Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.
Chapter 14: Leader
"…so then with my Red Savage Cycle I road through Serpentera," said Cole. "And with that, the last of the Machine Empire was destroyed.
"Bro, that's awesome," gushed Shane in awe, who had been listening raptly all night as Cole related the team-up tale of the nine red rangers on the moon and other Power Ranger generation stories.
"Forever Red," reminisced Cole. "That's what we called our all-star team. I don't think we could have done it if the nine of us rangers hadn't been together."
"That's kinda what like Sensei said earlier," mused Shane.
"What do you mean?" asked Cole.
"Well, Sensei told you and Hunter that the spirit of the Org and the spirit of the Alien became twice as powerful once they were combined," said Shane. "Just like us rangers our more powerful the more of us work together."
"You know you're pretty smart for a rookie," teased Cole to Shane, who slapped the older ranger playfully in response.
"You know Tori, Dustin and I definitely weren't the hottest ninjas in the Academy at all," replied Shane. "But I think why we've done so well is 'cause we're tight. Sensei always said our greatest weapon was not how powerful we were as on our own, but as a team."
Cole said nothing in response, thinking back on both Sensei and Shane's words. He suddenly felt guilty that puppy love jealousy had caused him to forget every ranger principle he had ever learned. Standing up suddenly, Cole knew what he had to do.
"I'll be right back," said Cole as he exited Shane's room.
"Where are you going?" called Shane after him. "It's five in the morning!"
Yawning loudly, Hunter yanked open the door to Shane's fridge. He was starving, considering he and Blake were always too lazy or too busy with their motocross bikes to bother with food shopping. Peaking inside, Hunter noticed plenty of cold cuts, cold veggies, cold juice and cold air. "This is why I love sleeping over Shane's place," smiled Hunter to himself.
"Except tonight," grimaced Hunter at the thought of the conceited Cole. Seeing the morning dawn dancing through the window curtain, Hunter wondered if Cole and Shane were still up exchanging rangering tales. Hunter had wanted to participate, but he felt awkward with Cole there. And since he was sick of hearing his brother go on about his unrequited love for Tori, Hunter let Blake think he had pretended to pass out on the couch.
Yet between thoughts of getting kissed by Alyssa and getting kicked around by the Alien Orgs, Hunter hadn't been able to get much sleep despite his immunization to Blake's habitual snoring. He realized the mutated Aliens had one up on the rangers today. Right now, Hunter knew something drastic had to happen for the rangers to defeat this new, powerful enemy.
"Can't sleep?" Hunter heard a voice behind him ask.
"What do you want?" bristled Hunter upon hearing Cole's voice.
"To apologize," said Cole simply.
"For being a showoff and a self-centered asshole?" said Hunter sarcastically.
"No," replied Cole. "For letting something stupid get in my way of being a good teammate. And a good ranger."
"I wouldn't call Alyssa stupid," responded Hunter. "She's amazing."
"I know," agreed Cole. "But I'm the red ranger. And the leader. I can't let these distractions get in the way of my duty."
"That's stupid," scoffed Hunter.
"Excuse me?" replied Cole stunned.
"I'm a leader too," remarked Hunter. "Of the Thunder Storm Ninja Rangers. And who my bro looks up. And that's never stopped me from having a life. Personally, I think you're just scarred that you missed your opportunity with Alyssa, and now that she's found someone new who she really likes, you can't let her go."
Cole shoved his hands in his pockets and didn't meet Hunter in the eye. Hearing no response, Hunter sighed and begrudgingly recognized that having the other red ranger as teammate was better than continuing to butt heads with him. Cole had been man enough to at least approach him for a truce. The least Hunter knew he could do was meet him halfway.
"Look," began Hunter. "If Alyssa decides she's into you as more than a friend, then I'll deal. But if she really wants to be with me, then I want you to back off. I mean, what we both really want more than her to be with us is for her to be happy. Right?"
"Right," concurred Cole. "Her happiness is definitely a sacrifice I'm willing to make."
"Sacrifice," repeated Hunter. "It's what us leaders have to do sometimes in order to keep our team together."
"You got that right, Bro," agreed Cole as he and Hunter slapped fists and then shook hands.
"What's going on?" interrupted Shane, coming into the kitchen. "What's this? Are you guys actually talking without wanting to kill each other?"
"Maybe," smiled Cole. "It's a just a small sacrifice."
"I don't get it," said Shane confused.
"You should," joshed Hunter. "You're a red ranger?"
"Huh?" questioned Shane, starring at the two like they were crazy. In response, Hunter and Cole just burst out laughing.
"Forever Red continues," murmured Cole with bittersweet fondness as he looked at his two, new friends.
At that moment, Shane and Hunter heard their communicators go off. Glancing at the others seriously, Shane pressed the button to talk.
"What's up, Cam?" asked Shane.
"Guys, the Alien Orgs have returned," the three heard Cam say through the communicator. "
"Let's do this guys," said Cole to the ninjas. "Let's finish these Orgs once and for all."
The three boys in the center with their fists in the center and exchanged resolute glances.
A/N: The big battle is next chapter. Stay tuned, and please review!