger at his age.

"Do you want to be a Power Ranger?"

"Yes! Yes!" Zordon chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm and hoped that the wear of battle would not diminish that.

"Alright there are three rules you must follow then: Never escalate a fight, never use your powers for personal gain, and never reveal your identity."

"Done," Justin would have agreed to just about anything in order to become a Power Ranger.

"Then you will become the Blue Turbo Power Ranger and command Mountain Blaster," Justin accepted the Powers and then took a few driving lessons from Alpha before he roared out of there to meet the others.

Zordon's rangers came together like pieces of a puzzle, gazing out at the ruins of what was once their home away from home as they remembered their fallen mentor.