Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. Only my OCs.

Chapter 7: Diva in Distress

"I'm over you
Better believe it's true
Oh I see in your eyes
Every time that you lie
I'm over you.

I'm over you
Darling, I'm done, I'm through
You can say it again
That you wanna be friends
But when we get to the end, I'm glad
I'm over you."

Zoey clapped with the rest of the team as Kira finished her song. She looked around as only a scattering of applause sounded through the cafe. "Well, that's underwhelming."

"Tell me about it." Jenna frowned, "I've seen Kelzacks with more life than this."

"That was awesome." Conner smiled as Kira joined them, "Is that something new?"

Kira nodded, "Yeah. I'm still working on the hook, but I think it's pretty good."

"I'm telling you," Ethan smiled "If this superhero gig doesn't work out, you definitely have a musical career to fall back on"

"It's kinda hard to have a musical career when you can't even get anyone to listen to you play." Kira muttered as Trent came over with drinks and a sketchpad under his arm.

"Well, I was listening," he stated, "and I think you rock."

Kira smiled and looked up meeting his eyes, she glanced at the drawing under his arm and nodded towards it, "What're you working on?"

"No, not till it's done." He grinned, shuffling it away to his other arm

"Fine." Kira smiled as Trent walked away. Jenna nudge Zoey as they smirked and shook their head at the lovesick teens.

Tommy looked around at the group, "Nobody appreciates good music anymore. All you hear on the radio is that pop garbage."

"Yeah," Hayley nodded "Like what's her name? Kylee Styles?"

Tommy and Andy winced in distaste as Jenna rolled her eyes, "Oh, Zordon!"

"She's so annoying." Zoey growled, irritated, "I mean, she's a cheap Brittany wannabe who uses nothing but auto tune to make herself sound good. She's rude, condescending and thinks the world should bow down to her greatness."

The teens, minus Andy and Jenna, looked at their Pink Ranger in shock, "What? The 12 own AG Media. You know; news & tv station, production & record company, and co-run by Tanya Park and Zack Taylor. Former musician & choreographer and former Rangers."

"They worked with Kylee and her production crew on her last album." Andy smirked, "Not like they used any of Tanya or Zack's suggestions. I swear, my sister-in-law was ready to go full Yellow Ranger on her sorry ass. It took me, Adam and Zack to hold her back."

Conner scoffed, "Oh, stop hating. Kylee Styles has some good music on the radio."

"Translation," Ethan mocked, "he thinks she's fine."

"No I don't!" Conner exclaimed, earning looks from the group, "Okay, yeah I do. But, that has nothing to do with it"

"You know she used to be a really good song writer." Kira stated, "She was really sweet, too. Now she's all about image."

Zoey frowned, "Really? Wow. Must have really changed then. The only time I met her, thank Zordon, she tried getting me fired." Kira's eyes widened, "I didn't work there. I was on volunteer duty."

"Hold on." Ethan looked over at Kira, "You say that like you two are friends."

"We used to be." She told them, causing Ethan and Conner to look at her funny, "What! It's true! We were in a band together. Then she got discovered by this agent and now she's this huge pop diva."

"Oh, come on," Conner scoffed, "you don't expect us to believe that, do you?"

"Believe what you want," Kira sighed, "it's true."

Tommy pointed to Ethan and Conner, "Whatever these two think, I believe you Kira."

"Same goes for us." Andy said, gesturing to Zoey and Jenna.

"Thanks."

"Well, here's your chance to prove it." Ethan said, looking at his laptop, "According to her fan site, she's going to be in town to promote her new CD."

"The same CD that was produced at AG Media," Zoey looked thoughtful, "but no AG Media staff was even allowed near the sound booths because they're, and I quote, 'too small town'. I nearly slapped her manager."

"It was Tanya, that time, that had to hold Zoey back on that one." Jenna smirked.

"Okay. Anyways," Conner grinned "we are so going!"

Kira sighed, "Great."

"And since you two are such good buddies," Conner added, looking at Kira, "maybe you can hook me up."

"Um, don't you think she's a little out of your league, man?" Andy asked, causing the Red Ranger to glare, "What? She's a famous pop star, dude. You're a soccer playing senior at Reefside High. You don't exactly roll in the same circles."

Zoey, laughing with the group at Conner's expense, smiled as Trent waved at someone at the door, "Hey!"

She saw Tommy follow his gaze and freeze in shock when he spotted the man in the suit. "Hey, bro. What's up?" He ignored her as he got up and followed Trent.

"Tommy?" Hayley questioned watching him go

"Who's that guy?" Ethan asked as the others shrugged. Zoey frowned and got up to follow her brother.

The man was nodding as he turned from Trent to Tommy.

"Anton Mercer?" Tommy asked in disbelief, "I don't believe it."

He offered his hand and hesitantly, the man took it, "Tommy." Anton acknowledged, "Tommy Oliver! How've you been?"

Trent frowned, "You know my dad?"

"Dad?" Zoey asked, coming up behind them, "You're dad is Anton Mercer?"

"I had no idea." Her brother said, looking confused, "I mean you're last name is…"

"Fernandez," Anton said, nodding, "It's a long and complicated story Tommy, but more importantly, how are you?" He looked at Zoey, "And is this your sister?" He held out his hand for hers, "Your brother used to talk about you and all of your accomplishments. It's nice to finally meet you."

"Trent, can you help out with table three?" Hayley inquired, walking over, "There's been a mochaccino incident."

"Yeah… I'll be right there." He patted his dad on the shoulder, "See ya."

"I don't understand." Tommy said, turning back to his old partner, "I thought you were dead. I mean, the island was destroyed."

"Well, I was lucky, Tommy." Anton told him, "From the looks of it, we both were"

"Why didn't you call or send a message?"

"Yeah, well, you know what it's like, uh, starting over, trying to get your bearings"

Tommy sighed, "Yeah, I do." He then leaned in closer to older man, "Anton, the experiments we were working on… some crazy things have been happening. We need to figure some things out."

"I suppose your right." Anton nodded as he pulled away, "Look, I'll clear some time next week if that's all right with you."

"But..."

"It's good seeing you again, Tommy." Anton nodded, clapping him on the shoulder, "Truly it is." He then turned and walked, leaving the siblings confused.

"He was your mentor and partner, right?" Zoey asked, turning to her brother.

"Yeah."

"And he's the reason you were able to study the gems and create all of your experiments."

"Yes."

"Was he always as cold as the dinosaurs you've studied?"

He chuckled, "No. No he wasn't. I'm thinking that island changed him. A lot."

1-2-3-4-5

Tommy, Jenna and Ethan sat at the computers, watching Zoey put Andy through his paces.

"Come on, Lightning Bug." She taunted, "We know what your animal is already. We're just waiting for you to catch up and figure it out for yourself."

"I don't understand why you can't just tell me." He complained, rubbing his arm.

"Where's the fun in that?" She smirked, "Look. We know what you can do. You know what you can do. You need to learn what more you could do. Push yourself our of your comfort zone. It's not just about figuring out what your Spirit is, but what you can do with it."

"How am I supposed to know what I can do with it if I don't know what it is?"

"That's the question, isn't it?"

"Really glad it's not me she's sparring with right now." Ethan muttered as Tommy and Jenna laughed at him, "I'm still not over our first training session."

She walked over to Andy, ignoring the Blue Ranger, "Andy, I already knew what I was capable of before I learned that my animal was the Fox. I was already training as a Fire Ninja. I was proficient in karate, gymnastics, Parkour and free running. When I was offered the chance to start Pai Zhuq training, I already knew what my animal was, as my Sensei told me. My problem was a block in my head. I was concerned about whether or not I could focus and find a balance. If I could stick to the Pai Zhuq training or if I was going to have issues trying to keep my Ninja training and karate training separate."

She gestured to Jenna, "She had the same issues."

"Especially when trying to keep the ice away from innocent bystanders." Jenna smiled as she got up to go to her friends, "The point, though, is that you decide. It's your journey Andy. If you want to go the distance, as cheesy as that sounds, then you need to figure out what you want. It's going to be up to you to decide how you get there."

"In the meantime," Zoey said, taking Jenna's chair, "we're going to help you figure out who you really are." She paused, "While beating you into submission."

Before he could responded, Conner ran down the stairs, "Dr. O, you are never going to believe what happened."

1-2-3-4-5

"A Donkey that can extract youth out of people?" Ethan frowned, turning to Conner, "That is wrong on so many levels!"

"Mesogog's probably found a way to harness youth into energy." Tommy stated, "We have to figure out a way to fight it." He looked at Conner, "Where's Kira?"

"She's at the Cyberspace, with Kylee." The teen responded, "I think she was having a meltdown over seeing herself all old and shriveled up." Zoey and Jenna looked over at him, frowning, "I gotta admit, it was pretty brutal. Ow!" He rubbed the back of his head and backed away from Zoey as she continued to glare at him, "Sorry."

"We'll talk about respect for your elders later." Tommy stated, "Right now, there's something we need to take care of."

The group nodded in agreement, and walked into the centre of the Ranger Base, bringing up their wrists as their Dino bracelets flashed and turned into their morphers.

"DINO THUNDER, POWER UP!"

1-2-3-4-5

As Ethan was thrown into Andy, a few feet away Zoey and Jenna tag teamed the Donkeyvac. Or tried. "This guy is a lot stronger than the last one." Jenna complained.

"Well," Zoey sighed, watching Conner and Tommy take over, "let's show this Pack Mull why his species fears canines."

"Agreed." They stood back, twisted their arms around and sent out the Spirit Animals. Zoey's Pink Fox shot out, quick, and took the Donkey down, while Jenna's Purple Wolf went for it's throat. Once the creature stopped sparking, he stood back and smiled.

"Is that all you've got?" He mocked, sending a blasts at them. Andy rushed behind them and helped cushion their crash.

"Thanks." Zoey groaned, rolling to her side.

"No problem."

Conner and Tommy nodded to each other and tagged teamed against the Donkeyvac, using their weapons. It didn't take long before the Donkeyvac wrapped an arm around each weapon and pulled with such a force that the two Rangers were lifted off their feet and sailed through the air, crashing onto the ground.

"We need Kira!" Ethan yelled, coming to their aide.

"I called her!" Conner replied, "She's not answering!"

Andy's eyes widened as he saw Cassidy and Devin were running towards the fight. "You have got to be kidding me!"

Jenna looked over and frowned, "What do they think they're doing?"

"I think they're trying to interview Donkeyvac." Zoey noted as she struggled to get back up, "Mara 2.0. I swear." She sighed as they charged back into the fight.

At that moment, Cassidy and Devin got blasted and before the Ranger's eyes their skin started to wrinkle and transform. Jenna winced, "Brutal."

Donkeyvac returned to the fight, attacking Conner.

"Conner!" Andy yelled, running to help.

"Hold on, Conner!" Tommy yelled as Zoey helped him up, "We're coming."

Before they could reach him, Zeltrax jumped in front of them, "Not so fast!"

"Zeltrax!"

"We still have a score to settle, Black Ranger." He growled, brandishing his sword. "Or have you forgotten?"

"I told you," Tommy said, frustrated, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Didn't he have an axe last time?" Zoey asked, cocking her head to the side, "Since when did bad guys change their weapon of choice?"

Zeltrax yelled in anger and gathered a blue electric field of energy from his sword and shot it at the siblings.

Zoey stepped in front of her brother and and shot a massive energy blast, combined with her pink flames, outwards, absorbing the blast. She gathering the energy into her fists and shot it back at the villain, sending him back.

"I didn't know you could do that." Tommy looked at his sister, "Did you know?"

"Nope." She crossed her arms and smiled under her helmet, "No better time to learn something new than in the field."

"Trial by fire." Jenna commented, walking over.

"You two help them with Donkeyvac. I've got Zeltrax." Tommy nodded.

"Are you sure, bro?"

"Yeah. I've got this."

"Catch me if you can!" Donkeyvac teased, running off down a street.

"Go after him!" He told them as he turned to face his foe.

"Right!" The group nodded and took off after the creature, leaving the Black Ranger to deal with Zeltrax alone.

1-2-3-4-5

By they caught up to the Donkeyvac, he had made it to the Tennis Courts.

"Alright, we've got you cornered!" Conner grinned, holding up his saber.

"That's what you think!" Donkeyvac cackled, shooting missiles from its nose, blasting the teens off their feet in a shower of sparks. The Red and Blue Rangers fell hard to the ground, while the other three were able to catch themselves and stayed on their feet. Donkeyvac stepped forward, a threatening stride in his step, "It's over Rangers."

"This guy is brutal." Ethan groaned.

"You said it!" Conner agreed.

Before they could do anything else, the Rangers clamped their hands over their ears as a scream cut through the air, sending yellow sonic sound waves out and knocking Donkeyvac off his feet. An unmorphed Kira ran into view, a determined look on her face. She walked over to her friends as Ethan got back to his feet.

"My ears!" Conner shook his head.

"Oh man." Ethan said, putting his hand on his head.

"Seriously, Kira?" Zoey sighed, looking over at the Yellow Ranger.

"Sorry, guys." Kira apologized, "I should've warned you about the Ptera scream."

"Excellent!" Donkeyvac said greedily, standing up "More youth for me!"

"I don't think so!" Kira responded, bringing her wrist up as her morpher appeared, "Dino Thunder, Power Up!"

As Kira morphed, Zoey looked at her friends and nodded. They straightened up and held out their hands. Zoey sent out an energy blast, combined with her light manipulation. Jenna created an ice storm in her hands, hurling it at the mutant. Andy, deciding to combine his black Ninja Lightning with his new green one, sent an electric whip towards the monster.

He screamed as he flew backwards in sparks.

The Rangers called on their Thundermax Sabers leaped forward to attack the creature. A moment later, the Rangers were sent rolling across the court after being hit by a close range blast. Kira next to a bucket of tennis balls and a couple of rackets. An idea came to mind and she grabbed two tennis balls and a racket as she got to her feet.

"Think you're up for a singles match?" She called out, pointing the racket toward Donkeyvac.

"You're no match for me!"

"We'll see about that." She threw the two balls into the air, hitting them with the racket and sending them flying through the air. They dodge the blast the creature sent out and lodged themselves in it's nostrils, causing it the lasers backfire.

"Oh, my nose!" The backlash threw him backwards in a shower of sparks.

"Put 'em together, guys!" Kira called out, looking at the boys. As they combined their weapons, Zoey and Jenna called on their animals to add to the attack.

"Ready?"

"Go for it!"

"Z-Rex Blaster… fire!"

The blast ripped through the surrounding area and tore through Donkeyvac, obliterating him.

"We did it!"

"Yeah!"

"Don't celebrate yet." Andy warned as the girls joined them, "It's not over."

"What?"

Just then, black clouds formed, sending rain down on the creature's remains.

"Knew it." Andy shook his head as Donkeyvac was reanimated, growing over them.

"Every time." Zoey held up her morpher, "Hey, bro. It's heavy metal time!"

"You've got it." He said, his voice coming from her wrist, "Brachio Zord, now!"

The Brachio Zord appeared and opened up, letting the Tyranno, Tricera, Ptera and Spino Zords out. When the Megazord was formed, the Rangers jumped up and got in the cockpit, logging in.

Jenna looked at her friend, "You ready for this?"

"Always." They pushed a new button on the side of their morphers and spoke into it, "We need Ninja Zord Power, now!"

Two large Zords, a Pink Fox and a Purple Wolf, streak into the fray and knocked the Donkeyvac back. They landed next to the Thundersaurus Megazord and snarled.

"Whoa!" Conner said, leaning forward.

"Those are cool!"

"Gotta admit, kind of missed those two." Andy shook his head as Zoey and Jenna jumped up into their Zords and activated their Warrior modes. "Ah, memories."

The girls were able to pull up shields, upgrade courtesy of Cam, in time to block the blasts shot at them from the Donkey. Unfortunately, the rest of the team was not so lucky.

"Super Suction!" He shot blue lightning out and brought the Megazord toward him. "Now I've got you!"

"What was that?" Jenna asked, "A tractor beam?" She hit a button on her console, "Let's see how this freak handles our Glaives."

"Let do it!" The girls charge and cut at the beams, breaking his hold on the Zord.

"Let's take it up another notch!" Zoey hit another button calling on her Bow, "Fox Fire!"

"Arctic Ice!" Jenna threw her Chakram. The girls combined powers sent Donkeyvac back in pain, causing it to light up in sparks. "Conner! Go for it!"

"Ptera Rang!" They grabbed the wings off of Kira's Zord and flung it the creature. Before it had time to recover, the Zord's tail started to spin, "Dino Drill, engage!" After hitting the creature, one last time, he finally blew up in a shower of sparks.

"About time." Zoey grumbled, "That freak was really getting on my nerves."

"I thought you'd appreciate him." Andy smirked, "He was probably related to you."

"Was that your way of calling me an Ass?"

"Nope. It was my way of calling you a stubborn mule."

She narrowed her eyes, plotting their next training session. Jenna just sighed.

1-2-3-4-5

"Is that Kira?" Zoey's question had said girl turning to look at the picture in Hayley's hand. It was a comic book drawing of Kira in pigtails, wearing a white super hero outfit with an orange cape and an orange "K" on the front. She was standing on a yellow guitar with music notes coming out behind her.

"Wow." Kira looked down on it in amazement, "Where did you get that?"

"Where do you think?" Hayley asked, nodding towards Trent as he passed. Kira smiled as she walked around the bar to approach the busboy.

"That's what you were drawing?" She asked, catching his attention as she pointed to Hayley as she walked to a wall to hang the picture.

Trent smiled, "Yeah. I wouldn't have let Hayley put it up, but… you know how insistent she can be."

"It's Hayley." Jenna smirked from the bar as she handed Andy an order for a table, "The only person we know who has any sort of control of her is Tommy."

"She only let's him think that." Zoey said, taking a sip of her water, "It's a good relationship builder." She leaned over and whispered to her friend, "And pretending that I don't know about that relationship is driving me crazy." They chuckled as the other two looked confused.

Kira smiled, ignoring the two girls, "Actually, I think it's great. But how come you drew me as a superhero?"

"'Cause your brave," he looked down as he smiled, "for getting on stage, for playing stuff from your heart and not conforming to some image." he shrugged, "Besides, superheroes are all I know how to draw."

Kira smiled sweetly "Well, thanks. That's really sweet." Andy walked back to the bar behind Trent and smirked at Kira. He held a hand to his chest and tapped it like a beating heart. Kira glared at him before walking to the stage. He quickly dropped his hand as Trent turned to around to see what cause Kira to frown.

Andy just smiled, causing him to frown and mutter about his weird new friends. Zoey and Jenna smack Andy on the back of the head as Trent walked away to check on his tables.

"Ow!" He glared at them, "What was that for?"

"Being a pain in the ass." Zoey narrowed her eyes, "Don't think I've forgotten about the mule comment. I'll be taking my frustrations out on you when we spar later."

He grumbled, "Oh, man." Tommy just shook his head, walking up to them.

"You deserve everything you get." He grabbed the protein shake Zoey handed him, "And don't think for two seconds that I haven't already told Jason and Adam about it." He smiled as the girls laughed, "They plan on letting everyone know just how much of a dumb-ass you were being." He walked away to sit down at his table as Andy looks at the girls in horror.

"I'm never going to live this down." He stalked off to take care of his tables as Jenna shook her head.

"You'd think he'd know better." They shared another laugh as Kira took the stage.

"I wrote this next song with a friend of mine a long time ago." She spoke into the microphone, smiling, "I hope you like it."

She began with light, simple chords on her guitar, before she started to sing.

"Best friends,
They come and go depending on your highs and your lows.
My best friend decided not to be there when I needed her the most.
I thought you'd be there for me,
Then why did you lie to me,
Using me to get what you want?
Then I couldn't believe it happened
No, I couldn't understand."

She paused before the next verse, and Kylee stepped onto the stage with her. The crowd cheered as the two friends sang the chorus together.

"True love walked out the door,
Couldn't take it no more.
True love,
It broke my heart.
You make my whole life sore.
He said he'd be my baby,
Then why did he betray me?
Temptation got to his head.
Then I left him, yeah,
And this is what I said."

"It feels like it's gonna be okay.
(It's gonna be okay)
It feels right.
It just feels that way.
(It just feels that way.
It feels like,
It'll be a better day.
Cause I believe that in the end.
Good things are coming my way."

When they finished, the two singers smiled at each other, as applause rang out across the the patrons of the cafe.

"Oh, yeah!" Devon shouted, clapping with the rest of the audience, "Oh, baby!"

Zoey rolled her eyes at Cassidy's lapdog before smiling when Kylee and Kira hugged on stage, "I think this whole incident was good for Kylee. Maybe it's put a whole new perspective on the way she acts and how she treats people." They watched as Kylee held up Kira's arm in celebration.

"Let's hope it sticks." Jenna nudged her, "Maybe next time, Tanya won't want to strangle her in exasperation."

"I swear, I thought last time she was going to activate her Zeonizers."

"Wouldn't surprise me one bit."

"Now we just have to get through the rest of our shift and we can go beat up on Andy some more." Zoey paused, "Maybe if I beat up on him enough, he'll finally let loose and figure out what his Animal Spirit is."

"Wouldn't hurt." Jenna smirked, "It's all in the name of training him, of course."

"Of course." Zoey pulled her phone out when it rang, "Oh my gosh." She stepped back, ignoring her friend and flipped the phone open to answer it, "Nick!"

Jenna just rolled her eyes and served another customer, "Great. The Nomad. Now she's going to be mopey for a few days because she can't go see him." Her face lit up with a smile, "I'll just have her beat on Andy by herself and send him through the training arena. That'll definitely make her feel better." She started whistling as she imagined what they were fixing to put the Green Ranger through. "It's good being us."

Catch you on the flipside!