Disclaimer: I own nothing of Power Rangers.

Author's Note: I had two ideas for a MMPR fan fic, and this one really tugged at me due to my realization that I don't like Tommy as much as I did as a kid, and what would happen if Skull matured during high school.

Author's Note 2: Rewrote a few things in the first chapter, but not to the point where it will affect the story.

The Mysterious Power

Chapter 1

The young man checked himself over in the mirror, for a moment not recognizing the person staring back at him. Gone was the bully, or sidekick of a bully and sad clown that was Skull, replaced by someone else. Maybe someone better? Today would tell.

Eugene Skullovitch observed his reflection for a moment longer. In the place of leather, ripped up clothes, and bizarre jewelry was a black t-shirt that hugged his torso, a nice pair of blue jeans, black shoes, and no jewelry visible on his ears or around his neck. No scarves, either. Not even his trademark berret.

On another interesting note, also gone was the pale, skinny skeleton-like exterior compared to the overweight yet extremely tough figure of Farkus Bulkmeier, better known as Bulk; replaced by some slight muscle tone. He was no Jason Lee or Tommy Oliver, but there was definitely a difference in his physical structure now than from the non-existence of muscle in the past.

It's really me, he thought to himself. It was still so hard to believe that it really was his reflection, and not some mind trick.

"Eugene, breakfast is ready!" his mother shouted from downstairs.

"I'll be right down!" he called back.

Finally moving himself away from the mirror, he started gathering his utensils and books when he heard something shuffle under his foot. A frown slowly formed on face when he saw Bulk glaring at his foot.

Skull picked up the photograph. Despite being friends for so long, it was the only one he had of him and Bulk together. It was in front of the 7-11 gas station, their favorite hang-out, or Bulk's favorite anyway. Bulk had pulled him into a headlock during the photo take, while also capturing Skull spilling his shake on Bulk's shirt by accident. It would have been funnier if the camera had gone off a second later with Bulk chasing after him.

It had been taken just before the summer began, and both had been in a really good spirits; both friends were able to avoid summer school after managing to pull their grades up just decent enough to pass. It seemed like it would be a summer at the beach, free of books, tests homework and teachers, and plenty of babes and video games. Those had been Bulk's words.

So much for that summer.

Their parents had other plans: reaching their breaking point with the boys' undisciplined lifestyles, the Bulkmeiers and Skullovitches agreed with Principle Caplan and had the boys attend a military school summer program.

They hugged and cried like they routinely did, all the way from the bus stop to the front of the military school campus. It seemed like a living nightmare. Give them a monster attack instead of this!

What turned out to be a nightmare, however, actually turned into something…pretty cool, for Bulk at least.

Cool, because despite the hardships, both were actually achieving things, winning some respect instead of being a laughing stock, and the girls just loved a guy in a uniform! Again, more for Bulk than Skull.

While somewhat enjoying the summer program, Skull could not wait to get back to Angel Grove; Bulk was a different story.

Farkus Bulkmeier would not be attending the new school year at Angel Grove High with his buddy. Instead, he was going to spend his remaining high school years at the military school. He confirmed it just as Skull was getting ready to head back to Angel Grove.

"You're staying?" Skull cried.

Bulk shrugged. "Can't find a reason why I shouldn't. At least here, I get some respect. And the babes, Skull, think about the babes…"

"Angel Grove's got babes too, Bulk!"

"You mean it's got lil' Miss Pinky."

Skull frowned. "She's got nothing to do with this, Bulk." The larger boy stared him down with a knowing smirk. "Okay, maybe she does. A little," Skull sighed.

"Look, I know it sounds hard to believe, but I actually like it here, Skull. I feel like I actually…fit in!"

"And I don't," Skull replied dejectedly.

Bulk snorted. "You can say that again. I mean, remember the first day when ya fell right in the mud and it stained yer pants?"

Skull blushed at the memory. The first day had not really been a good start.

"Or when you accidentally threw the grenade pin instead of the actual grenade away, and the drill sarge screamed like a girl when he was throwing you both out to safety?"

Skull ended up doing double the push-ups that day. Double for making the drill officer show off how high-pitched his vocal cords could go. It had not even been a real grenade to begin with!

How did Sarge forget that, anyway?

"Or how 'bout when…"

"Ok, ok, I get it!" Skull ran a hand through his short dark hair.

Bulk cleared his throat. "Er, yeah, maybe it's not for you."

The bus back to Angel Grove had arrived. Somewhere inside Skull was his inner self pleading for Bulk to change his mind and return to Angel Grove with him, but Bulk's resolve to stay was as thick as his arms, even if the big guy had managed to lose some weight from all the exercising.

"So, will you be back next summer?" Skull asked.

"Nope. My dad just called this morning. He liked how I was into the school here that he got a job transfer. Him and Mom are moving here in a few days."

Oh, this just keeps getting better and better!

Skull nodded acceptingly, even if a little saddened.

"So this is it," Skull said, clearing his throat as he fought back the tears.

Bulk shrugged. "Who knows?" The big teenager held out his hand. "See ya around, twerp."

"Yeah." Skull shook his hand. "Thanks for the memories, Bulky."

More like thanks for nothing.

Skull gathered up his bag and boarded the bus. By the time he took a seat and looked out the window, Bulk was already heading back to the school without so much as a look back to who had been his faithful sidekick since elementary.

For the entire ride, Skull never felt so much alone.

"Eugene, hurry up or you'll be late on the first day of school!"

Taken from his thoughts, Skull set the photo on the dresser by his bed. He snatched up his backpack and hurried downstairs, meeting his parents at the breakfast table. His father, as normal, was reading the newspaper, while his mother was finishing the last touches on breakfast.

His father smiled approvingly. "Hey kiddo, looking sharp today."

That was definitely something new. Before the previous summer, his parents would look in disgust and scowl over Skull's choice in wardrobe. At one point, his mother had claimed that the clothes just didn't match Skull. He didn't understand it at the time, being that it was stuff similar to what Bulk wore.

He didn't get it until now these days.

"To bad you won't let me shop for you. I could make those girls notice you in a heartbeat."

"Yeah, notice and laugh at me." Skull rolled his eyes. "Not into bowties, Ma."

"I second that," his father muttered.

The remainder of breakfast was actually good for a change. No arguing, no lecturing; just a family having a nice little get-together. Not once did anyone bring up Bulk even.

After breakfast, Skull hopped into his black Ferrari, an early birthday present from his parents bestowed to him when he had first gotten back home after they got rid of the "dreadful" motorcycle and its sidecar, and was off to school. The drive and the absence of Bulk made him recall all those times that he was the one to drive them to school. In fact, he had pretty much been the designated driver anywhere when it came to his "friend." His ride, his gas, and his money, and neither three did Bulk ever help with unless it was for himself. Just another reason why he was starting to not miss the the jerk.

Bulk was always the leader, and Skull was always the follower.

He shook his head. Those days were over. It was time for Eugene Skullovitch to be his own man, make his own decisions, starting with where to park.

To his luck, he was able to make it to school just early enough to get a decent spot in the school lot for his ride.

Pulling his backpack with him, Skull exited his new ride and made sure it was locked up.

Swinging his backpack around his shoulder, Skull made for the front entrance of the school. He only got so far before something caught his gaze from the other side of the parking lot, making him freeze.

A white truck suddenly pulled up just on the other side of the parking lot across from Skull, followed by a red jeep. Stepping out of the jeep were four of the magnificent six as everyone in school called them.

The dweeb six as Bulk would mock.

Again, Bulk was not here.

And if Billy, Zack, and Trini were driving with Jason, then that meant-

Sure enough, the great Tommy Oliver stepped out of the driver's side of the truck, just as soon as the passenger's door opened and out stepped…her: the angel in the pink top and blue jeans, with her brown hair just falling an inch down her shoulders. She never looked more radiant.

Despite joining in with Bulk's teasing of the group, especially her, Skull had always held a flame for Kimberly Hart. Perhaps all the guys did, and who could blame them? She had the looks, the smarts though not quite at Billy's level, and she had the skills as both an athlete and as someone who could stick up for herself. She was the total package.

So what separated Skull from the rest of Kimberly's admirers, especially in regards to Tommy Oliver? Skull's crush dated back to elementary school, before he accidentally shoved his Popsicle into Bulk's shirt; before he changed his name as well as his personality to be more like his so-called hero and act less like himself, that's what!

Skull frowned. Maybe he had changed a bit over the summer in more than just his appearance, but even he knew that he was average compared to Tommy Oliver.

He watched as the friends grouped up and headed for school, chattering and laughing all the way.

Feeling the hole in his heart, Skull began to truly feel more alone than ever.

He wanted what they had: true friends. The kind who would not beat him up for the slightest mistake or abandon him. Friends who would be there for him like he would in return, and encourage him every step of the way.

We'll see, he thought.

Skull took a deep breath before he followed the rest of the student body into Angel Grove High; only slowing when he overheard a conversation between two cute girls he walked by.

"Hey, isn't that Skull?"

"No way, it couldn't be!"

"It almost looked like him."

"Yeah, but Skull wasn't that cute!"

He did not know whether to be offended or happy, but he was lingering towards the latter.

Skull settled for a confident smile, deciding to just take it as a compliment. After all, this was the new Skull at Angel Grove High... Now that he thought about it, maybe there was one more thing he could get rid of. Eugene sounded a bit awkward, though.

Skull turned towards the girls and smiled; not the wide, goofy smile of Skull, but a shy, yet charming smile that complimented him well.

"It's Gene, actually."

Just as a precaution, I should warn that Tommy/Kim fans will not like this story, but Tommy fans hopefully will. Until next time!