The Gathering – Yellow Star

As a child, Maya often dreamed of becoming an adventurer who traversed the stars. Her dream came true, but at a horrible price. She lost her home, her family, and friends to a curse set by vengeful villains. A part of her home stayed with her… the legendary quasar saber as she became part of a new team of rangers. Her team became her new family and their space colony became her new home, albeit it was nothing like her old one. Technology and science governed every aspect of their lives instead of nature and spirituality. It was jarring but it was all she had.

Then she lost Kendrix, who had become like a sister to her.

At a point, she thought she was destined to lose everything in this war against evil, but her friends kept her going.

And finally, by the grace of the Gods, everything was returned to her after their victory over the forces of evil… Her home and everyone she loved, including Kendrix.

It was nothing short of a miracle and she promised to never take this second chance at life for granted.

During her time in Terra Venture, regrets had clawed their way to her heart, weighing her down every second. She had been taken in by the village elders after her parents had been killed by the creatures of the wilderness. Loss had been a constant part of her life, but till the day Furio arrived, so was her best friend, Shondra.

It was a shame it took losing her to discover what she really meant to her.

Though she knew her people saw love for what it was, unlike some people of Earth, she was nervous, though she really had no reason to be. Even if Shondra did not feel the same, she had absolute faith that their friendship and bond would remain the same as before.

During one of the many nights, when they lay awake on the grass, marveling the beauty of the stars, like they had since they were kids, Maya turned towards her, trying to calm the palpitations of her heart, and told Shondra everything. Honestly, she had not felt this nervous in any of her battles, yet now, she could hardly tame her irrational fear.

Shondra had smiled, bridging the gap between them with a warm smile before kissing her.

Maya had kissed others before, but none of them had felt this intense. She had felt her happiness surge like never before and the next chapter of her life had begun.

Now it had been years since that night, and like every night before, they sat in the open wilderness, still stargazing with their hands intertwined. They now wore wedding bands and the look of their eyes oozed happiness and contentment.

Shondra smiled as she scooched closer and kissed her. Despite the many years they shared together, the love they had for each other had only amplified instead of dwindling.

Maya still had a hard time believing this was happening outside of a dream, that she was married to her soulmate and had a happy life full of people who she loved and was loved by.

Maya let out an inescapable moan as warmth flooded her body and she tangled her fingers in Shondra's hair, pulling her closer, their kisses becoming growing in passion and need. Maya's back was against the grass as Shondra leaned on her.

Suddenly, Shondra stopped and looked up in apprehension.

"What happened?" Maya asked, as her wife pulled away from her and stood up, her eyes narrowed.

"Shondra." Maya said, standing up herself. "What's wrong?"

"Something is coming from the Other Side…" She looked at her wearily.

Maya sighed. Ever since the Quasar Sabers lifted the curse on the people of Mirinoi, many developed uncanny abilities. Shondra acquired the ability to commune with spirits, something which prompted Jera to choose her as the next Sage of their village. The elders believed these abilities were gifts from the Gods.

"I don't know." She replied. "But whatever or whoever they are, they are coming here… for you."

Maya inhaled deeply. They were in the middle of the forest, far from both the village and Eternity City. The rangers had relinquished the quasar sabers after defeating Trakeena. She was powerless. Neither her nor Shondra had any weapon on themselves. Maya mentally kicked herself.

"We should make a run for it." Maya urged, tugging her wife's arm. "If we hurry, maybe we can-"

"There's no need." Shondra gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "The spirit will not harm us. I do not sense any malevolent energies from them."

Maya let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding all this time.

A strong wind breezed past them, rattling the fallen leaves as a translucent figure bathed in silver moonlight came out of the trees. Though it had been years since she had seen him, it hardly took her any time to recognize him.

"Loyax?" She asked.

The figure nodded at her.

"You have fought honorably, yellow ranger. The Phoenikoi sing tales of your victories against insurmountable odds in the great beyond." He told her proudly.

"You are here… Does that mean you are at peace?" Maya asked softly. It was a known fact that beings aligned with dark powers were banished into the Shadow World after their mortal life ended, instead of being absorbed into the Grid. For a long time, she had been afraid that the same gruesome fate had befallen her former enemy turned ally.

"I am. Thanks to you, Maya of Mirinoi. You saw the good in me, even when I was all but a slave to the darkness. You returned me to the warrior I once was and I will be eternally grateful to you." He said heartily.

Maya smiled as she noticed that his once rusted armor was now shiny and polished.

"Pardon me, but I doubt you came all the way from the Spirit World to thank my wife for saving your soul." Shondra cut in.

"Shondra!" Maya frowned at her.

"She is right, yellow ranger." Loyax said. "I have come with a warning. A great evil has been awakened on Earth and you are one of those destined to stop them from pillaging the universe."

Maya nodded firmly.

"I will get my team. We will head imme-"

"No. The fates have decreed this mission is something your old team can't help you with." Loyax said sharply as his form started to disintegrate. "Only your pack can help you, Star Wolf of Mirinoi."

"What? Wait, Loyax!" Maya yelled, running towards the disappearing phantom.

"May the Power protect you…" The warrior said as he burst into flickers of silver dust that swirled around her, creating a whirlwind.

"Shondra!" She screamed, trying to move past the winds only for her to be thrown back. It reminded her of the great storm in the planet Rashon which had almost claimed Kendrix's life.

"Maya!" Amidst the dust and the winds, she saw Shondra try to reach her, only to be pushed away by the storm. Her wife looked at her helplessly with wide eyes as a wormhole appeared at the eye of the storm, just beneath her feet.

"NO!" She screamed, as the portal sucked her in, wrenching her away from her wife and home, just like another portal had whisked her away to Earth's moon years ago.

"MAYA!" The last things she heard were the distant screams of her wife before her consciousness faded and darkness claimed her.

Hope you liked it and please review. :)

Thank you, KagamiPINKAgreste for your review on the last chapter. I am glad you liked reading it.

Vida is the vampire queen but she is not evil.

While I ship Nick/Madison, Xander/Clare, and Chip/Vida in the canon universe, I have different pairings in mind for them in this universe. :)