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Chapter 6 ~ The First and Second Companions

After Bria dropped Kyle off, she drove home, brimming with excitement. She finally knew who the strange woman was! Maybe...she was going to be a Ranger!

Then a thought stopped her. Who in the world would be her fellow Rangers? Then she nodded in understanding. The companions she had to find!

But what evil would they fight? As far as she knew, there was no evil, and there wasn’t a reason to form Power Rangers if there wasn’t any evil...maybe the evil was coming? This was confusing! And she was being slightly bigheaded, thinking she was going to be a Ranger and all.

Bria recalled what Princess Shayla had told her; find 3 companions. Well, that’s what she’d concentrate on then. She’d follow her instinct, like she always did, and trust she’d know what to do when the time came.

Bria pulled up in her driveway and turned off the car. Walking through her front door and on her way to the kitchen, she wasn’t really surprised to spot her two parents in the family room.

“Mom, Daddy?” she asked softly, walking in.

“Bria, what were you thinking? Going to Turtle Cove?” asked Ashley, obviously worried.

“I had to. I met someone there. I think I finally understand my powers and dreams.”

“You met up with Cole Evans, right?” asked Andros.

“Yes, I said so on the phone. I had to talk with him. He was wonderfully kind to Kyle and me, and invited us for dinner as well. He’s so nice, and he told me everything I wanted to know.”

Andros leaned forward in his chair. “What exactly did you want to know?”

“I wanted to know who I was seeing in my dreams.”

“And?”

“I’ve been seeing the Wild Force mentor, Princess Shayla. She’s the one who gave me the amulet, and she’s the one who told me to find companions.”

“Hmm.” Andros leaned back into his chair, obviously thinking this all through. “What have you decided?”

“Pardon?”

“What have you decided to do?”

“I’m going to do what I have to do,” Bria said seriously. “If I have to find companions, I will. If I have to drive to Turtle Cove and back, I will. I’ll do whatever needs to be done. I’m ready.”

“Ready for what?” asked Ashley.

Bria’s instinct took over, and she said what came to her mind. “To transfer the powers. To fulfill my destiny. To become the person I should be.” Bria looked up, shocked. “Did I just say that?”

Both parents nodded, questions in their eyes. “Transfer the powers? Destiny?”

Bria shook her head. “I don’t even know anything, and I’m the one who’s helping to make this happen. All I know is...well, pretty much the only thing I know for sure is who I’m seeing in my dreams. The rest is guesswork.”

Her parents looked at each other, and Andros sighed. “We’ll just have to take your word for it.”

Bria smiled. “You told me to follow my heart, and I am; I’m following my heart and my instinct. Everything will turn out fine.”

But as Bria got ready for bed, she really had no idea how things would turn out. Yet she had to comfort her parents; they were so worried about their only child, their little girl. Sighing, Bria slipped into bed.

The next few days past with no unusual happenings. Bria was surprised; no dreams, no visions, nothing. The only thing was that the plant power erupted around Matt. Bria had to work hard to control it, but other than that, nothing happened.

That Saturday, Bria sat in the family room, curled up in a chair while she read and took notes in her notebook. Sighing in frustration as her pen ran out of ink, she tossed it into the wastebasket, smiling as she made it. Gently twitching her fingers, she used her telekinesis to bring a new pen over to her off a table; something Andros has taught her. The doorbell rang. Bria paid no attention after Andros said he’d get it, and she only vaguely heard voices in the foyer.

The voices came closer, accompanied by footsteps, and soon Bria heard them stop. Wondering whom it could be, she looked up, about to get up and go see. She saw Andros standing in the large doorway with a young woman. Her white-blonde hair fell to her shoulders, and her green eyes sparkled as she smiled at Bria.

Bria jumped up, throwing her stuff on the coffee table, and ran over to her. “Jess!” she cried, hugging her.

Jess laughed. “I told you I’d be here!”

“Oh my gosh, I have soooooo much to tell you!” Bria exclaimed.

“At least let me put my bags down!”

“Sorry, it’s just that there’s so much to say and so little time!” Bria smiled. “Come on upstairs, you can sleep in my room.”

“Don’t I always?” Jess grinned, following Bria upstairs. “Do you have that extra bed in your room just for me?”

“No. Well, yes. But that’s beside the point. You know those dreams I told you about?” Bria asked, sitting on her bed.

“Yeah,” said Jess sitting on her bed. “By the way, it’s nice to see you too. I’m fine, thanks for asking.”

“Sorry, but this is so important! That woman is Princess Shayla, who helped the Wild Force Rangers.”

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“So...now what?”

“I saw silver around Kyle the other day. I still haven’t figured that out. My plant power kicks up around Matt. I think he might be one of my companions!”

“Companions for what? And who’s Matt?”

“He’s the son of one of the Rangers...and my powers kick in around children of Rangers, so maybe...”

“I am so confused!”

“Not as much as I am,” said Bria, shaking her head. “But I’m starting to understand.”

“Bria! Jess! Dinner’s ready!” Ashley called.

Bria looked at Jess. “I’ll finish later.”

“Do Uncle Andros and Aunt Ashley know about this?”

“Yeah,” Bria replied, going downstairs.

All through dinner, Bria had a funny feeling. She could feel wind, and Bria kept shocking herself, like in winter with static electricity. After she and Jess had cleaned up, Bria realized it intensified around Jess. As they sat in the family room, Bria put her head in her hands. She felt like a thunderstorm was going on in her head.

“Bria, are you all right?” asked Andros, concerned.

Bria shook her head and looked at her hands. They started to shift out of focus, and Bria was having trouble seeing.

“Jess,” she whispered. “Come here.”

“What is it?”

“I have to get rid of it. It’s trying to leave me. Hold out your hands.”

Bria blindly reached for Jess’s hands, and soon she felt her cousin’s hands gently take hers. Concentrating on this feeling, Bria took a deep breath.

Suddenly there was a blinding flash of yellow followed by a flash of red, and Bria and Jess gripped each other’s hands tightly. When Bria could see again, she saw Jess kneeling on the floor in front of her, confused.

“What was that?” she asked.

Bria shook her head. “I feel so much better now! How do you feel?”

“I feel...different, I guess...like I found something I was missing, maybe?”

Bria looked for the power of wind and weather inside herself, and was surprised to find only a sliver of power. It wasn’t like the other powers, which seemed to lie dormant, except for fire, which was always powered up. It seemed like it was gone, leaving only a small fraction of the power and abilities.

“Jess...I want you to do something,” Bria said vaguely.

“Bria? Are you OK?”

“I’m fine...” Bria’s eyes pulled into focus, looking at Jess. In a clearer tone she said, “Look inside yourself.”

“What?”

“Not physically, but just take a deep breath, and try to go deep into yourself with that breath. Did you find anything?”

Jess closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then let it out in a quick hiss. “It’s like...weird.”

“Do you feel like running with the wind, spinning in the rain, and being in the middle of a storm?”

“Yeah,” Jess said, surprised. She opened her eyes and looked at Bria. “How...?”

“Congratulations. You’re the new owner of the power of wind and weather.”

“I’m what?!”

Everyone stared at Bria. “When I was around you, I felt like there was a thunderstorm in my head. It was like this power had expanded, and suddenly there wasn’t room for it anymore in me. I realized it intensified around you, like it was jumping, trying to get out of me. So I just did what it wanted. When I transferred my powers to you though, a shadow of power was left behind, because I carried it for so long. I still have the powers, but not nearly as much as you.”

Jess shook her head. “How come I don’t feel a thunderstorm in my head, then?”

“Because there’s room in you for the power, and it’s where it wants to be.”

“Whoa. So...what exactly does this mean?”

Bria tilted her head to one side. “I’m not sure. But...” She bit her lip, trying to decide what she should do. “I think...hmmm.” Suddenly Bria got up. “Give me your hands again,” she said. Jess stood up as well, giving Bria her hands.

“Now what?”

“Just concentrate on the power.”

“What if I accidentally shoot lightning or something?”

“I’ll be right here to fix it then. As long as it’s not on purpose.”

Jess made a face at Bria, but soon both concentrated on their powers. Bria felt a slight warm breeze around her wrist, and Jess felt a prickling around her wrist. Both opened their eyes, and stared at their wrists. Around Bria’s wrist was a spinning ring of red fire, and around Jess’s wrist was a crackling yellow white band of lightning. As they watched, Jess’s band flashed yellow and Bria’s flashed red. Everyone stared at what was left on their wrists.

“Andros...” whispered Ashley.

“I know,” he said softly back, looking at the two.

A new, shiny morpher was on each wrist. Bria’s was red, and Jess’s yellow. “Uh, Bria, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Jess asked, looking at her morpher.

“If you’re thinking that’s a morpher,” said Bria while staring at hers, “then yes.” Bria’s gaze snapped up. “Oh my god, we’re Power Rangers, Jess!”

Jess’s eyes widened. “How...?” she whispered.

Bria smiled. “You’re my first companion. I guess we get to start the team.” Jess just nodded, with a dumbfounded look. “Want to try it on for size?” Bria asked. Jess smiled.

“Sure,” she said softly.

Both did a pre-morphing gesture, Bria saying, “Fire!”

Flames engulfed her, and when they faded, Bria stood in a red outfit. As Jess said, “Wind!”, a breeze seemed to stir up around her, and she crackled with lightning. When it stopped, Jess also stood in an outfit, this time yellow.

“Whoa,” she said, looking down at her black gloves and boots, which had gold trim. Bria and Jess looked at each other. Jess had a skirt on her outfit, while Bria did not. Their outfits were a solid color with a gold belt that had a symbol in the buckle. Bria’s had a flame, and Jess’s had a lightning bolt. Across their chest horizontally was a gold stripe with a black tribal design running through it. Their helmets were a solid color, matching their outfits, with a visor in an elongated oval shape, black with a gold border that flared to the sides of their helmets. The tribal design was repeated in the gold. On their right sides they had a holster which held a gold and white weapon.

“Black gloves and boots. That’s a new one,” Andros observed.

“Power down,” Bria said, returning to normal. “I can’t believe it!”  Jess did the same, and smiled.

“This is incredible!” Both looked to their morphers, and were mildly surprised when they turned into everyday watches. Jess’s was silver with yellow lines through the band, with a yellow ring around the face. Bria’s was also silver, with red running through the band, but around the face was a multicolored ring. Bria suddenly remembered her parents and looked up. Both smiled at her.

“Are you ready to be the Red Ranger?” Andros asked her.

“Ready and willing,” she replied. “I can’t believe it! Maybe I’m dreaming...”

“Trust me,” Jess laughed, “you’re not.”

The two girls stayed up late talking with Andros and Ashley, pumping them for all the Ranger stories they knew. Finally they insisted it was time for bed, and Bria and Jess went upstairs. Bria slept fitfully, knowing the responsibility that was now on her shoulders.

****

“Ambrianna.”

“Princess Shayla. I haven’t heard from you in a while.” Bria looked at the woman in white standing before her.

She smiled. “No, you have not. I wish to congratulate you on your newfound status.”

“Thank you. I trust I still have 3 more companions to find?”

“Yes; the others will find you.”

“Others?”

The Princess smiled. “All will be uncovered in time. Watch your back, Ambrianna, and watch your fellow Rangers’ backs.”

****

Bria woke. * It’s about time she popped into my head to say hi.* she thought sarcastically. Glancing at the clock, which read 3:00 AM, Bria groaned and rolled over to go back to sleep.

The next time she woke it was 10 AM. Bria glanced at Jess, whose head she could barely see. The sun streamed in around Bria’s shade, half-lighting the room. Sighing, Bria sat up. “Jess,” she hissed. When she got no response, she threw one of her pillows at her.

“Ugh, what?” asked Jess, throwing the pillow back.

“Come on, time to get up. We’ve got places to be, people to see!”

“What are you talking about?” Jess asked, rolling over and sitting up.

“If you’ll recall the events of last night, I believe we have a few more Rangers to find.”

“That’s all well and good, but...who?”

“Remember Matt? The guy I told you about? Well, I think he’s one.”

“That’s nice.” Jess rolled over and put her pillow over her head.

“Jess!” whined Bria.

“Fine, I’m up,” Jess said, annoyed, as she rolled out of bed. Suddenly she sniffed. “Pancakes?”

“Mmmm, Daddy must have decided to make us breakfast.”

“I love your dad,” Jess said.

“What, doesn’t Uncle Zhane make breakfast?”

“Yeah. But he doesn’t make pancakes half as good as Uncle Andros.”

“Well what are we waiting for?” The two girls thundered down the stairs and slid to a stop in the kitchen. “Ah ha! Pancakes!” Bria grinned. “Morning, Daddy,” she said, kissing Andros’s cheek while grabbing a pancake.

“Morning.”

“Jess, catch!” Bria threw her the other half of her pancake.

“Mmm, keep ‘em coming Uncle Andros!”

“Yeah, yeah. Kids these days. Don’t know the meaning of patience.” Bria laughed and kissed Ashley.

“Morning, Mom,” she said.

“Morning, sweetie, Jess.” Ashley gestured to chairs. “Sit.”

“Don’t you just love the service?” asked Bria.

“Don’t get used to it,” advised Ashley.

After breakfast, Bria and Jess headed out in Bria’s car. “So where are we going?” asked Jess.

“We’re going to see a friend. You know him. His son, Matt, is another Ranger I think.” A few minutes later, Bria pulled up to a gray-blue house. “This is it.”

The two got out of the car and walked up the front steps. A little boy answered the door. “Hi, J.T. Is your brother home?” Bria asked.

“Sure. Come on in, Bria.” J.T. led Bria and Jess down a hallway. “Matt,” he called. “Bria’s here.”

 “Bria!” exclaimed a happy voice, which Bria knew did not belong to Matt, but rather, to his father. “How’s it going? How are Andros and Ashley? And Jess! What a surprise! You’re a foot taller than the last time I saw you!”

Jess blushed. “Nice to see you too, T.J. And I’m not THAT much taller.”

Bria shook her head. “T.J., is Matt around? I need to talk to him about something important.”

“Yeah, sure. J.T., will you go get Matt please? And,” he said quickly as J.T. opened his mouth, “don’t shout either. Go get him implies walking upstairs to talk to him.”

“OK Dad.” The 8 year old walked off, slightly sulking. T.J. turned to Bria and Jess.

“How’s KO-35, Jess?”

“It’s beautiful, as always, and flourishing.”

“Good.”

Just then Matt walked in. “Hi, Bria.”

“Hey Matt. Could Jess and I talk to you alone for a moment.”

“Uh, OK.” Matt led the two into the family room, and they all took a seat.

“What do you feel when you’re outside?” Bria asked Matt.

“What?”

“I mean, do you like working with plants and stuff?” Bria could feel the plant power starting to grow within her.

“Yeah, I love it.”

“OK, good answer. Matt, I need you to take my hands,” she said, starting to go blind.

“Are you OK?” he asked, doing what she said.

“I will be.” Bria felt his hands take hers, and again she felt the transfer of powers. This time there was a green flash, followed again by a red flash. Her eyes cleared. “How do you feel?” she asked him.

“I feel fine. Just...full isn’t the word, but kind of like that.”

Bria let out a sigh of relief. “I made the right choice. Stand up. Matt, do you accept these powers and the responsibility that goes with them?”

Matt thought for a moment, and then said, a bit cautiously, “Yes.”

Bria smiled. The three formed a circle. “Jess, you know what to do. Matt, concentrate on that feeling of plants and earth.”

After a few moments, they all looked to Matt’s wrist. A glowing green vine wrapped itself around his wrist, and after a flash of green, a shiny green morpher was on his wrist.

“What the...”started Matt. The morpher changed into a silver watch like Bria’s and Jess’s, but his had green lines through the band with a green face.

“Welcome to the team, Green Ranger,” said Bria.

“Wow. I...you...?”

Jess and Bria laughed. “I’m the Yellow Ranger,” said Jess, smiling. “I control the wind and weather.”

“I’m the Red Ranger. I work with fire.”

Matt stared at the two. “I’m...the Green Ranger?”

“Yup.”

“Wait, did you say you were the Red Ranger?” asked Matt.

“Sure did,” said Bria, hiding a smile.

“Isn’t the Red Ranger, well...a guy?”

“Not anymore.” Looking at Matt, Bria thought a while. “Why don’t you stay here, at home, until I get everything sorted out.”

“Oh no. I want to hear this whole story before I decide anything.”

So Bria explained about carrying the powers and everything that had happened so far. Matt listened, and when she was done, he nodded.

“If you’re going to find the others, let me know before you go, OK?”

“Of course, Matt. Besides, I think we need all the Rangers to give each other our morphers.”

“You mean when we stood in that circle?”

“Yeah.” Bria smiled at Matt. “I’ll being seeing you.”

Matt escorted her to the door. “Be careful,” he warned.

“I will.” Bria and Jess drove off. As they drove up to Bria’s house, they knew something was wrong.