The New Kid
by BAP

..........Adam threw a stone into the water. He had been thinking over the days events and he soon got angry at himself. "Why in the world did you do that," he thought outloud. "She is going to think you are the biggest geek in school."
..........Earlier that afternoon at school, a new kid was in his lititure class. She was pretty, a bit short, but cute. And as soon as he saw her, Adam knew that he was in love. But like an idiot he told her one of his embarassing moments on his first day. He stuttered too.
..........Adam threw another rock into the lake. The day wasn't going well and it seemed as if it would get worse.
.........."What's wrong," a voice asked. Adam was so depressed that he didn't even turn to see who it was.
.........."Not much really. I just humiliated myself in front of a girl."
.........."Ahh don't worry. It couldn't have been as bad as when you threw up on Karen Mcstoks shoes."
..........Adam turned his head sharply. "How... how did you know that," he finally managed to choke out.
.........."Second grade at Stone Canyon Elementry. Don't you know me?"
..........Adam shook his head. "I have no clue."
.........."Liz Maxwell. I always made fun of you, called you a geek." She paused. "First five year old ever to be in the second grade."
.........."Oh you. When did you move here? I haven't seen you since eighth grade."
.........."Last week. My dad got a job transfer."
..........Adam couldn't believe it. He had fallen in love with someone who thought he was a complete geek.
.........."I guess you still think I'm a geek huh?"
..........Liz looked over at him and nodded her head. "But once a geek always one," she added.
.........."Great," Adam mumbled.
..........Liz got up. "I'd better get going. And Adam if you see me, just say hi." She started to walk off but suddenly stopped. "Oh and by the way, you can lose a lot of things, but once you lose friends you've lost it all. Trust me from experience."
..........Adam looked over at her as she left. She seemed very different than anyone he knew and figured that there was something strange about her. He just didn't know what.
.........."Woohoo. Adam. Earth to Adam!"
.........."Huh? What?"
..........Rocky waved his hand in front of Adam's face. The two were at the Youth center doing homework and Adam hadn't been paying attention at all.
.........."Huh? What did you say?"
.........."What do you think about the new girl. She's in my science class and already she has a 98% in it."
.........."You mean Liz?"
.........."If that's her name, yeah."
.........."I don't know. I know her from second grade. She used to always make fun of me but something she said doesn't make sense."
.........."Well, what did she say?"
..........Adam paused. "You can lose a lot of things but once you lose friends you've lost it all. She said it was from experience."
.........."Sounds like a cry for help. Maybe she's saying that she's alone."
.........."Do you think I should ask her to the Valentine's Day dance?"
.........."Go for it man."
.........."But what about Tanya?"
.........."You guys broke up last week. C'mon just do it."
..........Adam shrugged and got up. "You're right. I shouldn't dwell on the past."
.........."Right. What do you have to lose?"
..........Adam got up and walked outside. Only a few moments ago he had seen her walk out and was hoping that she was still around.
..........Adam looked around the parking lot. No one was around, not even Liz. I guess I'll just have to ask her tomorrow at school.
..........He started to walk back into the Youth center when he heard a crackling under his feet. He looked down to see a piece of paper.
..........It's by Liz, he thought as he checked to see whose it was. He started to read it. It said:

My pain strikes more terror
Then anything ever known
If my pain could be set free
My voice, a brighter tone.

The teasing hurts so much
Much more than they know
If they have to make fun
Then let it be so

But the words behind me
Something I don't hear at all
When I do hear, it brings sadness up
Making me feel small

The life I live no one knows
And they never will
I only wish on bright clear nights
On my window sill
I can only hope that one day I am free of this pain.

.........."I'll take that."
..........Adam looked up sharply. In front of him was Liz with a cross look on her face. "I... uh... I mean," Adam studderd.
.........."Can it. No one was supposed to read that." She grabbed the paper out of his hands, turned, and started to walk away but Adam stopped her by putting his hand on her shoulder.
.........."It's a cry for help. You can't expect to get it if you don't say something."
.........."Just stay out of this okay. You were never supposed to read that. No one was. I don't need anyone. I'll never need anyone."
.........."Yes you do. Listen, someone must think of you as a friend."
.........."Look, you have nothing to worry about. This is not your problem. Leave me alone." She stormed off.
..........She has a friend, Adam thought. Me.
..........Suddenly a flashing rip in the sky caught his eye. Cogs had suddenly surrounded Liz and she was screaming for help.
.........."Zeo Ranger IV, Green!"Adam yelled as he morphed in mid-air. He began to fight the cogs with Liz helping as much as she could. "What the heck," Adam exclaimed as he saw one of the cogs let down a red mechanical snake. It moved sharply and Adam realized that this would be hard to avoid.
.........."Green Ranger!" Adam glanced over at Liz. Cogs were holding her so that the snake could bite her. Adam tried to save her but the cogs held him back. The snake bit her and then she dissapeared.
.........."What the...." Adam started but the snake quickly bit him. He was gone.

..........Adam looked around. He was in some sort of bubble with the morphing grid around it. Were in the morphing grid he thought remembering what Zordon had told him about it.
..........Liz looked around her. She was in a classroom filled with screaming second graders. The scene looked familer but Liz didn't know where from. Where am I? she thought.
.........."You're in your memories," a voice replied as if reading her mind. Liz looked down to see who it was and was shocked to see a silver cat. "Allow me to introduce myself," the cat said in a very proper manner. "I am your guide. All Rangers have them. It's just that you must find us. Also new powers may seem to take away our presence, but were always here."
.........."But I'm not a Ranger," Liz argued back.
.........."Yes you are. Long ago, your ansisters fought King Mondo as the Silver Ranger. Once Mondo took their source of power, they had to use their minds to destroy him. Now that he is back you must destroy him. That will not be easy, given that he has the silver crystal."
.........."Well, what am I doing here?"
.........."Mondo is trying to get you into a trick. I can not help you until you receive the silver crystal. I can only warn you. Please be careful." The cat then faded away leaving no trace that she had been there.
..........Suddenly Liz heard a shrieking laugh. She spun around only to see a younger version of herself and Adam. I really am in my memories! Liz stood absolutely still as she saw herself making fun of him. But suddenly the picture switched to third grade, then fourth, on to fifth, all the way up to eighth. Then when she hit nineth Adam was gone and she was in her old high school, but this time the kids were making fun of her. Tears came to her eyes as her so-called friends made fun of her. The pictures of her life kept going until they hit the last time she had talked, or rather yelled, at Adam. Suddenly she saw him morph and save her from the metal goons. "You're the Green Ranger!?!" she shouted aloud and jumped back with a jerk.
.........."What?"
..........Liz looked around her and realized that Adam was next to her. He was bracing her up with his hands to keep her from being entierly on her back. "Oh Adam. I just dreamt that you were the Green Zeo Ranger."She stopped short. "Where are we?"
.........."Umm...." Adam tried to think of a way to explain it to her.
.........."Adam I have the feeling I wasn't dreaming. It was way too real."
.........."What happened?"
.........."Never mind." Liz really did not feel like explaining. The silver cat came to her mind. "But there was a silver cat in it. He said I was a Ranger or something."
.........."A Ranger?" Adam was even more confused than she was. Could it be that this cat is exactly like the ninja power? Could it be like my frog?
..........Suddenly Liz shrieked and stood up quickly. Adam followed and then saw Mondo standing just on the other side of the dome, only about five feet away.
.........."Haha Ranger did you like your trip down memory lane?"
.........."But we're not Rangers," Liz argued back. Adam realized that she would soon know how far off she was.
.........."Well maybe you don't know that you're not a Ranger but certainly you know that you friend is."
.........."Adam?" Liz looked up at him. He had bit his lower lip and she could tell that he was nervous.
.........."You mean he never told you that he is the Green Zeo Ranger?" Mondo laughed. "Now what kind of friend is that?"
.........."Adam, you're the...?"
..........Adam nodded. He understood how Mondo could give away his identity but what did he want with Liz? Something else was up.
.........."You're a Ranger," continued Mondo. "Your family once went against me and almost destroyed me. This power is passed on and you have it. But if no one acts like your friend why fight with them? Come join me so we can destroy those who hurt you." Suddenly the walls of the dome filled with the memories that Liz had seen, as if to lure her closer.
..........For the first time since he left Stone Canyon, Adam felt the power of rejection. He remembered the pain that he had felt at every mean word said to him. Her rejection seemed worse than what happened to him. He didn't understand how she could live through it without cracking. "How did you stand it," Adam asked. When no one answered Adam looked over at her. He saw her walking slowly towered Mondo as if in a trance. She was accepting his offer. "Whoa, Liz! What are you doing?"
.........."He's right. I have to get back at everyone who has done this to me."
.........."This isn't the way, Liz!" He grabbed her by the wrist. "Trust me."
.........."I trust no one." She struggled out of his grasp and once again began to walk towered Mondo. Her voice was hollow, as if it wasn't her talking.
.........."Liz don't! Please!" Adam cried, but it was too late. As soon as Liz got into at least one foot range of him she was instantly transformed into the Silver Ranger in a costume much like the gold Ranger's.
.........."My Silver Ranger. Now before you get revenge on your friends, you must destroy the Power Rangers, starting with your so-called friend."
..........Adam stood there silently. He couldn't imagine Liz going against him, but then again Mondo was in control, and that meant he was in for something.
.........."Now to make things more fair, Green Ranger, I'll give you your powers but if you demorph, you can't morph again." Adam was suddenly in his Green Ranger costume and Mondo was gone, leaving only Liz and himself. Great. Now what do I? Surely Liz won't go against me.
.........."Your time is up, Ranger," growled Liz. She ran at him but Adam dodged her kick just in time.
.........."Listen. I don't want to hurt you. There are lots of better ways to settle this."
.........."Maybe I don't want to do it any other way though." She tried to attack him again, this time hitting him successfully.
..........Adam and Liz then went out in a full-fledged fight. Every now and then Adam would get in a good move, but for the most part Liz was going to win. Whether it was her powers or just her strength, she was strong. Suddenly Liz struck Adam from behind, which pinned him to the ground. Oh man. Please don't let this be the end. Destroyed by the girl I secretly love.
.........."Say your prayers, Ranger boy. This is going to be very sweet."
.........."Don't do this, Liz. This isn't the way. Believe me."
.........."I don't think so." She took out something that looked like a zeo pistol, except more powerful. She pointed it at him.
..........Adam closed his eyes remembering when Tommy had been under Gasket's spell. It was his only other choice. "Zeo Ranger IV, power down." He knew that this meant that he couldn't morph anymore but she had to snap out of it.
.........."Huh?" asked Liz. She slowly began to back up off of him.
.........."Listen Liz. Not everyone is against you. I'm your friend." He slowly got up, hoping that this would work.
.........."No!" Liz cried. "I can't trust anyone at all!" She charged towered him.
..........Adam dodged the blow, flipped her over, and this time, pinned her down. "Liz, I am not against you. Why should I be? I am your friend." He slowly got up and put his hand out to help her up. Reluctantly she gave him her hand and he helped her up. "Listen to me, Liz." He put his hands on her shoulders. "You're expecting every one to be against you. But not everyone is. Trust me, please."
..........Behind her helmet, Liz was ready to cry. She didn't know who to trust and who to destroy. But for some reason Adam seemed more convincing than Mondo. "Silver Ranger, power down." She demorphed and stood there looking around. The memories had disappeared from the dome walls, making her feel a bit better.
.........."Are you okay," asked Adam. He saw the tears welling up.
.........."No, I'm not okay." Adam could tell that she was going to cry. "I don't know who to trust, what to do. It never ends."
.........."It's never going to end. If there's one thing I've learned is that you just have to get used to it."
..........This time Liz did break down in tears. Adam put his arms around her as if to comfort her. He remembered what his mom had said about these situations: life just has to go on. He never believed her at the time and he was sure Liz wouldn't either, so the two just stood there.
..........Suddenly out of nowhere Mondo appeared. Both teens assumed fighting position and stared at Mondo waiting for his move. "Well Rangers, you seem to have gotten out of my trick. And for being so smart I'll make you a deal. You destroy all my cogs, you can go home." Mondo outstreched his staff and at least two dozen cogs appeared. Then he disappeared.
.........."What do we do now," cried Liz. The two were back to back with the cogs circling them. Both couldn't morph.
.........."Fight," Adam yelled scaring some cogs. Both teens began to fight the best they could but the cogs soon got the better of them.
..........Liz fell down as a cog hit her. Adam saw this but couldn't do anything becuse he was being held back. The cogs ran forward in hopes of finishing her off. Adam closed his eyes. Please God no!
..........Liz closed her eyes and crossed her arms to block. When nothing happened she looked up to see some cogs dismantled. She stood up slowly uncrossing her arms as she did.
.........."Cross your arms," Adam yelled to her.
..........She obeyed him and a silver shot out from the interscting wrists. It took out quite a few cogs. Without much trouble, all the cogs were soon gone. Surprisingly, Mondo kept his promise and both were soon back in the park.
.........."Home sweet earth," Liz cried. She was happy to be home.
.........."I think Zordon should know about this Ranger business," Adam said.
.........."Who?" Liz asked, rather surprised.
.........."You'll see." Adam smiled. "Hang on to my hand." She hesitantly gave him her hand, and in a flash of green, they were gone.
.........."What the heck," Liz exclaimed, but no one paid any attention to her. Mostly becuse no one noticed her.
.........."Adam what happened to you," asked Rocky. His helmet was off so Liz could tell who he and the others were.
.........."We got trapped in a dome in the morphing grid. Of course planned by Mondo."
.........."Well you missed a great battle," said Jason. "But I don't understand one thing. What do you mean we?" The others nodded in agreement.
.........."Ummm...." He looked over at Liz who was still gaping over the Power Chamber. The others noticed her for the first time.
.........."Well," began Adam, "Mondo put us both in the dome, made her evil, almost killed me, and found out something strange."
.........."Indeed there is," boomed Zordon. "A long time ago Mondo had Rangers to defeat just like you. The Silver Ranger was the one who almost destroyed him. Mondo had taken the silver crystal but the Ranger learned to use her powers mentally. You must be decended from the Silver Ranger."
.........."But how come I never knew this before?"
.........."Because," Zordon continued, "When you were brought near the crystal your powers spoke out enabling you to fight rather well."
.........."So I'm a Ranger? "
.........."In a way, yeah," answered Billy. "Zordon, we could always use a new Ranger, and if Mondo wants his revenge...."
.........."Exactly what I was thinking Billy. But we will have to do something about your power."
.........."Yeah. You wouldn't want to cross your wrists and shoot someone during school," teased Adam.
.........."So I guess I'm an official Ranger. This is way too cool." The others laughed. For the very first time in her life, Liz felt accepted.
Epilogue ..........Adam threw a stone into the lake. He didn't feel like going into the Youth Center. Mostly becuse he didn't have a date for the Valentines Day dance. He had never gotten around to ask Liz and he felt like such a loser.
.........."You have got to get a life," said a familiar voice.
..........Adam turned to see Liz. "Sorry," he replied, apologizing for nothing. "I guess I just don't feel like doing anything now."
.........."It's okay. Oh and hey, thanks for showing me who my true friends are. It really means a lot to me."
.........."You're welcome." He smiled. "I went through the same thing. Well, without Mondo. I didn't have any friends till a few months before I moved here."
.........."Yeah. Hey! I have an idea on how we could get you a life." Adam felt like she was insulting him until she said, "You can be my date to the V-dance."
.........."Sure," agreed Adam. He smiled. He desperately wanted her to know how he felt but he couldn't bring himself to tell her. He was in love.

The End