Streaks of Purple Saga Volume Three - Heather Ray (bts book recommendations .TXT) 📗

small smile graced his lips. "Tommy's in the cockpit. He was never in the cockpit before... he always used his flute to control the Dragonzord remotely."

Zordon beamed with pride at Jason's observation. "EXACTLY. FOR ALL OF TOMMY'S SKILLS, HE ALWAYS LACKED THE SENSE OF UNITY THE REST OF YOU RANGERS DISPLAY. THAT IS THE NATURE OF THE GREEN COIN. HE SERVED ON THE PERIPHERY... AND WHILE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS WERE ALWAYS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THE TEAM, HE LACKED THE TEAM PERSPECTIVE. I FEEL THE ADDED RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LEADERSHIP MAY HELP HIM DEVELOP A NEW OUTLOOK, AND A BATTLE STRATEGY THAT INCORPORATES THE SKILLS OF THOSE AROUND HIM."

Jason nodded, slowly pulling off his helmet. For the first time since the stunning announcement, he turned to his mentor and met his gaze. "I... see."

"IT WILL ALSO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE STRENGTH OF YOUR TEAMMATES."

Jason blinked at the connotation. "I know they're strong!" he countered, his tone defensive.

"JASON, WHEN YOU INSIST UPON TAKING EVERY RISK, YOU SEND THE MESSAGE THAT THE OTHER RANGERS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY THEMSELVES," Zordon explained patiently. "LOOK AGAIN AT THE GLOBE."

With an audible exhalation, Jason did as his mentor asked.

"LOOK AT YOUR TEAMMATES, WHO RISE TO TAKE UP EVERY CHALLENGE WITH YOU. LOOK AT THE SHOULDERS THAT CAN HELP ALLEVIATE YOUR BURDEN... BUT ONLY IF YOU LET THEM. LEARN TO RELY UPON THEM, AS THEY HAVE ALWAYS RELIED UPON YOU."

Jason stared at his team... at his friends

... as they cheered excitedly at their victory. And the pride that first swelled his heart bubbled forth again at their

victory. Their

strength.

A burst of purple energy dissolved Jason's contemplation. He turned around just in time to see Alexis tear off her helmet, shaking her head to loosen her copper hair.

"Did you see the Eaglezord?" she gushed, hurrying to the Red Ranger's side, "She's sooo

cool..."

Alexis continued to bubble about her Zord, but Jason didn't hear the rest. "She"? Alexis thinks of the Eaglezord as an actual person! Just like Tommy and the Dragonzord...

He felt his concern rise, remembering Zordon's comments from just moments ago. She's just like Tommy...a periphery Ranger.

And as such, she was in the same danger that Tommy had been... of fighting a battle all on her own, serving as a "lone" Ranger instead of cooperating with the efforts of the remaining team.

"Lex," he suddenly blurted, "you did great today."

The Purple Ranger immediately shut up, staring in blatant surprise. But soon, the surprise melted into a hesitant smile. "...Thanks."

"I... I want you to know that you're a part of this team," Jason continued.

Alexis' eyebrow rose. "Well, duh

."

Her brash answer brought the smile back to Jason's face. "I'm serious. I know the Dragon and the Eagle are supposed to be their own little team, but don't ever think you're alone. Those wings and that shield don't matter... you're just as much a member of this team as me."

Alexis found herself staring at him again, mildly perplexed at the comment. Yet... she couldn't deny that on some level, she really needed to hear that.

Deep down, she needed that reassurance... that she belonged

, despite the fact that her Zord didn't merge with everyone else's, or her weapon didn't snap together with the other ones.

Without warning, the overwhelmed Purple Ranger threw her arms around Jason's neck, hugging him fiercely.

Jason gaped at her reaction, before finally winding his arms around her in return.

The embrace lingered... longer than either one had intended or expected it to.

"Ahem... did we come at a bad

time?" Zack called.

The Red and Purple Rangers pulled apart immediately. Alexis blushed at the attention of her fellow Rangers, but Jason laughed off the embarrassment with ease.

"Not a bad job at all, guys!" he said, trading high fives with his team, "With that new Mega Tigerzord on the watch, I can take a vacation!"

Tommy's eyes widened.

"YOU HAVE ALL PERFORMED EXCELLENTLY," Zordon stated, "THE SCARLET SENTINEL WAS ONE OF LORD ZEDD'S MOST DEVIOUS MONSTERS, AND YET YOU PREVAILED."

Then, his bold blue gaze fell to the White Ranger. "AND TOMMY, YOU HAVE PROVEN YOURSELF CAPABLE OF THE RESPONSIBILITY I NOW PLACE ON YOUR SHOULDERS..."

Tommy held his breath.

"...AS THE NEW LEADER OF THE POWER RANGERS."

While Tommy kept his head held up to Zordon, he found he couldn't meet his mentor's eyes. Or turn around, and face the bewildered stares of his teammates. His friends.

Especially his best friend.

Zack, Kim, Trini, and Billy were completely thunderstruck at the news. Slowly, the shock wore off, replaced by a dull sense of confusion as they shifted their gazes from Zordon, to Tommy, to Jason, and then to each other.

Alexis found she couldn't take her eyes off of Jason... who seemed far less shaken than everyone else in the room.

After a lengthy silence, Jason stepped forward. Gently, he placed his hand on Tommy's shoulder. "You're gonna be a great leader, Bro."

Tommy turned, his face guilt-ridden. "Jase-"

The Red Ranger lifted his finger. "If you think I'm gonna let you stand there and apologize, you've been hit on the head one time too many. I, for one, and one-hundred and ten percent behind you."

For a long moment, Tommy's dark brown eyes stared intently into Jason's, disbelief plain on his face. But slowly, a faint grin conquered the White Ranger's crestfallen face. After their months of close friendship, Tommy had developed the insight to recognize when Jason was upset.

And to Tommy's utter astonishment... he wasn't.

An unbearable weight was lifted from his stalwart shoulders at the genuine smile on his predecessor's face. "All I can hope to do is follow in your footsteps, Bro."

Kimberly smiled, tears in her eyes at the exchange between the two great heroes. "Come on," she urged. The entire group convened around the Red and White Rangers, smiles on all their faces.

"We're all a team," Jason stated, holding out his fist, "Now, we're a team of seven... and Zedd doesn't stand a change against the new and improved Power Rangers!"

The others joined their fists with his, in a powerful display of strength, dedication, and most of all... unity.

Chapter Forty-Seven

"Jeez, Tommy... why is there so much stuff?" Zack groaned as he balanced a large box between his hands.

The new White Ranger grinned helplessly. "Hey, I practically moved in here!" he answered, waving his hand to encompass his uncle's Spartan cabin. "Since he's always busy racing all over the country, Uncle Jeff never much uses the place. I had to bring all the necessities with me- food, towels, bathroom stuff..."

"And you couldn't pack anything before we got here?" Kim grumbled as she haphazardly threw clothes into another cardboard box.

"No... I said 'the end of the week' in my letter," he reminded her. "I didn't plan on coming back to Angel Grove so suddenly." He couldn't suppress the fierce grin on his lips as he lifted his new Morpher. "I still can't believe it!"

Kim smiled serenely, bathing in the glow of Tommy's excitement. Absently, she began folding the green flannel shirt she pulled from the near-empty closet.

Tommy frowned thoughtfully, moving to stand beside the Pink Ranger. He reached into the box and lifted the checkered shirt. "Dear God... you guys let me leave the house in this?"

Both Kim and Zack answered with loud laughter.

"I think it's cute!" Kim retorted, snatching the item back and hugging it to her chest, "If you don't want it, I'll keep it."

A grin slowly pulled Tommy's face. "You know... hideous as it might be, it'd actually look fantastic on you."

She giggled in response, holding it up to her shoulders as if to model the article. "You think?"

His hands joined hers at her shoulders. "Just about anything

looks fantastic on you."

Tommy lowered his head as his eyes closed, his intention obvious. But as the reunited couple inched closer together, the sudden choke of poorly-contained snickering ruined the moment.

Both looked up, and gave the mirthful Black Ranger a baleful glower.

"'Just about anything looks fantastic on you'," Zack repeated under his breath. "Dear God,

you guys are worse than newlyweds..."

"Ha ha," Tommy grumbled.

The sound of Tommy's scornful laugh killed the smirk on Zack's face. "Uh... I think Trini, Billy, and Jase will need my help packing up the cars..." he muttered, hurrying outside.

Tommy shook his head, inhaling slowly. Kimberly held her hand to her lips, trying her best to fight her own laughter.

"Kim!" Tommy whined.

"I'm not laughing at you!" she insisted, though the glimmer in her eye said otherwise.

Tommy sighed again.

Kim couldn't help it any longer; she laughed outright. Then, without warning, she grabbed the collar of Tommy's white polo shirt, and pulled him down for a tender kiss.

When their lips parted, Tommy was too surprised to speak.

"Glad to have you back, Tommy," Kim breathed, snuggling against his chest.

Chapter Forty-Eight

She was completely speechless.

Just five minutes ago, everything was rainbows and sunshine. The Rangers had destroyed Lord Zedd's newest fiend. While there was a great deal of damage to Stone Canyon, thankfully very few lives were lost. Also, Tommy was back in action, stronger than ever before. Even Jason seemed to be taking his unexpected demotion in stride.

All in all... a resounding victory.

But as she helped pack up Tommy's belongings with the others, in the effort to move him back to Angel Grove and get some ice cream to celebrate his restoration, she'd stumbled upon something disturbing.

Though, "stumble" didn't seem to be the right word. Something

had pulled her to it; some kind of sensation. It had to be... for there was no logical reason why she'd felt the urge to dig through a box of neatly arranged bathroom supplies.

She'd found a green plastic soapbox. Normal enough... but she couldn't turn her eyes away.