Author's note: This is it, kiddies, the lastest chapter. I want to thank each and everyone of you individually for reading, for reviewing, but there are too many of you for that. Which is a beautiful thing. You guys have made writing this so much fun, and I can't thank you enough for your dedication to my little story, and your support of my less-than-sane plot twists. I love you all.
I do, however, want to specifically mention sayinjinj7 and Feline-Feral, for being there every week since the beginning. I really appreciate it, you two. You made my weeks.
And of course there's Sarah, without whom-well, it still would have gotten written, but not on time, and not as well. Thank you for poking me, provoking me, inspiring me, and not killing me every time I whined (which was a lot). You mean so much to me, my dear, and this entire story is dedicated to you.
And here we go.
Conner and Kira walked into homeroom together, holding hands. The entire room was filled with staring eyes, and Conner felt the slight tug as Kira stopped moving forward. She was unused to this sort of attention.
Conner, on the other hand, adored the spotlight in his earlier days, and was perfectly capable of dealing with it. He just smiled at no one in particular, squeezed her hand lightly, and continued to his seat. She followed.
The whispers started around them. Were Conner and Kira together? Everyone had thought it was strange that they were friends, but when the truth came out that they were Power Rangers together, the weird alliance sort of made sense. Now that the Rangers had disbanded, they had no obligations to hang out anymore, right? He was way too good for her, right? So why was he holding her hand?
Kira was poring over her science textbook without seeing the words or pictures. She was all too aware of the scrutiny they were under, and it was making her uncomfortable.
Conner tapped her forearm, and she looked up. He smiled at her gently, and she felt some of her tangled insides unravel. Conner would never change, that much was evident in his careless grin and warm brown eyes. "Hey. You wanna go to a movie this weekend?"
She blinked. The question was so...normal. She laughed slightly. "You're seriously asking that?"
He braced one arm against the table top and leaned against it in what she recognized to be one of his more compelling and seductive poses, a move that he used to use on girls in classes to get homework assistance. Back in the days before he had Kira and Ethan to help him. "Yeah," he said easily, with an infectious grin. "We never really got to have a first date, you know?"
"Oh, you mean being trapped in an island fortress by a demonic man-lizard doesn't count?"
"Clearly, you have a low ceiling on romance. This works to my advantage," he retorted.
Kira smirked and gave him a quick kiss that prompted the light buzz around them to escalate to a dull roar. She settled back on her stool with a wistful expression. "I can't believe it's over," she said softly. "I can't believe they're gone."
Conner took her hand and squeezed it tightly, but before he could offer words of comfort, Ethan came into the room wearing a full-blown, beaming smile. "What's up guys," he proclaimed loudly, clapping each of them on the shoulder.
"You're in a good mood this morning," Kira observed.
"I am loving this!" Ethan crowed. "All the major news networks have been calling me, wanting the exclusive."
"And who did you decide on?" asked Conner with a laugh. "Which network is worthy of the mighty Blue Ranger?"
Ethan cleared his throat, assuming a dignified posture and humble, restrained expression. "I've decided to give first interview rights to Cassidy and Devin. As my thank you to the little people who've given me my start."
Conner and Kira laughed. "Your start to what?" Kira said. "Having an ego as big as Conner's?"
"I resent that," the boys chorused.
"No one could have an ego as big as me," added Conner.
"Took the words right out of my mouth," Ethan said, sitting down on the other side of Kira. "Man, I feel like I haven't been to school in ages."
"Because you haven't."
"They're not gonna fault me for it though, are they? Dr. O. never got to use his Rangering as an excuse, so it's my full intention to milk it as much as I can."
"And you're doing that for Dr. O.," Conner said flatly.
"As a tribute to his legacy," Ethan agreed. His compatriots rolled their eyes at each other, giggling.
They had just gotten through a grueling ordeal together, and though the trio hadn't been complete at all times for it, their bond was stronger than ever, so they felt no reason to talk. It was good to get back to the normal things, like going over homework assignments during the dwindling moments before the first bell. Studying was almost a welcome reprieve.
Conner was temporarily benched for the season, since the coach of San Calrissian's soccer team -whom Reefside had creamed for the championship the previous year- was crying foul and claiming that Reefside had cheated with Conner's special powers. Conner, Coach Phillips, and Dr. O. were attempting to convince the school board that Conner had been given the powers long after the win, and Ranger ethics that he not use the powers for personal gain aside, he simply didn't need super-speed to kick butt. He was just naturally fast. Conner took the entire situation with a grain of salt. His life the previous year had consisted of two passions: soccer and girls. Then it was soccer, girls, and the team. Now it was back to soccer and girls, the team disbanded. He had Kira, so he didn't need soccer as much. It was going to take a lot of work to assure that she didn't randomly decide to break up with him. She still approached him with a certain amount of hesitance.
Kira had showed up to her usual Friday night concert to find people pouring out of the doors of the Cyberspace, and a frantic Hayley attempting to refresh them all. Kira was particularly uncomfortable with the turnout, knowing full well they weren't here because they'd heard she was really good or anything like that. She put on a respectable show, considering the circumstances, and the crowd seemed impressed, or sated at the very least. She'd promptly located Hayley after the set to inform her that she wasn't going to perform for awhile, until things had calmed down. Kira's band had been a bit miffed, thinking they should capitalize on the fame as much as possible, because it was an awesome chance, but Hayley had understood.
Ethan was having a great time, playing up on his celebrity as much as he could. Random kids would bring him drinks while he hung out at Hayley's, and he'd developed a small crowd of geek followers. Conner and Kira indulged him this streak, but they were fast reaching the point where they knew his ego would rage out of control. Both ex-Rangers were privately thinking they would take Ethan aside after his interview with Cassidy and tell him to cool it.
The door opened, and Dr. O. stuck his head in. The classroom suddenly exploded in applause. When Dr. O.'s identity as a Ranger was revealed, every news source dug up his past and it wasn't long before they figured out that he'd been a Ranger for a long time. He wasn't just a Ranger legend now, he was a legend for everyone.
Dr. O. went slightly red, and the trio shared amused glances at seeing their fearless mentor blush in the face of a handful of high school kids. "Um, thanks, guys," he said with a weak smile, then shifted into the relaxed but commanding persona that had made him a favorite teacher around the school. "I'm sorry I'm late today, but I had good reason. I was called in to meet with the school board, and they just unanimously passed the vote today to assign a new principal in the wake of Elsa-er, Principal Randall's absence. And, well, they've appointed me."
The cheers erupted again -a Power Ranger for a principal, how cool was that- and Conner, Ethan, and Kira jumped out of their seats to flock around and congratulate their teammate. "Thanks guys, thanks," he said, laughing and obligingly punching fists with Ethan. "Sit down, sit down."
They sat.
"This of course means that I have to officially resign as your teacher and assign a replacement. I trust that they'll be satisfactory. You guys be nice to him, okay?" The door opened and a man walked in, clutching a briefcase with a nervous expression. He waved at them tentatively. "Hi, everybody. I'm Dr. Ed Payne, and I'm going to be your teacher for the remainder of the year. Admittedly, I'm no Power Ranger, but I'm just as qualified as Dr. Oliver-in fact, we went to graduate school together. So let's take this time to discuss what you've covered so far in this class." He stepped behind the desk, set his briefcase down on it, and smiled at them.
Cassidy Cornell raised her hand and proceeded to give Dr. Payne a detailed description of every topic covered in class so far. Dr. O. smiled to himself and ducked out of the room.
Halfway through third period, however, the trio were summoned from their respective classes to come to the principal's office. The teachers said nothing. What could they say? Special circumstances were going go hand in hand with Conner, Kira, and Ethan for the rest of their high school careers, if not for the rest of their lives. After all they'd done, though, it seemed like nothing to excuse them from class for a powwow in the office of Tommy Oliver.
But it wasn't a powwow that Dr. O. had in mind. They took seats in front of his desk, Kira in the middle of the two boys. Dr. O. folded his hands in his lap and surveyed his charges with a grave look. "Bad news, guys."
"Is it Trent?" Kira asked, and Conner shifted almost imperceptibly in his chair at the worry in Kira's voice at the mention of the former White Ranger. "Did he make it to the institute okay?" After the Rangers' powers had died, Trent was freed from the control of the white gem, but he was unstable at best. He'd undergone far too much, and in addition to that, had witnessed the death of the only family he had left. Hayley had suggested he go upstate to a rehab facility that would help him cope with his issues, and the reformed Trent had agreed that it was the best idea.
"I spoke to him earlier. He made it in fine this morning," Dr. O. assured the team. "That's not it." He sighed, biting his lip slightly and frowned as he tried to figure out how to phrase it. "The hospital called me just now," he said finally. Even before he'd said the words, the kids figured out what was coming. "Elsa died in surgery," he continued, having to deliver the news.
"Is it..." Kira began, but couldn't find the words to finish.
Conner wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his chest, kissing the top of her head. "No it isn't," he whispered. "It's not your fault."
"It's not," Dr. O. agreed. "Whatever Mesogog had been injecting into Elsa's system to give her the power that she had was slowly deteriorating her body. If nothing else, you saved her, Kira, by injuring her enough that doctors were able to look at her and realize something was grievously wrong." Kira nodded, though it was clear she didn't quite believe him, and Conner rubbed at her arm reassuringly.
The principal leaned back in his chair. "I just wanted to be the first to tell you," he said. "It's entirely possible you'll hear it on the news, you'll probably get bothered about it by the reporters. Better you hear the truth from someone who actually knows."
"What are they going to be doing with the body, Dr. O.?" Kira said.
"I'm not sure. But I imagine they'll let us make arrangements, if you want."
"I do," she said. "She was a nasty woman, a horrible principal, and pretty much evil to the core, but I guess underneath it all, she was still a person."
Dr. O. nodded, a benign smile on his face. "For the record, I'm extremely proud of you three. You've done amazing things in your careers as Rangers, and you've handled yourself remarkably well through it all. I've seen your personalities change drastically, and for the better." The trio exchanged smiles. "You've been exposed, and it's certainly going to be interesting, but I trust you guys to not let the fame go to your heads." Both Kira and Conner shot furtive glances at Ethan at this statement, but the boy didn't notice. "You may not have your powers anymore, but trust me when I say that you're always going to be Rangers," Dr. O. continued. "I'm very, very proud of you, and you should be proud of yourselves." He grinned, looking quite youthful. "Now get back to class."
In the hallway, they lingered a bit. The classes they were missing were all in opposite directions, and they didn't want to split up just yet. Sure, they'd see each other at lunch, and after school, and for the rest of their lives. But this was it, this was the last team meeting they'd ever have. The feeling weighed heavily over them all, and they cast each other sad smiles. "It's been pretty awesome, guys," Ethan spoke up finally.
"Only you would walk out of that hellhole and call it 'awesome,'" Kira said, rolling her eyes.
"Aw, c'mon, it wasn't all bad."
"Were you even there for any of the last week?" Conner said, an incredulous laugh in his voice.
"You know what I mean," Ethan said.
They indulged him with smiles. "It was pretty awesome sometimes," Conner said. He held out his hand, and Kira placed hers on it, Ethan stacking his on top. "This is it, guys," he said. "It's over."
"It's over," they agreed quietly, their hands twisting together before they broke apart.
"See you at lunch, huh?" Kira said, trying to make her voice cheerful.
"It's lasagna day," Conner said excitedly.
"This is why I bring my lunch," Kira said. "Do you know what all grossness they put in there?"
"Conner will eat anything," Ethan said. "You know, we should talk to Hayley about catering."
Dr. O.'s door opened, and his head popped out. "I thought I told you guys to get to class!" he admonished, though not angrily. They laughed as the door shut again. Conner punched Ethan's shoulder, gave Kira a quick kiss, and the three set off on their separate paths, the end of an era and the start of new, ordinary lives.
From the rubble rose a stench and a cloud of smoke. At the edge of the cliff stood a hunched figure, watching over Reefside's coast with malice in his mutant eyes. He'd had to reconstruct himself from scraps of Zeltrax's corpse, and while his new body creaked a bit, it was still fully functional.
A serpentine tongue flicked out, crossing over the unnatural lips of a visage that was half dinosaur and half cyborg. His face stretched into a grotesque expression, and Mesogog hissed. He spoke in a low, rasping voice, one that wasn't quite used to being used. He stared at the quiet bustle of a Monday morning in Reefside with something deeper than hatred. "Nothing," he declared, "is ever over."
FIN