Kicking it to the Max Part One

Max moaned as he slowly awoke. The scent of delicious pancakes caught his attention. He sat on his bed as his bedroom door opened, and his parents came in. His mother was carrying a small tray with a stack of parents with blueberry syrup. His father was in a new police uniform that caught Max's attention for a moment before his mother laid the tray in front of him.

She grinned. "Happy birthday, Maxie."

Yup, Max was now 17 years of age. He smiled wide as he grabbed the fork and ate his birthday breakfast.

His father walked over to him and ruffled his hair. "My boy, you are becoming a man now! Oh, my boy..." the large man couldn't contain his emotions, he just grabbed his son's head and held it against his chest.

"Dad, come on! Don't be weird," Max whined, slowly pushing his dad off of him.

Bobby wiped his eyes as he spoke with a sad smile. "Sorry, I just cannot fathom what you have become."

"Me neither," Mary added, grabbing her son's face. "But he is my baby, right Maxie?"

"Moooom," Max whined. "You are embarrassing!"

Mary put on a frown and spoke with a pout. "Oh, I guess you aren't my little boy anymore, are you? I just knew it was too good to be true."

Max knew his mother was trying to make him feel guilty, but he couldn't help it. He just laughed. "Mom, I am still your son, and it will remain that way forever."

Mary smiled with glee as she kissed her son's head. "That's what I like to hear! This is going to be a very special day for you, young man."

"But first," Bobby interrupted, looking at his wife, smirking. "Shall I give him the good news?"

Mary giggled and stepped a foot back with a light bow jokingly before she left the room. After his wife left, Bobby looked over at his son. "You are probably wondering why I am wearing this new uniform?"

"Yeah, it looks more nifty than the last one," Max commented, twinging his face in confusion.

Bobby grinned from ear to ear, pulling out a five-pointed gilded star from underneath his shirt. Max squinted his eyes as he read what was carved onto the badge. His eyes widened as the badge read 'Deputy Sheriff'.

"You got elected!" He screeched.

His father nodded his head. His son laughed before throwing his covers aside and jumping into his dad's arms. "Congratulations! That is so cool!" He pulled away and laughed, punching his father's shoulder playfully. "It's about damn time they gave you that promotion!" He commented. His dad was in the force for so many years. That, and the fact that his father was also a veteran, was beyond what Max would be able to understand as to why his father didn't get the promotion sooner.

"Yes," his father replied. "And that's not all."

Max raised an eyebrow.

"Now that I am in a higher position of power, I decide what the authorities can investigate. I can keep them off you and the other rangers' tails as you guys continue to save the planet."

Max could not contain his excitement. For so many months, it was killing Max and his friends of the possibility of their identities being exposed. The news was already going crazy over the heroic actions of the color-coded heroes. However, the reaction from the public was split, with people supporting the Rangers for protecting them, and those who are opposed as they believe the Rangers are mere vigilantes and should not get involved in matters that could be dealt with by the authorities.

His mother's memory of him being a ranger was wiped out. Now his father would put his sought-after career on the line just to keep Max, DJ, Maya, and the twins safe from the public outcry that would be the result of their identities potentially being compromised.

Max cheered as he gave his father a high-five. "Yes, thank you!" He gratefully said, causing his father to shush him.

"We do not want your mother to hear us, just in case..." Bobby whispered. Max nodded his head. He almost lost himself there. Bobby just smiled and patted his son's shoulder. "Just enjoy your day. I know it's Saturday and it is also your special day, but your mother and I have to work. Afterward, we will give you the gifts we have planned and we will all go out to eat..."

"Sounds good," Max complied. Today was going a good day, he just knew it.

Or does he?

"Welp, Dejahnay failed, now what?" Maxine asked Marco. The two were in a secluded area in Kartae that was completely dark, with the only source of light being that small lantern Marco brought along with them. The two were in their suits, just finishing their training as they regrouped to discuss how to prevail in their fight against the Rangers.

"Listen," Marco spoke. "All I want is to figure out more about the Yellow Ranger."

"Did you find anything?"

"All I know is that her last name is Garcia. My father immigrated from Mexico to southeastern Wisconsin, and guess where she lives?"

Maxine's eyes widened. "Marco, you do not have to know whether or not the claim you are about to make is true. Our mission is to destroy the Rangers, but-"

"I just want to know!" Marco exclaimed, frustration imprinting on his face. "I just want answers..."

Maxine, despite being diabolic, still held some sympathy for her comrade. However, she wanted more than anything to destroy the Red Ranger and follow Po as he would rule the Earth. She could make this delicate situation easier for both her and the Yellow Ninja.

"Here is the deal, I will take care of the Red Ranger, and in honor of Dejahnay, I'll also do my best to wipe the Blue Ranger out, too. That may give you time to breach the Yellow Ranger's security and extract any crucial intel that could confirm your beliefs about who she is."

"Sounds like a plan," Marco sneered. "But one question, what do you have planned for Max?"

"Today is his 17th birthday, and I am about to give him a present that he shall never forget."

"What is it? Spiders?"

"Nope," Maxine giggled. "Dejahnay's strategy was to target a Ranger's weak spot. She did so by using DJ's past against him. For me, I will strike Max where it hurts, but going after whom he cherishes the most."

Marco twitched his head in confusion, and then Maxine winked at him. "His family." She answered.

Ellie wore her pink blouse as she made it to the living room of the Reef house. She sat uncomfortably in the middle of a three-seater couch, with Bonnie on her left and Donnie on her right. Both twins looked away from one another. As of that moment, it had been a month since the duo had been suspended from the team, and Ellie was desperately trying to keep the peace between the two. It was even worse when she realized just how personal the fight was.

"Guys...are you going to keep this going on," Ellie asked, rubbing her forehead helplessly. "You realized there is currently a new threat facing your FRIENDS, right?"

"Listen, we already heard," Donnie replied, turning his head toward Ellie. "However, from what we-" he caught himself for a moment and then spoke with a smug look. "Excuse me, from what I learned, there were only three ninjas, and they managed to defeat one already. I'm sure they will be fine. As if some OTHER person even cares." He remarked, looking crossly at his sister. Bonnie just rolled her eyes at him.

Ellie looked at Bonnie. "Bonnie, he's right about one thing. I have seen your Instagram, and I can tell you haven't been doing a lot of training with photos of you at Starbucks, hanging with the girls from your ballet class, and overall living your life without a single care in the world...excuse me, but that wasn't what I would expect from someone who grew up the way you have grown up. You had a commitment, which was to save the world, but what happened?" Ellie said.

"Listen, I enjoyed being a hero," Bonnie replied incredulously, then her eyes fell to the floor. "It just got really hard at times..."

"What do you mean?" Ellie asked.

"Just the idea that there are girls my age with no other responsibilities besides school. They could just live carefree. I do not have much time before I become an adult, and I just want to just...relax."

Ellie became confused. "But, you guys HAVE lived a normal life. Sure, your parents were trained mixed martial artists, but you guys lived an easy, normal life until-" She then caught herself, realizing what she was about to say. Bonnie looked at her with a sad look. "I am so sorry, I-I didn't mean to bring up..."

"I get it," Bonnie spoke up, giving the girl a reassuring look. "But, when tragedy struck, Donnie and I were both filled with rage. We wanted to destroy whoever took our parents away. We wanted that person to feel how we felt when they died."

Donnie then cut in, muttering in Ellie's ear. "It was her idea to come and try to kill you."

"Will you SHUT up?!" Ellie angrily said, pushing Donnie back against the edge of the couch. "You have to be an insane level of cold to interrupt your sister like that when she is genuinely trying to explain what is troubling her. I am having difficulty believing she was the one who instigated the fight."

Donnie was silent, he just crossed his arms and looked away. Ellie groaned before looking at Bonnie. "Continue."

"Yeah, for so long we were so busy trying to get revenge that we missed out on a lot of opportunities. You know I never actually went camping before, or sledding?"

"Oh," Ellie started to understand what the white ranger was trying to say. "You just want to live large."

"Can I butt in?" Donnie requested.

Ellie sighed as she nodded at him.

"I'm perfectly okay with my sister wanting to live her life. I understand we missed out on a lot, and the responsibilities of being a ranger are not as keen as it is presented to be, but that is no excuse to live your life without any regard for anything." Donnie said. "In the past few months, Bonnie had used our money for her antics, and she had the habit of going to school without even bothering to wake me up. I have spent so many years looking after her, always concerned for her well-being, and she doesn't bat an eye to give me the middle finger when I need her."

Bonnie was stunned by her brother's confession, and it did hurt, because he was kind of right. She was careless. It was mainly because it was the first time in years that she had no other responsibilities besides school and being a Power Ranger, that she didn't know that there are still boundaries, even in a life with few priorities. She looked into her brother's eyes and saw the hurt in them. Ellie noticed Bonnie's expression and realized that Donnie had finally gotten through to her.

She rubbed Bonnie's shoulder lightly before standing up. She walked over to where her backpack was set down by the doorway. She opened it up and pulled out a large black case. She walked back over to the twins and handed the case to Bonnie. "This is for you guys when you finally make amends."

"What is it?" Bonnie asked.

"You'll find out. This suitcase detects a person's senses and emotions, and it will only open once it detects that you guys have finally made up."

Bonnie was shocked. "Seriously, Ellie, is there anything you CAN'T do?!"

"Well, I can't fly on my own," Ellie joked, chuckling. "But in all seriousness, you guys need to settle your differences, because as hard it is to believe, there were a lot of times where I wished I had a sibling."

"Really?" Donnie asked.

"Yeah, being an only child can be lonely...I'll leave you guys be for now." With that, she zipped up her backpack and left the twins alone.

Max's mother was the chief of staff to the Mayor, and she was good at what she did. She sported a casual business attire, which was a huge contrast to the white apron she would normally wear at home. She was putting together a report in her office, smiling in anticipation for the day she would have with her son. On her desk, next to her computer, was a picture of her with Max in her arms, back when the boy was only 5, She smiled at the thought that he was one year older today. Before she could reminisce the past even further, she heard a knock on her door. She raised an eyebrow as she stood up from her desk and went to answer.

"Hello?" Mary replied as she opened the door. She was now face-to-face with a red-haired girl wearing a red blouse, smiling at her.

"Why, hello there," the girl greeted. "Are you Mary Cruz?"

Mary cleared her throat and smiled. "Why, yes...yes, I am, and you are?"

"Oh, I am just an intern. I never got a chance to meet you. It is an absolute honor," the girl commented.

Mary grinned and held out her hand. "And who might you be?"

The girl suddenly put on a fierce look. "YourWorstNightmare," she said so quickly that it took time for Mary to process what came out of her mouth. Before Mary could speak, she felt someone grab her from behind. She almost screamed, but then she felt a wet and dirty cloth thrust up her nose and mouth. The putrid scent was so overwhelming that it began to infiltrate the interiors of the woman's brain. Soon, she was knocked out.

To be continued...