Legends of the Past - Andros, Zhane, Karone and ?
By Angel Mouse
Phaedos, present day.
The rest of the day was spent quietly and busy for the three rangers already gathered. They had made the cave livable again, making sure there was room for the arrivals expected the next day. They had then gone out for food and water, gathering quite a large amount for the three of them, mindful that being rangers they were always hungry and needed lots of energy for their enhanced metabolisms. Cam and Billy had quickly discovered that they had similar levels of intelligence and experience and where soon chatting merrily about zord and weapon design. Cam had found that Billy had quite a lot of good ideas that he could incorporate in future designs for his weapons. In Cam, Billy had found another ranger of the same intelligence level as him and for once he didn't feel he had to hide his intelligence from the other rangers. Merrick kept watch, not saying a lot but skirting on the edge of where they were sitting, gathering wood for the fire and making sure it was going well. Billy had pointed out some leaves that brewed an adequate tea like drink, sweet and actually full of nutrients. So Merrick had gathered some of the leaves from it as it he was the tallest of them and the tree was fairly high. Dropping a load of wood, Merrick crouched down the fire and taking out a wooden spoon Billy had found amongst the things they had left here last time they were here, he stirred the tea.
"I think this is ready." Billy looked up from where he and Cam had been discussing weapon design and sketching designs into the ground. He smiled and they stood up, dusting themselves off and coming over to the fire. Billy sat down next to Merrick and smiled, smelling the tea.
"Ah that smells about right." Merrick poured some in a mug for him and Billy sipped it after blowing on it to cool it down. He smiled.
"Perfect. You're not a bad cook Merrick." Merrick nodded, handing a mug to Cam and taking one for himself.
"I have to be. I prefer being alone most of the time." Both Cam and Billy smiled at this, exchanging a familiar grin. Cam leaned forward slightly, his hands around his mug.
"I know about that. When my Mum died it was just the two of us. He runs a Ninja academy yet wouldn't let me train as a Ninja. Guess that was a good idea since I ended up being a Samurai. But I always felt an outcast. The lone non-ninja living in a school surrounded by them." Billy nodded and sipped his tea.
"For me it's was the same. When my Mum died, my Dad withdrew from me and I was bullied an awful lot. I felt so much of an outcast it wasn't until Jason and the others befriended me that I truly began to feel accepted. But even now, I still don't really feel apart of the team." Cam nodded.
"I know. I mean, I've only had my powers a few days, and even though I get more respect from the others, I'm only getting it because I'm a ranger you know?" Billy nodded.
"When the others began to teach me to fight, it was only then I began to gain respect from them." Merrick sighed and leaned back slightly.
"For me, it was the respect was given because I was the Princess's protector. Chosen from the elite warrior's that protected Anamaria. I didn't realise how lonely a position it would become. But there were compensations." Merrick's eyes twinkled slightly and the corner of his mouth turned up just a little. Billy grinned suddenly.
"Oh yeah, especially when you're a ranger. Seeing your friends, especially the girls, in all that tight spandex." The three male rangers glanced at one another a moment and then they all shared a soft laugh, even Merrick. Merrick raised his glass to the others.
"Here's to those that were before us, after us and all of us in between." Cam and Billy raised their mugs as well.
"To the Rangers."
"The Rangers." The three male rangers then sat there for the rest of the evening, talking softly about their experiences until the fire burned low and they retired for the evening.
Dulcea and Zaron emerged the next morning to find a fire already going, tea brewing and breakfast of fruits and berries waiting for them. The three male rangers had been busy as none of them liked sleeping in late and had all be up at the crack of dawn. Cam to meditate, Billy to practice the latest kata he was learning and Merrick as it was an ingrained habit from where he and the Princess sang to the Deer Zord each morning. Dulcea smiled as Billy greeted them both with a mug of tea that he had brewed fresh.
"Good morning, I hope you rested well Dulcea." Dulcea nodded as she took the mug from his hands.
"Yes I did thank you Billy. And thank you for the tea, it's my favourite." He smiled at her and turned to Zaron.
"And you Zaron, how are you today?"
"Well thank you Billy." Zaron hadn't spoken much; knowing that anything he could say about these people and the past he knew could upset the future they were going to be living in. They joined the three rangers around the fire, eating a quiet breakfast. Finally Dulcea stood and nodded to the three rangers.
"We will be getting the other three rangers we require this morning and then this afternoon we will explain to you what is happening and why we have brought you all here." The three of them nodded and stepped back out of the way. Dulcea began to draw the symbols in the ground again, sprinkling the powder on them once more. Taking Zaron's hand she closed her eyes and began to concentrate.
KO35, 2001
Trakeena had been defeated and the rangers were settling down to their new home. Karone had called for someone from KO35 to come and bring her home, so Zhane had volunteered to go and get her and she had returned home to KO35 a hero. Andros, Ashley and Zhane had moved back to KO35 when Karone had left to help the Galaxy Rangers. They were helping with the rebuilding and setting up an embassy between the two worlds. It had been a natural progression for Andros and Ashley to become the official ambassadors between the two worlds. The four of them had managed to get a day free of official engagements and take a picnic to a quiet mountainous area of KO35 that neither girl had see before. After enjoying a lovely lunch they lay back on the blanket. Ashley's head quite happily in Andros's lap as they lay lengthwise along the blanket. Karone was leaning against the tree they had picnicked under with Zhane's head in her lap. She was absently stroking his hair, enjoying the feeling of being with him again. She had missed him greatly while being away with the Galaxy Rangers and had come to realise that she loved him dearly. She closed her eyes, smiling slightly at the sight of her brother and his wife asleep on the ground next to them and then suddenly opened them as they felt a gust of chilly wind approach. She couldn't believe her eyes and quickly spoke.
"Andros! Zhane! Ashley! Wake up!" The three sleeping other rangers quickly opened their eyes and they were soon on their feet. In front of them was swirling vortex and they stared at it with concern on their faces.
"What is it? Where's it coming from?" Ashley voiced the questions on everyone's mind and Karone stepped slightly forward, frowning.
"It's magical, what ever it is."
"Rangers, this is Dulcea. We need your help in the distant future. Andros, yourself, Zhane and Karone are required urgently." Andros exchanged a glance with Zhane, who nodded in agreement. Where Andros went, Zhane would go. Ashley stepped forward, her expression severe.
"Andros isn't going anywhere without me. I don't care if I'm wanted or not, you're not going with out me. An extra ranger is always helpful." Andros frowned slightly and opened his mouth to say something but Karone stopped him.
"Let her come Andros. Otherwise I'll be the only girl there and I'll get lonely while you two are trying to protect us." Zhane glanced at Andros, his eyes full of mirth but his expression neutral.
"It doesn't bother me, if that's what you're wondering."
"Rangers, please, hurry through the portal. You will only be gone five minutes in your time. But we can not keep this vortex open much longer. Come if you are coming!" Andros took a deep breath and took Ashley's hand.
"Alright, let's go." Smiling at his wife, the two of them jumped through the portal, followed closely by Zhane and Karone, whose hands were joined as well. Moments later, the secluded spot was quiet again.
Phaedos, present day.
The vortex coalesced and suddenly four figures ended up sprawled on the ground. The vortex closed and Dulcea and Zaron released each other's hands. They sat down, trying to regain their breaths and steady their racing hearts. It was more tiring to bring more than one person through at once. The three male rangers stepped forward to help the new comers stand. Billy helped Zhane and Karone to their feet while Cam helped Andros and Merrick Ashley. Billy smiled at them all.
"Welcome to Phaedos. Introductions all around I think." Andros glanced over at him and grinned slightly.
"It's alright Will, I know you." Billy frowned.
"How? I've never meet you." Andros frowned now and Billy continued. "Dulcea has gathered us from different time periods, so perhaps you know me from then." Andros nodded.
"That must be it." Zhane grinned.
"Okay, so we established you know him in the future. But I'd still like to know who I'm dealing with." Billy grinned, immediately liking this guy.
"I'm Billy Cranston. Blue Wolf Ninjetti Ranger from 1996." Cam stepped forward, a slight smile on his face.
"I'm Cam Watanabe. Green Samurai Ranger from 2003." Merrick had stepped back, his arms folded and looking very imposing.
"Merrick. Luna Wolf Wild Force Ranger from 2002." Andros nodded in greeting at them all. He gestured to Zhane.
"This is Zhane of KO35, the Silver Ranger. My sister, Karone, the Galaxy Pink Ranger. This is my wife Ashley Hammond of Earth, the Yellow Astro Ranger and I'm Andros, the Red Astro Ranger and we're from 2001." Billy grinned slightly.
"I'm feeling very out of place here. I'm the only one that hasn't been a recent ranger. But Dulcea won't tell me what year we are in." Cam nodded.
"I've had some experience with time travel, trust me, it's a good thing we don't know what year exactly we are in." Merrick gave a soft laugh.
"After three thousand years trapped in a tomb and then waking up, what's another few thousand years." They looked at him with renewed respect and then Dulcea and Zaron approaching took their attention. Andros and Zhane smiled, bowing low in respect to her.
"Dulcea, it's good to see you again."
"And you Andros, Zhane. I am pleased you were able to come. But I see you brought one extra?" Dulcea was smiling, so Andros took that to mean she didn't mind too much.
"Dulcea, this is Ashley of Earth, the yellow Astro ranger and my wife. She wouldn't let me leave without her." Ashley smiled warmly at Dulcea and grinned.
"As if he'd get rid of me that easily." Dulcea laughed.
"This is Zaron of Eltare, he requested that I help gather you together to fulfil a prophecy concerning a great evil that is facing the universe at the moment. Please, make yourselves comfortable and we'll explain everything."
Tbc.