A/N: In case y'all were confused about the ending of the last chapter. Tanner is writing to Xander, which is why he was writing in a journal in past chapters. He's telling Xander his experiences with the Dino Thunder Rangers. Enjoy the chapter!

EDITED ON JULY 26TH, 2018 @ 7:17PM

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CHAPTER THIRTY - A TEST OF TRUST

𝓣𝙰𝙽𝙽𝙴𝚁

WE WERE AT THE LAB. "I always knew Mercer wasn't exactly PTA material, but Mesogog? That's whack." Ethan said. "I'll tell you what's whack — Trent not telling us. That's whack." Conner stated. "Look, I'm as mad about this as you guys are. But don't you think we still owe Trent a chance to explain? I mean, maybe there's a really good reason he didn't tell us." Kira explained.

"Well, I hope there is. Because if not, then I have no choice but to ask Trent to surrender his morpher and give up being a Power Ranger." Dr. Oliver informed. "Don't tell me you feel bad for Trent." Conner said to her. "Yeah, I mean, you want someone you can't trust running around with those powers?" Ethan asked. "Well, I just hate for it to end this way for Trent. I mean, if it were me and I had to give back my powers, I don't know if I could handle it." Kira replied. "Oh, now, that is ironic. I remember when you didn't want it to begin at all." Conner said.

"Yeah, right." Kira said. I couldn't be in this conversation since they became Power Rangers way before I arrived in Reefside. "Okay, I admit, at first, I wasn't so into it, but everything's different now." Kira admitted. "I've changed. Being a Ranger's changed all of us. And look at you, Conner. You are in no way the same dumb jock that you were when we started." Kira said.

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Conner asked. "Well, you know what I mean." Kira replied. "If he doesn't, I do." Ethan said, pointing to himself. "You have come a long way, bro." Ethan added. "Okay, your point made. But what about you, gamer dude? You're not exactly Mr. Cyber Geek anymore." Conner said. "Yeah, I am pretty cool am I?" Ethan stated. "But don't get carried away, but it's definitely not embarrassing hanging out with you anymore." Conner informed.

"Okay, now who needs to learn how to give a compliment?" Kira asked. "That's okay. I speak Conner. But you know what still trips me out? Our teacher's a Power Ranger legend and one of our teammates is a future Power Ranger." Ethan said, looking at me. I thought back to the battles from me arriving to Reefside to now.

"We owe them a lot." Kira said. "Yeah. We do." Ethan agreed. "Are you guys forgetting who almost ended it for good?" Conner asked, referring to Trent. "Look, he was under the gem's spell. It's different now." I informed. "Yeah, now he forgets to tell us Mesogog is his dad. I'm glad he's changed." Conner said. "I made a promise." Trent said as he entered with Dr. Oliver. "What about your promise to us?" Conner asked.

"I never let my feelings get in the way of my Ranger duties." Trent argued. "That may be true, Trent, but you put us in a difficult position. Conner may be right. I just don't know how we can ever trust you again." Dr. Oliver said. "Tell me what I can do to make this right. I make no excuses for the harm I've caused, but, you know, things haven't been easy for me." Trent explained.

"I never meant to find the white dino gem. It found me. I tried to fight it, but the power was too strong." Trent said. I thought back to the times where he told me everything. "Anton Mercer's the only family I have. I knew I couldn't break my promise to him. So I decided to fight with you guys until he was freed of that mutant freak forever. But first, I had to free myself by destroying the evil clone of the White Ranger." Trent explained.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Mesogog. My father thought he could handle this on his own, and so did I. I know now I was wrong." Trent said. "Anton Mercer was my friend. I understand your loyalty. The question now is, do they?" Dr. Oliver asked looking at Conner, Kira, Ethan, and I. "Being a Ranger is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I don't want to lose that, trust me." Trent stated.

"Yeah, I've heard that one before." Conner said. "So let me prove it." Trent said. The alarm beeped and a monster appeared. "Here's your chance." Dr. Oliver informed. "What, you're not seriously gonna trust him?" Conner asked. "Look at that thing. We have no choice." I informed. "We always have a choice. And I choose that Trent come with us." Ethan said. "Thank you. I won't let you down." Trent stated. "I hope not." Conner said.

"Ready?" Dr. Oliver asked. "Ready!" All four of us replied. "Dino Thunder, Power Up! HA!" All of us shouted. "White Ranger, Dino Power!" Trent said. We all morphed and headed to fight the monster. He suddenly disappeared. "What the—" Conner said. The monster knocked us down to the ground. We moved out of the way as he was about to step on us.

We fired our weapons at him but it didn't work as he disappeared again. "Where'd he go?" Conner asked. "Miss me?" The monster asked as he reappeared again. He attacked us once more as Dr. Oliver and Trent headed to attack him. But the monster attacked them as well and they got thrown in the water. "Guys!" Conner shouted. "Two washed-up Rangers." The monster said. Conner then went triassic. Conner then appeared from the sky as he fell to the ground.

"That was a long way down!" Conner commented. "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." The monster exclaimed. Dr. Oliver, Ethan, Kira, and I appeared from behind him but he attacked us and we fell to the ground once more. "Leave them alone!" Conner yelled. "Very well. I'll destroy you!" The monster said.

He went to attack Conner but Trent stepped in front of him and stopped the attack. "Not so fast!" Trent said. "Step aside. It's the Red Ranger I want." The monster exclaimed. "The Rangers are a team. If you're gonna destroy somebody, you better start with me." Trent informed. "Whoa!" Conner said. Trent pushed the monster's weapon aside. "Trent saved Conner!" I said. "Now where's all the tough talk?" Trent asked. "I'm through talking." The monster replied. "Good. 'Cause so am I." Trent said as he took out his weapon.

I watched as Trent started attacking the monster. We all regrouped. "All together, guys!" Trent said as we put our weapons together. "Z-Rex Blaster! Super Mode!" We shouted. We fired at the monster as he was destroyed. That's when a Megazord appeared out of the water. "He's copied the Megazord!" Ethan exclaimed. "How do we fight that?" Conner asked. Dr. Oliver then called the Zords. "I'll take the triassic rover. You man the Megazord." Dr. Oliver said.

"Got it!" Conner exclaimed. We got into our Zords. We all got into our Megazords. "Call it, guys!" Conner said. "Dino Drill... engage!" Conner said as we attacked the copycat Megazord. "Hatchet Attack!" Dr. Oliver said as he attacked the Megazord. The copycat Megazord then went down. We all cheered. "Wait a minute." Dr. Oliver said. "Thanks for the energy boost." The monster said.

"Is this a joke?" Conner asked. "Not funny." Dr. Oliver stated. "It is to me." The monster said as he attacked us. Trent then came to help us. "Leave my friends alone!" Trent exclaimed. "Fine! I'll start with you!" The monster said. He attacked Trent but Trent dodged it. "Tail Attack!" Trent shouted. He attacked the monster.

"This battle's over." Trent said. He attacked the monster once more. "Dino Stegozord Stinger!" Trent yelled. He attacked the monster and destroyed it. We cheered for him. "Thanks, Trent." Dr. Oliver said. "I meant what I said. You can count on me." Trent stated.  We were back at the lab. "Dude, you rock." I said. "Dude, you were awesome out there." Ethan complimented. "Thanks for the help out there, Trent. It's always a lot easier when the whole team works together." Dr. Oliver informed.

"Thanks, Dr. O. Like I said, I'm in this for good. That is, if you'll have me." Trent said. "Well, I vote yes." Kira said. "Me too." Ethan said. "Me three." I added. "Conner?" Dr. Oliver said, looking at Conner. I heard Conner sigh. "Just one question— Are you sure you wanna do this? I mean, there's a very real chance you'll have to face Mesogog one day." Conner said.

"If Mesogog wins, my father's lost forever. Mesogog has to be defeated, no matter what." Trent said.

"As the final battle comes to a close, I realized that my time as the Purple Ranger is almost over and it'll be time for me to come home. I wish I can stay with them. But, Xander, don't worry. I'll come home sooner than you think..."

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A/N: I wasn't gonna update since it's my birthday today, but I figured why not. Hope you enjoyed!

Word Count: 1568 words.