A Ranger Reunion: Chapter 3
By Ryan T. Morris
Summery: A sequel to the popular "A Christmas Reunion." This time, the Dino Thunder Rangers join Kimberly and Tommy as they go to the annual reunion of former Power Rangers (Mighty Morphin and Zeo only) which this year is being held in Peekskill, New York.
Notes: Power Rangers and all related characters are the property of The Walt Disney Company. The Facts of Life and all related characters are the property of Sony Pictures Television.
After a few minutes of running Stephanie sat down in front of a tree and pulled her knees up to her chest and cried. "I... can't... believe... he... said... I... was... a... mistake..." she sobbed. Then, the woods were filled with a strange blue light. Stephanie looked up and saw the light was coming from a nearby cave. She couldn't explain it but it felt like she was being drawn toward it. She stood up and walked toward the cave. When she was inside the cave the entrance slid closed and it lowered into the ground.
About 10 minutes after Jason and Haley's conversation in the lounge, Jason and Kat walked up to their room. When they opened the door, they saw the lights still on. "Stephanie? What are you still doing up?" said Jason. He looked around the room. "What the? Where could she be?"
Meanwhile, Stephanie walked for a ways and soon she saw what looked like sunlight. She walked toward the light and soon found herself at what looked like the ruins of an ancient temple. She was startled by a screech from over her head she looked up and saw what looked like a giant yellow metal eagle. She watched the large bird and saw it land next to a watering hole and she saw a red lion, a black bison, a white tiger, and a blue shark that was halfway out of the water. "Where am I?"
"You are at the Animarium," said a female voice behind her.
Stephanie turned around and saw a woman wearing a long white gown and a crown of flowers on her head, "Who are you?"
"I am Princess Shayla. I was the mentor of the Wild Force Power Rangers. Now, I keep track of all of the former Power Rangers and help them when I think they need my help."
"So, why am I here? I'm not a former Power Ranger."
"No, but your parents were two of the first Power Rangers. I brought you here because you are confused."
"Confused? I'm not confused. I'm upset and mad at my dad because he thinks I'm a mistake."
"Your father loves you very much, Stephanie. Jason does not think you are a mistake, you are the light of his life."
"Yeah, right."
Princess Shayla walked up to Stephanie, "Take my hand."
"Why?"
"I want to show you how much your father loves you."
"OK." Stephanie took Princess Shayla's hand and they walked toward the entrance to the cave that Stephanie used to enter the Animarium. The cave was filled with the same blue light. They walked through the light and found themselves near the check-in desk at Angel Grove General Hospital. "Why are we here?" asked Stephanie
"Just watch the front door," replied the Princess.
Stephanie watched and was stunned to see her mother and father walking through the front door. Trini was very pregnant and doing her Lamaze breathing.
"That's good, Honey, breath," said Jason, comfortingly.
"Oh, shove it, Jason!" said Trini, "If you ever come near me again..."
The nurse at the desk said, "You must be Ms. Kwan and Mr. Scott. Your doctor called just a short time ago..." A couple of more nurses appeared with a wheelchair and helped Trini sit down and then started to wheel her to Maternity, with Jason close behind. The scene changed and Princess Shayla and Stephanie found themselves in the delivery room. "OK, Trini," said the doctor, "Just one more push."
"You can do it," said Jason, has he held Trini's hand.
Trini pushed and the doctor said, "It's a girl." He cleaned the baby's airway and she cried. The doctor held her up so Jason and Trini could see. Tears of tears start to fill Trini's eyes. "Would you like to cut the cord, Dad?"
Jason smiled, "You bet." He stood up and the doctor showed him where to cut. He did and the doctor tied off the cord and handed the baby to the nurse to clean up. Then, she put the baby in Trini's arms. "She's so beautiful," said Jason, "Just like her mom." He then kissed Trini on the forehead.
"So, what should we name her?" asked Trini.
"I think we should go with your suggestion."
Trini smiled, then the nurse said, "OK, Mom and Dad, what are you going to call her?"
Trini looked at the baby and said, "Stephanie Kimberly Scott."
"I was so small," said 9 year old Stephanie.
"Yes, even from the start your dad loved you," said Princess Shayla, "And he has been there for every important moment of your young life. Your first step, first word, first bad dream, first day of school. And, this moment..." The sights and sounds of the delivery room melted away and soon took the form of the living room at her home in Angel Grove.
Jason and a 5 year old Stephanie were on the couch watching TV when the phone rang.
"That must be your mom," said Jason, as he stood up, "I wonder why she's so late." Jason picked up the phone, "Hello... Yes, this is Jason Scott... Yes, my wife's name is Trini... What? Is she OK?... What?... Yes, I'll be down as soon as possible... Good bye..." He hang up the phone
Little Stephanie looked up at Jason, "Daddy, when's Mommy coming home?"
Jason looked down at his daughter, he had to be strong for her. He knelt down so he could look her in the eye, "Sweetheart, Mommy's has been in a really bad car accident."
"Is she OK?"
"No... The doctors did their best but I'm afraid Mommy died."
Little Stephanie's eyes filled with tears and she started to cry, "Noooo!" then she wrapped around arms around Jason and he wrapped his arms around her to comfort her. A single tear rolled down Jason's cheek as he held her.
"He held you and comforted you all night long," said Princess Shayla.
"Yeah," said the 9 year old Stephanie, "I've always felt loved when my dad hugged me. But, I don't know if I can still trust him again."
"You still think Jason think you're a mistake?" asked the former mentor. Stephanie nodded. "Then there is one more thing you should see."
Stephanie and Princess Shayla soon found themselves in the Scott Family's room at the hotel. Jason and Kat where sitting at a table while a police officer was questioning them. Also, in the room was one of the hotel's owners and Jason's cousin Blair Warner-Warner. "When was the last time you saw Stephanie?"
"I guess it was about 10:00pm," said Jason, "I came up to check on her and she was doing her homework."
"What was she wearing?"
"A yellow sweater and blue jeans."
"One more question... Do either of you have any enemies who could have taken Stephanie?"
"No." said Jason.
"OK, I'll take the picture you gave me and we'll update the Amber Alert."
"Thank you, officer," said Kat.
The officer left and Blair walked over to Jason and Kat, "Are you OK, Jase?"
"Yeah, Blair, thanks for all your help."
"Hey, don't mention it. I'll go get an update from the search party."
"OK," said Jason. Then, Blair left. Jason then looked over at the bed and saw Stephanie's teddy bear sitting on the bed. He stood up, walked over to the bed, picked up the bear, and looked at it. It was a light brown bear that at one time had a bright yellow ribbon around it's neck. He gave it to Stephanie the morning after she was born. He held it tight to his chest, and started to cry.
Kat stood up and helped her husband down on to the bed, she gave him a hug, and said, "Don't worry, they are going to find her."
"It's my fault," said Jason as he cried, "It's my fault she ran away."
"What are you talking about?"
"While I was talking to Haley at the bar, she brought up Stephanie's age. I told her about Trini and I. And Haley said that in way Stephanie was a mistake. I agreed with her."
"Oh, Jason! How could you?"
"I know, I know. But, the thing is that I think Stephanie over heard us."
"Why do you think that?"
"After I said it I thought I heard a small gasp coming from the doorway. I looked but there was no one there."
"Oh my! If I was her and I heard my father say that, I'd be devastated."
Jason started to cry harder, "I love my little girl! All I want is to hold her and tell her that I'm sorry. I want to tell her that she's not a mistake. She's one of the best things that ever happened to me!" Put his head on Kat's lap and continued to cry.
"Now, what do you say?" asked Princess Shayla.
"He does love me," said Stephanie, "I want to go home."
Princess Shayla smiled and waved her hand over Stephanie. Stephanie found herself back in the woods, And she heard voices calling out her name and flashlights scattered though the area. Stephanie recognized one of the closest voices and called out as she headed toward it, "Uncle Tommy!"
A short time latter back in the Scott family's room, Jason was still crying into Kat's lap when the door opened. Kat looked toward the door and smiled, "Jason, look."
Jason looked up and saw Tommy with Stephanie standing in front of him. He quickly ran over to his daughter and threw his arms around her. Stephanie cried, "I'm sorry I ran away."
"I'm sorry I made you run away," said Jason, "Can you ever forgive me for calling you a mistake?"
"Yes, I love you, Daddy."
"I love you too, Stephanie."
THE END.