Author's Notes: Second chapter! Thanks for all the amazing reviews and I'm glad you all like the story!

DISCLAIMER: I possess not the Power Rangers.

Chapter 2:

Tommy took a breath as his hands moved gracefully outwards, pushing out and then pulling them back in, feet planted firmly apart. He shifted his left foot forward slightly, pushed his body back and lifted his left leg up and then laying it down not far away. The youth moved his feet until they were shoulders width apart and bent low to the ground, hands extended out in front of him. The afternoon sun beat down on his back, sweat trickling down his face and causing strands of his hair that fallen out of the ponytail to cling to his neck and face. The park was full of people taking advantage of the good weather that California offered- some were jogging, power walking, having picnics, feeding the ducks or playing in the playground. He could hear the shrieks of children laughing as well as the hum of happy chatter as they walked past him. The stance forced him to concentrate on his own self, straining his still not fully recovered body and irritating his right knee. Still, he pushed himself with the mindless determination of someone who clearly didn't want to entertain certain thoughts. He could feel the quiver in his thighs and the slight shaking of his legs as he forced himself to stay perfectly still, shifting slightly.

Three weeks before, he would have been able to hold the stance for fifteen minutes before his muscles would start shaking. Rocky and Adam used to have competitions when they were younger and taking martial arts together and Tommy had joined in on the friendly matches when they were older. Rocky was always the first to go, he would be jumping on the balls of his feet, back and hands twitching like they had been shoved into an electrical socket. Aisha used to call him the 'Energizer Bunny'. Kat and Aisha would be laughing on the sidelines, handing Rocky his third place prize- an ice cream cone while Tommy and Adam went head to head. Tommy's single-minded competitive streak (or his bull-headedness) pushed his body until he usually collapsed, worn out. Kat and Aisha would help him to his feet- somehow concealing from Justin that his hero was anything but perfect and he would guzzle down two bottles of water as he watched Adam uncoil from the position, sleek as a cat as he stretched his back, a small smile playing across his lips as he went over to his friends. Rocky would playfully ribbit when Adam would walk by- happily consuming his ice cream with sprinkles- Adam would drop his ice cream on Rocky's head and the rest of the afternoon was spent discovering who could douse the most people with water (Rocky always won).

'A lot can happen in three weeks' Tommy forcefully reminded himself; angrily pushing the thoughts away as he finally stepped out of the punishing position, ignoring the quivering in his legs and arms. Tommy slid into the familiar kata, hands and feet slipping into the holds and positions with unconscious ease as Tommy slipped into his own tremulous thoughts.

Zordon wanted to replace the Rangers. He wanted to replace Tommy's team as if the position could just be filled by anybody. As if their sacrifice to protect the Earth meant absolutely nothing, as if their lives meant nothing- just empty spaces capable of being filled in by someone else. Another Red, another Black, Blue, Pink and Yellow filling the blank spots. The Power Coins were destroyed in the final battle with Zedd. Well, it was supposed to be the final battle. The Rangers had prepared for it, when they accepted the power; they didn't know they weren't immortal- believing that the power made them somehow better than before. It had taken the Green Ranger to show them that they bled when they were cut just like everyone else. They could take more hits but the enemies could hit hard enough to kill. Tommy wasn't proud about that part of his life. He held the guilt of every bruise, scrape and hit that he gave the Rangers on top of his shoulders. He had been ready to give up the coin for good- believing that he could never make amends, unable to sleep because of nightmares that made him careless in battle. Adam had been the one to stay over during the night to reassure Tommy that everyone was still alive. Kat brought extra food with her at lunch to remind the guilt-ridden youth to eat. Aisha had hugged him when she caught him sobbing in the music room (remembering the screams of the students as he attacked the school). It was Rocky who had reminded him how to laugh by dropping more than a few cheese balloons on his head and it was Justin who taught Tommy how to move away from the guilt by giving him the determination to be better for the star-struck youngster.

Tommy changed his guilt into a single-minded determination to lead his team of Rangers as the new White Ranger, resolving to protect his friends as they protected the world. He reminded himself of his promised to keep them safe, guilt and self-recrimination filling his occupied mind.

Tommy sat on the back porch of the cabin, head tilted up to look at the stars. They twinkled in the summer sky, filling it up like a blanket over the world. In Stone Canyon the stars could be seen for miles, bathing the quiet mountain town in the glow. Standing on the edge of his uncle's property, peering down into the plunging darkness filled Tommy with the desire to spread his wings and fly, reaching out to touch the stars that remained so close yet out of reach. The breeze cooled down his sweaty and tanned face as the sounds of the party drummed behind him. There was a moment where the music swelled, almost booming in the silence before the door closed; subduing the sound and the shuffle of yellow socked feet replaced it. Tommy glanced at Aisha as she sat down on the step beside him. Her hair was pulled back with a yellow scarf, for once free of the braids she habitually wore- letting the tight curls fall down the back of her sweatshirt.

"Brooding again?" She asked a smile on her lips.

"I don't brood that much," Tommy protested. Aisha raised an eyebrow and Tommy lost his indignation, choosing to go back to looking at the stars.

"We're kind of having a party in there. Just thought you should know," she said playfully, nudging him in the side with her elbow.

"I know, I'll come inside in a minute," Tommy said. Aisha glanced up at the sky.

"I never knew there were so many stars," she admitted softly. Tommy agreed with a nod.

"It makes you feel really small," she continued.

"Uh oh, cliché alert," Tommy teased, grinning at her. She pushed him with her shoulder.

"Be nice or I'll sick Rocky on you," she threatened. Tommy rolled his eyes.

"Is he still on his sugar high?" He asked, wincing a little at the memory of Rocky wearing a lampshade on his head and attempting to hula dance.

"He should crash any minute now, so any rousing speeches preparing us for war tomorrow should probably be said pretty soon," Aisha shrugged, giving Tommy a meaningful look.

"I don't really have any," Tommy admitted. "Other than 'try not to die'"

"That's almost as good as 'hit with the pointy end'. Come on, that's all you've got?" Aisha teased. Tommy looked back up at the stars, letting the silence be his reply.

"You're worried about tomorrow," Aisha said, dropping all pretence of humour.

"It's a showdown between us and Zedd. Everything that happens tomorrow affects the lives of everyone we know, everyone in the world. If we lose the Earth is going to be destroyed, everyone we know will die and we're just a bunch of teenagers in tights," Tommy answered, a bit angrily.

"Not exactly the St. Crispin's Day Speech," Aisha commented dryly. "We're gonna win tomorrow, Tommy."

"And how do you know?"

"Because I'm the smart one."

"I thought that was Justin," Tommy replied.

"Please, Wonder Boy's got nothing on me," Aisha snorted, turning serious as she grabbed Tommy's face, turning it towards her. "I know we're gonna win because we're together. Nothing can stop us, not when we fight as one. Not Zedd, not Rita or any of their ridiculous monsters."

"Aren't you scared?" Tommy wondered.

"Sure," Aisha agreed, "but it's not gonna stop me. If I spend all my time worrying about tomorrow then we really will get our butts whooped. So, enjoy the party while it lasts and have some fun."

"I'm not sure that I can," Tommy admitted. Aisha shook her head, with a fond but exasperated smile as she got to her feet.

"Come on, Fearless Leader," Aisha said, holding out her hand as she stood before the wooden door, bathed in the glow of the inside light from the windows. "Your friends are waiting."

-"Tommy! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"-

"AHHHHHHH!"

Tommy was yanked out of the memory, feet slipping on the grass as he heard the screams of people. He watched with wide eyes as a group of Putties surrounded a girl dressed in pink shorts and a white tank top. His feet pounded on the grass as he launched a flying kick at the grey thing's back, causing it to fall into two others. They all turned to him as one, cocking their heads to the side creepily as they attacked.

Damnit, Tommy swore. There's too many of them to deal with by myself.

"Kyah!" Tommy yelled, flipping over one putty's shoulder to knock another one to the ground, clearing some space so he could get to the girl.

"I'll hold them off while you get out of here," Tommy said once he reached her side, drop kicking another putty who was reaching towards him.

"Nuh uh, pal I don't need some guy with his caveman-macho routine to save me," the girl snapped at him. Tommy's mouth fell open in shock.

"That's not what I meant- I'm a trained fighter. I know how to deal with these things," Tommy responded, tossing a putty who had snuck up behind him over his shoulder and hitting it on the Z on its chest. It quivered a bit, its skin shivering like liquid before it reformed and rolled out of the way of Tommy's next hit.

Damnit. That's new. Usually one hit on the Z and they're done for. Did they get stronger? How the hell did that happen? Tommy swore, glancing over his shoulder to see the pink-clad girl dance out of the way and knocking two putties heads together.

"Don't these guys ever give up?" the girl called out, huffing a bit.

"You hit the Z and they're supposed to disappear," Tommy shouted back, watching as she back-flipped out of the way and knocked a putty to the ground. He double-punched the putty in front of him, taking a hit in the side from another, Tommy gritted his teeth against the burning pain in his side and jumped back into the fray, hands and feet blurring as he spun and hit whatever grey thing happened to be in his way.

"I can handle this. Go get help," Tommy shouted. I can't transform until you leave. He bit back angrily.

"No way. I'm not leaving you to deal with this alone," the girl snapped at him, taking a hit to her knee that knocked her down for a bit. Tommy came over, punching the putties swarming around her and helping her to her feet.

"You should seriously leave," Tommy said to her. She pulled away from him with a determined glare.

"I'm not leaving," she said.

"You're going to get killed!" Tommy yelled.

"KIM!" A chorus of voices shouted. Four people came running over dressed in shorts and t-shirts for the warm weather.

"Guys!" The girl shouted back. "Looks like we've got some back up," she said to Tommy who watched as the four newcomers immediately engaged in the fight with fists and feet pounding into the putties. The girl gave him a smile before she leaped in to help a blonde boy who was dodging attacks from three different putties.

"I'll go get help!" Tommy shouted to them, breaking through the ranks of putties and dashing behind a tree.

Please be alive when I get back. Please. Tommy pleaded in his mind as he gripped his morpher tightly within his hands.

"White Ranger Power! Ninjetti Falcon, ha!" Tommy shouted, running through the movements as he was enveloped by a bright white light, seconds later the White Ranger stepped out, pulling his dagger immediately out of its' sheath and running into the battle.

"Hey, uglies!" He called, stopping a putty from putting his fist in the stomach of an Asian girl. The putties all turned towards the newcomer, buzzing around like retarded pigeons before attacking him at once. The White Ranger went on the attack, double-kicking a putty hard enough to knock its head back and launching his dagger into the Z on its' chest. He watched satisfied as it burst into thousands of grey globs that melted in the ground. The other putties cooed in panic as the White Ranger turned to them, flipping his dagger around.

Now, that's more like it. He thought, smirking.

With his dagger firmly in hand, the White Ranger quickly disposed of the other putties until the park was quiet once again. He turned to the five helpers, keeping his dagger at his side. He saw the dark-haired teen that was easily the tallest of the group helping the Asian girl to her feet; she seemed to be favouring her left ankle. The pink girl called Kim was talking excitedly with an African-American boy who was jumping around excitedly as if recreating the moves from the fight while the blonde boy stared quietly around, eyes catching the White Ranger's and drawing the rest of the group's attention.

"You guys alright?" he asked them once he had their full attention.

"Yeah. Haven't seen putties like that around here, though," the dark-haired boy said, coming over to the Ranger with his hand outstretched. "We would've been in real trouble if you hadn't shown up."

"Kids like you shouldn't jump into battles like that," the White Ranger responded, a bit coldly.

"Hey, we helped you," the African-American boy shouted angrily.

"No, you just got in my way."

"Hey, what's with the attitude?" the boy demanded.

"Let it go, Zack," the dark-haired boy put his hand on his friend's shoulder which seemed to calm the boy's temper.

"What are putties doing in Angel Grove?" the Asian girl asked. The White Ranger glanced over at her, shaking his head lightly.

"I don't know," he replied.

"Did they follow you here?" Kim asked, staring up at him.

"I don't know," the White Ranger replied, clenching his hands into fists, normally earning a squawk of protest from his guardian but Saba was silent, something that he was quickly becoming used to but still hated.

Damnit, could really use your help, Sabs. It's been three weeks since I told you to leave me alone but are you really still mad at me?

"You're gonna need some help to fight those guys, they were really strong," Kim said.

"I don't need anyone's help. I can fight them on my own," the White Ranger replied, dismissively.

"Hey, if you hadn't been late maybe we wouldn't have to fight your battles!" Zack snapped at him. The White Ranger ignored the sharp pain in his chest at the accusation and nodded.

"Next time you won't need to," he promised, turning away from the group and jumping into the dense foliage surrounding the park. He continued to move away from them until he found a secluded spot to de-transform in. Another flash of light and the White Ranger was replaced with Tommy Oliver, who listed to the side, hands coming up to hold sore ribs. He needed to get home and wrap them up before his uncle noticed and gave him another lecture on getting into fights. Tommy staggered out of the bushes and over to the park bench, sitting down.

"Hey!" Kim shouted, coming over. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Tommy nodded. "I looked around for a policeman or something but everyone left."

"It's okay. One of the Power Rangers showed up," Kim assured him.

"You're not hurt, right?" He asked her, pretending not to already know the answer.

"Bumps and bruises. You're ribs okay?" She shrugged, sitting down beside him.

"Yeah- Ouch!" Tommy yelped when her hands jabbed him in the side as she pushed up his shirt.

"Are you always this forward with guys?" Tommy said, moving away from her. Kim huffed loudly although he could see a blush starting on her cheeks.

Cute.

"Here," Kim said, handing him a bottle of ice. "Put that on them, it should help."

Tommy accepted the bottle with a nod of thanks and placed it gingerly on his side, the cold making him wince before spreading through, starting to numb the pain.

"I wasn't trying to be some caveman when I told you I'd take care of it," Tommy found himself blurting out in the silence.

"I know. Sorry for snapping at you," Kim ducked her head, tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear.

"I'm Tommy, by the way." He said.

"Kimberly. You're new here, right?"

"Yeah, just moved here," Tommy nodded.

"Cool, from where?"

"Stone Canyon."

"Suppose it's a bit of a difference for you, coming from Stone Canyon to Angel Grove."

"Kind of. Weather's different and I'm used to rock climbing and dirt biking and I don't see any forests or mountains around," Tommy admitted.

"Well, there's still fun stuff to do and for rock climbing and mountain trails, kids usually go about an hour outside town for the outdoorsy stuff. The Youth Centre's where everyone hangs out in town- it's like part-gym, part-juice bar, and part-arcade. You should definitely check it out. I guess that means you'll be attending Angel Grove High, right?"

"Yeah," Tommy nodded. "I start Monday. So I got some time to figure out where everything is and get my books and stuff."

"Tommy," Kim told him seriously. "Tomorrow's Monday."

"No- wait, really?" Tommy blinked, letting out a groan. "I gotta go. I've got a million things to do." He stood up handing her back to water bottle.

"Thanks for the bottle," he said to Kim, rolling his shirt back down with a wince.

"No problem. I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school," Kim said. Tommy agreed, waving as he walked away, already going through the first day at a new school checklist, something that he was pretty familiar with. Kim watched him go and then ran back over to her friends, intent on enjoying the rest of her Sunday but unable to get the sombre boy out of her mind.