A.N.: The more I rewatch Lightspeed the more I realize how deep in a hole I'm digging my character lol. I'm truly excited to write Ally's upcoming arc and to explore the themes I've been building up, as well as to further her dynamics with the other characters. I'm honestly making myself cry with how much I'm about to traumatize her lol. Y'all aren't ready to see what's coming next, but for now, thanks for all the support 3
P.S.: I was curious so I went to look up what the cast looks like now and they look exactly the same. I wanna age like them lol.
Intruder alert, was the alarm that sounded as Ryan Mitchell took the lift up into Aqua Base. It was fitting, considering that was what he felt like: an intruder. An outsider.
Oh, and a murderer. That too.
The lift stopped, but he didn't get off. Instead, he simply stared straight at the woman who appeared to be the head scientist. Ryan didn't want to look at the others, who all wore looks of disdain, fear, or somehow, both. They were afraid of him. They hated him.
Funny, because he could say the same about himself.
The doors on the far end of the docking bay opened up, and two guards rushed in, one carrying a rifle. "Hold it!" He didn't speak as the guards hurried to restrain him, but the scientist held up a hand.
"It's okay." Her voice was nothing but ice. No doubt she'd heard about what he'd done. "Let him go." The guards backed away, but not without throwing matching looks of disgust his way. Ryan was tough, used to much, much worse than this. After years of training under Diabolico… he wouldn't be affected by these people's emotions. Or at least, he would try not to be.
Without taking a backwards glance, he stalked through the halls towards his father's office. He hated how the doors slid open immediately, how his father welcomed him in. He didn't deserve it.
"I knew you'd come back," his father murmured.
"I'm not here to stay. I came to say goodbye."
"Goodbye?" Ryan didn't understand how his father was able to stay so… so nonjudgmental. Even after knowing what he'd done to Alyssa's brother, his father still loved him. Ryan couldn't even love himself. "But why? Now that you know who you really are, there's a place for you right here in Lightspeed."
Ryan had no doubt that there were words going unspoken. Words that sounded something like "once we can clear your name" and "once you come clean and explain why you did what you did". But he couldn't give an answer to any of it. Not if he wanted the team his father and sister had so passionately worked to build to stay together. "That's just it. I don't know who I am. For years, my mind's been poisoned with hate and fear." He turned, readied himself to speak the closest thing as to what he truly believed. "I don't know if I have any good left in me. I'm leaving Mariner Bay. I have to find out who I am." Ryan could only hope that one day, the hurt he was causing now would lead to something better. That maybe one day, he could come clean-
"Ryan." He stopped. "You may not know who you are, but trust me, I do. You're not evil, no matter what you've done. I believe you did what was right in the moment, even if you won't tell me what really happened. Even if you never tell any of us what truly happened, I believe that somewhere inside you is a… an ocean of goodness. The day that you realize that, I want you to open this." His father held up a simple, silver box, and without a word, he took it.
Ally hadn't even gotten the chance to speak to Leon as he lay there in the hospital bed. It'd only been three days ago that she'd seen him, that he'd been caught up in that terrible art heist. He'd been so excited for it, too, for the chance to finally show off the art he'd been working on over the past few years. Ally was proud of him. (And told him to be careful of that masked person who'd been going around to different art galleries, holding them up in order to steal valuable pieces.) She'd told him as much over the phone.
Over the damn phone. That was the last time she'd ever spoken to her older brother. The one who protected her when she had no one. The one who'd taught her how to ride a moped, then a motorcycle, far against their parents' wishes. The one who taught her how to stand up for herself.
The older brother who loved with all of his heart.
And now he was gone. Forever.
She punched at the sandbag one last time, and her knuckles split open, blood painting the black material with streaks of red. Ally wasn't sure how long she'd been in the gym, but given the state of her hand… "Ally, come back to our dorm with me." She spun, seeing Dana there, and guilt instantly hit her square in the chest.
Over the months she'd gotten to know the Pink Ranger, she knew that Dana Mitchell was as hard-working as her father, if not more so. That despite her kind demeanor that displayed itself in her skills as a medic, she was also willing to get her hands dirty, to do the jobs no one else wanted to do. And she was one of Ally's best friends.
But she just couldn't bring herself to be happy about Ryan's whole being alive deal.
Most of the time, she found herself wishing death upon him. Wishing he'd died in that wreck.
Then, every time she'd see Dana, Ally would feel like shit. It was a constant cycle, one that wasn't quite sure how to break. One that she wasn't sure would ever break. Dana stepped forward, and Ally stepped back. "Come on. You've been here for over two hours. You haven't slept, either." The blonde glanced around the space. "And you never even bothered to hydrate, did you?" She knew it wasn't pity that fueled her friend's words. Nor was it guilt. But she just felt like it was all a sham. All to make up for what her brother had done, as if she ever could.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming." Dana sighed, picked up Ally's towel from where she'd thrown it onto the sink countertop, and she took it gratefully. "Just be grateful I'm not, like, going around and beating people up to get out my emotions. Or taking drugs, or-" Dana made a face as the door slid open.
"Okay, I get it. You're a goody-goody." Ally's eyebrow raised as she wiped her sweat away, and linked her arm with Dana's.
"Is that what you call it on the continent?" It was Dana's turn to be confused.
"Um… yes. If I'm correct about what you're asking, then-" They turned the corner, and Ally froze. It was him. Ryan's cheeks flared with red, and it took her a second to realize what sort of get-up she'd chosen to go to the gym in: a sports bra and gray sweatpants. The urge to spit at him, to scream at him once more to get away from her, to leave her and her friends alone forever, and most importantly, to stop looking at her like that, was intense.
But after her anger set in, it dissipated quickly when Dana let go of Ally's arm. All she felt was tired. Tired of crying, of feeling like this. She just wanted it to be over, whatever that meant for her.
"Ryan!" Said blonde cried, rushing to the exit doors. "Ryan, wait!"
He shook his head, and the doors closed in front of him.
Ryan liked this weather. He was glad he could walk outside, under a clear blue sky, the sun shining down without being ordered to shoot at any passersby. His mood soured instantly. No matter where his future took him, the reason why he'd left was because he knew he'd never escape his past. Never forget it or forgive himself for it. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he almost missed the large, soft feather that floated onto the grass in front of him.
He bent down, picked it up, and looked around, searching for the bird that could've shed it. There were no flashes of white in the trees or the sky nearby, so he shrugged. Before he continued on his way to the bus stop, though, the joyful sounds of kids playing at the nearby park caught his attention, and he couldn't help but smile sadly.
Ryan had missed out on his entire childhood, and while he'd grown to accept the why it happened, he wasn't sure if he'd ever fully comprehend it. Hell, he wasn't even sure how to talk to his own sister sometimes, especially since he'd killed her best friend's brother. So he guessed another thing he was glad about was that these kids would never have to-
"Sorry, mister!" He glanced down just in time to spot a red ball rolling over the grass towards him, and he reached out with a leg, stopping it. "My sister, she can't throw very well," the little boy who'd shouted at him explained as Ryan handed him back his ball.
Something like grief ripped through his chest even as he smiled kindly. This was something he hated that he was good at: hiding his emotions, forcing himself to display something that was entirely separate from how he felt. "Well, maybe you can teach her to throw better." The boy scrunched up his face, like he'd tasted something funny.
"Eh. She's always tagging along and bugging me."
"Well, you guys need to stick together." He bent down, "Believe me, if she wasn't around, you'd miss her." The little boy shrugged, and Ryan chuckled, wondering if this was how he'd be if he'd been around for Dana.
And briefly, he wondered if this was how Leon had treated his little sister, despite everything else.
"Nah." Ryan glanced down at the feather in his hand. It was pretty large, almost the size of one of those old-timey quill pens that you'd find in an ink pot. It would make for a perfect gift.
"Here," he offered, holding it out to the boy, "Why don't you give her this?" The boy glanced down at it, smiled, and looked back up to him.
"Okay. Thanks!" Ryan watched as the little boy handed the feather over to his sister, and when he nodded in thanks, he nodded back.
"You don't have to come with us if you don't feel up to it," Carter murmured to Ally. "I can't imagine how hard things have been for you recently, and I don't wanna push you to do anything you're not up for." If she closed her eyes as he spoke, Ally could almost hear Leon's voice.
But Leon would push her. He would tell her to go kick some ass for him. So, she shook her head. Better she spend her anger in taking down some monsters rather than ruining her hands at the gym. "It's okay, C. I'll be fine." She held out her pinkie, something she and Leon would always do before they were about to make a stupid promise, "Promise." Carter laughed, linking his pinkie with hers.
"Try to keep up, then."
"Look what the cat dragged in," the tallest monster jeered, and Ally frowned. She loved cats.
"I think that's what you are," Carter shot back, "Let's do it!"
"Lightspeed," Ally shouted with the others. She realized then that it did feel good, to be fighting against danger, to be actively putting a stop to a monster before they could wreak havoc. Before they could hurt or kill anyone. "Rescue!"
"Let's get 'em!" She didn't need to be told twice. Ally and Joel split off, and as the Green Ranger blocked the red monster's attacks, she dealt some of her own, bashing away at his armor with her baton. The metal didn't show a single sign of denting anytime soon, though, and she swore under her breath when their opponent trapped them in headlocks. Then, the creature slammed them headfirst into the hood and driver side doors of the car next to them. Her helmet protected her from the worst of the damage, but her head still spun regardless.
But it wasn't enough to knock her out. So, as soon as the monster let go, she clambered up onto the roof of the car, leveled her blaster right where- "Damn. Where'd it go?"
"I don't know," Joel replied, "But let's-" The slash of a flying sword interrupted him, and Ally let out a yelp as the blade tore at her suit over and over. Eventually, she lost her balance, hitting the roof of the car flat on her back, and her muscles ached in protest. "Al, heads up! He's slashing the roof!" She let out a groan, rolling off the car and hitting the ground, covering her head as the top part of it flew clean off.
Her eyes widened. Without her suit, no doubt that sword would've done the same thing to her and Joel. "Goodbye." The one thing that still gave them the advantage, though, was that their enemies would announce when they were about to attack. Ally grabbed Joel's arm, and flung them both as far away from the vehicle as she could as it burst into flames.
They lay on the asphalt for a few seconds, and Joel finally lifted his head. "You couldn't have done that before?"
"What's with these guys?" Joel muttered as he and Ally staggered to regroup with the others.
"I don't know, but they're really tough!" Ally gripped her side as she glared at Carter.
"No shit, man!"
"If you think that was tough, just wait until you see what's in store for Mariner Bay!" The tall monster shouted, and Ally was repulsed at their gleeful tone.
"What've you done?"
The red monster that'd beaten her and Joel down held up a normal looking feather, and she tilted her head. "Just delivered a few presents from Diabolico." He tossed it to them, and Carter caught it, looking just as confused as Ally was.
"A feather?"
"Yes, but it's a special feather. They're harmless now, but as soon as darkness falls…" He held up a finger towards the sky. "Zap!" A bolt of black lightning shot out from his fingertip, letting out a black haze that covered the sun. The feather responded to this change, glowing blue and bursting to bits with an explosion that sent them to the ground, smoke rising from their suits.
"What happened?"
"We got our asses literally handed to us, that's what," Ally groaned.
"The same thing that's going to happen all over Mariner Bay at sunset!" The tall monster explained proudly.
"The feathers are everywhere! You won't be able to find them all. The only way to render them harmless is to defeat us all before nightfall!"
As much as she wanted to lie there, to continue to wallow in her sadness over Leon… she couldn't. Her vision blurred in and out of focus, but she shook her head, clearing it. He would tell her to get back up onto her feet. To remember her mission: to save those people.
"What'll you do now, Rangers?"
"Yes, please tell us! Or shall we just sit back together and watch the fireworks at sunset?" That sounded almost romantic, and Ally would've loved to take somebody up on that opportunity, if she wasn't so busy trying not to die.
"We won't let you get away with this!"
"You might as well give up!" The stout monster offered, "The city is going down!"
Ally wondered if he knew who he was talking to.
As he stepped into the line to board the bus that would take him out of Mariner Bay, Ryan asked himself one last time if running would help anything, or anyone, at all. Including himself. He just needed some time, he reasoned. After he figured out what in the fuck he should do, he would come back. He would be a better person. But first, he had to start fresh, where nobody would know what he'd done, or why he'd had to do it-
"We interrupt this program to bring you this breaking news story. Feathers have been scattered throughout Mariner Bay by Diabolico." Okay, what? "Lightspeed has declared a citywide emergency." Ryan stopped, turned to face the television monitor. "These feathers are said to be explosive, and should be avoided at all costs." He didn't hear the rest of what the newscaster said. All he saw was the feather in his hand, then in the hands of that little boy and his sister.
He'd already taken the life of someone else's brother.
He wouldn't do it again.
Together with Joel, Kelsey, and Chad, Ally clutched onto the monster's limbs, keeping them restrained and away from his weapons. "Do it, Carter!" Joel shouted.
"Alright. Rescue Bird, uni-laser mode!" Just as the blast was about to land on its target, their opponents tossed them right into its path, and Ally gritted her teeth as pain lanced through her.
"Nice shot!" The red monster jeered, and before she could get up to defend them, Carter and Dana fell to its attack. They weren't doing too hot, and of course the sun had to be going down.
"Anyone got any bright ideas?" She asked as she staggered to her feet, clutching at the arm that she'd landed on.
The monsters let out matching cackles of joy. "Mariner Bay is going down, and so are you!"
"Actually, yes," Carter replied. "Everyone follow me!"
As much as Ryan hated to admit it, man, was he out of shape. But somehow, he'd made it back to the park, checked the map there to find the nearest residential area, and finally spotted the two children with their mother.
And the feather sticking up from the little boy's backpack. "Hey, mom. There's that nice man," the boy explained, and Ryan laughed to himself. Little kids said the funniest things sometimes. He took a quick glance at the sun, cursed inwardly when he spotted how low it was on the horizon. There wasn't much time left. The extra weight of his bag weighed him down, made him slower (even though he was a light packer), and so he left it on the ground as he ran as hard as he could. Finally, just as the sun dipped below the mountains, he plucked the feather from the boy's bag and tossed it over the overpass. "Get down!" As soon as the explosion went off, he stood, helped the mother and her two kids up.
"Thank you. Thank you so much," the woman gushed.
"You saved us," the little girl exclaimed.
"You're my hero." Ryan didn't feel like he could accept the boy's words. After everything he'd done…
His past would always be a part of him. Would continue to haunt him until he could figure out how to escape it. But did he have to let it define him? Ryan reached down and opened the silver box.
"Your idea," Ally muttered as they demorphed. Who knew feathers could be so deadly? "Was not bright!"
"Oh, you think so?" He spat back, and for a second, she let herself fall onto the ground, entire body weakened. She'd have arguments with Leon just like this one, where neither wanted to admit they were wrong as they threw insults at each other. And while Carter was just like an older brother to her… he would never be Leon. No one could ever replace what'd been taken from her.
Ally was tired. So, so tired. "Now to finish you off!" She wasn't even sure which monster had spoken. "Once and for all." They should just get it over with. There was no getting back up for them anytime soon, anyway. They'd lost. "I'm going to enjoy this!" Oh, she realized, it was the red monster that'd spoken.
A delirious laugh left her. He looked like an overgrown ketchup bottle. "It's amazing what a bunch of little feathers can do!"
"And now we'll show you what we can do!" Ally closed her eyes, and despite it all, she smiled.
At least she'd be with Leon again.
But no attacks came. Instead, when she opened her eyes to see what the hell had just happened, the three monsters lay sprawled on the ground, injured. And crouched in front of them defensively was…
"You." He stood, not needing to look back to know who'd spoken (more like spit out the word like venom).
"Oh, looks like we have a little bit of infighting," the monster with the stupid looking hawk helmet taunted, and his hands clenched into fists. "That is always lovely to see. What's less lovely is the sight of you, traitor."
"Still playing games, huh?" The red monster, who Ryan knew as Demonite, added, and Ryan gritted his teeth.
"This is no game. Titanium Power!"
He was strong. Immensely so. This hadn't changed from when he'd been, well, trying to kill them a few days ago. And while Ally was glad her wish had come to fruition, that he'd come to their side… it didn't change the past. Nothing could erase what he'd done.
So it made sense when none of them went to Ryan, nor even bothered to thank him for saving them. Finally, Carter cleared his throat, stepped (or more like limped) to the front of the group. "Thank you."
Ryan didn't reply. Instead, he shook his head. "You shouldn't be thanking me."
Ally sat at the table in the farthest corner of the cafe. It was late, and this place was the only one that had been open at the time (plus, she chose her seat because she wasn't in the mood to be approached by any creeps). All she knew was that she couldn't be at Ryan's induction into Lightspeed. Hell, she wasn't even sure how she would function as a part of the team, now that she had to fight alongside her brother's murderer.
Who also happened to be the man who saved that family, then came to their rescue. As much as she hated to admit it, she owed Ryan a debt. He'd saved her life.
But, as always, the question of why still remained.
She had no doubt that he wasn't a cold-blooded killer. He'd proved himself to be… well, maybe not the opposite, but at least not that exactly. He wouldn't have rescued them if he truly didn't care. But maybe it was a ruse. A trick to gain access to Lightspeed. Maybe- The bell atop the door jingled. "Hello, welcome!" The barista called out, their voice shot, and she glanced at her watch. It was late, nearly two AM. Who else would be going to her favorite cafe at this-
"Thought I'd find you here." She decided that this was about a billion times worse than being approached by a strange man. Instead, the person that stood behind her was Ryan Mitchell. He was somehow paler than usual, and he looked as if he'd seen a ghost. Ally hoped that it was Leon, haunting him with every step he took.
But that wasn't the main thing she noticed: he wore his Lightspeed jacket over his black jumpsuit. A Lightspeed jacket that matched hers, that meant he was fighting on their side now. The side of good.
Lightspeed hadn't given what he'd done to her brother a second thought.
She didn't dare shove him, throw her matcha latte in his face. While both things would've been very satisfying, she didn't want to cause a scene. Instead, she simply stepped past him, not sparing him a single glance. "Leave me alone, Ryan."
"The others were worried about you." That phrasing made sense, the others. Not him.
Ally scoffed. "What are you trying to do?" She asked quietly, fighting to keep her voice from breaking. "Are you really trying to make up for what you took from me?"
"Maybe." She spun around, finally looking at him. He was defeated, tired. Shoulders slouched, eyes glazed over with exhaustion. He hadn't slept a wink.
Ally couldn't find it within herself to give a single fuck.
"Well. Let me be the first to tell you that you can't." She took another step forward, but couldn't go further than that without being yanked back by her collar.
"If I didn't care about Lightspeed, I wouldn't have saved you."
Ally wasn't afraid of him, even though she had to look up to make eye contact. "Who are you trying to convince, Ryan? Me? Or you?" He stared down at her a moment longer, before scoffing, letting go of her shirt collar.
"Nothing I say or do will fix what I did." He wasn't accepting it. He was in denial, bitter, fighting against the truth of what he'd done.
Ally stepped away from him, anger trembling through her. "You're absolutely right. Now, I'm not gonna say this again: we might be on the same team, but that doesn't mean I fuck with you." That was putting it lightly. She didn't even trust the guy not to stab them in the back the first chance he had, "You stay away from me, and most importantly you stay away from my friends."
Ryan didn't know why he'd come here. All he knew was that the others were worried about Ally, worried that she might've even tried to hop on a flight back home. That Dana, his little sister, was the most concerned of them all. So he assured them that they could sleep, and he would find her.
He'd expected this reaction, though. So why was he so hurt by her words?
Well, he thought, maybe that was because they were true.
"Fine by me," he spat back, watching as Ally's gaze flickered with anger, confusion, and pain, and then as she swept out the door.
If she thought he was a monster, and if there was nothing he could do to change it, Ryan decided, he didn't see why he had to try.
