Disclaimer: Well, you all know that I don't own the power rangers. I only
own my own characters. You know who they are.
AN: Ok, so I didn't say who Amanda and Maggie were. Amanda is an old friend of the original five rangers. Maggie is an old friend of Aisha, Adam, and Rocky. Amanda was sent to a hospital in Stone Canyon for a certain reason, will be brought out later, and Maggie was a volunteer there. Their full names are Amanda Jo Kingston and Margaret Mae Isabel Cruz. You may learn more about them as the story progresses but I am not centering anything on them.
AN: As always, please review! Thanks to those of you who did. Keep them reviews coming and I will keep trying to get more chapters out just as fast. Now, read and enjoy the story.
CHAP 27- HOLIDAY MISSIONS
"Good morning rangers. Alpha and I just finished Billy." Zordon looked at the confused faces and smiled.
Billy nodded and turned to Alpha. "Are the chips ready?"
"Yes Billy. But I only know who to give five of them to." Alpha handed Tommy, Adam, Rocky, Aisha, and Kat each a chip matching their ranger color. "The rest I am unsure about."
Billy nodded. "That's okay Alpha. They are the only ones who could use them right now anyway."
Jason watched all this in confusion before finally speaking up. "What is going on Billy?"
Billy smiled. "These chips are to be placed under your communicators and will enable you to teleport anywhere without a ship. That includes other planets." As the others stared at him, he took the bag from Alpha. "Those of you who aren't ninjetti, listen closely."
Tommy looked at Jason and nodded in silent agreement. "What do the rest of us need the chips for?"
Billy took out the other chips and looked closely at them. The faint outlines of animals could be seen on them. "Later in the school year, you will have to travel to Phaedos to learn some things. I can't tell you more than that except that these chips will use less energy for the teleportation system."
Jason looked at the non-rangers and smiled as an idea came to him. "If the rest of us have to be here for this, does that mean..." He trailed off as Billy smiled. "Are you serious?"
Zack, not picking up Jason's thought trail, jumped in. "I'm lost. Why do we need to be here?"
Billy smiled and stood facing Jason. "Everyone line up. Active rangers facing inactive or non-rangers." As they did so, Zack noticed something and grinned. "Maggie, you and AJ hop into line with your friends too."
Zack smiled as Amanda stood next to him and faced Maggie. "I get it Billy!" As the others looked at Zack and then each other, Kim gasped.
"Oh my god!" Kim looked down the line she was standing in and each person was standing in front of the person who replaced them on the ranger team, except for Billy and the non-rangers. She then looked at Billy in confusion as something he said popped into her mind. "Wait a minute! What about me, Alex, Kat, Cori, AJ, and Maggie?"
Kat looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean Kim? I'm an active ranger because I took your place." Then she realized what Kim was saying. "Oh my gosh!"
The other rangers slowly noticed the irony in their placements and began laughing. The non-rangers watched them in confusion. Amanda began speaking to bring them all back into focus. "Excuse me but do we have to be here for this?" She motioned to her and the other three who were left out of the apparent joke.
Billy smiled and walked up to Kat. "Can I please have your chip?" Before she could ask why, he continued. "I'm afraid Alpha made a mistake. You have your own spirit animal so her crane chip will not work for you."
"But if I have my own animal, then why can I use her power coin?" Kat was thoroughly confused now.
"You are only using the power temporarily until you are connected to your spirit animal. You, Kim, and Jason must go to Phaedos immediately to be connected with your animals." Billy looked at the surprised look on Jason's face and smiled. "Even though Trey gave you that medallion Jase, you still have to be connected to your animal. Only then can you use whatever zord is yours. That's why you can never join the battle once the monster has grown."
Jason nodded and smiled as he joined his two traveling companions. "Well then, shall we get going then?" He froze as a new realization hit him. "Um, how are we going to get there without our chips?"
Before Billy could speak, Tommy walked over to Kim. "Why does Kim have to go?"
"Simple, because she was the one who had her coin stolen." He looked at Kat's down cast eyes and patted her shoulder. "When it was finally returned to her, she never used it before passing it to Kat. It has worked for Kat only because it lost its connection to Kim." He smiled at Kat's weak grin. "But now she can use her own animal."
Kat looked at him closely. "Well then, what do I use to morph now?"
Kim gasped. "The missing coins!" At Billy's nod and everyone else's confusion, she smiled. "Billy found some coins in the bottom of the cylinder he found."
Billy pulled a coin from his back pocket and handed it to Kat. "When you get to Phaedos, give Kim her coin and Dulcea can take it from there."
Kat nodded and looked at her traveling companions. "Well, I'm ready!" As they both nodded, she turned to Alpha. "Okay, we're ready Alpha."
With a final wave, they disappeared in beams of colored light. Billy turned to the others. "Now, those of you who are not an active or never been an active ranger, step over here." He walked over to where Alpha had placed the cylinder and took out the remaining coin and the stones. Turning first to Amanda and Maggie, he took a deep breath. "Would you like to be rangers?" He smiled as they nodded their heads vigorously.
Tommy looked at Jason and saw the confusion in his face. "Billy, how can there be more rangers? There are only so many coins."
Billy held up his hands full of the coin and stones. "These were in the cylinder. They work the same way the coins do." He looked at his new friends and smiled. "Amanda, would you like to help me with these?"
She took the stones he gave her. "How do I know who gets what?" She walked over to Corinne and immediately found her answer. "Oh wow!" She handed the green glowing stone with a horse on it to the girl and moved over to Alex. "Ooh, it looks like Alex's has a Pegasus on it!" She handed him his stone and turned towards Maggie. The bright purple glow stopped her in her tracks. "Wait! Why is this so bright? It looks like two stones are glowing!"
Billy smiled and took the coin and stones form her. "You'll see." He walked over to Trini and handed her the glowing yellow stone and then turned to give Zack the black glowing stone. "You want to do this again Zack?"
Zack took his stone and smiled. "Absolutely!" As the others laughed, he put the stone around his wrist with the telepathy wires that had been attached. He then noticed the coin and stone in Billy's hand. "Wait, how do you know you gave Kat the right coin if there is another one?"
Billy smiled and walked over to Amanda and Maggie. "Just watch."
He put his hands out in front of him and stood in front of Amanda. "Pick a hand and reach for the stone or coin to see if it chooses you."
Amanda reached for the coin but nothing happened. She smiled at Maggie. "I guess I get the stone."
Billy turned to Maggie and held the coin out. "Go ahead and take the coin."
She looked at it and reached for it slowly. As soon as her hand was almost to it, a bright purple glow appeared. "Wow!" She smiled as the glow engulfed her and a powerful wave washed over her. Then she remembered the animal on the coin. "What is the animal I have then?"
Billy shrugged. "I'm not sure. You will find out when you go to Phaedos for your spirit animals." He then held the glowing purple stone out to Amanda. "The stone is yours AJ."
She smiled and she joined Maggie, Trini, Zack, Cori, and Alex. "So, when do we get our spirit animals?"
"You will know when the time comes. Right now though, we have a job to do." He looked at Alpha and nodded. "This is my Christmas gift to all of you." They all disappeared in streaks of color.
When the light disappeared, Amanda looked around and smiled. "Santa's? Cool!"
Maggie wrapped her arms around herself. "Cool? It's freezing!" The others stared at her while the ninjetti rangers laughed.
Zack looked at them. "What's so funny?"
Tommy smiled. "Sorry man. That is exactly what Rocky said last year!" Rocky turned red as everyone laughed.
"Rangers!" A high-pitched voice called out to them. The group turned to see a small female elf running towards them. She gave the ninjetti rangers a hug and turned to Billy. "Santa has been expecting you. He needs your help Billy."
Billy frowned and turned to the others. "Tommy, will you take Rocky, Adam, and Aisha over to the workshop we were in last year? I'll send the others over r in a few minutes."
Tommy nodded. "Sure, let's go guys!" They headed in the direction the elf had come from.
Billy turned back to the elf. "Number one, meet Trini, Zack, Cori, Alex, Amanda, and Maggie. Guys, this is Santa's head elf."
She shook each of the ranger's hands and turned to Billy. "It's so nice you brought them. Santa has been overworked lately and could use the extra help." She motioned towards another warehouse. "He needs to see you right away Billy." She opened the door and they were greeted by a cheerful but anxious Santa. "These are the new rangers Santa. The other ones are already over in the workshop."
"That's wonderful. Thank you for bringing them Billy." He turned towards the others. "I am honored to meet all of you." He turned towards Trini. "And I have heard some really wonderful things about you Miss Kwan." He winked at her and looked at Billy. "I'm afraid I'll have to have Number One show them to the others. I need your help in my lab."
"Okay." Billy turned to the others. "I'll join you guys as soon as I can." He kissed Trini on the cheek and watched her join the others outside before turning back to Santa. "Now, what's the problem?"
Santa led him to a door marked private and they closed the door. Once inside, Billy turned to the older man with a worried expression. "What's not working?"
Santa sat down in his chair and motioned to the one across the desk from him. "There is something wrong but I can't seem to find the problem. I have double-checked everything in the plan but it just doesn't work. I even tried using some holiday magic."
Billy smiled and looked at the plan on the desk in between them. He mentally went over all the diagnostics and calculations Santa had made. He smiled and looked at Santa. "I think I know what the problem is. As well as how to fix it."
Santa looked at him and smiled. "You are very bright William. Now how about I take you to it so you can try to fix it?" When Billy nodded, they stood up, rolled up the plans, and headed out to the workshop.
Trini looked up as Santa and Billy hurried into the room and walked right past them with a piece of paper. The others watched as Billy followed Santa into a room marked private. A few minutes later, Santa stepped out to retrieve a large box and carried it into the room.
A few minutes after returning to their work, the rangers and the elves were startled by a loud yell coming from the private room. Everyone looked up to see Santa emerge with a grease streak across his cheek. "Attention everyone. Our dear friend William has managed to solve and fix the one problem with our plan that I could not."
As the elves cheered, a blushing Billy exited the room wiping his greasy hands on a rag. As Santa leaned over to talk to him, Trini turned towards the head elf. "What did Billy help fix?" She smiled as Billy walked up to them. "You are all dirty Billy!" She grabbed the rag and tried to wipe the grease off his face.
Billy smiled and kissed her hands. "I like to be greasy. Come on, Santa wants you guys to see it."
Santa moved aside as Billy led the others into the room. The plan hung on the wall and the object shined in the light. Trini gasped as she read the name on the plan. "You designed that Billy?"
He nodded and smiled as they walked over to take a closer look at the object. "Yeah, I told Santa about it and he agreed to help me build it. I have been corresponding with him since last Christmas."
Tommy carefully touched the object and smiled. "This is great Billy. I know he will love it." He then remembered something. "How are you going to get it in there without him seeing you?"
Santa laughed behind them. "Have you forgotten your eighth christmas Thomas? As I recall, you stayed awake all night. I had to find a way to get your gifts past you!"
Tommy blushed and looked down. "I remember. That Christmas changed my life." He looked up to see confused looks on his friends' faces. "I'll tell you guys later."
Santa laughed and looked at his pocket watch. "Good heavens! We are actually ahead of schedule! How about we finish packing the bags and then you all join me and my wife for dinner?"
Billy nodded and smiled. "We would be honored to Santa." Seven hours later, Billy placed the last gift in the last bag. "There you go Santa. It's all ready for this evening."
Santa smiled. "Thank you rangers. Now how about some food!" They all laughed as Rocky's stomach joined Santa's in a growling match. "I guess it's unanimous then!"
Once inside Santa's house, the rangers stood in the main room in awe. "Wow, it looks like there's something from every continent in here!" Aisha walked over to an African tribal mask. "This is amazing Santa!"
Santa smiled. "Why thank you Aisha. I make it a point to pick up something from one of my countries every year. That mask is from the year you were born." He watched as Billy walked up to a rather scientific looking device. "You like that Billy?"
Billy smiled and ran his now clean hands over the metal pipes and across the notched plates as he saw bubbles rise to the top of a large tube. "I love this thing Santa. What era is it from?"
Santa walked up to him and smiled. "That I picked up in London the year Sherlock Holmes became famous. He had used an item just like it to solve a thirty year old mystery for the queen and it was put into production for the kids of London." He then glanced about the room and saw the other rangers each admiring something. When he turned back to Billy, he noticed a glint in his eye as he looked at a small yellow tiger figurine with a young dark haired girl standing next to it.
Billy gently touched the small figure standing next to the tiger and let a small tear roll down his cheek. He noticed Santa watching him and smiled as he wiped it away. His voice came out in a whisper. "I'm sorry. It just looks so much like my mom." Santa smiled and patted his shoulder before heading to the entrance of the room.
"Hello, rangers, it looks like you got here a little early. Your friends and I have been waiting for you." An elderly looking lady walked up to Santa and smiled. "I am Mrs. Claus, but you can call me Marie."
Tommy was the first to speak. "Hi. It is nice to meet you. What did you mean by our friends? They were on a trip for their spirit animals."
Marie smiled and led them to a table covered in all kinds of ethnic foods. "They joined me her after they finished their quests. They are just washing up and they will be right back."
"You didn't think we would let you come see Santa without us did you?" Tommy smiled as Kim, Jason, and Kat walked into the room. "We each have our animals and you will find out later what they are." Kim smiled as they all took their seats.
Santa smiled as he joined them all at the table. "Well, let's eat! I am sure you are all hungry." As they all nodded, he dug into the pile on his plate.
As they ate, Amanda smiled. "I think this is the best Christmas I've ever had!" She smiled as a chorus of yeas followed from the others.
Tommy suddenly smiled. "I'll agree with you partner!" As she blushed, he winked. "Thought I'd forgotten didn't you?"
Maggie laughed as Amanda nodded. Turning to Tommy, she smiled. "Well Stranger, it looks like she hasn't forgotten either!" As Tommy blushed and everyone else stared in wonder, she glared at him. "Didn't you tell them?"
Tommy shook his head. "I was planning on telling them after graduation. It's no big deal." He looked at Santa and saw him nod. "Now is not the time."
Santa smiled. "I am proud of you Thomas, you have really grown over the years. You all have!" He ate some more as he gauged their reactions. "I know your parents are very proud of each and every one of you."
Billy looked at Trini, who nodded. After everyone had finished, a robot came to clear the table. He watched as it took their plates away before joining the others in the main living room. "Santa, I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you for everything." The others nodded in agreement. "In the spirit of Christmas and all that is good, I have something for you and Marie. The others don't' know about it but it is from all of us. Zordon and Alpha included."
Santa was obviously as surprised as the others were. "Billy, you don't need to give me anything. Your happiness is all I need."
Billy shook his head as he handed them each a small box. "Go ahead and open them."
The rangers watched in awe as both Santa and his wife opened their boxes to reveal a silver communicator for each of them. Marie held hers up and saw that it had green, yellow, pink, and purple stripes of color on the band. Santa's had white, blue, red, and black stripes of color on his band. Marie put hers on and smiled. "Thank you all."
Billy smiled as she gave him a hug. "We want you to be safe in case anyone tries to overtake the North Pole again. Marie, you are wearing the colors of the female rangers. They resemble your heart of goodness and many other attributes that makes a person so special that they become a power ranger. The same goes for you Santa, only your colors are the colors that the guys wear. It helps to distinguish between your communicators in case anything were to happen to one of you."
Santa smiled. "Thank you rangers. And I have a bag here for you. But you must not open them until you are all back at the command center. I have something in there for Zordon and Alpha as well."
Tommy picked up the bag and turned to Kim and the others. "We'll do that Santa. You guys ready to go?" As they all nodded, Marie laughed.
"Before you go, you must do one thing." As they all turned around to look at her, she pointed above their heads. "It is a Christmas tradition after all!" They looked up to see a garland of mistletoe.
Tommy smiled down at Kim and Billy smiled at Trini as the others grinned sheepishly. While Billy, Trini, Kim, and Tommy fulfilled their part, the others were stunned to find Santa watching them. "Well, the rest of you had better get moving unless you want to stay here all Christmas!"
Billy and Trini nudged Adam over to Aisha and Alex over to Cori as Tommy and Kim nudged Maggie towards Rocky and Zack towards Amanda. Jason took his cue from them and moved over to Kat. "Shall we?" Her smile lit up his whole world as he leaned in for the kiss.
Once everyone had fulfilled their duties, Santa smiled and opened the door. "Now, go on home to open your gifts. I'll see you next year rangers!" That said, they walked out the door waving, and disappeared in a rainbow of colored light.
BACK IN THE COMMAND CENTER
The rangers appeared in the Command Center and smiled. Billy turned towards Zordon. "Santa is ahead of schedule. He gave us each a gift to open here. He said there was one for both you and Alpha as well."
"For us? Aiy-yi-yi!" Alpha was ecstatic as he opened the bag and passed out the gifts. He then put Zordon's next to his own. "I can open yours Zordon if you like."
Zordon laughed. "I would appreciate that Alpha. Rangers, you can go ahead and open your gifts now."
Billy looked at the others as they each picked up their gift. "Let's do it." They all unwrapped their gifts. Silence reined over the room as each one of them stared in awe at their gift. A letter was attached to each one.
Kim was the first to make a sound. "Oh my god! I don't believe it!" She looked around at the others and noticed they were all as surprised as she was. Even Alpha had somehow remained quiet as he opened Zordon's as well as his own. "Guys, how is this possible?"
Billy slowly shook his head as all eyes turned towards him. "I, for once, have no clue." He looked back down at his gift in complete wonder.
AN: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you all review, then maybe I will have the next chapter posted by the end of next week! And as always, if you have any questions about any of the characters, just put it in your review or email me.
AN: Ok, so I didn't say who Amanda and Maggie were. Amanda is an old friend of the original five rangers. Maggie is an old friend of Aisha, Adam, and Rocky. Amanda was sent to a hospital in Stone Canyon for a certain reason, will be brought out later, and Maggie was a volunteer there. Their full names are Amanda Jo Kingston and Margaret Mae Isabel Cruz. You may learn more about them as the story progresses but I am not centering anything on them.
AN: As always, please review! Thanks to those of you who did. Keep them reviews coming and I will keep trying to get more chapters out just as fast. Now, read and enjoy the story.
CHAP 27- HOLIDAY MISSIONS
"Good morning rangers. Alpha and I just finished Billy." Zordon looked at the confused faces and smiled.
Billy nodded and turned to Alpha. "Are the chips ready?"
"Yes Billy. But I only know who to give five of them to." Alpha handed Tommy, Adam, Rocky, Aisha, and Kat each a chip matching their ranger color. "The rest I am unsure about."
Billy nodded. "That's okay Alpha. They are the only ones who could use them right now anyway."
Jason watched all this in confusion before finally speaking up. "What is going on Billy?"
Billy smiled. "These chips are to be placed under your communicators and will enable you to teleport anywhere without a ship. That includes other planets." As the others stared at him, he took the bag from Alpha. "Those of you who aren't ninjetti, listen closely."
Tommy looked at Jason and nodded in silent agreement. "What do the rest of us need the chips for?"
Billy took out the other chips and looked closely at them. The faint outlines of animals could be seen on them. "Later in the school year, you will have to travel to Phaedos to learn some things. I can't tell you more than that except that these chips will use less energy for the teleportation system."
Jason looked at the non-rangers and smiled as an idea came to him. "If the rest of us have to be here for this, does that mean..." He trailed off as Billy smiled. "Are you serious?"
Zack, not picking up Jason's thought trail, jumped in. "I'm lost. Why do we need to be here?"
Billy smiled and stood facing Jason. "Everyone line up. Active rangers facing inactive or non-rangers." As they did so, Zack noticed something and grinned. "Maggie, you and AJ hop into line with your friends too."
Zack smiled as Amanda stood next to him and faced Maggie. "I get it Billy!" As the others looked at Zack and then each other, Kim gasped.
"Oh my god!" Kim looked down the line she was standing in and each person was standing in front of the person who replaced them on the ranger team, except for Billy and the non-rangers. She then looked at Billy in confusion as something he said popped into her mind. "Wait a minute! What about me, Alex, Kat, Cori, AJ, and Maggie?"
Kat looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean Kim? I'm an active ranger because I took your place." Then she realized what Kim was saying. "Oh my gosh!"
The other rangers slowly noticed the irony in their placements and began laughing. The non-rangers watched them in confusion. Amanda began speaking to bring them all back into focus. "Excuse me but do we have to be here for this?" She motioned to her and the other three who were left out of the apparent joke.
Billy smiled and walked up to Kat. "Can I please have your chip?" Before she could ask why, he continued. "I'm afraid Alpha made a mistake. You have your own spirit animal so her crane chip will not work for you."
"But if I have my own animal, then why can I use her power coin?" Kat was thoroughly confused now.
"You are only using the power temporarily until you are connected to your spirit animal. You, Kim, and Jason must go to Phaedos immediately to be connected with your animals." Billy looked at the surprised look on Jason's face and smiled. "Even though Trey gave you that medallion Jase, you still have to be connected to your animal. Only then can you use whatever zord is yours. That's why you can never join the battle once the monster has grown."
Jason nodded and smiled as he joined his two traveling companions. "Well then, shall we get going then?" He froze as a new realization hit him. "Um, how are we going to get there without our chips?"
Before Billy could speak, Tommy walked over to Kim. "Why does Kim have to go?"
"Simple, because she was the one who had her coin stolen." He looked at Kat's down cast eyes and patted her shoulder. "When it was finally returned to her, she never used it before passing it to Kat. It has worked for Kat only because it lost its connection to Kim." He smiled at Kat's weak grin. "But now she can use her own animal."
Kat looked at him closely. "Well then, what do I use to morph now?"
Kim gasped. "The missing coins!" At Billy's nod and everyone else's confusion, she smiled. "Billy found some coins in the bottom of the cylinder he found."
Billy pulled a coin from his back pocket and handed it to Kat. "When you get to Phaedos, give Kim her coin and Dulcea can take it from there."
Kat nodded and looked at her traveling companions. "Well, I'm ready!" As they both nodded, she turned to Alpha. "Okay, we're ready Alpha."
With a final wave, they disappeared in beams of colored light. Billy turned to the others. "Now, those of you who are not an active or never been an active ranger, step over here." He walked over to where Alpha had placed the cylinder and took out the remaining coin and the stones. Turning first to Amanda and Maggie, he took a deep breath. "Would you like to be rangers?" He smiled as they nodded their heads vigorously.
Tommy looked at Jason and saw the confusion in his face. "Billy, how can there be more rangers? There are only so many coins."
Billy held up his hands full of the coin and stones. "These were in the cylinder. They work the same way the coins do." He looked at his new friends and smiled. "Amanda, would you like to help me with these?"
She took the stones he gave her. "How do I know who gets what?" She walked over to Corinne and immediately found her answer. "Oh wow!" She handed the green glowing stone with a horse on it to the girl and moved over to Alex. "Ooh, it looks like Alex's has a Pegasus on it!" She handed him his stone and turned towards Maggie. The bright purple glow stopped her in her tracks. "Wait! Why is this so bright? It looks like two stones are glowing!"
Billy smiled and took the coin and stones form her. "You'll see." He walked over to Trini and handed her the glowing yellow stone and then turned to give Zack the black glowing stone. "You want to do this again Zack?"
Zack took his stone and smiled. "Absolutely!" As the others laughed, he put the stone around his wrist with the telepathy wires that had been attached. He then noticed the coin and stone in Billy's hand. "Wait, how do you know you gave Kat the right coin if there is another one?"
Billy smiled and walked over to Amanda and Maggie. "Just watch."
He put his hands out in front of him and stood in front of Amanda. "Pick a hand and reach for the stone or coin to see if it chooses you."
Amanda reached for the coin but nothing happened. She smiled at Maggie. "I guess I get the stone."
Billy turned to Maggie and held the coin out. "Go ahead and take the coin."
She looked at it and reached for it slowly. As soon as her hand was almost to it, a bright purple glow appeared. "Wow!" She smiled as the glow engulfed her and a powerful wave washed over her. Then she remembered the animal on the coin. "What is the animal I have then?"
Billy shrugged. "I'm not sure. You will find out when you go to Phaedos for your spirit animals." He then held the glowing purple stone out to Amanda. "The stone is yours AJ."
She smiled and she joined Maggie, Trini, Zack, Cori, and Alex. "So, when do we get our spirit animals?"
"You will know when the time comes. Right now though, we have a job to do." He looked at Alpha and nodded. "This is my Christmas gift to all of you." They all disappeared in streaks of color.
When the light disappeared, Amanda looked around and smiled. "Santa's? Cool!"
Maggie wrapped her arms around herself. "Cool? It's freezing!" The others stared at her while the ninjetti rangers laughed.
Zack looked at them. "What's so funny?"
Tommy smiled. "Sorry man. That is exactly what Rocky said last year!" Rocky turned red as everyone laughed.
"Rangers!" A high-pitched voice called out to them. The group turned to see a small female elf running towards them. She gave the ninjetti rangers a hug and turned to Billy. "Santa has been expecting you. He needs your help Billy."
Billy frowned and turned to the others. "Tommy, will you take Rocky, Adam, and Aisha over to the workshop we were in last year? I'll send the others over r in a few minutes."
Tommy nodded. "Sure, let's go guys!" They headed in the direction the elf had come from.
Billy turned back to the elf. "Number one, meet Trini, Zack, Cori, Alex, Amanda, and Maggie. Guys, this is Santa's head elf."
She shook each of the ranger's hands and turned to Billy. "It's so nice you brought them. Santa has been overworked lately and could use the extra help." She motioned towards another warehouse. "He needs to see you right away Billy." She opened the door and they were greeted by a cheerful but anxious Santa. "These are the new rangers Santa. The other ones are already over in the workshop."
"That's wonderful. Thank you for bringing them Billy." He turned towards the others. "I am honored to meet all of you." He turned towards Trini. "And I have heard some really wonderful things about you Miss Kwan." He winked at her and looked at Billy. "I'm afraid I'll have to have Number One show them to the others. I need your help in my lab."
"Okay." Billy turned to the others. "I'll join you guys as soon as I can." He kissed Trini on the cheek and watched her join the others outside before turning back to Santa. "Now, what's the problem?"
Santa led him to a door marked private and they closed the door. Once inside, Billy turned to the older man with a worried expression. "What's not working?"
Santa sat down in his chair and motioned to the one across the desk from him. "There is something wrong but I can't seem to find the problem. I have double-checked everything in the plan but it just doesn't work. I even tried using some holiday magic."
Billy smiled and looked at the plan on the desk in between them. He mentally went over all the diagnostics and calculations Santa had made. He smiled and looked at Santa. "I think I know what the problem is. As well as how to fix it."
Santa looked at him and smiled. "You are very bright William. Now how about I take you to it so you can try to fix it?" When Billy nodded, they stood up, rolled up the plans, and headed out to the workshop.
Trini looked up as Santa and Billy hurried into the room and walked right past them with a piece of paper. The others watched as Billy followed Santa into a room marked private. A few minutes later, Santa stepped out to retrieve a large box and carried it into the room.
A few minutes after returning to their work, the rangers and the elves were startled by a loud yell coming from the private room. Everyone looked up to see Santa emerge with a grease streak across his cheek. "Attention everyone. Our dear friend William has managed to solve and fix the one problem with our plan that I could not."
As the elves cheered, a blushing Billy exited the room wiping his greasy hands on a rag. As Santa leaned over to talk to him, Trini turned towards the head elf. "What did Billy help fix?" She smiled as Billy walked up to them. "You are all dirty Billy!" She grabbed the rag and tried to wipe the grease off his face.
Billy smiled and kissed her hands. "I like to be greasy. Come on, Santa wants you guys to see it."
Santa moved aside as Billy led the others into the room. The plan hung on the wall and the object shined in the light. Trini gasped as she read the name on the plan. "You designed that Billy?"
He nodded and smiled as they walked over to take a closer look at the object. "Yeah, I told Santa about it and he agreed to help me build it. I have been corresponding with him since last Christmas."
Tommy carefully touched the object and smiled. "This is great Billy. I know he will love it." He then remembered something. "How are you going to get it in there without him seeing you?"
Santa laughed behind them. "Have you forgotten your eighth christmas Thomas? As I recall, you stayed awake all night. I had to find a way to get your gifts past you!"
Tommy blushed and looked down. "I remember. That Christmas changed my life." He looked up to see confused looks on his friends' faces. "I'll tell you guys later."
Santa laughed and looked at his pocket watch. "Good heavens! We are actually ahead of schedule! How about we finish packing the bags and then you all join me and my wife for dinner?"
Billy nodded and smiled. "We would be honored to Santa." Seven hours later, Billy placed the last gift in the last bag. "There you go Santa. It's all ready for this evening."
Santa smiled. "Thank you rangers. Now how about some food!" They all laughed as Rocky's stomach joined Santa's in a growling match. "I guess it's unanimous then!"
Once inside Santa's house, the rangers stood in the main room in awe. "Wow, it looks like there's something from every continent in here!" Aisha walked over to an African tribal mask. "This is amazing Santa!"
Santa smiled. "Why thank you Aisha. I make it a point to pick up something from one of my countries every year. That mask is from the year you were born." He watched as Billy walked up to a rather scientific looking device. "You like that Billy?"
Billy smiled and ran his now clean hands over the metal pipes and across the notched plates as he saw bubbles rise to the top of a large tube. "I love this thing Santa. What era is it from?"
Santa walked up to him and smiled. "That I picked up in London the year Sherlock Holmes became famous. He had used an item just like it to solve a thirty year old mystery for the queen and it was put into production for the kids of London." He then glanced about the room and saw the other rangers each admiring something. When he turned back to Billy, he noticed a glint in his eye as he looked at a small yellow tiger figurine with a young dark haired girl standing next to it.
Billy gently touched the small figure standing next to the tiger and let a small tear roll down his cheek. He noticed Santa watching him and smiled as he wiped it away. His voice came out in a whisper. "I'm sorry. It just looks so much like my mom." Santa smiled and patted his shoulder before heading to the entrance of the room.
"Hello, rangers, it looks like you got here a little early. Your friends and I have been waiting for you." An elderly looking lady walked up to Santa and smiled. "I am Mrs. Claus, but you can call me Marie."
Tommy was the first to speak. "Hi. It is nice to meet you. What did you mean by our friends? They were on a trip for their spirit animals."
Marie smiled and led them to a table covered in all kinds of ethnic foods. "They joined me her after they finished their quests. They are just washing up and they will be right back."
"You didn't think we would let you come see Santa without us did you?" Tommy smiled as Kim, Jason, and Kat walked into the room. "We each have our animals and you will find out later what they are." Kim smiled as they all took their seats.
Santa smiled as he joined them all at the table. "Well, let's eat! I am sure you are all hungry." As they all nodded, he dug into the pile on his plate.
As they ate, Amanda smiled. "I think this is the best Christmas I've ever had!" She smiled as a chorus of yeas followed from the others.
Tommy suddenly smiled. "I'll agree with you partner!" As she blushed, he winked. "Thought I'd forgotten didn't you?"
Maggie laughed as Amanda nodded. Turning to Tommy, she smiled. "Well Stranger, it looks like she hasn't forgotten either!" As Tommy blushed and everyone else stared in wonder, she glared at him. "Didn't you tell them?"
Tommy shook his head. "I was planning on telling them after graduation. It's no big deal." He looked at Santa and saw him nod. "Now is not the time."
Santa smiled. "I am proud of you Thomas, you have really grown over the years. You all have!" He ate some more as he gauged their reactions. "I know your parents are very proud of each and every one of you."
Billy looked at Trini, who nodded. After everyone had finished, a robot came to clear the table. He watched as it took their plates away before joining the others in the main living room. "Santa, I think I speak for everyone when I say thank you for everything." The others nodded in agreement. "In the spirit of Christmas and all that is good, I have something for you and Marie. The others don't' know about it but it is from all of us. Zordon and Alpha included."
Santa was obviously as surprised as the others were. "Billy, you don't need to give me anything. Your happiness is all I need."
Billy shook his head as he handed them each a small box. "Go ahead and open them."
The rangers watched in awe as both Santa and his wife opened their boxes to reveal a silver communicator for each of them. Marie held hers up and saw that it had green, yellow, pink, and purple stripes of color on the band. Santa's had white, blue, red, and black stripes of color on his band. Marie put hers on and smiled. "Thank you all."
Billy smiled as she gave him a hug. "We want you to be safe in case anyone tries to overtake the North Pole again. Marie, you are wearing the colors of the female rangers. They resemble your heart of goodness and many other attributes that makes a person so special that they become a power ranger. The same goes for you Santa, only your colors are the colors that the guys wear. It helps to distinguish between your communicators in case anything were to happen to one of you."
Santa smiled. "Thank you rangers. And I have a bag here for you. But you must not open them until you are all back at the command center. I have something in there for Zordon and Alpha as well."
Tommy picked up the bag and turned to Kim and the others. "We'll do that Santa. You guys ready to go?" As they all nodded, Marie laughed.
"Before you go, you must do one thing." As they all turned around to look at her, she pointed above their heads. "It is a Christmas tradition after all!" They looked up to see a garland of mistletoe.
Tommy smiled down at Kim and Billy smiled at Trini as the others grinned sheepishly. While Billy, Trini, Kim, and Tommy fulfilled their part, the others were stunned to find Santa watching them. "Well, the rest of you had better get moving unless you want to stay here all Christmas!"
Billy and Trini nudged Adam over to Aisha and Alex over to Cori as Tommy and Kim nudged Maggie towards Rocky and Zack towards Amanda. Jason took his cue from them and moved over to Kat. "Shall we?" Her smile lit up his whole world as he leaned in for the kiss.
Once everyone had fulfilled their duties, Santa smiled and opened the door. "Now, go on home to open your gifts. I'll see you next year rangers!" That said, they walked out the door waving, and disappeared in a rainbow of colored light.
BACK IN THE COMMAND CENTER
The rangers appeared in the Command Center and smiled. Billy turned towards Zordon. "Santa is ahead of schedule. He gave us each a gift to open here. He said there was one for both you and Alpha as well."
"For us? Aiy-yi-yi!" Alpha was ecstatic as he opened the bag and passed out the gifts. He then put Zordon's next to his own. "I can open yours Zordon if you like."
Zordon laughed. "I would appreciate that Alpha. Rangers, you can go ahead and open your gifts now."
Billy looked at the others as they each picked up their gift. "Let's do it." They all unwrapped their gifts. Silence reined over the room as each one of them stared in awe at their gift. A letter was attached to each one.
Kim was the first to make a sound. "Oh my god! I don't believe it!" She looked around at the others and noticed they were all as surprised as she was. Even Alpha had somehow remained quiet as he opened Zordon's as well as his own. "Guys, how is this possible?"
Billy slowly shook his head as all eyes turned towards him. "I, for once, have no clue." He looked back down at his gift in complete wonder.
AN: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you all review, then maybe I will have the next chapter posted by the end of next week! And as always, if you have any questions about any of the characters, just put it in your review or email me.