A/N:

Greetings, everyone. I'm here again with another Power Rangers story for you all. I've got a feeling if you love my story Mighty Morphin Legacy, then you will thoroughly enjoy this one. This story is along the lines of what my ideal Power Rangers show would be like. It's a story that I feel Super Sentai and Power Rangers would never bother to attempt at, and is based on my own ideas of what I would want.

Of course, I am thrilled Austin St. John is joining Beast Morphers this fall. However, in this story, I am giving some TLC to my favorite Ranger, Billy Cranston. I'm one of the many out there who did not like the way Billy was treated during Zeo. A huge part of this is due to David Yost saying he walked off set due to homophobic harassment he faced. In many ways, I'm bummed out because he's made it so clear that he isn't coming back to do a Power Rangers show unless it's a union company. So, this is my way of doing a story for Billy. In this version, Billy never super-aged and went off to live on some other planet. I want to make that clear here. In this story, you will get a taste of the various characters I will bring in. The characters are Miles Robins, Chloe Cambridge, Beth Sampson, and JT Sterling, just to give you the names.

Now, time for the summary:

Historian and museum curator William "Billy" Cranston is on a trip through the Middle East and Africa, going on an expedition looking for various artifacts that are said to be evidence of religion. However, on his trip, he finds five crystals in the colors of blue, pink, red, black, and gold. Unfortunately, his discovery of these crystals brings forth new threats to Earth that he would not have expected.

After his discovery of the crystals, Billy decides to quit being a museum curator and goes on to becoming a World History and Mythology teacher at Crystal Cove High School in Crystal Cove, California. There, he embarks on an adventure that unexpectedly pulls him back into the Ranger world once again.

Be sure to REVIEW! I thrive off any reviews and constructive criticism you may have to offer.

DC-MarvelGirl 1997

Chapter 1: Hellfire Rising

Journal Entry 1

Date: September 1st, 2019

Today marks the day that I embark on the profession I'd only dreamed of having. For years, I'd always figured I would have a career in science or mathematics. I was so sure I would end up being a forensics analysist, or a doctor with his own private practice. Even a genetic engineer seems appropriate.

I'd never figured that I would have a career in history.

I surmise that I'd just discovered a new passion while I was in college.

It's ironic. I'd started off college as a science major, with a mission of becoming a forensics analysis. One day, my history teacher made me open my eyes, and it made me want to learn even more. So, I'd changed majors from science to history.

And in this time of being a history major in University, I became attached to it heavily. I hadn't realized just how much I could learn from the past.

The older you get, the more you learn.

That was one of the many lessons my late mentor and second father, Zordon, taught me.

In high school, I'd thought I was nothing more than the class nerd. I'd thought the only thing that I would have to be concerned with in high school was getting top grades and avoiding getting beaten up by Bulk and Skull before lunchtime. I'd thought that my free time would consist of me, hanging out in the Youth Center and Juice Bar with my four best friends, Kimberly Hart, Jason Lee Scott, Zack Taylor, and Trini Kwan . . .

Just thinking about Trini and her death brings forth the regret that I feel about not having told her how I'd felt about her . . . how much I'd cared about her. Her brown eyes just simply lit up the room. I remember her laugh. I remember her courageousness. However, I hadn't realized how much closer the five of us would get after Zordon selected us to become the world's first Power Rangers.

As the blue Ranger, I held the power of the triceratops, then the wolf. I was on the quiet side, but that also made me swift and cunning against enemies who underestimated me. Jason often told me I was the "secret weapon". I'd never thought I was that special. Jase was our leader . . . and then Tommy Oliver joined our team and eventually received the white Ranger powers, gifted to him by Zordon. After Jason stepped down and he, Trini, and Zack left for Switzerland, Tommy stepped up as we gained new friendships in Aisha Campbell, Adam Park, and Rocky De Santos.

Aisha, Rocky, Adam, Kim, Tommy and I were spirit brothers and sisters. That is a bond that can never be broken. We are spiritually bonded together forever, and I will protect that bond until the bitter end.

Now, we've gone our separate ways. Last I heard, Tommy and Kimberly are now married with a son. This was especially since they named me, Kim's replacement Katherine, and Jason, their son's Godparents. That brings me a tangible sensation of warmth, considering I hadn't gotten married or settled down with anyone yet. Being in my mid-thirties, of course, I've got my concerns about that. Jason and Kat have recently settled down and had just gotten married last summer; Jase had asked me, Tommy, and Zack to be his best men.

Of course, seeing Kimberly and Tommy there with their five-year-old son J.J made me realize I'm still single and in my thirties. Those two had gotten their act together all the way back when Tommy was a science teacher in Reef Side. That leaves Zack and I as the lone men looking for the right women to be part of our lives.

It's frustrating being single at my age. Nevertheless, my career hasn't made it easy attempting at finding love. In fact, one of the only female companions that I've got in my assistant, Erika Valerio, who is joining me on my quest of finding artifacts throughout Israel, Egypt, Syria, and . . . I shudder to say it, Afghanistan. Although I am well-versed in Persian and Farsi, it still frightens me that I am going to be touring through the Middle East looking for artifacts for the museum I'm currently working at. I was given the task to look for religious artifacts.

It's a given that I am not the most religious person. I'd always taken comfort in science and knowledge and facts. I still do not believe yet in the unknown; what's invisible to the naked eye. I can only surmise I'd lost my sense of faith after the death of my mother, who had passed away from cancer when I was eight years old. If God was so good, why would he take away my mother?

However, I cannot complain. My boss is offering me a generous payment for going on this quest along with my good friend, Tommy Oliver's, paleontology team.

It's going to be a month long.

Well, I might as well cap it off here. Until next time . . .

Billy Cranston closed his journal as he pushed his horn-rimmed glasses up his nose. Examining his reflection in the mirror he kept in his tent, he took notice to the beard he'd grown. He was wearing khaki pants, hiking boots, and a white, button-up shirt that was opened slightly, revealing visible chest hair. Reaching for his razor, he mentally prepared himself to shave the beard, when his partner, Erika, came into the tent.

She had her long, auburn hair pulled back in a tight French braid, and was wearing khaki shorts, a white tank, a bandana tied around her neck, a pair of Vera Wang sunglasses, a floppy hat, and hiking boots. She currently had a denim jacket on as she took a swig of her water. Pulling her sunglasses down, it revealed her warm brown eyes.

"Erika, has anything been found?" he asked her.

"Doctor Oliver thinks he's found something," Erika informed him.

"Stupendous," Billy said to her with a smile, getting up from where he sat at the desk in the tent.

Following his assistant out of the tent, Billy pulled a pair of sunglasses on over his glasses, and stepped into the Israeli sunlight. The scorching temperature hit him instantaneously as he followed Erika to where his best friend, Tommy, was.

Tommy was knelt down on the ground, examining something in his hands. It was a faded piece of fabric that was ripped slightly.

"Tommy, what've we got here?" he called out.

Tommy turned to face his friend of nearly twenty years. He had a bandana covering his mouth and nose, and the sleeves of his dress shirt were pushed up. He had long slacks on just like Billy, and unlike Billy, was wearing wingtips.

"I think I found one of the artifacts mentioned on your list." Holding up a photograph of what was supposedly Mary's veil, he said, "Does this resemble anything like the veil in the photo?"

Billy knelt next to his best friend and got a closer look. "Affirmative," he said. "Another piece of Mary's veil found on this trip. Though I will have to authenticate it once we are back home."

"Do you think we might find the wooden pieces of the cross Jesus was hung on?" asked Erika.

"I cannot be certain per say, Erika. After all, we only have got a week left here in Israel, and then, we head to Egypt. The last stop, as you know, is Syria," Billy said, wiping some sweat off his face with a handkerchief.

One Week Later

A week had passed since their stop in Israel. Now, Doctor Tommy Oliver, Doctor Billy Cranston, and Erika Valerio were in the deserts of Egypt. Their campsite was located near what was thought to be King Tutt's Tomb.

Billy laid there on his bunk, staring up at the top of the tent. Tommy was over on another bed in the tent, replying to an email from Kimberly, who was watching their son with help of Jason and Katherine.

Dear Kimberly,

Words cannot describe just how much I miss you. I think about you and our son every day. Knowing J.J, he's got a wild streak, just like his father.

Be sure to give my boy a big hug and kiss for me. And give Katherine and Jase Billy and I's love.

Love,

Tommy

Tommy finished writing the email and sent it. However, looking over at his best friend, he could see the look of loneliness over Billy's features.

He and all the other Rangers knew just how deeply Billy had cared about Trini before she'd passed away in the car crash. Tommy remembered how Billy had broke down sobbing at the funeral, especially after his eulogy. Everyone there could sense that Billy had loved Trini as more than a friend.

"You doing okay over there, buddy?" asked Tommy.

Billy nodded, closing his eyes as he sat up on his cot. "Affirmative, Tommy. I'm alright."

"I miss Trini too, alright?" Tommy whispered. With the anniversary of Trini's passing quickly approaching, Tommy could tell it was all weighing much heavier on Billy.

"You don't get it, Tommy," Billy said with a shake of his head as tears threatened to come to his eyes.

"Oh, I think I do. Kim does, too. We all know you loved her as something more than a sister," Tommy said.

Billy looked at Tommy incredulously. "H-How?" he asked.

"We aren't that oblivious, my friend," Tommy said.

"I just . . . I hate that I missed my chance with her," Billy admitted.

"I know," Tommy said, nodding sympathetically.

Suddenly, they were distracted by Erika coming into the tent. "Doctor Oliver, Doctor Cranston, you might want to come and look inside the pyramid. We think we found something."

"Let's go." Billy rose off the cot and he and Tommy walked out of the tent and towards the pyramid. Walking inside, they were met with the dusty, musky smell of the pyramid and the images of ancient hieroglyphics. However, something caught Billy's eye as he walked inside towards the center of the pyramid.

Walking up to a tombstone, he could see it resembled King Tutt's. However, there was an odd sensation that filled the air as he opened it. Opening the tomb, he could see that there were four crystals resting inside.

"What the –?" Billy wondered as he picked one up. Each crystal was in an individual color of red, blue, black, gold, and pink.

Examining the crystals closely, he could see that they had an aura around them. However, upon feeling the physical contact of them, he could hear a faint laughter filling the air.

The laughter was cold . . . chilling. It was something that sent a shiver down Billy's spine as he quickly shoved the crystals into his rucksack. Whatever those were, the last thing that he wanted was for anyone to get their hands on those.

However, as he began running out of the pyramid, he could hear vibrating. Looking above him, he could see that the walls were beginning to cave in.

'Well, shit!' he thought as he raced out of the pyramid before it could fully collapse over him. Rushing out of the pyramid, he noticed Erika and Tommy near the entrance.

"GET OUT OF HERE, GUYS!" he yelled out to them.

Tommy and Erika took notice that the walls to the pyramid were beginning to fall and break apart. Nodding, the three ran out of the pyramid. Before their very eyes once they got out, the entire pyramid collapsed down in on itself, disintegrating into nothing but ashes.

"What the hell?" asked Tommy in bewilderment.

Billy could only stand there, gasping in shock. Deep within his rucksack, the crystals glowed intensely.

None of them realized those crystals contained power.

A/N:

Well, what do you think? Love it? Hate it? Are you interested in reading more? Fire away in the reviews, folks.