It was a sad day in Angel Grove; however, it was a devastating day for the Oliver family's matriarch. Her falcon, who once soared alongside his crane in the skies, now flew into heaven. Yet even though he lived a long life with her that was a wonderful fairytale, she never expected this to happen so soon. She adorned all black, except for the pink roses in her elegant hat. She held back tears as she looked in the mirror from her white and pink vanity. So many memories became a forceful tsunami.
She eventually left the room that they shared for so many years to go to his funeral with their friends and family. She counted the friends who came and offered their sympathies. Jason, Billy, Zack, Rocky, Aisha, Adam, Kat... It eventually became a blur. She didn't sleep well the nights before. As for their family, their shared daughters (Skilled martial artist Malaya and talented musician Ailyana), their sons-in-law (Dariyan and Evandre respectively), their grandchildren and even their young great grandchildren came to wish him goodbye.
The director finally spoke when everyone sat down, where she silently broke in a flood composed of rain while Malayla comforted her and Ailyana cried softly in her Evandre's shoulder. "We're all gathered here to mourn the loss of Thomas James Oliver, better known to his peers as Tommy, who left us four days ago. He was a dedicated martial artist, a wonderful friend, a cherished husband, a devoted father, and no doubt many more. I had the pleasure of knowing him a couple of times and we even kept in touch. He was a great man who had a huge heart. I'm going to miss him being there when I call.
My heart goes out to his soulmate, who he found in his grieving widow Kimberly, and their family. I can't imagine knowing what you're all going through, but I'm here if you need someone to talk to. For his dedication in mixed martial arts, his achievements included being in the Heavyweight division using the Unorthodox stance and creating the hybrid known as Toso Kune Do. He earned the 8th Dan black belt in Shotokan karate, the black belt in Wado-ryu karate, the black belt in Taekwondo, the black belt in Judo, the purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the Ajarn Degree in Muay Thai. All of which take many years of practice and memory to do successfully. He was very talented and endured any challenges thrown at him. I only hope that he rests in peace and his family, which included his friends, to be comforted in this time of mass sorrow."
The director concludes while stepping down as Zack approaches his grieving teammate and looks at her. "My heart is sad to have lost another member of our special family." She only responded by abjectly saying "My life just won't be the same." She was despondent and certainly with a heavy heart, but when you lose the one you've loved and married for so long, it's completely justified. A few minutes later, roses bundled up in his arms slowly of many hues. Friends placed an array of green, white and black. Family placed pink. Her rose, however, was the sole red as per his willed request. This deed shown that only he romantically loved her and only she reciprocated. "I'll miss you more than you'll ever know, Handsome." She told his lifeless form, which lay still in a wooden bed.
As everyone left to return home, she stayed behind and picked up an acoustic guitar. The director and Malaya, the latter of whom brought her here to begin with, let her have her space as they waited outside with Jason, Billy, Zack, Rocky, Aisha, Adam and Kat. Knowing that he loved her singing, which Ailyana inherited, she tearfully strummed an old melody from their high school years and sang as the sunset shimmered through the chapel's stained glass windows, creating a reflective rainbow along the floor:"?Down the road, we never know; What life may have in store; Winds of change will rearrange; Our lives more than before... but you'll never stand alone, my friend; Memories will never die; In our hearts, they'll always live and never say... goodbye...?"
After she strummed the last part, she set the guitar back and sat in her chair. She wept so hard, not noticing the spirit of a white falcon perching on said guitar. When she did notice it, her doe-colored eyes were reddened and still teary as it flew to her lap and rested there. It screeched a comforting cry and kissed her forehead. Through a mystical connection, she heard the falcon spirit tell her: "I miss you too, Beautiful but don't be sad for too long. We'll be united someday. In the meantime, stay strong for our family. I love you always."
Her tears, though still evident, managed to slow down at this. The white falcon placed one more forehead kiss on her and then soared into the sky once more. The director and Malaya came in afterwards. The former closed the wooden bed and prepared to have it sent to his chosen plot. Malaya on the other hand, helped her mother out. When they were both outside, Jason handed her a piece of paper. She opened it and gave her first smile of the day, albeit still holding some sadness. It read: "Thomas James Oliver: Always In Our Hearts." and had their signatures across the page. After Jason and the rest of their friends left, Malayla took her home. She went on the porch and in her pink chair, gazing at the horizon in front of her. She was still sad but now more hopeful than what she had been. She knew he was right. They will be reunited someday.
Rest in peace, Jason David Frank (Sept. 4th, 1973-Nov. 19th, 2022). You were a legend in and out of the Power Ranger uniform. You're tremendously missed by my fellow fans and I, among many others. Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger.