The next day, everything was going smoothly. Bella was wearing a black tank top, a white jacket, grey skinny jeans, and black boots. Bella's hair is in a half ponytail. She wanted out of the garage, so she went to walk around the city. Bella was getting use to the city and how to get around. Suddenly, she heard screams. Bella turned around to see a car flying towards her. Bella's eyes widened and she quickly ducked. She looked up and saw a Venjix attack bot walking around, attracting metal objects and making it fly everywhere.
"Bella!" Bella recognized that voice.
"Dillon." Bella said. She saw the rangers go to her, already morphed. Dillon helped her up.
"Get back to the garage. We'll handle this." Dillon said.
"I know you will." Bella said. She gripped Dillon's arm for a second before leaving. She ran all the way to the garage into the ranger lab. Dr. K was on her computers, monitoring the battle.
"Dr. K, how are the rangers?" Bella asked. Dr. K nodded and spoke on her comm.
"Rangers, report." Dr. K said.
"We're fine, Doc K. But the Venjix attack bot-" Scott got interrupted.
"The giant magnet ran away." Flynn said. Then the connection got cut off. One on the screens outside the ranger lab started ringing.
"I got it." Bella said. She left the ranger lab and went to the screen that was ringing. When she got to there, Bella saw Colonel Truman on the screen.
"Sir, what seems to be the problem?" Bella asked. Just after she said that, the rangers were walking in, except for Ziggy.
"Your green ranger is in jail." Colonel Truman said. Bella's eyes widened.
"What?!" Bella yelled in shock. After that, the rangers and Dr. K ran to the screen.
"Bella, what's wrong?" Dillon asked.
"Your Ziggy is in jail. We need you to come down to the prison." Colonel Truman said before the screen turned black.
"Well, Ziggy is back in jail, and we need to get him out." Bella said.
"You still need to be on the look out for that attack bot. Scott, as the team's leader, you decide what to do. I'm going back to the lab." Dr. K said before leaving. Everyone stared at Scott.
"I, umm…" Scott didn't know what to do. Bella had to butt in.
"Ok, how about this? Scott and Flynn continue searching for the attack bot. Dillon, Summer, and I go to the prison and take Dr. K with us, but on a screen. I'm gonna go inform her." She said then left and went inside the lab.
"That was fast." Dillon said.
"She could be a great ranger." Summer said.
"That I agree on." Flynn said.
"Does everyone agree on that?" Scott asked. Everyone nodded.
"Great. We'll talk with Dr. K later." Scott said. Then Bella came out. Everyone acted like nothing happened.
"She's ready. Let's go." Bella said as she held up a tablet. She started to walk away with Dillon and Summer behind her. When they got to the cell, they saw Ziggy in prison clothes again and Colonel Truman sitting in front of him. They entered the cell and Bella set up the tablet and Dr. K showed up.
"Ok, Ziggy, tell us what happened." Bella said.
"It was a mistake, ok? I couldn't teleport into that vault again if I wanted to. I'm not a criminal. I'm just… incompetent." Ziggy said.
"You're not incompetent, Ziggy. I know it." Bella said. Ziggy managed a weak smile. Colonel Truman looked at the screen Dr. K was on.
"Dr. K, do you vouch for this?" The Colonel asked.
"I can definitely vouch for the incompetent part. As far as being a criminal, I can't say." Dr. K said.
"I can." Colonel Truman said. Bella looked at Colonel Truman.
'He can't have proof that Ziggy is a criminal. He can't.' Bella thought.
"We checked around. When Fresno Bob came to set up his Scorpion Cartel in Corinth, you came with him, didn't you, Ziggy?" The Colonel asked, even though he knew the answer.
"Ziggy, is that true?" Bella asked. Ziggy looked at her for a second before hanging his head.
'But that's not solid proof. I don't even think that's proof of any kind. Ziggy is hiding something, and it's not a criminal act.' Bella thought.
"You know what, I don't care that Ziggy came to Corinth with this Fresno guy. It doesn't mean that Ziggy is a criminal." Bella said. Colonel Truman thought about what Bella said, but ignored it. Bella looked at Dillon and Summer.
"Can you find Fresno Bob and talk to him? Maybe he can tell us something." Bella said.
"But he's a criminal. What if he could be lying?" Summer asked.
"I'll know when a criminal is lying. Don't worry." Bella said.
"You're the boss." Dillon said. Then they left. Bella looked back at Ziggy, who looked like he was coming out from a flashback.
"All of them. Every single one of the five cartels wants you ghosted. Now, what could you have done to make every single gangster in this city hate you?" Colonel Truman asked. Bella noticed that Ziggy wanted to speak, but kept quiet.
"Ziggy, we can help you. Whatever you did, we can protect you from Fresno Bob and his people. Please, tell us what happened." Bella asked. Ziggy hung his head again. Dillon and Summer came back.
"Hey, what did you find?" Bella asked.
"According to Fresno Bob, Ziggy stole a truck full of items that cost millions." Summer said.
"No one knows where that truck went, except for Ziggy." Dillon said.
"Well then, that seals it. Colonel Truman, please remove the Series Green Morpher from Ziggy's wrist. He is suspended indefinitely from Project Ranger." Dr. K said.
"What? Dr. K, you believe the words of a criminal, and not Ziggy? What's wrong with you?" Bella asked, a bit in shock.
"Come on, Doc. We don't even know for sure what happened." Dillon said.
"We don't know because he won't tell us." Dr. K said. Colonel Truman held out his hand and Ziggy gave him his morpher.
"Bella, you will bring me the morpher. Make sure it is safe." Dr. K said. Colonel Truman gave the morpher to Bella.
"You won't be in jail too long, Ziggy. I'll find out what happened. I promise." Bella said.
"Thank you, Bella." Ziggy whispered. Bella nodded and looked at Colonel Truman.
"Colonel Truman, please keep an eye on Ziggy till this is sorted out. Dillon and Summer, go help Scott and Flynn search for the attack bot. I'll go to Fresno Bob myself." Bella said. And she left the prison and made her way towards the track, where Fresno Bob and his people live in, or settling for now. Bella entered a room and saw Fresno Bob sitting on a chair.
"You Fresno Bob?" Bella asked.
"What do you want, girl?" Fresno Bob asked rudely.
"What happened with Ziggy that made you and your people hate him so much?" Bella asked.
"Like I told the Black and Yellow Ranger, he stole a truck of valuable items." Fresno Bob said.
"What was in the truck and what was it for?" Bella asked.
"Medicine for Child Gamma Sickness." Fresno Bob said. Suddenly, Bella knew the whole story.
"Thank you for your time." Bella said. She turned around to leave.
"Hey, you don't have to worry about Ziggy any longer. He's being taken care of." Fresno Bob said. Bella balled her hands into fists and left, trying to resist punching him. Bella walked back towards the prison.
She walked into Ziggy's cell. When she got there, she saw it empty. Bella looked at the prison guard.
"Where is Ziggy? Did you move him or something?" Bella asked. The guard shook his head. Then Bella remembered what Fresno Bob said.
"Hey, you don't have to worry about Ziggy any longer. He's being taken care of."
"Oh no." Bella ran out of the prison and went running back to the track. When she got there, she saw Ziggy and Dr. K walking down the stairs. Dr. K outside? Dr. K is in a school uniform with a white cloak and an untested invention, which Bella guessed was now tested.
"Ziggy, you're ok." Bella said.
"Yup, thanks to Dr. K." Ziggy said. Bella looked at Dr. K.
"I'm guessing you found out the real story." Bella said.
"Yes, I did." Dr. K said. Ava held up the Green Morpher.
"May I?" Bella asked. Dr. K nodded. Bella held the morpher to Ziggy, who took it back.
"I believe you have a job to do, Ranger Green." Bella said. Ziggy smiled as he out his morpher back on his wrist.
"Thank you both, for believing in me." Ziggy said.
"Anytime. Now go." Bella said. Ziggy nodded and ran to help his fellow teammates and friends. Bella noticed the gangsters in their underwear.
"I'm guessing the weapon is officially tested now, hasn't it?" Bella asked.
"It is." Dr. K said. Bella laughed.
"It's been a long day. Let's go back and wait for the rangers." Bella said. Dr. K nodded and they both walked side by side to the garage. After a long but nice walk, the two made it to the garage and went inside the ranger lab. They made it just in time to hear that the rangers won the battle and the attack bot was destroyed. Later, the rangers came back and Dr. K planned on working with Ziggy to improve the teleportation power. Bella decided to stay and watch. Ziggy was on the platform with his ranger suit on and without his helmet. Dr. K is on her computers while Bella stood next to her.
"Come on, Doc, admit it. We're friends." Ziggy said with a smile.
"You are just another piece of equipment to me, Ranger Green." Dr. K said.
"We're friends. You and I are friends. Is that so bad?" Ziggy asked with that smile still there.
"Yes, I think so." Dr. K said.
"You just don't want to admit it. You like everyone on the team. And you are my friend too, no matter how much you deny it." Bella said. Dr. K shook her head.
"Now, will you please concentrate on the teleportation exercise?" Dr. K asked. Ziggy pushed a button on his morpher and his helmet appeared on his head.
"Ok, but first of all, I just want to point out that you came outside, out of doors, to save me. Now that means something." Ziggy said. Dr. K said nothing. Ziggy got ready to teleport. Then he disappeared in a green flash. Bella and Dr. K heard noises from… the ceiling? They looked up to see Ziggy stuck on the bars on the ceiling. Bella couldn't hold it in and let out her laughter.
"We're in a dome. It doesn't count." Dr. K said.
"Sorry, Ziggy. Can't help you. You got up there. You got to get down there. Good luck." Bella said. She left the lab. Bella was heading to her room, until she saw Dillon. Dillon didn't look back at Bella, but she was all he could think about. When Bella looked away, Dillon looked at her and watched as she disappeared into her room. She consumed his thoughts both day and night. Dillon finally admitted it to himself, but didn't dare admit it to anyone else.
"I'm in love with you, Bella."
Sookie, Bella and Bill were on their way to fangtasia.
"Penny for your thoughts." Sookie said as Bella sat in the backseat.
"I thought you liked not knowing my thoughts." Bill said to her.
"Most of the time I do." Sookie said.
"You won't care for it." Bill said.
"That doesn't mean I don't wanna know." Sookie said.
"You look like vampire bait." Bella couldn't help herself as she started laughing.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sookie asked looking between the both of them. "What about Bella?"
"I promised your grandmother no harm would come to you at Fangtasia tonight. I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to keep that promise with you dressed like this."
"You're wearing a white dress and look like a good girl Sook. I'm in all black." Bella said still kind of laughing.
"So are you saying you think I look nice?" Sookie asked Bill.
"Doesn't matter what I think. This isn't a date, remember?" Bill smirked and Bella gagged a bit.
"Nope! None of that." They both laughed and soon enough they were there."
"Bill. Haven't seen you in a while." Pam said they came inside.
"I'm mainstreamin'." He told her.
"Good for you. I see Bella came back after all. Who's the doll?"
"Pam, this is Sookie, Bella's older sister. Sookie, this is Pam."
"Pleased to meet you." Sookie smiled at her and put her hand out to Pam. Pam ignored it and asked her ID.
"Oh. Sure. How funny. Who'd have thought? Getting' carded at a vampire bar." Sookie said.
"I can no longer tell human ages. We must be careful we serve no minors... in any capacity. Twenty-five, huh? How sweet it is." She gave it back and they continued inside.
"This feels a little bit like what a vampire bar would look like if it were a... a ride at Disney World." Sookie said causing Bella to laugh a bit.
"Well, don't get too comfortable. It tends to get more authentic as the night wears on." We walked towards the bar. "Can I get you ladies somethin' to drink?"
"Uh, please." Sookie said while Bella nodded my head.
"How's it goin', Bill?" The bartender from the other night asked as we walked up.
"Very well." Bill said.
"I'll say it is. This your meal for tonight?"
"This is my friend Sookie and her sister Bella. Sookie, Longshadow."
"Nice to meet you." Sookie says trying to be friendly again, but he just stares at her. "I'll have a gin and tonic, please."
"Water." Bella said.
"And I'll have a bottle of O Negative. Longshadow, Sookie here would like to know if she could ask you a few questions. Would this be acceptable?"
"I just have a couple of pictures I'd love you to take a look at." She said as she showed him pictures of the two girls. "You recognize either of these women?"
"Yeah, I seen 'em both here before." He said as he grabbed them.
"Great, thank you. And do you also happen to remember who they hung around with?" Sookie asked.
"That's something we don't notice here. You won't either." Longshadow said.
"Okay, then. Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time." She said.
"This one. She wanted to die." He said pointing at one of the pictures. He said.
"How do you know?" Sookie asked.
"Everyone who comes here does, in their own way. That's who we are, Death." He said.
He gave Sookie back the pictures and then gave them their drinks. They found a small table and sat down. Bella noticed Eric back on his throne as usual. A man started walking up to Eric.
"How's your drink?" Bill asked Sookie.
"A gin and tonic's pretty much a gin and tonic no matter where you drink it." Sookie said.
"I know exactly what you mean." Bill said.
"Who's that?" Sookie asked looking at Eric.
"Oh, you noticed him, did you?" Bill asked.
"No, it's not like that. I just-" Sookie says but Bill cut her off.
"Everyone does. That's Eric. He's the oldest thing in this bar." He said.
Bella focused on Eric and watched as the man put his hand on Eric's knee, only to be kicked across the bar and lands on the floor. She scoffed to herself.
"Dick." Bella muttered to herself and took a drink of my water.
"You able to pick up anything?" Bill asked Sookie.
"All anyone's thinkin' about here is sex, sex, sex." She told them.
"Don't need to read minds for that. Lust is practically the only emotion in here." Bella said.
"Uh, oh." Bill said.
"Don't say "uh-oh." Vampires are not supposed to say "uh-oh."" Sookie said and Bella laughed again.
"It's Eric. He's scanned you two twice. He's goin' to summon us."
"He can do that?" Sookie asked.
"Yeah." Bill said.
Bella saw Eric motion towards them and Bill took Sookie's hand and they walked up towards Eric, in his throne, and Pam, standing beside him.
"Bill Compton. It has been a while." Eric said. "Miss Stackhouse. Pleasure to see you again."
"Yes, well, I've been-" Bill was cut off.
"Mainstreaming. I heard. I see that is, going well for you." Eric glanced at Sookie.
"Yes, of course. Uh, sorry. Eric, this is my friend-"
"Sookie Stackhouse. I assume you are Bella's sister?"
"How do you know my name? Or my sister?" Sookie asked.
"I never forget a pretty face. You're in my vault." Pam explained tapping her forehead.
"Great. That's just great." Sookie sounded like the last thing she thought was that it was great and Bella elbowed her, slightly less discretely this time and leaned into her ear, whispering furiously.
"Sookie, for the love of god, shut up!"
"What, why?" Sookie replied affronted.
"Have you ever heard the phrase 'respect your elders'? Well they're definitely your elders." Bella tried to ignore the fact that their conversation was definitely being overheard.
"Why don't you say that about Bill?" Sookie asked.
"Because I don't trust him." Bella said.
"It's nice to meet you." Sookie pressed on, trying to ingratiate herself.
"Well, aren't you sweet." Eric said, not sounding like it was good thing.
Pam watched amused as Bella looked like she was about to try and slap some sense into her sister. She tuned back into the conversation in time to see the pictures and noted that she recognised them both.
"On account of the vault?" Sookie sassed her and Pam might have been more annoyed if it wasn't for Bella actually covering her face for a moment, mumbling an 'oh my god' into her palms.
"Well, thank you very much. That is all your time I need to take." Sookie said and went to leave.
"I'm not finished with you yet." Eric smiled at them. "Please. Sit."
Sookie sat down on Eric's right while Bill and Bella remained standing. She felt like something was coming and didn't want to sit down.
"So, Bill. Are you quite attached to your friends?" Eric asked looking at them.
"She is mine." Bill snapped.
"Yes. I am his." Sookie said.
"What a pity. For me." Eric says but then The Farmer And The Dell was heard. "I knew she would be here." Bella said as Tenaya started attacking the bar. Eric then came to her.
"You will stop attacking Fangtasia" Eric glamoured her. "Yes. I will stop attacking Fangtasia." Tenaya said.
"Whenever someone says the word remember, you will start to have flashbacks of your true self as a human. At first you'll think nothing of it but over time you will slowly realize the truth whether you believe it or not. Do you understand? Eric asked.
"Yes." Tenaya said. "Good. Now you will take some of my blood then go." Eric said then fed Tenaya some of his blood then she left.
"That was awesome!" Bella cheered.
Suddenly Sookie announced there was going to be a police raid. Confirming with Sookie that there was in fact a vampire feeding illegally in the toilets, Eric stood up quickly as the air filled with shouts of "Freeze, nobody move."
"Follow me." He commanded, leading the way to a back exit and outside.
Bill picked up Sookie in his arms and Bella frowned, wondering how she would be able to get to the car too without being seen.
Eric noticed her dilemma, and after nodding to Pam to go on ahead, quickly scooped up Bella, making her stifle a surprised squeak as he sped towards the car ahead of Bill.
Setting Bella down, Eric looked Sookie and Bill over, his lip curling in disgust when he briefly looked at Bill before settling on Sookie.
"I enjoyed meeting you Miss Stackhouse, you will come again." Eric said.
"And I'm sure that we will be seeing each other very soon Eric Northman." Bella said before climbing to her car and speeding off.
Eric went to his office and felt something. A piece of paper.
He took it out of his inside pocket. The note said,
"Bella S.
It's not safe to speak around a lot of people and what I need to report to you something interesting. I need your help. I putting my trust in you but know that he's smart and can tell when something not right.
Meet me at Corinth University Music building. #304".
'Interesting. She attends college. Who are you, Bella Stackhouse?' Eric thought.
He decides to fly to her school campus to meet her. He soon finds the music building and hears someone singing and playing the piano. He looks to see who it was and to my surprise it was Bella.
Soon her class was over and she was leaving.
"Hey, you made it. Alright, let's go." she said as she rushes pass him. He was soon by her walking along.
"What is it that you need to tell me?" Eric asked as they approach her car.
"Bill Compton. When he first walked into my sister's life he seemed nice but then he let two drug dealers drain him and made my sister play the noble fool in saving him. He let them detain him with this small chain." Bella said in the car handing him some gloves to wear before handing him the weak small long chain.
"And he didn't report this to me?" Eric asked.
"My ...abilities are stronger than my sister's. I was able to get a look at their set of minds and it was cloudy." Bella said.
"Glamour. Are you telling me Bill Compton glamoured them to drain him?" Eric asked with a hiss.
"Not only that but he glamoured them to beat my sister to a bloody pulp and killed them before staging a horrible sense of a 'tornado killed them'. Here." Bella said before handing him all the papers she did.
"This makes sense. You two can't be glamoured by my kind but you think once he fed her his blood that he was able to make a link with her." Eric said.
"Yes, and you could see how she was reacting last night. My sister is stupid but she is a Southern lady and sweet. That is not how she normally reacts to things." Bella said sadly.
Eric looks at her to see the passion in her eyes. That look he knew well.
"Who do you think he works for?" He asked her.
"I am just starting to learn more about your commute. He said he is mainstreaming well you are the only person who knows who he last heard from." She said.
"Last word I heard before he appeared in my area was that he was with...what would she want with you two?" Eric asked.
"Who's she?" Bella asked.
"The queen. Each state has a sheriff and a King or Queen. We have a Queen in New Orleans. If she has taken interest in you two then neither of you are safe." He said.
"If that's the case then it takes more then just me and you ganging up on Sookie. She needs to hear it from someone else for her to believe it. She won't listen to see right now. He got her wrapped around his finger." She said.
"I can protect you if you let me." He said.
"Including what. I quick fuck and feed. I pass. I have seen how women look at you the last few nights Eric. As much as that sounds enjoyable I need more than that. I need equality at the moment." She said.
"What would I need to do to give into my protection?" He said.
"Help me save my family before it's destroyed." She said.
"I will help you with this problem. I need to give you my blood and the same from you." He said and then she eyed him.
"I am not Bill. I wouldn't dare control you." He said.
"Business only." She said, handing her wrist to him.
Eric remembered Bella's first time walking into his bar and her scent was so delicious smelling. Stronger than her sister's.
He takes her wrist and his fangs pop out. He licked her wrist before biting. She tenses before relaxing.
She tasted like sunshine and fruits that came from Sweden to Eric. He pulls away sealing the bits before biting his wrist and handing it to her. She looks at it before taking a deep breath and puts her mouth on her wrist and drinks.