Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. Only my OCs.
Chapter 28: House of Cards
"It's time for you to learn how to Dream Walk." Drina nodded as she Zoey, "You need to know how to do it yourself so you don't have to rely on others."
They were in the newly built holo-room in the Command Center in Angel Grove and Drina was trying to work on some more complicated spells with her, away from other people.
"Okay. It starts with meditation, doesn't it?" Zoey asked, looking at her teacher. "I mean, it's about clearing the mind, isn't it?"
"It's part of it. One of the reasons I waited until we can come back here is because it might cause you to lose control. You could end up in the control of Phaedra or the Mystic Mother again. If that happens, it's easier if I keep watch over you, as things seem to be escalating in Reefside. Your brother and the other Rangers need to focus on their task at hand."
"Understood."
"Now, have a seat and close your eyes. Focus on your magic." Drina circled around Zoey, feeling the girl's magic flare out. "Good. Remember the feeling of being pulled in. Grab a hold of it. Make it yours."
Zoey magic steadied as she felt what she was looking for and locked it in.
"Good. Now, think of what you want to see. Past, present or future. Magic in its truest form is simple. All you have to do is want something and let yourself have it. Now take it!" Though Zoey stayed sitting up, Drina knew when she Walked. She felt it. "Good girl. Now, where'd you go?"
1-2-3-4-5
"Ok, we've got stegosaurus, brachiosaurus, brontosaurus."Tommy told the class as he stood at the board. "What are some other herbivores from that era?" He looked around room. When nobody raised their hands, he looked to Ethan. "Ethan, you should know this." Ethan didn't react. "Ethan, you alright?" Tommy frowned at the boy. "Could somebody tell me what the problem is?" He asked, looking over at the other Rangers.
"He and Devin were playing that Dragon Wars game and Principal Randall confiscated their cards." Andysighed, sharing a look with Raina, "I gotta admit, it was pretty brutal. You should've seen their faces when she took them."
She nodded, "Poor babies."
"Dragon Wars?" Tommy frowned. "Isn't that a kids game?" He asked, and both Andy, Raina and Kira started laughing. Jenna had to cover her mouth to stop herself from reacting.
"Come on! It's a game of strategy for all ages!" Ethan told him, speaking up.
"Well, I hate to side with Randall on this, but you know you can't play cards at school." Tommy pointed out as Ethan blushed furiously.
"Doctor O, she took the Ruby Dragon card!" Ethan told him desperately.
"Yeah, Dr. Oliver, it was brutal man." Devin nodded.
Tommy sighed as he exchanged looks of resignation with Jenna. "Alright, look,I'll talk to her after school." He said, and Ethan brightened up. "Maybe I can get them back. But for now, can you guys please pay attention?"
"Hey, anything for you, Doctor O," Ethan told him.
"It's just a freaking card game." Jenna muttered, "Give me a break."
1-2-3-4-5
Zoey blinked her eyes as she focus back in to the room, "Whoa. Not what I intended to see."
"Where did you go?" Drina asked, sitting down next to her.
"Reefside. During Tommy's class." The girl shook her head, "I guess I need to be a bit more specific in what I'm wanting."
"That's always best. What were you trying to see?"
"Tommy in high school."
Drina laughed, "Well, technically, you did. You just caught him in the present as he's teaching high school. Get a drink and try again."
Zoey was drinking from her water when she got a text on her phone. "Interesting."
"What?"
"Jenna just sent me a text about what I saw in my vision. Exactly."
"So?"
"She's concerned about Tommy going to talk to the principal. Thinks it's going to lead to some problems."
"Well, how about you try again and this time, want to see him in the present. Make sure everything is okay."
She nodded, "Alright. Here goes." She sat back down and concentrated on what she had just seen.
1-2-3-4-5
She was on the front lawn of the high school and there was Tommy - fighting Principal Randall. Zoey shook her head, 'I knew something was wrong about her. She's gotta be Elsa.'
The bell rang and students started filing out of the building. She looked over to see the Rangers and Raina stare in disbelief.
"Ok…don't you think Doctor O's going just a little over the top trying to get Ethan's card back?" Kira demanded as they watched.
"Maybe he knows something we don't?" Trent suggested, shrugging.
"Like what?" Conner turned to look at the White Ranger.
"I don't know." Trent answered, "Look, there's gotta be a reason he's fighting her."
Jenna nodded, "And I think I know what it is."
"What is Doctor O doing?" Conner asked, not listening, "He's so going to get fired!"
"It's Elsa!" They looked around as Ethan ran up to them.
"Who?"
"Randall?!" Kira cried out, before the Principal flipped through the air, her appearance changing. She landed as Elsa, smirking as most of the students screamed and fled the scene.
"See!" Ethan raised his eyebrows at them.
"Dang it!" Andy frowned. "I have got to stop betting with you two." He pulled out his wallet and handed Jenna two ten dollar bills, "You suck."
"We warned you." She smiled, putting them in her bag, "We've suspected for months. Even told Tommy about it, but he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Look how that's turned out."
"I don't know why you bother." Raina chuckled, "When it comes to Zoey's intuition about things like this, you don't second guess her."
"You fight well for a science teacher." Elsa told Tommy with a smirk.
"You're not bad for a principal." He replied, making the Angel Grove kids roll their eyes at his comeback.
"Former principal." Elsa corrected him. "Tell the school board I resign!" She declared, before disappearing through an Invisiportal.
"Wait!" Ethan cried out, and the other Rangers looked at him in disbelief. "Don't go..." he groaned in horror.
"'Don't go'?" Conner repeated as he looked down at the geek incredulously. "Are you kidding?"
"She has the Ruby Dragon card!" Ethan pointed out.
"It's just a game!" Jenna and Raina yelled in frustration.
1-2-3-4-5
Zoey shook her head, "I knew it!" She looked at her teacher, "Randall is Elsa."
"You called it."
She sighed, "I need a nap."
1-2-3-4-5
"I can't believe we didn't work it out!" Conner groaned as the group walked out of the school grounds. "They look exactly the same, except one has glasses!"
"Hey, Clark Kent and Superman look the same, but nobody ever puts that together." Ethan pointed out.
"Good point." Conner agreed.
"Yeah, but," Andy shrugged, "That's in the comics and movies and stuff." He shook his head, "We should've seen it." He held up his hand to forestall Jenna from speaking, "I know, I know. Zoey figured it out. I was referring to us mere mortals."
Raina shoved him, "You're a dork."
"Bit me."
"Do I look like I want rabies?"
"I just can't believe she got the Ruby Dragon card… I have been looking for that card since I was a kid!" Ethan exclaimed furiously.
"Maybe I can do something about it." Trent spoke up, and all of them turned to frown at the White Ranger.
"Like what?" Ethan asked curiously as they stopped.
"I don't know. Maybe I can think of something." He stepped backwards with a nervous laugh. "Just leave it to me." Trent hurried off, leaving the others confused.
"Ok… what was that about?" Ethan turned to Kira.
"Don't ask me." The Yellow Ranger spoke, turning defensive. "I can't figure him out any easier than you guys can."
Jenna smirked as she shared a look with Andy and Raina, "Another $20 she was right?" They just shook their heads.
"No thanks." Andy smiled, "That I believed."
"What?" The other three asked, getting confused again.
"We'll explain it later." Raina shrugged, "It's a Zoey thing."
"Hey guys, we're still meeting later for training at the edge of Mire Woods?" Tommy asked as they approached his jeep.
"Yeah." Conner nodded, "We'll be there."
"Dr. O, who's the new Principal gonna be?" Kira asked, looking at her teacher.
"That's a good question." Tommy sighed. "I'm going over to the school board to let them know right now."
"Need some help?" Jenna asked.
"No, I got it covered. Could you guys get the area set-up? I'll meet you out there."
"No problem."
"They might want to screen the next principal a little better." Conner commented.
"I'll let them know that. See ya." Tommy got into his jeep as the others waved him off, leaving as well.
1-2-3-4-5
"I dunno, Dr. Oliver." Conner sighed as Raina and the Rangers stood in the woods for training. "I mean, he's been acting kinda weird lately, like there's something he's not telling us."
"Well dude, you have to admit that Trent isn't exactly open about what's going on with him." Ethan pointed out.
"And what's with him going after the Ruby Dragon card?" Kira frowned.
"Look," Andy sighed, "we don't know what's going on with him, but is it necessary for him to tell us what's going on?"
"He's right." Raina shrugged, "I mean, he could be having issues with his dad. Does that mean he has to tell us?"
"Just because we're Rangers," Jenna nodded as she stood next to Tommy, "doesn't mean we have to divulge all of our secrets. If there's something wrong, he'll tell us when he's ready. Not before. Just leave it."
"He'll be here, he probably just got hung up at the Cyber Café." Tommy soothed the worried Rangers. Hearing a growl, they looked around quickly to see a new monster approaching them.
"Speaking of the Ruby Dragon card." Ethan growled as they stood together, staring at the dragon-like monster.
"Elsa didn't waste any time." Conner frowned.
"And if Trent went after the card..." Kira looked over, worried.
"We'll find Trent later," Tommy told them. "Right now, we have more pressing things to deal with. Raina, head back to the lab." As she Ninja Streaked out, he nodded to Conner to go ahead.
"Right," Conner agreed with him. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"DINO THUNDER, POWER UP, HA!"
1-2-3-4-5
Zoey sat up with a start, breathing hard, "So much for a nap. Damn." She grabbed her phone and called Raina.
"Hey, girl. I thought you were busy training."
She smirked at the Lightning Ninja's opening line, "Well, hello to you too."
"Sorry. Distracted."
"How are they doing against that dragon?" Pause.
"I really want to know how you know what's going on, but it's you, so..."
"Been practicing Dream Walking. Instead of seeing into the past, like I planned, I've been see everything that's going on in Reefside."
"So you know that you won another $20 off Andy?"
"He really needs to stop doubting me."
"True that. And Trent just showed up and challenged the Ruby Dragon to a singles fight. Not sure if that's smart or not."
"Give him a chance." Zoey stood up and stretched, "Keep me updated. I may try Walking again, see if I can watch the fight."
"I think you were right about Trent."
"Of course I am. I saw it when I cured his gem. Just, don't hate him for not saying anything. I think it's been really hard on him keeping quiet about this."
"It won't bother me or Andy. Can't say the same for the other three."
"I know. After the way they kept going on when he was still evil, there's no telling how they're going to react about this."
"Got that right. Especially now. The monster just let loose that Trent was keeping a secret from them. Jenna and Andy are trying to keep their focus on the fight, but the other three keep demanding to know what it is."
"Lovely."
"You didn't tell Tommy what you saw, did you?"
"Um, no. Between training, him being stuck in morph, the whole invisible/coma thing… there just didn't seem to be a good enough time to do it. Why?"
"Because Elsa just took the Ruby Dragon through an Invisiportal and he's questioning Trent about the secret. Saying that if there's something that he needed to tell them, now was the time to do it."
Zoey sighed, "Great. Tell Jenna to pull him to the side and talk to him."
"Will do. They're coming back. Talk to you later."
When they hung up, Zoey sat back on her bed, "This is gonna suck."
1-2-3-4-5
"Trent, we're a team." Tommy sat at the computer, looking at the White Ranger as the teens stood in the lab, "We work together doing something that takes the ultimate trust in each other."
"If you're holding back on us, how are we supposed to trust you out there in battle?" Conner asked him softly.
"You're right." He told them, turning to face them. "Ok, look, this is how it is. I went to Mesogog's lab to get the card back."
Jenna, Andy and Raina winced as they sat on the couch, trying to stay out of it.
"You what?! By yourself?" Kira demanded furiously.
"I found an Invisiportal and it took me right there. I was just trying to help you out Ethan… so I took a shot."
Tommy sighed, "That wasn't a real smart thing to do."
"Yeah, it was stupid." Trent agreed. "I got knocked out by that thing. I barely made it to help you guys." He told them softly, looking guilty.
"Doctor O, he was just being a good friend." Ethan spoke up for the White Ranger. "Any of us would have done the same thing."
"Well none of you better in the future. That's all I can say." Tommy warned them, still unhappy with his student.
Trent nodded, "It won't happen again. I promise."
"So that's your big secret?" Kira frowned at him, and Trent paused for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah." He said. They all watched him carefully, none of them sure if he was telling the truth or not. "Look, I gotta go. My head's still feeling foggy."
"Ok, get some rest." Tommy told him.
"See you guys later." Trent turned and walked out of the tunnel.
"Something on your mind, Kira?" Tommy asked as he saw that Kira still looked worried, watching Trent leave.
"I dunno… there's something that's not quite right with him." She spoke, looking confused as she tried to figure it out.
"He's had a good knock to the head." Conner smiled at the Yellow Ranger. "I'd be feeling kinda spacey too." He told them, and found everyone looking at him, "I meant… more than usual." He shrugged before the computer alarm beeped again. They looked around, sighing when they saw that the Ruby Dragon had returned.
"Let's go." Tommy told them as he jumped up. Jenna nodded to Raina to man the monitors as she joined them in the line up.
"What about Trent?" Conner asked.
"Let him get his head back together." Tommy decided. "We'll call him if it gets really ugly." They nodded. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"DINO THUNDER, POWER UP, HA!"
1-2-3-4-5
Zoey sighed as she read the lengthy text that Raina sent her.
"Something wrong?" Drina asked, handing the girl a protein bar. They were both sweating from their sparring session.
"I was hoping Jenna would be able to talk to Tommy, but that Ruby Dragon showed back up." She shook her head, "Aside from my three, they were all giving him the third degree before hand. Including Tommy."
"Give him time." Drina said, munching on her own snack, "Knowing you, you'll knock him upset that thick skull of his to make him understand."
"Thick skull is an understatement." Zoey chuckled, "Mystic Mother told me to tell him…" she looked up as if thinking, "let me make sure I've got this right. 'Remind my former minion to remember his beginnings and that he should be patient. He, more than anyone, should understand the torment one goes through.' She's right. I don't think he ever truly broke down and talked about what happened under her spell. He just brushed it off and moved on. If he can just stop thinking as a mentor and put himself in Trent's boots, he'd be a little more understanding."
Drina chuckled, "Just go easy on him about it. He blocked it for a reason. He may talk about it as a 'I know what Trent went through as an Evil Ranger', but that doesn't mean he came to terms with everything he did."
"Not to mention that it was less than a week for him. Trent was under the control of that gem for a couple of months. He had it worse."
"I agree. But, right now, there's nothing you can do. You're here. They're there. Let Jenna take the reigns of the situation and you focus on your training."
"Okay." Zoey sat down and thought for a moment, "I'm gonna try to look at something different this time."
"Oh, really? What would you like to see?"
"My parents." Drina smiled as the girl closed her eyes.
1-2-3-4-5
Instead of Dream Walking, all Zoey got was flashes of images. Their first meeting. Training together. Falling in love. Getting married.
She opened her eyes with a sigh.
"What's wrong?" She looked over with a smile for Drina.
"Nothing. I didn't exactly Walk like I wanted to. Just a jumble of images from the time they met to the last time they saw each other. They were so in love. You could see it on their faces."
"You have the same look on your face when you're with Nick."
"I don't know what I'd do with out him."
"Are you ever going to tell him who you are?"
"I want to. So bad. But we have rules. I have to make sure it's a guarantee that he's going to always be there."
"You'll never know if you don't trust him."
"I do trust him. It's just not my secret I'm keeping from him. It's everyone's." She sighed, "I'm going to check on the others." She closed her eyes and tried to focus on Reefside.
1-2-3-4-5
"How's Zoey's training going?" Conner asked as they walked through the corridors after another day of school.
"Slow." Jenna nodded at him, "There's things about magic that she's learning that I hope to never have to touch."
"Amen." Andy and Raina chorused.
Tommy looked over at the Blue Ranger as he walked alongside them, "Well, did you learn something from this Ethan?"
"Yeah, leave the card games at home from now on." He nodded.
"Dude, how about leaving them to the kids from now on?" Conner teased him, and the others laughed.
"Yeah, seriously, you're much to smart for that," Kira told him.
Ethan rolled his eyes."You guys still don't get it." He sighed. "But hey, that's alright, I don't expect you to understand."
"You should play with Justin over the summer." Raina poked him in the side, "He's a fellow Blue and he plays in a lot of Dragon War tournaments."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Cool."
"Hey Anton!" Tommy called out, and they all stopped as Doctor Mercer and Trent halted in front of them. "How are you?"
"Tommy." Doctor Mercer shook his hand as Trent smiled at the others. "I'm fine. Hey, I understand you're looking for a new principal."
"Why? Are you interested?" Tommy asked him.
"I'm sure Doctor Mercer's far too busy to run a school!" Kira spoke up loudly as the others started to panic at the idea.
"Yeah, far too busy." Ethan nodded.
"Relax, everybody." Doctor Mercer told them as Trent laughed. "She's right." He said, before a beeping echoed from his pocket. "Oh, see? Even as we speak." He reached for his phone, before something fell from his pocket. Everyone frowned as they looked down at the Ruby Dragon card. Ethan crouched down and lifted it, looking up at the man.
"How did you get this?" He asked him curiously.
"Honestly, I don't know." Doctor Mercer admitted as he took it from him. "Trent, is this yours?" He asked, but the White Ranger shook his head.
"No." He gave a nervous laugh. "I don't know how it got there." Trent shrugged, before Doctor Mercer staggered.
"Anton!" Tommy reached out to the man. "Are you alright?" He asked, and Doctor Mercer fell to his knees, turning away from them.
"I'm fine…just leave me alone." He pleaded weakly.
Jenna stared, "Uh-oh." She whispered, sharing a look with Andy and Raina.
"We should get you some help." Tommy insisted.
"No!" The older man yelled, and ran off. Tommy, Conner, Ethan and Kira ran after as Jenna grabbed Trent's shoulder, scared.
"Let's go!" She pulled him forward as they chased the others down the hall, Trent calling out pleas for them to leave his dad alone. They followed them to Tommy's classroom, where they found him leaning on one of the tables. He straightened up, breathing hard, and he spun around to face them just as he turned into Mesogog.
"No way!" Conner stared in horror. "Mercer is..."
"Mesogog..." Tommy looked just as horror-stricken.
"Oh, this is one crazy week," Ethan groaned.
"Really glad I didn't take that bet from Zoey." Andy said and Raina nodded.
"This is your big secret?" Kira looked at Trent as she realized why the boy had been so secretive. "You knew this all along?" She asked, hurt in her expression.
"He's my father. How could I tell you?" He asked, helpless to the situation.
"You will pay for betraying me Trent!" Mesogog finally spoke up, angry. "You will pay dearly!"
"I never betrayed you!" Trent insisted.
"He betrayed us if anything!" Conner snarled as his rage replaced his horror.
"Silence!" Mesogog screamed, and reverted back to Doctor Mercer. He fell to his knees, soaked in sweat. "Trent…I'm sorry." He spoke weakly, before disappearing through an Invisiportal, leaving Trent to face the wrath of his team.
Jenna sighed as she saw the look on Tommy's face, "And I'm calling Zoey home." She looked at her two friends as they laid hands of comfort on Trent's shoulder, "We're going to need backup."
To be continued…
Okay, anyone reading this, I'm sorry for the wait. My computer crashed. I lost a lot of stuff and it's taken me awhile to rewrite certain chapters of some of my stories. I work overnights, so I've had to stay awake in order to use the computers at my public library. Yea me. Anyways. My boss lets me use the desk computer to get on the internet, which allows me to upload my saved documents from my flash-drive, but I'm not allowed to use it to do any writing. 'shrug' Go figure. So I'm adding the two chapters that I've got done and I'm going to start working on the finale. Hopefully I can get my computer fixed soon, but it's going to cost.
Sorry guys. Don't forget to review. If you feel like it, send me a PM.