Tommy was lying down on an extremely comfortable water bed. The room was darkened, save for the glowing silverly light of an orb, filled with a strange glowing liquid that the Aquitians use for light. Tommy is dressed in a black tunic with red hem, similar to those of the Aquitian Rangers. He laid on the bed, staring at the clear glass wall across from his bed. He looked at all the different fish that swam by his chamber, marvelling at the array of color they displayed. Although he was extremely exhausted from the trying adventure he and the other Zeo Rangers faced, he could not fall asleep. He was too worried about his friend.
"Billy's been gone for hours," Tommy thought aloud, tightly clasping his hands on his stomach, "He never came back to Triton after he broke Divatox's spell. I don't know if I should follow him, or just let him mourn in peace. I know I can't comfort him, and he probably wants privacy. But still, I should let him know that I'm here for him. He's been my friend for so long, and he helped me when Kim and I broke up. True, this is a far different situation, and I know I can't relate. I mean, how would I react if Kim had died? I can't even fathom life without her... and I know Billy's feeling something similiar. But can I help him, or would I just get in his way?"
Tommy frowned, and rolled over on his stomach. After Divatox fled, the Zeo Rangers returned to Aquitar. That's when Billy learned that his fiance Cestria was dying. He only arrived minutes before she died, and he couldn't even communicate with her. He left soon after, using the Sword of Tympanus, the weapon of the mighty Silver Ranger, to cause the clouds covering the entire planet to release the water trapped within. The Aquitian Rangers had thanked the Power Rangers for their help, and had sent each ranger to an elegant guest room to rest. Adam had spoken up, saying that he wanted to visit Billy. But the Aquitians said that Billy was in mourning, and would probably like privacy. After all, if he didn't want to be alone, he would have returned to the city. So the rangers grudgingly retired. But that didn't mean they could rest, knowing the pain and suffering their friend and fellow ranger was going through at the moment.
"Forget it," Tommy grunted, sitting up on his bed and slipping his feet into the shoes the Aquitians provided for him, "I'm getting outta here."
Tommy walked towards the door, which immediately opened to allow him to pass. He then navigated his way through the busy halls, heading towards the Zord hangar, where he knew the Aquitian Rangers were. Each Aquitian citizen he passed greeted him respectfully, and made room for him to continue. That was how they showed gratitude to one of the heroes who helped save the planet. Soon, Tommy reached the hangar, and entered. Not surprisingly, Corcus, Aurico, and Delphine were busy at the Zeozords, along with a team of expert technicians. By the computer relays away from the pool of water, Tommy noticed his fellow Zeo Rangers-- Katherine, Adam, Tanya, and Rocky-- standing with Tideus in front of the screen. Tommy approached them, and glanced over Kat's shoulder at what they were looking at. It was an image of the Power Chamber.
^Is he alright?^ Kimberly, the Pink Ninjetti asked.
"We... we don't know," Adam sighed, "I haven't seen him in hours! But we don't know if we should comfort him, or what."
^Its so terrible,^ Renee Ryan said, shaking her head sadly, ^It must be excrutiating to lose someone you love so deeply.^
^WHEN SHALL YOU RETURN TO EARTH?^ Zordon inquired.
"The Zeozords are in no condition for warp speed travel," Tideus said, "We are working on them as we speak, but it shall take at least four axis rotations to complete repairs. I would assume the rangers will leave as soon as they can. Once again, Zordon, thank you for hearing our request for assistance."
^WE ARE PARTNERS AGAINST EVIL, AND THEREFORE WE MUST HELP EACH OTHER WHEN TIMES OF DIRE NEED ARISE. MAY THE POWER PROTECT YOU ALL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SOON.^
"Bye," said the Zeos, as the image on the screen went black. Kat then turned to Tommy, and smiled at him.
"Are you okay?" she asked, "We thought you were asleep."
"I'm dead tired," Tommy admitted, "but I can't sleep a wink."
"Yeah," said Rocky, "same with the rest of us."
"We all had the same idea," Tanya said, "We wanted to contact Zordon, and let the gang at home know we're okay, and to check on Billy."
"Did you check on him?"
"Yes," Adam said, "He's still on the Azure mountains."
"In the rain?" Tommy said, frowning, "Won't the mountain get covered up in ocean water soon?"
"Negative," Tideus said, "Billy is on the highest peak. That peak always remains above sea level. However, he may grow ill from sitting in the rain for so long."
"Maybe we should do something," Kat said.
"We keep checking on him every ten minutes," Adam said, "just to make sure he doesn't do anything... drastic. I think he just needs to be by himself, and say goodbye to Cestria in his own way. He's really a sensitive guy, and we all know Cestria's death was a shock."
"I can't think of any worse news to give a homecoming hero," Tanya said with a frown, "Poor guy."
"Do you think he's going to come back to Earth with us?" Rocky asked, "Or would he want to stay here?"
"That's a good question," Tommy said, "We'd be glad to have him home again, but he has been living on Aquitar for months. I don't know if he wants to go back, since he established a life for himself here."
"True," said Kat, "but Cestria was the focus of that life, and now, she's gone. He may want to start fresh."
"Whatever his decision, the Sword of Tympanus will go with him," Tideus said, "and the Aquitian Rangers will support him."
"And so will the Zeos," said Rocky.
Atop the Azure Mountain peak, the Silver Ranger remained in the same position for hours-- curled up into a ball, with his face buried in his arms. His helmet and sword still lay on the muddy rock beside him. Torrential rains still fall from the heavens, and the cloud cover is nearly gone. Billy's light brown hair is soaked thoroughly, as is his face and neck. The rest of his body is wrapped in the warm protective cover of his silver and white uniform, but his face is clammy and pale. His blue eyes were dull and cold, and the conjunctivas were pink from crying. Billy's body was still shaking-- but it wasn't from sobbing any longer. He had ran out of tears hours ago. Instead, he was quaking from cold and fear. He was afraid of the future. It seemed so bleak and hopeless without Cestria in it.
"What do I do now?" he asked himself, running his gloved hands through his soaked limp hair, "I had the rest of my life planned out, but everything's been torn asunder in just two days! Its like I have to start from scratch."
Billy recalled what Tympanus had told him earlier: "Now, as the Silver Ranger, you are a much-needed addition to the Zeo Rangers. They have made a new enemy this day, who will return, more powerful than before. They need you to stop her. And you will finally return home."
"That makes the most sense," Billy decided, "How can I live on Aquitar without Cestria? She was the whole reason why I came here! There are too many memories... I can't face them. If I'm supposed to... live on... I have to do it on Earth. I need my friends and family with me. I can't handle this alone. I don't know what to do!"
Billy weakly rose to his feet, and bent down to pick up his helmet and sword. He strapped his helmet back onto his head, and stared at his reflection in the shiny silver blade of the sword. "Divatox has made a powerful enemy today," he said quietly, "and I won't rest until she pays for taking Cestria from me. I promise you, Cestria my Love, she'll pay."
Billy slid the sword into its sheath, and prepared to teleport. But he stopped suddenly.
"No," he whispered, "I can't do it. I can't live for revenge. Cestria wouldn't want that. And if all I exist for is revenge, what will I do when I finally have it? I need a reason for living, and it can't be for destruction of bloodshed. I'll have to find a new reason for living... and home is the place to start."
Satisfied with the answer, Billy vanished from the mountaintop in a flash of silver light. He appeared inside the medical ward he was in before, and looked around. Cestro was there, standing beside a tube of some opaque blue material. The surface was smooth and solid in color, with the exception of a symbol, carved into the material and painted with silver. The symbol looked a great deal like some kind of Japanese letter to Billy. Cestro was using an art tool to finish painting the symbol onto the tube. Billy glanced at his friend curiously.
"It is the Mark of Filleus," Cestro answered the unasked question, "This is the standard coffin for a member of our house. Each family group has a signature color and symbol. Blue is our color, and Tarnish'abian is our symbol."
"What is Tarnish'abian?" Billy asked.
"It is an ancient Aquitian phrase, meaning 'dedication, honesty, and selflessness.' Each family has its own phrase, which describes the qualities of the family. The Filleuns are known for those qualities. It is why our ancestor was entrusted with the secret of the Sword of Tympanus."
"What will you do with Cestria now?" Billy asked.
"Once this casket is finished, she will be placed inside the Flame. It is a pool of magma, deep beneath the ocean."
Billy's eyes widened. "Why do you put her in such an elaborate casing if you will only cremate her?"
"It is our custom," Cestro explained, "The dead are placed in caskets depicting the family they belong to. The casing also protects the body for three days, before the lava finally melts completely through. Those three days are the period of mourning. Once the three days are over, the family members have a day of celebration, remembering the life of the deceased, and celebrating their accomplishments. After the fourth day, life continues as normal."
"That's a strange custom," Billy couldn't help but say. Cestro frowned. "Perhaps by human standards," Cestro replied, "Quite frankly, I always felt your customs were strange. Why bury the dead body in the ground? What purpose does that serve?"
"So family members can visit the grave, and pay respects," Billy said.
"Why?" Cestro asked, "You humans have difficulty saying goodbye. That is maladaptive. You must let go of past aquaintances, and move on. We have four days to pay our respects, and they live on in our memories. They do not live on in some 'grave'." Billy nodded his understanding. "Can I participate in these activities, or is it only for Aquitians?"
Cestro smiled. "Usually, only Aquitian family members are allowed to participate, but you are one of us, William. And your love for Cestria is strong enough to surpass boundaries of race. I would be glad to have you join me."
"What do I do?" Billy asked.
"Only the closest family members of the deceased can bring the casket to the Flame. Once the lava covers the casket, we return to our chambers, and spend the next three days in solitude. We Aquitians also fast, but that isn't necessary for you. Once the three days pass, we congregate together, and feast, as well as converse about the life of the deceased." "When will you leave for the Flame?"
"Within the hour."
"I'll tell the guys we're leaving."
A small silver submarine swam through a dark tunnel. Soon, it emerged, within a pool of water surrounded by a cave of igneous rock. The Silver Ranger, accompanied by the Blue Aquitian Ranger, climbed out of the sub. A blue casket hovered behind them, and the Blue Ranger led the way through a series of black tunnels, without saying a word in respect for the dead. Finally, they arrive in a room, glowing with red heat. The Silver Ranger looks down at a massive pool of lava, bubbling slightly and glowing with energy. He and the Blue Ranger lifted the casket, and pushed it off the edge. It fell through the air, and landed atop the lava. It slowly sank beneath the orange surface, and disappeared from sight. The Silver Ranger stared at the lava pool.
Goodbye, his eyes said, brimming with unshed tears behind his helmet. He stood still for a moment, gazing at the spot where the blue casket had been moments before. Finally, the Blue Ranger touched his shoulder, and beckoned that it was time to depart. The Silver Ranger nodded, and blew a kiss at the pool of lava.
At the main docking bay of Triton, the five Zeo Rangers, accompanied by the four Aquitian Rangers, watch as a small silver submarine enters the docking pool. The submarine takes its place, and two young men, still garbed in full uniform, climb out. "Billy!" Rocky called to the Silver Ranger, "Are you okay?"
The Silver Ranger didn't awknowledge the Blue Zeo Ranger's question, and walked right past his friends, alongside the Blue Aquitian Ranger. The Zeos were befuddled.
"Did I say something wrong?" Rocky inquired, glancing at the Aquitians behind him. To his surprise, they were all bowing their heads, and their hands were clasped in front of them. Once Billy and Cestro left the docking bay completely, the Aquitians rose their heads.
"What's going on?" Kat asked.
"Billy and Cestro are now in the official mourning stage. No one may speak to them, and they will speak to no one," explained Tideus.
"They will now go to their chambers, and remain there for three axis rotations," Aurico added.
"Three whole days?" said Adam, "But why?"
"To commemorate the life and accomplishments of the desceased," said Corcus, "Once the three days are over, they will feast together, and rejoice in the life of Cestria. Then, they shall continue with their lives."
On the fourth day since Cestria's death and funeral, the Zeo Rangers continued helping the Aquitians run some tests to assure that the Super Zeozords are space-worthy. The five zords were outside, flying above the waters of Aquitar, while communicating the systems checks with Delphine in the Borg hangar.
"So," said Delphine into the communicator, "How are the batteries?"
^Solar battery checks a o.k.^ said Tommy.
^Ditto,^ said Rocky.
^Check,^ said Tanya.
^Same here,^ said Kat.
^Its unanimous,^ said Adam.
"Excellent," said Delphine, pressing a button on the scanning system, "Now, form the Megazord."
Delphine watched on her screen as the five zords combined, forming the Super Zeo Megazord.
"All my scans show that the Megazord is in primary condition," Delphine said, "Once Willaim emerges from his feast with Cestro, you shall be ready to depart."
The five morphed Zeo Rangers teleported to the Borg hangar, leaving the Megazord in space.
"We're all set," said Rocky, removing his helmet, "but where's Billy?"
"He should be arriving at any moment," said Delphine, glancing at the door. Sure enough, the door opened, and Cestro and Billy walked in. Tideus, Aurico, and Corcus followed behind them.
"Goodbye, William," Cestro said with a warm smile, "All of Aquitar will miss you greatly."
"Thanks," Billy said modestly.
"May the Power always protect you," said Corcus, "In its many forms, it has never left you."
"And it never will," added Aurico.
"Carry Aquitar in your heart, Silver Ranger," Delphine said, embracing Billy, "and do not forget everything you learned while you were here."
"Never," Billy said, a weak grin on his face. He then turned to his friends, who were all morphed. He held out his hand, and the silver sword appeared at his beckon. He held it up, and it suddenly glowed with bright silver light, transforming him into the Silver Ranger.
"So," said Tommy, are we ready?"
"Yeah," said Billy, quietly, "I guess I am."
"Great," said Adam, walking up to Billy clapping his shoulder, "I hope you're planning on riding with the rest of us in the Megazord. The flight home's kinda long."
"I suppose I can program the Sharkzord to follow suit," he said.
The Aquitians stood in a line, and they waved goodbye to the Zeos in unison. The six Zeos returned the gesture, and then lined up in their own line, from Zeo Ranger I through to the Silver Ranger.
"Let's go home," said Tommy, and the rangers vanished from the docking bay in six bright beams of light.
The End