Disclaimer: Power Rangers is owned by Buena Vista. Sara, Vanessa, Brian, Marisa, Colleen, and Stacy are mine. Everything up to A Golden Homecoming is canon, but it takes a distinct turn after that.

Chapter Four: A Time for Fear

I felt a nudge and looked up to see Jason smirking at me. "Told you so."

I blinked in confusion and looked to where he was indicating to see a familiar set of triplets standing unsurely in the doorway of the Youth Center.

I rolled my eyes at Jason and was about to raise a hand to beckon them over when I spotted Vanessa White zeroing in on them. I scowled as I realized that it was up to me to rescue them from the girl, who had taken one look at me and hated me on sight.

"Nice tattoo." The beautiful girl said coyly, twirling her hair around her finger seductively.

"Oh yeah, it's a work of art." I drawled sarcastically as I came up behind her.

Vanessa turned and sneered at me. "Oh, it's you. Don't bother me." She sniffed, turning back around.

"Sara." Heart said in relief.

I smiled. "Hey Trey. You guys ready to go?" I said, mouthing 'play along' behind the girl's back.

"Excuse me? We were talking. Anyway, I saw them first."

"Actually, Sara saw them first." Jason corrected, coming over to join us.

"You'll have to pardon us Miss. We must go now." Courage said politely, walking away.

"So soon? But we just met." Vanessa pouted.

Wisdom politely removed her hand from his person and followed his 'brother.'

"You'll stay won't you?" she implored Heart.

"Leave him alone Vanessa."

"Why should I?"

I opened my mouth to reply but was cut off by Jason. "Because he's her boyfriend, that's why."

I looked at him and narrowed my eyes, then forced a smile at Vanessa. "If you'll excuse us..." I said, taking Heart by the hand and leading him out to where his other souls were waiting. The minute we were outside and well out of her sight, I turned and slapped Jason upside the head.

"Why did you tell her that?! Now I'll never hear the end of it."

"Um, what is a 'boyfriend'?"

Jason and I exchanged a blink. "Uh...okay. It's more than a friend, but not as serious as a husband."

Heart nodded in understanding. "A suitor."

"Er, yes."

Before anyone could comment, Jason's communicator went off and he turned to me with a mischievous look in his brown eyes. He took my hand and put some money into it and I raised an eyebrow.

"He stands out a bit."

Before I could protest, he teleported away and I rolled my eyes at the sky. "Why me?"

"Sara?"

I looked at the three souls of Trey with a sigh. "No offense, but people are going to notice if you walk around dressed like that."

Wisdom nodded in understanding. "You wish to purchase us new clothing."

"Er, yes."



"Sara?"

I looked over at Wisdom curiously from where I was thumbing through a rack of shirts. "What's up Wisdom?"

"You weren't happy that Jason referred to Trey of Heart as your suitor."

I nodded. "No, I wasn't. I don't really like Vanessa, but he shouldn't have lied to her like that."

"Pardon the assumption, but it seemed like it was more than that. You looked at him like it was part of an ongoing argument."

I sighed. "It is. The other Rangers seem to think that Trey of Heart has feelings for me."

"Does that bother you?"

"Well it frustrates me that they've jumped to conclusions."

"Does the idea that he might bother you?"

I blinked. "Well I...I don't know. That would kind of suck, considering that I probably can't stay here."

"But if you could?"

My hands stilled as my mind turned from searching the rack to Wisdom's question. "I...I honestly don't know." I murmured.

"I don't know about this Sara." I heard Heart call from the dressing room.

I came over to the entrance. "What don't you like about it?" I asked curiously.

"It just feels so...different."

"Hmm. Well let's see it."

The door opened and Trey of Heart hesitantly stepped out, tugging at his t-shirt. I smiled slightly at his boyish manner, stepping forward to tug his hands away.

"Relax. You look great Heart."

"Really?"

I laughed. "Yes. You'll get used to it, I promise."

"If you say so."

"Are you ready?" I asked gently.

Heart nodded. "Yes."

"Okay. You can either change back or just give me the price tags, whichever you're more comfortable with."

About ten minutes later, all four of us walked out of the store and I had to smile at the interested looks they were getting from the girls shopping nearby. I quickly counted how much I had left.

"Are you guys hungry?"

"I am." Courage said.

"You're always hungry." Wisdom scolded.

I laughed at the sight of two of the souls that made up Trey arguing with each other. "Let's stop at the food court then."

It was interesting, seeing their reaction to Earth fast food and I had to laugh as Trey of Wisdom poked at his hamburger patty with a fork.

"Try it, it's good."

"You Earthlings are so strange." Courage commented and Wisdom elbowed him.

I laughed. "Personally, I consider that a compliment. At least we aren't boring!"

"Hey Sara." A vaguely familiar voice said from behind me and I turned to see a boy from my Chemistry class standing there.

"Hey Brian, what's up?"

"Well I was wondering if you were doing anything tonight. That new Power Rangers flick is in town."

I smirked. "As much as I would love to see a blaring knock-off of our beloved heroes, I have a standing study session with Adam and Rocky tonight. Maybe some other time?"

"Sure..." he started to say, then looked down and sighed. "Never mind. Sorry."

I blinked in surprise as he walked off. "What's with him?" I asked, then looked down and blushed as I realized that I was holding Heart's hand.

I coughed nervously and casually let go, picking up my drink and taking a long swallow.



Tanya blinked in surprise as we joined the others in the Youth Center. "Wow. You guys actually look normal. Uh, no offense meant."

"None taken." Wisdom assured her as he took a seat across from her.

"Sara and Jason did have a point about blending in." Courage added.

I nodded. "Oh that reminds me, here's your change Jase." I said, handing him the rest of the money. "And believe me, I'll find a way to pay you back. In more ways than one." I said pointedly.

"I thought girls liked to shop." He said innocently.

I slapped him on the arm. "That wasn't what I was referring to and you know it."

Katherine frowned at something behind me. "Sara, did something happen between you and Brian? He keeps looking over here like someone kicked his puppy."

"Why do you assume he's looking at me?" I asked, evading the question.

Everyone, even the Treys gave me a Look. "He's only been in love with you since you got here." Rocky said dryly.

I sighed. "He saw us at the mall and I guess he got the wrong idea."

Jason smirked and I punched him in the arm. "Not one word Scott." I threatened.

He smiled at me innocently. "I was just wondering what it was that gave him the wrong idea, that's all."

I sighed and shook my head. "Knock it off Jason." I said quietly.

I saw a look exchanged by everyone at the table and I suddenly didn't have the energy to pretend everything was normal anymore.

"I've got to go. I have a ton of homework." I said softly, picking up my backpack. "I'll see you guys later."



I sighed as I sat curled up in the porch swing, staring up at the stars. Trey of Wisdom's question was still on my mind, and I just couldn't shake it. What would I do if I was allowed to stay and it turned out that Trey did have feelings for me? We weren't even the same species. And hell, he was a prince! We were just so different...

"I'm sorry."

I jumped as the quiet voice from behind me broke into my thoughts. "For what?" I asked, keeping my eyes on the night sky.

The swing swayed as the person sat down on it beside me. "For making your friend angry with you."

I sighed. "I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I hadn't realized that I had..." I trailed off with a shrug.

"Neither did I." A gentle hand wrapped around my own and I breathed in deeply. "It feels so natural."

"Yes." I agreed quietly. "It does."

"It upset your suitor."

I shook my head. "He's not my suitor. He might...wish to be, but I don't see him that way. Even if I hadn't had plans with Adam and Rocky, I wouldn't have accepted his date. I don't want to lead him on." I replied quietly.

"I am not familiar with Earth customs, but on Triforia this kind of contact is familiar, and prolonged contact often signifies a courtship."

I nodded. "It's the same here."

"It upsets you."

I shook my head. "It confuses me. I don't know what to think anymore." I sighed, resting my chin glumly on my folded arms.

"Why does it confuse you?"

"Because my head is telling me two different things. Logic dictates that it shouldn't mean as much as it does, but what I've seen and felt since I met you tells me that it does."

"Would it help to know that I too am confused?"

I smiled slightly. "It does make me feel better. It would suck if I were the only one." Something occurred to me then and I frowned thoughtfully. "Where are Wisdom and Courage? I believe this is the first time I've seen you without them."

"There are some things I must do alone."

"True...Trey?"

"Yes?"

"Forgive me for being rude, but how old are you?"

"I believe I am about twenty-four of your Earth years old."

"Why do I get the feeling there's a 'but' attached to this?"

"Time on my planet passes much more quickly than yours."

"How much more quickly?" I asked warily.

"According to the computers in Pyramidas, one of your Earth years equals one hundred Triforian years."

My eyes widened. "Wow. And I thought the whole 'Buffy-Angel' thing was impossible." I murmured.

"Pardon?"

I shook my head. "Pop culture reference. Don't worry about it." I said absently, reeling from his information.

"If I may ask, what about you?"

"Oh, I'm twenty-one. Um...I'm sorry if this is too personal, but what's your family like?" I asked softly.

"My father died when I was a small boy in battle."

"Is that how you became the Gold Ranger?" I asked gently.

"Yes. My mother is a kind woman, ruling our planet with a gentle but firm hand. I have three sisters, eighteen, fourteen, and seven Earth years old. Marisa is the oldest and the guardian of our family in my absence. Colleen is the second-oldest, and she is much like your Yellow Ranger. And Stacy is the baby of the family, already rebelling against the royal tutors."

I smiled. "You love them all very much." I observed quietly.

"Yes, I do. And yours?"

I sighed softly. "My mother died a couple of years ago from natural causes. My parents divorced when I was sixteen, and my relationship with my father has never been close. I have one brother, a half-brother actually on my mother's side. We are seven years apart, and never developed the closeness of true siblings."

"It sounds very lonely."

I shrugged. "I'm content in my own company. It's probably for the best. I have difficulty letting people grow close."

"And if one slipped under your guard?"

I smiled sardonically. "Never happened before. Pushing people away is the one thing I'm good at."

"You have friends."

I smirked humorlessly. "I have acquaintances. You saw what happened this afternoon when Jason got too personal."

"You removed yourself from the situation."

"Precisely. I'll shoot the bull and joke around with them, but when it comes right down to it, my personal life stays right where it says: personal."

"Why, may I ask?"

I shrugged. "Don't get close, won't hurt when I have to leave."

"What if you did not have to leave?"

"I have already changed what was meant to be in this world. I have no right to continue."

"How do you know that you weren't meant to change the history of this world?"

I opened my mouth to reply and couldn't. I hated to admit it, but he had a point. I had no idea what Fate held in store in this world and my leaving could accomplish what I had intended to prevent. I sighed and put my head in my hands. Damned if I do, damned if I don't.

"Is it really so hard for you to just let Fate weave her web?"

I shrugged off his gentle hand. "I'll be damned if I..."

Realizing what I was about to reveal, I stopped abruptly and shot up from the swing with every intention of locking myself in the bathroom until he left. Unfortunately, two firm hands gently caught my wrists and held secure, turning me to face him.

"If you will what?" Trey of Heart asked gently.

"Nothing. Never mind."

"You brought it up."

"And I don't want to talk about it. Let me go."

"Tell me what you were going to say and I will let you go."

I sighed. Men. Even from outer space they were a pain in the ass. "I'll be damned if I ruin their lives like I ruined mine. There, happy now? Christ." I swore.

"You put the fate of this world on your shoulders out of a misguided attempt to make up for your imagined shortcomings."

I ignored his psychoanalization. "I told you, now let me go."

The human bands across my wrists opened and I turned on my heel, walking back into the house.