Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, but I do own this team and their adventures.
*Italic indicates thought
Episode XV: In The Music
Chapter Two: Nothing But the Truth
A/N: Hey guys! Here's the next chapter!
"Music expresses that which cannot be said and which it is impossible to be silent." -Victor Hugo
Once they are back inside, all the Rangers de-morphed. They got off their bikes and Z approached them. "Everyone ok?" he asked.
"My chest hurts. Dammit!" Austin groaned. "There I go again! It's nothing to be freaking concerned about!"
Z was about to say something when surpsingly, Leo spoke up first. "You shouldn't swear so much," she told the green ranger. "I hate swearing."
"Sorry. Believe me Leo, the last thing I want to do is us let you." He clamped his hands over his mouth forcibly. God freaking dammit!
Jasper and Chris smirked. "Someone have a crush on Leo?" the blue ranger asked.
"No, she's not nearly as pretty as you. Fuck!"
Jasper and Andy leaned on each other as they burst out laughing. Chris scowled at Austin. "Very funny Crack Head."
Before he could say anything else Austin clenched his teeth and ran upstairs. Jasper kept laughing. "As far as spells go," he said, taking a deep breath. "This one really isn't so bad. Austin's now worse than he usually is and Leo is...Leo."
Quinn spun around in her chair. "They still need to stay away from me. Harmless or not, this spell is creating chaotic energy. I don't want to pass again all day."
Leo nodded. "I'll go upstairs. I'd really hate to cause you to become sick or hurt. I mean, you are my best friend." She clenched her teeth.
Quinn smiled, clearly amused. "Thanks Leo."
The red ranger nodded, then decided the best course of action would be to retreat to her bedroom. She went upstairs and Chris followed. Andy looked at Quinn. "How much chaotic energy can this possibly create? I mean...truth spell? It's not exactly...I don't know...terrible."
"Maybe right now, but the truth is a dangerous thing."
Z nodded. "Quinn is right. Small, white lies make the world go 'round. You lie all the time to protect your identities."
"That's true." Jasper suddenly gasped as everyone looked at him. "What?"
"I've got it!" the black ranger smiled.
"Got what?"
"I know how to find out who the gold ranger is."
"How?" Quinn asked.
"If she shows up the next time we face that demon, we make sure she gets hit with that truth spell."
"Not a terrible plan," Z agreed. "Just one problem though, you have to hope she shows up for it to work."
"Well if she wants a great opportunity to kill p us, doing it while we have to worry about Leo and Austin is a great time to do it," Andy said.
"That's true I guess. Although we have no way of knowing what her plans are."
"Hopefully next time we see her we'll be able to get more information," Jasper replied.
Quinn nodded. "The more you guys can get the better chance I can figure out who it is."
Andy and Jasper nodded. Both of them knew how anxious everyone was to get the gold ranger mess sorted out. The sooner the better.
-Thunder Strike-
Leo opened the door to her room and was only mildly surprised to see that Austin was in there. "Again? You have a bedroom you know."
Austin shrugged. "I was lonely. Shit!"
"If you swear I'll make you leave. Sorry. That sounded kind of harsh."
The green ranger chuckled. "Don't worry. I've heard much worse than your...harsh words."
"If you're lonely why don't you go talk to one of the other boys?" Leo asked as she sat down on the ground with him.
"Because I like talking to you. Dammit! I really don't mean for this to sound...on any way sexual or...romantic. Damn I sound like Andy now. It's the truth though."
"Why do you like talking to me?"
"You're one of the only true friends I have." He quickly clamped his hands over his mouth. "Maybe I should just stop talking." His voice was muffed by the hands attempting to keep the embarrassing words from coming out. He hated opening up to people. Opening is a weakness. Weakness can be used against you.
Leo smiled and started chuckling. "Why don't we listen to music? I can play something for you."
Austin shook his head. He smiled and took his hands from his mouth. His idea was too good to keep hidden behind his hands. "Let's listen to my music."
"Y-your music?"
"Yeah. Anything wrong?"
Leo nodded. "Your music scares me."
"Says the girl who fights demons on a weekly basis. Come on. I promise it's nothing...satanic or whatever." Leo gave him a doubtful look. "Hey, I can't freaking lie, so that should count for something."
The red ranger sighed. "Ok, but only if you stop swearing."
"Why does it bother you if I swear?"
"Huh?"
"Why does it bother you if I swear?" Austin repeated as he pulled his iPod out of his pocket. "Can't lie, remember? I genuinely want to know."
Leo shrugged. "I don't know. Everyone always told me that swearing is wrong. So I don't like it when people do it."
"But do you think it's wrong?"
"What?"
"Again, honest question. Do you think swearing is wrong?"
"Why do you care?"
"I don't know. You're smart, you should be able to think for yourself. Just because everyone around you tells you what to believe, doesn't mean you should."
Leo crossed her arms uncomfortably. "I don't know. I don't think any less of you because of it."
"So what's so wrong about it?"
"I...it...I don't know."
Austin looked at his iPod, scrolling idly through the music. He smiled and put one of his earbuds in Leo's ear. She looked at him, slightly with alarm. "Don't worry about it. Don't talk, don't think. Just listen." Leo nodded as he selected a song. The two of them laid down on the carpet, Leo making sure to keep a foot of distance between them. She crossed her hands over her stomach and closed her eyes.
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime (yo)
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime (yo)
(You better)
Something squirmed inside of the red ranger. It wasn't...bad exactly. It was just different. She didn't want to like it. The words of her parents an teachers echoed in her mind.
"Rap is the devil's music."
"Leona, your talent is meant for so much more than this."
"If you allow yourself to be distracted by trivial genres, you'll never reach your full potential."
Austin must've noticed the tense muscles because he reached out and put his hand in hers. "Don't think. Just listen."
"Just listen," Leo whispered. She forced herself to relax and focused on the music. She felt every beat in her ears, moving in conjunction with her heart. She felt the music inside of her. Her brain settles into the rythm, tuning out everything else around her. There were so many things in the world that Leo was afraid of; so many things made her unfortable. But music, music always made sense. She lost herself in the notes. She found herself in the flow and rhyme between the music and lyrics. She suddenly sat up; causing the earbud to be ripped out. "I think you should leave."
"What?" Austin sat up too. "Why?"
"Because."
"Leo-"
"I said leave! Don't you ever listen?!" She covered her mouth with her hand sin shock. "I'm sorry Austin. I-"
"No, it's fine." Austin grabbed his IPod and stood up. "People are always telling me to get out." He walked towards the door as Leo stood up. "You don't have to be scared of change Leo. Damn this demon." He clenched his teeth and left the room. I'm a damn idiot, he thought as he walked to his room. A real fucking moron. He wondered vaguely if the truth spell worked on his thoughts too. I bet it does. I bet it fucking does.
-Thunder Strike-
Chris sat next to Quinn as the latter girl typed away on her computer. "What do you mean you can't track the demon?"
"I thought that sounded pretty self-explanatory."
"But...but you have to find the demon. It's the only way to help Leo."
"And Austin."
"Yeah. Him too...I guess."
"As much as your concern for a member of the team moves me, there's nothing I can do. Look at the map!" She gestured to her monitor that contained a map of the city and multiple red lines emanating from single points of origin. "The problem with this particular demon is that the truth spell is causing more chaos. Every time an affected person interacts with someone else, they spread chaotic energy. So my sensors aren't able to pinpoint the exact location of the demon. The energy he's creating is masking his location."
Chris sighed. "That's a lot of chaotic energy flooding the city."
Quinn nodded. "Unfortunately. I'll keep looking for the demon though. I might be able to pinpoint his location by looking at each individual sensor and figuring out which are being set off by chaotic energy and which are being set off by the demon."
"That sounds like it could take a while."
"Good point. It would go faster if you guys go out and search the points I narrow it down to."
"Sounds good."
"Go get the others."
Chris nodded and got up. She went upstairs and Quinn looked back the monitors. Where are you hiding? Where are you hiding?
