A/N: Yes, it's finally here! Thank you for the reviews and being patient with me. You guys ROCK! The chapter is pretty long I think lol so enjoy and please let me know what you think afterwards!

Chapter 21

"The End is Only the Beginning"

One year later…

After their daily routine of fighting troobians and a variety of monsters that pose a threat to the planet and putting them in containment cards, Sky and Z decided to take the rest of the day off after a long hard battle against Gruum and the more experienced A-Squad who were a sell out to SPD. It was finally over and they have yet to celebrate.

The two begin strolling in the park reflecting on the year's work and enjoying the beautiful and peaceful day out.

"I can't believe it's been exactly one year." Sky breaks the silence with small talk. "It seemed like it was only yesterday since we became rangers."

Z slightly chuckles at the thought. "Yeah, I know what you mean." There was a small pause as she looked down with a smirk. "Can't help but remember how things started off between us."

"Let's not go there. It took us awhile to get this far."

She chuckles. "You were so stubborn." The cadet peers at him from the corner of her eye. "And still are."

"So were you." He smirks as he stuffs his hands inside the pockets of his dark blue jacket and continues walking along side with his female companion around the lake.

"A lot has changed." She turns to him to the side. "You've changed."

Sky lifted a curious brow. "Is that a good or bad thing?"

"It's a good thing. I mean you're starting to loosen up a bit more and you're not as big of an ego maniac as you were a year ago."

"Hey, now." He shot her a look for the comment as she laughed at him.

"Plus," Z adds on as her laugher softens, "You've been a good friend and teammate to both me and Jack. And I know how hard it was for you when Jack and I became part of the team."

Sky nods his head. "You're right. It was hard, Z. But you know, I wouldn't ask for better teammates."

She smiles in awed. "I also want to thank you about yesterday. You did a really brave thing out there." Her expression became serious. "I wouldn't know how I'd continue life without Jack."

"He would've done the same thing with all of us right? Just like you, Bridge, and Syd would."

She nods in agreement, "Right."

Silence lingered in the air as they avert from each other's gazes and looked out at the lake as it stretched from one end to the distant horizon. Yesterday's battle was like watching their life about to come to an end for it was the most brutal and intense battle they had to face. But yet they were able to pull through and come out victorious.

"You know what my fondest memory of you was?"

Sky turns to her with a smirk. "What? When we sparred and you happen to kick my butt?"

She looks up and pictures the moment. "Okay, do you want to know what my second fondest memory of you was?"

He chuckles. "What?"

"When you finally realized that heroes come in all sorts of colors." Sky looks down and smiles at the thought. "From that moment I just knew you've grown a lot from this experience and for that I'm really proud of you, Sky."

It felt really nice to hear that, especially coming from Z. They've been mouthing strong and hateful words in the past, but this time it was different. At that moment, she was genuine, sincere, honest, and above all that proud of him and it was perhaps the best thing he'd heard all year.

"Do you know what my fondest memory of you was?"

"Uh oh," she chuckles. "No, but do tell."

"When you screamed my name for help." He smirks. "Feels nice to know that you need me afterall."

Z furrows her eyebrows in bewilderment. "I do not remember that."

"What?" He scoffs. "It's only been a few months."

"I never call for help except for that one time when we first met and you saved me from the Krybots. Other than that I don't recall ever calling you for help during my ranger days."

"It was during our S.W.A.T training. That terrified look on your face was priceless!" He exclaims, just thinking about that moment. "It looked like you were gonna give up."

She shook her head. "Nope. I don't remember."

"Yes you do." A playful grin crossed his face. "You just don't want to admit that you, as the red ranger, or shouldI say former red rangerwere a tad bit afraid and needy for help."

Z looks at him and rolls her eyes, "whatever." She then moves into a different subject after hearing her stomach grumble. "I'm getting hungry."

"Wait," Sky took her by the shoulder as he stares deeply into her eyes.

It surprised him how far they've gone from being friends, to enemies, and now friends again. Even though it took awhile for them to put their differences aside and be on talking terms, it was worth the wait.

"Sky?" Z waits for him to say something as soon as his expression was blank and almost emotionless. He shook his head from a fixed trance and turns back to her. "You were gonna say something?"

He takes a deep breath, struggling to get the words out. "Yeah," he starts off softly, "there's something I've been meaning to tell you for awhile now."

Z could feel her heart beating rapidly. She didn't know why, but for some reason…what he's about to tell her seem rather serious.

Flashback

"Hey, Syd." Z walks inside the common room where Sky, Bridge, and Jack were playing lightball and Syd reading a magazine. "This just came in for you." She hands the blonde an envelope addressed to Sydney Drew and takes a seat right next to her on the couch.

"Oh my Goodness!" The blonde shrieked as soon as she ripped the letter out and reads it wide-eyed. Sky, Bridge, and Jack stopped their activity and turns to her direction.

"What is it, Syd?"

She faces Z and smiles. "It's from Tech Teen Vogue! They've seen my designs and they want me to become their official model and dress coordinator!"

The others exchange looks. "That's awesome, Syd!" Sky exclaims.

"Yeah, this is great news." Bridge smiles happily for the blonde. "This is what you always wanted."

"I know!" She squealed. "I can't believe it's all happening."

Bridge's smile suddenly faded. "But…what about SPD?"

Syd's lips slightly parted. She was so thrilled with the news she totally forgot about her future in SPD. All of a sudden Jack, Sky, and Z's gazes all turn to Bridge for they were all aware of his feelings for her. The only person who has yet to find out is Syd herself.

"You can do both right?" Jack questions as everyone else in the room fell silent. "Well can you?"

She looks down and sighs. "Tech Teen Vogue is asking me to work full time with them…"

"So what do you want?"

The question was brought up, only giving Syd a harder time to decide right on the spot. It's either to turn down the offer and continue her services in SPD or to leave and to finally fulfill her dream as being part of the Tech Teen Vogue team.

As they waited for Syd's response, the emergency alarm went off. Before B-squad could even get an answer Jack, Sky, and Z grunted as they immediately left the room leaving Syd and Bridge behind. When Syd was about to follow them from behind, Bridge took her by the arm as the two were now engaged in an intense stare.

"Syd, no pressure alright? I want you to do what you want to do."

She furrows her eyebrows in bewilderment. "Can we talk about this some other time? We got work to do."

"I know, but I want you to know something."

Syd studies her male companion carefully.

"Whatever you decide to do, I want you to know that I'm very proud of you." She smiles as he continues on. "And I mean it, Syd."

The emergency alarm continues to go on throughout the academy.

"And," Bridge pauses in mid-sentenced and breathes nervously, "And I want you to know that…that…" he stammers, struggling to get the point across with the alarm ringing through his ears, "that…I love you." Syd's lips parted in surprise. "I always have and always will. I know I'm weird and I'm not Sky," Bridge adds with a nervous chuckle, "and I'm not asking for anything." She stares deeply into his sincere eyes. It was a different side of Bridge, and she'd never thought he'd ever be interested in her, especially when they come from two opposite worlds. Well almost. "All I want from you, Syd is to be happy."

"Syd. Bridge!" Z comes running back to the common room. The two broke their contact and turn over to the cadet. "What's the hold up?"

"Is everything okay?"

Z smiles, "better than okay. I think we found the A-Squad."

"Sky?" Z slightly chuckles as she waves a hand in front of his face. "You're doing it again."

He shook his head and faces her. "I'm sorry, I'm just--"

"Nervous?" A smile crossed her face. It amazes Sky how Z knows so much about him after a year of getting to know each other.

He grunted. "Well…" Sky averts from her gaze in a nervous gesture, but was able to look back at her, "yesterday when we were fighting A-Squad…the moment when we're about to fall to them…I thought--" He stops in mid-sentence and stares deeply into her eyes, "I thought I was going to lose you…"

"Lose me?" She asks in bewilderment. "I'm here, Sky."

"I know, but…" he trails off nervously and looks down, "If I ever lose you…"

"Shh…" Z steps closer till her eyes met with his. "Don't you ever say that, Sky. We're here now and everything is okay." She reassures him with a smile as he too smiled back.

The same awkward silence fell upon them when suddenly they heard a beeping sound coming from one of their morphers. Z was the first to take hers out. "What's up, Jack?" She answered as Sky let out a silent groan for being interrupted.

"Okay, we're on our way." The cadet turns back to her male companion. "Come on, they're waiting for us at the park."

Flashback

Jack, Sky, Bridge, Z, and Syd all exit the commander center after their talk with Cruger. It was such a long and exhausting day as they were all rewarded for their efforts in bringing Grumm and the A-Squad to justice. A million things were running through their heads, even Bridge, who can't help but think about the possibility of Syd leaving SPD for good.

"So how does it feel to be the first lieutenant, lieutenant?" Sky places an arm around Z as she turns to him with a bright smile on her face.

"I don't know. It's kind of intimidating because now I work along side with the big blue dog, taking orders and everything…"

"Plus, if he's not around you're in charge of the whole academy." Cadet Landors added, very proud and excited for his long time friend.

"Congrats, Z." The blonde places an arm around Commander Cruger's first lieutenant. "You deserved it."

"Thanks, Syd."

"And what about you?" She turns to Sky with a smirk. "Mr. Oh I'm finally the red ranger."

They all laughed at him as he rolls his eyes. "Ha. Ha. Very funny."

"Ah, so now I have to take orders from him." Bridge whined. "It's hard enough taking orders from you." He added jokingly as Z sends him an evil glare for the comment.

"So have you decided what you're gonna do yet, Syd?" Sky asks curiously as all eyes turn to her. She simply shrugged her shoulders.

"I haven't decided."

Silence fell in the room once again as Bridge and Syd caught each other staring from the corner of their eyes. Bridge confessing his love to her was still on the back of her mind and yet she was so confused of what to think or how she even feels.

"I'm going to meet up with Kat." Syd says not only to get away for she had a lot of thinking to do, but because she and Dr. Manx had to make party plans for their celebration. She was overwhelmed with everything that's been happening from receiving an internship from Tech Teen Vogue to defeating Grumm's army and witnessing A-Squad's betrayal to SPD, and Bridge's confrontation. It only made her decision much difficult.

"So how does it feel to be the green ranger?" Syd asks as she and Cadet Landors begin covering the picnic tables with a decorated table cloth.

"Well green does look better on me."

"I heard that." Bridge mumbled as he walks past them and makes his way over to Boom to help with the barbeque.

Jack looks up and smirks. "Pshh…I'm sure blue looks better on me too." He joked as he peers at Syd from the corner of his eye and noticed the blonde looking back at the cadet. "So…" Jack grunted as she takes her eyes off of Bridge and faces him. "Have you decided yet?"

There was a small pause as Syd heaves a deep sigh.

"Actually, I have."

Jack lifted an eyebrow. Just as he parted his lips to say something, Sky and Z finally arrived to the park. "Oh hey, guys." He greeted while looking past Syd. The blonde turns around and smiles at their appearance.

"Hey…"

"I'm going to help Bridge and Boom with the barbeque." Sky excuses himself from the group and joins the other two leaving Jack, Z, and Syd.

Lieutenant Delgado then turns her gaze over to the blonde. The same question was running through their heads. "So, girlie…" she nudges her on the shoulder, "what have you decided huh?"

Syd parted her lips to speak when suddenly she was taken by surprise when Bridge stood right in front of her. "I'm sorry to interrupt," he breathed nervously as he looks from Z to Syd, "but can we talk?"

Jack and Z both exchange looks as Syd nodded her head. It was gonna come sooner or later. "Sure."

Bridge and Syd began walking around the park in awkward silence battling in their heads whether to start it off or not.

"Bridge."

"Syd."

They said at the same time as they looked at each other and laughed.

"Me first." Bridge stopped and faces her. "Look, Syd…about what I said," he pauses in mid-sentence nervously, "I meant it all." She searches his eyes carefully. "But I don't want it to affect your decision because I really want you to follow your dreams."

She smiles sincerely. "Don't worry it didn't." There was a small pause. "I've decided to take the job."

Although the news secretly saddens him for he couldn't be more proud of Syd. "That's great." He says with a smile. "Really, I'm happy for you."

"But…" she trails off while biting her bottom lip, "that doesn't mean we can't make it work."

Bridge furrows his eyebrows in bewilderment unsure of what she meant by that. 'To make what work?' He thought. Just then, Syd closes the gap between them as she captured his lips with her own, taking him by surprise as he too begins to lose himself in the kiss. He never thought in a million years he'd be kissing the most beautiful woman that walked the Earth let alone to finally be with her.

"Oh my God!" Bridge and Syd immediately broke apart as they turned to Jack, Sky, and Z who were staring at them in shock.

"There are little kids in the park." Z scoffs playfully as the two avert from their gazes and coyly blushes.

He grunted. "I think I'll be toasting some toast now…" Bridge awkwardly excuses himself from the group, but before he left he gave Syd a peck on the cheek. "I'll be right back."

The other three watched on in awed.

"What a perfect match." Jack smirks. "Who figured you'd be with a guy like Bridge."

"Tell me about it."

"Hey, ladies." Kat Manx calls out from afar. "I need a hand over here."

"Coming, Kat." Syd and Z walked side by side towards her direction leaving both Jack and Sky. Silence hung over them as Cadet Landors darted his eyes between Sky and Z who was staring at her direction. He then grunted, allowing Sky to look his way.

"What?"

Jack rolls his eyes and smirk. "Don't act like I don't know anything." Sky wrinkles his forehead. "So about you and Z…"

The party has begun as people from the academy arrived with food and music in the park. While Syd was speaking with a few of the D-Squad members, she felt a tap on her shoulder as she turns around and stares at the figure standing before her in disgust. "Eww…who invited you?"

"Princess, didn't you hear? I am now welcomed in SPD for my efforts in saving you guys despite me and my betrayal of course which I am deeply sorry for." Piggy responds when suddenly Jack and Z approaches them.

"Hey, Piggy. Did you bring any food?"

"Ah…well." He scratches the top of his head. "No, I didn't."

"Good." Syd retorts followed by a chuckle. Just then, sweet music begin to play as she begins bobbing her head smoothly to the music. "Oooooh, I love this song!"

"Shall we dance?" Bridge offered his arm as a grin crossed his face. The feeling of having butterflies in their stomachs begins to take notice. Without hesitation, Syd smiles in return as she linked arms with him.

"We shall."

Jack and Z were then joined by one of their own Sophie.

"Oh my God, you guys! You wouldn't believe what just Commander Cruger offered me!"

Jack and Z exchange puzzled looks. "What is it, Sophie?"

"I'm the new SPD pink ranger." She squealed. "Isn't that great! I passed the test and everything!"

The cadets smiled happily. "That's great, Sophie!" Z exclaims in surprise. "I just knew you'd make a great ranger."

"Thanks. Let's just hope I fit in."

"You'll fit in perfectly." A familiar voice says from behind as Sophie could feel a pair of strong hands on her shoulders. She turns around and smiles.

"Thank you, Sky. I won't let you down, I promise."

"Hey, Sophie!" Her friends from the D-Squad called out from the other end of the long picnic tables. "Come over here."

"Okay." She turns back to Jack, Sky, and Z. "I guess I'll talk to you guys later."

"Later, Sophie. Have fun!"

"I will."

Z turns to Sky surprisingly. "Wow…you're officially human. Congratulations, cadet. I couldn't be more proud of you."

"Ha!" Jack laughed at Z's sarcasm as Sky shot them a dirty look.

"Very funny."

"Oh come on, Sky." She punches him lightly on the shoulder. "Lighten up. It's a party."

But how could he lighten up when his feelings for her remain bubble up in his head? And that every time he looked at her he becomes speechless.

Jack took the awkward silence and the nervous look on the cadet's face as a sign to slowly come up with an excuse to get more food and leave the two alone. Once he done so, silence hung in the air for awhile as Sky peers at her from the corner of his eye.

"Hey, Z…"

She looks back at him, furrowing her eyebrows in bewilderment due to the serious and uneasy tone of his voice.

Sky adjusted his position so that his whole body was facing her. He drew in a few nervous gulps before starting. "I-I uh…" Sky stutters nervously, "I think…or should I say I know…that I'm…f-falling for you."

Z's expression remains blank and uncomprehending, which only made him feel even more nervous.

"But I don't want it to affect what we have now. I mean I like our times together yah know and I want us to stay friends." He exclaims, followed by a deep sigh. "I just thought you should know that I felt this way from the moment I saw you…and I know I shouldn't bring this up now but…" he pauses in mid-sentenced, "but my feelings for you during the time I was undercover were true. It hasn't changed till this very day. And it hurts that you think I'd intentionally hurt you like I did because the truth is…it hurts that I'm not with you every minute."

"Z?" Jack was surprise to find his female friend at the grill working the burgers once he thought he left her alone with Sky.

She looks up. "Hey, Jack. I could definitely use the hand here."

"B-But I thought you were with Sky?"

"Z, you make me feel so alive." Sky continues on. "I don't know what it is, but I never felt so happier since my father passed on." He says this with a genuine smile. "You made me realize and see a lot of things that I never thought I could ever see again. But I'm scared yah know? Because every day I find myself falling so much in love with you and to be honest, I don't know if I'm capable of loving anyone, especially someone I fear losing." His eyes soften. "But I do know that I'll always love the person you are and the person that you've become, Z. When or if the time comes…I'm willing to love you…even if it's not with me."

There was a small pause as he waits anxiously for her to respond, but remained quiet. Just then….

"Sky?" A familiar voice ring through his ears as he turns around and looks over his shoulder.

Cadet Tate furrows his eyebrows in bewilderment. "Z?" He looks back at the other and hence there were two of them. "But I thought you were…you…"

"I'm sorry there were just so many things to get done." Z becomes one again. "So...you were saying?"

"Ohhh…" Sky looks down in disappoint. 'Why oh why does this happen to me?' He felt the need to scream at the top of his lungs and go crazy. Before he could say anything, his morpher started beeping. Moments later Jack, Bridge, Syd, and Sophie joins them once they received the signal. It could only mean one thing…

"What's wrong?" Cadet Drew asks worriedly as Sophie tilts her head to the side and smirks. The blonde looks at her and nodded for she knew it is the time to pass on the legacy of the pink ranger and let them handle it.

Jack, Sky, Bridge, and Sophie all exchange looks.

It was also Z's turn to step aside and have their new red ranger lead the team. "Suit up, rangers!" Lieutenant Delgado commanded them as she looks at Sky and winks.

Cadet Tate steps up as he took out his morpher. "Ready, rangers?"

Jack, Bridge, and Sophie did the same. "Ready!"

"SPD, Emergency!"

THE END

A/N: LOL! Don't forget to review. And thanks again for reading and giving my story a chance! A possible one-shot sequel to this story depending on the response. I know there's unfinish business between Sky and Z, but I thought I leave it up to you guys to use your imagination. Hehe...