Chapter Text
A couple of archeologists were busy at work excavating a Maori dig site near Lake Brunner and the Arahura River in the South Islands of New Zealand. The hills were the place of many South Island myths and legends. The two men came across a cave with a rock barring the entrance. The rock was covered in strange symbols that denoted Maori origin.
They looked at each other curiously and decided to move the rock. Once they moved the rock a red-haired woman in a green dress emerged from inside the cave. She smiled at the two men and they fell to the floor asleep.
***
Chase hated flying in planes. He gripped the armrest tightly and looked over at Riley. Riley raised his eyebrows, looked down at Chase's hands and smiled. Chase shot Riley back an uncomfortable grin, then closed his eyes and leaned his head back. When he felt Riley's warm hand squeezing his he felt a small wave of relief come over him.
"Come on Chase, how many times have you made this flight?" Riley ribbed Chase.
"One time too many," Chase said squinting at Riley through one open eye. "I mean think about it Riley. We're in some big tin can flying through the air. How does metal fly through the air like this? Magic?"
Chase sat near the window so Riley had to stretch over his lap to unveil it (Chase had kept the window covered almost the whole flight). "It's called lift-and-thrust Chase," Riley removed the shutter and looked out. "It's aerodynamics. Not magic."
"Not magic. Pfft. You're a few sammys short of a picnic if you don't think this isn't magic."
"I'm what?" Riley laughed, Chase's kiwi slang throwing him off.
"Crazy."
"Look, Chase," Riley's eyes widened as they began to fly over Christchurch. The white-topped mountain range nearby watched over the little city like a sleeping giant.
"Welcome to Christchurch Riley."
"Wow."
Once Chase and Riley made their way down to baggage claim, Chase was fast on his phone texting his mother. Every few minutes he would look around for any signs of his mother or Chloe. Riley watched the baggage carousel for their luggage.
Chase's face grew alight with excitement when he finally saw his mother and sister at the other end of the terminal. He kneeled as Chloe jumped in his arms and hugged him. "How's it going bugalugs?" Chase said holding her tightly. Chloe then walked over to Riley who knelt to give her a hug too. Chase's mother gave him a hug then he walked her over to Riley.
"Mum, this is one of my best mates, Riley."
"It's good to meet you Riley," Chase's mother said warmly extending her hand.
"It's good to meet you too Mrs. Randall."
Riley looked out the window the entire ride to Chase's mother's house. Christchurch was a colorful town with buildings both old and new. All the small houses looked warm as yellow light glowed inside of them. He watched in awe as a trolly passed by. Even though he'd moved to Amber Beach, Riley's humble beginnings made him a country boy at heart. Cities always left him a little awestruck.
Chase's mother fed the boys then rushed them off to Chase's room and insisted they catch up in the morning. Riley looked around Chase's room. It smelled like him. Kind of like sweat and cologne. To think after all these years his smell still lingered. Chase threw himself back on his bed. He then patted the bed signaling Riley to join him.
"Chase, where are we going to sleep?" Riley raised his eyebrows at Chase.
Chase sat up in his bed and smiled at Riley. "On my bed?"
"Both of us?" Riley lowered his face and stared at Chase below the ridge of his brow.
"Why not?"
"Chase!" Riley started blushing.
Chase stood up and walked over to Riley. Riley crossed his arms over his chest and smiled at Chase. Chase brushed his hand along Riley's cheek. "I'll sleep on the floor, alright?"
Riley and Chase settled in, Chase building himself a bed on the floor next to the bed. He reached his hand up and grabbed Riley's. Riley leaned over the side of the bed so Chase reached up and gave him a kiss on the lips. Riley then leaned back and sighed.
"So... you're going to tell her?" Riley crossed his arms behind his head as he spoke.
"Yeah. Of course."
"You're pretty brave."
"C'mon bro you know me," Chase chuckled.
Riley smiled to himself. "Chase," Riley turned his head to the side, "I love you."
Chase perched on the side of the bed resting his chin on his folded arms. "I love you too, Riley."
Riley looked at Chase then scooted over in the bed, unfolding the covers so Chase could crawl in next to him. He smiled at Chase innocently. Chase crawled in the bed next to him. He lay his head on his outstretched arm looking down at Riley who was on his back looking up at Chase.
Riley grinned at Chase so Chase leaned down and kissed him. As he gently pulled away they looked into each other's eyes. Riley had never looked at Chase so intently before. Riley reached out and touched the side of Chase's face, brushing his hand against his stubble. Chase grabbed Riley's hand and kissed it. Riley sat up in the bed and pressed his forehead against Chase's. Chase started chuckling.
"What?" Riley grinned awkwardly.
"Why're you so nervous?"
"Because Chase... I've never..."
Chase pushed Riley back down onto his back and hovered over him. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to do Riley."
"That's not it," Riley put his hand to Chase's face again, "I want to... with you... Chase."
"Riley," Chase leaned down so his face was close to Riley's. "I will never do anything to hurt you."
Riley grabbed Chase's face and started to kiss him so Chase threw the cover over them.
***
The next morning, Chase was roused when Chloe pounced on top of him while he lay on the floor. Chase sat up, winded by Chloe's initial assault.
"Chase! You said you'd keep teaching me how to skateboard while you're here!" Chloe whined.
"I did?" Chase responded as he wiped sleep from his eyes. He stretched and yawned. "Blow me down, you don't say?"
"Yes!" Chloe stood up, "now I'm holding you to it."
Chase stood up, "well you hear the lady Riley? Looks like I got me a date at the skate park."
"Alright," Riley sat up in bed and smiled at Chase.
"Chloe go get your gear."
Chloe ran out of the room so Chase locked the door and crawled up next to Riley and kissed him on the cheek.
"Ugh, your breath," Riley laughed.
"What're you gonna' do today bro?"
"I'm going to go look around Christchurch," Riley leaned back and stretched, "hey doesn't Moana live here?"
"Sure does."
"Maybe I'll find her and say hey while I'm here."
"Sounds good," Chase leaned over to kiss Riley but Riley wrinkled his nose when he got close. Chase smiled, shrugged, and got up to brush his teeth and get dressed.
***
Chase took Chloe to the skatepark near his mother's house where he taught himself to skate when he was younger.
"How do you that one trick," Chloe said balancing herself on the skateboard.
"Which one?"
"Where you jump up and flip the skateboard."
"An ollie? You're going have to get the hang of balancing yourself before you learn an ollie mate." Chase laughed and stood behind Chloe showing her how to balance herself. Chloe skated away from Chase as she tried to teach herself.
At the edge of the skate park, the red-haired woman from the cave in the hills watched Chase. She could see him glowing with a golden life force. Vital. Strong. He was the perfect candidate. When she noticed Chloe had left his side she walked over to him. She made her presence known by clearing her throat.
"Hey there," she spoke in a soft indigenous accent.
Chase turned to look at her. She was a beautiful Maori woman but with fiery red hair. "Hey," he gave her a charming smile.
"You know, haven't we met before?" The woman's eyes started to glow green as she looked at Chase. Chase's eyes reflected the viridian glimmer.
"Your name is... Urukehu." Chase spoke unnaturally. His voice segmented like he was being puppeteered.
"Just call me Uru... Chase." She smiled malevolently at him.
***
Riley traveled around Christchurch taking in the sights. Christchurch was a lively place during the warm New Zealand January. He made his way to Moana's shop based off a quick search he did on his phone. An entrance bell chimed as he walked into an emporium of oddments and peculiarities. The store was piled with Maori tribal goods for rituals and spiritual practices.
Moana emerged from a backroom, her typical bewildered self, and noticed Riley.
"Riley?" She smiled curiously.
"Miss Moana!" Riley proclaimed excitedly.
Moana walked around to the front of the store and gave Riley a hug. "Have you grown since the last time I saw you?"
"I am older now."
"Goodness," Moana stepped away, placing her hands on her hips and looking over Riley. "What on Earth are you doin' in Christchurch?"
"I came with Chase."
"Chase is in Christchurch and he hasn't come by to see me yet?"
"We just got here last night. He went out with Chloe to teach her how to skateboard."
"Well, what about the rest of your... Ranger crew?"
"Nah," Riley pursed his lips, "it's just me and Chase."
Since the Rangers had come to this alternate reality, Riley had made it a habit of studying the differences. Luckily, not many of the Ranger's relationships had changed when they crossed over into the other world. Although Kaylee was no longer with Chase, his relationships with Moana and his family were unchanged. Similarly, Riley's own relationships hadn't changed much either.
"Something... else is different about you?" Moana studied Riley carefully.
"What?"
"I can't quite place my finger on it but its something... special... new."
Riley smiled at Moana curiously then realized, somehow, Moana could detect that this Riley wasn't the same. "Well actually," he started to explain how the Power Rangers came to defeat Sledge and how they'd gone through a black hole to save the world.
When he was done Moana took a step back and placed a hand to her mouth, "Goodness, that is quite the tale."
Riley looked at his watch and realized he'd spent the better part of the afternoon recounting events to Moana.
"Oh wow, it's getting late. I'd better head back to Mrs. Randall's, Moana."
"Yes, yes of course, you tell Chase I want to see him while he's here."
Riley smiled and left the store. As he walked back to Mrs. Randall's house he came across Chloe who was running in the street. "Chloe?" Riley raised an eyebrow. Chloe was breathing heavy from running, she looked nervous and scared. "What's wrong Chloe?"
"It's Chase, we went to the skatepark and he met some girl there. We went back home and he told mum he was going to marry her!"
"What?" Riley furrowed his eyebrows.
"She's got some kinda spell on him, Riley. I tried to tell him to snap out of it but he just yelled at me. So I left looking for you."
Riley nodded his head, "let's head back home. We'll figure this out, okay?"
Once Chloe and Riley returned to Mrs. Randall's house, Chase's mother greeted them.
"Chloe?" Chase's mother ran over and hugged her. "Don't you dare run off like that again you hear. What's gotten into you?"
"Is that woman still here?" Chloe seethed defiantly.
"Chloe," Chase's mother took an admonishing tone, "that's soon to be your brother's bride. You'd better learn to respect her."
"Mum, don't you think it's weird that they're getting married so soon?"
"Chloe. You heard what your brother said. They had been talking online for a long time. He did tell me he was coming in January to introduce me to someone special."
Chloe ran upstairs in tears. Riley looked on confused.
"And you were to be his best man?" Chase's mother looked up at Riley.
Riley didn't want to give away his true emotional state. "Of course, that was the plan all along."
Riley walked passed Chase's mother and headed upstairs to confront Chase. He saw Chase in the hallway and walked up to him.
"Chase?"
Chase turned around and smiled at Riley. "Hey bro, what's up?"
"What's going on?"
"Whaddya' mean what's going on?"
"Your mother says you're getting married... that I'm supposed to be your best man?"
"Well it's true isn't it," Chase placed his hands on Riley's shoulders, "you are going to be my best man aren't you?"
Riley brushed Chase off his shoulders and grabbed his face with his hands. "Chase remember... it's me Riley. I'm the guy you said always analyzes everything... I'm the guy you said trains too hard... remember we fought Sledge and Heckyl together? We went through the wormhole and when you saw Kaylee again she was with some other guy... so I finally told you how I felt about you... Chase... we're in love."
Chase's face went blank. He started to look down as if his memories were being jarred. Riley could tell a struggle was taking place in Chase's mind.
"You must be Riley," Uru's voice emanated from beyond him and Chase. Chase shook his head and started to walk away confused.
"Chase!" Riley reached a hand up but then saw Uru emerge from Chase's room. Chase hugged Uru, resting his face against her shoulder, then walked behind her into his room. Uru then approached Riley. As she neared Riley he heard strange music. Faint voices singing all around him. Riley looked around confused then stopped to glare at Uru.
"Who are you?" Riley gritted his teeth. "What's going on?"
Uru stood before Riley. Her eyes flashed green. Riley saw the supernatural green glimmer in her eyes and stepped back warily. Now that Riley wasn't a Ranger, he only had his raw skill and even that wasn't enough to make him boldly challenge something so obviously inhuman.
"Ha," Uru laughed and studied Riley, "you don't like girls?"
Riley raised an eyebrow and looked at Uru confused.
"Well it makes no difference if my spell doesn't work on you," Uru started to walk passed Riley, "there's nothing you can do to break my spell over him. Tomorrow he will marry me and I will claim his life force."
Riley watched Uru disappear. He tried to go into Chase's room but the door was locked. Not wanting to cause a commotion Riley ran out the front door in search of Uru. Running out into the street he looked both ways but couldn't find her. She'd vanished. Riley decided he had to go back to Moana... maybe she would know what was going on...