I looked at myself in the mirror and frowned at my appearance. Dark circles ringed my puffy red eyes and my cheeks were tearstained thanks to my most recent bout of crying.
After Drake's death I had sobbed myself to sleep and woken up several times in the night screaming for the lost Red Ranger. Nathan had managed to lull me back to sleep each time. However for some reason after that night I had shed very few tears. At least none that I remember.
Several nights now I had woken up from nightmares of Drake with my cheeks and pillows damp. Nathan of course had been with me and talked to me until I finally dozed off again. I wasn't sure what I would've done without Nathan through all of this.
Today, the day of Drake's memorial, alone in the shower, I had finally broken down again but now I was back to normal. Well…as close to normal as I could be after loosing one of my best friends.
With a sigh I dabbed another coat of concealer around my eyes and emerged from the bathroom, walking down the hall to my room.
Nathan stood in front of the mirror trying to do up his red tie. Smiling my first genuine smile in the 2 weeks since Drake's death I walked over to help him. Reaching up I carefully did up his tie.
"There." I said smoothing it down on his chest.
"How do you know how to tie a tie?" he asked.
"Dad does a lot of Paleontology banquets and things like that. Mom taught me for when I had a husband or in this case, fiancé of my own. After she passed away I tied his ties for him. Soon I was just as good as her." I replied.
"Well it looks amazing babe." he said and kissed my cheek, avoiding the dark red lipstick that coated my lips.
With a sigh I walked to my closet and pulled out the black dress I'd bought for today. I actually hated dresses with the only exception being my Winter Formal dress. The only exception about this dress was that I didn't hate it but loathed it. It would forever be connected to sour memories.
Unzipping it I stepped into the strapless, plain knee length dress and Nathan moved behind me to zip it. After that I pulled a lacy shrug over my shoulders and grabbed the red sash that I had bought with it and tied it around my waist. Stepping into a pair of flats Nathan and I emerged from my room.
"I made coffee." Tasha said handing me a mug as we walked in.
"Have I told you that you're my best friend and I love you?" I asked taking the cup.
"Yeah but it's always nice to hear." she smiled.
Tasha wore black slacks and shiny black heels with a blouse that had red pinstripes on it, her nails painted a matching red. Chris wore a black suit with a red tie like Nathan. All of us were going to be wearing something red in honor of Drake. It was his Ranger color and we thought it appropriate that since he was one of the first fallen we would honor him in addition to the customary black.
I leaned back against the counter and sipped my coffee until the clock read that we had to leave. We put our mugs in the sink and left our apartment, heading downstairs to my car. Piling in Nathan took the wheel and drove us the twenty minutes to the Cemetery.
Drake and Daphne's parents had actually grown up in Angel Grove and their family had a family burial plot in Angel Grove Gardens, the local cemetery. To me it sounded more like a retirement home than a place to bury dead people but whatever.
Parking the car we joined the small clique of our friends that were milling about the parking lot. Jakob and Ann stood at the side, Ann's hand resting on the small bump that had formed. Ethan had his arm around Daphne who was pale and slight but looked better than I had seen her since her brother's death. Walking over I hugged her.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm…I'm getting through it. It's not easy but I'm slowly making it through." she said with a watery smile.
"I'm glad. Where are you parents?"
"Dad's trying to get Mom out of the car. She says she's not ready to face everything." Daphne replied sadly.
The official story was that Drake had died by drowning during an outing the group of us had taken while on a vacation. For the past week and a half they had been scanning the ocean out near where we had supposedly been swimming for his body but unsurprisingly there had been no body found.
There was no way we could've told them what really happened without letting them on that we were Power Rangers. According to the others Daphne and Drake's parents were taking it really hard.
"C'mon guys…the service is going to start soon." Chris said checking his watch.
We all walked into the small church and started looking for seats. I was just about to take a seat with the rest of my team a pew towards the back when Daphne took my hand.
"We wanted you to sit up front with the rest of us." she said.
"O-Okay." I said and followed her to the front of the rows of chairs.
At one end sat Lara, Sebastian, Parker and Shane with enough space in the middle for two people and then a woman who had Drake's colored hair and Daphne's curls. Next to her was a man with blond hair like Daphne's and the bright blue eyes both the twins shared.
Daphne introduced me to her parents before we sat down. At the front sat a photo of Drake smiling and it made my chest ache. Daphne and I still clutched hands, both of us sobbing quietly as we listened to people come up and talk about Drake.
Shane was first up, talking about what an amazing student Drake had been to teach and how dedicated he was to his martial arts. After him Lara talked about how Drake was a great friend and was nice to everyone he met. Finally Ethan surprised me and came up to talk about how he'd known Drake for such a short time but felt like he could trust him with anything including his life.
When Ethan stepped down I felt and hand reach over and grasp the hand that already held Daphne's. Looking up I saw Drake's mom looking at me, "Izzy…we would be honored if you would say a few words."
I didn't know quite what to say but I nodded. I couldn't really say no could I?
With a sigh I stood up and walked up to the podium.
"Hi um…my name is Izzy Oliver and I was a friend of Drake's." I smiled and I saw Tasha give me a thumbs up from the back.
Taking a breath I continued.
"A few months back I had some things come up and because of them I sunk into a rut, a depression of sorts. My Dad got concerned and decided that I should have some time away so he sent me to visit my Uncle, Dustin Brooks who was a teacher at the Academy."
"When I got there I met Drake and we quickly became friends. We both shared a passion for martial arts and even sparred a couple of times. Thanks to Drake and Daphne I quickly became my old self again and to them I will always be thankful."
"We continued talking after I went home and when he came to visit me in Angel Grove all of my friends took to him as well. That was the kind of person Drake was. He attracted friends like honey attracts flies."
"On the day that he died he congratulated me on my engagement, it was one of the last things he said to me actually. No one else knew then but myself and my fiancé. He'd picked up on it by overhearing a simple conversation. I really wish that he could be here to see me get married."
"Drake was one of my best friends. He was loyal and most of all selfless. I will always feel lucky to have had him as my friend for the short time that he was here on earth. I also feel lucky knowing that I have someone watching over me like him and I hope all of you do as well. Thank you." I said and quickly stepped down from the podium and took my seat.
"That was perfect Iz." Shane smiled as I sat down between him and Daphne.
"Thanks." I said and wiped at the tears that ran down my face.
There was a prayer and it was over. Before we left Drake's parents gave all of us roses. My friends and I formed a line and placed the roses in front of Drake's photo after the other guests had gone. The Time Force group went first, then the Karovian Rangers, the SPD team, the Dinos and then my team along with Dad, Justin and Billy.
After that I joined the Ninja Rangers, Sensei, Uncle Dustin, Tori, Cam, Blake, Hunter and Shane to place our roses. When it was my turn I brought the rose to my lips.
"Thank you Drake. May the Power protect you wherever you are." I whispered and kissed the soft petals before laying it down and walking away.
Walking out of the church I joined a clique of my uncle, his friends and Lara who were talking to my friends.
"Sup kid?" Uncle Dustin asked putting his arm around me as I walked over and squeezed between him and Nathan.
"Nothing much." I shrugged.
"What's the deal with this getting married thing huh? How is it I'm the last hear?" he smirked.
I looked at him, "You really wanna do this here? Like now?"
"No but you and I are going to have a talk….you too." Uncle Dustin said looking at Nathan who smiled.
"Can't be any worse than what Ethan and Tommy put him through." Jakob smirked.
Nathan and I had given the news to Dad that were engaged a couple of days after we had gotten back to Earth. He had immediately decided that he needed to have a talk with Nathan and Ethan had joined in. They had talked and questioned him for somewhere around 3 hours before finally giving their blessing.
"You would think but he's gotta go through ALL of us." Tori said putting her arms around Blake and Cam's shoulders.
"Speaking of weddings when is yours?" I asked looking at Hunter and Lara.
"Well we were thinking sometime this spring. We were originally talking Christmas but seeing as Christmas is next week and we just got back…" Lara said with a shrug.
"Well tell me the date and I'll be there." I smiled.
"We all will." Tasha nodded.
"When is everyone heading back?" Cam asked.
"After this." Ethan replied.
Today everyone was heading home. Time Force, SPD and the Karovian Rangers were leaving from the NASADA hanger and after that the Dino Thunder and Ninja Rangers were going to head out from the airport with the exception of Daphne who was staying behind with us. She wasn't ready to go back to Blue Bay Harbor just yet.
"Actually we should get going now. The SPD Rangers said Kat was going to open the portal at 3:30 and it's already 2:40." Nathan said.
"Ooh! Okay well I will see you at Dad's wedding." I said turning to my Uncle.
"You bet kid. Love you." he said hugging me.
I hugged him back before hugging the others and heading to round up the others.
Soon we were all grouped in the familiar NASADA hanger as the Time Force, SPD and Karovian teams prepared to leave.
"I'm gonna miss you!" I smiled as I hugged Bridge.
"Don't worry I'm sure we'll meet again Izzy. I mean the odds are excellent. In the future the vicinities of our cites are quite close and-"
"Bridge will you be quiet?! You're going to give everything away!" Z said clamping her hand over his mouth.
"Hey! You two! The portal's open!" Aria yelled.
Behind them a wavy blue circle had opened behind them. On the other side I could just make out the blurry figures of Kat and Sky. I waved and saw them smile and wave back.
"Well this is goodbye for now!" Keira said and I hugged her.
After everything had come out about her and Nathan being brainwashed we'd actually gotten on okay. I was actually kind of sad to see her go.
"We're all honored to have served with you all." Bridge said and in sync the five of the SPD Rangers moved their arm across their chest in a sharp motion that I recognized as their salute.
A moment later they waved and disappeared, the hole closing behind them.
"Then I guess it's time we headed out too." Chelsea said and pulled a device out of her pocket and pointed it at the wall.
Another portal, this one green opened. We hugged and bid everyone goodbye before they headed through. It was then time for the Karovian Rangers to head out.
"You guys keep in touch. Unlike the others you still live in the same time. Different planet or no." Ethan said as we said goodbye to the Karovian Rangers.
"We will. Make sure you send us the date of you and Nathan's wedding. We want to be there to see you two get married." Heather said as she walked over to hug me.
"Will do." I smiled and hugged her before she headed onto the ship.
A few minutes later the ship took off leaving the rest of us watching them leave. When the ship finally disappeared we headed back to our cars.
A few hours later we found ourselves at the airport saying goodbye to the last of our leaving friends.
"When you send out those invites make sure you drop us one." Iris said hugging me before moving over so that Ally could hug me.
"Are you kidding? You're bridesmaids!" I laughed.
"Well in that case I look AMAZING in peach and turquoise and awful in yellow and pink. Remember that when you're picking out our dresses." Mike laughed as he walked over.
"Sorry Mike but the though of you in dress is unnerving." I smiled.
He smiled and hugged me before moving over so Gray could hug me.
"I'm going to miss you Gray-Gray." I sighed hugging him.
"I'm going to miss you too Izzy-boo. I'll call you though and come visit all I can." He swore.
"You better." I said.
After they were off we headed over to where the Ninja Rangers would be leaving from. We had a few minutes to kill so we all started to sit down but Parker pulled me aside first.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"I wanted to thank you." Parker said.
"For what?" I asked.
"For fixing me. I was really torn up about everything that happened the first time we were up there and you were the one that made me not feel so bad about it." he replied.
I smiled, "You're welcome. I knew you had it in you Park."
He smiled bigger and hugged me.
A moment later they announced that it was time to board. We all said goodbye to the one team we'd probably been closest to.
Once they were gone we all headed home.
"Is it just me or does everything seem like it's not finished?" Jakob asked as we walked towards our cars.
"What do you mean not finished?" Ryan asked.
"I don't know. Like we didn't do something." Jakob replied.
"It's probably because Drake isn't here." Chris supplied.
"You know on Aquitar we believe that fallen soldiers protect those that still fight on." Ann smiled.
"Sounds like him. Protecting everyone." Daphne smiled.
"But why would he be here? Wouldn't he be with the rest of the Ninja rangers?" Tasha asked.
"Daph and Iz are here. He was closest to them. Where else would he be?" Nathan said putting his arm around me.
"Agreed." Ethan nodded.
Suddenly the calm day changed as a gust of wind came out of nowhere. It whipped around each of us, blowing our hair and clothes out of order. Then it was gone just as fast as it had come on.
Looking around no one else looked windblown or disturbed any sense and I grinned, looking at my friends.
"I don't know about you but I think we got our answer."
So I have decided to put in Tommy and Kimberly's wedding :D
It will be the next chapter meaning that instead of 2 chapters we have 3 left!
I am hoping to get it out either by late tonight or sometime tomorrow (i'm basing this on Eastern Standard Time since I live in the US)
Well that is if I don't get distracted by Netflix. I would've had this up sooner if I wasn't watching old seasons of Power Rangers and Ouran High School Host Club XD
I'm also working on 2 different Power Rangers stories that I'm thinking about posting. One is based off of RPM and the other is SPD based.
If I do post them which do you guys think I should post more? RPM or SPD?
Thanks for reading!