Green is the Beginning

Disclaimer: Surely disclaimer says it all? I do not own Power Rangers or any of its characters, except the ones I make up obviously. Mores the pity but if I did do you think I'd be a poor writer doing this for my own pleasure or do you think I'd be living rich in America and drowning in Jason David Frank's beautiful eyes…

There's a new Ranger in town but who is it? Meanwhile Tommy's having trouble fighting his doubts whilst the rest of the team have their own problems.

Okay couples fans, I know Tommy is usually with Kat or Kim which I love to read about, but I figure enough gets written about that and besides they were always more like childhood sweethearts and everyone needs a few of those. Tommy's older now so he needs a new and mature relationship; someone to help him with his problems and be with him for the rest of his life. Besides in Dino Thunder there was definitely not enough love interest especially for poor Tommy, so here goes…

Chapter 1 – A New Beginning

The bell rang shrilly across the school signaling the end of another period and the beginning of lunch. Kira dumped her heavy bag on the bench and waited for her friends to appear. They always sat together at this table and so it was only a matter of time before they arrived making, as usual, the most noise ensuring they were easily discernable from the throngs of students eagerly making their way outside.

Conner and Ethan were arguing as usual; probably about some stupid cyber game Ethan was playing. No doubt Conner, who was tossing a football easily in the air, was telling him he was a geek. Kira snorted a laugh as she took in his red football kit and arrogant smile, thinking that his 'dumb jock' act was no better than that of a cyber geek.

Trent was trailing almost reluctantly along behind them, occasionally shaking his head at the two in front. Kira watched him bend his head back over the book he was trying to read, even as he hefted his bulging bag back onto his shoulder. She rolled her eyes exasperatedly, "Am I the only normal one in this place?" she muttered. It had only been a few months since she and her new found friends had stumbled upon Dr. Oliver's secret and bonded with the dino gems. Her science teacher it seemed was weird and even Hayley who ran the ever more popular Cyber Café was not all she seemed.

"No dude," Conner was saying as the three approached, "Cassidy is only interested in herself, have you even seen the way she treats that poor guy Devin? Hardly the best material for a girlfriend."

Kira sighed again, making room for Trent who smiled ruefully at her. Conner's second favorite past time was teasing Ethan for his interest in Cassidy Cornell. Personally Kira couldn't see what was so great about her, in fact she could see very little good about her, but she still felt sorry for Ethan.

Ethan merely shrugged pulling his sandwiches out of his bag. "I don't see why you've got it in for her, she's just competitive. Underneath all that she's really quite nice you just have to get to know her that's all." Conner spluttered and nearly spat out his drink as he laughed, "I don't want to get to know her, in fact I don't want get near her. I've said it before dude she's a shallow, superficial airhead!"

Catching sight of Ethan's hurt face Kira interrupted dryly; 'Then she should fit your ideal of a perfect girlfriend." Trent and Ethan burst out laughing and so did Kira when she caught sight of Conner's face, which was a mixture of annoyance and a rueful grimace as he realized he'd had it coming.

Deciding to change the subject Trent nodded towards a distant figure carrying a mountain of books, "Have you guys met our new history teacher yet?" The others turned to watch the figure scurry between oblivious students, struggling with her burden.

Conner groaned "Oh man, we have history next," He said to Kira and Ethan, "I haven't done that essay on the Egyptian burial that Mrs. Hodges asked us to do over the term break."

"Better get on and do that then." Said Trent handing him a pad of paper and a pen, Conner shot him a pained look.

"Do you think she's be understanding if I said that I'd been busy fighting the evil forces of a dino freak named Mezagog?"

Ethan patted his back sympathetically, "I think you're clutching at straws man."

Leaving Ethan to help Conner, Kira turned to Trent. Conner's last words had made her wince as she remembered that their enemy was in fact Trent's adopted father, Anton Mercer. She often worried about the white ranger; having once been evil he'd found it hard to integrate into the group, there had been that whole 'trust issue.' Conner particularly hadn't been that forgiving especially when Trent revealed that he had known all along that his father was in fact Mezagog.

Seeing Trent was packing away she quickly followed suit and began to walk with him to their next class. That hadn't helped either, she thought; he was in hardly any of the same classes as she and the others, and he was always under such pressure from his father to do well in everything. Anton Mercer seemed to have a fixation on being the best at everything and ensuring Trent was the same. She could see where the whole 'world domination' obsession came from.

"Hey Trent, how did you do in that test Dr. O set us yesterday, I think I totally flunked

out, biology's not really my strong poi-" Her overly bright and cheerful chatter was cut short by Trent who suddenly turned around to face her.

"It's okay Kira you don't have to pretend everything's alright because I know its not. You don't have to apologize for Conner either, he's right my father is some sort megalomaniac who changes into a dinosaur hybrid when he's had a bad day, and whose main aim in life is to kill me and my friends!" His voice had been rising steadily and

Kira winced as people began to turn and look at them. Trent sighed and his shoulders visibly slumped when he realized they were being stared at, he sat down heavily on a bench. "Great," He muttered, "Now I'm becoming hysterical and people probably think I need my head examined."

Kira looked at him sadly and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "People don't think that Trent, you're just-" Again he cut her off and his face was filled with so much pain and confusion she caught her breath.

"You know what Kira; sometimes I think they're right. Maybe I do need my head examined that way I'd be able to figure out just what the hell is going on inside it. How is anybody's life this confusing?" He asked a plaintive note in his voice. "Maybe it's a cliché to say it's unfair and why me but I have to ask it Kira; I'm a power ranger and I'm supposed to fight evil, but what are we supposed to do when that evil is a lot closer to home than we first thought?"

Kira stared dumbly at him, for once she had no witty answer and no sensible one either. The bell was what pulled them out of their day dream; Trent stood and walked off to his lesson leaving Kira to stand in a tide of chattering people in the bright sunshine.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tommy Oliver was wading through the throngs of students barely paying them any attention, his gaze was fixed upon the file in front of him. It was a map showing the location of what he hoped was another dino egg, Hayley had found some high levels of energy in the area usually associated with the unhatched zords and now all he had to do was find it and dig it up. He pushed an impatient hand through his short spiky hair still unused to its new length, having spent most of his life growing it. Already he itched to go and look for it but Principal Randall was on the war path, nothing unusual there, and there was no way he could escape his classes to go and look for it. He would just have to hope Mezagog and his cronies hadn't found the same energy levels and gone and dug it up before he'd had a chance to get there.

Tommy's reverie was broken when he collided sharply with something that gave a muffled cry, punctuated by thuds and rustling that sounded suspiciously like a large pile of books being dropped. His own papers and the map slid to the floor as well. He looked down and saw a young woman scrabbling on all fours picking up pieces of paper and books. Forgetting his own for the moment he crouched down to help her feeling guilty for not looking where he was going.

The books he picked up were heavy, much too heavy considering she was carrying so many; he glanced at the cover of one and grinned.

"Archaeology!" He exclaimed with pleasure, "Now that's a subject close to-" he looked up and his gaze collided with a pair of large green and gold eyes that put him in mind of a cat. The moment seemed frozen. "My heart." He finished weakly.

The eyes stared blankly at him as though she too were frozen, "Your heart." A voice repeated dreamily. Was that her or me?

Suddenly the eyes creased at the corners a little and he became aware of a smiling mouth further down her face. His eyes slid slowly down as though fascinated, taking in her small nose and high cheekbones surrounded by thick swathe of auburn curls.

"I'm sorry." He said finally. God how lame can you sound bro? He mentally kicked himself.

"It's okay, honestly." Said the mouth. Why are you still staring at her mouth? Pull it together man. He jerked his gaze back up and she gave him a nervous smile, which gave him another clue as to how stupidly he was acting. "It was my fault really," She continued, "I was off in my own world not really looking where I was going." She smiled anxiously again which annoyed him; he'd obviously put her on edge, was she always this apologetic? She suddenly looked horrified and put out a hand as if to touch him before quickly lowering it. "I didn't hurt you did I?" She asked looking terrified at the notion.

He hurried to assure he wasn't hurt. "No, no it was my fault I wasn't looking where I was going, besides it takes a lot more than that to hurt me!" He thanked God that she laughed at that because to his own ears he sounded completely lame, as though he were trying to impress her.

He handed her the papers and books as they stood and she smiled gratefully at him, and for a moment all he could do was smile back but after a while her smile became expectant and she looked slightly confused. He mentally kicked himself again realizing he was staring like a dummy once more.

"Are you sure you can carry all those alright?" He asked, almost stumbling over the words as he hurried to get them out.

"I'll be fine, thank you." She replied in her soft voice.

"I'm Tommy, Tommy Oliver I teach Science, paleontology mostly." He thrust out a hand and felt like a complete idiot again when she laughed. He blushed as he realized she had no free hands.

"Grace Peyton, history." She replied with a smile, "So I guess I'll see you around?"

"Yeah!" He said and watched her walk down the corridor.

The bell broke through his thoughts and he sighed as a new wave of students entered the corridor, he glanced at his watch and swore as he realized he was going to be late. He crouched and scooped up his papers before hurrying off to his next class.

Okay guys this is only my first time so criticism's cool but please don't hurt me! I've already got the next few chapters lined up so if you like it please tell me so I can put them up for you!