Epilogue
Smiling Katherine Oliver sunk into her chair, thankful another day was drawing to a close. She loved dancing, but there were some days when so much was too much. And this was one of them.
"Hey Katy girl, you in here?"
Kat looked up and smiled as her co-owner walked in. The only person who could call her 'Katy girl'. "Hi Zach."
"Figured you be here." He replied handing her a cup that read 'Starbucks'.
"Have I told you lately that I love you Zach Taylor?" she asked as she breathed in the fragrance of her favorite coffee.
"I know you do, but let's not tell your husband or my wife that. They'd swear we were having an affair." He replied with a wink at he sat down in the chair across from her.
"Nah, Tommy knows I'd never cheat on him. And Angela would simply take away your method of having one." Kat replied with a grin.
"You wicked, wicked woman." Zach replied. "So how are plans for the party coming?"
Kat smiled softly as she thought about the party he was talking about. Next week was the fifth anniversary of the day Ernie reopened the Juice Bar. And as such he had asked Kat to help plan it. Although, he could be talking about the other party now that she thought about it.
"Which one?"
Zach smiled, he had been waiting for that question. "Well, I know how things are for Ernie's, and I know how things are for Sarah's birthday."
Kat cocked her head to the side as she looked at him. "Then why did you ask, you know how both parties are going. Unless there's a third I don't know about." She replied, only saying the last part as a joke.
When he didn't reply she stopped mid-drink. "Is there another party?"
"Yes."
"What! When? Where? And why?" she asked in surprise.
"You forgot how." Zach replied with a grin, ducking as a pillow flew over his head. "I was going to say you should check your mail more often, but now I'm just going to leave." He continued as he stood up and pretended to leave in a huff.
Kat watched the spot where he had just been in surprise. What the heck had he been talking about?
Glancing at her desk she saw an envelope in her inbox. Where she always placed her mail.
All right, what was he up to?
Reaching over she picked the envelope up and opened it. Inside were two airline tickets, a hotel reservation, and a note.
Quickly reading the note she sat up in surprise. "Zachary Joseph Taylor get back here!" she yelled. Tommy was going to freak, and they had to see if his parents would take Sarah.
:-:-:-:-:-:
Two days later, Kat and Tommy made it to the airport two hours before their flight. They still couldn't remember entering the contest that they had won, resulting in two tickets and an all expense trip to Scotland, but they had won, so they were not going to argue.
Although finding everyone else there as well got them to thinking about whether they had really won a contest or not.
After thirty minutes spent going over everyone's stories, the figured maybe the hotel and airline had a deal going with all these companies. Why else would twelve different people, granted they were six couples, win six different prizes to the exact same place.
And eventually they all got on the plane, made it to Scotland, and settled into their hotel. Only to receive an envelope with instructions to go downstairs at five o'clock.
"All right, this is getting a bit weird." Rocky said as he and Aisha joined the already large group in the lobby at five o'clock.
"You can say that again." Zach replied as he and Angela came up behind them, the last to arrive.
"Does anyone else get the feeling that this wasn't just a bunch of contests?" Trini asked as a man came up to them.
"Are you the group from Angel Grove?"
Glancing at the others Jason looked back at him. "Yes. What's going on?"
"I don't know all that, I'm just one of the drivers." He replied as he turned and walked out.
With a shrug on Zach's part, they followed, stopping in surprise when they found two limos.
"Ok, now I am starting to feel like royalty." Tanya mused as they got in, six to a car.
Twenty minutes later they stopped and got out, making their way into the restaurant, still having no idea where they were.
"Ahh yes, you must be the Angel Grove party, please follow me." The hostess said before turning and leading them down a hall, opening a door to a large private room.
As soon as they sat, their drink orders were taken, and moments later returned, along with their food.
"But we didn't order." Rocky began once the waiters had left.
"Okay, this is getting really, really weird." Aisha began as she looked at her plate.
"Why now?" Rocky asked.
"All of us have been given our favorite type of food." She replied looking around. "And you have three times more than the rest of us."
"Okay, that is strange, but food is food." He replied as he picked up his fork, smiling in anticipation.
The others looked at each other before they too shrugged and started to eat.
An hour and a half later, after an amazing desert, the driver was back, and shuffling them from the restaurant before they had a chance to pay.
"But." Tommy had began as the car door was shut in his face. "This is really strange." He said as he sat back.
"I know sweetheart." Kat replied reassuringly as the limo started to drive away from the restaurant.
Forty minutes later the vehicles stopped and they were ushered into a another building, this one much larger than most. Once inside they were ushered into the main room, and discovered it to be a theater, where they were taken down to the first row. The rest of the room was packed, so they knew something good had to be playing. Although they were still a little freaked by the whole situation. Minutes later music started to play.
The higher you build your barriers
The taller I become
The farther you take my rights away
The faster I will run
As the singing started, the second curtain began to rise to reveal a band, though there was still no singer visable.
You can deny me
You can decide to turn your face away
No matter
'Cos there's
Finally the singer walked on stage, her long brown hair loose in curls, wearing a short white dress.
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong,so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone, oh no
There's something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
As soon as they recognized her, they gasped in shock. By then she had stopped in front of them, and smiled.
The more you refuse to hear my voice
The louder I will sing
You're hiding behind walls of Jericho
Your lies will come tumbling
Deny my place in time
You squandered wealth that's mine
My light will shine
So brightly, it will blind you
'Cos there's
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone, oh no
There's something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
The band members started to sing as well as they went into the bridge of the song.
Brothers and sisters
When they insist we're just not good enough
When we know better
Just look 'em in the eyes and say
We're gonna do it anyway
We're gonna do it anyway
We're gonna do it anyway
We're gonna do it anyway
Going back to just her, she continued the song.
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone, oh no
There's something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
I know that I can make it
Though you're doing me wrong, so wrong
You thought that my pride was gone, oh no
There's something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
Something inside so strong
As the song finished, the group clapped along with the others in the room. Though they weren't really thinking about it. Instead they were focused solely on the woman who had sung so beautifully.
Brushing a strand of hair behind her ear the woman nodded and raised her hand asking them to stop. Once it was quiet she began.
"Thank you. That was for those who are no longer with us. Tonight is a special night. For many reasons. First, as of today, Gunther Schmidt has been sentanced to life in prision, and may still receive the death penalty."
She paused as the applause began again, except for the group in front, they were all sitting in shock, not that she could blame them.
"I know you are all as happy as the four of us are. But there is another special event for this night. Ten-years-ago I first met many of you when I started training at the gym. And after a few years I managed to escape. And today some of the others who followed us are here. As are the families of those who have left this life." She paused with a sad smile.
"But, five-years-ago, the band and I traveled to my home town, and while there I ran into the friends I had left behind. After Michaela's death, we left. But after that day I often thought about what my friends had said to me before we left. And their words led to today. They are here, and I would like to introduce you to them." She continued with a smile.
"I doubt they will want to stand and all that, but to Jason, Zach, Trini, Billy, Tommy, Rocky, Adam, Aisha, Kat, and Tanya. Thank you from all of us. Because of your love over three hundred of us are finally free."
While the cheers and whistles echoed through the hall, Tommy and the others looked at each other. So many people were thanking them. Somehow it was better than anything they had ever received as rangers.
Everyone started to quiet down as the music was heard.
"This is for Michaela and all the others. Until we see you again." Kim said softly.
Down the road
We never know
What life may have in store
Everyone from Angel Grove listen as the entire room started to sing as well, while the band stopped playing.
Winds of change
Will rearrange
Our lives more than before
But you'll never stand alone my friend
Memories never die
In our hearts they'll always live
And never say goodbye
Softly Kim sang the final line once more on her own as the people in the room wiped the tears from their eyes.
And never say goodbye
As she looked up she smiled at the faces she could see before turning back to look at her husband, Alexander, and Maria. They had finally been given back their names, it had been a long battle. But at last they were free.
Turning she smiled at the friends who had given them the courage to make it to this day. Who knew what the future held now, but it didn't matter. They had been through hell and back. And had lived to tell their story. Tomorrow was another day, a day to tell the rangers the story, but tonight was a celebration. And they were going to enjoy every moment of it.
Smiling she heard Maria counting the beat of the next song. Yes, it was going to be a great night.