A Very Mega Christmas: Noah Carver Edition
"It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Noah gathered his bag, pulling on his beanie feeling satisfied with all the progress he made since this morning. His tree was finally up with all the decorations, he turned watching all the lights flicking back and forth everything had got precisely as he planned. He turned his attention over to the chimney and saw his old stock stuffer perched high along with the others. Noah thoroughly enjoyed Christmas. He liked the extra time he got to spend with both his family and close friends and not to mention all the good foods like he got to eat along with all the glorious snowfall fights that he loved.
Noah walked over to the chimney picking up a small snow globe; inside was a picture of him and his best friends. Noah couldn't express how happy it was to have to befriend Gia, Emma, and Troy. He really enjoyed their company and all the excitement that they bought into his life. Prior to meeting them Noah was just another socially awkward, geek that would rather spend his weekends studying and finding out the latest technology, than finding a date or hanging out with the popular kids or attending the latest parties.
The only reason Noah knew about any of the parties or got invited to hang out with any of the popular kids was because of Jake. He was constantly trying and drag him out to on the weekends, or trying to get him to hang out with some of his friends, but the few times Noah did hangout with them, he always felt both awkward and out-of-place, but it didn't help either that he was painfully shy and that some of those of people made fun of him. But surprisingly since becoming a Power Rangers, he started finding himself more open, and less introverted. He supposed that baring the faith of the world on his shoulders would certainly make a person less coy.
He chuckled; remembering his battle against Virox, and how the Warstar managed to shake his confidence, then again it didn't help when the woman he saved that day saved questioned his heroic antics. Sometimes even to this very day the thought still lingered in the back of his mind and he still had a hard time believing that he was in fact a real-life superhero.
Even still to this day, Noah questioned his abilities to keep up with his teammates. He didn't practice martial arts like Troy or Gia, nor did he have Jake's strength or tenacity, nor that gracefulness that Emma possessed. But over time Noah learned that his strengths laid in his ability to think quickly on his feet, and being able to keep calm and staying strong and composed. So it made Noah happy knowing that not only was he getting to share his knowledge of the latest technology but he was actually contributing something to the team.
Not only has becoming a Power Ranger been a life-alternating experience but it also reignited his passion for the paranormal. With every battle, Noah was learning more and more about other worldly beings and this thrilled him to no end especially when he got to share his findings with Mr. Burly. He turned his attention over to the stock stuffer; he started thinking about all what he would like for Christmas.
Noah didn't exactly have a Christmas list, he stopped making those years ago, but honestly what more could Noah possibly be grateful for this year?
He managed to break out of the protective shell, and he much more active and less socially awkward with his peers. But the one thing that he was truly grateful for was the realization that what he thought were his greatest limitations were in fact his greatest strengths.
Something else came to mind too, he started thinking about the little caterpillars he used to manage in his science and how eventually they would blossom into a butterfly, how he too was slowly started to break out of his shell and show the world his true self.
A knock stirred Noah from his thoughts.
"Coming!" he replied walking over to his front door.
"Hey buddy!"
"Jake."
"You ready to go?"
"Yup."
But as he stepped out the door, he stopped thinking about something or rather someone.
"I forgot something…I'll be right back."
"Dude, it's cold out here…so hurry up!" Jake said, with a shiver.
Noah chuckled; running back inside grabbing the snow globe. As much as Noah treasured it, he thought it would be the perfect gift for their special teammate.
"Noah!" Jake whined shivering, "hurry up dude!"
Noah shoved the snow globe inside his bag racing over to the door.
"What did you forget?" Jake asked curiously.
"A little something for a special friend," Noah replied with a slyly smirk shutting the front door.
"That Christmas Feeling"
Noah quickly headed for the doors that lead to the back of the yogurt shop. He slipped open the door, feeling the draft in the air. As he was making his way over towards the trash can, startled by someone familiar.
"Robo Knight!"
"People are cutting down trees."
"What?!" Noah said stepping over to their robotic companion.
"Humans are acting strangely; they're wasting energy, putting up colorful lights."
"The people are cutting down many pine trees."
"No…this isn't bad," he said gesturing out to the city's plaza.
"They are celebrating Christmas."
"Christmas?"
"What is that?" inquired Robo Knight.
Noah sighed scratching his head; trying to think of why to explain what Christmas was and what it meant to humanity. Noah leaned back against the wall trying to think of a plausible answer to Robo Knight's question.
"Well…" Noah started.
Then it, it hit him, a simple, yet logical answer he could give Robo Knight.
"It's the special time of the year…when humans are at their best…everyone is a lot nicer…and people…" he paused, "try a lot harder than usual to do what's right," Noah explained.
"Oh…and we strive for peace on earth."
There now that sounded like a logic explanation or at least he hoped so, no way of knowing if Robo Knight understood what he was explaining.
Robo Knight glanced around the plaza.
"The streets are decorated for peace on earth?"
Noah sighed inward, that was not exactly the message, he was hoping to convey.
"Yeah…" he chuckled, "that and well shopping."
"Humans celebrate the holiday seasons by getting that special someone a gift…and everyone loves getting gifts."
Noah figured that he may as well explain the commercial the reasoning why people enjoyed Christmas time and the holidays as illogical as it may seem.
"I will investigate this further," Robo Knight said stepping away.
"No…hold on," Noah said pulling him back.
"You can't go into the mall…you'll scare everyone!" he warned.
There was no way he was going to let their companion out on his own, and take a chance that he may inadvertently end up hurting someone. But knowing how stubborn Robo Knight was, he was doubtful that he would concede. Noah started scouring his brain trying come up with something that he could use to show Robo Knight what Christmas meant to humans. Then it hit him, he knew just the perfect way that he could show their companion and get a little kick of it too.
"Unless, we can pretend you're a giant toy!"
"A toy?"
"Yeah…but you would have to stand still for like 24 hours…can you do that?"
"I stood still in hibernation for thousands of years."
"Good point," Noah commented, he honestly hadn't thought of that so 24 hours would be a piece of cake for Robo Knight.
Now the only problem was how was he going to get Robo Knight over to the Christmas display without startling anyone or drawing attention to themselves?
"Come with me…c'mon…" he called grabbing Robo Knight remembering the small passageway outside of Ernie's that Emma told him about, that lead directly to mall's courtyard...
Noah excitedly walked through the small passage; he was beaming over the idea of having Robo Knight out on display.
"Where are we going blue ranger?"
"Some place where I know you will understand the true meaning of Christmas."
As they got to end of the passage, Noah peeked out from behind the door.
"Robo Knight…hold on a second."
So, far the close the coast was clear, and then he saw some people heading towards the courtyard.
"C'mon Robo Knight…we better hurry before people start gathering."
He led him over towards the tall Christmas in the middle of the courtyard.
"What is this?"
"It's a Christmas tree."
"A Christmas tree?"
"Yeah…a Christmas tree is one of those trees that you saw people cutting down."
Robo Knight stepped back glanced up and down at the tree.
"What does this tree have to do with this Christmas you speak of?"
"You'll see, please stand right here," Noah ordered directing him to spot near the front of the tree.
"Robo Knight…listen to me carefully, your mission if you choose to accept it," he stopped chuckling, "is to stand here and not move for the next 24 hours, here you will understand what Christmas means to us humans and why we love celebrating it."
"I do accept the mission blue ranger," Robo Knight said moving into place.
Noah moved over some of the decorations and other toys around to take and make Robo Knight a little less inconspicuous.
"There," he chanted, "that should do…I hope."
He stood back thinking something was missing. He looked around, trying to figure out, what could be missing. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a Santa hat lying next the donation display.
"That's it!"
"This should do the trick," he said placing the hat over Robo Knight's head.
"What is this?"
"Just a little something that us humans wear to help us get into the holiday spirit."
"Okay, Robo Knight, stay here and remember don't make a move."
"Got it!" he replied.
Satisfied with his progress, Noah hurried back over to Ernie's, sure that everyone was probably wondered where he was by now.
"That Special Gift"
"Hey guys!" called a familiar voice.
Troy turned spotting Noah, he wondered where he had gone off too.
"You want to see something funny?" he cracked with a smile.
"Yeah," Jake called hopping from his seat.
Troy nodded vigorously; at this point anything would suffice to distract the girls' attention away from their lack of gifts for them. They followed Noah; stepping over to the edge Ernie's he pointed over to the Christmas tree display in the courtyard.
"There," he announced.
Troy looked over at the tree chuckling at the sight before them.
"Ohhhh, that's awesome!" Jake cried excitedly.
"He wanted to observe what humans do at Christmas."
"Santa's hat is a nice touch," Troy commented.
He still was in awe of seeing their teammate out in the open like so but then again it was for a good cause, and he was hoping that everything would be okay with him being out there like so.
"Oh okay…hey look at the time…" Jake called glancing nervously back at both Gia and Emma, "I should be finishing up my Christmas shopping."
"That's a good idea," Emma said stepping between them.
"Oh…and I…" Gia started stepping besides Jake, "love expensive stuff," she said running a hand over Jake's chest.
Obviously, taken aback Gia's assertion, he plopped his head against some of Ernie's Christmas decorations.
"Ouch…" he cried starting off in the opposite direction, with Noah quickly following behind him.
"So you haven't gotten them anything?" Noah called after Jake.
"Wait up…" Troy called.
Jake stopped leaning against one of the decorated beams.
"I haven't finished my Christmas shopping for the girls…" Noah admitted.
"I didn't think we were doing any gift exchanging," Jake said.
"Yeah…me neither…" Noah sighed.
"What about you Troy?" Jake asked.
He shrugged shaking his head.
Noah let out a long frustrating sigh. "Guys…like what are we going to do?" Noah inquired.
"Well, since we are here at the mall we could go and find gifts for the girls," Jake suggested.
"Yeah…I agree, we still have time to get them something before the party starts," said Noah.
"I'm down for that, how about you Troy?"
"That's cool."
"I guess we could try this store here," Noah suggested.
Much to Troy's dismay he sucked in a long breath following them. Christmas shopping was truly something he dreaded, not only was he afraid of buying something that someone didn't like or want, but Troy never had to shop for a girl before, so this made the idea even more unnerving. He slowly stepped inside the store; completely frazzled on where to start. Spotting, both Noah and Jake Troy made a quick beeline for one of the middle aisles...
Jake trotted inside Ernie with arms swinging and head held high. "Mission accomplished guys!" he chirped slapping both Noah and Troy's hands.
Troy grinned, plopping down at their usual table. Finally, the last store that they visited proved was the one that they had all the gifts that they needed. Troy peaked inside his bag, not only did he find a good gift, but the store wrapped up their gifts too. Troy was rejoicing finally able to find the perfect gifts.
"Noah…buddy where you headed off too?"
Noah clutched the large box in his hand. "This…here is a special gift for Robo Knight."
"Oh…yeah?" Jake said.
"Yup!" he cried peeking out their teammate standing outside of the shop.
"What is it?" Troy asked curiously.
"Just a little something, that I think will help him get into the Christmas spirit and to show him that he has officially become part of the team."
"Awesome!" Jake cheered.
"Guys…I'll be right back," Noah said sprinting through the exit.
Jake turned to him smiling, "so Troy what did you end up getting?"
"It's a surprise," he said.
"You too?" Jake sighed.
Troy nodded smirking. He would rather Jake find out when they exchanged gifts…
He stepped through the door of rooftop clutching Robo Knight's Christmas gift. Noah shivered, feeling a sharp chill cut through the air. He hurried over to the edge of the building, peering down below. He smiled; watching all the people down below gathering together with all their Christmas cheer. He sat down the box on a small ledge adjusting the tag. Noah wasn't too sure if his plan was working by having Robo Knight posing as a toy, but he sure hoped that their companion would appreciate his gesture of good will. Noah really wanted him to know that, he and the others were truly grateful to have him be a part of their team and that this was just a small token of their appreciation.
Noah glanced over at his watch, "I better hurry Christmas party is starting soon."
He hurried over to the door, glancing over his shoulder.
"Merry Christmas Robo Knight," he said stepping through the door...
"Wishing Upon a Star"
Noah stopped along the intersection, watching the all the people passing through. He stepped away from his friends looking up into the starry night skies watching one of the falling stars. Suddenly his thoughts started shifting over to their teammate at the mall.
He smiled; watching that star made him realize that he had done the right thing.
"Merry Christmas Robo Knight, Master Gosei and Tensou!" he called out in the distance.
He heard the ding in the distance.
"Noah…let's go," he heard Jake call.
He skirted through some patrons to catch up with his friends, so far this was definitely was turning out to be the best Christmas ever...
I really do enjoy Noah's character. I think he is a great example that everyone no matter who, what or how they look can be a super hero and help the world. Noah has grown throughout both seasons of Megaforce in his mind, body and spirit and courage. Good job, Noah.