Alarm Clocks and Bright Lights (Power Rangers in Space)

[estinose]

Summary: Ashley on her first morning not being a Ranger. (Destruction... and After storyline)

Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me, but instead to Saban. This takes place during "Countdown to Destruction, part 2" (written by Judd Lynn), part of a series detailing the events and aftermath of the two-parter.

This is the thirteenth of the "Destruction... and after" series of stories and was written December 5, 1998.

Alarm Clocks and Bright Lights
by Estirose
copyright 1998

It's so weird to, for once, be woken up by an alarm clock instead of the ship's computer. An alarm clock doesn't say your name and then turn all the lights in your room on, as DECA does, but somehow, I don't mind at all.

I feel like it's been forever since I awoke to an alarm clock, that's how long I've been in space. Today, I'll go downstairs, eat breakfast, and get ready for school as I always did before I was a Ranger. This is the first school day I've had in a while, and it's going to take a while to get back used to school, not to mention I've missed a whole semester while out looking for Zordon, or practically so.

I have to wonder if any of my teachers were in that group of people downtown, or any of my peers. I'm not ready to be a hero today - all I want to be is Ashley Hammond, high school student. But I have a feeling that it won't be that easy, that people will remember me. That people will expect more than I can really give. I've been a hero, but now my job is done. The universe is saved, and I'm not needed anymore.

All of us are going to have to put up with that today, unfortunately. Between schoolwork and homework and everything else, I can see that we're going to be spending a lot of time together. At least our team will be complete, with Andros, Zhane, and Karone still here.

And those three will be busy remembering KO-35. I don't envy Zhane and Andros their jobs of helping Karone remember her former home and her family. I suppose someday they might want to go back and live in the culture they grew up in. I just hope that I go with them.

But right now, I have to turn this stupid alarm off and eat breakfast. I have a long day ahead of me.