Title: Dark Letter
Fandom: Power Rangers ZEO
Characters: Maggie, Tommy, Rocky
Universe: Secrets2
Prompt: 074 - Dark
Word Count: 997
Date finished: 05/02/2006
Rating: PG
Summary: A dreary day at Angel Grove High points to something malicious.
Author's Notes: Although the scene may not look exactly like this when this fic gets written, this has been an idea I thought needed to be explored. I never liked the idea that the letter was from Kim, and since it fit in well here, I got to indulge a little!
Also, this is supposed to precede Practice, the story based on the prompt "Green". It explains why she knows Rocky in that one.
Disclaimer: I don't know who owns the Rangers at this point: I'd guess Disney. At any rate, it isn't me. Maggie, if she appears, is MINE. Please don't take her.

Maggie couldn't have said why, but the energy at Angel Grove High School felt… off. She couldn't have even said what it was. When Chandra asked her what was wrong, she shrugged. "I don't know. I just feel like something is wrong."

Chandra lifted her head as if to catch a scent. "Yeah, it feels… dark, or something."

Maggie paused, then nodded. "That's exactly how it feels," she said. "I guess I'll go find it."

Her friend looked down. "Do you have to?" she asked without meeting Maggie's eyes.

Maggie hesitated. "I guess not, but if it's something I can change…." She shrugged again, got up, and went looking.

She stood by her locker after an unsuccessful day, still feeling out of sorts. Kat gave her a sick-looking smile, and Maggie smiled back at her. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

The blonde sighed. "No. It's just… a bad day for Tommy."

"Oh?" Maggie wondered if he could affect the whole school the way it had been. She'd seen two girls who had been best friends having a fight during lunch, something that she'd have guessed would never happen.

"Yeah. Anniversary."

Obviously not a good one, Maggie thought as she watched Kat walk away. Well, it was the best she had. Time to find Tommy and see if that was the problem.

She followed Kat out of the school and to the Youth Center, and was not surprised to see Tommy there. She was surprised to see him by himself, though; she hadn't since she'd moved there. He was always surrounded by his friends. As she moved in his direction, the dark energy increased so much that she had a hard time breathing. Clenching her hands into fists, she bore it until she reached him, and sat down next to him. "Hi. Having a bad day?"

He flinched and looked at her. "It's not been great," he said dully.

"No, probably not," she said, and didn't know what to say after that. "Tommy, did something happen?"

"Not today," he said.

"But it did happen?" she pressed.

He glared at her. "Why do you ask?" he demanded coldly.

She just stared at him, not sure what to say. "Because you don't look happy," she finally decided to say. "And Kat certainly isn't."

He flinched again, looking miserable. "I know."

"So, what happened?"

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Maggie gagged, got up, and moved away from him. "Oh, wow," she finally said when she could breath again. "Who is that from?"

He stared up at her, bewildered. "An old girlfriend."

"Does she hate you?"

His brow furrowed. "What?" It had that kind of tone that said 'drop it', but she couldn't.

"Does she hate you?" she repeated.

"No, I don't think so. Why?"

"Because there is so much malice in that piece of paper, no wonder no one has had a good day."

"Now wait a minute…" he started, looking angry.

"What comes to mind when you think of her?" Maggie interrupted. She'd seen him practice. She did not want him mad at her.

"Light. Cheer. Pink." The last slipped out, from the surprised look on his face.

"That thing is black. And so malicious… Have you talked to her since you got that?"

He just stared at her. "No," he said slowly. "She said she had a boyfriend in it."

"Do it. Call her. And if she says she didn't send the letter, destroy it. I'm serious, Tommy. That thing is meant to make you sad, meant to make you have bad days. If your girlfriend wasn't that… vindictive, then someone else sent it to you in her name."

He nodded after a moment. "I will," he said, and she blinked in surprise. His voice had been the same, only resonant, sounding like it had gone through crystal. Then he turned and walked out, taking that malice and darkness with him.

Maggie sighed in relief, and started to go sit back down. Her knees collapsed under her.

Someone caught her, so full of light and good energy, she slumped against him, drawing it in, reveling in it. Her eyes slipped closed in sheer relief. "You okay?"

She didn't recognize the voice that echoed through the chest her head lay against. Struggling to get up, she opened her eyes and found herself looking at a handsome Hispanic boy, who smiled at her. "Oh. Yes, I think so. Better, anyway."

"I'm surprised you were brave enough to go near him," he said. "Tommy was not in a good mood today."

She placed him now; he was one of Tommy's friends - the Elite group, Chandra called them with some spite in her voice - but she didn't know his name. "No," she said faintly. "Did you know his ex-girlfriend?"

He helped her over to the table Tommy had just vacated, and sat down next to her. "Yeah, I did. Kim was cool."

She looked at him. "I don't think we've met properly. Maggie Jourdemain."

"Rocky DeSantos," he responded, taking her proffered hand and shaking it. "It's good to meet you."

"Good to meet you, too," she smiled. "How was Kim cool?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because that letter he got from her - I'm guessing that's the ex-girlfriend it came from - is the reason he's having a bad day." Although I'm not certain it came from her, she added in her own thoughts.

"Oh," he said with a nod. "Has it been a year already?"

"Kat said something about an anniversary," Maggie said.

"A year, then," he said. "Wow." Someone called his name and he waved. "You feeling better?" he asked her, still concerned.

"Yes," she said firmly. "Thanks for your help."

"Any time," he said, then got up and went to join his friends. Maggie watched him go, smiling when she realized Tommy was still gone. Good, she thought. He's really gone to call her. At least that will be settled.

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