Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers, or the settings where they have
taken place. They are owned by Saban. I don't wish to get sued. The names
of the children and also Cristina are mine.
Setting: Between 1997-2060
F.Y.I: You are going to have to use your imagination a bit. In this story I have it so all the Rangers, new and old know each other for the most part. There are many flashbacks throughout this story also.
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"Rocky, are you sure your ok?" Cristina asks me for the gazillionth time.
"Yes Cris. I am fine." I reply to her.
"Alright." She says shaking her head at me. "It's just that you have been a lot, well, I guess different the past week."
"I just have been taking time to think a lot." I tell her.
"About Tommy's death?"
"About everything." I tell her flat out.
"Like what?" She says. I smile, she has always been inquisitive.
"About my life in general. Both in the past and present. It's a bit odd when you're closest are all gone. It really makes you think about the past. You start to pull out things that will remind you of them. Over the past week, I have thought more about my friends and family then I ever have. Like I told you a few days ago, it's scary being the last one of your friends alive. I can actually say now that I have watched all my friends die, and its insane how alone I feel in this world.
"They were my friends too Rocky." She says. "I miss them too, but I have you and the kids still."
"But, you still have your friends from your past. And sure, I do have you and the kids, and I am so greatful for that, but your friends are always."
"Your life and your childhood." She says nodding.
"Yeah." I say, glad she understands.
"I would be in the same position as you, I guess, if I was the last of my friends still alive." She says.
"I'm just still glad I have you Cris." I say sighing. "I don't know how I would react if I ever lost you."
"But you will, and I will loose you. Its life Rocky." She says. "Life just isn't fair."
"I told Tommy that when Kim died." I say shaking my head.
"I'm glad I have you too, most of the times." She says jokingly. I laugh and continue eating my lunch.
Later that night, I find myself back in my bedroom finishing up the scrapbook. I have looked at this book thousands of times, and each time is more special then the time before, this time especially. Kim had made all of us this so many years ago. It's amazing how much the city of Angle Grove has changed, but more amazing than that is how much it hasn't changed. Ahh now where was I. ahh yes, this page. my first day back as a Ranger.
"Dammit Rocky, make up your damn mind!" I shout at myself as I flop down on my bed. "How hard is it to make up your mind! Its not life and death, it's a choice to take up the Ranger position or not!" I have never been more angry at myself, nor have I ever been this unsure of myself or my decision. Usually, once I decide to do something my mind is made up, and there is nothing anyone can do to change it, but now, I can't decide what to do! "Ok, reasons to go back.." I begin to type on my computer. "This is so stupid! Christ Rocky, just teleport up there and tell Zordon you want to come back. Do it!" I yell at myself. Thankfully my entire family were out for the day, because I would have sounded like a complete idiot, sitting up in my room, yelling at myself. I teleport myself back up to the Command Center to talk to Zordon.
"Zordon?" I call to him, as he seems to materialize.
"Rocky, what brings you here."
"I need to know, hows the team doing? Have they found a replacement yet?" I ask him.
"They are struggling, but getting along, and no, they will be asking Jason to return in 2 days."
"Oh alright." I say, getting quiet.
"Is something troubling you Rocky?" He asks me.
"No." I say, but stop myself. There is no way to lie to him. He knows everything about us. "Well. yeah. Zordon, what if I said I want to become a part of the team again? I made a rash decision and it was the wrong one, I realized. I feel so empty."
"That is a decision that the rangers have to make. Would you like me to contact them and have them discuss this with you?" Zordon asks me.
I am slow to answer, but I say, "That would be great."
"Very well, Alpha, please contact the Rangers. Have them teleport immediately."
"Right Zordon." The little robot says.
That right there has to be one of the longest waits in my life. I didn't know how anyone would react to my decision. After a few minutes, everyone was there.
"Whats going.." Kimberly begins, but as she sees me standing there her voice trails off.
"Rangers, Rocky has a question to ask of you, and you all have a decision to make." He tells them. I stay silent, as I see all their eyes on me.
"Well?" Kimberly says to me.
"I.." I start. "I want to be a ranger again." I tell them flat out. All there expressions changed when I said that.
"Why?" Aisha says.
"I made a horrible mistake. My decision was rash and the wrong one. I miss it." I tell her.
"Rocky, how can we trust you?" Kimberly asks. "I mean, what makes you so sure that you won't do this again?"
"I wont!" I say in defense of myself.
"How can you be so sure?" Billy asks.
"My first decision wasn't thought out completely. I acted upon one bad week that I had, and it has made me miserable."
"How long have you been thinking about joining back up?" Tommy asks.
"Honestly? Right after you and I talked." I tell him.
"What about your normal life you want to run Rocky?" Kimberly says.
"What normal life? There is no normal life. I am not normal! None of us are! Like Tommy said, if I.. if we were normal, we wouldn't be Rangers."
They all nod, and Tommy says, "Can you give us a minute to discuss this?"
"Yeah." I tell him and take a walk to the furthest part of the Command Center possible, but I still heard them talking quietly. They all were huddled in a circle.
"Well gang, what do you think?" Tommy says.
"I don't know." Aisha says. "He seems genuine, but can we trust him again? Is there anything to guarantee him staying permanently and not going on another spell?"
"I think we can trust him Aisha." Adam says, "And I think you know we can also." Billy nods and says, "I suspect that he has learned his lessons from his rash actions."
"Yeah you guys are right." Aisha says.
"I agree." Tommy says. "But we all have to feel this way; otherwise we will still look for a new Ranger. This means I need a yes or no from you Kimberly."
"I think he means it. We should give him another chance. After all, he is our best friend, and friends accept and trust one another's decisions and actions." She tells them. "He's genuine."
"Alright." Tommy says, and calls me back over. "Rocky, we need to know that you honestly want to still be a part of the rangers before Zordon restores your powers."
"I do. I am so sorry for leaving you guys high and dry for a week. I just." I am cut off by Kimberly.
"It's ok Rocky. We all have times like this, and we all make stupid decisions." She says.
"And I will be glad to have you as a Ranger again." She smiles at me.
"That goes for all of us Rocky." Tommy says.
I let a breath of air escape from my lungs and smile. "Thanks guys, and I am sorry."
Zordon then restores my powers and I am once again whole. The feeling of emptiness left me just like that. Tommy adds a quick remark, "I knew you couldn't stay away." And with a quick pat on the back, he teleports out of the Command Center, smiling.
"Thank you." I say to Zordon, and also take my leave. From that point on I was the Red Ranger, and I stayed that way till it was my turn to pass on the powers.
And with that final memory I close the scrapbook, place it neatly in the box, and place the box back into the bottom of my closet. As I stand up and close the doors to the closet, I can't help but wonder, who will place my communicator in my coffin. Who will know where to find it? Sure, my wife knows about my past, but does she know what I want to be buried with? I guess that is for another day though, that is, well, if I have another day.
Setting: Between 1997-2060
F.Y.I: You are going to have to use your imagination a bit. In this story I have it so all the Rangers, new and old know each other for the most part. There are many flashbacks throughout this story also.
________________________________________________________________
"Rocky, are you sure your ok?" Cristina asks me for the gazillionth time.
"Yes Cris. I am fine." I reply to her.
"Alright." She says shaking her head at me. "It's just that you have been a lot, well, I guess different the past week."
"I just have been taking time to think a lot." I tell her.
"About Tommy's death?"
"About everything." I tell her flat out.
"Like what?" She says. I smile, she has always been inquisitive.
"About my life in general. Both in the past and present. It's a bit odd when you're closest are all gone. It really makes you think about the past. You start to pull out things that will remind you of them. Over the past week, I have thought more about my friends and family then I ever have. Like I told you a few days ago, it's scary being the last one of your friends alive. I can actually say now that I have watched all my friends die, and its insane how alone I feel in this world.
"They were my friends too Rocky." She says. "I miss them too, but I have you and the kids still."
"But, you still have your friends from your past. And sure, I do have you and the kids, and I am so greatful for that, but your friends are always."
"Your life and your childhood." She says nodding.
"Yeah." I say, glad she understands.
"I would be in the same position as you, I guess, if I was the last of my friends still alive." She says.
"I'm just still glad I have you Cris." I say sighing. "I don't know how I would react if I ever lost you."
"But you will, and I will loose you. Its life Rocky." She says. "Life just isn't fair."
"I told Tommy that when Kim died." I say shaking my head.
"I'm glad I have you too, most of the times." She says jokingly. I laugh and continue eating my lunch.
Later that night, I find myself back in my bedroom finishing up the scrapbook. I have looked at this book thousands of times, and each time is more special then the time before, this time especially. Kim had made all of us this so many years ago. It's amazing how much the city of Angle Grove has changed, but more amazing than that is how much it hasn't changed. Ahh now where was I. ahh yes, this page. my first day back as a Ranger.
"Dammit Rocky, make up your damn mind!" I shout at myself as I flop down on my bed. "How hard is it to make up your mind! Its not life and death, it's a choice to take up the Ranger position or not!" I have never been more angry at myself, nor have I ever been this unsure of myself or my decision. Usually, once I decide to do something my mind is made up, and there is nothing anyone can do to change it, but now, I can't decide what to do! "Ok, reasons to go back.." I begin to type on my computer. "This is so stupid! Christ Rocky, just teleport up there and tell Zordon you want to come back. Do it!" I yell at myself. Thankfully my entire family were out for the day, because I would have sounded like a complete idiot, sitting up in my room, yelling at myself. I teleport myself back up to the Command Center to talk to Zordon.
"Zordon?" I call to him, as he seems to materialize.
"Rocky, what brings you here."
"I need to know, hows the team doing? Have they found a replacement yet?" I ask him.
"They are struggling, but getting along, and no, they will be asking Jason to return in 2 days."
"Oh alright." I say, getting quiet.
"Is something troubling you Rocky?" He asks me.
"No." I say, but stop myself. There is no way to lie to him. He knows everything about us. "Well. yeah. Zordon, what if I said I want to become a part of the team again? I made a rash decision and it was the wrong one, I realized. I feel so empty."
"That is a decision that the rangers have to make. Would you like me to contact them and have them discuss this with you?" Zordon asks me.
I am slow to answer, but I say, "That would be great."
"Very well, Alpha, please contact the Rangers. Have them teleport immediately."
"Right Zordon." The little robot says.
That right there has to be one of the longest waits in my life. I didn't know how anyone would react to my decision. After a few minutes, everyone was there.
"Whats going.." Kimberly begins, but as she sees me standing there her voice trails off.
"Rangers, Rocky has a question to ask of you, and you all have a decision to make." He tells them. I stay silent, as I see all their eyes on me.
"Well?" Kimberly says to me.
"I.." I start. "I want to be a ranger again." I tell them flat out. All there expressions changed when I said that.
"Why?" Aisha says.
"I made a horrible mistake. My decision was rash and the wrong one. I miss it." I tell her.
"Rocky, how can we trust you?" Kimberly asks. "I mean, what makes you so sure that you won't do this again?"
"I wont!" I say in defense of myself.
"How can you be so sure?" Billy asks.
"My first decision wasn't thought out completely. I acted upon one bad week that I had, and it has made me miserable."
"How long have you been thinking about joining back up?" Tommy asks.
"Honestly? Right after you and I talked." I tell him.
"What about your normal life you want to run Rocky?" Kimberly says.
"What normal life? There is no normal life. I am not normal! None of us are! Like Tommy said, if I.. if we were normal, we wouldn't be Rangers."
They all nod, and Tommy says, "Can you give us a minute to discuss this?"
"Yeah." I tell him and take a walk to the furthest part of the Command Center possible, but I still heard them talking quietly. They all were huddled in a circle.
"Well gang, what do you think?" Tommy says.
"I don't know." Aisha says. "He seems genuine, but can we trust him again? Is there anything to guarantee him staying permanently and not going on another spell?"
"I think we can trust him Aisha." Adam says, "And I think you know we can also." Billy nods and says, "I suspect that he has learned his lessons from his rash actions."
"Yeah you guys are right." Aisha says.
"I agree." Tommy says. "But we all have to feel this way; otherwise we will still look for a new Ranger. This means I need a yes or no from you Kimberly."
"I think he means it. We should give him another chance. After all, he is our best friend, and friends accept and trust one another's decisions and actions." She tells them. "He's genuine."
"Alright." Tommy says, and calls me back over. "Rocky, we need to know that you honestly want to still be a part of the rangers before Zordon restores your powers."
"I do. I am so sorry for leaving you guys high and dry for a week. I just." I am cut off by Kimberly.
"It's ok Rocky. We all have times like this, and we all make stupid decisions." She says.
"And I will be glad to have you as a Ranger again." She smiles at me.
"That goes for all of us Rocky." Tommy says.
I let a breath of air escape from my lungs and smile. "Thanks guys, and I am sorry."
Zordon then restores my powers and I am once again whole. The feeling of emptiness left me just like that. Tommy adds a quick remark, "I knew you couldn't stay away." And with a quick pat on the back, he teleports out of the Command Center, smiling.
"Thank you." I say to Zordon, and also take my leave. From that point on I was the Red Ranger, and I stayed that way till it was my turn to pass on the powers.
And with that final memory I close the scrapbook, place it neatly in the box, and place the box back into the bottom of my closet. As I stand up and close the doors to the closet, I can't help but wonder, who will place my communicator in my coffin. Who will know where to find it? Sure, my wife knows about my past, but does she know what I want to be buried with? I guess that is for another day though, that is, well, if I have another day.