Episode 6: Peace of War
SPD Academy (2025) – Next Morning
It was too early for many Rangers to be awake after the day they had yesterday, but for some reason, both the Overdrive and the Mystic Force Rangers found themselves walking on different sides of the academy. When they encountered each other, they decided to explore the academy together.
"This place is amazing," said Rose, amazed with each step she took around the academy. "I can't wait to spend more time in the technology room; it has things I have never seen, ever!"
"Yeah, we heard you the first five times," said Will, chuckling. "But seriously, how did they manage to put this all here? I know Jake was smart, but this level of development is too big for three people alone."
"Maybe they had help," said Vida, walking beside Rose. "I mean, you guys are right. It is impossible for him to do all this even with Conner and Mike here with him."
"Guys! Guys!" screamed Chip, catching the attention of the others. "Look!"
He signaled for both teams to come closer to his position, and what they saw left them breathless. Inside the academy, there were two separate sides in one of the buildings they could see from where they were standing. On one side, young cadets were practicing magic: fire, water, lightning, earth, wind—all the elements from the Mystic Force were there, studied in the same way they taught Jake. There were two sisters, just like Madison and Vida, and both were mixing water and wind into a spell while not far from them, three boys were laughing and practicing with their fire, lightning, and earth spells. They were dressed like young SPD Rangers, and yet it was a clear young version of them.
"Look at that," whispered Madison with tears in her eyes as she took her sister's hand. "Jake must have taught them or have someone here to teach them. They are like us."
"This is amazing," whispered Xander, his hand on Nick's shoulder. "Did you see that? The kid made a fire dragon!"
"Yeah…" whispered Nick, holding back his feelings. "I taught that to Jake."
Chip laughed when he saw the kid with his spells accidentally burn his hair. It reminded him of himself, and he couldn't help but feel heavy pain as he saw himself and his team here, in a younger version, using the same things they taught Jake.
"Wow! Sorry!"
The Rangers were distracted when a group of older SPD cadets ran towards them. One of them jumped over the whole line of Rangers with a stunt jump and landed perfectly on the ground. To Dax's surprise, right behind him, another girl came running, using a gadget on her wrist to avoid crashing into the Rangers, and another boy came right behind them. He was focused on not letting their friends win, but before he could catch them, someone grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, stopping him as right before another boy appeared out of nowhere, stealing the gadget from the girl with a swift move.
The boy who was caught looked up, finding Jack smiling down at him.
"Richard, you and your friends are in the middle of a treasure hunt outside the academy, not inside. Remember what the mentors told you all about it," said Jack, and then he looked at the group. "And you, Tyler, you better give the gadget back before her best friend comes back and…"
Suddenly, the sound of an engine made Jack roll his eyes when out of nowhere, the door of a car was heard, and next, Tyler knew that another girl was on top of him, looking at him angry enough to scare the normally composed Tyler.
"Give her the gadget, or you are going to have to race me, and you know you are losing," said the girl.
"Woah, calm down, darling. I was just…" tried Tyler. The girl grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, and he tossed the gadget back to the other girl before he was finally set free.
Ronny and Rose could barely contain themselves as they looked at Jack, and he chuckled. He let the boy go, and together, both Ranger teams and Jack watched the group run away, still determined to find the treasure hidden somewhere in the academy.
"Those are adventurers," explained Jack with a smile. "As SPD Rangers, they will focus on finding ancient powerful treasures before the villains do, giving us an advantage for once in battle. Right now, they are young, and we do this mostly to start to see their skills while they have fun, but in the future, they will be key to the safety of the Universe."
"You mean…" said Mack, unable to believe his words. "You mean they are like us?"
"You are Operation Overdrive, right? Jake told us all about you, and obviously, you got more than a few fans here at the academy," said Jack, signaling them to follow him. "There are also courses based on the things you like to do outside Ranger duties. For example, I just finished my cinematography course, based on Madison Rocca's passion for filming every event in her life and the lives of the ones she loves most. I, like you, base my filming on capturing moments that will stay with us forever."
"There is also a DJ course, and I believe we also have car racing, right?" asked a woman behind them.
"Yes, we also have a spy course for the older cadets, a technology course, a course called 'comic land,' another based on 'Plan X,' a few based on acrobatics, and of course, adventure," said a man, sounding amused with the whole situation. "Can you believe it? Our boys and girls finally decided to wake up."
The Rangers turned, both teams recognizing the voices of the people standing behind them. With big smiles, Clare and Andrew Hartford opened their arms when their respective teams ran to them, screaming and crying while Jack looked at them with a soft smile. He felt warm for the first time in weeks and remembered this was one of the many things their mentors told him and his team.
"You'll see, Jack, all the hardship will be worth it one day."
He was right. When he saw the teams reunite with their friends, he felt the pain lessen enough to allow him to breathe. Meanwhile, Mack hugged his father closer, unable to believe that he was really here with them in this academy.
"How is this possible!?" screamed Mack.
"Jake asked us to come a long time ago. We teach here, at the academy," said Andrew with a smirk. "You didn't think those men did all this alone, right?"
"We were wondering," said Ronny, barely able to contain her joy. "I can't believe it, and you have been here? All this time?"
"Yes, we helped the mentors teach the cadets," explained Clare while Xander kissed her cheek. "Many others are here, but they wanted to surprise their families just like we did with you, so don't tell anyone you saw us yet."
"That can be arranged, Clare," said Nick, taking her hand in his. "I can't believe we have kids learning magic now. Do my parents know about this?"
"Yes, they do. They were devastated when Jake explained to them what happened. You know they can't come, but they sent me here to assist Jake, Conner, and Mike, and I've been helping them, with Mr. Hartford and the others," explained Clare. "They were never alone."
Both teams and Rangers nodded, feeling a little more relieved from the heavy pain in the whole Rangers family because, at least, they knew for sure, they asked for help from the best on each team, and thanks to that, both Mystic Force and Overdrive could see a future there, in those kids—a future created with their names but most importantly, a future created with their legacy.
-L-
Jake's Room - Morning
Gia sighed as she looked at the letter in her hands. She had found this one and the other letter in Jake's clothes not long after Bridge left her alone, and Gia wasn't sure what to make of them. She had little sleep, and dreams plagued her with visions of a future with Jake that doesn't exist anymore and nightmares of his possible fall in his fight against the Dark Ranger. She didn't know which one was worse, but both of them were part of her now, and she could not take away the feeling of regret inside her.
There were also other things, some mentioned in this first letter. Jake knew her too well sometimes, and she chuckled sadly as she read his words about the changes she would face. He told her about adapting to this time and all the things she and the others would have to learn. He explained with all the details the changes their bodies went through despite being inside the crystals and how the Zeo Crystals seemed to have some way to take care of them. They have been aging normally despite being asleep, and the care of the SPD Academy had been important to keep them alive all this time. Gia found it funny; she was eleven years older, and her last memory was fighting a war to save her planet and the universe from an alien Emperor, all this before finishing high school.
And yet, here she was, reading letters from a dead boyfriend that turned out to be the greatest hero of all time. Gia didn't know what to feel about that. There was so much she missed, and all she could think about was him in that white armor, fighting for them, for her. She also thought about the events of the beach—how would she feel if she were in his shoes, the desperation and pain. He pushed through all of it to bring them back, and she would have so much to do once they finished watching the videos, but for now, she could bite the pain and try her best. After all, he did the same.
You won't lose me, Gia.
"I never thought you would lie to me, Holling, and yet here we are," whispered Gia, touching the letter, as if by touching his words, she could be connected to him again. "But I know it wasn't your choice. You did your best, and I'm proud of you."
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, imagining him smiling back at her with that goofy smile she never thought could affect her in any way and ended up giving her the best and worst moments in her life. Gia looked around the room, distracted, noticing all the snippets of Jake's life there: his soccer ball, his Harwood County hoodie, a picture Emma took of the whole team with RoboKnight, another one Tensou took with the five of them and Gosei. She also saw pictures from the past, with his dad, and other teams, and even a few with the SPD Rangers. He may have looked older, but it was still the same Jake.
A knock at the door distracted her, and she saw Emma smiling softly at her. Gia nodded, and her Pink Megaforce Ranger walked into the room, taking a look around before leaving the tray she was carrying on the nightstand beside the bed.
"I figured you wanted some time alone, so I brought you breakfast before the meeting. And don't tell me you are not hungry, Gia. You need to eat," said Emma, and Gia smiled at her, touched by her friend's worry. Gia grabbed a piece of fruit and saw Emma taking a look around the room, her gentle eyes looking at the pictures around her.
"It's hard to believe eleven years have gone by, uh?" said Emma, looking down. "I wonder about so many things. Our future got taken away by that Dark Ranger, and now we have this. But… what about what we left behind? I mean… I know Jake, Conner, and Mike probably had to explain to our parents all about it, and that could not have been pretty."
"It wasn't," said Gia, showing Emma the letter. "Jake wrote me a letter while we were in the crystals. He said he explained everything to our parents, and my father punched him in the face. Luckily, the older Rangers' families helped. People like the Samurai Rangers' family or Andrew Hartford have been important to show our parents the reality we live in and to trust Jake to get us out of here."
"So they know?" asked Emma, reading the letter quickly. "Oh, of course. They thought it was not safe to have them here with the threat of the Dark Ranger, so they are safe, protected by the Silver Guardians."
Emma took a relieved breath. That was one of the things they were worried about this morning, but Troy, Noah, Orion, and she knew there had to be an explanation, and this seemed to be a good one. Still, she was surprised Jake, Conner, and Mike seemed to think of everything. She knew somehow they had to learn, and yet, seeing Jake acting like this hit her differently. She met him as the funny guy in school, and now… Emma looked at Gia, pushing away her need to grieve. There would be time for that; now she needed to be strong. Noah was a mess once he was left alone, Troy spent all night tossing and turning, and Orion barely slept, choosing to look at the sky all night, deep in thought.
Emma wondered about RoboKnight, but she was sure they would learn about him at some point. For now, she had to be strong for them.
"You should eat more," said Emma, forcing a smile for her best friend. "Today is going to be a long day too, and we need to be as strong as we can."
Gia smiled. She knew Emma wanted to be strong, and she was thankful for her best friend's calm demeanor and strength. If there was something she was sure of, it was that she wouldn't be able to get through this without her. She looked at her tray and noticed an organic drink, and then she looked up at her friend with a raised eyebrow.
"You know I don't drink this, don't you?" asked Gia with a chuckle.
"Oh, really? Well, I guess I can drink it for you," said Emma, grabbing the drink. "You know, so you don't have breakfast all alone."
Gia laughed, and for the first time, she was able to sense calm in this future where she lost everything that had meaning to her and had to find her path again. Here, with Emma, her team, and the rest of the Rangers, she was starting her new life, the one Jake gave her back.
-L-
Music Classroom – Morning
Kira Ford wasn't sure how she ended up here after she woke up. She didn't want to be near this classroom, but once she pushed herself to open the door, taking advantage that there was no music class today, she almost felt at home. Conner did pay attention to the details as she noticed this classroom looked a lot like the studio she had back in their home in Reefside. The walls had a perfect blend of yellow and red, and she noticed the blue, white, and black details in the furniture and the stands where he put her guitar and her magazine covers.
There even was a soft touch of pink and dark red as a tribute to Kimberly and Hayley, and Kira chuckled, walking to the middle of the room. This little room brought her back to the music. Eleven years later, she was not a big artist anymore, or that's what she thought. She learned very quickly many kids grew up with her music. She made an impact, and that's all she ever wanted.
Funny, she never thought she would have Conner McKnight to help her.
Kira remembered vividly the memory of her shadow talking to Conner as if he was the reason why she couldn't progress, but that was a lie, and she was happy that Jake managed to get that through Conner's thick skull. She knew Conner always worried about his worth because he realized there was a bigger picture once he became a Ranger, but he certainly never noticed his growth in the same way the rest of them did.
To be honest, when she married Conner, she wasn't completely sure they would work out. They had been going out for some time, and they were more than fine. He chose to create a soccer campus for kids, she continued with her career, and while sometimes she was away, he tried to be there for her in every show. Kira believed all her life someone like that would suffocate her, so she was surprised to find she didn't mind Conner appearing in her concerts and cheering for her. It gave her energy to give everything she got in every concert to see him as excited as her fans, and it made her feel important to have someone who was so supportive of her.
When they were at home, she did the same. Reefside didn't make a big fuss by having her around like other cities would do, so she could go to Conner's campus and interact with his students or go to the matches and cheer for them and their coach. It was a balanced life, and once they married, all that continued just the same, with the only difference being they had each other's rings to prove their commitment to their feelings. Kira looked down at her ring and could almost feel his hand in hers.
"You fought all this time for us, and I wasn't there to help you, Conner," whispered Kira, imagining him looking down at her. "It's not fair."
She remembered from the memories his fire, the way he used his wings to protect Jake and Mike, his precision, aiming with his bow and his fire arrows. Her tyranno had become the King of the Sky now, and she couldn't even tell him how proud she was. Kira opened her eyes, feeling somewhat the peace that classroom brought to her, and walked towards the stand where her guitar was. She grabbed it, feeling the familiar instrument and hugged it close to her.
"I can see he took good care of you," whispered Kira, touching the guitar. "You look amazing."
She sat down and started to play, allowing the music to calm her loneliness enough to see the good things this academy had. The cadets seemed happy, and the SPD Rangers looked strong, ready to face the challenges of being a Power Ranger. She was relieved the world was protected and that these new Rangers had everything at their disposal to create a bright future, the same future that it was all hers now.
"I knew you would come sooner or later."
Kira looked up and smiled when Kimberly walked into the room. The Pink Ranger had spent all night trying to console Tommy, and it seemed she had made it her personal mission to check on her team and the Dino Team as much as possible, pushing away her own grief for them.
"I've been doubting until I opened the door," confessed Kira, looking around. "This classroom is everything I could dream of when I was a kid."
"It looks beautiful. It seems Conner put a lot of thought into it," said Kimberly, sitting beside Kira. "How are you feeling?"
Kira chuckled softly, looking down. How was she feeling? Eleven years sleeping inside a crystal just to wake up and find your husband is a dead hero and your career has somehow inspired generations is hard to digest, but she was doing it slowly, if only because Conner, Jake, and Mike fought hard for this moment. And yet…
"I'm not really sure how to describe it. My career is right here, in this room, despite me being gone for eleven years, and the man who made it possible is gone, and I'm here with all these memories and plans that could never happen," said Kira, looking down at her guitar. "We are in this future, and they are not, and it feels unfair."
Kimberly nodded, looking away. She thought the same. As a Ranger, her time passed a long time ago, and she had a normal life, or as normal as it can be when you are a veteran savior of the universe with a godson with the powers of your mentor. Kimberly didn't always like the role of a Power Ranger, but she had great respect for the power she had and for Zordon, even if her plans never were to sleep for eleven years and find out her little Jake was gone along with Conner and Mike.
She felt so powerless to change anything now that all she could do was prevent Tommy from disappearing in his sadness and try to be there for the other Rangers, and yet, in the middle of her sadness, there was the hope this new world had for them.
"You are right, but I choose to see this, Kira," said Kimberly, putting a hand over the one Kira had on the guitar. "I see the world they created, the school, the happy kids and teenagers running around, the adults in peace. All of it was because of them, and while it saddens me that they are not here to see this, I know they fought hard for this life and for us, and we owe them and ourselves to live this life."
Kira looked around the room one more time, knowing Kimberly was right. Conner wanted her back, and she would continue with what he left here. But there was a hole in her chest that would take a long time to heal.
For now, all she could do was watch his life with Jake and Mike and hide here where her emotions got the best of her.
"C'mon…" said Kimberly, also grabbing a guitar. "We are going outside. I think I found the place where Conner sent us that video before the memories started, and we have some time before the meeting."
"What? Now?" asked Kira, confused.
"Yes, now. He's there, Kira, in the sky, and I'm sure nothing would make him happier than to hear your voice," said Kimberly, extending her hand towards Kira. "What do you say?"
Kira nodded, feeling a lump in her throat as she grabbed her guitar and took Kimberly's hand. Conner may not be in the world physically, but he was here, in this room, in the academy, in the sky, and most importantly, in her heart, and that was all she needed to push through the pain one more day.
-L-
Mike's Dojo – Morning
Emily was meditating. She was used to the early hours during her training as a Samurai, and despite her lack of technique and normal life in the farm, this is probably the moment of peace she enjoyed the most. She didn't know why she wanted to come here, but once the idea was in her head, there was no way she could deny her wishes, and she made sure no one was here before she stepped into the place where Mike spent a lot of his time.
The dojo was beautiful, she had to admit it. It was located outside the main building and connected to it through a passage surrounded by the peace of the forest and the scent of Earth. It brought a smile to her lips when she felt the wind on her skin because it made her feel like she was passing from the academy to the middle of nowhere, surrounded by Mike's element, hers, and Mia's. But it was nothing compared to when she stepped into the dojo and saw the flicker of the candles on the side, something Jayden used often to calm his nerves when he was worried about them or his leadership. She could also hear a waterfall outside, Kevin's element, bringing a mental peace she so desperately needed, and finally, she could hear fish jumping in the water, a clear reference to Antonio.
Emily never had a doubt how much Mike really cared for them all, but he had a hard time showing it. This appreciation, carrying them with him in every step of his journey, meant a lot.
She took a deep breath, opening her eyes and looking at the things she had in front of her: a picture of their team, one with the two of them, and another one with her sister on the farm. She chuckled, remembering how hard her dad was with him, and yet, Mike never complained in front of her. He took the job on the farm and managed to turn the tables in his favor, much to her sister's surprise.
Keep this a secret, Em, but Dad likes him, so keep him around. You may have found a good guy.
Emily didn't need that comment to know Mike was different, but it was a good reassurance, and she took it to heart. She would have loved to see where their future would have taken them, if they would have kept the farm or maybe returned to the city. Would they be married? Would there be a troublesome little girl with her hair and innocent eyes and his smirk in the future? Emily wanted to laugh thinking about it—a daughter like that would have driven Mike crazy.
And yet… that's all she could think of now he wasn't here anymore.
Last night she had dreams about a different life, but Emily didn't care for them once she was awake. She used to be dreamy and innocent until Ranger life taught her she needed to be stronger, and stronger she became, trying to also retain some of her innocence because that was exactly what made her different from others. Her way of seeing the world, while different now, was still through eyes that see more good than bad.
And in this dojo, all she could feel was that good feeling, caressing the broken pieces of her heart carefully.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't know someone else was here."
Emily smiled and signaled Jayden to come in and sit beside her. The leader of the Samurai Rangers had been troubled since they woke up. All of them felt the same, but Jayden had such a big sense of responsibility towards them that seeing Mike and losing him had been Jayden's worst nightmare coming true.
Jayden walked towards her, almost worried, and Emily was aware he had been away from her since they learned about Mike, Jake, and Conner's deaths. She knew he felt responsible for that despite not having any choice in the matter, but that's how Jayden was, and somehow, he was convinced she was angry at him. He sat there, beside her, for minutes before she looked up at him. It was time to bring their leader back. The Samurai Rangers needed him.
"Jayden, you need to stop blaming yourself for what happened. Mike was brought to the wolf's realm. He had family issues to solve with that spirit, and he chose to save us and help Jake," said Emily, looking down. "I wish I was there with him as much as you do, but we couldn't, and blaming ourselves won't change anything."
Jayden closed his eyes, feeling the weight of her words. "I know, but I can't help to think I wasn't there for him. I never was—not when he came to the Shiba house, not when he tried to be a good Samurai. I…"
"Jayden, stop. Mike looked up to you, like the rest of us," said Emily, taking his hand in hers. "You are a good leader, and Mike admired you. He saw you become stronger, get past your own problems in order to be there for us. He became better because you were there, and you can see he followed your traditions. Look at the candles. You used them to meditate, and he did too. He took care of our zords, and he carried us with him, in his sword but also in his heart."
Jayden looked around. He could see the candles exactly in the same way he would put them if he was going to meditate. It seemed Mike paid more attention than Jayden thought, and part of him felt the pain lessen a bit knowing that Mike knew Jayden was right there and when he was lost, Mike carried him and the other Rangers with him.
"He never showed his care for others, Jayden. I was lucky to see a side of him no one else saw," said Emily, and Jayden hugged her, smiling sadly. "That's why I know he was proud to call you a leader."
Jayden nodded and saw a tear fall down Emily's cheek and their linked hands. She loved Mike, and Mike was gone, and Jayden could not bear seeing his team like this, and yet, there was nothing he could do. As much power as he had, he couldn't heal this pain.
But he has lost before and despite the linger pain, he had learn to live with the memories.
"When my father died, it was hard to move past the pain. Lauren and I had each other, but we didn't have my dad, and we were lost despite Ji's efforts to take care of us. And yet, we always knew he loved us with all his heart," explained Jayden, and Emily looked up at him. "I feel a lot like that right now, and there is something I know for sure, just like I know of my father's love for me and my sister, I know you were Mike's treasure, Emily, and he loved you more than anything."
Emily gave him a soft smile despite her tears. "And you worry about being a good leader," said Emily, making Jayden chuckle. "You are right. Mike loved me, and he cared for all of us, and we should never forget that."
"The path ahead is full of doubts, but with those memories we are watching, we may find peace at the end," said Jayden, feeling his resolve strengthen with the memory of his friend. "We could continue his work and carry his memory, just like he did with us."
"I would like that," said Emily.
They both heard the door of the dojo opening, and soon the zords in their small form came towards them, signaling them it was time to go. Jayden chuckled, petting the lion before the dragon jumped to his shoulders, while the turtle, the ape, and the bear waited for Emily to pick them up and hold them close to her.
"It is time to go," said Jayden. "Are you ready?"
-L-
SPD – Academy (2025) – Meeting Room
Anubis Cruger could see that despite yesterday's emotional encounter and the effects of the first memories they watched, a good night's sleep cemented the Rangers in this new reality. When they walked into the room, they seemed calm and some of them eager to watch more videos. He was relieved that was the case, but he was also expectant about their reactions to certain events.
Regardless of his worries, he would carry on. Once everyone was ready, he smiled at them before he put his hand over the recorder.
"The next part of these memories will definitely shock all of you, but now that you know a little bit about us, I hope you can allow us to help you understand better the situation," said Cruger. Not waiting for an answer, he activated the recorder, showing Jake, Conner, and Mike walking inside the ruined temple.
-L-
Eltar (2014) - Ruins of the Temple
Jake almost ran into the temple, looking for the three spirits that greeted him the last time. He wanted to know how this happened, if it was his fault, if the Dark Ranger was set now on ending the job or simply destroying the universe. He wanted answers and was worried the Morphin Grid was in danger, but when he arrived at the area where he saw the spirits the first time, he found them fading.
Conner and Mike, feeling Jake's urgency, followed him without questions. Whatever it was, it seemed urgent, and while the city was devastated, right now Jake's priority seemed to be different. They could sense Bennu and the Wolf's restless spirits inside them. Running behind Jake, they entered the temple.
"What is happening to you?" asked Jake to the spirits as soon as he saw them fading. "You… are disappearing."
"We are," said the spirit of the man, sadly. "Our planet has been destroyed, and we have to ensure the powers remain untouched, even if that means giving up our souls."
"What? No!" screamed Jake, desperate. "Tell me what to do. You need energy? Take mine! I can…"
"Enough, human. You can't save us, and we can't save this planet," said the other spirit. "Your energy will be necessary to defeat the Dark Ranger. You have already proven you value rescuing your guardians, and… we believe you and your guardians may be the only choice this universe has."
Conner and Mike understood very quickly these spirits were the ones that sent Jake to them, and somehow, this attack forced them to disappear. It was bad news since they probably had answers they needed, but time was running out. They would need another way to move forward. Meanwhile, Jake took a deep breath, feeling the pressure of being unable to save the spirits that, despite their distrust of him, gave him a chance to tap into his powers and become the Bastro Ranger.
The woman spirit flew towards Jake and put a hand on his cheek, giving him the first soft smile he received from these spirits. "Do not fear, Bastro Ranger. You and your guardians are ready to face the challenge of the powers you carry, and while we can't help you, we can offer you a place of solace," whispered the spirit.
She looked over her shoulder as her companions projected an image of a building that didn't seem to have been affected by the attack of the Dark Ranger and his army. Jake looked at it confusedly, and Conner and Mike shared a look. To them, it did look like a small city; it would have been impossible not to have been attacked, and yet, there it was.
"This is what humans would call a Command Center situated on the other side of these ruins. These are the coordinates," said the woman spirit, turning to look at Jake and touching his morpher to pass the coordinates. "You have to go there, where two of our allies are already waiting for you and your guardians, and soon, you will be able to use it for much more."
"Command Center?" asked Jake, still confused. "But what about Earth? I have people there, and Tensou and everyone is there in the crystals. We can't leave them there."
"You can bring them here, human. You let your new allies know where the crystals are, and they will teleport them here. As for Earth… The Dark Ranger was not ready to face you, and he will challenge you and your guardians constantly until he has what he needs to face you," said one of the spirits of the men. "Earth may be in danger if you go back now, but if you prepare accordingly here, you will succeed."
"Our allies had a forcefield around the building, created to protect it from any attack. It was our last line of defense, and it was made for this moment," said the spirit of the other man. "Now it is yours. It will be safe from the Dark Ranger for now; use that time to your advantage."
Jake gasped, trying to find more words to say or questions to ask, but he couldn't. In front of his eyes, he saw the spirits disappear, bowing to him as a sign of respect. "Remember your legacy, Jacob Oliver Scott Kwan," said the woman spirit, looking at him one more time. "Your time has finally come."
Jake, Conner, and Mike watched the spirits disappear, surrounded by a white light, while Jake looked down at his hands, wondering if he was ready for this. Was he strong enough? Prepared enough for this? Can he save everyone? Conner and Mike, sensing his doubts, took a step towards him, putting their hands on his shoulders so he could remember he was not in this alone. Jake had them, and together, they would face this new challenge and bring their friends back.
"C'mon… we should go and see who is there waiting for us," said Jake, feeling a little better. "It looks like we have a lot of work to do."
Conner and Mike nodded, and following Jake, the three Rangers walked out of the ruins, wondering about that new Command Center, the new allies waiting for them, and most importantly, where they were going from this point on.
-L-
SPD Academy (2025) – Meeting Room
The silence made the SPD Rangers look worried at Cruger, and even the Commander was a little confused by their reaction. He wasn't sure if they understood what that video meant or not, so trying to keep his firm status and gentle demeanor, Cruger stopped the video and looked at the Rangers.
"Excuse me, Rangers… do you know what that meant?" asked Cruger.
"We are not on Earth anymore?" asked Billy, walking towards the window. "We are on Eltar?"
"Newtech to be precise," said Syd, tapping on her iPad to show the Rangers more images of the city where they lived. "But yes, the planet is Eltar. Jake, Conner, and Mike worked for months to rebuild the planet, and they weren't alone."
"They believed if the Dark Ranger was ready to attack again, Earth would be safe since he wanted to eliminate them, so they took the Command Center and with the rest of their allies, they created this academy," explained Cruger, calmly. "Living here is the reason why your families are not here. They were safe on Earth, but they are aware of your status and are waiting for you for when you go back home."
"I…" said Jason, shaking his head. "You are telling me my son, Conner, and Mike managed to rebuild a planet with a few allies?"
"A few allies at first," said Bridge with a shy smile. "The number of people that joined them over the years will shock you, but it will also give you an insight into how much people believed and trusted them and the legacy you left behind."
"Those spirits," said Rocky, crossing his arms on his chest. "They said Jake, Conner, and Mike had two allies waiting for them? Who were they? Are they here or on Earth?"
"They must know us," said Adam, deep in thought. "If they were here and helped them, they had to know about the Power Rangers and prepare accordingly for our arrival, not to mention that helping Jake, Conner, and Mike with the city must have been a complicated task."
"It was, but nothing they couldn't handle," said Kat Manx with a smile, looking up from her iPad. "Sky, our guests are waiting outside. Can you let them in?"
Sky chuckled before letting go of Syd's hand and walking to the door. The Rangers, curious, looked towards the door, not knowing what they were going to find until the door opened and the sound of robotic steps coming into the room. The Rangers looked surprised when finally, the two first allies Jake, Conner, and Mike had were revealed, bringing a wave of joy needed to the room.
"Ay-yi-yi-yi, Rangers! I'm so happy to see you!" said Alpha 5, walking into the room. "We missed you so much!"
"Oh my God! Alpha!"
Alpha 5 quickly ran to his several team of Rangers, from Jason to Cassie. At least three generations were hugging him and welcoming him, while on the other side, the other robot raised his hands, and Emma let out a happy scream before running towards him.
"Friends!"
"Rico!" screamed Emma, hugging him. "You're here! Oh my God, look at you! You look fantastic!"
Rico saw the Megaforce Rangers hug him one by one until he got to Gia. His hug with her was longer, charged with Rico's respect and Gia's familiarity. She smiled at him when they finally parted, and Rico nodded at her before looking at the SPD Rangers and the images projected.
"Look, friend Alpha 5," said Rico.
"Ay-yi-yi! This is so exciting!" said Alpha 5. "This is from the time we saw Jake, Conner, and Mike! Three excellent Rangers."
Then he turned towards Jason, putting his hand over the Red Ranger's. "Your son was very loved, Jason—a worthy carrier of your and Trini's spirit with a bit of each Ranger in him." Then, Alpha 5 looked at Tommy. "And Conner reminded me of you in your young years, Tommy, ay-yi-yi-yi! He and the Samurai got into as many problems as you and Jason did!"
"Friend Jake got the habit to say over the years, 'I'm running a Ranger kindergarten,'" said Rico, tilting his head. "Don't know what that means, but he couldn't run anything because he also got in trouble with them."
Alpha 5 made the sound of laughter, but soon they were interrupted by Cruger, who coughed to break the moment as gently as possible. Cruger was relieved that Alpha 5 and Rico brought some happiness to the Rangers, but they must continue watching the memories.
"Sorry to break the moment, but it's time to show the Rangers how Jake, Conner, and Mike met you. Please sit down," said Cruger.
"Ay-yi-yi! Of course, Commander," said Alpha 5, sitting down beside Tanya and Aisha, both hugging the robot one more time, while Rico sat down in front of Emma and beside Gia, allowing Emma to hug him while Gia took his hand.
"Ready, Friend Commander," said Rico.
"Very well," said Cruger, smiling. "Let's see the next part."
Cruger activated the recorder one more time, and this time, it showed Jake, Conner, and Mike arriving at the area safe under the force field, looking from the outside for a way to get in. Here, thought Cruger, here is where the journey truly started.