Let the Phoenix Fly

By: Luellon

Karla Eldrid sat at the bank of the lake gazing at the rippling water. The water changed from being completely still, secure, to being rippled, uncertain. Karla was the Purple Ranger, a member of an elite group of teenagers, that used the powers of the Morphing Grid to morph and save the world. SheÕd been their second in command for months now, but that afternoon sheÕd been asked to take the full position of leader. As second in command sheÕd always had someone there above her, to watch over her. The leader would always make the final decision that could leave one of them dead. She did not want to be responsible for anyoneÕs death.

Tommy had become the White Ranger. He was now second in command of the team. TheyÕd all talked with Jason to make sure he didnÕt resent them. Jason had said he was fine. Karla knew he had to be hurting.

The Scarlet Sentinel had been giving them a hard time. Billy had gone to the Command Center only to find out that they were making a new Ranger. TheyÕd waited nervously. Then theyÕd teleported to the Command Center and found out the White RangerÕs identity; the bombshell exploded. Ò Tommy you are the second in command of the Power Rangers. Karla you are the new leader of the Power Rangers. Jason you lead the Rangers well, through the toughest times, but I have seen a vision that you will leave us in the near future. Karla and Tommy need experience as leaders,Ó Zordon had explained.

Karla shook her head as the memory faded. ItÕs still not right to dismiss Jason so lightly. I just hope heÕll be okay.

Karla walked on the sidewalk in Angel Grove Park the following day. Lost in thought, she neglected to watch where she was going and bumped into someone. Ò IÕm sorry. I shouldÕve watched where I was going,Ó a tall Asian young man said as he helped her up.

Karla looked up at his handsome face, mysterious dark eyes. Ò No, it was my fault. I bumped into you.Ó KarlaÕs heart melted as he smiled shyly.

Ò IÕm Adam.Ó

Ò Karla. Are you new? I havenÕt seen you around.Ó I would Ôve noticed you in an instant.

Ò Yeah,Ó he laughed slightly,Ó I just transferred from Stone Canyon.Ó

Ò Do you know your way around?Ó

Ò Not really...Ó

Ò IÕd be happy to show you around.Ó

Ò Sure, thanks.Ó IÕm happy to oblige.

Ò Hey, Adam!Ó He ran toward them.

Ò ThatÕs Rocky,Ó Adam told Karla.

Ò Rocky, wait up!Ó a petite woman called.

Adam laughed, Ò And thatÕs Aisha.Ó

Ò You all transfer here together?Ó Karla asked.

Ò Yep.Ó

Ò Hey!Ó Aisha said warmly.

Ò Hi. IÕm Karla.Ó

Ò Rocky.Ó

Ò Aisha.Ó

Ò Want a tour?Ó Karla asked them.

Ò That would be soo helpful! IÕm getting lost all the time!Ó Rocky exclaimed.

Aisha teased,Ó Except the restaurants. He knows where they are!Ó They laughed.

Karla queried,Ò Where do you guys want to start?Ó

Ò A good place to hang out?Ó Aisha offered.

Ò The Youth Center. Come on.Ó They walked to ErnieÕs.

Ò Wow, this place is packed!Ó Rocky exclaimed.

Ò Lots of people come here everyday,Ó Karla informed. Two people walked up to them. Ò Jason and Zack, meet Adam and Aisha.Ó

Ò WhereÕd Rocky go?Ó Adam asked.

Aisha laughed,Ó Over at the bar!Ó

Ò YouÕre right. He does know were the food is!Ó Karla teased.

Adam shook his head in amusement. Ò Yep.Ó

Ò Hey, didnÕt you win the Ninja competition?Ó Zack asked.

Aisha answered,Ó Yeah.Ó

Ò Awesome moves,Ó Jason complimented.

Ò Thanks.Ó

Trini burst into the room, gasping for breath. Ò Putties and a monster are on there way here! I just saw the news!Ó Sirens began to wail as people stampeded for the doors.

Ò WhatÕs going on?Ó Rocky asked as he ran over to them.

Ò HavenÕt you ever heard of the monster attacks here?Ó Zack asked.

Ò Yeah, I thought they were fake.Ó

Ò Well, you thought wrong,Ó Karla said.

Ernie yelled,Ó Everyone to the shelters!Ó

Aisha and Rocky ran to the door, but Adam stayed behind. Ò Go ahead, Adam. WeÕll catch up,Ó Karla said.

Ò But-Ó

Karla interrupted,Ó GO!Ó He jogged towards the door, but he glanced back, before he turned the corner. His eyes widened.

Ò Mastodon!Ó Zack yelled.

Ò Saber tooth Tiger!Ó Trini shouted.

Ò Tyrannosaurus!Ó Jason bellowed.

Ò Griffin!Ó Karla cried. The Rangers ran out of the empty room unaware that there had been a witness.

Adam ran and he caught up with Rocky and Aisha. Ò I know who the Rangers are!Ó He hissed.

Ò What?!Ó Aisha exclaimed.

Ò Halt Humans!Ó The trio stopped running and turned to see a golden armored monkey. An energy blast emitted from the sword and teleported the four of them to a cave.

Meanwhile the Power Rangers were fighting armies of Putties and the Hatchasaurus. Ò Man, these guys donÕt quit!Ó Kimberly exclaimed as she kicked a putty on the Z spot.

Zack groaned as he got kicked in the stomach. Karla twirled and kicked the putty away from Zack. Ò Thanks, Karla.Ó

Ò No problem.Ó

Trini kicked a putty forcefully away from Billy. Ò Look out!Ó Billy yelled. The monster snuck up behind Trini, blasted her with a laser beam, and and tossed her into the air. Billy leapt and caught her before she fell into a portal emitting from the ground. He lifted his Blaster and fired repeatedly at the Hatchasaurus. Trini lay in his arms, dazed from the blast. The monster fell backwards.

Ò Teleport Trini to the Command Center!Ó Karla yelled. They left in blue light.

Billy placed Trini gently on a bed in a back room of the Command Center. He scanned her. He caressed her cheek softly. Oh, Trini you had better be physically and mentally healthy or that monstrosity will pay with his life! He glanced at the readings carefully. Billy felt the tears well up in his eyes. He placed his helmet back on his head and teleported to the battlefield with vengeance on his mind.

Trini turned her head and her eyes opened. She saw the scanner on the bed; she looked at the readings. Trini began to cry.

Billy landed as the rest of his friends flipped away from the monster avoiding the blasts. He aimed his Power Blaster and fired repeatedly. He whipped out his Power Lance and threw it at the monster. The Hatchasaurus flew a few yards away from them. Karla ran toward the Blue Ranger. Ò Billy, IÕve never seen you so aggressive. WhatÕs wrong?Ó He clenched his fist angrily.

Ò The blast that hit Trini has made her unable to wield the Dino Power anymore.Ó

KarlaÕs blood began to boil. Ò LetÕs get this creep!Ó They flipped and struck the monster with their weapons. The Purple Stars pierced their adversary as Karla kept throwing them in anger. Ò Form the Power Blaster!Ó The five original Rangers combined their weapons and fired. The monster exploded. They teleported back to the Command Center.

Ò Trini!Ó Karla yelled as she ran into the back room. Everyone followed her. Trini was sitting on the bed, crying. Karla hugged her friend. Billy sat down on the other side of Trini. She hugged him and laid her head on his shoulder.

Ò ItÕll be okay, Trini,Ó Billy whispered in her ear.

Ò Trini canÕt be a Ranger anymore. The blast from Hatchasaurus-Ó Karla explained, choking on each word.

Ò Oh, no!Ó Kimberly wailed.

Ò You have to find a new Yellow Ranger,Ó Trini said.

Ò Man, I donÕt believe this!Ó Tommy cried angrily.

Ò Rangers,Ó ZordonÕs voice boomed through a speaker,Ó Rocky, Adam and Aisha have been captured by Goldar. They are being held in the Cave of Darkness.Ó

Ò Aw, Man!Ó Zack exclaimed.

Jason said,Ò Maybe this isnÕt such a good time to bring this up, but IÕve been asked to go to Japan and study with the Grand Master. I just got the notice today.Ó

Ò Well, I was asked to go to The Academy of World Dance and Music,Ó Zack announced. Ò I got the notice today too.Ó

Ò That means we need three new Rangers. Anyone have any persons in mind?Ó Karla asked.

Ò Aisha,Ó Trini said, Ò sheÕll be great.Ó Billy squeezed her shoulder.

Ò Rocky and Adam are good fighters,Ó Zack said.

Jason added,Ó TheyÕre all getting experience by being captured by Lord Zedd.Ó

Karla said,Ò Well, first we save them and then we make them Rangers.Ó

They teleported to the Cave of Darkness. Ò Trini could you help me with something?Ó Alpha Five inquired. She smiled.

Ò Sure.Ó

Ò Putties!Ó Tommy yelled.

Zordon said through the communicator,Ó Karla, there is a Flower Power Monster in Angel Grove. It has grown; you will need the Zords.Ó

Ò Jason, Zack, and Tommy get in your Zords and hold the Flower Power Monster!Ó

Ò Tigerzord!Ó

Ò Mastodon Lion Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Tyrannosaurus Red Dragon Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Okay, Rangers. LetÕs free them!Ó Karla commanded as they charged at the clay creatures. They destroyed the Putties and entered the cave.

Goldar stood between them and the captured trio. Ò You think you can get past me?Ó He laughed wickedly.

Ò WeÕve done it before,Ó Karla retorted. He growled and lounged forward.

Billy leap kicked him in the head. Kimberly kicked him in the stomach. Karla leapt and kicked Goldar in the neck which sent him tumbling over. Billy cut the chains with his Power Lance. They all ran outside.

Ò To the Command Center!Ó Karla ordered. Nine streaks of light flew across the sky.

Ò Where are we?Ó Aisha asked.

Ò You Ôre in the Command Center,Ó Jason answered. All the Rangers took off their helmets.

Ò Alpha, whereÕs Trini?Ó

Ò In the back, Billy.Ó Billy walked into a different room.

Ò You guys are the Power Rangers? Awesome!Ó Aisha exclaimed.

Ò Thanks for saving us,Ó Adam said.

Ò Oh, well thatÕs our job,Ó Karla answered slightly nervous.

Ò Why did you bring us here?Ó Rocky asked.

Ò We need new Rangers,Ó Trini answered as she and Billy came to join them.

Ò Wait a second. You want us to become Rangers?Ó Rocky queried incredulously.

Ò Yes,Ó Alpha said,Ó Jason is going to Japan, Zack is going to a dance and music academy in Florida, and Trini canÕt hold the power anymore because of a laser that was shot at her that makes her body unable to hold the power.Ó

Ò Here,Ó Trini gave Aisha the Morpher. Ò Saber tooth Tiger if you deem her worthy, infuse her with your power!Ó Yellow energy poured out of Trini and flowed into Aisha. Jason gave Rocky his Morpher and Zack gave Adam his. The new rangers stood there in the spandex.

Ò WeÕll do our best,Ó Adam promised.

Ò We know,Ó Jason said. Zack and Jason teleported home to pack.

Trini said,Ó Good luck guys.Ó

Ò Thanks,Ó Karla said. They teleported to Angel Grove. Ò LetÕs show Ôem the power of Thunder!Ó

Ò Mastodon Lion Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Pterodactyl Firebird Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Triceratops Unicorn Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Saber tooth Tiger Griffin Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Tyrannosaurus Red Dragon Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Griffin Phoenix Thunderzord Power!Ó

Ò Tigerzord Power!Ó

The seven Zords attacked the monster. The Phoenix flapped itÕs wings as it gained altitude. KarlaÕs Zord spinned and dove for the monsterÕs head. The Power Flower ducked and sprayed some arctic blossoms from its leaves at the Zords. TommyÕs Zord lounged towards the monster and his Zord froze, turned to ice. Ò TommyÕs a tiger icicle!Ó Rocky joked.

Ò No kidding! He and his Zord turned to ice,Ó Adam responded.

Ò Guys, the heat from the sun could melt the ice!Ó Aisha exclaimed.

Ò IÕll get that popcicle machine!Ó Kimberly raged. The Firebird swooped down, about to fire its missiles, when the monster blasted her with its blossoms. The Firebird was plummeting to the ground.

Adam yelled, Ò ItÕs gonna crash!Ó

Ò How do you stop ice from crashing?!Ó Aisha shouted.

Karla thought, If I donÕt do something, I will be responsible for KimberlyÕs death! She glanced at her wings. Ò Guys, go protect Tommy and fight that monster! IÕll save Kim!Ó

Karla zoomed toward her friend. She pushed a few buttons and the wings flapped furiously fast. She spun around the falling Zord, getting enough air currents, both cold and hot, so as not to melt or freeze it more. The hurricane force winds held up the Zord and landed it gently on the ground. Ò Form the Phoenix Ultrazord!Ó

The Unicorn and Griffin formed the legs. the Red Dragon made the upper body and head. The Lion formed the arms and the chest. Ò I call upon the Power of Tor!Ó Karla cried. The four Zords went into the carrier zord. The Phoenix landed on top of Tor. It folded its wings back and absorbed energy from the other five Zords. The Phoenix shot up like a rocket, spread its wings, folded them back again and dived straight for the monster. The Phoenix glowed and fired all charged energy at the monster; he exploded. The Tiger and Firebird changed back into Zords.

Ò I canÕt believe this!Ó Lord Zedd roared on the moon.

Ò They have three new Rangers?Ó Goldar said.

Ò No! Trini lost her powers, and the Hatchasaurus was destroyed along with that weapon! Now I canÕt make the rest of them powerless because of your incompetence!Ó

Ò I am sorry, Lord Zedd.Ó

Ó Next time, we will destroy them all!Ó

They stood in the Command Center as an awkward silence filled the room. No one knew what to say.

Karla spoke,Ó Trini, you know that youÕll always be a Ranger in our hearts and our minds. WeÕll never stop being your friends.Ó

Ò I know. Thanks, Karla.Ó

Ò Anytime.Ó

Ò Trini, I-Ó

Ò Aisha, I wanted you to have the power. I donÕt resent you for that.Ó Aisha smiled at her newest friend.

Ò Um..Karla, thanks for saving me back there.Ó

Ò Anytime, Kim.Ó

In the evening, they went to the airport. Jason and Karla stood alone as the others took care of the luggage. Ò Jason?Ó

Ò Yeah, Karla?Ó

Ò IÕve been having a problem with leading-Ó

Ò Today you didnÕt. YouÕre making a great leader, Karla.Ó

Ò Thanks, Jase, but Kim could have died. It would have been my fault.Ó

Ò Karla, itÕs not your fault. Kimberly made her move on her own. You didnÕt order her to attack-Ó

Ò But itÕs the leaderÕs responsibility to make sure no one else gets hurt. I could have told her to stop.Ó

Ò Could she have? Honestly?Ó

Karla thought for a moment,Ó No, she was flying too fast.Ó

Ò What happened today wasnÕt your fault. YouÕre right, though. It is the leaderÕs responsibility to watch over his or her team, but Kimberly got in danger anyway. It takes a good leader to deal with any situation when someone elseÕs life is at risk. You dealt with it. You solved it and saved their lives.Ó

Ò Thanks, Jason. I really appreciate it.Ó

Ò Hey, what are friends for?Ó The other Rangers walked up to them.

Ò Jase, you ready to go?Ó Tommy asked.

Ò Yeah, all of you email me, okay?Ó

Ò Hey, me too!Ó Zack added.

Ò You bet,Ó Adam replied.

Ò Count on it,Ó Kimberly chimed. Everyone hugged the two departing Rangers. A few minutes later their planes took off.

Later that night, Billy walked over to TriniÕs, hoping she would not leave. After all theyÕd been through together, he couldnÕt, wouldnÕt be able to stand, living here without her. He walked up to her porch, his heart beginning to break. Tommy departed when he lost his powers, why wouldnÕt she also leave? if she leaves I would never forgive myself, if I donÕt try to dissuade her. He rang the doorbell.

ÒTrini?Ó

Ò Hi, Billy.Ó

Ò My I speak with you in private, please?Ó

ÒSure, Billy.Ó She stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Ò What is it?Ó

Ò I....I...just wanted to make sure you were okay.Ó

Ò IÕm okay. IÕm not much to the team, so I might-Ó

Ò No!Ó

HeÕd blurted it so suddenly, it had surprised both of them, Ò IÕm sorry, Trini. Go on.Ó

She glanced at him with knowing eyes. Ò Billy, whatÕs wrong?Ó

He heaved a deep sigh. Ò I donÕt want you to leave.Ó

Ò IÕm no use to the Rangers. I have no powers-Ó

Ò ThatÕs not true,Ó Billy replied, Ò You have the power of your mind. You could help Zordon or Alpha in the Command Center.Ó

Trini smiled sadly, Ò It wouldnÕt be the same.Ó

Ò No it wonÕt, but at least youÕd still be here.Ó

Ò Billy,Ó she choked on the words as tears stung her eyes,Ó I donÕt want to leave, but IÕd be a liability if I stayed.Ó

Ò You used to have Ranger powers, but you still are apart of the team.Ó She shook her head, disagreeing. If he was going to speak his mind it would have to be now,Ó Trini, IÕm going to be very blunt, but I donÕt know how else to say this.Ó He took a deep breath. Ò I love you, Trini Kwan.Ó

She stared, deep into his blue eyes,Ò You do?Ó

Ò Yes,Ó he answered instantly.

Ò Oh, Billy.Ó She hugged him tight.

Ò I love you, too,Ó she whispered into his ear. She reached for the radio knob and turned the volume up.

Billy gazed at her with loving eyes, as they began to dance to the slow rhythm of the music.

Ò Billy?Ó

Ò Yes?Ó

Ò IÕll stay as long as you donÕt leave me.Ó

Ò Never. i could never leave you.Ó He tightened his grip around her