HANNAH

The previous night had been pretty incredible at first. Not only had Hannah seen that she could fight in a real battle, but she'd saved Roxy. She had been nervous as the fight started, but as soon as she saw her friend in danger, something inside of her had found the courage she needed to help. She was a superhero. Sure, she'd been attacked and needed help, but she wasn't the only one who had ended up in need of assistance, and the team had been there to back her up. She'd even been able to help Lucas, which was good, because Cassie had looked pretty panicked. No matter how much Cassie made snarky comments about Lucas, she obviously cared about him.

After they'd seen that Serena and Austin were okay, Austin had motioned for them to keep their distance as he continued to calm Serena down. They had split up after that. Kaylen had gone back home, apparently still dealing with family stuff. Lee had gone off to find Ronnie. Hannah had planned to just walk home, but she'd spotted Roxy on the street. Roxy had told her about all of the insanity she'd "missed" and had reassured Hannah that she was fine, thanks to the Pink Ranger. She'd insisted on walking Hannah home in case any other trouble showed up. It had been nice walking home beneath the stars with Roxy by her side. It was the perfect way to end the night.

Unfortunately, the night had not actually ended there. As soon as Hannah got home, Mr. Brooks followed her up to her bedroom. She'd considered fighting. She knew she could do it now, but she wasn't supposed to use her powers for personal gain. Mr. Brooks might be a horrible, cruel, sick man, but he wasn't Divatox or any of the other people or creatures the Power Rangers were allowed to use their powers on. Besides, he'd made it clear more than once recently that if she didn't keep him satisfied, he'd be forced to turn his attention to Nina. Hannah couldn't let him destroy the six-year-old's innocence. She gave in, knowing it was the only choice she could make.

She made the Brooks family breakfast as usual, ignoring how much pain she was in. It was Saturday. Mrs. Brooks was hosting a county fair for charity, and she was bringing Nina along as her helper. Mr. Brooks would be home all day long, alone with Hannah, unless she found a convincing excuse quickly.

"I'm tutoring kids all day," Hannah said quickly as she finished washing the dishes.

She could tell Mr. Brooks wanted to object, but Mrs. Brooks replied before he could. "That's good, Hannah. The harder you work, the more colleges will look into offering you scholarships."

"She's working too much," Mr. Brooks objected. "What if her grades suffer?"

"Nonsense! She's a smart girl. Besides, tutoring other students is like doing extra studying. She's fine. Leave it alone."

Hannah was beyond relieved when he didn't protest further. She grabbed her bag and left soon after, not sure where to go. She was supposed to meet the team at Oakhaven, but not for a few hours. She didn't feel safe out in the open. If Mr. Brooks left the house and found her, she knew he'd hurt her worse than usual for lying. She sighed, deciding to use the address Cassie had given them in case of an emergency. It was ten in the morning by the time she got there. She hoped they'd be awake.

A minute after she rang the doorbell, Cassie opened the door. "Hannah?" She asked in confusion. "This is a surprise... Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yeah... Everything's fine," Hannah replied cheerfully. "I just, um... I didn't have anything to do before we were supposed to meet up. I hope it's okay I came by?"

"Of course it is. Come on in," Cassie said, stepping aside so Hannah could enter the house.

"Good morning, Lucas," Hannah called as she spotted him in the kitchen. "How are you feeling?"

"A lot better today," Lucas said. "Thanks for patching me up."

"No problem. I'm just glad you're alright."

Lucas frowned as he got a better look at her. "Your neck..." He began.

Cassie immediately examined her more closely. "Oh my God! Is that from last night?" She asked.

Hannah glanced in the mirror and saw the obvious bruising around her neck. Mr. Brooks had choked her nearly into unconsciousness at one point the night before. "I guess so," Hannah said, grateful for the excuse.

"It shouldn't be... I know Lee said one of them had you by the throat, but your morph should have protected you from that kind of damage. Being sore is one thing, but you look like they nearly killed you!"

"I'm okay, really... It's not that bad," Hannah said quickly.

Lucas stood beside her and reached toward her. Hannah automatically flinched. She regretted that as she saw Cassie and Lucas exchange worried glances. "Hannah... I just need to check it to see how bad it is," Lucas said gently.

"Right. Sorry," Hannah replied.

Lucas was surprisingly gentle as he tried to check her wound. It still hurt. "Well, your voice isn't really hoarse, so that's a good sign. It's pretty swollen, though. Let's ice it and see if it goes down a bit." He pulled an ice pack out of the freezer.

Hannah began to ice her neck, hoping it would help. "Just relax, sweetheart. Have some food," Cassie said, motioning toward a variety of fruits, pancakes, and other breakfast items.

"Thanks," Hannah said softly. She hadn't eaten yet, so she knew she needed to. She focused on that as Cassie and Lucas stepped into another room.

CASSIE

"Someone's hurting her," Cassie said as soon as they were alone.

"Clearly," Lucas replied.

"Lucas, we have to help her. Did you see the way she flinched from you?"

"Look, Cassie, I don't like it either... But if her destiny is to be on this path, we can't interfere. There's only so much we can do."

"Are you nuts? She's being abused, Lucas. We need to help her."

"And we'll do what we can, but changing even the smallest detail can unravel the past and completely change the future."

"If her future sucks, why is changing it a bad thing?"

"It causes a ripple effect, Cassie. We have to be careful. At the end of the day, we can't knock the kids off of their destined paths."

"She needs help, Lucas. An exception should be made. It's not black and white! How can you ignore that?"

"Time Force has to make decisions like this all the time. The rules exist for a reason. They must be followed."

"I thought Alpha was the robot." Cassie shook her head. "You know what? If that girl asks for my help, you'd better believe I'll kick the ass of whoever it was that put his hands on her! And if your precious rules have a problem with that, I'll take the rule book and shove it right up your ass!" She stormed off in frustration.

How could he expect her to ignore one of their Rangers who clearly needed help? Didn't he understand that it was necessary to break rules sometimes? Maybe they were supposed to help Hannah. Maybe the Universe wanted her destiny changed. Did he ever think about that?

"Cassie? Are you okay?" Hannah asked as she walked into the hallway and spotted her.

"Yeah... Just a little frustrated. So, we're summoning your Zords today. Are you excited?" Cassie asked, hoping to change the subject.

"Definitely! A little nervous, but I'm sure we'll figure it out." Hannah's usual cheerfulness was back. Cassie was impressed the girl could do that so quickly. She was also worried.

"Listen, Hannah... If you ever need to talk to someone, you can talk to me. You know that, right?"

"Sure, Cassie. You're awesome."

"Is there anything going on with you at home?"

Hannah shrank a bit. "No, no, everything's fine," she lied. Cassie might have believed her, but the fear in her eyes was too obvious.

"Hannah..." She sighed. She couldn't push and she knew that. If she was meant to help Hannah, something would make her talk to her. She just had to be patient and hope the girl was safe in the meantime.

SERENA

She was caught up in a project and didn't hear her mother calling to her. "Serena, come on," she tried again. "There's someone waiting for you."

Serena finally heard her. "For me?" Serena asked in surprise. No one ever came to see her at home. "Who is it?" She asked suspiciously.

"He says he's a friend of yours from school... Austin? He's got a very strong Southern drawl."

Serena was surprised. "Oh... Okay, I guess... Should I come downstairs?"

"Well, that's probably more appropriate than you having a boy in your bedroom," her mother said with a slight laugh.

"Tell him I'll be down in three minutes." Serena closed her bedroom door and finished what she'd started. Then she pulled her hair back into a somewhat messy ponytail and headed downstairs since she was already dressed.

Austin sat on the couch with her mother, smiling and making her laugh with some story or another. Serena could tell her mother found the boy charming. "Hey, Darlin'," he greeted her cheerfully.

"Austin... What are you doing here?" Serena asked.

"Serena, sweetheart, don't be rude," her mother scolded her.

Serena frowned. "Sorry," she said. She tried again, in a slightly more pleasant tone. "What are you doing here?"

Austin didn't seem to be bothered by her "rude" behavior. He kept smiling at her. "I brought you something," he explained.

"You did?" Serena asked in surprise.

"Yeah. After I found out about how noises affect you, I got to thinking, and I went out and bought these." He pulled out a couple of things.

Serena stared at him in confusion. "Ear plugs and headphones?" She asked.

"The ear plugs are reusable and really strong, and the headphones are the kind people use in recording studios. Between the two, you can block out noises that are too high or loud for your ears."

Serena's mother clapped her hands together in excitement. "Oh, Austin, that was incredibly thoughtful of you!" She said. "Serena, thank the boy."

"Thank you," Serena said, still confused. "Why would you do this for me?"

"Because we're friends, Darlin'. This is what friends do," Austin replied easily.

"I wouldn't know," Serena said after a moment. "I've never had any."

"That's not true, honey! You're just shy," her mother said quickly.

"No, I'm just different and people don't like me. I'm a freak."

"I already told ya, Darlin', I've met way bigger freaks than you... And you might think no one likes you, but I like you, Serena. I promise," Austin said.

Serena tried to find a hint of a lie or of him making fun of her, but there didn't seem to be any of that. "Thanks, Austin... I guess," Serena said, not sure what else to say to him.

"I'm headed to meet up with our classmates... Would you like to come with me?"

Serena knew he meant he was headed to Oakhaven. "Sure," she said. "Let me get my jacket." She grabbed it and pulled it on. "No questions, Mom? I'm about to leave the house with some boy." She put the headphones and ear plugs in her bookbag.

"That boy is a sweetheart," her mother replied, since Austin was already waiting outside. "You hold onto him, Serena. It will be good for you to make a friend... And he's so charming, polite, and handsome... Interracial relationships are becoming much more acceptable these days-"

"Are you trying to set me up?" Serena asked in horror. "I am not interested in having a boyfriend, Mom. I don't like to be touched."

"I know, but maybe the right boy could-"

"Mom. No." Serena shook her head. "Austin is a friend, I guess, but he's not anything else."

"Of course. I'm sorry. Go have fun, okay?"

"Bye, Mom." Serena gave her mother the quickest of hugs, which was something she really only allowed her mother to do. She didn't like hugs at all, but she'd come to realize it made her mother feel better if she at least tried to endure the physical contact for her sake. As soon as she was free, Serena ran out the door to join Austin.

"This way, Darlin'," he said.

"Austin... Why did you really do that for me? What's the catch?" Serena asked as they started walking.

"I told you, Serena... I'm your friend. There isn't a catch. I'm a musician, so I know a bunch of tricks to handle loud noises. It was just the decent thing to do."

Serena believed him. "Thanks... I think my mother wants me to date you."

He laughed. "Well, you're great, Darlin', but as far as something like that goes, the only one who gets to decide is you."

"The idea doesn't disgust you?"

"Of course not! But I'm guessing it disgusts you a bit."

"It's not you," Serena explained. "I just have no interest in relationships. My mom thinks the right boy can cure me, but I don't. I hate being touched, and I don't feel sexual attraction. I never have, and I don't want to." She had to make sure he understood there was no chance she would become some idiot girl ruled by her hormones who started putting out just because he wasn't unpleasant to look at.

"You don't have to defend yourself to me, Serena. You're perfect exactly as you are, Darlin,' I promise. Now, come on... It's time to go play with our giant alien robots!"

Serena actually laughed. "Austin, if I were the sort of girl my mom wants me to be, you'd certainly know how to charm me," she said. "Giant alien robots may just be the way to my heart."

"Isn't that the way to every girl's heart?" He teased her.

They walked in a comfortable silence after that, and Serena realized that, for the first time in her life, she might actually have a friend... And she didn't completely hate it.

LUCAS

"Welcome to Zord training!" Lucas greeted everyone cheerfully as they arrived at Oakhaven. "Now, Kaylen, you missed the theoretical lesson, but the practical one is probably the best way for you to learn anyway. Follow everyone's lead. The sequence for calling the Zords is the same as the morphing sequence."

"Lee gave me a mild run-down when I got here," Kaylen said. "I'm ready."

"Good leadership, Lee," Lucas said with approval. He led them outside. "Okay, do you remember how to do this?" He asked Lee.

"In theory, yes. In practice, let's find out," Lee replied casually. "But you never told us the official order we're supposed to morph in... Remember, we just did it on our own the first time, and we weren't all together any of the other times."

Alpha helpfully chimed in. "For your team, it goes Green, Yellow, Blue, Pink, Red," she said.

"Well alright," Austin said cheerfully. "I'm ready when y'all are."

Lee took a deep breath and proclaimed, "Go, Go, Battle Cats!"

Lucas could feel the change in the air. It was clear the others did, too, because everyone turned more serious.

"Lynx, Battlezord Power, Activate! Ha!" Austin shouted.

To the visible amazement of the young Rangers, a large green lynx came running toward them. It let out a loud cry, causing Serena to cover her ears. Austin quickly pulled something out of her bookbag. Lucas was impressed to see ear plugs and headphones.

"Here, Darlin'," Austin said soothingly. "Let's test them out."

With trembling hands, Serena tried to put the ear plugs in. They seemed to help immediately. She looked at Austin gratefully before pulling on the headphones. Suddenly, she was much calmer.

Smart kid, Lucas thought.

"My turn!" Kaylen declared with excitement. "Leopard, Battlezord Power, Activate! Ha!" The yellow leopard rushed to join them. "Okay, that's radical!" Kaylen decided.

"Totally," Lee agreed.

Serena seemed to be fully recovered. She took a deep breath. "Jaguar, Battlezord Power, Activate! Ha!" She said, following the precise rhythm of the words with the motion of her body. Shortly after, the blue jaguar arrived. "How extraordinary!" Serena said in wonder. She immediately touched the Zord, something Lucas found amazing considering Serena disliked touch so much. The girl did seem to have a connection to technology, so Lucas assumed that strengthened her ability to bond with her Zord quicker than the others. The Zord seemed just as drawn to her.

"Hannah, it's your turn," Cassie said gently.

Hannah swallowed nervously before nodding. "Cheetah, Battlezord Power, Activate! Ha!" She said. Soon, the pink cheetah joined them. Hannah smiled at it, clearly pleased she'd managed to summon it.

Lee looked more than ready to finish things. "Lion, Battlezord Power, Activate! Ha!" He shouted. The red lion made the grandest entrance of all and let out an extremely powerful roar that shook the ground. Serena didn't seem to notice, which Lucas took as a good sign that she could handle things now that her ears were protected.

"Now that's rad!" Lee declared.

"That was great, guys," Lucas said. "Now, get in."

"How?" Hannah asked.

"Isn't it obvious? We scratch the kitties behind their ears, they expose their bellies, and open up their mouths," Austin joked.

"Just focus on the Zord and it will pull you in," Lucas said.

Serena was the first to accomplish it. "Amazing! This technology is unlike any I have ever seen!" She said.

Kaylen got in next. "Oh, yeah! I can do a lot of damage in this baby!" She declared.

Austin followed their lead. "Ho-ly shit, y'all! This is a sweet ride!" He announced.

Lee looked at Hannah, who still looked nervous. "Go on, Hannah. You've got this," he encouraged her.

Hannah nodded and closed her eyes before getting into her Zord. She must have opened them back up, because she quickly said, " Oh my gosh, guys, this is, like, the coolest thing ever!"

Lee smiled at Cassie and Lucas before easily boarding his Zord. "Tubular," he decided.

"He's got great instincts as a leader," Lucas said to Cassie as the kids explored their Zords and tried to figure out how to pilot them.

"Of course he does, Lucas," Cassie said. "He's a Scott."

"You knew he was Jason's uncle?" Lucas asked in surprise.

"I figured out they were related, but I never confirmed it," Cassie replied.

"They're all doing better than I expected. Lee's a great leader. Kaylen thinks fast on her feet and is tough as nails. Hannah has great first aid skills and proved at the movie theater that she's courageous when it comes to protecting others. Serena has her challenges but isn't letting them stop her... Plus, she's smarter than all of us put together... And Austin is incredibly in tune with the needs of the team members and knows how to boost everyone's morale. Every team needs that."

"Are you saying you finally approve of my choices?"

"I'm saying all hope might not be lost after all," Lucas said with a small smirk. "They're not as bad as I expected them to be."

"That was almost a compliment. You're going soft on me," Cassie teased him.

The Rangers were finally getting the hang of moving around in their Zords. Lucas turned his attention back to them to help them train. He noticed Cassie watching him with a smile on her face.

She's got a great smile, he thought. When Cassie was happy, her entire face lit up, including her eyes. She didn't hide her excitement. In some ways, she was like a big kid. Lucas realized he liked it when Cassie was smiling. It made him feel like all was right with the world, if only for a few seconds.

After a while, it was time to send the Zords back where they'd come from. Alpha cheerfully greeted them as they went back into the house. "Well done, Rangers!" She said.

"I'm really proud of you guys," Cassie added.

"You did well, but you still have a lot to learn," Lucas said. "We will continue training until you guys can do this stuff in your sleep."

"Dude, way to suck the fun out of it," Kaylen said. "The whole 'you did well, but' isn't the way to encourage us."

"I was just trying to explain that there's always room to improve."

"Just shut up and let the kids have their moment," Cassie said. "You guys rocked it! Come on, I brought lunch."

The kids followed Cassie to the kitchen. Lucas realized she might be right. Maybe it was better to let them celebrate the little victories before he stressed bigger issues. Who was he, Jen? When she'd first become their leader, Jen had been pretty strict about the rules.

You have a lot in common with Jen, he reminded himself. She'd thought she'd lost the love of her life. Of course, he'd been alive and just hadn't bothered to tell them until it suited him, but that didn't change the fact that she'd grieved for him deeply... And then, she'd fallen for his ancestor, Wes, a forbidden romance that could never thrive because Wes needed to stay on his destined path or they'd never meet him anyway... Time travel caused such headaches sometimes. It killed Jen and Wes that they couldn't be together, but whenever they did see each other, the love they felt was clear.

After lunch, Lee said, "I've gotta motor, guys. My brother's coming by for dinner tonight. My parents will kill me if I'm not there."

"Yeah, I need to book, too. More family drama," Kaylen said.

"I have a project I want to return to," Serena chimed in.

"Aunt Suzy's expecting me to go to some county fair... It's not anything like they are back home, but I don't feel right telling her no," Austin added.

Hannah was staring at her feet nervously. "Hannah? Do you have plans tonight?" Lucas asked.

"No," she replied softly.

"Come to the county fair," Austin suggested.

"I'm not supposed to," Hannah said. "Mrs. Brooks says I'd be a distraction, and she's already got Nina."

"Who's Mrs. Brooks?" Austin asked.

"My foster mom," Hannah replied, visibly ashamed to admit this.

"I'm sorry," Austin said quickly. "I didn't know."

"It's alright. I don't exactly scream it from the rooftops. The Brooks family took me in two years ago. Nina's their little girl. She's six."

Lucas could tell how hard Hannah was forcing herself to seem cheerful as she talked about her foster family. She seemed genuine when she mentioned the kid, but it was clear she had issues with her foster parents. I need to ask Trip what's going on there, he decided. He might not be able to do anything, but he should at least be aware of the situation.

Everyone began to leave. Lucas frowned as he realized Lee had left his jacket. "Do you think he needs it?" Lucas asked Cassie.

Cassie picked up the jacket. "I'll bring it to him. His place isn't far from us anyway." She hesitated in the doorway. "Hey, Hannah? Do you need a lift, sweetie?" She asked. Hannah was apparently still outside.

"Oh! Um... No, I'm fine," Hannah said quickly.

Lucas sighed. The girl was obviously afraid to go home. "I'll give you a ride anywhere you want to go," he offered.

Cassie looked at him with surprise. "Anywhere?" Hannah asked softly.

"Anywhere," Lucas promised. "It's early. There's no reason for you to rush home just yet."

Cassie nodded at him with approval. Not that he needed her approval or anything... He just felt like there was no harm in keeping Hannah out for a bit. "Thanks," Hannah said. "I'd appreciate that."

"See you later, Cassie," Lucas said. He led Hannah to his car, stopping to open the door for her. She smiled at him sweetly. "Where to?" He asked once she'd buckled up.

"I'd like to go see my friend Roxy," she said

"Where does she live?"

"She's not far from Lee. Let me give you the address." Hannah recited it and Lucas took off toward the house. After a minute, he looked over at Hannah. She looked a bit nervous and he realized how fast he was driving. He forced himself to slow down, not willing to risk her life just to satisfy his need for speed. He'd learned to drive slowly with kids in the car after Arianna was born.

The familiar ache in his chest hit unexpectedly as his daughter flashed through his mind. He took a deep breath, trying to focus on the road.

"Lucas?" Hannah called gently. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he lied. "I'm just a little tired."

"I'm sorry you're going out of your way... You can just drop me off here. I can walk-"

"No, Hannah, don't worry about it. I don't mind giving you a ride. I'm fine, okay?" He forced himself to smile at her, even though smiling was the last thing he wanted to do. His baggage was not Hannah's fault, and it seemed like she had plenty of her own to deal with. He didn't want her to feel bad just because he couldn't control his emotions. Turn them off, he told himself. Flip the switch, Lucas. Sometimes, that was the only way he could deal with things... By ignoring the pain and refusing to feel or even acknowledge his grief.

He dropped her off at her friend's house and drove a couple of blocks away before pulling over. He sat on the side of the road, desperately trying to keep his emotions in check. When he couldn't, he tried to feel anger instead. He repeatedly hit the steering wheel with both of his hands until he knew they should hurt, but he couldn't feel the pain, so he didn't stop. It wasn't until an alert came in on his Time Force communication tech that he finally stopped attacking the poor car.

"What?!" He snapped into the device.

"Lucas, what the hell did you two do?" Jen demanded.

That made him focus. "Jen? What's wrong?" Lucas asked much more respectfully.

"The entire timeline is unraveling, Lucas! If it settles, we won't be able to fix it! The majority of the Power Ranger teams won't ever come together! What did you guys do?" She demanded again.

"Nothing! We've gone completely by the book. I won't let Cassie do anything rash. I don't understand, unless she chose the wrong Rangers..."

"No, your team of baby Rangers is perfectly fine. Their futures aren't too far off of their original courses... But every team from Zeo on has vanished from the time line! The original team never became the Zeo team. In fact, they didn't even all become Rangers... Jason, Zack, and Trini never left. They refused to go to the Peace Summit. Kimberly never left, either... So Aisha, Adam, and Rocky never joined the team, and Katherine was killed before she made it out of high school, by Rita and Zedd. Apparently, they realized she was Zell's daughter. Also, Tommy never became the White Ranger. After he lost his Green powers and Casey saved them, he went on to live an ordinary life. He never took on any of the other Ranger roles. The majority of the evil beings who were defeated by the later teams were never defeated, and Earth is basically Onyx now, and the worst part is that Astronema is running everything because Andros never figured out she was Karone, so she overthrew Dark Specter and took over the entire universe! You have to fix this, Lucas!"

"I don't understand... Everything was fine when we split up. I didn't drive Hannah home, but that can't be what did this much damage, and Cassie was just taking Lee his jack-" He froze as realization dawned on him. "Cassie. Goddamnit!"

"What is it? What did you figure out?"

"Cassie was on her way to Lee's house. He said his brother was visiting. His brother, Jason's father, who probably brought him along. She must be planning to say something to him that changes everything... I'm on it, Jen. I'll fix this." Lucas began speeding toward Lee's house, praying he wasn't too late. If it hadn't settled yet, then Cassie had made the choice but hadn't actually done enough to seal it. He might still be able to stop this.

CASSIE

She knew there was a good chance Jason would be at Lee's house, but she hadn't expected him to answer the door. "Hi!" He said cheerfully. She barely recognized him, but his eyes and easy smile gave it away. He was probably only twelve or thirteen, and he was the spitting image of Ollie. Or, Ollie was the spitting image of him, she supposed... Or he would be... Ugh. Time travel headache, Cassie thought.

"What can I do for you?" Jason asked since she still hadn't spoken.

"Oh, um... Hi. I'm here to give this back to Lee," Cassie said, showing him the jacket.

"Who is it, Jase?" Lee called from inside, confirming that this was indeed Jason.

"I'm Jason," he said smoothly. "What's your name?" His eyes looked her over flirtatiously.

"I'm Cassie," she said.

"Nice to meet you, Cassie." He smiled smoothly and said, "You're really pretty. How about you forget about my uncle and we go out sometime?"

Cassie started laughing. Oh my God, even when he was barely four feet tall, he was a little hornball! She thought with amusement. "Call me in ten years, Kid," she said with a smile.

"It's a date!" He agreed.

Lee came to the door. "My jacket! Thanks, Cassie," he said, taking it from her. "I totally spaced."

"Oh, sure. No problem! I was just talking with your nephew. He's quite the charmer."

"I taught him well," Lee said with a laugh.

Looking at Jason and seeing him happy and goofy and innocent, she suddenly flashed on his state back in the present. Jason had lost his wife, gotten possessed by his evil, psychotic ancestor, and nearly killed his entire family. He'd broken then, and he'd started drinking. He'd barely gotten his shit together when Tommy got kidnapped, and then Zack had died to save his life. He was broken in ways he would never fully recover from.

You can spare him that pain, she thought. You can save his life. You can save all of their lives... Just warn him what's going to happen. One little warning to save everyone... How can saving them be a bad thing?

"Hey, Lee... Can I come in and use your bathroom?" Cassie asked.

Lee shrugged. "Sure. It's down that hallway, last door on the left," he said.

"Thanks. You're the best!" She hurried into the house. Once locked inside of the bathroom, she gripped the sink with shaking hands. "You can do this," she told her reflection.

But should you? Her mind asked. Lucas says changing the future is dangerous... But he also thinks it's okay to leave a scared kid in a bad situation. Lucas is a heartless, unfeeling dick, and this can save everyone. This can save TJ... And everyone else who died that day. You have to do this!

Cassie pulled out a notepad and a pen and began to write a letter.

Dear Jason,

I know this is confusing, but please listen to me. You will know I'm telling you the truth when you're older. You're going to meet a man named Zordon, and he's going to give you incredible powers you can't even imagine... Powers that will help you save the world. You're going to lead a team called the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, and what I'm about to tell you will help you protect not only them, but all of the teams to follow.

First of all, you don't know him yet, but Tommy Oliver is really, really important. He has to be protected. Keep him safe no matter what. When you're much older and all grown up, Tommy is going to get kidnapped. A lot, actually... But one time in particular, his kidnapping will bring all of the other teams together... And a lot of people are going to die, including Zack. Please do everything you can to keep this from happening. Keep Tommy safe. If Tommy doesn't get kidnapped, the others will be safe. If you do fail to prevent the kidnapping, I need you to do me a favor... Tell TJ my life is not more important than his, and not to do something stupid to save me... And if he doesn't listen, tell me he'll die if I'm the one who gets my powers restored instead of him. Please, Jason. Please warn us both.

Tell Zordon that Katherine cannot be trusted. She is his half-sister, and she's evil. No matter what Kimberly says, you can't let Katherine become the Pink Ranger. Zordon needs to know his evil father is coming back. If you can't stop it, protect the boy, Caleb, with everything you guys have. Zell will use his powers to bring himself back, but if Katherine is never trusted, maybe she won't kill Caleb... That's how he gets his powers. If they're dormant, Zell can't use them. Also, tell Zordon that Zedd and Rita can still be saved, and not to give up on them. Sage Park is the key to saving Zedd from being evil, but maybe Casey can do it. Casey's really powerful in her own right. Rita will save herself when her daughter's life is in danger.

I know this is a lot. I don't even know if telling you these things will help, but I have to try. Please believe me, Jason. And thank you for trying to help me save everyone.

With Love,

Cassie

She folded up the letter and took several more deep breaths. You're doing the right thing, she told herself. She flushed the unused toilet, washed her hands, and stepped into the hallway. She was stunned when someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her back toward the bathroom, throwing her inside before closing the door.

Cassie was about to attack whoever it was when she realized she knew the "attacker." She stared at him in confusion. "Lucas? What the hell?" She demanded.

He was staring at her hand. "What's in that letter, Cassie?" Lucas demanded.

"None of your business," Cassie said defensively. "It's personal."

"Whatever you just did, you're going to fucking destroy the future!" He snapped.

"What? You're exaggerating. There's no way that-"

"Cassie, everything gets undone! Most of the Ranger teams never form! Your teams never form! You never even meet each other!"

That stung, but if they didn't form, didn't that mean TJ and the others would never die in the big battle? "So what? At least they're alive, Lucas!"

"You think it doesn't matter? Do you know what's going on now, Cassie? Astronema took over the Universe and is an evil dictator! Andros never saved her!"

"He... He didn't?" She took a step back, realizing this might be worse than she'd imagined.

"No, he didn't. Everything is fucked up! There is literally no future for us to go back to, because you just destroyed the entire time line! You can't do this, Cassie. Rip it up before it's too late!"

"No! You don't understand, Lucas! I need to save them! Jason's just a kid, and he's so happy and innocent, and I know how much pain is coming for him! I know how much pain is coming for all of us! And Zell's coming back, and everything's going to be destroyed anyway! At least this way, they'll live!"

"Do you really think anyone is safe with Astronema ruling the universe? Karone's scary enough on her own, let alone as Astronema! You have to fix this!"

"I have to save them! You don't understand! TJ's alive here, Lucas! He's alive, and so is everyone else, and I can stop it all!" She knew she was wrong, but this was her only chance... How could she ignore the chance to prevent the future they'd come from? "You don't get it, so just back off!"

"I do get it, Cassie, so just shut up and quit thinking you're the only person who's ever lost anyone!"

"It's not the same thing!"

"It's the exact same thing! You don't know anything about my life, alright? So stop saying that I don't get it, because I fucking do, Goddamnit!" Suddenly, Cassie realized he was clutching something as it slipped out of his hand. He picked it back up quickly, but not before she realized it was a locket.

"What's that?" She asked cautiously. She was stunned at his reaction, and curious what he meant. She's never seen Lucas like this before.

"You want to know? Fine! Maybe then you'll stop being a complete idiot who only cares about herself!" He snapped. He opened the locket, revealing two photos. One was a woman with pink hair who smiled at the camera looking genuinely happy. The other was a little girl who resembled the woman... But she also resembled Lucas.

"Lucas... Who are they?" Cassie asked softly.

"Nadira and Arianna... My wife and daughter," he said tonelessly. It was obvious he was trying to hold back his emotions as he snapped the locket shut.

"Wife and...? Lucas... What happened to them?" Cassie asked, suddenly understanding.

"I made a choice," Lucas said softly. "I saved a woman's life and let the monster who'd attacked her escape instead of apprehending him... And he went to my house. He called me, making me listen as they screamed... I couldn't hang up, Cassie... I... I couldn't. So I just kept listening as I sped home and prayed I'd make it in time... The screaming stopped right before I got there... By the time I opened the door... They were..." He stared at his feet, closing his eyes as a single tear slid down his cheek. "They were dead," he finished, his voice nearly a whisper.

Cassie's heart broke for him. "Lucas... My God... I had no idea..."

"I know. No one knew. It happened two months before Kira contacted us to help save Tommy. I caught the guy literally the day before Kira called us, and I made him pay, but... It didn't change anything. It didn't bring them back."

"Lucas, I'm so sorry..." She couldn't believe what a bitch she'd been to him. She hadn't even suspected the kind of pain he was carrying inside of his heart.

"Cassie... Every day... Every single day, I think about changing history. I think about making a different choice, and saving them... But it would change the time line drastically, and I don't even know if it would save them... But I do know that the woman I saved would definitely die, and she's not supposed to... And most days, I have to ask myself why I care. She was a stranger. They were my family... But I know she wasn't meant to die, and for whatever reason... A reason I'm sure I will never, ever understand, they were... It's my fault they died. I wasn't home to protect them... But I can't change that. And it kills me literally every day. It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to live with... But I know I have to." He looked at her with the saddest eyes Cassie had ever seen. "Cassie... I need you to do this, for everyone's sake. I know how hard this is, but you have to tear up that letter."

Her heart hurt so much. She was trembling. Still, she knew he was right. The entire world as they knew it would end if she didn't do what he asked. With violently shaking hands, Cassie ripped the letter up. One rip, two rips, three rips, until it was nothing but confetti. She flushed it down the toilet before her knees gave out.

Lucas caught her as she fell forward. He held her tightly in his arms. "I'm proud of you," he told her gently.

"I just wanted to save them..." She whispered. She began to cry harder than she ever had before as she realized that, although she'd made the right choice, it meant that there was genuinely no hope of saving so many people she loved. TJ was still going to die. The future was still going to suck... But at least she hadn't damned Karone to becoming the one thing Andros had worked so hard to save her from turning into. She hadn't un-made every Ranger team. The bad guys would still be defeated by their respective Power Rangers. Everything would stay on track. She would still meet TJ... She'd still love him... And she'd still break when she finally lost him.

"I know, Cassie." He kept her wrapped in his arms until she stopped shaking. "I know exactly how this feels." He stroked her hair as she continued crying in his arms. When she was finally calmer, she pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"I'm sorry I'm such a bitch," she said. "Being angry and aggressive is easier than letting myself break down like that and admitting how much I hurt basically all of the time... Besides, I can't break. I have a job to do, and these kids need me... They need us."

"They've got us," Lucas said. "And we'll do everything in our power to make sure they make it out of this fight exactly as they were meant to originally."

Cassie nodded. She turned on the water in the sink and began cleaning off her face. Lucas surprised her as he grabbed a towel and began drying her face off. She smiled at him sadly. "Thanks," she said.

"No problem," he replied, putting the towel back where it belonged.

"Not just for that," she clarified. "For stopping me from doing the dumbest thing I've ever done in my life."

"Like I said... I get it."

"And now I get why Zordon insisted it had to be you that came back with me." She hugged him. "You're still a pain in my butt, Lucas... But there's no one I'd rather have helping me with this mission."

He hugged her back quickly before releasing her. "You'll be cursing my name again by tomorrow," he said.

"You're probably right," she said with a laugh. "So enjoy this while it lasts. Come on... We should go before Lee and his family get suspicious." She opened the door to the bathroom and they both stepped outside.

Lee spotted them a minute later. "Is everything okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," Cassie said, looking at Lucas gratefully. "I'm pretty sure it is."

"Cassie... Were you crying? What's wrong?"

"She's fine," Lucas said quickly, saving her from having to answer. "We need to get home. Thanks for letting me come in to check on her."

"Sure," Lee said, still clearly confused. Lucas led Cassie out of the house before Lee could ask anything else.

"Are you okay?" Lucas asked when they reached her car.

"Not really," Cassie admitted.

"Come on. I'll drive you home. We can have Alpha teleport your car back to the house."

She nodded, knowing she was in no shape to drive. They drove together in a comfortable silence, both of them knowing there weren't words to cover what had just happened. Eventually, his Time Force technology went off.

"Jen... Is everything back on track?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, thankfully," Jen replied. "Do you want to tell me what the hell she did?"

"Actually... No. I don't think we need to get into that," Lucas said, looking at Cassie.

"Lucas, if she can't be trusted-"

"She can be," he said firmly, stunning Cassie. "She made a poor decision in a moment of vulnerability, but it's nothing anyone else wouldn't have done in her place. Cassie is a good leader, Jen. The kids need her. She's the right person for this mission."

Jen paused. "Okay," she replied. "Call me if there's any trouble, or just to check in. Alright?"

"I will. Bye, Jen." He disconnected the call.

"Wow," Cassie said. "That was high praise..."

"I meant it." He hesitated before placing his right hand on her left one as he continued driving with his other hand. He gently squeezed her hand. "I know how hard that was for you, Cassie. You did the right thing. Jen needs to back off, because we fixed the issue... And you're only human."

"I'm starting to think you are, too. Human, I mean. I wasn't too sure for a while there."

"Well... High praise on both of our parts then, I guess," he said with a smile. They drove the rest of the way home back in their comfortable silence, with his hand covering hers. It was strangely comforting. For the first time, Cassie knew she'd seen the real Lucas Kendall, and she decided she kind of liked him.

EARLIER THAT DAY.

DIVATOX

She was meeting with the Rebels from Eltar when they felt the change in the air. "What the hell is that?" Laby asked.

Flekt grabbed a couple of weapons automatically. This seemed to be his usual response to everything... Possible threats, dangerous situations arising, someone offering him waffles... It was a strange tick of his, Divatox supposed.

"Be calm, my Love," Amareese said gently, putting her hand on his arm. The tension left his body and he immediately relaxed.

"Holy moly, we've been invaded by, like, robots or something!" Tiffani cried in surprise.

Jaybert immediately stuck his head out of the front door. "Never have I seen such machines..." he said in wonder. "What are they? This cannot be Earth technology."

Divatox looked outside as curiosity struck her. She rolled her eyes. "Zords. Of course," she mumbled.

"What? You know these machines?" Jaybert demanded.

"Not personally, no. At least not that group. But I know what they are. Every team of Power Rangers seems to have their own unique set. They're called Zords, and they are powerful machines that often help the Power Brats in battle. I guess this new team's growing up. It was bound to happen."

"How do we fight them?"

"Well, big monsters help sometimes... When that fails, and it usually does, we generally lose the battle."

"That's it? You just give up?" Laby asked.

"By the time it hits that point, it's usually pretty clear we can't win," Divatox replied with a shrug. "Don't worry. They're retreating, not heading this way. I imagine they're heading back to their holding bay."

"We should follow them, so we can learn where they rest and destroy them," Flekt suggested.

"It's not worth it," Divatox said. "They aren't easily destroyed. Of course, I'm very good at destroying things. I destroyed the Command Center. No one else ever pulled that off!"

"You believe you have the power to destroy them?" Jaybert asked.

"When the time is right, certainly," Divatox said with more confidence than she felt. She knew nothing about these Zords, but so what? She could figure it out. She wasn't as dumb as everyone thought she was. She'd destroyed the Command Center. She'd reassembled the Machine Empire and with just a tiny bit of help from Zell as he introduced her to Venjix, she'd brought them back to life. She was capable of far more than most people gave her credit for, and she used the fact that they underestimated her to her advantage.

"We are counting on you, Divatox," Jaybert said. "Do not let us down when these machines are meant to be destroyed."

"I won't, Jaybert, Darling. Now, where were we before we were distracted?"

"Discussing your new pet," Laby replied.

"Ah, yes... Veronica, dear, come here," Divatox called.

Ronnie walked into the room. Her face was blank as she awaited instructions. "Ronnie?" Tiffani asked. "What did you do to her?" She demanded of Divatox.

"Nothing really. I've simply enslaved her mind so she must follow my orders," Divatox replied casually.

"Will this hurt her?"

"It will keep her safe. After all, if she's of use to me, why would I let her be harmed?"

Tiffani looked nervous, but she did not say anything else as Jaybert said, "She is an excellent specimen, Divatox. No one will suspect this girl is our spy."

"She's cute, too," Laby said with a grin.

"She's dating someone," Tiffani said quickly. "I mean... Sort of."

"Right, I remember you mentioned she's dating a Power Ranger. Don't worry, Tiff. I won't hurt her. And I don't take advantage of girls who literally can't say no. That's not my style."

"I know, Laby... I just don't want her to get hurt. She's my friend."

"I'll take excellent care of her," Divatox promised. "I like her. She complimented my fashion sense."

"Maybe she needs glasses," Laby mumbled.

"Excuse me? I heard that!"

"Heard what?" Laby asked innocently.

"Laby, enough of your childish comments," Jaybert said firmly. "We have work to do."

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," Laby replied.

"Who is Jack? I do not understand."

Laby sighed. "I really need to sit you down for a movie night sometime, Jay."

"I don't get it either," Divatox admitted.

"Okay, that's it. We're watching The Shining tonight," Laby decided. Divatox had the impression she had no say in the matter.

"Labyrinth, I have better things to do-" Jaybert began.

"And I quote... 'Members of the Rebellion must learn to adapt to every environment they find themselves in. They are required to immerse themselves in every piece of culture they have access to so that they will become undetectable as outsiders.' It's part of our training, Jay."

Jaybert frowned. "He's right, Jaybert," Amareese said with a kind smile.

"Thank you, Mama Ama! So we're doing this, right? I've got a copy of the movie."

"Fine, Laby. We shall watch this film tonight as part of our research," Jaybert said.

"Yay! I'll pick up some popcorn," Laby decided. "Come with me, Tiff." He looped his arm through Tiffani's and led her out of the house.

"How do you put up with him?" Divatox asked Jaybert.

"He's actually quite useful, believe it or not," Jaybert replied. "Labyrinth is exceptionally powerful and rather clever. It's simply a matter of getting him to focus."

"I suspect that's rather difficult."

"You have no idea." Jaybert shook his head. "Come. Show me what your pet can do for us."

Divatox nodded. "Veronica is actually quiet athletic," she began. "She's had no formal training in battle, but she's rather agile and strong because of her time as a... What's the word they use? Ah, yes, cheerleader. Veronica, be a dear and demonstrate your athletic skill," Divatox instructed.

Ronnie quickly began tumbling. She stood back up, demonstrating kicks, jumps, and flips that would make most gymnasts envious. The girl was wasting her talents trying to inspire people instead of destroying them.

"Impressive," Jaybert admitted, watching the girl move. "She can be a secret weapon in a fight... But what else can she contribute?"

"That's quite simple, Jaybert. This girl is popular. She knows everything that goes on in the high school. She'll make an excellent spy, and people trust her. They tell her things they wouldn't dare tell other people. Also, no one will suspect she is a threat to them until it is far too late."

He nodded. "I like your train of thought, Divatox. I see the potential this girl possesses." Something made him twitch slightly. "Excuse me. I need to handle some private business. I'll return shortly." He walked away.

"That was odd..." Divatox mumbled.

"Jaybert has many responsibilities as a Chapter leader," Amareese said. It was clear, however, that even she found the sudden change in his mood unusual.

Divatox shrugged. "I should send my pet home before people notice she's gone," she said. "Go on, Veronica. I shall call when I need you again."

"Yes, Mistress," Ronnie replied. She turned around and left the Base to return home. Divatox relaxed, sitting down and waiting for their evening entertainment to begin.

THE NEXT DAY.

ROXY

She had agreed to meet up with Hannah again that afternoon. She was excited about it. She really liked hanging out with Hannah. The girl was super sweet, and she was really cute, too. Roxy definitely enjoyed her company.

She noticed Ronnie at the table. "You look like shit, Ronnie," she commented. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

"I think I was having weird dreams, but I can't remember them," Ronnie admitted. "Going out?"

"Yeah, I'm meeting a friend."

"A friend, or a... friend?"

"Currently, just a friend. As for the future... That's anyone's guess. See you later." She headed out of the house. She didn't make it far before she ran into two familiar faces.

"Bea? Dave? I thought you guys were dead," Roxy said dryly. "Where'd you go when all hell broke loose at the movie theater?"

"We took off running," Beatrice Donna replied. "Sorry... Why didn't you run, too?"

"My sister and Lee were there. I wanted to make sure they got out okay."

"Lee can handle himself," Dave pointed out.

"I know, but he's my oldest friend. I couldn't just leave without knowing if he was okay... But I didn't even find them until afterward. Ronnie was in the bathroom, and I don't know where Lee was."

"You're too loyal. They're both popular jerks," Bea said. "They don't deserve you."

"They're family," Roxy said with a shrug. "Anyway, I've gotta motor. Someone's waiting for me."

"We'll see you around. Glad you're okay, Rox," Dave said.

"Yeah, I'm glad you guys are, too. Later." Roxy continued on her way. She found Hannah sitting on the wall of the fountain in the park. She looked really pretty in her pink sweater and blue jeans, with her long, thick brown curls looking like they were going to escape from her pink scrunchie any second. She pulled the hair tie out, re-securing her hair tightly on top of her head. Roxy smiled as she watched her for a moment.

Hannah's face lit up at the sight of Roxy. That affected Roxy in ways she didn't want to admit. She smiled back, but the smile faded as she noticed the gigantic bruise forming on Hannah's arm.

"Hannah... What happened?" She asked.

Hannah rolled her sleeves down self-consciously. "It's nothing," she said quickly. "I just fell."

"Onto what? Someone's fist? Come on, I'm not an idiot."

"It's complicated, Rox... I'm fine, though."

"It looks like it hurts."

"Only a little bit."

Roxy shook her head. She wanted to do more, but Hannah wasn't telling her enough details for her to know who'd hurt her. "Was it some guy? Because having a boyfriend isn't worth-"

"No," Hannah replied. "I don't have a boyfriend, Roxy. Really."

"Oh. Well, good." Roxy internally cursed herself for being so lame. "I mean, not good that you don't have a boyfriend, just... Good that it's not the cause of the bruises."

"I knew what you meant," Hannah said kindly.

"Good. So... Other than the bruise, you look great today. I'm so not a pink girl, but it really suits you."

Hannah blushed. "Thanks," she said.

"So, what do you want to do today?"

"Anything... I just... I don't want to be stuck at home."

Hannah's eyes looked so sad. Roxy hated seeing sorrow in them. She sat beside her. "You know, if you ever need to talk, I don't mind listening," she offered.

"Thanks," Hannah replied. "I'm fine, though. Really."

"You say that a lot, Hannah."

"Sorry..." She stared at her shoes.

"You don't need to apologize." Roxy squeezed her hand. She found herself really wanting to kiss Hannah, but she held back. The girl was probably not interested in that... Although it was hard to tell. Roxy was never sure until she actually kissed a girl how she might react.

They talked for a bit about things that weren't so serious. As time passed, they watched the water move through the fountain. Roxy made Hannah laugh several times. She loved the way Hannah's laugh sounded. She also loved how her smile lit up her eyes. She was really pretty, but it seemed like she didn't realize that.

After spending the entire day just walking and sitting and talking, Roxy was in heaven. Hannah wasn't like anyone else she knew. She really enjoyed spending time with her. She was sweet and genuine and she made Roxy feel things she hadn't expected to when they first met. After taking Hannah out for dinner, Roxy brought her home. She didn't want to leave her, but she knew she had to.

"I had fun today," she told her.

"I did, too," Hannah replied with a smile.

"I'm glad, Hannah," Roxy said. "I'll see you at school tomorrow." She decided the day had been too perfect not to give in to what she was feeling. She gave Hannah a quick kiss on her lips.

Hannah stared at her, blinking in shock for a minute after Roxy broke the kiss. "Bye," Roxy said sweetly, starting to head off.

"I... Wait!" Hannah finally said. "Roxy... What... What was that for?"

"I just thought it was a nice way to end the day."

"But... But what does it mean?"

"It means whatever you want it to mean, Hannah," Roxy said. She smiled at her mysteriously before walking away, leaving Hannah standing on her front porch completely confused.

You're an evil girl, Roxy, she told herself. She hoped Hannah didn't hate her in the morning. If she did, at least Roxy had one kiss to remember her by. She realized with a bit of surprise that she didn't want it to be the last kiss they shared.

When she got home, Roxy realized Ronnie was curled up in a ball on the couch. "Ron? Are you okay?" She asked nervously.

Ronnie didn't respond. She was staring ahead blankly. "Ronnie... What's wrong?" Roxy asked as she touched her.

Ronnie jumped at her touch. "Don't touch me!" She said sharply.

Roxy was startled. "Did someone hurt you? I swear to God, I'll fuck up any asshole who-"

"Huh? No..." Ronnie said, although she didn't sound sure. "I just... I had a weird night... I'm sorry, Rox..."

"What the hell happened?"

"I don't know... I just feel strange. I can't explain it."

Roxy was concerned now. "Ronnie... Come on upstairs," she said. She led her twin up to where their bedrooms were.

"Roxy... Can I... Can I sleep in your room tonight?" Ronnie asked. She looked at her like a lost little girl. Her fear was obvious.

"Of course you can... Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Roxy asked gently.

"I'm sure... Just don't leave me alone tonight, okay?"

"My bed is your bed, and I'm not going anywhere," Roxy promised. She led her sister into her room and changed into comfortable pajamas before curling up in bed with her. She held Ronnie until she fell asleep, wondering what the hell had happened that could have shaken her up this badly. She'd never seen her like this before.

If someone's hurting my sister, they're dead, she vowed silently. She'd get to the bottom of it, but for now, all she could do was comfort Ronnie and make her feel safe. Holding onto her sleeping twin, Roxy soon began to drift off as well. The last thing she saw in her mind was Hannah, smiling back at her. That gave her a sense of peace as she finally fell asleep.