Loop 49

"Oooooooo!" Rita said with a scowl, looking down at the Earth in annoyance. "Why won't that pesky planet stop fighting the inevitable and accept me as their ruler?" She shook her fist at the Earth. "Accept me!"

"Have you tried explaining it to them?"

Rita whipped around, staff held out aggressively, while Goldar, Squat, and Baboo all went for their weapons (well, Goldar did; the other two flailed about and ended up smacking each other in the head). They all glowered at the Red Ranger who stood there, in uniform but helmet off, his hands held out in a gesture that screamed, "hold, hold hold!".

"What are you doing here?" Rita demanded. "How did you get past my security?"

"The door was unlocked," Jason said with a shrug. "Propped open with a book."

Rita blinked at that... before remembering that she had, in fact, left the back door open herself when she'd went out to smoke. Stupid thing always got stuck and she couldn't very well smoke INSIDE! That would lower the property values!

"...well, it doesn't matter because now you will suffer for invading!"

"Before you do that," Jason said, keeping his voice calm, "could you answer my question?"

"Your... what was the question again?"

"Have you ever gone down to Earth and actually told everyone why you should rule?"

Rita scowled at that. "Because it is my right!"

"But do they know that?" Jason asked innocently. Rita opened her mouth before snapping it shut, for once actually considering what the pesky ranger had said. Come to think of it, had she ever actually announced that she was taking over the planet? She remembered bursting out of the dumpster and had vague memories of saying 'After 10,000 years I'm free! It's time to conquer Earth!'. But the only ones around were her underlings. No humans. "I mean, have you talked to the press?"

"Well... no, but-"

Jason took a slow step forward. "Meet with anyone in the governments of any of the countries to explain that they needed to bow to you?"

"I didn't... that is to say-"

"Did you put up a billboard or appear on a talk show? Did you at least hand out pamphlets?"

Rita clenched her eyes shut. She ALWAYS forgot about the pamphlets! Lord Zedd was constantly reminding her to send out pamphlets and she always forgot... oh, he'd be so disappointed!

"Why do you care?" Goldar snarled, breaking Rita out of her self-incrimination. "You are always stopping us!"

"I'm stopping monsters that suddenly appear and, without giving a reason, begin attacking hot dog carts or turning people into cardboard cutouts. What would you have done if some random Billy Goat monster appeared and began to hit Baboo?"

"Laugh!" Goldar proclaimed.

"... fair point. But what if they messed up your room?"

Goldar puffed out his chest. "I would attack them and make them- oh." He suddenly deflated. "Ah."

"Yeah," Jason said, slowly lowering his arms. "I had no idea those were emissaries of the rightful ruler of Earth! They never announced themselves as such. All I had was a big blue head telling me to fight them and we all know he is bias."

"Oh, he just is!" Squat said. "He just is!"

Rita, meanwhile, looked at Finister. "Your monsters never told anyone they were there to subjugate the earth?"

Finster shot her a dry look. "I'm a sculptor, not a PR Firm. You want a spokesman get the guys from Mad Men."

"How do you know what that is?" Jason asked before shaking his head. "Rita. Can I call you Rita?" She considered before nodding her head and Jason motioned towards a small table off to the side of the room; Rita ambled over and both sat down. "I think we all got off on the wrong foot. You went in all with a gusto but without a plan and I had your jealous ex boyfriend whispering in my ear about how you were no good and all that. Add in your monsters not really doing their job-" Finster glowered at that but Jason kept going, "-and we accidently ended up in a war against each other."

"So you want to join me?" Rita asked, excited. "Because I have this green power coin-"

Jason happily took the coin, using some Miko magic to purify it before pocketing it… another bonded for his collection. "I'm interested but I'd like to hear about why you should run the Earth. After all, only makes sense to find out what you're selling before I purchase, so to speak. You did the same thing with Lord Zedd."

"No she didn't!" Baboo declared. "She meant to go to a seminar on making your own candles and went to the wrong room-OW!" Baboo rubbed his belly where Rita had elbowed him.

"Well... I want to rule the Earth," Rita began.

"Okay, good. Wanting something is a great first step. Last thing we need is your feeling like its a chore." Jason pulled out a binder from... somewhere... and opened it up. "I think we should go down this checklist I made and find out your stance on issues. Then I'll help you turn this into a platform you can present to the public... a lot easier to have people just submit than to waste resources on invasion. I mean… why spend money on puddies when people might bow at the sight of your infrastructure plan?"

Rita slowly nodded her head. "Right... right."

"Okay, so let's start with Estate Taxes..."

~One Month Later... ~

"...and in international news the Palestinian Government finalized peace talks with Israel, bringing an end to their hostilities and ushering in a new era of stability..."

"I have to give it to her," Jason said to Billy as he drank his Coke, watching Ernie hang up the portrait of Rita in the Juice Bar, "she has some great ideas."

Loop 50

"So ," Zara said, tilting her head as she watched all the monsters partying in the Juice Bar. "This is an odd way to wake up in a loop."

Trini frowned. "So what kind of variant loop is this exactly?"

Jason though sighed. "None. This happened in the original timeline."

"..."

"..."

"I know, i was shocked too. I blame Tommy."

Trini rolled her eyes. "You ALWAYS blame Tommy!"

"If it ain't broke don't fix it!"

"MY HIP!" Rito exclaimed.

"Speaking of broken..." Zara stated.

Loop 51

"Trini!" Zack exclaimed, startling Jason, Trini, and Zara as they walked into the Juice Bar. They'd all just woken up in the loop and were discussing how they'd integrate Zara this time into the group (the leading suggestion was that she and Jason just randomly swap places and see if anyone noticed Jason no longer had a penis); while Zara always said it was fine, he didn't need to, unless they were pulling a con it never felt right for her not to be part of the fun of just hanging out. For Jason and Trini (when she was awake) Zara was part of the team. They 6th Ranger who didn't have sissy hair to compensate for something.

"Hey, Zack," Trini said only for her eyes to fly open as Zack grabbed her and pressed a toe-curling kiss on her lips. A 'lean her back and nearly sweep her off her feet kiss'. The kind she hadn't experienced in quite some time!

"That's new," Zara muttered as Zack finally let Trini go, the dark haired ranger blinking in surprise as she tried to get her breath back.

"JACE!" Zack exclaimed and Jason held out his hands, utterly terrified that his friend would decide to kiss HIM next; he wouldn't put it passed the loops that he'd end up in a world where everyone greeted each other like that. But instead Zack merely gave him a massive hug, squeezing him and nearly lifting him up into the air.

"Heh, hey Zack," Jason said as Zack finally let him go and wrapped an arm around Trini, pulling her tight to him.

The Looping Yellow Ranger glance out of the corner of her eye at Zack, curious. "You seem to be in a good mood."

"Of course I am!" Zack proclaimed. "Why shouldn't I be?" He looked about the Juice Bar, a slightly bemused look on his face. "I mean when you hear about all of this it gets really scary but now that I'm here, now that I know what awaits all of us... what is there to fear?"

Jason, Zara, and Trini all shared a look before looking back at Zack. Finally, Jason spoke up. "I'm not exactly following what you're saying there man."

"You know, " Zack said with a grin on his face. " the big What If. The Next Great Adventure. The Undiscovered Country. We all spend so much time on Earth worrying about it but now that we've reached Heaven everything's great! I was so scared of dying, even at the end when I was more machine than man with all those tubes and such but now?" He did a little wiggle. "I feel like I'm 16 again!"

"Heaven?" Zara asked, brow furrowed in confusion.

Zack finally let go of Trini and held his arms out wide. There was a massive grin on his face and his eyes sparkled with utter delight as he looked around the juice bar. "Come on! What else could this place be?" He spun and wagged a finger at them. "Is this some kind of hazing ritual for when people first get up here?" The others just stared at him blankly. "I mean look at it; the best time of my life recreated perfectly. And all the people that I had come to love and miss are back with me again. All of us young and strong and none of the aches and pains. I mean check this out!" That took a few steps back before doing a backflip then a second one before landing on his hands and walking a few paces before returning to his feet. He let out a breath still beaming. "I haven't been able to do that in 50 years!"

The three Loopers all shared a look, it slowly dawning on them exactly what had happened. Finally Trini, her voice trembling slightly, asked him in a soft voice, "Zack what is the last thing you remember?"

"The last thing I remember? Well I was lying in my bed feeling old and worn down and wishing they'd remove the catheter from me cuz damn do those things hurt. I was getting really tired even with all the machines around me beeping so I shut my eyes and… well, I woke up in my old bedroom. Got to see mom and dad again which is great and then I knew I had to head down here cuz where else would you guys be but here!" He paused, looking at Zara as he tried to place her. "Though I don't remember you. Are you someone connected to Jason? " He paused looking at his friend, a smile that was far more sly sliding on to his features. " Oh man Jace did you have a little secret girlfriend you didn't tell us about?"

"He's looping..." Jason murmured, before a grin formed on his own lips. Trini and Zara were getting just as excited "He's looping! " Jason declared with excitement.

That was Zack's turn to be a bit confused as the three practically began dancing in place. "Someone mind cluing me in on exactly what you guys are talking about? Looping? Is that some kind of term for angels and all that?"

Trini glanced at the other two who gave her quick nods, then walked over and took Zack's hand holding it in her own. "Zack we have some things to explain to you. It starts with a tree…"

~MC~MC~MC~

Zack sat there for a moment considering what they had just told him. The others let him, knowing that this would be a lot to take in. Hell, it still seemed odd to Jason and he'd been to Hogwarts, was friends with a time traveling Miko, time traveled himerself, and dressed as a cardboard robot. The Tree was still the strangest thing of all! About the only benefit was that Zack didn't think he was still alive anymore and that such was more open to the fantastical. Plus it had helped that he had woken up in his bed rather than with clown makeup as Trini had.

"I know it's a lot to take in, " Jason finally said. "Believe me I get it. It was really crazy when I first went through it. "

Zack just stared at him.

"Do you have any questions? "

The newest looper stared at them for a few moments before asking in a tone that showed his utter befuddlement, "The world is a giant tree?"

Zara gave a shrug. "Well to be fair the Norse always believed that it was a tree..."

Zack just looked at the three of them before glancing around the juice bar. "Are you sure that we're not in heaven? Because honestly a lot of this could be that we're all dead and Heaven is just letting us replay the greatest hits."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Unless the angels enjoy watching me get stabbed by-never mind. No we're not dead. We live, sometimes we die, sometimes we just go to bed, sometimes we just black out. Then the next thing we know everything has began again. Sometimes it's exactly the same, sometimes it's a variation, sometimes it's a fused loop."

"A fuse loop?"

Zara spoke up. "That's where two different realities end up getting smushed together. So it'd be like you waking up and discovering that you've replaced Han Solo in Star Wars. Some of us might be there, some of us might not be. If Jason and I aren't that means their anchor… that is the person-"

"I remember."

" then live out that life. Sometimes no one knows that you're looping and they just all accept that you're that person. Other times, which is even better, they know that you're looping and are able to help you out."

"Otherwise," Trini said with a soft smile, "we just try and have as much fun as we can." Her face screwed up in a grimace. "Try not to think about forcing reality to go exactly as it did. That is the way to madness. Believe me."

"Yeah, " Jason said with a smirk. "Trini only managed to last about a week before she realized how bad that was." He stabbed his thumb towards his chest, grinning proudly. "I manage several loops before I went totally insane. "

"Jace that might not be something to brag about. " Zack looked at the others though who merely shrugged their shoulders. He considered all they said before finally shrugging, a good-natured smile on his lips as he reached out and squeezed first Trini's hand and then Jason's. "Well, I don't know if you guys really have it correctly, or if you're just trying to pull some trick on me and don't want to admit that this is heaven. But if you say that it's all good I'm with you 100%." He looked over at Zara. "And obviously you've made some new friends along the way who I can't wait to get to know as well."

"And believe me we can have some fun," Jason said happily. He looked at the other Loopers before turning back to Zack. "So we hadn't decided what we were going to do for this loop and it appears that it's baseline. So I think that we should make this loop all about letting you experiment and have as much fun as you want! We have the power and gadgets to back it up so we can make sure that you have a really good first time." He leaned over the table and locked eyes with Zack making sure he had his full attention. "The question is man... What is it you've always wanted to do? "

That considered what Jason and the others were offering him before rubbing his hands together, a truly malicious smile forming on his lips. " Oh, I have a few ideas..."

~MC~MC~MC~

"The night goes into morning. Just another day. Happy people pass my way. Looking in their eyes, I see a memory, I never realized how happy you made me. Oh Mandy-"

Jason, not for the first time, looked around the concert venue. "His greatest fantasy is attending a Barry Manilow concert?"

"Yes, for the thousandth time!" Trini hissed. "Now shush!"

"I'm just saying," Jason whispered, "I'd have thought it would involve dealing with Rita or Zedd."

Zara, who'd been looking behind them while Zack just stared at the stage with rapt attention, did a double take. "Uh… it just might." Jason turned to see Rita, Goldar, and the rest of her goons all seated behind them, staring at the stage with as much attention as Zack was.

Loop 52

Jason rose on his tiptoes, peering over the head of the person in front of him. It was someone he didn't recognize and he felt kind of foolish tapping them on the shoulder and asking them what was going on. At best he would have got some questioning looks. At worst another trip to the funny farm which he REALLY didn't want. And frankly there was no way around it... no matter what he'd look like a delusional loon if he asked the person in front of him, "So, what's with the long line?"

And it was a long one, as far as he could tell. It seemed like thousands of people of different ages, races, creeds, and nationalities were all patiently standing in line, waiting. For what he couldn't say-

"So," Zara asked the woman behind them, "what's up with the line?"

Leave it to his co-anchor to have no tact.

"What do you mean?" the middle age woman who was wearing a rather nice floral summer dress asked.

"The line. What's it lead to?"

"Lead to?" the woman behind them asked.

"You know," Zara said, Jason looking behind him to see that the line seemed just as long behind them as it was in front. "The line. What are we waiting for."

"I don't understand."

"We're lined up... for what?"

"..." the woman turned her head away, not saying a word.

Zara glanced around before face faulting. "I think we're just waiting in line… to wait in line."

Jason considered that before reaching into his subspace pocket and pulling out a chair and a laptop. "Guess we have a loop where we can catch up on email."

Loop 53

Zack blinked only to let out a yelp as he realized that he was in the middle of a fight. Ducking a punch from the monster they were facing (which resembled a cross between a motorcycle and a bear), he rolled to his side in order to ground himself while the rest of the team attacked the monster with their weapons.

"You alright, Zack?" Kimberly asked, rushing up to him. Billy was a few seconds behind while Jason, Tommy (in the White Ranger uniform), and Trini took on the monster that was throwing hubcaps at them.

"Yeah… just got a bit out of it."

"Feeling loopey?" Billy… except not Billy… asked.

"Trini?" Zack sputtered in surprise.

"I have this," Trini said from behind the Blue Ranger Helmet. "Go take care of Ursa Motor, Kim."

"Right."

Zack watched Kim run off before looking at Trini. "Uh… did I miss something?"

She looked down at her uniform and let out a small laugh. "Oh, right… we switch colors sometimes. It lets us collect different morphers, which comes in handing."

"Collect morphers?" Zack said, crinkling his nose behind his mask. "Why?"

"Upgrades and power-ups," Trini said with a shrug. "I've only just started because I've gotten all the yellow morphers I needed… though I'm debating grabbing the Gold Zero one even though I already have the Yellow Zeo one. But once you get enough of your color to go Legacy we like to grab other morphers." She shrugged. "Jason actually has a whole ton of morphers he grabbed from the loops but they aren't bonded with him so he doesn't use them for much other than capital for the future."

Zack just stared at her.

"Okay, I think we need to have a talk after this battle."

"Form up the Power Blaster!" Billy, as the RED RANGER, declared.

"Right!" Yellow Ranger Jason called out while White Ranger Zara stood back to lend support.

Loop 54

"It was a hot night. The type of night that made you wish you'd never been born, for the very air itself seemed to sap the strength out of you. Except it was only you… because crime, no matter how hot it got, never stopped or laid down. They knew they were going to hell so why not get used to the heat?"

Zara, slightly bemused by the narration that was happening around her… in her own voice… lit a cigarette and took a long drag from it before going back to sitting in the dingy yet spacious office. She was wearing a crumpled suit, fedora, and was in monochrome colors same as everything else around her.

"That's why I can't ever rest. If crime won't rest then neither can I. I'm Zara Zoltar. Private Eye."

The door opened to the office and Zara looked up, forcing herself not to snicker.

"Then he walked in… a tall drink of water from the bad side of town gotten from a bar that your mother would have warned you about. Oh, he was easy on the eyes but I knew at once he was trouble. But what kind of trouble? That was the question."

"Please tell me you have some pants I can change into," Jason complained, tugging on the grey (because of course it was gray… everything was gray!) dress he was wearing, nearly toppling in his heels.

"Sit down, doll face, and tell me what bring's ya here," Zara said, doing her been Humphrey impression.

"Pants bring me here," Jason complained. "And the need for them."

"Already trying to get me to do his every bidding and we hadn't even been introduced yet. A cunning little thing but I wouldn't fall hard or fast. I'd been down that road before and it was covered not in signs but heartache. All warned of what would happen if I let my guard down for even a second with this one?"

Jason looked around before glaring at Zara. "I can hear you."

"I don't control it."

"Knew he'd eat that one up. While he might be cunning when it came to his own schemes when it came to those crafted by others he was like every other mind-addled-"

"ZARA!"

Loop 55

"Oh, those darn Rangers!" Rita said, gripping the railing of her balcony. "I will-"

And that's when her hands slipped thanks to the WD-40 that had been applied to the rail, causing her to flip over the balcony and land 3 stories down on the moon's surface, head half buried in the lunar soil as her dress spilled down around her and her legs wiggled about manically.

~MC~MC~MC~

A few days later Rita, with a few bandages on her head, left the comfort of her bed and the heating pad she'd been using on her back and made her way back to the observation deck of her palace. Not the balcony though… not until better safety measures were taken.

"All Goldar's fault," she muttered as she climbed the stairs. "He probably was eating something and got it all over the rail-"

And that's when she stepped on an old fashion roller skate that had been left on one of the steps, causing her to pinwheel her arms before she went crashing back DOWN the stairs with a series of "ompf!" "Aaaa!" and "OWWWWW!"

~MC~MC~MC~

"Let me help you, my queen," Squat said, offering her his hand. Rita though batted it away… and nearly stumbled before she righted herself with her crutches. She had more bandages wrapped around her head, a cast on her leg, and was still feeling some sharp pains in her stomach.

"I'm fine, you dolt!" Rita declared in frustration. "I don't need your help!"

Her minions didn't share her confidence in that.

"I mean it!" Rita said, swinging her crutch around. "I am-"

And that's when she hit the bookshelf and caused it to fall down right on top of her.

~MC~MC~MC~

"That one wasn't me," Zack said, peering through the window of the palace as Finster and Baboo tried to get the shelf off the Empress of Evil.

"Wasn't me," Trini said. "I set up the glue and feathers trap."

"Meh, sometimes its fun when she does all the work herself."

Skull Loop 28

"My lord!"

Tommy Oliver blinked as a heavy weight teen ran up to him, kneeling down with his head bowed. "Uh… what?"

"My lord, it is I, Farcus Bulkmeier. It is good to see you again, especially with this madness of the time repeating itself."

"I'm sorry… what is going on?"

And then, just to show how weird things truly were, Farcus suddenly leapt to his feet and shrugged. "I have no idea, dweeb. Skull bet me $50 I wouldn't do that. Best money I ever made!" He laughed and walked away, leaving Tommy completely confused.

"…dad always said Angel Grove was nuts," Tommy muttered, rethinking entering the tournament.

Meanwhile, outside, Skull smirked even as he handed Bulk his pay. "Nice going man."

"What was all that about?"

Skull shrugged. "Just checking on-" He stopped as the communicators he and Bulk were wearing chimed. "Yeah Zordon?"

"The Rangers are facing a monster Rita sent that is causing them problems. They could use the power of the Purple and Orange rangers."

"Right," Skull said, pulling out his Legacy Morpher that Anchor Jason had helped him create while Bulk, for the first time ever in a loop, pulled out the Morpher that the two of them had found in a crater a few weeks back. "Ready to show the dweebs how its done?"

"Right," Bulk said with a grin. "It's Morphin' Time!"