Golden Opportunities
By Frog
By Frog
Tommy Oliver looked over at his cousin as he paced the living room floor and rolled his eyes at the sight, "T'ner, you've been doing that or talking about Cassie all weekend. Why don't you tell her who you are?" he asked.
"Not all weekend cousin," T'ner explained as he lifted up his wrist to show Tommy his engagement bracelet. Tommy blushed a deep red as he remembered how he learned of his cousin's engagement to Cassie. "Besides, you know that there will most likely to be war soon, and it is too dangerous for her to know who I am at the moment. Tommy, Cassie's birthday is within a few days, what do you give an Earth woman for her birthday?" questioned T'ner with panic in his voice.
"I'm not the best person to ask at the moment, T'ner. I do wish you'd do something about Cassie, you're driving me crazy!" exclaimed Tommy.
"I thought you had an Earth woman whom you are courting?" he asked.
"I did, in fact I just got back from London when you showed up, however we broke up while I was over there. Kat and I were never meant to be, I am and always will be in love with someone else, no power in all of the universe can change that. Look, we have to leave for Aquitar soon; I'm going to the Power Chamber to meet the others. Why don't you go ahead of us and that will give you time to find something for Cassie's birthday," said Tommy.
"Yes, I shall do that cousin. But, what shall I give her?" asked T'ner.
"I don't know. Get Cestria to help, she's shopped on Earth before. I'm certain she can help you find something appropriate," said Tommy.
"Very well, I shall see you on Aquitar, cousin," said T'ner, just before he teleported away.
Tommy sighed with relief, 'I wonder if I was this bad with Kim?' he wondered silently to himself.
"Ahh!" screamed Ashley as Divatox's latest creation, the Toaditore, kicked her into the wall of a building in Angel Grove's business distract. She winced in pain and tried to get up. The throbbing sensation in her back and neck prevented her from getting up, she screamed out "Guys, help me! I..." just before the world went dark on her and she blacked out.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Nico," Tommy told the energetic young boy.
"It's really cool to meet you, I can't believe I'm meeting you! You're a legend!" said Nico excitedly.
Tommy smiled, "Well, I was just doing my duty Nico, legends are people who have long been gone. Are you guys ready to leave for Aquitar?" he asked.
"Yeah, this was a great idea Tommy to go visit Billy, I just wish you could have gathered all of us," said Rocky.
'So do I, Rocky. If Zordon is right about Dark Specter, we may not have much time. All of us must go through our adult rights, before it's too late,' Tommy thought silently.
"What's wrong?" asked Adam as he gave his former leader a probing stare.
'Damm, Adam knows me too good,' thought Tommy, "I'll tell you guys when we get to Aquitar, I want Billy to hear what I've to say as well," he stated.
"Good-bye, yellow pest!" exclaimed the Toaditore, who looked a giant, blubbery frog. He was about to kill the Yellow Ranger, the other Rangers couldn't get to her, they were busy with Piranatrons. Toaditore chuckled evilly, and grabbed Ashley by the neck with his cold, leathered green hand. Just as he was about to break her neck, a white flash of light glared into his eyes.
Lowering her camera, a young woman of Mexican origin quickly planted a tape recorder near the ugly monster's face. "Rebecca DeSantos, Angel Grove Daily, what do you think of the Phantom Ranger?" she asked with determination.
"Huh?" asked a very confused monster, as he put the Yellow Ranger back down on the ground. "Haven't met him, but his a fly like all Rangers, he should be eaten! Just like you!" he shouted at her and with menacing steps, he stalked toward her.
"Uh-oh, maybe I should've listened to Rocky about not getting in the middle of Ranger battles," she muttered with fear.
"What do you mean you broke up?" asked Aisha and Tanya together in a very surprised tone.
"We just drifted apart, it just wasn't meant to be. She's dating someone else," Tommy calmly told his friends.
"Who?" asked Tanya, who was still in a state of shock.
Tommy was about to answer when suddenly there was a gold flash of light and Trey of Triforia stood before them.
"Greetings, Lord Trey of Triforia. We've been expecting you," said Dimitria.
"Greetings, Dimitria of Inquerius," said Trey as he raised an eyebrow at the former Rangers and Nico, "May I ask what they are doing here, Dimitria?"
"Nico Vega is staying with us for the moment Lord Trey, and the former Rangers are leaving for Aquitar shortly to visit they're former teammate Billy Cranston are they not?" she asked.
"We just wanted to give you our greetings Trey," pronounced Tommy in a formal tone.
"And to ask about a certain bet that has led you back here as well," said Rocky with a wide smile on his face.
"That bet! When I get my hands on Dex, I'll..." Trey yelled angrily, then he took a deep breath in a effort to calm down, "A few years ago there was a great deal of pressure for Prince Dex and I to marry, since neither of us wanted to marry or be the first to marry Dex proposed a bet to relieve the pressure of both of us to marry. The bet was based on the Red Astro Ranger and the one you call the Phantom Ranger. If the Red Astro Ranger would fall in love before the Phantom Ranger, Dex would go to the planet where the Red Astro's true love is from to find a wife, and then when the Phantom would fall love, I would do the same. This way Dex would be the first to marry, and I second. If the Phantom Ranger would fall in love before Red Astro, it would be in a reverse order. Dex reasoned that the Red Astro Ranger and the Phantom Ranger were too unemotional to fall in love in the first place; that the bet would never happened. Unfortunately, the Phantom Ranger has fallen love here on Earth, now I must find a wife on this planet!" he finished with a great rage.
"Trey, you and Dex really shouldn't have tempted the Power that way", Tommy spoke with a bright smile on his face.
"King Lexon and my mother declared something similar at the time," muttered Trey.
"How can Ranger powers be tempted?" asked Nico.
"What Tommy meant was that Trey and Dex shouldn't have tempted fate, because fate always finds a way to make promises like that to come true," said Rocky.
"Oh, so where are you going to find a wife?" asked Nico.
"I haven't the slightest clue, I would appreciate if you didn't mention the bet to the current Rangers or anyone else here on Earth, it will be difficult enough to find a wife,"said Trey.
Everyone shook their head in agreement to Trey's request, and then Rocky spoke up, "Trey, I have a brilliant idea of where you can work and live, while you're here."
"You want to know what I'm going to do to the Phantom Ranger, I'll show you what I'm going to do with the Phantom Ranger!" yelled Toaditore as he loomed in front of Rebecca, suddenly he was kicked in the back, the monster roared out in anger and pain.
"Leave her alone, Toadface!" exclaimed Blue Turbo, as he and the others circled around him.
"You've won this battle Rangers, but I'll be back!" shouted Toaditore, then he disappeared.
"Are you all right?" asked Black Ranger with concern as he helped the Yellow Ranger off the ground.
"No." she weakly said, as she staggered in pain.
"We better get her to the Med-bay," spoke Blue Ranger, then he and Black Ranger teleported away with their seriously injured friend.
"Miss, you really shouldn't gone up against that monster like that," Red Ranger sternly told the young woman.
"Hey, I saved the Yellow Ranger from that toad, remember? Besides, getting involved in a Ranger battle was the only way I could interview the Phantom Ranger," said Rebecca with confidence.
"You risked your life to interview the Phantom Ranger?" questioned the Pink Ranger in amazement.
"Sure, no one knows anything about him, including you. I would do just about anything for a good story," she finished with commitment in her voice.
The two Rangers looked at the young reporter in amazement, though she was built petite with long dark hair and brown eyes, she spoke with fire about her work. Finally, the Red Ranger spoke what could only be said for this courageous young woman, "Lady, you're nuts!" Then, he and the Pink Ranger teleported back to the Power Chamber.
"Will she be all right?" asked Nico with concern, everyone had gathered in the main chamber by now, except Ashley who was resting in the Med-bay.
"She should be, despite the broken shoulders, ribs, both legs, and a mild concussion. Ashley will be all right, by morning," stated Alpha.
"The wonders of advance medicine and Ranger healing," spoke Carlos, relief evident in his voice.
"So, everyone ready to leave?" questioned Tommy, who was anxious to get to Aquitar.
"Yeah, I guess we are. Keep an eye out for my crazy sister guys, when she sets her mind on a story, she's determined to get it!" exclaimed Rocky.
"Don't worry, Rocky. We'll keep watch over her," said Carlos.
"So shall I, I will watch over carefully Rocky. I shall also attempt to fill your absence Rocky, with your students," Trey told Rocky in his most formal tone.
"Just take care of my dojo while I'm gone, when I get back we'll talk over your salary," Rocky spoke with amusement at the thought of paying a king, especially one who was working for him.
"Let's go, guys. Teleport us to Aquitar, Alpha," commanded Tommy to the little robot.
"Teleporting now," stated Alpha. Then Tommy, Aisha, Adam, Rocky, and Tanya disappeared with a flash of white light.
"Boy, Tommy is certainly worried about something," muttered Justin.
"What do you mean? He seemed fine to me, Justin," T.J. told the young Ranger.
"No, he's not. The last time I saw him like this is when I first became a Ranger. Something is really troubling him, and I don't think it's his break up with Kat," pronounced Justin, concern and worry evident in his voice.
"It was the only way I could think of to get an interview from the Phantom Ranger!" exclaimed Rebecca to her boss, Henry Walters, editor of the Angel Grove Daily.
"By risking your life in a fight between the Rangers and that toad monster? Rebecca, you're nuts!" he shouted.
"That's exactly what the Red Ranger told me," she muttered.
"I'm not surprise he said that! Getting in the middle of a battle, it's ridiculous! I'm sticking you in the society pages for a while!" exclaimed Mr. Walters.
"You can't do that! Please! Give me one more chance; getting an interview with the Phantom Ranger is a golden opportunity for me!" Rebecca practically shouted at her editor.
"Not a chance! You've already proven you'll do something dangerous to get that interview! Maybe doing the society column for a while will teach you there are safer ways to get a story! Now go home, I'll see you tomorrow!" Mr. Walters pronounced angrily to Rebecca, he considered her like another daughter and he didn't approve of the risks she took to write a story. With a choked scream of frustration, she stormed out of the editor's office in a rage of fury.
The next morning, Rebecca DeSantos fumed angrily as she drove to her brother's dojo, 'I don't believe this! I was doing just fine with the Phantom Ranger story, next thing I know I'm assigned to attend the Mayor's costume ball tonight! I hope Rocky will agree to be my escort tonight. I don't mind going to these society things, but I really hate getting pulled off a great story!' Rebecca thought to herself as she pulled into the parking lot for the Red Ape's dojo.
As she entered the dojo with her spare key, Rebecca noticed a tall young man practicing martial arts on the mats. When he turned around to see who disturbed his practice, Rebecca felt a jolt of electricity go through her when his eyes met hers. 'Oh, my! Tall, blond, a good build that his black gi shows off quite well, and his eyes look almost golden! Is that a tattoo around one eye?' she silently thought to herself, out loud she spoke to the stranger, "Who are you?"
"My name is Trey Fords, I'm the new martial arts teacher Rocky hired for the dojo. May I ask who you might be?" Trey asked the young woman formally as he stared at her, he noticed she was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans that seemed typical of Earthers. He also couldn't help noticing but thinking of her beauty, 'She reaches my chin, such a small frame for a young woman with fire in her brown eyes. Her dark hair is upon her head, wrapped around in an unusual fashion. I wonder how long it is? Is she the one I've come to search for?' he wondered thoughtfully.
"My name is Rebecca DeSantos, I'm Rocky's sister," she said to him as she held out her hand for him to shake, instead he brought her hand up to his lips.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Rebecca," spoke Trey with a soft passion and then he kissed her hand.
A jolt of fire went through Rebecca, and she suddenly felt dizzy, 'What is wrong with me? I just met this guy and feel as if I'm on fire,' she thought to herself. "Uh, can I have my hand back?" she asked.
Blushing, Trey reluctantly let go of her hand, "If you're seeking your brother, he has left yesterday to visit a distant friend," Trey told her as he continued to stare at her.
"Damm, why did he pick now of all the times to visit Billy in Greece!" she exclaimed with a sigh of frustration.
"Why do you need to see your brother, Rebecca?" Trey asked with curiosity.
"You want to know why, I'll tell you why! I was going to bully him to be my escort at a costume ball tonight, which is being held at the Mayor's house. Damm! Of all the lousy luck I've been having lately! First I nearly gotten eaten up a frog monster; then my editor takes me off of the Phantom Ranger story; then I have to attend this stupid ball for the society column which I need an escort for; then I was going to blackmail Rocky to be my escort, but he pick now to visit Billy on some island around Greece!" Rebecca shouted out with a fiery temper.
Trey looked at her with concern and in a soothing tone of voice he tried to calm her down, "Rebecca you have a great deal anger at the moment, and you need to release it before you do something that you will regret later. Rocky has told me you have studied the martial art Tae Kwon Do, perhaps if we sparred on the mat it will release some of your anger."
Rebecca looked at him as if he was crazy; "You want me to spar with you, when I'm not even dress for a spar session, just to release my anger? Your nuts!" she exclaimed as she unconsciously went into an attack stance.
"I don't know what nuts has to do with a spar session, however your brother asked me to keep an eye on you and I shall. Besides, I too have anger burning within me, if we spar we can perhaps release both of our tempers in a safe environment," Trey told her as he automatically went into a defensive position.
You have a temper; you appear to be a Mr. Cool," she stated as attack him with a kick to the ribs.
"I do have a temper, if you choose to believe me or not," he told her as he block the kick and retaliated with a punch to her stomach.
"Well, what has made you loose it recently?" she asked as she block the punch and used a palm strike to his face.
"My best friend proposed a bet between us in order to prevent something from happening to us; unfortunately his part of the bet has come true and I must fulfill the looser side of the bet," he calmly stated as he block the strike to his face and attempted to punch her in the face.
Rebecca moved from the path of the punch; used the hand that Trey was throwing the punch with, and to throw him over her shoulder to the hard mat on the floor.
Feeling better, Rebecca stood over him as he lay on the mat and asked, "So, since you lost the bet, what do you have to do?"
"Find a wife," he told her with certainty, then swept her off the floor with one kick and pinned her beneath him on the mat.
As he studied her, Rebecca became very nervous at his scrutiny, "Why have you delayed in finding a wife? Why do you need one?" she asked in a hasty tone.
"Because I need a heir to run the family business one day and I didn't wanted to marry a empty headed woman certain people were throwing at me as if I was a trophy to be won. I wanted to marry my true love, a soul mate," he whispered as he leaned closer.
Rebecca gulped with tension as she noticed that his golden eyes were becoming filled with desire, "So, how are you going to find her?" she asked as she felt an unexpected heat go through her.
"I believe I already have found her," Trey told her softly and then he kissed her with a great passion before Rebecca could respond to that comment.
His lips engulfed hers and his tongue silently asked entry into her mouth. As she granted entry, Rebecca couldn't help but think, 'Why am I kissing a complete stranger?'but she soon lost that thought when she felt Trey unwrapping the bun her hair was styled in. When her hair was finally free, one of Trey's hands raced through her hair while the other was toying with her shirt pulling it free of her jeans.
'She is the one! My soulmate, my bride, my queen! Ahh, she tastes so good! But, I must stop this before it goes too far,' Trey silently thought as he reluctantly let her go, as they both gasped for breath, Trey noticed that her shirt was nearly out of her jeans and her long, dark hair reached her knees; he smiled with pleasure when he also saw that she was as flustered as he was.
"I'm sorry, I usually don't kiss a complete stranger like that!" she exclaimed.
"That is quite all right, I usually don't either, but these circumstances are quite promising," Trey stated as he gave her body a long passionate gaze, Rebecca blushed underneath his gaze.
"I... uh, better go," she stammered out as she backed away from him.
"Wait! Do you still need an escort to this dance; I shall be honored if I could go by your side, Rebecca," he questioned with fear of never seeing her again.
"Uh, yes, if you would like to go with me. It's a costume dance, I'll meet you here at eight tonight," she told him and then raced out of the dojo. As she entered her car and drove down the street she couldn't help but think of her reaction to her brother's new employee, 'Why did I just agree to go out with him when I just meet him? For that matter why did I kiss him? If Trey didn't stop when he did, we would've had made love right on the mats! Oh, he felt so good! And that kiss, wow! I feel as if I was waiting for him all my life; when he kissed my hand after I introduced myself, I suddenly pictured myself by his side with a gold crown on my head. C'mon, Rebecca! Snap out of it! Trey isn't royalty, he's just a regular guy!' as Rebecca thought this with her mind, her heart was trying to tell her something completely different, that she was the destined bride of a king from another world.
As Rebecca drove toward the nearest costume shop, back on Triforia, another young woman was lost in her thoughts. 'Oh, Mother! I do hope Trey finds a bride! He's been more distant since you died, and taking on your duties as well as the duties of the High Priestess of Triforia is a very heavy burden for me,' silently thought Princess Tiaya over her mother's grave. The staff of the Silver Zeo Ranger and the symbol of the Queen of Triforia was held in stasis above her mother's grave, until Trey could find his soul mate on Earth. Suddenly, the staff glowed with a blinding light, for a moment Tiaya thought she saw her mother's ghost grab hold of the staff; when the light was gone, so was the staff. For a moment Tiaya was confused over what happened, then her seer's sight gave her the automatic answer, 'Trey had found his bride! My mother's ghost has gone to give the staff to the next Queen of Triforia,' she thought to herself, and then out loud she shouted a cheer of happiness that caused her bodyguards to find out if something was wrong.
When Rebecca had gotten home with the costume she was going to wear later that evening, she was scared out of her wits when she saw a ghost image of a woman in her living room. "Who are you? What are you?" she asked with fear as she gazed at the apparition.
The spirit of the woman appeared to be tall, stately, white hair, with golden eyes and a tattoo around one eye. She was dressed in silver and gold gown with a golden crown upon her head; in her hand she carried a silver staff upon the top of the staff there was a crystal globe that seemed to glow with power. The ghostly woman floated toward Rebecca and held out the staff towards her, "Yours, take, yours," the spirit commands the young woman in an eerie tone.
"Uh, it's not mine. How can that be mine?" stammered Rebecca as she questioned the ghost.
"Yours!" shouted the apparition with a force of anger.
"Ok, ok. It's mine," she told the spirit, and with a brief hesitation she took the staff from the ghost's hand. Rebecca felt a surge of power go through her as she held the staff; the staff glowed brightly for a moment, and then stopped in an apparent calm. "What happened to me?" She angrily questioned the ghost, finally losing her temper with the dead woman.
The spirit looked upon her, then place a ghostly hand on one of the young woman's eyes momentarily, "What is meant to be my daughter by bond," spoke the ghost softly as she removed her hand from Rebecca's eye. Rebecca felt cold yet hot at the brief touch, then felt even more chilled when the spirit kissed her forehead. As she looked at the ghost in surprise, the ghost spoke one final time, "Use what you are destined for wisely, remember Silver Ranger Power in times of trouble. Follow the rules, never use your power for personal gain; never escalate a battle or you will loose your powers entirely. My son can be stubborn at times; you will need the fire within you to keep up with him. Don't fear him and his status; or your future status, my child. I shall always be near, to advise you when need be daughter. Tell Trey I love both him and his sister. Oh, I almost forgot. Tell him as you say on Earth, I told you so; he will know what it means. Farewell, daughter by bond." Then the ghost vanished into thin air, and Rebecca stared at where the spirit was in amazement.
"Trey, you have some explaining to do!" she exclaimed out loud. Later, as she was getting ready to put her make-up for the evening, she noticed a tattoo around one of her eyes; the tattoo looked exactly like the one Trey, and the queenly ghost had around one of their eyes. Rebecca screamed in surprise and anger at the sight of the tattoo around her eye, 'Trey you and I are going to have a serious talk!' she silently thought.
"Are you certain my normal clothes are appropriate for this costume ball?" Trey asked Carlos, later that evening in Rocky's apartment, which was situated above the dojo.
"Trust me Trey, your clothes from Triforia will do just fine. When people ask what you're dressed as, just tell them you're a noble from another land," Carlos told his new friend.
"I shall, are you certain you don't mind taking over tonight's classes?" questioned Trey.
"I don't mind, that's what friends are for, besides all I would be doing tonight would be helping the others figure out a way to defeat Toaditore at the Power Chamber," stated Carlos.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, Trey went hastily to open it, and there in an open door way stood Rebecca in a 16th century gown of a noble woman. The gown was red and silver with gold lining along the edges of the sleeves, the skirt itself was full in shape and left a slight train behind her when she entered the room. Rebecca's hair was once again put up with a headdress of the same period upon her head, and she wore a string of pearls around her neck, to Trey she looked absolutely stunning. If Trey had bothered to notice, he would have been startled of the Silver Power Staff in her hand; however Carlos did noticed it and wonders what type of staff she was carrying.
"Hello, Trey, Carlos. Are you ready to go? I've gotten a cab, there was no way I could've drive in this dress." she questioned with impatience.
"Yes, you look very beautiful Rebecca. May I ask who you are supposed to be?" Trey questioned.
"I'm Queen Isabella the First of Spain. For some reason ever since I met you, all I can think of is being a queen. So, I reasoned I might as dress as one tonight. How about you?" she asked.
"He's a king from a far away land," answered Carlos for his friend, since Trey was struck speechless by the sight of Rebecca. 'Terrific, we have another love struck Ranger,' Carlos thought to himself with disgust.
"Shall, we be off?" Trey asked with a bow. "Yeah, sure," she said, though she was extremely disturbed about Carlo's comment about Trey as a king.
When they were inside the cab and were on their way, Trey finally noticed the Silver Power Staff within her hand. "Rebecca, where did you get that staff?" he asked with curiosity.
"From your mother," she stated as she tried to not to loose her temper.
"My mother? But, she's ..."he started to say with wonderment.
"She wasn't exactly all there, Trey. In fact, you might say she was full of spirit!" she exclaimed as she stressed on the word spirit and gave Trey a very hard look.
Trey looked at Rebecca with a nervous expression upon his face and softly spoke, "I believe, I owe you an explanation Rebecca in a place more private then we currently are or going too."
"You better believe it, buddy! We'll go to my place after the dance; I can't wait to hear the explanation for this!" she shouted with anger. There was a momentary silence in the cab, finally Rebecca grudgingly told Trey of the message, "Your mother told me to tell you that she loved you and your sister; also she told you so."
Trey pondered this for a moment, then quietly said, "She always did tell me living or dead that she would see the fates fulfill that bet."
The ball at the Mayor's house was spectacular; everyone's costume was different, there were people dressed as knights, rouges, and people of history, even a few dressed as the Power Rangers, the Mayor's ball was a success! Trey became more in love with each passing moment as they socialized, 'She manages to put her anger of me on hold, while she is at a public event. A good quality for someone who is to be Queen of Triforia, especially when the Order of Lords fined out that the new queen is from Earth. Thank the Power she is Rocky's sister, that should make it somewhat easier for them to accept her,' he silently thought to himself.
"Penny for your thoughts," whispered Rebecca.
"A penny? What does a penny have to do with my thoughts?" he asked with curiosity.
Rebecca sighed with frustration, "What are you thinking about?" she asked with repressed anger.
"I was wondering if you were still anger with me," Trey softly told her, knowing that he was lying about what he was truly thinking of.
Plastering a smile on her face, she whispered in his ear, "I am still anger with you! However, my mother raised me not to show anger at public events such as this."
"Then I'm gratefully to your mother, it buys me some time on how to explain certain things to you," he spoke in a truthful voice.
Rebecca groaned in aggravation, "I'm going to the garden for a walk," she stated as she moved toward the door that lead to the Mayor's private rose garden. Trey moved with her assuming that she wanted him with her, but Rebecca stop him with a point of her finger to his chest. "Alone, I need some time away from you," she told him sternly. Sighing with reluctance, Trey agreed to her request.
Rebecca walked in the rose garden, so deep in her thoughts, she screamed in surprise to a familiar eerie voice, "You were quite hard on him." She whirled around, facing the ghost of Trey's mother once again.
"I want some explanations, and I want them now! Why did you pick me to be a Ranger? What's with this weird tattoo you gave me? That fortunately no one has noticed due to the wonders of modern make-up, and why is Trey acting like he is trying to court me?" she questioned with fiery anger.
The ghostly queen raised an eyebrow at the young woman's bravery and finally she spoke, "I shall tell you as much of the truth as I can, Trey is not from Earth. He is the Gold Zeo Ranger and king of my home world, Triforia. He knows your brother, because Rocky was once the second Red Ranger and the Blue Zeo Ranger. What Trey told you about that bet he made with his friend, Prince Dex, is true. He has chosen you to be his wife and the Queen of Triforia; the Silver Zeo Powers are traditionally given to one who is to be Queen. Your human body was not physically able to hold the Silver Zeo Powers, so I changed you physically to a Triforian, so you would be able to hold the Silver Powers; thus that is why you have a tattoo." Rebecca stood in silent shock and anger, and then she heard sounds of a battle coming from the house.
Trey ducked into a closet when Toaditore and a group of Piranhatrons showed up uninvited at the party; hoping that Rebecca was well, he shouted out "Gold Ranger Power!"
Toaditore wasn't particularly enjoying himself, here he was in a room filled with human flies and he couldn't eat them! "Show yourselves, Power pests! I need to destroy you, if I'm going to eat everybody here!" he shouted with fury.
"I don't think so, Frog face!" shouted Blue Ranger as he and the other Rangers raced into the room.
"So, there you are, I was getting hungry! Where's the Phantom fly? Divatox has ordered me to eat him too!" boasted Toaditore.
"I fear the Phantom Ranger couldn't make it, will I do?" questioned the Gold Ranger as he stepped forward along side the other Rangers.
"Not really, Divatox wants the Phantom Ranger destroyed immediately. Oh, well! I'll just explain it to her after I've eaten you up! Piranhatrons, attack!" commanded Toaditore, then the battle begun as the Mayor and her guests raced out of the mansion for their lives.
Observing the battle from the shadows, Rebecca wondered what she could do to help Trey and the other Rangers. Turning toward the ghost who was still beside her, she asked, "How can I help them?"
"Morph into the Silver Ranger," the ghost simply stated then disappeared into thin air.
"Just how am I supposed to do that?" she muttered out loud, then she remembered what the spirit told her earlier that day; raising the staff in the air, she yelled out to call forth her new powers, "Silver Ranger Power!" She felt a strange power go through her in a sudden rush, when the transformation was completed she wore a uniform similar to the Gold Ranger's uniform, except it was silver, white, and in a more feminine form. 'Mmm, not bad,' she thought to herself as she looked at her reflection in a nearby pool. "Time to kick some butt!" she shouted and raced toward the battle.
The Gold Ranger screamed as Toaditore threw him across the room, the Yellow Ranger quickly went to him and asked, "Are you all right?"
"Yes, Yellow Ranger," the Gold Ranger reassured her.
"Well, you won't be for long!" shouted Toaditore, as he loomed over them in a preparation to eat them. Suddenly, someone kicked him in the stomach throwing him away from the two Rangers. "I don't think so, frog legs!" yelled the Silver Ranger as she stood before the two fallen Rangers.
"Huh? Another Ranger! I don't believe this!" the monster said in amazement.
"You better believe it! And you've pick the wrong day to get on my bad side!" she exclaimed as she helped the Yellow Ranger to get the Gold Ranger back on his feet.
"Rebecca? Is that you?" whispered Trey.
"You better believe it! I had a nice chat with your mother's ghost out in the garden, you and Rocky are in big trouble!" she whispered back.
By this time the other Rangers raced toward them, "Thanks for the help, uhmm..." the Red Ranger trailed off because he didn't know who this new Ranger was.
"Silver Ranger, let's do explanations later! Right now, let's take care of this monster! Hey, Toadface! I just dare you to try to eat me!" she exclaimed, challenging the monster to an insane dare as she raced toward the ugly creature.
"Oh, yeah!" shouted the monster as he used his huge, sticky tongue to grab the Silver Ranger and promptly ate her up in one swallow.
"Silver Ranger!" shouted the Gold Ranger in distress.
"Ugh, gross!" exclaimed the Silver Ranger inside the monster's slimy stomach. "I certainly hope this trick I read about that the first Green Ranger had done to destroy a monster works! Silver Staff, Power Up!" she shouted as she raised her staff as far as she could inside the monster's stomach.
Toaditore laughed with a great cruelty and told the Rangers in a boasting tone, "That takes care of one Ranger! Who's next?" But before the Rangers could do anything to the monster, there was a silver glow coming from the monster's belly, "Huh? What's happening? Agggh!" screamed the monster and then Toaditore exploded before the Rangers very eyes. When the explosion was over, there stood the Silver Ranger alive and covered with monster goo.
"Silver Ranger, you're alive!" shouted the Gold Ranger in amazement and relief.
"Oh, I'm alive. But you and a certain former Blue Zeo Ranger are definitely not going to be when I'm finished talking to you!" she exclaimed.
"Oh, boy. I think I know who this is guys," the Green Ranger stated with concern.
"Who?" asked Blue Ranger with curiosity in his voice.
"I'll explain later. Silver Ranger could you please come back with us to our command post?" he politely asked the Silver Ranger.
"Very well, I'll go," replied the Silver Ranger in a grudging tone of voice.
"Ok, let's go," the Red Ranger commanded to his comrades. The Gold Ranger made a move to escort the Silver Ranger to the Power Chamber, however she quickly placed her hand on the Green Ranger's shoulder in so she wouldn't have him as an escort. With a jealous rage building inside him, the Gold Ranger teleported with the others to the Power Chamber.
As soon as they arrived at the Power Chamber, everyone demorphed with the expectation of the Silver Ranger, T.J. decided to make the introductions of everyone to the Silver Ranger, "Ok, my name is T.J. the leader of the Rangers; this is Carlos the Green Ranger; Ashley the Yellow Ranger; Justin the Blue Ranger; over in the tube is our mentor Dimitria of Inqurius; by the consoles is Alpha-Six and of course I assume you meet Lord Trey of Triforia."
"We've meet," muttered the Silver Ranger bitterly.
"There is also Nico Vega with us is there not? However he is currently asleep, I shall explain the situation to him in the morning. May I ask who you might be your Majesty?" questioned Dimitria.
"Your Majesty?" asked Ashley with curiosity.
Trey shifted uneasily and responded to the question, "Whoever possesses the Silver Power Staff is the true Queen of Triforia and my bride."
"Gee, your bride, I'm thrilled to pieces! It isn't everyday a brother throws his sister at an eligible king! As for whom I am, Power Down!" exclaimed the Silver Ranger, and then with a flash of light there standing with monster goo on her costume was a very anger Rebecca DeSantos.
"Rebecca you're the Silver Ranger?" Justin questioned with amazement.
"Oh, yeah! And apparently I'm changing to a Triforian so I can accommodate these new powers, Trey I think you better start those explanations!" she furiously told the young king.
With a sigh, Trey told the entire story of the bet, Rocky's offer, and his first meeting with Rebecca. When he was done with the his side of the story, Rebecca told them as calmly as she could of how she got the Silver Zeo Powers from a ghost who claimed to be Trey's mother. While explanations were going on, Justin quietly took tests and sensor reading on Rebecca; finally when the stories were told, Justin reported his findings, "Apparently your correct Rebecca, you're anatomy and physiology is changing from human to Triforian."
"Terrific, I'm going to be a Mrs. Spock," she muttered with disgust.
"Beloved, I know you're a little angry about finding this out," Trey told Rebecca softly.
"A little angry? Finding out I've been chosen as a bride, a Power Ranger, and a breeding machine! You have the guts to say I'm a little angry?" she yelled out to him in a furious rage.
"I didn't choose you, the Power...fate is what you call it did. Power Rangers mate for life and only with his or her true love, I may be a king, but I'm still a Power Ranger as your brother, as all of us in this room are. Our kind is ruled by destiny for we are the warriors of light and the deliverers of peace. You cannot escape your destiny Rebecca, it is useless to fight what the Power has already degreed," Trey softly explained to his true love.
"Watch me!" she sarcastically replied and then Rebecca disappeared with a flash of light.
All was silent in the Power Chamber, and then Tommy, Adam, Tanya, Aisha, and Rocky appeared with flashes of rainbow light. "Hey, guys! We're back!" exclaimed Rocky.
The predecessors looked at the sullen faces around them, finally Adam asked, "What happened?" With a great sigh of sadness, T.J. started to explain.
"Destiny, bah! That's a laugh, I'll choose my own destiny thank you very much!" exclaimed Rebecca as she stepped out of the shower and into a soft, white robe. As she went to her closet and looked over her clothes, she muttered, "I need some new clothes, especially anything with silver."
"That would be a wise choice my child, if you don't you will start suffering from color withdrawal," said an eerie voice.
"Aagh! Will you please stop scaring me ever time you show up?" she asked the spirit.
"Isn't that what ghosts of your world do? Scare the living? On Triforia it is a great honor to be visited by a spirit of the Light, particularly of the Royal Family," questioned the specter.
"Yeah well, we're not on Triforia. We're on Earth and on this planet ghosts have a reputation of scaring people. What is your name anyway? I can't keep calling you just a ghost." Rebecca asked the spirit as she changed into a silky, silver nightgown.
The ghost smiled with pleasure and replied, "In life I was called Queen Nisise, daughter by bond."
"Well then Nisise, May you, as we speak of the dead here on Earth, rest in peace," stated Rebecca as she snuggled down underneath the covers of her bed and turned off the light.
As she went to sleep, Rebecca thought she heard the ghost mutter, " I fear that I shall not rest in peace anytime soon."
A few days later the Rangers and Nico were celebrating Cassie's birthday in the Power Chamber, the only people who weren't there were Trey and Rocky, since they had gone to Rebecca's apartment to check on the young woman. "Rocky told me that she quit her job at the Daily and the Mr. Walters is still in shock of her leaving the newspaper that quickly," spoke Adam to the others as Cassie opened the last of her gifts.
"I wonder what she's up to," mused Ashley.
T.J. just shrugged in response to Ashley question and put forth his own theory, "Maybe she's giving into destiny."
"I doubt that T.J., Rebecca doesn't give in that gracefully," stated Tanya.
"Yo, Yo! Time to blow out the candles, Cassie!" exclaimed Alpha as he brought a birthday cake out for the Pink Ranger. As everyone sang Happy Birthday, Cassie walked over to the little robot and leaned down to blow out the candles on her cake.
As soon as she blew out the candles, Nico asked her, "What did you wish for Cassie?"
"If I tell you it won't come true, Nico," Cassie replied as she blushed a deep red.
Everyone rolled their eyes, "Never mind, Cassie. I believe all of us has a very good idea what you wished for," Justin told his comrade. As Cassie blushed an even deeper red, and then she screamed in surprise as something touched her shoulder.
The Phantom Ranger chuckled at her reaction as he appeared before the Rangers, Happy Birthday, my M'iun," he told her as she raced into his arms.
As they embraced one another in a hug, Justin and Nico spoke together in disgust, "Gross!"
"Just wait you guys, one day you won't find this as disgusting," Ashley told them in a confident tone of voice.
"No way I sooner marry a beetle!" exclaimed Justin.
"Justin did you not learn by watching Trey that you must not say things such as that or the Power will make certain what you've spoken of comes true?" Dimitria questioned the youngest of the Rangers. Justin turned red with embarrassment as Nico laughed with amusement of his best friend marrying a beetle.
While this was going on, Phantom and Cassie was having their own private conversation away from the others, "I'm glad you came," Cassie softly whispered to her lover.
"I wouldn't miss your birthday for all the riches in the universe, my love. This is for you, I hope you like it," he whispered to his beloved with passion as he handed to her a slim white box. Cassie opened the box and gasped with astonishment, inside the box was a gold necklace with what looked like a diamond and ruby M'iun pendent.
"It is to match your engagement bracelet my love," he explained to her.
"It's beautiful, would you put it on me?" she requested of him. He took the necklace from her and placed it carefully around her neck. When he finished, Cassie asked, "How does it look?"
"Lovely," he replied as he gazed at his true love.
Suddenly with a flash of bright lights, Rocky and Trey teleported into the chamber with very sad expressions upon their faces.
"What happened? Where is Rebecca?" questioned Tanya with concern as she looked at the two downcast faces.
"Rebecca has left Angel Grove," spoke Trey with a great sadness.
"And as to where she went, I haven't the slightest clue," Rocky told his friends with worry.
Meanwhile in Cross World City...
Kaitlin Starr knocked on her editor's door and asked, "You wanted to see me Woody?"
"Kaitlin, come in! I want you to meet your new partner, Kaitlin this is Becky Santana. She just joined the team! Becky, this Kaitlin Starr our ace reporter on the V.R. Trooper stories." Woody Jones, editor of the Underground Voice Daily, told the two Reporters.
Shaking Becky's hand, Kaitlin welcomed her new partner, "It's good to meet you, and I hope you will enjoy living in Cross World."
Becky Santana a.k.a. Rebecca DeSantos replied to her colleagues statement with a smile, "I certainly hope so, Kaitlin. I'm the kind of person who chooses his or her own destiny. Hopefully, I'll have a golden opportunity here at the Underground Daily."
To be continued...
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