Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel

Kelly couldn't believe how quickly life could change. She couldn't believe how, from one minute to the next, everything could feel so unfamiliar, terrifying and exciting all at once. She couldn't believe how, despite how strongly she was sure the Ranger business was behind her, suddenly, it was back, smacking her and her friends right in the face.

It started with the return of Madam Oedius. She brought with her a new team of monsters, and while there weren't nearly as many as when Galvanax had been in charge, the fact that she managed to acquire some in a short amount of time meant there were surely more who were willing, or forced, to work for her.

Her return lead the Rangers to the discovery of their Power Stars. Just like the first time, the Stars appeared to the Rangers when they were needed, and finally, Kelly was no longer alone in her Ranger responsibilities. While they hadn't been able to defeat Oedius yet, they had proven they were ready for a fight.

After that, Oedius was up to Galvanax's old tricks. She had summoned down a monster who could attached bolts to the Rangers' Power Stars. Once in place, the bolts would keep the Rangers from using their stars, as they could no longer fit into their weapons or morphers. To make matters worse, the bolts were powered by lies. The more lies being told, the more power the monster had and the more bolts he could create.

Fortunately, the Rangers stopped him before they were all bolted out of their powers. However, Oedius had proven something with this monster. She was willing to do whatever it took to get the power of the Ninja Power Stars in her hands.

The next monster was further proof of that, as Levi believed he had found love, only for it to be used against him.

The Rangers now knew they had to be careful. While Galvanax had been a brute, there wasn't more to him than that. He could plough through them, but without a solid plan, or any strategy of any kind, the Rangers were able to match his strength and then outwit him.

Oedius was an entirely different threat. She was strong, but she was also cunning. She could find a weakness in the Rangers and exploit it. That meant they had to be more careful than before.

"Maybe this is just what you need?" Jenny suggested, holding up a beach ball. "The weather is nice, you just defeated that monster yesterday, so you're likely to get a day off now, and everyone, even superheroes, need a chance to relax."

"Yeah, but mom…" Sarah started, but Jenny shook her head.

"Don't you think this is a good idea, Kelly?" she asked. Kelly shrugged.

"I mean… I have been in Summer Cove about a year now, and I haven't really been to the beach," she said.

"You guys are so worried about what Oedius might do next, and it's a lot to juggle, being Rangers and students and kids. Since you don't have to be Rangers or students today, why not be kids?"

"It could be fun," Kelly turned to look at Sarah, who rolled her eyes, then snatched the beach ball from her mother.

"Fine. I'll call the others. But if Oedius attacks and I have to fight off whatever in a bikini, I'm blaming you."

"I'll thank you," Kelly whispered to Jenny as Sarah stormed off to her room. Jenny chuckled and sat at the table. Kelly joined her. Jenny had already texted her that morning, before she came over, to tell her to bring her things for the beach. Kelly was wearing her bathing suit under her clothes and so didn't need to change.

"It is a good idea, right?" Jenny asked, looking to Kelly. "A day off?"

"I'll never say no to one," Kelly nodded. "And as crazy as they were, my parents did always say it's more productive to take some time off than to try and power through anything for too long."

"You've been against Galvanax for a year, and then Oedius comes back and… I just think taking a day here and there might make this a little easier. And at least that way, if something happens, you kids at least got to enjoy life a little bit. You were together."

"Sarah will have fun," Kelly promised. "Though, I'm not sure why she doesn't want to go. The beach is everything she loves. Sun, surf, building sand castles…"

"Why don't you go see if she's ready?" Jenny suggested. Kelly nodded her head, dumped her bag at the bottom of the stairs and made her way up to Sarah's bedroom. She knocked as she pushed the door open. Sarah was just sliding on her shirt, and Kelly caught a brief glimpse at the skin on her back. It was covered in scars. Kelly had a few of her own, but this seemed worse.

"Oh," she said as Sarah turned around. Sarah frowned.

"What?"

"Do they hurt?"

"What?"

Kelly could only point to her back. Sarah shrugged.

"Sometimes, I guess. If my clothes rub up against them the wrong way. Brody says it's the same with his."

"Brody's got that many?"

"More, but what do you expect from a guy who was a slave for ten years?" Sarah shrugged.

"How did you get yours?" Kelly asked. It seemed like a stupid question. Sarah had been a Ranger. Of course, she would have scars. They all did. But Kelly had seen her own body, and she had seen Hayley change once of twice. Neither had as many scars as Sarah.

"A couple kidnappings, being hit by a few cars and bombs will do that," Sarah said. "I'm hoping some of them aren't done healing."

"Why?" Kelly frowned. Another stupid question. No one really liked scars. That was why, at the pharmacy, there was a whole shelf dedicated to creams that could fade scars.

"They're ugly," Sarah stated. "And I was hoping they'd be a little lighter before I went to the beach again."

"You look good," Kelly told her. "Like… really good."

"Except for the scars."

"Even with the scars," Kelly smiled. "I mean, sure your skin isn't soft and smooth anymore but… I think they're kind of badass."

"You have to say that."

"I don't," Kelly shook her head. "These scars mean you survived. I know they mean you saved the world."

"So did you," Sarah said.

Kelly took Sarah's hand and squeezed it, "Look, I'm not going to say your scars are beautiful. You know I'd be lying if I did. They don't look good and I wish you didn't have them…"

"Oh, thanks," Sarah mumbled. Kelly squeezed her hand again.

"Let me finish," she chuckled. "Scars are what happen when you're out there living life. And while most people have just a small one, or one you can barely see, some people have a lot. And they're dark and they're a little scary looking but… it's just skin. It doesn't change you. Or… actually…"

"It does?"

"I've been thinking a lot about this Rangering part two thing lately," Kelly said. "How Oedius is back, how we're saving the world again and how terrifying that is. Now that I think about it… I'm not as scared."

"What does that have to do with my scars?" Sarah frowned.

"You got those scars fighting Galvanax," Kelly said. "Well, some of them at least. Either way, those scars are a result of you taking a risk, of putting yourself out there. And every time you did, you learned something new. That's our advantage against Oedius. We've done this before. Your scars, and mine, and Brody's and everyone else's remind me that we've survived it all before, and we're stronger for it."

"Barely survived."

"We lived," Kelly smiled. "So… don't be afraid to show them off. Show the world it's going to take more than a few monsters a few whacked to the head, and a few kidnappings to keep you down. You're not afraid to do what needs to be done."

"Are we ready to go?" Jenny asked, poking her head through the door. Sarah nodded her head.

"Ready."

"Good. I'll drive," Jenny smiled. Kelly and Sarah looked to her with a frown.

"Are you coming?"

"Six young adults, at the beach all by themselves?" Jenny frowned. "Sounds like adult supervision will be required."

"Levi will be there," Sarah said.

"And I invited Mick too," Kelly added.

"And we're not babies."

"Either way, it's a day at the beach and I'm tagging along," Jenny said with a smile. "Don't worry, I'm bringing a book. You won't even know I'm there. I'll be the cool mom."

"Cool mom would stay home," Sarah said.

"Why, what do you plan on doing that you aren't comfortable doing in front of me," Jenny asked and looked to her daughter knowingly. Sarah tried to answer but stopped herself and sighed.

"Nothing."

"So it's no problem if cool mom tags along?"

"She does hardly leave the house," Kelly said with a shrug to Sarah.

"I know, that's the problem," Sarah muttered just as Jenny put on an excessively large hat.

"I don't want to burn," Jenny said. "I've packed lots of sunscreen. Kelly, do you need any?"

"I… uh…"

"Here," Jenny tossed a bottle to Kelly. "No one is getting in the car until you're lathered in it. I've gone thirty-five years without a sunburn, I'm not about to start now."

"Thirty five, huh?"

"Shh!"