A/N: Okay guys the last chapter before the Epilogue. It is very sad, It took me a little longer then I thought it would because I randomly broke out into tears and had to stop and compose myself. The song at the end of the chapter is Photographs and Gasoline by Framing Hanley, a great band and a great song. The poem is by some chick, I'm sorry I can't remember her name. Mary something I think. It is one of my favorite poems and I just had to use it.
Also a friend of mine, Jeremy Shane has posted a new story, a Power Ranger/Victorious Crossover which features Neveah who I have allowed him to write into his story. It is a great story and he does a wonderful job capturing Neve even though there is only one chapter so far. So go check it out. I will be trying to get the Epilogue out today as well. Anyways enjoy the chapter and R&R please.
Green with Rage.
Chapter 36: A Ranger Funeral.
Reefside, California;
June 30th, 2011:
A week had passed, six treacherous days since the final battle and the lost of their teammate and friend. To Trent and Neve it was like a part of their soul was gone, and it had obviously affected them the hardest. Trent was hardly ever seen drawling but when he was he was sketching his brother, either with all of them or himself and Neve. No one had ever really realized just how much those three had hung out, almost like a trio of tight knit friends. Tommy and Kim had once compared it to Aisha, Rocky and Adam when they first met and even today.
The difference was that Neve, Trent and Tiernan's bond ran deeper. Be from the dino gems or because of Neve's spirit powers they did not know but Neve had a better understanding then anyone. Not only was she in mourning but so was Nix. She had never felt Nix in emotional pain before, she had thought it was impossible but now she understood. The reason she had given Tiernan the chance to join her, if Trent was their she may have given him the same option even if she was still mad at him then for betraying her.
They were her family, Nix saw them just the same. Trent, Tiernan, and Hunter had all been claimed by Nix in some fashion as her family and so had Neve without even really realizing it until now. Hunter was her love, her boyfriend, Tiernan was the hardest to describe, they loved him but they were not in love with him. He wasn't really the brother, or even the son, he didn't really have a designation unless you wanted to call him the glue, but even that did not really fit. Trent was the little brother, even if he was older, it was a strange family dynamic that Nix had set up unwittingly with Neve's help.
Now that dynamic was thrown into turmoil, and the pain was twice as painful, because she was more then herself, she was also Nix and she could feel the darker side of herself craving release, to be let out so she could exact her own revenge. Neve wasn't sure what she meant by that, but she didn't want to think about what Neve classified as revenge, because she had a feeling her darker half blamed the rest of the team. While she might leave her parents alive, Kira, Conner and Ethan would suffer and she loved her friends and could not let that happen.
She didn't understand though, why could she not be able to heal him? She had tried, but she realized right away she couldn't. Not only was he too far gone, his injuries were just to sever. The last week had been hell for her, especially since Tiernan had lived with them.
Hunter had stayed with her, lessons at the Academy that he taught had been canceled – which was something that only happened in dire emergency. Guess Sensei Omino thought this counted. Even Tori, Shane and Dustin's lessons had been canceled thanks to Sensei Wantanabe and the same went for the four Spirit Ninja's. Now she sat in his room, which was the same as he had left it, the clothes he had died in were folded as best as shredded and dirty clothes could be on the dresser as she sat on the end of his bed.
It still smelled like him, not that she was perving out on it, no she didn't love him like that but the scent, it soothed her. It made her believe if only for a minute that this was all just a big nightmare and she'd wake up or he'd walk into the room with an raised eyebrow and ask her what she was doing.
It never happened though. At night she'd sleep in here, she had since the night of the prom and Hunter stayed with her in the best, no one bothered to place Hunter's usual place on a air mattress beside the bed out knowing it wasn't the time to worry about teenage hormones getting the better of them.
Hunter had been a little worried at first that this would not be healthy for her but soon realized it wasn't so unusual. He and his brother had done something similar after their parents deaths - of course they had been much smaller then, they had died when they were twelve - before Sensei Omino adopted them.
"Neve?" Hunter asks softly as he enters the room, but she doesn't react, just keeps staring straight ahead, and Hunter sighs as he approaches her. "Honey, we have to go. Your parents are waiting downstairs with the others."
"I don't want to go," Neveah said, as she looked down at her smooth black dress which was a Chiffon Satin Knee length Dress with a black sash around the waist and thin spaghetti straps. It was the same dress all the female Rangers had agreed to wear and to honor the fact this was a Ranger funeral each wore their colors as well. Each female would wear an satin ribbon choker in their color, hers was the same bright pink her mother would wear and to honor her other colors she had a purple rose flower clip in her hair that was half up on the side and a emerald green shawl around her neck.
The others with more then one color would do the same if female. Like her mother for instance would wear a maroon flower clip in her hair, but pinned in the back instead of at the side and a maroon shawl draped over her shoulders. The male Rangers would simply wear a tie in their colors, but no one would wear gold, not today, not even if it was one of their colors.
"Why not? Neve talk to me," Hunter asked as he knelt down beside his girlfriend. She looked like she was holding back tears and she shook her head.
"Because if I go, that'll mean that Tiernan's really not coming back, and I don't think I can handle that," she said fighting back a sob and Hunter sighed. He was upset too, all Rangers were connected somehow and it was even more so when you shared a color with another Ranger. He may not have been able to properly morph with his Ninjetti powers but Hunter was still a Gold Ranger and he had felt something the moment Tiernan had died and he also wished it could have been different for his successor and friend.
"We can handle it together Neve," he told her and she looked at him slightly angry.
"We shouldn't have to though!" she exclaimed standing up in rage. "He was a good Ranger, and good man!"
"I know, and It isn't right that he had to die so soon. But he died a hero, he died to save you and I will always owe him more then I will every be able to repay for that. I wish he didn't have to pay the price for that but sometimes that's just the way it is," Hunter said as he took Neve's hands into his and she shook her head a few tears falling down her cheeks.
"He had only been human for a few months Hunter...how is that fair?" she asked, her voice cracking and Hunter sighed and wiped the tears away, and Neve smiled slightly but sadly, thank god for water proof makeup or she'd look like a raccoon.
"It's not," he replied, the only words he could think of saying.
"I just don't understand, he saved me and I didn't deserve it! It should have been me!" she cried and Hunter felt his own tears try to fall, and he knew it was okay to cry but he was still a man, and men were always the last to cry.
"Don't say that, please Neve," Hunter muttered and Neve took a a handkerchief from her small black and pink purse as she shifted on her feet which were covered in fishnets and black ankle boots with diamond studded cuffs.
"Why couldn't I heal him, I have all this power and I couldn't save him!" she asked, and Hunter sighed.
"It wasn't your fault Neveah and even you can't bring back the dead or dying. Your powers don't work like that," he told her as he placed his hands on her waist and rubbed her back with his right.
"Then what the hell good are they?" she exclaims as she pulls away and walks away from him and further into the room. She reaches out for one of his many books and holds it, sometimes it shocked them just how much the boy had loved to read. She sniffed and choked back a sob as she put the book back down and sighs as Hunter wraps his arms around her from behind.
"It's okay to be angry…" Hunter told her softly and Neve laughs bitterly and places his chin on the top of her head with a sigh.
"I'm not angry. I am pissed off! I should have been able to heal him, I should have been able to save him," she said, her voice loud and upset in the beginning but weak and soft at the end. Hunter turns her around and lifts her chin, looking into her dark brown eyes.
"You did all you could have, he wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this," Hunter said.
"But.." she began and Hunter shook his head.
"No, Tiernan knew what he was doing, we have to believe he is in a better place now," Hunter said and kissed her softly before speaking again. "We can't save everyone Neve, but he didn't die in vain."
xXx
"I can't believe this has happened," Tori said as she sat with all the other female Rangers. Tori was one of the few who knew Tiernan, many of the others did not with the exception of Ashley and Trini and Karone.
"It's terrible, I always knew we were only human but to die like this..." Alyssa stopped and looked down tears in her eyes. Aisha rubbed the former White Rangers shoulder and looked to Tori who looked like she had been crying for some time before today.
"How is Neveah?" Trini asked, knowing how much this must have hurt her niece. Julie had been devastated when she found out, and the small girl had only met Tiernan once. Tori sighed and shook her head.
"It's not good." Tori bit her lip as she continued. "She and Tiernan had a strong bond, Trent, Tiernan and Neve all three did. Hunter told us she had begun sleeping in his room the night of the prom, she didn't sleep to well. If I know Neve as good as I know I do she's blaming herself. He did die to save her," Tori said and tears began to fall down her face as she sobbed. Many of the others were crying as well and Dana rubbed the young former Blue Rangers back.
"Everyone knew Tiernan loved Neve," Trini said with a sigh and many of the female Rangers blinked.
"But isn't Neve with Hunter? The former Crimson Ranger wasn't he?" Kelsey asked.
"She is, but a blind man could see Tiernan's feelings for her." Tori shook her head as she spoke. "We all felt bad that she'd never be able to return those sort of feelings for him but everyone knows Hunter and Neve are in love."
"How sad," Kat said as she sighed. She had been so out of the loop. "I just can't believe so much has happened since the reunion. Neve's a Ranger again and was evil again. How much more can the poor girl take?"
"Again?" Taylor asked, not understanding what they meant. Most the female Rangers were confused as well but Tori, Ashley, Karone, Kat, Aisha, and Trini all chuckled.
"Neve is her father's daughter," Ashley chuckled. "She was the Pink Spirit Ranger on Tori's team. She started out like Tommy did, turned evil by Lothor." Everyone's eyes widened and then they shook their heads.
"Wow, it must have been terrible fighting your friend," Tanya said. Tori nodded.
"Yeah it was, but by the time Neve appeared we had already fought Hunter and Blake who also started out evil. All three kicked our asses and it was only teamwork and luck that we were able to save them, especially Neve." Tori shook her head as she remembered and then looked up.
"When we found out about her becoming the Green Dino Ranger we were shocked and upset because once again we would have to fight our friend. Neve isn't someone you would want to fight, without the Ninjetti I don't think we'd have been able to save Neve, as it is Trent saved himself," Tori said and everyone listened. Neveah was obviously a very special girl to make it through all of this.
"And she's only fifteen? God, she must be strong," Alyssa muttered and everyone who knew her smiled.
"She's the strongest person I know, but even she can break. Being evil four times in one year can really put a damper on anyone and then this..." Tori trailed off. "I don't know if she'll be able to come back from it, she's come back from so much but this...death is something Neve has always had a hard time coming to terms with."
"It's always been that way, when her cat, Noodles died when she was eight she was depressed for weeks," Trini said and the other smiled sadly.
"Hey, is that them?" Cassie asked as she pointed out a jeep rolling up and they spotted Tommy and Kim getting out and the Kim holding the baby while a little further back was two others. A tall man no older then eighteen or nineteen with what seemed like a sandy blonde hair and light colored eyes. He had a mysterious air about him and a broodiness that seemed to encase him. Next to him they saw a shorter brunette with a similar dress to theirs on, her choker was pink, she had a emerald green shawl and a purple flower which confused them. Seeing the look Tori smiled.
"Neve is a Ninjetti as well, so even if she hasn't been able to morph yet with the power she is also earths first Purple Ranger. And yeah, that's them. I'm a little surprised Hunter was able to get Neve to come," Tori said with a sad smile and they all watched as a group approached. A girl with dirty blonde hair with a yellow choker who instantly hugged the other girl, who was about the same height. Behind the blonde girl was a taller boy, the tallest besides Hunter and Tommy with brown hair and a red tie. Beside him was a shorter black boy with a blue tie and standing further away was a sad boy who looked just like the picture of Tiernan that was sitting up at the casket and only with shorter black hair and a white tie.
"Those must be the Dino Rangers," Alyssa said and Tori nodded.
"Yeah, it is." They all watched as Hunter led Neveah to a seat in the front and that she had her head buried in his chest, and was shaking some, they all felt bad and Tori stood sending each woman a small smile.
"I'm going to go see Neve, help Kira and Hunter." she turned one last look to each of them. "It was nice meeting you all." They all watched as the blonde girl walked off to sit directly behind Neve and hug her slightly from behind, which thanks to the chair was very awkward. It was only a few minutes latter that everyone took their seats and the service began. The person up front speaking through the service seemed shocked at how many people was their and the oddly coordinated dress and colors thrown in, all except gold.
"With these final words, we release Tiernan Fernandez-Mercer into the afterlife. May he find happiness on the other side," the speaker said and the casket was lowered into the ground. Many were crying, and others were fighting back tears. The few children old enough to understand, were also crying even though most had not met Tiernan and Julie was clutching her mother and father as the casket was lowered and dirt was filling in the whole. Everyone stayed seated for some time and finally people began to pay their respects, gold and white roses were dropped onto the now freshly covered grave plot.
An odd thing to other people but to Rangers there was symbolism to the colored roses. The last three people up where Neve, Hunter and Trent. Hunter held a Gold rose and a white rose in his hand unlike the died gold and white roses the others held. Trent held the same and Neve held a white, gold and beautiful red rose and seemed to be barely holding it together as they gazed at the headstone.
Tiernan Fernandez-Mercer
February 21st, 1994 – June 24th, 2011.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush. Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die.
As she read the poem she had asked to be written onto the gravestone – which would not have been affordable if it was not for Anton – she shuddered and tried to force her sobs and tears back as Hunter and Trent placed the roses down and wrapped an arm around her before.
"It'll be alright Neve," Trent whispered as his voice cracked and he forced his own tears back. He thought his parents deaths was the worse he'd ever suffer but this, it hurt just as much if not a little more. Neve breathed in slowly and out deeply before kneeling down and placing the three roses on top the other white and gold roses. She closed her eyes and ran an hand down the headstone before standing and grabbing onto Hunter and Trent's arms as she pursed her face to try and stop the tear flow but a few got away from her and everyone watched sadly as she had to be helped away, her legs almost giving away under her. Kimberly hugged her daughter as she broke into tears once back at the seats. The rest of the funeral was moved back to the church and everyone gave their condolences to the Dino Rangers.
Neve stood silent and when Katerina and many of the other children ran up and hugged her together she sobbed and placed a hand on the tallest child's head, no older then nine, a boy who was beside Julie, and they all pulled back as she pulled herself back together.
"I'm sorry Neve, we didn't mean to make you cry more," Julie said her eyes tearing up and Neve shook her head and smiled as best she could.
"No, it's not your fault," she said and the child smiled up at her.
"Julie, who are your friends?" Neve asked as she picked up Katerina who smiled up at her with not so understanding blue eyes. Julie turned to the closest child, a boy her age.
"This is Noah Grayson, and this is his sister, Diana Grayson," Julie said as she pointed to the boy with light brown hair and the girl who was no older then six with dirty blonde hair and both had blue eyes.
"It's nice to meet you, I'm Neveah," Neve said as she smiled and the others smiled as well, but the sadness never left any of their faces.
"This is Lily, she's also our friend," Julie said and Neve looked to where the black haired girl was motioning and smiled. The girl looked a little like Kira, with the same hair color, only Lily's eyes were blue. She didn't seem very much younger then herself, a year or two. She looked about thirteen and was petite.
"Hi, you must be Kira's sister," Neve said and Lily nodded.
"I am, I'm sorry about your friend," Lily said. "I remember when our grandpa died, it was horrible." Neve smiled and then the parents came over and pulled their children away giving Neve a small smile as they did and Kira drug Lily away. Though Lily and Kira were sisters, they were only half sisters. Kira's father had died when she was two and her mother had remarried a ear latter and had Lily the following year.
"Hunter, I want to go home," Neve whispered and Hunter turned to her and sighed nodding. He turned to Trent and he smiled nodding.
"Go on, it's been a long day for us all," Trent said and they began to walk away but where stopped by Anton.
"Neveah, I hate to stop you but I have something Tiernan asked me to hold onto. I think it was for you," Anton said and held out a small package with a letter hooked to the top. Neve looked at it before taking it and nodding, smiling at Anton in thanks.
"Thank you Anton, for everything," she said and he nodded and walked back to Elsa who waited for him. Neve sighed and Hunter wrapped her in his arms as he and she walked to his truck, knowing that Dustin and Shane could get a ride back with Tommy and Kim.
Once back to the house Hunter watched as his girlfriend walked up the stairs and into Tiernan's room. He walked into the kitchen then and sat on one of the stood placing his face in his hands before loosening his tie. He knew he needed to give Neve some time alone.
xXx
Neve sighed as she sat on the edge of Tiernan's bed and sat the letter done before opening the brown package. She did it slowly at first and then once it was open she felt a lump in her throat. It was a CD, a burnt CD. Getting up she slowly walked to the CD player and placed it inside, and turned the volume up a little. What really shocked her though was the voice that sang, it wasn't her, or even some celebrity. It was Tiernan, she knew it was, she would know his voice anywhere. For a split second she wondered if Trent could sing as well or if it was just Tiernan?
No use taking off your clothes.
We won't be going there tonight.
You were kind enough to say hello.
I figured I could at least say goodbye.
The way I was thinking about telling you that I was in love with her
I'm still in love with her.
Oh look at this web I wove.
Neve's forehead knitted together as she let blinked and let out a chuckle. It was a sad bittersweet chuckle but nonetheless, a chuckle. That would explain why he broke up with Samantha not long after getting together with her. They had seen the girl not long ago, balling her eyes out at the news but she never even asked about the funeral. Besides Cassidy and Devon everyone there had been a Ranger and everyone there besides Lily had known the secrete if they were not Rangers themselves.
So take this photograph, and I'll take this empty frame.
I won't be coming back, but you're not the one to blame.
The chemistry between liars like you and me ignites like gasoline.
Wait, wait, wait, let me set the record straight,
I was never really yours in the first place.
Now, oh, look at this web I wove.
I told you, I would break your heart.
So take this photograph, and I'll take this empty frame.
I won't be coming back, but you're not the one to blame.
The chemistry between liars like you and me ignites like gasoline.
Neve let out a sob as she listened and she turned and picked up the letter as she lowered the volume a little so it was more like background music then anything.
Explosions all around me.
There's no place that I'd rather be than home with her beside me.
I'm home ... take me home again.
Is this where you thought I'd be?
How's this for your spotlight?
I thought you said something about me?
Well you better get your facts right.
So take this photograph, and I'll take this empty frame.
I won't be coming back, but you're not the one to blame.
Oh, the chemistry, chemistry between liars like you and me.
Ignites like gasoline (like gasoline).
Opening the letter with slightly shaking hands Neve opened the folded paper and began to read.
Neve,
I guess if your reading this then Etsuko was right and one of us did die, and it was me. I know what your thinking, that bastard, he knew he was going to die and he didn't tell us! Well calm down spitfire, I didn't know anymore then you did. Etsuko called me not long after the Lothor thing with your and the other Wind Rangers and told me she wasn't sure what she had seen. She knew she saw someone die in the final battle but she was not sure who it was. I'm terrified it might be you, you know how new Etsuko still is with her dreams and interpreting them.
I asked her not to tell you, like she had wanted to on the grounds that you were still recovering from Lothor's last stunt and I would tell you latter. Don't be upset with Etsuko, she had nothing to do with me not telling you. I know that this probably is a bad time to tell you but I think you should know.
I know you'll never return my feelings, Hunter is your soulmate and I won't lie and say I hated him for that in the beginning but I have come to terms with the fact my love will be one sided and maybe in time I'll be able to move on, but if your reading this then I guess I won't. Anyways, I love you Neveah and I guess I always will if your reading this. Not that I wouldn't always love you even if things don't end like I think they will, but then you wouldn't have really known would you?
Don't mourn me for long Neve. Knowing myself I died saving you, or one of the others. Part of me hopes it was you, in a selfish way, but then that would mean the dream might have been about you, but then maybe it was about me saving you or one of the others. I guess only Etsuko will know.
You've probably opened the package, and found the CD. Do you remember when you asked me if I liked to do anything other then read? Well, surprise, I do. I may not be an artist like Trent but I do know how to play guitar and sing. But then so does Trent, though personally I think I got the singing ability more so then him. It's why he gave up guitar a long time ago, not only was it a bad reminder of our – his mother it always led him to try and sing. Key word being try.
The songs were written mostly with you in mind, some probably won't leave you with fuzzy feelings, there songs that I wrote mostly in a mood or like I said you in mind. None are meant to make you guilty or cry, remember the poem Neve. The one I would read more then the others, that you would joke that I was going to wear the poem right out of the book?
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush. Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there. I did not die.
Live life for me Neve, don't wallow in depression. Your parents don't need the stress and neither do you. Hang onto Hunter, get married one day, and have a bunch of little Bradley's. I'm gonna rip of Buffy the Vampire Slayer right now Neve and give you some advice. The hardest thing to do in this world, is to live in it. Live for me.
Love,
Tiernan.
By the end Neve was in tears and she had shut the CD player off already as she cried slightly and then laughed at her friend. Trust him to rip off Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Standing up Neve took the CD out of the CD player and placed it back in it's case and folded the letter back up and walked to the door.
"Rest in peace Tiernan," she whispered and opened the door and silently shut it behind her as she left. What she didn't see was an outline of Tiernan appear in the room and smile.
"Take care Neveah," he whispered back before disappearing in a flash of gold, back to the afterlife.
A/N: So there it is. I just wanted to point out that Lily, Kira's half sister will be in the sereis latter. Cookies for whoever can guess who she really is in the series.