She was startled by the sound of the front door being slammed shut and knew that Tawni was home and probably had a difficult day. Her other two daughters were at their gymnasium practicing for an upcoming gymnastic meet. Tawni was the only one who didn t compete and Kimberly understood why.
Her daughter being an auxiliary Ranger meant that she could be called upon to active duty any time and she d have to up and leave everything behind. That was the one thing Kimberly did not miss by not being a Ranger anymore.
I take it that you didn t end things with Jeremy today, did you darling? Kimberly asked as Tawni threw her things onto the hallway lounger.
Tawni just shook her head and sank to sit on the cushion of the larger lounger, I couldn t go through with it. I don t want to hurt his feelings. I love him. Her head sank after speaking. I didn t think this could be so hard. She started playing with the ring she wore around her neck. Her wedding ring, the ring Jayden gave to her just before he kissed her to make her his wife.
Tawni, it s never easy letting something that you really care about go, Kimberly said as she lifted her daughter s head up by the chin to look her in the eyes. When you become active you re going to have to make decisions that are some of the hardest you ll ever have to make. She paused and wiped the tears escaping from Tawni s eyes. You need to realize that you can t always make decisions that are going to keep making everyone happy. I know this is hard but think about this. When you fall asleep tonight is it Jeremy who will be starring in your dreams or Jayden?
Tawni sighed. She knew the answer to that already. Jayden. He occupied her daydreams too. He had been her first kiss when she was nine. He had been her first date when she was twelve. When she was thirteen, she and her family moved back to Angel Grove permanently, that s when Jeremy had become her first boyfriend.
She looked up at her Mom and gave a sad smile. Not knowing what to do at this crossroad in her life. He s never going to talk to me again Mom. I don t want him out of my life.
Kimberly wrapped her daughter in a hug and stroked her hair. If that happens it s a natural consequence to the situation. If he really loves you, he ll be happy for you even if he gets extremely mad at you. He ll forgive you eventually.
Tawni shook her head from side to side. You don t understand Mom. I would be devastated.
Kimberly just shook her head. You asked Daddy and I if you and Jayden could get married. He even asked Daddy for you hand in marriage. Being married is going to be the most difficult job you ever have. Breaking a young boy s heart is just a milestone that almost every young female goes through. Just as every boy breaks the hearts of all the girls they date in high school.
You re never going to find out his reaction until you sit down and talk with him. Explain to him that when you went to Japan, you were reunited with friends that you haven t seen in years and reconnected with your first kiss. You need to tell him the truth Tawni. He has to make the decision whether he wants to stay friends with you or not. You can t make that decision. I know how hard it is to break up with your first boyfriend. I ve been there. I broke up with Daddy in a letter because I didn t want to in person. It took him five years to finally be able to talk to me.
But that s different Mom. You were hiding something. Tawni gave her a pointed look. You were hiding me. That stupid letter almost cost you all of your friends. Crossing her arms over her chest.
If Jayden springs a surprise visit on you at school, wraps you in his arms, spins you around and kisses you; Jeremy is not going to understand what is happening. He s going to want to fight Jayden. DO you really want to risk Jayden and Jeremy fighting over you?
Tawni knew the answer to that question right away. Just like her Jayden was a second generation Power Ranger. He had paranormal strength that came with his Powers. Jeremy would get injured because a Ranger s strength never powered down because they had to fight minions in civilian form. Minions were ten times more stronger then normal humans.
No I don t. She admitted in defeat.
Kimberly pat her daughter s shoulder. Daddy s at the dojo which only means so is Jeremy. How about you go down to the dojo and wait from him to get out of class. Just talk to him. You have to do this now. Delaying it or writing a Dear John letter is only going to make things worse.
Sighing Tawni stood up from the lounger and proceeded to walk towards the front door. Kimberly still didn t understand her and she doubted the older woman ever would. Ever since she married Jayden her mother had become no nonsense when it cam to Jeremy.
Tawni decided to jog to her father s dojo in downtown Angel Grove. Driving wouldn t help her clear her head not with everything she had on her mind. She had just ran into the middle of Angel Grove Community Park when she heard a commotion behind her.
Turning around she saw some sort of creature attacking citizens. Great why do I have to be the only one in this city at this moment in time that knows how to deal with these things. She asks herself mentally as she runs toward the creature. These citizens have the right idea. I m the only one stupid enough to run towards this thing. She admonished herself as she saw all of the park s occupants running away.
Hey you over there, she screamed getting the thing s attention. Why don t you take your ugly butt and run home to Mama!
Who are you calling ugly? The creature bellows as Tawni stopped about ten feet in front of it. I m not an useless pathetic sniffling human like you. So you must not be calling me ugly. It stated stretching out it s hand and making a weapon materialize.
Tawni rolled her eyes, not at all surprised by how conceited this thing really was. She went into battle ready mode. Feet spread apart and her hands curled into fists. Useless and pathetic huh? Let s see how this weak human beats your rear-end back to where you came from? Then maybe we see who s weak, pathetic and useless, shall we?
The creature lunge into an attack on Tawni. Tawni side stepped and the creature almost landed on his face. This angered the creature more and he started swing his weapon at Tawni. Tawni managed to dodge the swings and get a couple of kicks to the creature s Solar plexus knocking it to the ground.
So, you have some might to ya, huh? So Angel Grove has some Power Rangers protecting it after all, or you re just a stupid goodie, goodie who thinks she can outsmart Goldar.
The introduction threw her for a loop. This creature should have been destroyed seventeen years ago. This was one of her parents most talked about enemy. You re not Goldar. The Rangers destroyed you seventeen years ago.
The creature growled at being rebuffed and began attacking again. This time Tawni didn t hold back. She used every technique she had at her disposal and Goldar ended up on his back. You look like someone I know. Someone I hate and mark my words little girl you will live to regret the day you interrupted me. With that Goldar vanished in a stream of gold.
Tawni collapsed into a heap. The battle tired her out. Her body ached in places that hadn t ached since she started learning all the forms of martial arts her parents enrolled her in.
After about twenty minutes, Tawni was breathing normally again. If this is how she was going to feel after every battle, then she didn t want to become a ranger. The Society could shove it for all she cared.
She stood up and ran all the way to The Green Dragon Dojo, to see that her Dad was just finishing up with his current class. She decided that she would ask Jeremy to stay so they could walk to the Juice Bar, but only after she talked to her father.
Jeremy smiled when he saw her standing in the waiting area. He ran up and hugged her despite being all sweaty from his workout. This is a great surprise. What are you doing here? He went to give her a kiss but she turned her head. The kiss landed on her right cheek instead.
How about you take a shower in the locker room while I talk to my Dad. Then afterwards we can go to Ernie s. I promise I ll explain why I ve been so distracted lately, Tawni said batting her eyes and smiling.
Jeremy smiled and nodded his head. Ok, but promise you ll still be here when I get out of the locker room. He received a nodded. Then smiling, he ran in the direction of the men s locker room.
Tawni took her sneakers off, bowed in respects to the mat and walked over to where her father was starting to clear up training equipment.
He looked up and smiled at his oldest daughter. Hello Honey. This is a surprise. What are you doing here?
Tawni didn t say anything while she lifted a 250 pound boxing bag and carried it to the edge of the mat without any difficulty. This didn t escape the elder Oliver s notice but decided not to say anything until she said something first. I came here so I could talk to Jeremy but something happened on the way here, she stated with wide eyes.
Tommy nodded his head and they didn t say anymore until all the sparring equipment was put away. He led her into his office, shut the door, locked it and closed all the shades. He sat on the edge of his desk and watched as his normally calm and collected daughter was pacing frantically on his carpet.
What happened, he asked. Concern was clearly evident in his voice, he had never seen Tawni this upset by anything before.
Goldar, was the only word she said.
That was a name he hadn t spoke of since he and his old team graduated high school, namely because the flying monster was supposed to be dead. He and his team destroyed Goldar and his masters. What do you mean Goldar happened? Honey he s been dead for seventeen years. It s not possible for him to have been where did you see him.
I didn t see him Dad. I fought him in the Park, she stated, sinking down into a chair in front of Tommy. She scooted her bottom to the edge of the chair, spread her jean clad legs apart and let her head along with her arms dangle between them.
So are you sure it was Goldar. Half primate, half bird, wears gold armor? Tommy asked while describing his old nemesis.
Tawni looked up at her father, her eyes wide. He had described her attacker perfectly. All she could do was nod.
Tawni this isn t good. How you managed to survive an attack from him and not actually have powers is not suppose to happen.
Oh please, nothing about me is normal Dad. You and Mom made sure of that being the parents of The Three. I was called upon already. You know this. Just because I don t have a morpher doesn t mean I don t have the ability to protect Angel Grove. Besides I think I m going through changes that are not normal for a second generation. As you just saw I lifted a 250 pound punching bag without breaking a sweat. Master Ji said it was to be expected. Some about you and Mom possessing evil powers and they messing up your DNA, she shrugged. The question is how is Goldar back from the dead and why has he chosen to come back to Angel Grove?
Tommy nodded as he folded his arms over his chest, You re right. I ll call Uncle Billy and see if he can find out something.
Tawni nodded, she had stopped pacing and was now walking towards the door. Ok, I ll see you when I get home. Now I have to break a heart, she ended sadly.
All Tommy could do was give her a sad smile. He knew she had been trying to break up with Jeremy ever since she came back from Japan. He just hoped that she displayed the same courage she had when she was fighting Goldar.
