The End... for now
Jason was set upon breaking the weight lifting record, which had set been made by, surprisingly, Bulk.
He was in the Youth Center, working out. “Just a three more, Jase,” Zack said, “Just three more.” He got distracted when Angela walked by. “Just three more. Come on, man. You can do it.”
When he finally couldn’t take any more, Jason set the barbell down, and sat up.
“What’s wrong, bro?” Zack asked.
“Zack, were you even paying attention half of the time?” Jason asked, “You kept saying three more.”
Zack gave him a sheepish grin. “Sorry, man,” he said, “I just got a little distracted, I guess.”
“Yeah, I’d say you did,” Jason said. Just then, Bulk and Skull came wondering over.
“Aw, what’s the matter, geek?” Bulk asked mockingly, “Can’t beat the record? Good, that means it’s still mine.”
“Yeah, it’s Bulk’s,” Skull parroted.
“Just you wait, Bulk,” Zack said, “Jason’s going to beat your record, and show you up. You’ll see.”
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Bulk said, “See him fail, just like now.” Just then, Ernie came up from, carrying a cake. Not seeing him, Bulk started walking away, knocking the cake away from Ernie’s hands and up into the air. Instead of falling on Bulk or Skull, like it usually does, it landed on poor Jason.
“Oh, man,” Jason said, “Can’t anything go right for me today?”
“Go on ahead and clean up,” Zack told him, “I’ll take care of the mess out here for you.”
“Thanks, Zack,” Jason said, as he headed for a locker room. There, he saw Tommy changing and walked up to him.
“Hey, Tommy,” Jason said. Tommy looked up and grinned.
“Hey, Jase,” Tommy said. He eyed the icing and stuff on Jason. “What’d you do, decide to celebrate your breaking the record early? Let me guess. The party’s on you?”
“Very funny, bro,” Jason said. He grabbed a towel and some clean clothes from his locker and headed for the showers. “Are you about to go practice.”
“Nah, I was doing that before,” Tommy said, “Kim and I have a date in a little while, and I almost forgot about it. I got here in a hurry.” Jason laughed. “Hey, Jase, mind if I ask you a question?”
“Shoot,” Jason said.
“Well, Kim seems to be agitated at me about something,” Tommy said, “I was just wondering if you know what it was.”
Jason sighed. “You want the truth?” he asked as he stripped and got under the shower.
“Of course,” Tommy said.
“Off hand, I’d say it’s your forgetfulness,” Jason said bluntly, “I mean, you’re almost always late for dates with her.”
“Yeah, but at least I call her to let her know most of the time,” Tommy said, “I guess you’re right, though.”
“Look, we can help you, if you want us to,” Jason said, “We’ll talk to the others when we get the chance, all right?”
“Thanks, man,” Tommy said.
“Hey, that’s what friends are for, right?” Jason asked, “Now, you’d better be going, or Kim will have your hide.”
“Oh, right,” Tommy said, “See you later, Jase.”
“Bye, Tommy,” Jason said. He quickly got through with the shower and got dressed. Then, he went out into the main area of the Youth Center.
“Hey, Jase,” Zack said, “What’s up?”
“Tommy left a few minutes ago, right?” Jason asked.
“Yeah, and he looked to be in a real hurry,” Zack said, “Must be a date with Kim. Nothing else would get to him that much.”
“Yeah, it was a date, and he was worried he’d be late,” Jason said, “Again. I told him that we’d all try to help him with his memory problem. What do you think? Are you up to the task?”
“Of course,” Zack said.
“Speaking of couples,” Jason said, “Where’s Billy and Trini?”
“Science lecture of some kind, I think,” Zack said. Jason rolled his eyes.
Billy and Trini were walking to the Youth Center, talking about their relationship, and where they want it to lead. “I was thinking about marriage someday,” Trini said, “Have you ever thought about it?”
“Yeah, but I’m afraid I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” Billy said, “I love you, Trini. Heart and soul, I do.”
“And I love you too, Billy,” Trini said. They kissed.
The next day, they got a schedule together for Tommy. “Just follow this, and you’ll do okay,” Billy said.
“Thanks guys,” Tommy said, “I really appreciate this.”
“Hey, it’s no problem, bro,” Zack said, “What are friends for, right?”
“Well, we’d better be going, before we’re late for class,” Kim said, “While the teachers are used to with you, Tommy, I don’t think the rest of us will get off very lightly.”
“Hey, don’t make me hurt you,” Tommy teased. They all scattered for their respective classes.
A few days later, they found that trying to make a schedule for Tommy would definitely not work. He’d just forget it at home, or in his locker.
“I’m really sorry, guys,” Tommy said, “I know how much hard work you put into making that schedule. I guess I’m just doomed to having a bad memory the rest of my life. I’ll probably be late on my wedding day.”
“You better not be,” Kim said, “Anyone know where Jason is? Or Zack?”
“Yeah, he said he was going to the Youth Center,” Billy said.
“And Zack more than likely went with him,” Trini said.
“Let’s head that way,” Tommy said. They finished putting their books and things into their lockers, and headed for their favorite hangout.
“Come on, Jase,” Zack said, “Just five more.” Jason slowly pushed the weights up and down five, last times, just as Tommy, Kim, Billy, and Trini arrived. “You did it, man.” Jason got up and everybody celebrated.
“Tell you what,” Ernie said, “In honor of this special occasion, the next two rounds for everybody are on the house.” Everybody cheered.
“Congratulations, Jason,” Kim said, running up and giving him a hug.
“Yeah, that was awesome, bro,” Tommy said, grabbing up Jason’s hand.
“Absolutely Morphinominal,” Billy said.
“We’re so proud of you,” Trini said, giving Jason a hug.
“Thanks, guys,” Jason said, “Just more proof that, if you put your mind to it, you can do anything.” Just then, his communicator went off. They went to their usual hallway and Jason brought it to his lips. “We read you, Zordon. What’s up?”
“Report to the Command Center immediately,” Zordon said, “I believe that we may have found where your rings are being held.”
“We’ll be right there,” Jason said, “Kim, go ask Ernie if he would cover for us. The rest of us will head on up to the Command Center.”
“Right,” Kim said. She went jogging up to the bar, as the others teleported away in flurries of their respective colors. “Hey, Ernie.”
“Go on ahead,” Ernie whispered, “I’ll cover for you guys. Use the back room to teleport from now on, so you don’t run the risk of being seen teleporting out.” Grinning and waving, Kim stepped into the back storage room and teleported to the Command Center. “So, what’s the big emergency?”
“We have found your rings, Rangers,” Zordon said, “But there’s a problem. Only one with morphing energy can enter the cavern their hidden inside.”
“But, they took all of the rings,” Zack pointed out.
“Not all of them, Zachary,” Zordon said. Alpha came out, and on a pillow he was holding was the Green Lantern Ranger power ring.
“You want me to take up the powers again?” Tommy asked.
“No, I’m afraid that’s no longer a possibility,” Zordon said, “But you need to wield it long enough to tell it to seek out it’s true champion. I’m afraid that there is no telling what this will do to your already damaged life-force. It will also probably take a while for it to find it’s champion.”
“If it’ll help you guys get your rings back, I’ll do it,” Tommy said.
“Tommy, no,” Kim said, “You can’t risk it. What if you die from this?”
“If I die, then I’ll die a happy man,” Tommy said, “Ever since I came to Angel Grove, I’ve found good friends and a love that’ll last a lifetime. I don’t want to die, but this is the only way I can help you. In case I do die...” He gently took Kim’s hand and dropped to his knees and pulled a ring box out. “Kim, will you do me the honor of, one day, becoming my wife?”
“Yes,” Kim said, “Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.” She bowled him over with her enthusiastic lunge.
When she got up off of Tommy, and he had gotten up and slipped the ring on her finger, Alpha walked up to him. He took his old power ring and slipped it on his finger. “Do I need to morph?” he asked.
“No, that would have an even more dangerous effect on you,” Zordon said, “It should be telling you what you need to know.”
“I am Tommy Jordan, former wielder of this ring,” Tommy stated, “I set it free, to find its true champion.” With a green flash, the ring disappeared.
Alpha scanned him. “You seem to be all right,” he said, “The ceremony doesn’t seem to have had an affect on you.”
“Great,” Tommy said, “Is it all right if we go? We left a party behing in the Youth Center.” Zordon nodded.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Kim said. The others groaned.
“Kim, of all the habits you could have picked up from dating Tommy,” Jason said, “Did it have to be his bad memory?” She glared at him. “I was just kidding.”
“Anyway,” Kim said, “Ernie said that we should start using his back storage room to teleport from, so no one will notice us teleporting in the main hallway.”
“Good,” Tommy said, “Let’s go.” With that, all six of them teleported off.
That night, and an unknown distance away, a young boy was looking out the window of the orphage he was living in. “Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight,” he said, “I wish I may, I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight. I wish that I was a part of something important, and I could belong somewhere.” With that, he went to bed.
As a green light streaked across the sky.