Summary: As the fight continues, the rangers try to keep their lives as normal as possible while learning about their full powers.
Phantom Rogue: Well, they don't actually HAVE black eyes… This chapter AND an epilogue.
Arwennicole: Every good things must come to an end :( Don't be too sad, there'll be more. But what happened to 'Won't Make The Same Mistake Twice'? I loved that story.
SweetSas: Andros always cute. Aurora is probably one of my favourite characters from these series… after Ciana… the kid stole my heart.
Star Fata: No problem, actually, most writers tend to shorten the name of their fics… I think Not Always The End was my most brilliant title ever… I didn't even notice NATE when I thought of it.
DizneeDol: Well, I hope you had fun. I guess you'll have something to catch up on when you get back. See ya later.
Jenny: Oh rise cake… Rosa got the sims now too… Someone help us! Well, at least I still got my fateful, loyal, most wonderful, bestest ever beta read… not to mention a great friend. I'M SO HAPPY YOU'RE AIM WORKS AGAIN! Now get your butt online again… I need to show you something. I'm working as hard as I can on SU.
As The Battle Rages
Chapter 34
Laughs filled the Simu-room at NASADA. The Zodiac team was training, facing the most absurd creatures anyone could think of. The laughs had been caused by a purple dragon-like creature, currently chewing contentedly on an egg headed monster.
"Scrudly!" Chaitlin exclaimed, through fits of giggles.
The laughs echoed through the control room overlooking the Simu-room too. Karone had told her friends enough stories of her pet as Astronema for the joke to get through.
"They make a good team." Saryn decided, watching Ray floor Kagan only to get his own feet swiped from under him by Abby.
Abby got lifted off her feet by Anlon so Dymphna and Kayla could attack, tickling her sides. The girl squirmed in her brother's arms, shrieking with infectious laughter.
A few feet away Reese and Murtagh were training their additional powers under Gwyn's supervision. Murtagh changed his arm into diamond, steel, gold and rock, amongst others, while Reese hardened his body to resist the thrown punch. Chaitlin sat on the edge of the mats watching everything around her and occasionally healing either Reese or Murtagh's hand.
Megan and Eshla were sparring on the other side of the mats, throwing slow punches and kicks while gradually picking up speed. Dakota plunged into the match between Ray and Kagan, turning himself intangible every now and then when he couldn't dodge the attack – mainly from his cousin.
Aurora stood a little distance away from it all, surveying her team goofing around more than actually training. When she caught Chaitlin's eye, the other girl motioned for her to join her on the mats.
With a smile Aurora walked over, sparing a quick glance at the window from where their parents were watching them. Distantly she wondered if they had told already as she dropped down next to her cousin.
"Hey." She greeted as if Chaitlin hadn't invited her over.
"Hey." Chaitlin replied, smiling at Aurora. "What were you thinking about?"
"Just stuff." Aurora shrugged. "My family, the team, Blaecleah, life in general."
"Mack?" Chaitlin guessed sympathetically and Aurora nodded. "Don't worry, he'll wake up soon. Just hang on just a little longer."
Aurora smiled and hugged Chaitlin.
"Thanks. For everything. I don't think I could have gotten through this all without you."
"Hey, that's what family is for." Chaitlin replied, laughing when Murtagh hollered in pain. "That's my cue."
Up in the control room the former rangers watched their children with delight.
"It was high time they found each other." TJ grinned.
"Definitely." Carlos agreed. "Though I still can't wrap my brain around the thought that Gwyn is the same girl as this sweet baby."
Ciana giggled when Carlos tickled her stomach, nearly squirming out of Andros's arms.
"Hey watch it." Andros grumbled good-naturally.
"It's a shame she's so mature already at that age." Cassie sighed a little. "Probably because of the age difference between her and her siblings."
Ashley looked over at Zhane, Karone and Andros before taking a deep breath.
"Yeah, well… that might not actually have to happen here too." She muttered.
Cassie eyed her friend suspiciously as she had managed to catch everyone's attention.
"Okay, what's going on?"
Andros reached out and slid his hand into his wife's, twining their fingers together.
"Ciana's going to be a big sister." Ashley admitted softly.
The others were shocked for a moment, but greeted the news with bubbling joy for their two friends.
"I'm having another baby too." Karone whispered through the chaos, leaning back into Zhane's embrace as he hugged her from behind.
The control room fell silent again and everyone, but Andros and Ashley, just stared.
"You're not joking." Carlos concluded.
Karone shook her head and a wide smile broke out on Cassie's face.
"Congratulations!" She exclaimed, hugging Karone.
"You're not getting another." Saryn, TJ and Carlos told their wives in unison, causing the others to laugh.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Only the epilogue to go now. Review.
