Disclaimer: Don't own the Power Rangers. Anybody you never heard of before is probably mine, but it doesn't matter because there's no money involved anyway.

Note: this is completely AU. Zordon never died. Everybody's in their early to mid-twenties. You'll recognize the other stuff I changed.

Also, note to Carrie: you haven't read this one yet…

Hey, when you're done reading this and after you review (please!), go check out ScarletDeva's 'Pink Shade of Fear' and Rach's 'Scars'. These are some quality PR stories.



Legacy, part 17

Trini came out of her bedroom tying a red elastic around the bottom of her braid, the only concession to her battle color in her outfit of unrelieved black. She toed on her flat black shoes and checked in the hall mirror, straightening her collar, grimacing slightly at her reflection. "This is the one thing I've dreaded, since we first became Rangers. Are you ready?"

The small form draped over the arm of her white sofa nodded glumly. "As close as I can get. I'm still in denial, Tri. I can't believe he's – " Kim sighed heavily, brushing away tears from her reddened eyes.

The lovely Asian shrugged. "Denial's a good place to be for something like this." She sat next to her friend on the sofa. "Are you sure you want to say something at the funeral? You don't have to. We all know how you felt about him."

Kim sniffed. "I know. The only one who didn't know was Tommy himself. God, Tri, I'm such an idiot." She shook her head. "I was too afraid to come back before, too worried about the fallout from that goddamn letter. Too afraid that Tommy would hate me. And back then, that was the worst thing I could think of. But now I know there are worse things, and I'm not going to be afraid of anything any more." She offered Trini a watery smile. "I want to talk about him, Tri. I have to. And if I make a fool of myself, well, that's nothing new."

"Okay, but if you change your mind…" Trini gave her a hug. "I'm really glad to have you here, Kim. You don't have to go right back to Florida, do you?"

Kim shook her head, her expression sober. "I'm not going back at all. If you can stand me for a couple more days I'll start apartment hunting in the morning."

Trini looked at her friend, bewildered. "Not going back? I don't know whether to be delighted or upset. I thought the coaching was going so well."

Kim shrugged. "Doesn't seem to matter much now. Nothing does, except this: I never stopped loving Tommy, I know that now. And if I'm too late to tell him, at least I'm not too late to support what he died for. I can help with this, be the point person in the Center for you. If the Rangers go to Xerya, I'll go too. I'll fight So'Vran, just like he did." Kim set her jaw. "And I am going to make him pay."

Trini watched her friend, noting the fire in those caramel eyes. "Zordon would tell you that revenge isn't the answer."

"So he would." Kim looked at Trini steadily. "You're the leader now. What are you going to tell me?"

Trini smiled. "Welcome aboard." She checked her watch. "We've got half an hour before the service. Want to go talk to Zordon?"

In the end it was easier than they had anticipated; the shock of losing one of his own had shaken the Eltaran. "I am glad to have you back, Kimberly," he said. "I wonder if you know how much you and Trini, Jason, Billy, Zack and Tommy have always meant to me. Though I care about all of my Rangers, you were the first. You were, and are, and always will be, my chosen. And I am very, very proud of each of you."

***************

"Chosen? Chosen for what, exactly?" Tommy asked warily.

The odd little man tilted his head to one side quizzically. "In order to answer that question adequately, you will need a history lesson. Shall we be comfortable? You must be hungry."

In answer Tommy's stomach growled loudly, causing the weird little man to chuckle. "Please, come with me." He turned around and moved back toward the arch.

Aji spoke up. "But who are you?"

He thought about it. "You may call me Watcher."

"Watcher? And what do you watch?"

"Most recently, the two of you. Oh," he stopped, half-turning back, "that reminds me. When you see your friends again, please tell them I owe them an apology. I may have been a little… overzealous in bringing you here, and I'm afraid they are under the impression that you've died." Tommy and Aji exchanged horrified glances; the Watcher sent them an apologetic look. "It's my fault. It's been so long since I have been of use to the Master that I rather let my enthusiasm run away with me." Then he brightened. "But just think how glad they'll be to see you!"

"Wait," Aji liked to get her facts straight, "you're saying that the flood… that was your doing?"

He preened. "Impressive, wasn't it?"

"Very," Tommy put in, reaching for Aji to help him to his feet. He leaned in close when the little man wasn't looking. "He's nuts, but I think he's harmless."

She looked after the little fellow uncertainly. "I'm not so sure about that." They followed him through the arch.

The darkness lifted to reveal a room filled with comfort. A long table dominated the room. Dishes filled to overflowing with delectable food sat in lazy disarray over the groaning boards; there were chairs and pallets covered in sumptuous, overstuffed pillows and draperies. The lost pair exchanged another set of glances. The Watcher turned in time to catch Tommy and Aji's expressions of disbelief.

"Oh, dear," he said, disappointed. "I've overdone it again, haven't I?"

"Is – " Tommy swallowed. "Is all this real?"

"Now that depends on your definition of real," the little man smiled benevolently. "Come, the food will fill you, at any rate. And while you eat, I'll see if I can explain all this to you."

He waited until they had settled comfortably with trays of food. "I'll begin at the beginning. You know what Paladin and Sentinel and Guardian are, don't you?"

"Sentient energy beings from another plane of existence, who saw So'Vran's evil and wanted to help Xerya in her time of need. They channel their energy through three Xeryan bloodlines, giving their chosen vessels vast power," volunteered Aji promptly, as though reciting by rote. She grinned at Tommy's expression. "Hey, we grow up with this stuff."

The Watcher turned back the voluminous sleeves of his robe with a finicky motion, revealing age-spotted, long fingered hands, which he folded pedantically over his stomach. "You may be interested to know that the creature you call So'Vran channels one of these sentient energy beings himself. There are many of them. Some good, some evil, some neutral, at least by our definition.

"Thousands of years ago one of them began to interact with this plane, choosing a vessel to house his energy, seeking domination and power. When it became clear that his intentions were not benevolent, three heroes of this world approached Paladin, Sentinel, and Guardian to ask if they could become vessels as well, conduits for good, to fight So'Vran. They were granted this privilege, for them and their descendants, until So'Vran should be defeated.

"But So'Vran used foul means to accomplish his ends, prolonging the life of his vessel by millennia. The other three were bound to allow their vessels to live out their lifespans, passing the power to succeeding generations. This gave So'Vran the edge he needed to create his empire."

Tommy refilled his plate; the Watcher beamed. "I am glad you like my fried glorgnast," he said with visible pride. "It's—"

Tommy held up a warning hand. "No, don't tell me. Something tells me it's better if I don't know." Aji chuckled and waved a stick of cheese at him. Tommy made a face at her. "Is that all you're having? Coward."

She gave him an impish grin. "Not at all, I just don't eat what I can't recognize. Go on, Watcher. So'Vran was cheating, no surprise there."

The Watcher cleared his throat. "Hr-rum. Though So'Vran's means were foul, the vessels for good outnumbered him three to one, and the balance of power seemed to remain more or less static through the millennia. Now, then. I serve a being of this other plane as well. My Master is interested only in balance, in the interaction of good and evil. You see, without good there can be no evil, and without evil, good has little value. As long as the balance of power in this conflict seemed even, my Master remained aloof."

Aji narrowed her green eyes. "What has changed?" For a moment Tommy thought the little Watcher was going to pat her on the head, so pleased was he by this response.

"Excellent! My Master has chosen well. To answer your question, my dear, the balance of power has shifted. So'Vran has discovered a way to destroy the vessels of good in such a way as to destroy the beings behind them as well. Twice now he has attempted this; and it cannot be allowed. So'Vran must be stopped."

"So where do we come in?" Tommy wanted to know.

The little Watcher smiled brightly at him. "You are to be vessels for my Master. It's a very great honor, I assure you."

Tommy frowned. "Do we get a choice?"

The Watcher looked affronted. "Naturally. My Master would never bind anyone to his service unwillingly."

Aji had a question as well. "Why us?"

"Think about it, my dear. One male, one female. One Xeryan, one not. Both touched by evil, yet your souls are balanced by purity. Both experienced warriors. One lifebound, one who should be. There are more reasons, but these will suffice."

"Hold it a sec – go back – " Tommy sputtered.

But the little man ignored him, getting up and settling his robes about him. "If you have finished with your meals?" He led them from the room back into the main atrium.

Tommy leaned on Aji's shoulder. "You accepted the Bloodsong?"

She slanted a glance up at him. "Not I."

"But if you're not lifebound, then he must mean—"

The Watcher's voice cut across their covert conversation as he stopped in front of the black and white opalescent stones Tommy and Aji had noticed earlier. "The powers offered you must act in tandem; you will be deeply connected to one another, as brother and sister, each unable to act without the other. One power is overt, representing light, action. The other is covert, representing shadow, thought. Do you accept custodianship of these powers offered to you?"

They looked at each other. "If it will help defeat So'Vran, I do," said Aji.

"I'm in," said Tommy with a decisive nod.

The Watcher beamed. "Excellent. I will draw the powers from the stones; hold your hands out and your hearts open. The powers will choose you." With that he produced a long-necked pitcher from nowhere and poured a clear, slightly viscous liquid into the depression surrounding the stones. They watched as the black and white opalescence seemed to flow from the stones into the liquid, remaining separate, yet twined together, leaving the stones a dull quartz-gray. Aji slipped her hand into Tommy's, holding her other hand over the well; Tommy's outstretched palm joined hers, and they waited for something to happen.

Suddenly the two colors jumped, sending gleaming tendrils into the air, touching the hands presented to them delicately, almost tentatively; and then the decision was made, and iridescent white slid up Aji's arm while opalescent black slithered over Tommy. They watched in fascination as their bodies were covered by the power; and then it seemed to sink into them and disappear.

Suddenly it surged from their skin, flowing from within to sheath them, and the vessels of Light and Shadow stood revealed to the delighted Watcher.