*Author's Note: This is the first Fanfiction I've worked on in a decade or more. I'm sure I am more than a little bit rusty. It's also my first Power Rangers fic ever. Please bare with me if its a little bit off at the beginning. I'm hoping to get back into the groove as I go along. Also this is taking place in an AU setting. My favorite time line is the of the MMPR. So somethings that shouldn't be in this time line such as Tommy and Kimberly's break up and Aisha still being around a year after Kim's left will be happening while the Rangers still have their MMPR powers and have not being Zeo Rangers*
Fall in Angel Grove California was always a beautiful time of year. The temperature in the normally intensely hot area was finally beginning to be bearable as Autumn breezes would work their way through the town. A light sprinkling of color would start appearing on the trees as the glowing green was slowly replaced by the golden hues of the season. It was the beginning of the school year, the start of the holiday season and for the Power Rangers a rare chance to stop and the simple things in life.
"Hey Ernie, thanks for letting us hold the youth groups movie night here," Tommy Oliver said gratefully to the portly older man who stood behind the counter of his juice bar. With ease the handsome teen heaved the fifteen pound bag of popping corn down beside the various pieces of a large popper that Ernie was trying and failing to put together for the evening's use.
Without looking away from his project, eyes squinted as he fiddled with the dumping mechanism, the heart of the youth center replied kindly, "No problem Tommy, you know I'll help you guys anyway I can," Dressed in his trademark Hawaiian shirt and with ever present supportive manner, Ernie was determined to get the machine up and running in time for the youth of Angel Grove to have to the buttery, salty treat with their movie that night.
With the start of the school year the students of Angel Grove high school and members of the local Big Brothers and Sisters program had put together various planned activities that would allow for young children to have fun in a safe and organized way. One of which would be hosting biweekly movie nights, held at the Youth Center, properly chaperoned by the Rangers.
As the rest of the team trickled in behind their leader, arms full of supplies, Tommy turned his attention toward the other teens in greeting, "Hey guys did you get everything," He asked as Rocky heaved three boxes of juice barrel drinks onto the counter beside the popcorn kernels.
Nodding in reply the Red Ranger stated, "I think so, Billy stopped to get ice for the drinks, but Adam and the girls have the rest of the snacks and the blankets for the kids," He indicated the rest of their friends with his chin.
After setting down the two trash bags full of throw blankets for the children to wrap up in during movie watching, Kat approached the counter as well, resting her head affectionately on Tommy's shoulder. His arm wrapped loosely around the pretty blonde's waist as the pair stood together in comfortable silence. Things between them had slowly become more natural as time grew on. Sometimes, times like this, Tommy even forgot all about his first love, Kimberly Hart and all the hurt she'd caused him less than a year before, with that stupid Dear John letter she'd sent him.
The girl hadn't even had the decency to call and let him hear it with his own ears, in her voice! She hadn't even given him the chance to try to change her mind. Or even just to speak his peace. Sending that letter was so final and certainly hadn't been fair to him. Alright so maybe deep inside he was still a little bit bitter… But he was getting over it, slowly. And Katherine Hilliard was going to be the one to help him do it.
"What movie did you guys pick for this week, anyway," Asked Ernie, sighing heavily as he realized he'd just put one of the glass panels for the popcorn maker on, upside down, for the third time.
Adam, having just finished putting a large jug of butter flavored popping oil down, hopped up on one of the stools at the bar near his friends, "Snow White, Aisha picked it. It was one of her favorites as a kid," As a bit of a romantic and likely the most sensitive of the team, Adam had to admit he liked the film himself. He'd always pictured himself as the Prince Charming/Knight in Shining Armour in those sorts of stories. And deep down he really was.
The smile on Aisha's face seemed to glow at 3000 watts at her friend's statement about her favorite movie. Her straight white teeth in perfect contrast to her mocha colored skin, "It still is," She exclaimed emphasising her point by gesturing to the character inspired outfit she was wearing. Giving a quick twirl she caused the delicate yellow skirt she was wearing to billow up around her like a flower, before flowing back softly against her legs, "Did you remember to pick up the DVD from the video rental place, Tommy,"
As the White Ranger's dark eyes widened slightly his friends all let out a collective groan. It was a well known fact amongst the six teens that while Tommy was a strong, smart and capable leader, he was also a little scatterbrained. Chronically late of always forgetting things, despite being a generally responsible person, was just deeply ingrained in him, "I knew I forgot something. I better go get it,"
"I'll come with you," Kat offered, with a sweet, smitten sort of smile that could only come from teenage romance.
"No, it's okay. You stay and I'll help finish setting up. I'll be right back,I'll cut through the park," Pressing a little kiss to the girl's temple, the long haired young man unwound himself from his girlfriend's grasp and started toward the door. A sizzle, snap and a quick yelp behind him alerting the teen that behind him Ernie had likely just electrocuted himself.
Luckily as Tommy was exiting the building Billy was making his way into it. After explaining to his tech savvy teammate where he was off to, he then added, "Ernie really needs your help getting the popcorn machine together before he blows himself up," Laughing jokingly the two boys waved and headed off in separate directions.
Lord Zedd as usual was monitoring the Power Ranger's every move in his wicked, voyeuristic attempts to catch the teens unprepared. Always searching for the right opportunity to strike, particularly when one of the Rangers was on their own. And there always seemed to be an added excitement for him, when the lone Ranger just happened to be Tommy. The leader of the group was a favored target of the evil Lord and his sadistic bride Rita. Determined to one day bring Tommy back into the clutches of darkness and use his power and strength to put an end to his band of heroes for good.
"What's this? The White Ranger, alone in the park… Taking a quiet little stroll, Tommy? We'll see about that. Putties, go down there and capture that pesky Power Ranger once and for all," Ordered the villain drumming his long, silver capped nails on the arm of his throne.
Tommy had almost made it back to the Youth Center, DVD in hand, when the distinctive gibberish gobbling of a puttie patrol caught his attention. Around him stood six of the grey clad, clay creatures, circling as they readied themselves to attack, "Man Rita and Zedd never give up," said the young man, as he sighed in frustration and took up a fighting stance.
Being in a public place like the park always made morphing a difficult and potentially dangerous circumstance. But after assessing the situation the tall teen asserted that he could handle a half a dozen putties without use of his powers. Besides Alpha and Zordon would send the rest of the team to his aid if he needed it. They always did.
It was a fortunate thing that his assumption was correct however, as it was just as a putty had grabbed each of his arms and another had enfolded his grasp around Tommy's waist that his friends teleported onto the scene. Now in even numbers the battle scarcely lasted a few minutes before the teens had successfully activated the Z on the vest of each monster, forcing it to self-destruct.
"What was that about," Asked Aisha once the random pieces of putty patrollers had disappeared around them. The soft Autumn beauty of the park returned, looking almost untouched.
Having no real answer Tommy could only shake his head. It had become so common that he was attacked when alone, it almost didn't phase him anymore. Though Billy pointed out as the group made their way back to the Juice bar that they should be at the ready for the time being, as putty attacks were almost always followed by some kind of monster trying to level the city.
From his base on the moon Zedd looked on with disgust, his plan to retake Tommy had failed once again. However, listening to Billy warn his friends that there would likely be more action did coerce a vile cackle from the red villain's lips, "A very astute observation, Blue Ranger," Remarked the master of monsters. His vermillion vision settling on the forgotten case of Snow White. The DVD had been dropped into the grass during the tussle and the Rangers had retreated without it, "What wonderful inspiration," Clucked Zedd as he pointed his magic staff at the discarded disk, "My Poison Apple Monster will place all of those disgusting do gooders under its spell of eternal sleep. And then, I will take over the Earth!"