A.N : Yes, I am totally drawing this out. And yes, Kim will appear soon. You know, Kim as in Kim and Tommy, because they totally work together?

Also, on a note : This is an Alternate Universe is some ways. Aisha never left and Tanya never took her spot. She was the Yellow Zeo Ranger the entire time. The way Kat became the Pink Ranger was the same, and Kim did leave for the Pan Globals. Only difference? Kim vanished off the face of the earth; the older rangers haven't heard from her in a long, long time and she never competed. She did send the letter, though.

Billy left for Aquitar. Trini, Jason and Zack left for the Peace Conference, though Jason came back and became the Gold Ranger. He stopped being the Gold Ranger, but he stayed in Angel Grove. Kat and he started dating, and Tommy never dated Kat, though they got close to it before Jason showed up. Ninjor didn't ever show up. Drucela (from the movie) gave the rangers their Ninja Powers and Zords and the Rangers kept them.

Justin took over for Rocky for a while, before Rocky's injuries healed. The Space Rangers stayed in Space and Kerone became the Purple space ranger. Zordon was killed, saving the world and the universe from darkness. The Dino Rangers were the next team, and everything is pretty much the same.

The power coins were destroyed, the Ninja Powers are all doormat but still there (except Kat because she merely borrowed Kim's; she didn't revive her own). The Zeo Crystals are all in Tommy's possession, but totally drained of power. The Turbo Keys are with the former Turbo Rangers (now Space Rangers) and mostly drained of power. The Space Rangers are still active, but usually far from earth. The Dino Gems were all drained.

And that should answer most of the questions. If you have any more that I didn't think about, please ask!


Chapter Nine


They all watched in horror as the thing tilted its head upward and let loose a war scream, then lowered her beak. Her huge red eyes focused on the house and the city past it, and her wings flapped, creating a huge breeze. Maria had never seen a full grown vamped out monster, before, and she didn't think her team had either. The fact that they had to watch out for humans who wanted to be heroes? Even worse.

"We need to go," Kat said, and her commanding tone was almost as bad as her 'I understand you' tone. Maria payed no attention to her, at least until the woman's hand clamped over her shoulder.

Maria's hand gripped the blonde woman's wrist and moved it from her shoulder, letting it drop. "I need to go." She said after a second. "They need me." Tommy's eyes narrowed on her, and she knew he was connecting the dots. The fact she and her group numbered five, the same as the rangers, that she wore black a lot, that she had argued with Jack over the color. The fact that Jack had been wearing a green t-shirt and had fought well before vanishing. She could see the pieces coming together in her uncle's mind.

"Look, we don't want you hurt. You need to go." Jason said, suggesting this time. He seemed to be the only one to realize she didn't respond to gentle tones or commands. She was starting to like him more for that fact alone.

Tommy shook his head, "Runs in the family." He muttered to himself, then blinked down at her. "Go ahead, but you're going to have to explain yourself after."

"As long as you explain what you mean by 'runs in the family'," She countered, though she was starting to put it together herself. Did she really insult the green ranger when he was sitting in front of her, or was that just her imagination overacting? Then she shook her head and said, "I gotta go."

Jason and Kat were looking at Tommy like he'd done something horrible, but he merely smiled as she pushed past him and sprinted into the trees.


The sight that greeted the now-morphed black ranger was horrific, at least in her mind. It probably could have been worse, but seeing her leader unmorphed and laying crumpled in the clearing was pretty damn bad. Ty and Jack were dodging and gaining the attention of the huge monster while Dawn crouched next to Ryan. Maria dodged through the trees until she came upon her leader's body. "What happened?" She demanded, knowing it had to be bad.

"I was still weak from the dreams, since they drain me sometimes, and when I healed you and Jack..." Dawn shook her head, blonde hair falling around her. "I was too weak to fight and collapsed after the first wave. The Harpy tried to attack me, but Ryan got in the way. He wasn't ready and got hit. Just passed out, though." The last was mostly hopeful.

"Passed out the moment we needed the Zords." Maria groused, then touched her gem, the now large shimmering black belt buckle. Cae, can you hear me?

'Of course I can, Maria. I can also see you.' Cae responded, her voice smooth and soft. 'I shall send the 'zords right away. You will instinctively know which is yours.'

'Thanks,' Maria told the immortal warrior woman back, then cut the connection. Second later, a cry ripped over the night sky, and black wings took shape in the night. Maria felt the magic, as did everyone else in the vicinity. Even the Harpy stopped and watched.

At first, the night air around the raven shimmered, and it looked like a normal, albeit overgrown, bird. Then the magic hardened and it looked more like a machine, though still more fluid than the zords that Maria had seen on T.V when she had first seen the Dino Rangers fight. Then came the next waves of magic, and a startlingly blueish white bear appeared from the sky, jumping down and rearing back on two legs, crushing a few trees but keeping most of the area intact. The howl came next, and a dark green wolf seemed to shimmer next to the bear. It was all unreal, but Maria knew it was happening, just as she knew what she had to do.

"Dawn, put your helmet back on and get Ryan to the house. I think Tommy and his friends will surprise you by knowing what to do." She said, determined now. Then she raised her voice, "TY! JACK! Merge!"

Ty and Jack shimmered out of sight just as a hooked foot tore at the ground where they had been. Maria felt herself explode after a second, only to feel a plush seat under her. The world around her was black and silver, and she couldn't help but smile. Despite the fact that the control and buttons looked confusing and hard to understand, she understood them. The soul inside her knew what to do, and he or she was loaning her that info.

She twirled the Raven up and in a circle, coming down with her talons extended. The Harpy screamed at the first strike, stumbling backwards, tearing the forest more. Orange blood fell to the ground and covered the silver talons, but no one cared. Soon enough, the bear was stained orange, or at least the metal was, and the wolf was covered from muzzle to ankle in it.

It hadn't taken long to push the Harpy away from Ryan and Dawn, or put her on the defensive. Something told Maria, though, that she had better enjoy the easy win. It wouldn't be so easy next time.

Dawn thanked the Power that she had stayed morphed, otherwise she would never have been able to handle Ryan's weight alone. Not that she had to much longer. She was on the porch itself, and she carefully lifted a foot and nudged the door open. A young black woman stood on the other side, looking at the white ranger, then Ryan, who she had both arms wrapped around, carrying the weight of him. "Help?" Dawn's voice was feeble, almost inaudible, but the woman caught the words and smiled gently.

Reaching out, Aisha took hold of on of Ryan's arms and stepped out, pulling it over her shoulders. "Come on, we can lay him on the couch."

They made their way to what looked a green living room, laying him on the couch. Dawn ignored the other people in the room, barely stopping to count them at four guys. Her main job was looking after Ryan, and Maria would kill her if she didn't. The girl was extremely protective of all of them. "What'd he get hit by?" One of the guys asked, this one in green with black jeans.

"No idea. I was kinda busy trying to keep my team from getting killed," She snapped, glaring at them all through her visor as she smoothed back Ryan's hair.

She recognized the next speaker. He was Maria's uncle. He'd tossed them out just a few hours ago when he'd found them doing drills in his gym. He'd been pissed, and she understood it. If she couldn't heal with a touch, then the fact they were doing things like that without supervision...well, she'd have been pissed too. "We can help you, I swear." His voice was gentle as he motioned towards Ryan. "We know how to treat these types of things."

"And which of you is the doctor?" She asked rhetorically, guessing none of these guys were.

Then someone cleared their throat from the doorway, "Actually, I'm a nurse, but I'm guessing that's good enough." The blonde woman handed the tray to the guy in the red t-shirt, or one of the two, that was. Then she made her way over to kneel beside Dawn.

"He has at least a concussion," Dawn said after a second, giving in. Maria trusted these people, otherwise she wouldn't have directed the white ranger and their wounded leader to this place. "I think the suit protected him from any internal injuries, but I can't be sure." Well, she could be, but she'd have to get her power recharged first.

"Most likely its only a head injury," Kat said after peeling his eye lids back. His pupils were dilated, though they did shrink a bit, much to everyone's relief. "I'd have to do a x-ray to be sure, but something tells me he'll be healed, or at least mostly healed, by the time we get to the hospital."

"Most likely," Dawn agreed, relaxing as she fell back into her element. "We heal fast right after and during a morph, and since he just fell from it, I'd say he's healing faster than anything you've seen."

"We've seen more than you know," Kat said, turning her attention back to Ryan. "He looks like he's gonna be fine." She stood up then, retreating to Jason's arms once more to ponder these new rangers.

Dawn nodded, sitting on the edge of the couch. It wasn't very comfortable to be sitting in armor, but it felt even worse to be on her feet. They all sat, or in a few cases, stood, in silence for a few minutes. Then Rocky, as usual, took the plunge and broke the quite. He had always been outgoing. "Want a cookie?" He pointed at the plate on the table that Kat had brought in.

"And how would I eat a cookie with a helmet on?" Dawn's dry voice filled the room as Aisha giggled. Adam merely shook his head. Kat and Jason were busy whispering to each other, but stopped to give Rocky an identical look. Tommy wasn't in the room, having left to put up the first aid kit.

"Well, you could always take it off." Rocky suggested, grinning as he bit into one of said cookies.

Adam gave him a look then. "Rocky, you're an idiot." His voice was flat, but he was obviously fighting a smile as he turned to Dawn. "Look, we know that Jackson and Maria are rangers, most likely green and black, from the argument earlier." He let his grin spread, then. "Still wondering if I should be insulted or flattered, having been both."

"And you call me an idiot?" Rocky muttered as Adam spilled the secret. Aisha shot him a look, and he held up his hands. Maybe Adam was right, and this could be a way to get the White Ranger to trust them. Or he could be wrong and these new Rangers didn't give a shit, which, from Maria's earlier attitude, was more likely.

Dawn was silent for a second. She wished she had Ty's power, yet again. Being able to tell if this guy was lying would be a god send. "You were a ranger?" Was it even possible to be both a green and black ranger?

"We all were," Tommy said from the doorway, coming to take a seat in a huge armchair. "How about this – we'll spill about who we were, if you spill about who you are?" Not that he didn't know. He was guessing the lovely Dawn and the wary white ranger were one in the same.

Dawn gave it another minute of thought, then reached up and unlatched her helmet. Blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, and she blinked wide blue eyes at the former rangers. "Dawn." She didn't bother giving a last name, "I believe two of you are familiar with me?" She questioned, shifting on the edge of the couch, brushing her hair away from her eyes.

"She's Maria's friend, from when I caught them in the basement." Tommy explained, eying the two on the couch. "Which must make the young man behind you the red ranger?"

"Good guess," Dawn spoke lightly, rotating her neck in agitation. She didn't like attention, she didn't like spilling secrets, and she didn't like her leader laying behind her without moving.

"Not a guess," It was the other man in red that spoke, "He's wearing red, and really, when you know what to look for, its pretty easy to figure out."

Dawn paused, cocking her head to the side. Something in the room changed, she could feel it. Narrowing her eyes, she traced the disturbance, then let her insides relax. Ryan was awake, even if he hadn't moved visibly. "And which color were you, when you were a ranger?"

"Red. The first red ranger, in fact," He smiled and tacked on, "And you can call me Jason. No formalities between fellow rangers."

Dawn gave him a long, slow blink, shifting her weight again. "So you're the first red ranger," Dawn pointed at Adam, "And he was a green and black. How about the rest of you?"

Tommy smiled, "I was the first green and first white, then later a red – twice, and finally black. Jason was the first red, and the second gold. Adam was the second black and second green, Kat was the second pink, Aisha was the second yellow, Rocky was the second red and the second blue. There are more, but that's all that's present." He motioned to each one of the former rangers as he said their names, and everyone grinned as their leader took control.

Ryan, apparently, was through playing dead and rolled so that his back was against the back of the couch. "I suppose this is where I start introducing members of the Soul Gem Power Rangers, right?"

Rocky snickered and whispered to Adam, "Soul gems?" Adam merely slapped his teammate upside the head, and both Ryan and Dawn shot them a look.

"Usually, yes, but I know the majority of your team already – unless, of course, you're hiding a few rangers?" Tommy asked, rather rhetorically.

"Sorry, Uncle Tommy," Maria said from the doorway as she stepped inside, still morphed. The green and blue rangers tumbled in after her, and not in a dignified manner. "Just the five of us and that creepy-ass mentor we got stuck with."

Tommy frowned, but Ryan beat him to the punch. "Don't curse, Maria. The angel hates it." He punctuated his statement by throwing a pillow.

Maria snickered and ducked, unmorphing at the same time. The pillow hit the green ranger right in the helmet as Maria swung back up to a standing position. "And if the angel doesn't like it, she can tell me so herself."

This time, it was Dawn who threw the pillow, and Maria didn't duck. It hit the girl straight in the fact, and Dawn giggled. "I don't like people swearing, especially not someone who has such an extensive language."

"If by 'extensive', you mean, 'dirtier than a sailor's toenails', then yeah, that's Maria." The green ranger drawled in a thick western accent, unmorphing as he made his way over to the couch. He gave Tommy a wink. "You're young charge sure has a dirty mouth, partner."

Jason burst out laughing, followed by the other former rangers. "You're all a very colorful group of rangers, that's for sure."

"And now they're going to want to crown you the king of understatement." The blue ranger remarked, his suit melting away to reveal Ty, the eldest of the group.

Adam snorted, "That title goes to Tommy, the 'only late by a few minutes' and 'its only a scratch' king." Kat and Aisha were cracking in the background, and Rocky was having a hard time holding his laughter. "I remember once, a few months after we started the ranger thing...Tommy had this huge gash in his side, bleeding all over the place, right? And when Kat noticed, she's asked why he hadn't asked for help."

Rocky smirked, taking over the story, "And he had the guts to look and say, 'It's only a flesh wound, I swear!' Kat looked about ready to finish the monster's job, and in a lot more painful manner!"

Kat snorted and rolled her eyes, "He was quoting King Arthur and the Holy Grail while he was bleeding out! Of course I was angry!"

Tommy scowled playfully, then glanced at the new rangers, who were staring at them in fascination. "Uh..."

"Why don't we just go ahead and leave you guys to your conversion?" Ryan suggested. "Let y'all catch up on the good stuff while the rest of us sleep."

Jason nodded, standing. "That's a good idea. Anyone need a ride home?"

There was an awkward pause, then Maria spoke up, "I was kinda hoping that they could crash here? Except, ya know, Dawn. She's gotta do stuff tomorrow."

Tommy frowned, "I can't just let them sleep here, Maria, not without making sure everything is okay with their parents."

Ty sighed, Jack snorted and Ryan smiled. "Not to worry, Dr. Oliver. My mother is out of town for a while, and my aunt doesn't care where I am, as long as I show up at school sober at least three times a week."

"I'm kinda sleeping in the car, since my parents lock the doors after ten o'clock." Ty shrugged, then frowned. "Strict, not abusive, before your mind even starts on that path."

Tommy and Jason exchanged looks, then leveled their eyes at Jack. The green ranger gave a bitter smile, "My parents are so fucking drunk, I could be gone for a week and they wouldn't notice." Dawn winced, resisting the urge to call him out on the language.

Tommy, apparently, didn't feel the same way. He pointed a finger at Jack and growled, "Use that word in the presence of the ladies or anyone here, and you're out." Then he sighed and glanced at the rest of the ragtag group, "But yeah, you can use the rec room. I have a few sleeping bags somewhere around here."

Kat cleared her throat, "Uh, Dawn, was it? You aren't staying here, so I assume you need a ride?"

Dawn nodded, "Yeah. I can call a cab or something, though. My house is about an hour away. A long drive, this late at night."

Aisha chuckled, "Well, it can be bonding time for us girls. You, me, Kat and Maria." The former yellow ranger gave a wide grin.

"Uh, count me out." Maria's eyes were wide at the horror of being in a car for an hour with Kat and Aisha, and Dawn held back a giggle. "I've gotta get the boys settled and patch up some of their wounds, ya know?"

Dawn faked a frown, knowing the black ranger well enough to know that she was making excuses. "Do you need Kat and me to stay? We have the medical training."

Maria shook her head, elbowing Jack without looking. He 'oomphed', but stopped snickering. "Naw, we're good. Just minor injuries."

Dawn shrugged, "If you're sure..."

"YES!" Maria yelped, moving to sit on the couch. She picked up Ryan's feet and draped them over her lap, holding on to his ankles, as if a shield. "Now go! Aren't you busy tomorrow?"

Dawn barely got to nod before Kat and Aisha were dragging her from the room. Everyone was silent for a second, then all the rangers – except Maria – burst out laughing. "God, Maria, you are such a wimp!" Ryan threw out, then whimpered as she slammed a fist into his ribs.

"Shut it, flame boy." Maria growled playfully, "Besides, last time I checked, you were the one that passed out during the fight. Not me."

"Dirty pool, man." Ryan accused, but the mood still remained light.

Rocky stood up with a yawn. "Since this conversation doesn't seem to need me, I think I'm going to go ahead and pass out."

Adam nodded, "Yeah. We've both been up since, what, five?" Rocky nodded, and without further ado, they vanished into the guest bedrooms (leaving the author with less characters to worry about).

Tommy sighed, "Guess that means Jason and I are stuck hunting down the sleeping bags."

Ryan shook his head, "We're good. We'll just crash in Maria's room."

There was silence, then Tommy narrowed his eyes, "I don't think so."

Maria rolled her eyes, "Relax, Uncle Tommy. I'll give them the pull out bed to sleep on." Then she shrugged, "Besides, if I wanted to bang one of 'em, I sure as hell would choose a more creative place than a bed. Maybe a shower..." She pretended to think.

Ty chocked and slapped the back of her head, causing her to twist around and smirk up at him. "Don't worry, Doctor Oliver. She's joke. Plus, Ryan's too much of a gentleman, Jack is pinning over someone else, and I'm gay. No one is going to touch her."

Tommy's lips were still thin. "I still don't think its a good idea."

Jack groaned, and in his usual blunt manner, poured it all out. "Look, man, the gems had a bond between them. The same goes for the hosts. It's like a physically painful feeling, being away from each other."

He was slightly exaggerating. The sensation wasn't painful, but they all felt a little empty, a little hollow on the inside, whenever they weren't around each other. It didn't stop them from functioning alone, but it sure made it a lot easier to function as a unit.

Jason butted in, "Just let them go, Tommy. We'll keep an eye on them. Plus, the door will be open, right." It wasn't a question.

Maria gave a bright smile. "Yep."