Chapter 5: A Talk Between Old Friends
At the Power Chamber…
"Your test results are all negative, Rocky," Alpha replied after a few minutes of scanning and prodding the Blue Ranger with a few devices. "I think it's best if you rest here for a few hours, and then you can return back to Angel Grove." Alpha announced his diagnosis, stashing away his medicinal gadget.
Elizabeth sat down next to Rocky, who put his blue t-shirt back on, heaving a sigh. Elizabeth patted Rocky gently on the back in condolence. "It's okay, Rocky. You can still help out with the planting later. And you certainly won't miss the celebration tonight."
Rocky nodded, "I guess that's true. But I shouldn't be resting. I should be out there helping the others with reconstruction or planting."
Elizabeth shook her head, "No, you've done more than enough. You need your rest right now. That Putty fight drained a lot of your energy. We haven't fought with them for awhile now, so our adrenaline's too pumped up right now."
"Elizabeth is right, Rocky. It is best if you stay here and get some rest for a few hours. Then, you can return to help your friends." Zordon recommended.
Rocky realized that he was fighting a lost battle. He nodded mutely, leaning back against the medical bed. Elizabeth immediately jumped off, smiling down at the Blue Ranger.
"Sleep well, Rocky," she said, leaning forward and granting him a kiss on his cheek. Rocky felt himself flush beet red, and he smiled in response, closing his eyes, and letting the world dissolve peacefully around him.
At the park…
"I'm going to take a break, Tanya." Adam said dropping his shovel and wiping his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. The sun was beating down hard on him, and wearing a black t-shirt and having black hair did not accompany excellent results. Adam found that he was sweating profusely.
"Alright, go ahead. I'll take a break later on," Tanya replied, planting a quick kiss on her boyfriend's cheek. Adam then wandered over to the break area, a shady spot underneath several leafy trees. He accepted a cup of water from the volunteers who worked at the break station, and leaned against the trunk of a tree, exhausted. Ten minutes passed before he heard footsteps approaching.
"Feeling tired already?" He smiled as Elizabeth strolled over to his side, taking off her gloves. She had a smudge of dirt on her cheek and he could detect beads of perspiration from working so hard, but nevertheless, she looked content.
"A little," he admitted. "The sun's never been my best friend."
Elizabeth smiled, "Remember in second grade when we all went to the beach all day? Your mom couldn't even recognize you underneath your tan!"
Adam laughed in remembrance. "That was a good day, though. It was worth getting that tan."
Elizabeth sighed, reaching for Adam's cup. She drank the rest of the water and sprawled out on the grass, her head on Adam's stomach. "I wish Rocky was here." She finally said, sounding guilty.
Adam looked down at his friend, frowning. "Elizabeth, you don't really believe that it was your fault that Rocky got hurt, do you?"
"Can you blame me? If I had just paid more attention to the fight, I would have noticed the putties ganging up on him. He almost got killed because of me. I was too self-absorbed in the fight, wanting revenge for everything's that happened that I failed to acknowledge Rocky."
"Elizabeth," Adam said softly, catching her attention. "I've known you for years. I know you to be one of the most perfect people; you're smart, you're beautiful, you're confident and spirited, optimistic, kind, and caring. But if someone asked me if you had any weaknesses, the one thing I would probably say to them is that you put too much guilt on yourself," Elizabeth chuckled softly. "It's not your fault that Rocky was injured, okay? When we became Power Rangers, we knew the risks. We knew that we might get hurt or killed in the process, but accepted because the world needed us, and we wanted to help. Rocky knew that. And so do you. When those putties came, both of you sprang into action and tried to defeat evil. And although Rocky was injured, you still managed to save him. You saved Rocky, and he's okay right now, thanks to you," Adam sighed, "Besides, being guilty isn't your job. It's Tommy's."
Elizabeth stifled a laugh, and looked up at Adam, her bright eyes dancing. "Thank you Adam. That means a lot of me."
Adam nodded wordlessly. "No problem. That's what I'm here for."
The two of them sat in silence, enjoying the shade and the occasional breeze that drifted by. They heard excited chattering around them; many volunteers had come to help plant trees and flowers, eager to help Angel Grove become beautiful quicker.
"You did a spectacular job." Adam acknowledged. "You managed to get all these volunteers to come here, and promote peace and conservation."
"Thanks," Elizabeth blushed.
"Not to mention you're going to give the greatest party of the year." Adam smirked, laughing as Elizabeth rolled her eyes and pushed him playfully.
"Just be glad I'm giving the party; it might be the only one you're going to all year." Elizabeth said, half-serious, half-joking. Adam sighed and leaned against the tree again, watching the rest of the team working. Tommy was shoveling dirt, Kat was dragging a wagon full of pansies and daffodils, and Tanya was planting them. The cooperation among the three was evident, as months of teamwork played out. Adam could even detect his friends' emotions; Kat was physically exhausted of having to drag the wagon around, obvious from the way her shoulders slumped together, but she was eager to help. Tommy was somewhat tired from planting for hours straight, but he was enjoying himself, apparent from his bright smile and his enthusiastic conversation with the two girls. Tanya was mentally and physically fatigued; plainly unmistakable by the way she patted the soil down. Adam glanced at Elizabeth, who was also watching the rest of the team. He could not detect a single hint of exhaustion from the Green Zeo Ranger; she seemed perfectly at ease and pleased at the rate the planting was going, and she didn't seem affected by the sun's burning radiance.
"We are one inseparable team," Elizabeth suddenly remarked. Adam raised an eyebrow in response to her outburst, but then nodded after a contemplative moment.
"Yeah, we are. But, I'm sure any group of friends who spend 24 hours of the day; 7 days of the week with each other, excluding sleep, fighting monsters and protecting the world can be inseparable." Adam said teasingly.
Elizabeth smiled broadly, "I'm sure they can, but the bond between the six of us seems stronger than any team we've been with before."
"Excluding us with the Ninja powers," Adam interjected. Though he agreed that he, Elizabeth, Rocky, Kat, Tommy, and Tanya were an inseparably strong team, he firmly believed that the team of him, Elizabeth, Rocky, Kim, Tommy, Billy, and Aisha, the Ninja Rangers, had been far more connected relationship-wise and friendship-wise. He sometimes wished that they could go back to that old team, wished with all his might that Billy could return from Aquitar, Kim from Florida, and Aisha from Africa, so that they could all reunite and be the Ninja Power Rangers again. He recalled their journey to Phaedos with remarkable recollection; how innocent they had all been back then, how playful and happy. They had never been stronger, never been more invincible than that one year. He missed Billy's brilliance that outsmarted any monster of Zedd or Rita's, missed Kim's perkiness and enthusiasm for jumping into any battle, and undoubtedly missed Aisha's optimism and spunkiness, not to mention her love for all her friends, especially Rocky, Elizabeth, and himself.
"I miss Aisha." Adam voiced. He watched as Elizabeth's expression turned somber, and she sighed unevenly.
"Me too," She replied, smiling at Adam calmly. She took Adam's hand in hers, squeezing it tightly for comfort. "I miss her friendship. I know you do too. Rocky does as well. It just doesn't feel the same without her. You, Rocky, and Aisha, and I have been friends since kindergarten. We've been together everyday since we were four years old. With Aisha gone, it feels like we have to cross a giant canyon in order to not feel so empty."
"Together everyday since we've been four," Adam repeated. "That's incredible. I can't believe we're still friends after spending all this time together."
Elizabeth gently punched him, laughing. "Hey, we can stop right now if you want, Adam Daniel Park."
"Hell no, Elizabeth Charlotte Watson," Adam said, challenging her back with her middle name. He surprised himself briefly by saying a curse remark, but Adam had never been too shy around Elizabeth and he was growing out of his bashfulness, especially around women, mostly due to the courtesy of Elizabeth. She helped regain his confidence and willpower around women, particularly after noticing the attraction between him and Tanya.
"What are you planning to do after we graduate?" Elizabeth inquired curiously, changing the topic.
Adam shrugged impulsively, his gaze faraway. He really had no idea what he was going to pursue after graduation, which was only about a year away. Then what? He had no idea what the future would hold for him or his friends. And he had no idea what would happen with their powers. Would they give them up or would they continue on their roles of acting the heroes?
"I don't know. I…I really have no idea." He replied, somewhat lamely.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow suggestively. "Didn't you tell me last year you wanted to be a stuntman?"
Adam felt his cheeks reddened in color. He'd forgotten he had the career conversation with Elizabeth before; he thought he hadn't revealed his secret fascination of pursuing a career in stunting. Martial arts had been his passion for thirteen years; it had given him the strength to stand up against bullies in school, and the boast of self-confidence he needed when making new friends.
Unquestionably, martial arts was Rocky and Elizabeth's forte as well, given that the three of them had taken up martial arts together when they were little, along with Aisha, but for his best friends, the purpose of the class was more of a leisurely activity and enjoyment shared by friends than a self-reliance and boast of confidence class. Granted, Rocky, Elizabeth, and Aisha had all been very self-confident and assertive even when they were little, so martial arts didn't give them the same satisfaction it had given Adam to stand up to the bullies in school who'd picked on him for being short and scrawny.
Elizabeth was especially talented when it came to martial arts. Though the class didn't serve as a self-boasting lesson, it had helped her mature faster and easier into an intelligent, witty, and attractive girl. Adam was certain that her taking martial arts had benefited her in her intellectual wit and accomplished humor, chiefly with Zedd or Rita. She was able to retort faster than any of the Rangers when it came to one of Zedd or Rita's old-fashioned surrender rants, often silencing both rulers and any of their monsters with her unsurpassed cleverness. Adam was both proud (and slightly ashamed) at the fact that Elizabeth could simply beat him in any spar or competition. The last competition the two engaged in ended up with a landslide victory: 8 to 1. Since then, Adam bowed down from competing with Elizabeth, knowing it was fruitless to contend against her. The only people Adam knew who challenged Elizabeth up to date were Tommy or Rocky. Albeit, Tommy was the leader and so, proved to be a more tactful and capable fighter than Adam, though from the spars Adam watched the two engage in, Elizabeth had prevailed as the champion almost every time. Still, Tommy was an endowed martial artist, and proved a more difficult to beat opponent than Adam or any of the girls. Rocky was still keen on challenging Elizabeth as well, although this was more because of Rocky's sense of pride than his enthusiasm and skill on rivaling Elizabeth's undefeated scores. Nevertheless, Adam had witnessed Rocky triumph over a few times, but this was (in Adam's opinion) more or less an act on Elizabeth's part. Adam swore that the last time she and Rocky had spared, she deliberately allowed Rocky to take her down.
Despite what many people believed, Rocky was a very talented and difficult adversary. He had incalculable skill in martial arts, practicing and exercising daily to improve upon his abilities. Adam knew his longtime best friend was planning on opening a dojo once they finished high school; a feat Adam believed was perfect for Rocky, who both loved martial arts and kids. Adam always considered people's lack of trust and faith in Rocky's abilities to be Rocky's greatest asset, as he could then easily surprise and surpass his opponents, earning much astonishment from teammates and challengers. Though he appeared habitually goofy, without tact, and constantly playful and teasing, Rocky was passionate and serious in his karate and upheld a code of honor and ethics that even exceeded Elizabeth's honorary code.
"I thought about it," Adam replied after a long moment of contemplation. "I'm not so sure though, because I'm so self-conscious. I won't be able to last in front of the cameras for more than three seconds." He confessed.
Elizabeth squeezed his hand reassuringly. "I'm sure you'll be fine, Adam. Just don't doubt yourself. Remember, whatever you do, I'll always support you and be behind you 100, guaranteed."
"Even if I choose to become a crazed murderer?" Adam asked, grinning mischievously.
"Well, if that happened, I'd call a psychiatrist and wonder how I became friends with you." Elizabeth retorted, smiling brightly.
"It's because you, Rocky, and Aisha felt sorry for me since I was too shy to play with anyone." Adam replied, recollecting that fateful day when Elizabeth practically dragged him out of his house so he could play with them. Though he admitted before that he was terrified of playing with Rocky, Aisha, and Elizabeth back then, he never regretted his decision. Had Elizabeth not persuaded him to come out, he didn't know where he would end up now.
"Be glad that we managed to persuade you. Your mom was so happy that we wanted to play with you, but you were as scared as a duck! What if I never went inside your house and dragged you down the stairs?" Elizabeth demanded.
"I'd probably end up in an asylum." Adam admitted, smiling.
"That's right," Elizabeth agreed, her eyes twinkling with laughter.
"Had it not been for you, my life would never have been so wonderful. Everything I have right now, I owe it to you. Meeting you that day so many years ago was honestly the best thing that ever happened to me, and is probably the best thing that will ever happen to me. I can't think of anything that would rival our friendship. Because of you, my life has been so complete." Adam confessed, pouring his heart out. Although he was shy and sensitive, never admitting his true feelings about his friends, he didn't stop the words coming out. He knew they were the right thing to say, and judging from the look on Elizabeth's face, he knew she agreed.
She leaned forward and wrapped her arms under his, allowing him to embrace her tightly. She hugged him back, rubbing his back, and he felt tears stain the back of his shirt. He gently patted her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo, enjoying the comfort that he could seek in her arms.
They stayed like this for awhile, before he heard a forceful cough behind them. Immediately, Adam opened his eyes, and finding Tanya staring at the two, separated from Elizabeth quickly. Elizabeth stared quizzically at Adam, but one glance from his eyes and she looked up, spotting Tanya. She felt her cheeks flush with color, and she wrapped her arms around her legs protectively, feeling violated and disappointed.
"Um…hi, Tanya," Adam said, breaking the awkward silence.
Ohhh...cliffhanger! What's going to happen next? Find out on the next chapter of the Power Rangers!