It is with a heavy heart I type the last chapter in the story. We've had ups and downs, rangers new and old, and plenty of power to go around. You've battled alongside me, cried when I cried, and kept your faith in the power. Now, spinning the words of my favorite author, this chapter is dedicated to you if you have stuck with the Rangers until the Ultimate End.
Reefside would never be the same after the great battle.
Shortly after the okay was given by the Rangers, city officials dedicated the battlefield, that was originally going to become another useless building, as a memorial ground for all of the Power Rangers who fought to protect the innocent.
Trees were planted immediately, a park was put in, and the old war zone became a beacon to those who valued courage, honor, and self-sacrifice.
They named it "Ranger Park", and ordered sculptures to represent every incarnation of ranger in history. Haley helped them get them all, but the Ranger statues were scattered throughout the park so visitors from any area could read about real-life heroes.
Connor, along with many other Ranger veterans, often found himself visiting the park to stare blankly at himself in Ranger form, immortalized by stone. Like the others, there was a small quotation beneath it that Haley and the other Dino Rangers picked out for each individual.
"Passion doesn't just happen... you make it grow."
He smiled to himself, thinking about his many conversations with Dr. Oliver.
There is not a citizen in Reefside that did not stand before the Black Dino Ranger statue and pay their respect.
"A Ranger never gives up."
The other statues had different engravings, but no one told the committee that there were Rangers who served as more than one color. So the Dino Rangers picked extra quotations for those of multiple colors.
The Green Mighty Morphin' Ranger quote was,
"Once a Ranger, always a Ranger."
Josh was walking with Kate one afternoon, reunited after a time too long apart to count.
"You must miss him." Kate said.
Josh nodded, and made his way to the memorial for the Ranger who gave her life to preserve his.
He touched the plaque and stared at the words.
"A hero can be anyone." Kate read aloud, "This was that Ranger that saved you?"
Josh nodded, "Her name was Trini Kwan. She was good friends with my mom and dad."
Kate smiled and squeezed his hand.
...
Ethan worked with the city of Reefside to construct the park in the most efficient, cleanest way possible.
He was struggling over paperwork one day when a knock came at his front door.
He went up to answer it and was surprised to see a friendly face.
"Angela, hi."
"Hey. I know you've been busy with your... Ranger thing, but I wanted to check up on you."
"Come on in." He said, glad to see his old Prom date again.
"So whatcha been up too?"
"Ranger Park." He stated, lifting up the blueprints and showing them to her. "It's mostly done, but they want to put a pond in and that's just going to be a whole 'nother nightmare."
She laughed, "You know, I was really worried about you. This past year when I haven't seen you at all... I thought the worst." She told him for the first time since she saw him again, nearly six months previously.
'Had the war really been over that long?' Ethan asked himself.
"I was worried about you too," he admitted. "But we made it, and we're okay."
"That's what Dr. Oliver said at Prom."
"Yeah." Ethan nodded, "He was a pretty wise old dude."
She laughed and he leaned in and kissed her.
She was surprised, but pleased nonetheless.
...
Devin and Cassidy.
Put frankly, they're still together.
They're relationship was tested many times during the year, but they learned to work together and have plans to get married after college.
...
Jason found himself at the old Command Center.
He was lost in the past (in his own head not literally) and couldn't help but think of a time when everything seemed so chaotic.
"Red Ranger, come stand before me." Zordon told him, and Jason obeyed. "Jason, a true leader is always faced with tough decisions. And must act based on who has the greatest need."
"Jason, you made the right decision when you left Tommy's candle." Alpha comforted him.
""The other Rangers needed you then, as they need you now. You must face another tough decision, if you enter Zedd's dimension your powers may also be lost." Zordon warned.
"It's a risk I'm willing to take to save my friends Zordon." He replied, without thinking about it in the slightest. He was a Power Ranger; he owed it to his fellow Rangers to protect them from harm.
"You have made a fine leader, Red Ranger. Only by defeating the Pipe Brain Monster may you access Zedd's dimension and your fellow rangers.
Jason nodded, "It's morphing time!"
He remembered how distracted he'd become. Just because Tommy lost his powers.
He'd felt responsible, even a twinge guilty. With Tommy gone, he could pursue what he used to have with Kim.
But he didn't. His decision to stay loyal to his friends at all costs was made the day he met them. And he owed Tommy that loyalty too, regardless of the way he felt about Kimberly Ann Hart.
But his loyalty oath had been broken. And thus gave birth to Josh.
He was angry at himself for what he'd done, even if Tommy had forgiven him for it before he died.
"Josh is a good kid." Jason told himself, "He is worth it."
...
Kimberly adopted a motherly attitude toward all of the Dino Rangers. They were like Josh's brothers and sisters, the ones he never had.
They would come over, bringing their respective boyfriends/girlfriends, for dinner every Thursday night unless there was something important to be taken care of that would take precedence.
She and Jason had a proper wedding later that year, with Zack Taylor as the Best Man. Kimberly forced Josh to be the Ring Bearer, to which he responded by buying a purely green tuxedo (with his father's help) and not letting his mother see what he bought until the day of.
Needless to say, he got a lot of heat for it.
Several weeks after the wedding Kim announced that she was pregnant.
"Is this one going to start another apocalypse?" Connor asked, receiving an elbow from his girlfriend. "Dang babe..." She elbowed him again. "Sorry."
He wasn't sorry.
"Congratulations." was the word of the year it seemed.
With the help of Haley and Ethan, Kim advocated for a quotation from Zordon that would arch over every entrance to Ranger Park.
"May the Power protect you."
Kim smiled when it was completed and rubbed her belly, ready to meet her daughter.
...
Kira initially got kicked out of her house by her stepdad. But returned after Connor had a "talk" with him.
She didn't mind though. She liked staying at Connor's a lot better than a home where her stepdad looked at her like she was a spawn of Satan just because she lied to them for two years about the fact she was a world-wide superhero.
She got along famously with Mrs. McKnight, especially because she knew that Kira wouldn't let Connor slack off in studies. His mother also recognized that Kira, and being a Ranger in general, brought out the very best in her son.
Connor and Eric were currently working on one of their mother's many projects to fix up the house that Connor (in the defense of his family) pretty much completely destroyed. The basics were taken care of immediately. But it took more time to fix the windows and walls back to the way they were eventually.
She liked to watch Connor work. His strong muscles rippled in his red tank top; he looked sweaty but determined.
She went back to cleaning the living room, which she was only doing because Connor wouldn't let her help with the construction outside. And she was a little bored at the moment.
...
It took several years to get back to normal.
But finally the day came that everything was back to the way it was supposed to be.
And it was on that day that Connor McKnight and Kira Ford were ready to get married.
Connor stood at the alter, in his black tux with a red bow tie, feeling extremely nervous.
"Come on McKnight." Ethan said, shouldering him a bit. "You fight off evil in two explosive finales, go toe to toe with Mesogog without blinking, and you're afraid of the girl you want to spend the rest of your life with?"
"You're terrified of Kira too." Connor replied.
"Anyone in their right mind is terrified of Kira when she's in one of those moods." Trent pointed out.
"Including me, and I don't scare." Josh stated.
They laughed.
The music began, it was quiet.
The doors open and entered the flower girl.
"No..." Josh whispered, "Trini! Go back and toss the flowers." Josh encouraged his little sister, who had run to hug her brother whom she hadn't seen for several hours.
Little Trini seemed confused at first, so Josh had to go and walk her down the aisle so she got her part down.
She also didn't understand the concept of being on the bride's side (because her brother was a groomsmen, so why would she stand away from him?) so the little three year old stood by him smiling widely.
Then she walked down the aisle.
Her stepdad had offered to walk her, but Connor refuted it immediately.
Her dress was the color of gold, and it sparkled as the early afternoon sun shimmered off of it.
"She's boo-tea-full."
Josh put up his fingers to quiet his little sister, but couldn't help but think that she was right.
"Yeah she is." Connor said, smiling when she finally made it to the end of the line.
"Hey jock." She said, smiling as he lifted the veil.
"What's up babe?"
She about punched him right there, but he whispered it in a very hush-hush tone so she let it slide... this time.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the joining of two heroic souls in holy matrimony."
After the vows were declared, the two's lips met briefly.
The party lasted late into the evening. Josh danced with Trini and Kate, while Ethan spent time with Angela.
Trent and Krista were officially dating, so they had a great time. Jason and Kim were glad to have a moment to themselves on the dance floor.
Connor nodded to Josh as the night began to die down and he went to grab his guitar.
"What's going on?" Kira asked her newly-wed husband. "Connor?"
Connor shrugged and saw Josh sit up on a barstool in front of a microphone.
"At the request of the groom, I will be playing you all a couple songs, hope you enjoy." Josh cleared his throat and strummed the cords.
"Looking back I don't regret, one single day.
Memories will keep me close, when you walk away.
It's harder than I could imagine, guess I should have known that.
Close your eyes; I'll be there.
I'll come running anywhere.
Say goodbye, I'll be okay.
I will wait for you cause...
True love will never fade.
When it's real you can feel it.
And I know
That you know
That I will keep on waiting...
Faithfully
Patiently
For you."
As the song faded out, Connor smiled at his bride.
"I love you, Kira."
"I love you, Connor."
They kissed as Josh played something with a little more to it.
"There's a light... in the distance.
See them coming closer
With the force of ages,
centuries gone by!
Protectors of the right!
Defenders sworn to fight!
Dino Rangers ROAR!
Power Rangers SCORE!
Save us from these evil forces... WIN.
Victory is our's forever MORE!"
Well, there you have it.
Keep an eye out for new stuff, I come up with different ideas all the time. Not all of them make it this far, but I just posted a Kim Possible fanfiction so, anything is possible.
This has been one of my favorite stories to write, and I appreciate the support from the fanfiction community as a whole.
Please let me know one last time what you thought about my story and remember,
"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."