Tommy and Kimberly were relieved that Kat wasn't going to be around. The remainder of the year, was very peaceful. Graduation was approaching, Mr. Kaplan was contacting the students in the top three percent. The class of 1997's top three percent, was very interesting. The valedictorian were Billy Cranston. The salutatorians were Tommy Oliver, and Kimberly Oliver. The rest of the top three percent was Aisha Campbell, Rocky DeSantos, Adam Park, and Tanya Sloan.
On the morning of graduation, Tommy and Kimberly got up early to get ready. Tommy wore a pair khakis, a white shirt, and a green tie. Kimberly wore a pale pink top, a knee length khaki jumper, and black ankle strap sandals. They met up with Rocky, Adam, Aisha, Tanya, and Billy. Rocky was wearing jeans, a red dress shirt, and blue tie. Adam was wearing khakis, a green dress shirt, and a black tie. Aisha was wearing jeans, a pale yellow tee, and a yellow floral dress shirt. Tanya was wearing a pair khakis, a light blue tee, and a yellow cotton sweater. Billy was wearing a pair of khaki's, and blue dress shirt. He was wearing a navy blue tee, under his blue dress shirt. All of the graduates were given their robes. The boys wore purple and the girls wore yellow.
All of the rangers sat on the stage. After everyone took a seat, Mr. Kaplan called Billy to come give his Valedictorian speech.
"Another has passed by, it seems like it was only yesterday that we were all Freshmen. I remember that Mr. Kaplan said that our high school years would go by quick. At the time it didn't seem possible. Over time, I realized he was right. During these past four years, we had to work hard to make good grades. We also had to take the ACT and SAT tests to help get into a good college. Along the way, we had great teachers and mentors who guided us. I'd like to thank Ms. Appleby for giving all of guidance and for being a good teacher. Her class was always interesting. I'd also like to thank Ernie who was there everyday, in the youth center. He spent a lot of time fixing lunch and snacks for all of the students. Not only did he make good food, he was there for everyone. Ernie took time, to talk to us everyday and he helped if we had a problem," explained Billy. "Also I'd like to announce to everyone that I feel really blessed to have all of my friends up here. I've talked with the Co-Salutatorians, and we decided that the three of us would do a speech together. Then we thought about our other four friends. They helped us right our speech, in the end, we decided that the seven of us would say some thing. If it is okay with Mr. Kaplan."
Billy looked at Mr. Kaplan. Mr. Kaplan picked up the microphone.
"I've never seen the whole top three precent give a speech together," stated Mr. Kaplan. "Mr. Cranston came to me and told me their idea. I was interested in seeing a combined speech."
He handed the microphone back to Billy.
"I'd like to call Tommy Oliver to the stage," declared Billy.
Billy handed Tommy the microphone and took a seat. Tommy stood at the stands.
"I'm like Billy, I never thought high school could go by quickly. Growing up, my parents moved around a lot. I had to leave my friends and school. Sometimes, I'd change schools every year. Sometimes, It would be every other year. In 1993, my parents and I came to Angel Grove. It was hard to make friends, since I didn't know how long I'd be here. I found out that my family was making Angel Grove their home. I made my first friends here. It happened in the youth center. I was fighting Jason Scott in a karate match and I won. Jason congratulated and welcomed me into their group. I became friends with Billy, Zach Taylor and Trini Kwan," stated Tommy.
He paused. Kimberly was giving him a look. Tommy continued to give his part of the speech.
"And I also met my future wife Kimberly Hart," declared Tommy. "I'd like to call my wife, Kimberly Oliver to the stage."
He gave Kimberly the microphone and took a seat. Kimberly went to the stand.
"All of us were good friends, and during our Sophomore year, we meet Rocky, Adam, and Aisha. They transferred to Angel Grove, right before Jason, Zach, and Trini went to peace conference. They had been really good friends for years. They welcomed Tommy, Billy, and I into their group. I'd like to call Rocky, Adam, and Aisha to the stage," said Kimberly.
She took her seat and handed Rocky the microphone. Rocky, Adam, and Aisha all stood at the stage.
"I'm Rocky, and I transferred here from Stone Canyon. During my three years at Angel Grove High, my friend Adam and I helped give karate lessons to younger students. I learned high school was also about making friends and making an impact on younger students," said Rocky.
He handed Adam the microphone.
"I'm Adam, usually I don't like to talk in front of a large group of people or be in front of a video camera. In these three years, I've done karate to help build my self-confidence and set an example on younger students," said Adam.
He gave Aisha the microphone.
"I'm Aisha, I'd like to say that we've also had a lot of interesting memories here at school. Especially, in Ms. Appleby's class. There were two students who always made us laugh. I'm not going to say their names. Anyway, they were determined to find out who the power rangers were. They did a lot of things to find out who they were. One time, I heard that they saved the power rangers. No body believed them, but I wanted to tell them that all of us believed them. They wouldn't have said it, if it didn't happen. When it came to the rangers, they were always the first ones to know about the rangers keeping the city safe," state Aisha. "I'm calling our friend Tanya to give her part of the speech."
All of them took a seat. Aisha gave Tanya the microphone. She stood at the stand.
"I've only been a student at Angel Grove High for a year. In this past year, I've made many good friends and I've had several great teachers. After our project graduation, all of us will go our separate ways. Some of us will keep in touch. Some we will never see again. When we go our separate ways, some will be in college, some will go into the work force, some will go the military, or start families. I want to wish everyone good luck," stated Tanya.
Mr. Kaplan was impressed with the speech. After the graduation ceremony, they had a party. All of the rangers talked about what they were going to do. Rocky and Adam were going to start a karate school. Tanya was going to New York for a singing contact. Aisha was going to be working at the zoo, then she'd be going to college later. Billy was going to study to be a college professor. Tommy and Kimberly were going to Angel Grove University. Tommy was going to study fossils, and maybe a science teacher. Kimberly was going to be a PE teacher.
All of the rangers passed their powers to someone else, so they could move on to other things. All of them hugged Alpha good bye and said good bye to Zordon. Tommy and Kimberly packed up all of their things from their dorm (in the command center's basement). They lived with Tommy's parents over the summer. Kimberly's mother came back to Angel Grove.
In the fall, they moved into their new dorm at the college. They used a lot of the stuff that they had in their dorm in the command center. Tommy and Kimberly lived in the married couples sections. They moved into their new dorm and began to decorate it. Their room had double bed, a closet, two small desks, and a bathroom. The pushed the two desks together, so they could do their studying together. They signed up for the same classes.
"Does it feel weird not being a ranger?" asked Kimberly.
"Yes, it does," answered Tommy. "It's going to be weird not being with the team every day."
"I hope that they keep in touch," added Kimberly. "We were with them every day at school and we were on the same team."
Kimberly walked over to the window. Their dorm was on the second floor. They could pretty much see the whole campus. Tommy walked over to her. He put an arm around her.
"Are you okay?" asked Tommy.
"I'm fine," answered Kimberly.
"Kim, I was just thinking about our life," explained Tommy. "We've been married for almost two years. For two years we were rangers. We went through a lot of stuff. I just want us to have a normal life."
"Tommy, I think we will," reassured Kimberly.
"What if we're rangers again?" asked Tommy.
"We could handle it alone," answered Kimberly. "I just don't want it to occur for awhile."
"This is a big college, do you think we'll see Billy?" asked Tommy. "Do you think we'll see him?"
"I'm sure we will," answered Kimberly. "I wonder who he is rooming with."
"We can ask him sometime," answered Tommy. "Other than us, none of the other rangers came here. I already knew I'd be living in a dorm with. I didn't have a choice, when I filled out my paper."
"What do you mean?" asked Kimberly.
"I didn't have to make a choice, when I filled out my form," replied Tommy. " I knew you'd be my roommate."
"We filled out the papers at the same time," remarked Kimberly. "Remember? We toured the campus together, signed up for all the same classes, and signed up to be roommates."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," stated Tommy.
They realized it was getting late, so they ate, took their showers and got ready for bed. Kimberly put on a pink night gown. Tommy put on a white tee and green pajama pants. They both got in bed
"Are you nervous about classes tomorrow?" asked Kimberly.
"I have no need," answered Tommy. "I know who I'll be sitting by you in class and at lunch."
"I feel the same way," replied Kimberly.
He pulled her close and they fell asleep. They were ready to start the next chapter of their life together.