Disclaimer: Characters are owned by Saban, I only have ideas and a laptop to write them

A/N: This is a PREQUEL to another story I wrote, called 'The Ghost of Me,' which is a Power Rangers/Harry Potter crossover. You don't need to read it to understand the story, but my intention is to write this in the same universe as that story.

A/N 2: The title of the story is a song title from the band Tenth Avenue North.

"By Your Side"

Chapter 2

*Youth Center*

It had been a week since Jason had returned to Angel Grove and accepted the Gold Ranger powers. Jason's first order of business was getting re-enrolled into Angel Grove High. Principal Kaplan was more than willing to bring back Jason, and told him that all the credits he received while in Geneva by would transfer over and would be able graduate in the spring. After that, Jason spent some time in the Power Chamber working with Billy, trying to figure out how to tie his new powers into the morphing grid. They also worked to figure out where the staff came from, and how it allowed him to utilize the powers. That, however, remained a mystery for the time being.

With all that was going on, Jason hadn't had a chance to get back to the Youth Center. He and Tommy had agreed to work out together, but Jason wanted to see Ernie so he came a good 20 minutes early. He walked through the door and saw the jovial, heavy-set man behind the counter, which he promptly walked to and sat down at in one of the bar stools he had.

"Yo Ernie!" Jason shouted. The Youth Center owner, who was facing the other direction, turned to see him and in an instant a wide smile came across his face.

"Jason!" Ernie replied. "How have you been?"

"Good bro, glad to be back. You?"

"Good, I'm in the process of securing a plot on the beach for a club there!"

"No way, when did you start that?"

"A few weeks ago. I've been wanting to do something like this for years, and as I was looking over the budget, and asked around for pricing, I realized that I could finally swing it."

"That's awesome! I can't wait to check it out."

"Yeah. So, did you hear about the new Gold Ranger?" Jason nearly spit out his drink when Ernie said this.

'He couldn't know... could he?' "Gold Ranger?" Jason questioned, trying to throw Ernie off any thoughts that he might be thinking. "Since when did the rangers get a gold ranger?"

"He showed up about a week ago, saved the other rangers from some of the cogs."

"Cogs?" Jason feigned he had no idea. "What the heck are they?"

"They're like the putties, accept in machine form."

"Gotcha."

"So when did you get back in town?"

"Not too long ago, maybe a week? I just needed a break from the whole diplomacy thing. I missed home."

"Despite the fact that we have monster attacks every other day?"

"Hey, the rangers will always be there for us. With them around, I know my home will be safe."

"I'm sure you do," Ernie said with a knowing grin, and chose that moment to leave. Jason wondered if Ernie had figured out their identities, but it wasn't too much longer when Tommy had shown up, which took Jason's mind off of it.

"You ready to do this bro?" Tommy asked, dressed in his red karate gi.

"Sure thing bro, let's do it." The two walked down to the 'gym' part of the center, and found an open mat. "Ready?"

"Since the day you left," Tommy said with a big smile. They bowed to each other, and then began to spar.

*Angel Grove Beach*

"So, tell me again why Jason and Tommy are being lame and not chilling on the beach with us?" Rocky said. The four rangers decided to spend their Saturday enjoying the beach while they still could. It never got too cold there, but it definitely wouldn't be beach weather in December.

"They aren't being lame," Kat responded, maybe even with a hint of anger. "Tommy hasn't seen Jason that much over the past two years. I'm sure he just wants some quality time with him, that's all."

"It sure is great to have him back," Adam said. "I never got to know him much before he left for the conference. He's a real cool guy."

"Yeah, it'll be great to have him around," Tanya added.

"Yeah, well, they're still missing out on the beach!" Rocky yelled. The group chuckled, when all of a sudden, the clouds became dark.

"Is it me, or does that look different from your everyday storm?" Tanya asked. In a flash, streaks of lightning came down and struck the four, and they disappeared.

*Youth Center*

Jason and Tommy were locked into a serious sparring match, trading move after move, until Tommy landed a spinning kick that had them both staggering afterwards. At that point, they bowed to each other and then went up to one of the tables near Ernie's counter.

"Man, you've kept up with your workouts," Tommy said. "That's one of the best matches I've had in years!"

"Yeah, well, hopefully we can keep growing in this," Jason responded. "Zack and I would spar back in Geneva, but we didn't get a ton of time to do it, maybe once or twice a month or something. A lot of it was just doing a kata or two each morning on my own. Nothing like what we just did."

"Well, if this was you after limited practice, I'd hate to see what you're going to be like in a month when we've been doing this almost every day," Tommy said with a grin. Jason was about to respond when they heard a familiar six-tone chime. They looked at each other, and then walked over near the lockers in the hallway outside the main room of the center. "This is Tommy, go ahead."

"This is Billy, I need you guys to get to the Power Chamber immediately."

"We're on it Billy," Jason said.

*Power Chamber*

"What's up?" Tommy asked.

"Lord Zedd has captured Adam and the others, and he's trying to make them his new dark rangers," Billy said.

"I thought that the machine empire kicked them out of town?" Jason asked.

"THAT IS CORRECT, JASON," Zordon's voice boomed. "I IMAGINE THAT HE WANTS TO USE THEM TO DESTROY THE MACHINE EMPIRE, AND THEN TO ATTACK ANGEL GROVE."

"We can't let that happen," Tommy replied. "Billy, do you know where they are?"

"Affirmative, they're being held in Rita's old dark dimension."

"Can you teleport us right in?" Tommy asked.

"I should be able to, I'd just need to adjust the teleportation frequencies," Billy responded.

"Are you sure that's the best move?" Jason interjected.

"What do you mean?" Tommy replied.

"Think about it, they've got four rangers they want to turn into their own personal fighters, don't you think they'd want at least a fifth, and maybe even a sixth? What if it's a trap?"

"Then what do you suggest, Jase?"

"Billy, is there another way in other than the directly in the dimension?" Jason asked.

"There's a small entryway through a cave near the Sea of Tranquility on the moon," Billy explained. "But it's magical, so once you enter it you'll most likely end up in the center of the room anyway."

"So either way we can't really go in quietly," Tommy said.

"I don't like this, bro."

"I don't either, but our friends are in there," Tommy responded. "I think we should go ahead and teleport in. At least then we'll all ready have the frequency to teleport out in case of an emergency." Jason nodded, but was certainly not pleased by the lack of options that they had.

"GOOD LUCK RANGERS, AND MAY THE POWER PROTECT YOU."

"It's Morphin Time! Zeo Ranger Five, Red!"

"Gold Ranger Power!"

The Red and Gold rangers teleported into the Dark Dimension, where they saw the others locked up in a cell located in the corner of the room.

"Tommy!" Kat shouted. "Jason! Look out!"

"What?" Tommy asked, but turned around only to find a blade coming down and hitting him square in the chest. Jason turned around to find Goldar, along with an odd skeleton looking creature. He flipped backwards to avoid the two of them, and then knelt down to make sure Tommy was ok.

"Ha, ha, ha," Goldar snarled. "How good it is to be back in the service of my master! As a reward, I get the two leaders of the power rangers!"

"What do you want, Goldar!" Jason yelled, as Tommy staggered to his feet.

"We want you to surrender, so that Ed can use ya to beat Mondo and his bucket of bolts that he uses for an army!" Rito exclaimed, but Goldar growled.

"It's ZEDD!" He scolded. "Lord Zedd you bumbling baffoon!"

"Oh... whatever," Rito said. "As long as my sis is happy, that's all I care about!"

"Wait... don't tell me that this thing standing in front of us is Rita's brother," Jason said.

"Yeah... to think that she actually got the better looks..." Tommy said.

"I take that as a full compliment," Rito said proudly. "Now, where were we... that's right, we were about to hand deliver you to my sis and brother-in-law."

"Mind if I take Goldar?" Jason asked Tommy. "We have some unfinished business."

"Go for it, I'll take Rito, and then we'll free the others." Tommy and Jason launched themselves into their foes, Tommy quickly landing a kick to Rito, and then drawing his sword to match Rito's bone-made sword. He struck Rito's weapon fiercely, and then flipped over the live skeleton and slashed him across his back, which send Rito stumbling to the floor.

"OW!" Rito shouted in pain. "You're gonna pay for that, ranger!"

Jason summoned his staff and blocked a slash from Goldar's blade, and then jumped to drop kick him. However, Goldar telegraphed the move and spun away, making sure all Jason hit was the floor as his back impacted it with a thud. Goldar went to thrust his sword into him, but he rolled away and spun his way to a fighting stance, staff in hand. He charged again, but he was hit in the mid-section, and was sent flying. He tried to get up, but a gloved hand kept him from doing so.

"We've got this Jason," the Aussie-accented Pink Ranger said to him. Tommy had been able to free the other rangers, and they were able to morph now that they were out of the cell. The five surrounded Goldar, who quickly retreated along with Rito. They teleported back to the power chamber, where they debriefed.

*Youth Center*

It had been a day since the Zedd's attack, and Jason was down in the gym area, punishing a defenseless punching bag. Tommy was going to meet him to work out, and Kat and Billy were with him to study for an upcoming exam.

"Jason looks like he's ready to murder that thing," Kat said. "Do you think it's something we said or did?"

"I don't think so," Billy said. "I know he's always been protective of his friends. He's incredibly loyal. Maybe you should go talk to him, Tommy. See what's bothering him."

"Yeah, I think I will." Tommy walked down to his friend, who at this point was just staring at punching bag. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think this thing is your worst enemy."

"Huh?" Jason said, coming out of what almost seemed like a trance. "I'm just focused, that's all."

"Is that all?"

"Well... I don't know."

"What's wrong, bro?"

"I just... you remember when you came back as the White Ranger?"

"Yeah."

"I was so happy to have you back as part of the team, and then Zordon announced you as the new leader. I was replaced as the leader of the team, and I had no idea why."

"Wait... do you think I'm not good enough to lead?" Tommy asked gently.

"Not at all!" Jason assured him. "I just... I was wondering why he replaced me then. Was I not good enough? And here I am two years later, and now I feel like I'm just trying to fit in. You guys have been a team for a while, accept for Tanya, and now I feel like I'm more of a liability than a help."

"Are you kidding me? Jason, there isn't anyone else I'd rather have by my side than you. Well, accept for Kimberly." They both smiled. "But, in terms of leading the team, I love having you back. You've been my role model, the standard that I want to reach."

"But if I'm the standard, how come I couldn't take on Goldar?"

"I'm confident that you could have, but you have to remember that the power rangers are a team. Just because I have the title of leader doesn't mean that you, or I, or anyone else for that matter is more or less important. We took him on so you wouldn't have to. That's what teams do. That's what friends do."

"You're right bro." Jason paused, and then looked at the punching bag, and then back to Tommy. "It's good to be back."

To be continued...

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- Googz333