Disclaimer: Bleh.
A/N: Kalli is pronounced Kal-lee, not Kay-lee.
Chapter 8 ~ Pink Powers
That night, as Bria slept next to Jess on a couch, the Princess again visited
her. “You are doing a good job, Ambrianna.”
“Why thank you. I think I’ve managed quite nicely, myself.”
“You still have one more companion. Come to Turtle Cove.”
“Bring everyone?” Bria asked. The Princess nodded, smiling.
“I can’t wait to meet everyone in person...especially you,” Princess Shayla
said.
Bria grinned. Then she thought a moment. “I have a question. Why do you refer
to me sometimes as your daughter?”
“The Earth has families of many kinds. I have given you some of my powers, so
that you see things in dreams. I watch over you, and make sure you follow the
right path. You feel like a daughter to me.”
Bria smiled. “If this wasn’t a dream, and you were real, I’d hug you right
now.”
The Princess smiled back. “I will see you in Turtle Cove?”
“Of course.”
****
The dream faded, and Bria awoke. Yawning, she stretched. Reading the clock, she
saw it read
In a half hour, Bria, Josh, Jess, and Matt were all in the car. After making
sure they had everything, Bria drove off, honking goodbye.
“So where are we going?” Josh asked from the back seat.
“Turtle Cove; I have one power left to transfer, and that’s the power of life.”
“Life? Why does that sound wrong?” Jess asked.
“Because it’s not completely accurate. The power allows one to communicate with
animals and heal. It'd sound sort of weird if it was the power of animals and
healing; imagine morphing and calling out ‘animals and healing’. Life sounds
better.”
The three thought over this for a while, and then shrugged. “Sounds cool to
me,” said Josh.
Bria smiled. “I assume you like surfing?” she asked.
Josh looked at her, startled. “Yeah. How’d you know?”
“For one, you have lots of freckles. Two, you have the power of water. Three,
everyone I’ve ever known who has liked water has liked surfing. Four, you did
have a surfboard yesterday.” Just then Bria’s cell phone rang. “So that’s where
it went!” she exclaimed. “It’s been gone for weeks! Jess, will you get it?”
Jess picked up the cell phone and hit a button. “Hello, Bria's cell phone
answering cousin here.” After a second or so, Jess handed Bria the phone. “It’s
for you, of course.”
“Hold on a sec; would you mind driving?” Bria pulled over, and she and Jess
switched seats. “Hello?” she said into the phone.
“Bria, where have you been?!” A familiar voice scolded her. “I called your
house, but your parents said you went off on a vaca on something!”
“Vikki, calm down. I’m sorry I didn’t call you sooner; I won’t be coming back
to Angel Grove for some time.”
“Bria...”
“Could you let Hanna and Tia know for me? Tell them I’ll miss them."
“Bria, why are you leaving? Where are you going? Are you OK?”
“I’m fine. I can’t say where I’m going. It’s really important though; and I
wish I could tell you more, but I can’t. I’ll probably be seeing you,
though."
“What are you talking about?”
“Sorry Vikki. Give Hannah and Tia my love, OK? And call me whenever you need
anything.”
“OK...” Vikki said in a bewildered voice.
“Thank you. Bye, Vikki.”
“Bye Bria. Be careful, whatever you're doing.”
Bria put down the phone. “Who was that?” Matt asked.
“Friends. They were worried about me.”
“Ah.”
The rest of the ride the three others chatted, but Bria just looked out the
window. So much of her life was being given up; so many friendships she
wouldn’t know for years, maybe. * But I have a new life, and new friends; and
I’m helping people. That makes it all worth it. *
An hour or so later they pulled into Turtle Cove. Bria looked around. “Take
that street,” she said, pointing left. “It leads to a nice little place we can
stay.”
“How did you know that?” asked Jess as they pulled up.
“I’ve been here. Can you guys check in? I have someone I need to visit.”
****
Bria walked down the long driveway, among trees. She reached a clearing and
smiled. Walking around to the back of the house, she heard a bark. A golden
retriever bounded towards her.
“Hey, Sunny. How’s it going? Has Cole been good?” Bria smiled at she patted the
dog’s head, kneeling on the ground. She pulled away when he licked her face.
“It’s good to see you too, but do you mind? I’ve already had my bath for the
day, thank you.”
Bria heard a chuckle and looked up. “Cole!” she said happily. Sunny gave her a
chance to stand up, and she hugged the kind man. “It’s so good to see you!”
“You too. What’s brings you back to Turtle Cove so soon?” Cole asked, smiling.
"Did you figure out what was going on with your dreams?"
“Are you sure you want to ask that question?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Let me put it this way; how much time do you have?”
“All the time in the world. Would you like a drink?”
“Sure. Thank you.”
Cole led her to the back porch. They sat together and talked over lemonades.
“Cole, you wouldn’t believe how much has happened!”
“Really? What’s got you so excited?” Cole asked, patting Sunny’s head, which
was placed in his lap.
“This,” Bria said, holding up her wrist. Normally she wouldn't tell anyone she
was a Ranger, but Cole was a former Ranger, and she knew she could trust him.
“A watch?” Cole’s eyes widened as it turned into a morpher. “Ah. Well,
congratulations. You certainly came at a good time.”
“Good time?” Bria asked, leaning forward.
Cole nodded. “The tension lately had been so thick you could cut it with a
knife. Can you hear it in the animals?”
Bria tilted her head. “I only get impressions,” she explained. “Nothing as
clear as you get. When the power passes, it will grow.” At Cole’s questioning
look, Bria explained. “I have powers, aside from being a Ranger. I’ve given
most of them away to fellow Rangers, so that they could become Rangers. It’s
quite amazing, actually. I’d never thought it would really happen.”
“Destiny is a funny thing,” Cole said, smiling. “It takes you wherever it
wants, and you’re just along for the ride.”
Bria laughed. “Sometimes I feel that way. Other times...I feel like there’s so
much weight on my shoulders. I’m responsible for all the Rangers; and I have to
protect Earth. Who knows, I might even have to protect KO-35 and other planets
for all I know.”
Cole chuckled. “That’s what happens when you’re a Ranger. Don’t worry; you’ll
get used to it in time. For now though, just do your best.”
“Thanks, Cole. I’ll try.” Bria let out a sigh. “Being Red Ranger is harder than
it looks.”
Cole’s eyebrows rose. “What Ranger did you say you were?”
“Red.”
“Well, that’s a new twist,” he said smiling. Then he laughed. “What a surprise!
And yes, it is harder than it looks; that’s why you have to do this from the
heart, because you want to.”
“I want to,” Bria said firmly.
“Then that’s all you need. Well, that and a few good friends on your side,”
Cole smiled. The two spent the rest of the afternoon talking. When the sun
started setting, Bria looked up with a jolt.
“They’re going to wonder if I ran away,” Bria remarked, rising. “I’d better get
going.”
“Good luck,” said Cole.
“I’ll be seeing you; we’ll probably be in town for a few days.”
“Then why don’t you stay here?” Cole offered.
“Oh, no. We couldn’t.”
“Why not? I have the room. And as you so graciously demonstrated the last time,
you don’t have a problem with helping out; so why not? You’re only staying a
few days.”
“Well...”
“And we haven’t finished our discussion; it seems silly for you to run back and
forth.” Cole smiled up a Bria. “What do you say?”
“Oh, all right. If you insist.”
“I insist.”
****
The next day, after helping with breakfast, Bria told the others she was going
for a little walk.
“Before you go,” said Cole, “I thought you might like to know that everyone’s
coming over tonight.”
“Everyone? As in, all the Wild Force Rangers?”
“And their families,” Cole said.
Bria grinned. “Cole, you have just made my life a whole lot easier!”
“No problem? I like to help out?” Cole said, somewhat confused.
“Now I don’t have to track down the Pink Ranger; she’s coming here tonight!”
“Oh. I didn’t think of that. The only person who has a daughter around your age
is Danny. She's very sweet.”
“Well then, I hope she’ll be open to the idea,” Bria said smiling. “Are there
any trails I could take through the woods?”
“Sure.” Cole pointed out the beginning of a trail in his backyard. “If you get
lost, just keep walking; the path eventually leads back here or to a main
road.”
“Thanks.” Bria walked out into the woods. Smiling, she took a deep breath of
fresh air. It was so beautiful and quiet in the woods. Humming softly, she
walked along the path, stopping every now and then to just listen and look at
the sunlight filtering through the trees.
On one of the occasions where she has stopped, she heard a sound that puzzled
her. It sounded like the low growl of a large cat. Bria froze, looking around.
What would a large cat be doing in these woods?
The low growl repeated itself, slightly louder. Was she dreaming? Slowly
walking forward, Bria saw nothing. After a few moments she heard the growl one
more time, but very softly. Frowning, Bria walked back to Cole’s house.
Over lunch, Bria was very quiet. “OK,” said Jess, “what happened?”
“Hmm?” Bria asked, looking up from her sandwich.
“Every time you’re quiet, something’s up. So what is it?”
“I heard something in the woods. It’s no big deal, really.”
“What did you hear?” asked Cole.
“I heard a growl...like a large cat...but it wasn’t a lion.”
“Really?” Cole thought for a moment. “If it wasn’t a lion, then I don’t know
what it was. Sometimes Red Lion visits, but it’s not very often.”
“Wait, visit?” asked Josh. “How do you just happen to have this huge lion
visit?”
Cole smiled. “Those woods are quite big, and Red Lion and I are still connected
in heart.”
“Oh.”
Bria rose to help clean up. “What time is everyone coming? You must have a lot
of people coming?”
“They’re coming at 6. And no, it’s not that many people. Alyssa, Danny with his
wife and daughter, Taylor and her boyfriend, and Max with his wife and two
sons. That’s 10.”
“Plus you, me, and my buddies over there,” Bria said. “That’s 15.”
Cole shrugged. “The more the merrier. Besides, Max’s sons don’t really count;
they’re very young.”
Bria groaned suddenly. “How am I going to transfer the powers and get her to
accept if everyone is here? I mean, do Max and Danny’s wives know they were
Rangers? Does Taylor’s boyfriend know?”
“Danny’s wife knows. I don’t think Max’s does, and I’m pretty sure Taylor’s
boyfriend doesn’t.”
“Great.”
“Cheer up. If worse comes to worst, you can just say you need to talk to
Danny's daughter alone.”
“True. Now, we better get started if we have 15 people coming over. Cole, how
often do you do this?”
“About every month or so, but usually not here. Why?”
"Because we have a lot of work to do."
*****
At six sharp, the doorbell rang. Cole introduced the Rangers to Alyssa. She had
a sweet disposition, and was very happy to meet the four, even if she had no
idea they were Rangers.
One by one (or two, or three, or four), they all arrived. Bria was introduced
to Kalli, Danny and Kendal's daughter. She had long black hair and kind dark
brown eyes. Josh, Matt, Jess, Bria, and Kalli all had a great time together as
they got to know each other better. They kept an eye on Max's two sons, AJ and
Denis, who were 3 and 4.
Later that night, after everyone had eaten, the five quietly left the room.
Denis and AJ were sleepily lying on the floor, so the five were free to go
outside and enjoy the night air. Bria smiled at Kalli.
"Do you trust me?"
"I don't really know you, but I would think so."
"I need you to give me your hands." Kalli apprehensively laid her
hands in Bria's.
Once again the flashes came. Pink flashed this time, but red was different; it
was brighter than ever, and the other colors seemed to be interwoven in it.
"Do you accept these powers and the responsibilities that come with
them?" Bria asked. *I'm starting to sound like a broken record.*
"All right. Yes."
Once again, they formed a circle, and Kalli had a pink haze around her wrist. A
watch appeared, silver with pink stripes and face.
"Welcome," said Jess. "How does it feel to be Pink Ranger?"
"Wow," was all Kalli could say.
Suddenly there was a white-blue light, and Princess Shayla appeared. Bria
grinned. "Princess," she greeted her.
"Ambrianna."
Bria hugged the Princess. "I've wanted to meet you for such a long
time!"
The Princess smiled. "I've waited to meet you for many years. And these
must be your fellow Rangers," she said.
Bria introduced them all, and the Princess looked back to Bria. "You must
be very careful. Now that your team is complete, they will come after
you."
"Who?"
"Amenkotept and his henchmen."
"Amen-who?" asked Josh.
"He is evil, and set on conquering the world."
"Hmm, he wouldn't happen to have evil snake dudes working for him, would
he?" Jess asked.
"It's possible." The Princess smiled. "Kalli, I believe you
recently received an extremely generous gift?"
"No...Oh! That!" Kalli said at the Princess's look. "Yes, I
did."
"Why don't you put it to good use?"
Kalli's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
Princess Shayla nodded. "I think Danny will let you." She smiled
gently. "I'll intervene if I must, but I think he'll understand."
Kalli smiled. "Nice."
"I must bid you goodbye now. We will meet again soon, Rangers." The
Princess vanished, and the five were left to ponder their thoughts.