Disclaimer: Saban owns Power Rangers and the characters within, not I.
"Behind you!" Trini called out, prompting Zack to duck instinctively as a huge rock arm went over his head. He backed up and the creature with a kick from behind toppling it onto its face.
"Thanks!" Zack called across the street.
"You're welcome!" Trini responded before she slammed her fist into an approaching Putty just as Billy flipped over both of them and landed behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see him kicking another approaching putty down to the blacktop.
"Nope," Billy said as he watched the rock creature crack as it hit the ground. He smiled under his helmet and turned to see Tommy flying by him. He followed his trajectory to see him slam both of his fists into the chest of a Putty that caused a domino effect with a group gathered behind it. "Nice shot."
"Thanks," Tommy responded with a glance over his shoulder at the Blue Ranger. He then turned to see Jason and Kimberly fighting back to back taking out a Putties coming at them from every side.
"Not how I planned to be welcomed back to Angel Grove," Kimberly stated as she elbowed one Putty followed by a kick to another she glanced behind her at Jason.
"I don't know... I mean at least Zedd went all out." Jason said before hitting a sidekick that sent a creature flying into the side of a building nearby.
"I'll give you that," Kimberly agreed as she slammed two of her opponents into each other. "But I didn't even get to unpack from the trip yet."
"Neither did I," Jason responded as he shoulder tackled a Putty to the ground and then stood up.
"I think that was the last one," Zack said as he jogged over to stand next to Jason.
"Yep," Trini agreed as she slid next to Zack. The rest of the team gathered around and surveyed the scene as the rocky remains of the Putties slowly began to dissipate.
"Looks like we got a new crowd to deal with," Jason said as he pointed the group of civilians approaching them with cell phone cameras pointed at them.
"Hey look... it's channel 9," Billy said as a news van pulled up.
"I think that's our cue to get lost," Tommy said. Jason nodded and in a flash the group was gone.
(****)
Tommy found himself in his bedroom. He started to power down but found his Ranger suit was already gone. He glanced up in the mirror to confirm he was standing in his regular clothes. He furrowed his brow and ran a hand through his hair.
"Weird," Tommy voiced out loud before he stepped closer to the mirror. He was startled by a flash of yellow next to him. He turned to see the Yellow Ranger looking wholly out of place against the background of his bedroom.
"Hey," Trini said as she powered down. She noted the look on Tommy's face. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing..." Tommy responded quickly. "What are you doing here?"
"Umm... I just thought I'd come see you," Trini said, eyeing him curiously.
"Oh..." Tommy said as he turned to retrieve his suitcase from his bed and began to unzip it. "You already unpacked?"
"Yeah," Trini said as she walked over to stand next to Tommy. She reached out and placed a hand on his back, prompting him to look up at her from his spot bent over his suitcase. "Are you sure you are okay?"
"I'm fine Trini," Tommy responded, he noted the troubled look on her face and straightened up. "Just adrenaline from coming home straight into a battle."
"Are you sure it's not what happened on the trip?" Trini questioned her eyes trying to remain locked with his to read his response to the question. Tommy took a deep breath and shook his head.
"No," Tommy replied. Trini began to reach for his hand but he turned back to his suit case and began to unpack. Trini recoiled her hand and stuffed them into her pockets.
"I'm sorry," Trini said quietly.
"Don't be," Tommy said as he turned back to her. He saw the look on her face and straightened back up once more. He closed the distance between them and hugged her. After a moment he smiled as he felt her arms return the embrace.
(****)
"I have no idea," Billy said as he stepped of the last step leading to his basement and walked across it to plop down at the work bench nearby. He turned to Zack who was slowly walking down them, seemingly deep in thought. "Don't think about it too much... I'm sure it's nothing."
"I'm not... but... I am," Zack responded as he walked over to lean up against the bench. He glanced down briefly at Billy before crossing his arms.
"Why?" Billy asked.
"Why what?" Zack asked for clarification.
"Why are you thinking about it?" Billy questioned.
"I'm just concerned is all," Zack answered.
"It's probably nothing... lover's quarrel or whatever," Billy guessed as he turned his attention to a notebook laying on the table in front of him. He opened it and began to write.
"Probably," Zack agreed. Billy nodded and focused on his penmanship. He stopped when Zack shifted and he could tell he was about to speak again. "Maybe it wasn't nothing."
"OH my gosh... just talk to her," Billy said laying his pen down. Zack turned to him with a look of surprise. Billy shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry... but you have been bugging me about it since it happened."
"I don't mean to bug you... but..." Zack unfolded his arms.
"What I mean is..." Billy began as he shifted in his seat to face Zack. "Talk to her, see if she's okay."
"If it's a spat... it's none of my business," Zack rebutted.
"You guys are friends... friends are there for each other... it's not a big deal," Billy stated. Zack nodded as he considered his words.
(****)
Jason opened the window leading into his room and took in a breath of salty sea air that invaded his room. He smiled as felt arms wrap around his waist. He turned to see Kimberly looking up at him. He stole a quick kiss before he wrapped his arms around her.
"It was a fun trip," Kimberly said.
"It was," Jason agreed.
"The camp was nice... peaceful," Kimberly replied as her eyes moved to the sunset in the horizon. "I could have stayed their forever."
"We should make it a regular thing," Jason said drawing her attention back to him. She nodded and smiled. They untangled themselves and she noticed his suitcase laying at the entrance to his bedroom.
"You still haven't unpacked have you?" Kim asked.
"Nope," Jason said as he took this cue to walk around the bed and retrieve the suitcase. He threw it up on the bed and unzipped it. Kimberly sat down on the bed opposite him. She watched as he began to remove items.
"Jason?" Kimberly broke the comfortable silence that had fallen. He looked up from the suitcase to her.
"Yeah?" He responded.
"Did the ride back seem weird to you?" Kim asked.
"Weird?" Jason asked in return.
"Yeah... like..." Kimberly paused as she searched for the way to describe it.
"You are referring to the awkwardness between Trini and Tommy?" Jason questioned as he took some clothes from the case and tossed them in a nearby hamper.
"Yeah... that," Kim reacted.
"I think it would have been hard not to notice," Jason said with a shrug as he went about continuing the task at hand.
"So... what do you think happened?" Kim asked.
"I don't know..." Jason replied. Kim squinted her eyes at him. "What?"
"You don't seem that concerned," Kim said.
"I'm sorry... I just... I figured it was an argument or something," Jason replied. "None of my business type thing."
"Yeah... I just... it was weird," Kim commented.
"No doubt," Jason agreed.
"Tommy didn't say anything to you?" Kim inquired.
"Not really," Jason answered. "Other than a comment about being ready to come back home... which did strike me as a little odd since we all seemed to be having fun."
"Maybe I should talk to Trini," Kim said as she got up from the bed.
"Now?" Jason asked as he picked up his now empty suitcase and took it to the closet.
"Did you have something else in mind?" Kim said as Jason slipped off his shirt and reached for a new one in his closet. He stopped and turned to her with a smile.
"I was thinking we could catch a movie or hit the boardwalk... if you want," Jason said as he slipped a fresh shirt over his head. He smiled as Kimberly nodded her approval to his proposal.
(****)
"I'm sorry," Trini said as she glanced over at Tommy who was walking alongside her. They both stopped in unison.
"I thought we were over this?" Tommy asked, slightly exasperated. He leaned up against the railing on the pier and crossed his arms. He heard some laughter coming from a boat nearby and turned to see a group of teenagers having a good time. He smiled at them for a moment before turning his attention back to Trini.
"Things have been weird..." Trini stated.
"A little... and I'm sorry for that," Tommy replied.
"You shouldn't be..." Trini countered quickly. She reached a hand out and placed it on Tommy's arm. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I mean..." Tommy began. "I don't really know what to say?"
"What are you feeling?" Trini asked.
"Why did things change?" Tommy asked in return.
"I..." Trini searched for words to respond but was struggling to find any.
"I mean are you sure?" Tommy continued.
"No," Trini answered. "That's the problem."
"Cause I got to be honest with you," Tommy said as he reached out and brushed a stray hair out of her eyes. "I don't really want things to be over."
"I don't want things to be over either," Trini replied as she closed her eyes at the feel of his hand on her face.
"But you said we should end things," Tommy stated. Trini opened her eyes and looked up at him.
"I don't know if I can be who you deserve," Trini said. "As much as I have fallen for you...I am not sure that I know what I really want and that's not fair to you."
"Trini..." Tommy said as he attempted to offer her a smile.
"That night... I panicked..." Trini continued. "Everything was perfect... you were perfect... but I kept thinking about how every relationship I've had has ended with someone getting hurt... because of me..."
Trini moved to stand next to Tommy and look out over the water as the last bit of sunlight lit it. She folded her arms and leaned on the railing. Tommy turned to face her.
"I'm not worried about getting hurt..." Tommy said. His words prompting Trini to turn back to him. "I just don't want us to give up on something good."
Trini smiled at him. Finding herself being charmed as only he seemed to be able to do. She straightened up and faced him.
"I'm kind of a mess," Trini said.
"I knew that when we started this," Tommy said with a grin. Trini let out a small laugh and shook her head.
"I don't deserve someone like you," Trini said.
"You deserve more than you know," Tommy countered and soon they were wrapped in an embrace. "I'm here Trini... I'm not going anywhere... I just want you to be happy."
"I'm happy right now," Trini stated into his chest.
"Then I think that should say something," Tommy responded as he pulled away enough to look down at her. She nodded up at him and smiled.
(****)
"So what's up?" Jason asked as he approached Tommy who was standing in the middle of the training pit outside of the spaceship.
"Something weird..." Tommy replied as he turned to him.
"Weird?" Jason questioned. Tommy nodded and reached up to rub the back of his neck nervously. "You okay?"
"I'm not sure," Tommy replied.
"What's going on?" Jason asked, growing concerned at Tommy's demeanor.
"Watch," Tommy said as he took a step back and his Ranger armor appeared over him. Jason shook his head in confusion.
"What am I supposed to see?" Jason asked. Tommy gave no response. Jason started to ask again when he stopped upon seeing the armor began to crackle on Tommy and fade in and out. "What's happening?"
"I don't know," Tommy replied as he powered down completely. "It's just coming and going... like I can't keep connected."
"How long has this been happening?" Jason asked.
"Since we got back and had that fight with the Putties," Tommy replied. There was silence as Tommy looked at Jason with a concerned look on his face.
"Have you showed Zordon?" Jason inquired.
"Not yet..." Tommy responded.
"We should probably go do that," Jason said as he turned to head towards the stairs.
"Jason..." Tommy began and then paused. Jason turned back to him. "What if?"
"It may be nothing...it may happen to all of us... but we need to let them check it out," Jason said, attempting to alleviate the concern evident in Tommy's voice. Tommy nodded and the two began to make their way up the stairs.
(****)
Lord Zedd sat on his throne, his body giving off a faint hew of red illuminating the room around him. He sat unmoving with his gaze fixated on an object across the room. After a moment he stood up and began to approach it slowly, stopping when it was within arm's reach. He reached a hand out and dipped his finger into the dripping wax of the burning green candle in front of him. He lifted his finger and chuckled quietly as the wax dripped off it and onto the ground.