Author's note: This is the last chapter. I want to thank those who have reviewed. I plan to write somewhat of a sequal to this story.
Chapter 6.
As Conner was talking to Ethan and Kira, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. A sudden wave of sadness came over him for he knew this was it. As he turned to face the counter, he saw Tommy, Kim, and Hayley staring at two people.
Tommy and Kim were in shock at what they were witnessing right in front of them. An old man was standing next to a young asian girl with long flowing black hair.
"Trini?" Kim asked.
"Zordon?" Tommy asked.
At this time, Conner, Ethan, and Kira made their way to the counter.
"Hello rangers, it is good to see you again." Zordon said with pride.
"What are you doing here?" Tommy asked.
Zordon hesitated for a minute and then looked to Conner, who had a look of sadness on his face.
"We've come for Conner." Trini said calmly.
"I suggest you sit down, rangers." Zordon said cautiously.
Hayley, Tommy, Kim, Ethan, and Kira took a seat while Conner remained standing.
"There is no easy way to say this, so I think it will be best if I just say it." Zordon began.
"I"m not real." Conner interupted, not wanting to delay this any longer. Five heads turned towards him with looks of confusion on all of their faces."I'm a ghost." He finished quietly.
"Yeah right, real funny Conner." Ethan said with a laugh.
"I'm afraid that he is correct, Ethan." Zordon said.
"If Conner is a ghost, Zordon, then explain to me how it is that Conner has been able to drink, eat, sleep, feel and have all the other major functions that a living person would have." Tommy demanded, trying to find sense of it all.
Zordon seemed to hesitate again and when the rangers looked at Conner, he could only turn away. Sensing that neither Zordon or Conner would admit to it, Trini decided it would be best if she explained the scenario.
"Two weeks ago, Conner died in a car accident. Zordon and I came down to get him and take him to the gates of heaven. When we got to the gate, we asked him if he had any unfinished business that he needed to take care of." She began.
"He told us that he wanted to come back to Reefside and explain why he left five years ago. He needed to make amends with that."
Zordon continued.
"We gave him enough power to come back home in his human form. It would be as if he was real. He would need to drive, he would need sleep, the power we gave Conner was to give him back his life. He would go about it as if it were a normal day. Although Conner is a ghost, the man who see right now, and the man who has been here for the last week is real." Trini said.
"And now that I have finished my business, it is time for me to go." Conner said.
A bright light came in through the roof of the Cyberspace. Everyone had to sheild their eyes but once the light faded, it revealed a stairway.
"Come on Conner." Trini said.
"No. Not yet, I'm not ready." Conner replied defiantly.
"What do you mean?" Zordon asked.
"I left them once without saying goodbye, I'm not gonna do it again." Conner struggled to get the words out.
Zordon and Trini just nodded.
As Connor walked to the stairway, he looked up and shook his head no. When he turned to face his friends, gone was the short blonde spikes and goatee and there he stood with his long brown hair and clean shaven face. He was a kid again.
He walked to the others who were standing in a line now. He casually walked to Hayley.
"Thank you. Without your guidance and help, I never would have lasted as a ranger. You were always there for me. I'll miss you Hayley." He pulled her into a hug as she cried into his shoulder. He then made his way to Kim.
"I regret what I did five years ago because I missed the chance to get to know you and judging by the last week I'll never get to know one of the best people in the world. I want you to take care of Tommy and I want you to know that I'm sorry Kimberly." He pulled her into a hug much like he did with Hayley and she too cried in his embrace.
"Tommy. Dr.O. What can I say? You taught me how to be a leader and how to trust other people but most of all you taught me how to trust myself. You were more than a teacher and teammate to me. You were my friend. One of the best that I could have asked for." Tommy couldn't even look at him anymore, he turned his head away to hide the tears that were falling from his eyes. He stuck his hand out to Conner but Conner knocked his hand away and pulled him into a hug.
He slowly made his way to Ethan who also couldn't look at him.
"Hey blue."
"Hey" Ethan said quietly.
"You are the best friend I ever had. You are much more than the computer geek that I thought you were when I met you. You always stood beside me. You always let it be known when I did something you didn't like or agree with. I have a very good feeling that you will make it in the software business man because you don't know how to fail. But I want you to promise me something,
that even when you are rich and famous, that you will look after her." He pointed to Kira. "Don't let her get out of control.
I'll miss you man."
"I'll miss you too, and I promise that I'll look after her." Ethan said with tears in his eyes but his voice steady.
The two embraced and Ethan joined Tommy, Hayley, and Kim, leaving only Kira left.
"Conner-" She began.
"Don't. Don't cry over me Kira. Now you know why you can't go with me. Words cannot describe what I feel for you. I can't explain what you mean to me because no matter how I put it, it wouldn't be enough. I love you so much Kira and I wish it didn't have to be this way but it does. But before I go, I have one request."
"What's that?"
"That I have this dance."
"There's no music."
"I can fix that" Trini said.
With a snap of her fingers the CD player came on and played a soft melody.
Time, sometimes the time just slips away
And your left with yesterday Left with the memories
I, I'll always think of you and smile And be happy for the time I had you with me
Though we go our seperate ways I won't forget so don't forget The memories we made
Please remember, please remember I was there for you And you were there for me
Please remember, our time together The time was yours and mine
And we were wild and free Please remember, please remember me
Goodbye, there's just no sadder word to say
And it's sad to walk away With just the memories
Who's to know what might have been We'll leave behind a life and time We'll never know again
Please remember, please remember I was there for you And you were there for me
And remember, please remember me
Please remember, please remember I was there for you And you were there for me
Please remember, our time together The time was yours and mine And we were wild and free
Please remember, please remember me
And how we laugh and how we smile And how this world was yours and mine
And how no dream was out of reach I stood by you, you stood by me We took each day and made it shine We wrote our names across the sky
We ride so fast, we ride so free And I had you and you had me
Please remember, please remember.
As the song ended they just held each other, crying into each other. As Conner pulled away he said one last thing to her.
"Promise me something."
"What?"
"Don't let me hold you down. There is someone out there for you who will love you as much as I do. When you find him, don't push him away because of me. I wish that person could be me but it can't. Don't let it slip through your fingers."
"I promise."
He hugged her one last time and leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips as he turned away towards the stairway where Trini and Zordon stood waiting.
He looked up at the stairway but instead of walking up the stairs, he turned back to the group of people he had come to love.
Conner looked to his left, he brought his left arm over his chest, turned back his sleeve to reveal the bracelet that his dino gem had once been etched into. He pulled the bracelet off his wrist, looked at it and threw it to Tommy.
"I won't be needing that anymore."
As Tommy stared at the bracelet in his hands, Zordon's voice got his attention.
"You chose well Tommy, I'm very proud of you."
"Goodbye. I love you all." Conner said wiping the tears from his eyes. With that he turned around and walked up the stairs with Zordon and Trini following him. The bright light appeared once again and when it faded, all that was left was an empty Cybercafe with five people embraced in one big hug.
"Is he really gone?" Kira asked, afraid of the answer even though she knew.
"Yeah, he's gone." Tommy whispered as he tried his best to comfort them. "Come on, let's go home. We need the rest."
"At least I got to say goodbye this time." Kira said as the five of them walked out the doors.
Author's note.
Well that's it. My first story is done. Again thanks for those who reviewed. The song from LeAnn Rimes is "Please Remember" and it is on the "Coyote Ugly" soundtrack. See ya.