FOUR: Proud (This is told from Lachlan's point of view but features so many characters I won't bother including a list at the end. This one is pure fluff and I hope you love it as much as I loved writing it. The Chosen Universe needs more light, happy moments, so here you go!)

The crowd made Lachlan a bit nervous. He had never attended this sort of gathering before, but he wasn't alone, and that helped. His boyfriend, Micky, stood by his side looking far more anxious than Lachlan felt.

"Micky, chill," his best friend Liza said as her boyfriend, Zedd, wrapped his arms around her. "It's a parade. We're supposed to be having fun."

"It's my first time doing something like this, Liza," Micky reminded her.

"Time to pop that cherry, Micky!"

"Jesus, Liza, really?" Micky asked as his eyes widened in horrified embarrassment.

"Sometimes, I think Liza has less of a filter than I do," Taylor said with a laugh.

"You might be right, Taylor," Zedd said as he chuckled and held Liza closer.

"It's alright, Luv," Lachlan said softly, squeezing Micky's hand. "We're in this together."

Micky smiled at him. "That's all I need," he replied, although he still seemed nervous.

Liza started hooting as a float full of drag queens riding giant stuffed unicorns slowly moved past them. Lachlan smiled as everyone else got into the spirit. Most of the other Power Rangers, Chosen, and their friends had come out for the Pride Parade, even though most didn't identify as part of the LGBTQ community but were fierce allies. Lachlan had never felt quite so accepted in his life.

He smiled as he watched those who did identify as part of the community enjoy themselves. Liza and Zedd both seemed to be highly entertained by the parade. Lauren looked nervous to be in such a large crowd, but she slowly relaxed as her partner, Diamond, held her hand. Van and Scott enthusiastically cheered side by side, Taylor and Josh held hands, Thorn and Caleb snuggled, Ella and Libby danced to the music, Ben and Laby sang along, Kelsey and Nancy waved matching rainbow flags, and Izzy and Fern shared a kiss.

Roxy stood with her daughter, Lia Selene, hugging her tightly. Lachlan knew it was hard for Roxy to be there without her wife, Hannah, who had given her life to save Lucas not so long ago, but she tried to keep a smile on her face anyway. Lachlan saw Hannah's spirit hugging them both from behind. Roxy visibly relaxed and he suspected she could feel her somehow.

Tedius and Rupi watched the parade with big smiles on their faces as Captain Smith, Amara, Kizzie, and Zyxx stood by their side cheering for the parade. Each pair had a small child with them. To Lachlan's surprise, even Zydia had come to the parade to support her little brother, along with her daughter, Zizi, and the man she loved, Rey.

Hayley and Rhanna stood with the entire Prime Minister's Counsel from Eltar, which both of them were part of despite Hayley not being Eltarian in this incarnation. Plurri held Boom, keeping her close. He was straight, but Boom identified as bisexual, and Plurri seemed delighted to support her and their friends as he smiled brightly. Tommy stood with them for a minute, cheering embarrassingly loud as he wore his rainbow PFLAG t-shirt with pride.

"My dad's taking this a little bit far," Micky said, hiding his face behind a rainbow flag.

"At least he's here to support you," Lachlan said. "That's important."

"This is quite an event," a voice said from behind him.

"Da! You actually came!" Lachlan cried in surprise. He turned around and hugged his biological father tightly. Eltar's infamous "Great Wizard" might have been a fierce villain once, and many people still didn't fully trust him, but he'd been redeemed once his connection to the Witch was broken, and to Lachlan, he was just his Da and he loved him. He knew his Da supported him, but he'd still never expected him to show his face at a gay pride parade.

"Of course I did, my dear boy," Zell replied as his girlfriend, Aiyana, smiled at Lachlan sweetly. "It is important to you. That is more than enough reason for me to attend."

"Thanks, Da... That means a lot to me."

"You know, the unicorns on Eltar are excellent judges of character. They only allow the purest of heart to remain in their presence," Zell said as he watched the float finish passing by.

"I'd love to see a real one," Lachlan admitted.

"Perhaps if you and my Aiya take a trip to Eltar together, you will. The unicorns adored Daphne."

"I'd love that, too, actually," Aiyana replied as Lachlan grinned.

"What's up, people?" Kira suddenly asked from a float that featured rainbows, stars, and a lot of glitter. "Let's get our Pride on!" She started playing a song and the crowd began rocking out. Lachlan noticed Dustin watching Kira adoringly from nearby.

"Ah, my dearest Kira," Zell said approvingly with a smile. "She certainly knows how to entertain a crowd." He turned toward Micky and smiled at him kindly. "You know, it is my first time at an event of this nature as well. Perhaps we can adapt together."

"Hi, Zell," Tommy said as he approached him a bit awkwardly. After a moment, he smiled and offered Zell a couple of items. "Would you like to officially become a PFLAG Dad?"

"What, precisely, is PFLAG?" Zell asked in confusion.

"It originally stood for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and now it's just the name of the organization in general... It's a group that supports the LGBTQ Plus community. I'm very proud to be a member," Tommy explained, smiling at Micky for a moment before unrolling the rainbow tie dye t-shirt and large rainbow banner he'd previously offered to Zell.

Lachlan watched his father accept the items and actually pull the t-shirt on over his button-down white dress shirt. He smiled as Zell held the banner in the air. Aiyana came up behind him and put a PFLAG baseball cap on his head.

Laby started laughing and couldn't seem to stop. "I never thought I'd see the day that you wore a t-shirt and a baseball cap, Zell!" He said between laughing fits. "Or waved around a rainbow banner."

"I shall do more than that," Zell decided.

"What do you mean, Da?" Lachlan asked.

Zell smiled before saying, "You'll see soon, my dear boy."

Lachlan couldn't push him for answers as a new float came forward. The Eltarians known as the Circle stood surrounded by rainbows, strobe lights Tinny had no doubt magically conjured, and a spinning disco ball that was suspended in the air by an invisible force above their heads.

Lachlan wasn't entirely surprised that the Circle had entered a float in the parade. He was fairly certain that almost none of the Circle members identified as one hundred percent heterosexual, and even those who did would never miss a good party.

"It doesn't if you love him, or capital H-I-M... Just put your paws up, 'cause you were born this way, baby," Branz declared.

"My mama told me when I was young 'we are all born superstars," Tinny sang.

"She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on in the glass of her boudoir," Ling added.

"There's nothing wrong with loving who you are,' she said, 'cause he made you perfect, baby," Hezzo chimed in.

"'So hold your head up, girl, and you'll go far. Listen to me when I say," Danzel continued.

"I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way!" All fifteen of the Circle members sang in unison. "Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set. I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way!"

"Born this way!" Amello, Hill, and Keet proclaimed together.

"Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way! Baby, I was born this way!"

"Born this way!"

"Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way! Right track, baby, I was born this way!"

"Don't be a drag, just be a queen!" Grayzee declared. "Don't be a drag, just be a queen! Don't be a drag, just be a queen! Don't be, don't be, don't be..."

"Give yourself prudence and love your friends, subway kid, rejoice your truth," Maegus sang.

"In the religion of the insecure, I must be myself, respect my youth," Sezzon added.

"A different lover is not a sin, believe capital H-I-M," Vrennius sang.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Ling chimed in.

"I love my life, I love this record and mi amore vole fe yah!" Nee sang.

"I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way!" Everyone sang in unison. "Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set. I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way!"

"Born this way!" Amello, Hill, and Keet proclaimed.

"Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way! Baby, I was born this way!"

"Born this way!"

"Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way! Right track, baby, I was born this way!"

"Don't be a drag, just be a queen!" Hudzon declared. "Whether you're broke or evergreen!"

"You're black, white, beige, chola descent," Keet added.

"You're Lebanese, you're orient!" Hill chimed in.

"Whether life's disabilities left you outcast, bullied, or teased," Davi continued.

"Rejoice and love yourself today, 'cause baby, you were born this way!" Amello added.

"No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to survive!" Everyone sang in unison. "No matter black, white, or beige, Chola or orient made, I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to be brave! I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes. I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way! Don't hide yourself in regret, just love yourself and you're set. I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way! Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way! Baby, I was born this way!"

"Born this way!" Keet, Hill, and Amello sang.

"Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way! Right track, baby, I was born this way! I was born this way, hey! I was born this way, hey! I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way, hey! I was born this way, hey! I was born this way, hey! I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way, hey!"

"Same DNA, but born this way!" Hezzo declared.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Ling sang.

"Same DNA, but born this way!"

"Hey, hey, hey!"

As the music finished and the Circle members stopped dancing, they grasped hands and bowed to thunderous applause.

Lachlan felt his father subtly casting a spell. Confused, he looked at him before following the energy of the spell. It rose toward the sky. Lachlan was stunned as a beautiful, vibrant rainbow appeared over the parade.

"It didn't rain," Josh mumbled in confusion. "How is there a rainbow?"

"It's incredible, Da," Lachlan said softly.

Zell smiled at him before saying, "As are you, my dear boy... For your light brought rainbows into my life even in my darkest moments."

Lachlan felt tears in his eyes, but he managed not to become overly weepy as he hugged his father tightly. "I love you, Da," he said as Zell held him.

"I love you, too, Lachlan," Zell replied. "And I'm incredibly proud to call you my son."

"As am I," Amareese said as she made her way over to them.

"Mom!" Lachlan said in surprise.

"Did you think that I would miss this?" She asked as she hugged him. "You love boys, Laby loves without seeing gender, B'Danna is completely asexual... I have always been an advocate for the right to love whomever you please. These events are important."

"I was a little bummed that my Dad and my Ma had to be in London today, but having the two of you here to support me really helps," Lachlan replied.

"We love you, Lach," Amareese said.

"And I love you, Micky," Tommy added cheerfully. "I'm thrilled to be able to support you, Lach, and all of our other LGBTQ Plus Rangers, Chosen, allies, and friends!" He started waving his flag again. "I love my gay son and his adorable boyfriend!" Tommy proclaimed into a megaphone.

"Dad, I appreciate that, but do you always have to be so... Extra?" Micky asked.

"I'm Tommy Oliver," he replied with a giant grin. "Of course I do. Besides, I want the world to know how proud I am of all of you... Especially you."

Micky rolled his eyes, but Lachlan saw the way he smiled as he turned away. Considering how scared Micky had been about coming out to his father, Lachlan knew how much Tommy's over the top antics actually meant to him.

As everyone stood with the people they loved, the rainbow continued to shine, and Lachlan felt more at peace than he ever had before.