Disclaimer: Just to keep it simple: A. I don't own Power Rangers. B. I just make fun of them; so don't get upset if I mock your favorite. C. Please review. I don't mind constructive criticism. D. Thanks to Writer's Guide to the Universe and Power Rangers Central for providing a lot of the information that I need.
If you haven't done so, please read the first hundred and fifty stories in "When Rangers Meet," "More of When Rangers Meet," and "Headquarters Where Rangers Meet."
This is story number thirty-four.
Carter and Nick
by
Eileen (Psycho Tangerine)
Carter grumbled in annoyance as he trudged back to his fire truck. He had not had the chance to put out a fire in over two months. Not that there hadn't been any fires. It seemed as if some Blue Ranger girl kept getting there before hand and magically causing water to pour over the flames. He should've listened to Dana when she told him not to move to Briarwood. Only thing was, the last time he listened to his wife, he ended up being the one who had to feed oatmeal every morning to her senile toothless father while saluting between each bite.
"At least I still have my morpher," he said to himself. Every so often, he would morph just because he could. Sure, he got some stares in the mall. But, every so often, a cute babe would hand him a phone number. Not that he'd ever let Dana know. In fact, now would be a good time to remind himself how great it was to not have to hide his identity the way Tommy and Jason had to.
"Light Speed, Rescue!"
"Magical source Mystic Force!" called a voice simultaneously with his.
The morphed Red Lightspeed Ranger whirled to his left where another morphed Red Ranger was standing.
But Nick did not take notice of Carter. He was too busy trying to figure something out. He was the Light wasn't he? So, why didn't he glow in the dark when he morphed? He closed his eyes and concentrated. "I am the Light!" he cried as he imagined himself glowing. He opened his eyes. Nothing.
Carter stared as the other Ranger took out what appeared to be a wand and waved it over his own head saying "abracadabra" and "presto chango!"
"Auuuggghhh! I knew I should've studied spell making more," mumbled Nick. But he had been too busy looking and acting cool to take the time.
"What are you doing?" asked Carter. He idly wondered if he should let Jason know of yet another Red Ranger. Their monthly "We are the Greatest Rangers Ever" meeting was getting pretty crowded. Rocky had discovered their secret, and after being miffed for a few weeks about being left out of the mission, now ate all their snacks at each meeting (which had been why no one had invited him in the first place). Shane kept skateboarding around everyone while Conner kept kicking his soccer ball everywhere. Alex joined in from the future to prove he was just as good as 'that fiancée stealing jackass.' Jack also joined from the future...along with Sky... and Bridge... and Z... and Sydney... and Sam...and Sophie... and Boom.
Nick didn't respond. He again closed his eyes and concentrated. "Let there be Light!" Nope, still nothing.
"Wow, even the original White Tiger Ranger doesn't have a big enough ego to think he's God," commented Carter.
Nick sighed. Well, there was one other idea. After all, he did command the power of fire. He grabbed a can out of thin air and poured its contents all over himself. Then he pulled out a lighter.... WHOMP!
"Are you completely insane?" cried Carter who had tackled the other Ranger. I know you're embarrassed by your silly cape, but killing yourself isn't the answer."
"Who are... hey another Red Ranger! I thought I was the only one." Nick had never bothered to look at the Ranger comic books Chip had given him because he was too busy looking and acting cool.
Yeah, I've definitely got to keep this loon out of our reunions, thought Carter. "Ummm...this is just my Halloween costume."
"But Halloween isn't for three months."
"I'm just testing it out...making sure the spandex isn't too constricting...if you know what I mean."
"O...kay" Nick replied slowly. "But you needn't worry about me. Unlike that ugly flimsy costume of yours, mine is impervious to all kinds of damage. Besides I have the power of Fire which should make me twice as immune."
"The power of...Fire?" asked Carter curiously. "What does that mean?"
Nick looked at the lighter and put it back with a mental reminder to let Toby know he had found it. Then he nonchalantly waved his hand and a small flame appeared. Whoooooooooooosh! The flame caught the kerosene Nick had poured on himself.
"FIRE! FIRE!" Carter called in almost obvious glee. He ran the last few feet to his fire truck and grabbed the hose. "Darn, I hate when these things get all tangled." He began to concentrate on taking apart the knot.
Nick, who in the meanwhile had simply caused the conflagration to stop by waving his hand again, sauntered over to Carter. "Wow, I'm sure glad I wasn't in any real danger...I could've been killed by your incompe....gglllluuggggguuugggg," he sputtered as he got a face full of water from the hose.
"Whoohoo! I saved you!" exclaimed Carter. He began to dance around Nick. "I'm the hero, you're the zero. I'm the hero, you're the zero. I'm the hero, you're the zero. I'm the hero, you're the zero. I'm the hero, you're the zero. I'm the hero, you're the zero. I'm the hero, you're the zero."
"Stop that, you idiot!" called Nick. "You didn't save me. I stopped it myself. I can control fire."
Carter stopped dancing and stared at Nick in confusion. "You...can what?"
Nick sighed. Then he waved his hand and caused his Red Ranger uniform to go on fire. Then waved his other hand and put out the fire.
"You...you mean I didn't put out that fire?" asked Carter.
"Nope."
"You...you mean I'm not a hero?" he sniffed.
"Nope, you're the zero," responded Nick.
With that, the Red Lightspeed Ranger broke out into tears. "No fair! I'm supposed to be the hero! Commander Mitchell said so! I was always the hero! And now, no one needs me here!"
"I'm sure there are a lot of other fires for you to mess up on out there," said Nick disinterestedly.
"Yeah, but every time I get there your Blue Ranger is already splashing water on it."
"Really?" asked Nick. "I was wondering where Maddie had been running off to all this time." Flowers, definitely flowers, or maybe some jewelry, thought Nick. He definitely had to make up for accusing her of sneaking off to see Daggeron to play 'Princess and the Frog.'
"Hey!" exclaimed Carter. "I just had a thought. Maybe you could make a fire for me to put out."
"But, why..."
"You could just set a tree on fire."
"But Xander would kill..."
"Or maybe just some old shack like that one there."
"Well, Phineas could always redecorate," considered Nick. "But why would I want to help you?"
"Uh...you could call it a favor between two Red Rangers. You know like when we swear to be loyal to each other during our secret Red Ranger mee..." Carter's eyes widened when he realized what he had done.
"There are other Red Rangers out there!" exclaimed Nick excitedly. "I could go to their meetings. I could show them how great I am! Hey, do you think they would make me their king?"
"Uh," Carter was at a loss for words. The most Tommy had ever asked for was to be their crown prince.
Nick sighed. "But, I'm really too busy to help you. I've got to get myself glowing somehow. After all, I am the Light!" He decided not to mention what he really wanted was to give Vida a good scare in the middle of the night so that she'd stop coming over at two in the morning to get him to go partying.
"Glowing?" asked Carter. "Why don't you just plug yourself in somewhere?"
"Tried that, kind of," replied Nick, "but Chip refused to zap me with lightning. Said something about being a knight and not wanting to lose honor."
"Hmmm," said Carter thoughtfully. "If I help you to glow, will you set that little fire for me?"
"Well, sure, but I don't see how you..."
"Oh, I've got my ways." He was glad he had managed to sneak a bit of the phosphorous paint out of Mariner Bay. Ever since she had married Joel, Angela had become even more vigilant than ever. It seems a certain Green Ranger had never stopped his penchant for using his sky cowboy persona to get it on with the ladies. Too bad he wouldn't be able to paint bitchin' flames on the side of his fire truck with it now.
"Will I be shiny and bright?" asked Nick excitedly.
"Just like Rudolph's nose," promised Carter.
"Ok, then." Nick looked around. Then he aimed...and set the fire truck on fire.
"MY TRUCK!" screamed Carter. He stared despondently at a fire he couldn't put out.
"Try putting that out, wiseguy," smirked Nick. Imagine this guy trying to put one over on him. He was the Light. No mere mortal could make him glow. No one or nothing could... Kaaaaboooommm! Rain began pouring down, effectively putting the fire out. "Awwwwww..." said Nick. SPLUUUUUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH! He got knocked over by a cascade of water.
"Forget the deal," said Carter as he put away the hose. "I'll go set my own fires instead!"
"Oh yeah? Well I'll shine brighter than any fire you can set!" retorted Nick.
"My fires will burn brighter than your ass."
Nick tackled Carter and they began to wrestle in the mud.
"SEE WHAT I'VE BEEN TELLING YOU TWO?" Boomed a loud voice. "YOUR RED RANGER THINKS HE BETTER THAN ANYONE...AND YOUR RED RANGER IS A BUDDING ARSONIST!"
Carter and Nick stopped bickering and looked up.
"Captain Mitchell?" asked Carter.
"Udonna?" asked Nick. "Ooh, who's floating head is that? Did you finally learn those forbidden evil spells and decapitate you enemies?"
"Young man, we need to have a serious talk about what a fireman is not allowed to do." Captain Mitchell marched up and grabbed Carter by the ear.
"No! Not the woodshed again! I'm sorry! I'll be a good boy! I promise! Nooooooooo!" cried Carter as he was dragged away.
"And we need to have a talk about not letting mere mortals know about your greatness, Sweetie," said Udonna. "How about we discuss it over your favorite dessert?"
ZAAAAAAAPPP!
"Mom!" cried Nick as he stared at the smoking woman.
"Forget that,"
snarled Zordon. "I'll take care of this one. I
think a few hours of watching videos of the greatest Ranger ever will
cure him of his delusions of grandeur."
"Nooooooooo!" cried Nick as he was zapped away to an inescapable
dimension; where he was subjected to videos of Zordon's favorite
Ranger of all time...Justin.
AN: Now, kids, we all know it's an extremely bad idea to pour kerosene over ourselves and set ourselves on fire. Don't do it.
