Disclaimer: Saban owns Power Rangers and the characters within, not I.
Healing
Jason opened his eyes and shut them immediately as the overhead light blinded him. He raised a hand up tentatively and shielded his vision as he opened his eyes once more. He blinked a couple times and heard movement to his left. He turned over to see someone approaching him at a steady pace.
"Jason!" Alpha Five exclaimed excitedly as he approached the side of the Red Ranger. "You are awake."
"Hey Alpha... yeah.. yeah I am." Jason responded as he sat up on the table he was lying on.
"Sensors indicate your body has made a full recovery." Alpha stated as he viewed some readings on a monitor next to the table.
"I was.. I was stabbed." Jason said as he ran a hand over his side where the wound should be to find nothing.
"You were.. but you'll find that the power coin will heal most any wound." Alpha explained.
"Where is everyone?" Jason asked looking around. He had remembered hearing their voices as he faded in and out of consciousness.
"They.. are.. um.. currently in battle." Alpha answered. Jason hopped off the table and started to make his way out of the room.
"Green Ranger?" Jason asked turning to Alpha.
"Correct." Alpha responded.
"I got to help them." Jason stated as he made his way out to center command with Alpha quickly behind him.
"Jason." Zordon greeted the team leader as he entered the room.
"Zordon.. where is the battle?" Jason asked.
"It is outside the city, dangerously close to many civilians." Zordon informed him as a visual came up in the middle of the room.
"Here." Alpha said as he tapped Jason on the shoulder. Jason turned to see him holding a watch. "Billy made these.. it will allow you to teleport there."
"Wow.. okay.." Jason replied as he took the watch and strapped it on his wrist.
"Just push that button when you are ready to teleport." Alpha explained. Jason nodded and then turned to Zordon.
"Zordon.. is there anything we can do against the shield that Green Ranger has?" Jason inquired.
"Not that I am aware of Jason, it is powered by Rita's magic." Zordon answered. "Best to avoid it."
"I know... we are not to escalate a battle but if he is too much... the Zords.." Jason began.
"They will be waiting." Zordon replied with a nod of approval.
"Also.. when you get to the battle.. inform the others that their weapons are ready... they'll know what to do."
"Good... I'm outta here." Jason said as he disappeared in a flash of red.
(****)
"We have to keep him from the city!" Kimberly exclaimed to her teammates as they formed a line in front of the oncoming path of the Green Ranger.
"We can do that." Zack responded before he closed the distance between him and their challenger. The two traded punches before Trini joined in. Green Ranger was blocking both of their blows but unable to land any of his own. Kimberly joined the fray and the Green Ranger was unable to block every shot now. Billy took an opening and hit a flying kick to the Green Ranger's stomach knocking him backwards and into a tree.
"Good shot Billy!" Zack shouted with approval. Green Ranger slowly got to his feet and activated his sword. "Oh crap.. this again."
"You know what happens next." Green Ranger warned as he gathered himself and then charged with the sword. Quicker than the Rangers could react he had effectively landed a strike to all four of them sending them in opposite directions. Green Ranger wasted no time and ran over and grabbed Billy who was closest to him. He picked him up by the legs and flung him through two nearby trees. Immediately after Green Ranger got to Trini and kicked her into a nearby boulder shattering it into many pieces.
"Come on!" Zack screamed as Green Ranger reached him. Green Ranger grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up before slamming him down hard on the dirt beneath them. He repeated the action two more times before Kimberly intervened with a kick to Green Ranger's back that sent him flying over Zack and into a nearby stream. Green Ranger got up just as Kimberly reached him. She unleashed a fury of kicks that he blocked. He threw one that she ducked but he used his sword on the spin and slashed her across the chest knocking her back into Zack who was just getting to his feet.
"I can do this all day." Green Ranger said as he got up and watched as his opponents struggled to their feet. All four of them lined up doubled over in pain. Green Ranger held up his sword and brought it down to his shield to deliver the final death blow. The blast was quick and wide as it went forth towards the group. It stopped halfway in an explosion of green and red.
Green Ranger cocked his head in confusion as the smoke cleared and he saw the group of Rangers still intact. Only now standing in front of them holding a still glowing red sword was their leader.
"Jason." Kimberly breathed out as she realized what had happened. Jason turned his head slightly back to the group before refocusing his attention on the Green Ranger.
"This ends now." Jason stated as he straightened up.
"You should have died." Green Ranger stated.
"I didn't." Jason responded.
"Well.. I guess I'll have to rectify that." Green Ranger said as he charged at Jason and brought his sword down hard. Jason blocked it with his own and the two were locked in a test of strength.
"Whoever you are..." Jason stated through gritted teeth. "It's not too late for you.."
"You are wrong." Green Ranger replied with a grunt. His sword began to glow green and gold, Jason's began to glow red and soon there was an explosion between the two that sent both Rangers flying in opposite directions. The shockwave leveled many of the nearby trees and revealed the city skyline nearby.
"You okay?" Zack asked as he helped Jason up.
"Yeah.." Jason replied as the group gathered around him. They saw the Green Ranger emerge from some brush and his grip tighten on his sword once more. Jason turned to the team. "I was told to tell you that your weapons are ready."
"Awesome!" Zack said as he held out his hand and a black and silver ax appeared in it. Kimberly followed suit to receive a pink and white bow.
"Sweet." Kimberly said upon seeing her weapon.
"These are gonna come in handy." Trini stated as she twirled some yellow daggers in her hands. The group turned to Billy who was spinning around a blue lance excitedly.
"I like the odds now." Billy stated as he walked over to the group.
"Alright team... let's stop this guy once and for all." Jason said as he glanced around at the group.
"With pleasure." Zack responded as he charged Green Ranger first. He swung his ax and although Green Ranger got his sword up to block the sheer size of the ax and power of the swing brought him down to his knees. Zack hit Green Ranger with a knee under the chin while he was down. Just then an arrow exploded in Green Ranger's face and sent him scooting through the dirt in front of Zack. Zack turned to see Kimberly behind him. She let out a laugh and a shrug.
"My turn!" Trini said as she leaped through the air with her daggers pointed directly at the rising Green Ranger. He got his sword up to block one but the other stabbed him just below his shield. He cried out in pain before elbowing Trini aside. He had no time to recover from the wound though as Billy hit him hard upside the head with a power swing of his lance. The shot sent Green Ranger over some trees and he landed in the middle of the street leading into town.
Jason landed at Green Rangers feet as he was getting up and grabbed him by the arm. He yanked him up and hit him with a powerful right hand, followed by a left then a rising knee strike that knocked him back off the road and into a nearby guard rail.
"Just give up.. we want to end this." Jason implored him as he approached once more. The rest of the group approached from behind him as well.
"Then.." Green Ranger replied as he got to his feet once more. "Let's end this."
"Wha.." Jason began to respond but a gold blast from Green Ranger's shield hit him dead on in the chest and knocked him back across the highway, tearing up the asphalt beneath him.
"Jason you okay?" Billy asked as he reached him first.
"Yeah.." Jason answered as he was helped to his feet by Billy and Kimberly. "This guy won't give up unless we kill him I'm afraid."
"But we can't.." Billy replied.
"I know.." Jason said as he turned to him. Suddenly there was a bright flash overhead and the group looked up to see Rita floating down to land between them and the Green Ranger.
"Oh great.. her again." Kimberly stated.
"Yes.. me again." Rita responded as she turned to the Green Ranger and then back to the group. Rita raised her staff and sent a blast that sent the Rangers scattering in many different directions. She then walked over to the Green Ranger. "I have a gift for you."
"What is it?" Green Ranger asked.
"Look behind you." Rita stated as she motioned to the ocean behind them. Green Ranger turned to see the water bubbling. He turned back to Rita to see her smiling widely. Pretty soon he saw something begin to rise up out of the water. The head of it appeared first, as majestic as it was menacing. The face of a dragon. It let out a terrible roar as soon as it breached the water.
"It's... massive." Green Ranger said as it began to approach them.
"Yes.. it's all yours.. use it wisely." Rita replied. "It took a lot out of me to bring it back to life.. so don't waste it."
"I won't." Green Ranger responded as the beast in front of them reached land.
"Go to it.. take your rightful place." Rita said as she gestured to mechanical dragon in front of them. Green Ranger took off in a run towards it. Rita turned to the Rangers who were just getting to their feet. "You all have fought well.. but.. it's time I move on to the next step of my plan.. and it doesn't involve wasting time with you."
"Jason... look.." Trini said as she gripped the team leader's arm and gestured in front of them to the towering zord. They watched as the Green Ranger scaled it expertly and disappeared inside the head of the beast.
"Guys.. you know what to do." Jason said as he looked around at the group.
"Your zords will be destroyed, but by all means bring them out." Rita taunted before she began to rise up into the sky and disappear into a flash of light.
"Here we go." Jason said as he leaped into the air to land on top of his T-Rex zord that had just cleared the treeline behind them. The rest of the zords lined up next to his and the Rangers all entered their respective cockpits.
"We have to draw it away from the city." Billy stated as the group approached the dragon in front of them.
"I got it." Kimberly said as she flew her zord at the head of the dragon. She fired some shots that landed direct on on the head of the beast. She flew over it and the Dragonzord turned around to swat at her. It barely missed her wing, but she had succeeded in distracting it enough for Jason to move in. He fired his cannons and they hit the back of the zord. He was unprepared for the swing of a tale that hit him on the side of the zord and knocked him down the shoreline.
"I got that!" Trini stated as her tiger clamped down on the tail with it's teeth. She held on tight as the tail swung wildly trying to shake her off. Billy and Zack used this opportunity to use their weapons to blast away at the head of the Dragonzord. The blasts did not seem to be doing any damage though and pretty soon they were being returned in the form of an energy blast from the middle of the chest of the beast.
"Look out!" Zack exclaimed in vain as both he and Billy were knocked backwards in the zords.
"Take this." Kimberly said as she flew over top the dragon and dropped a bomb that landed on his shoulder. It exploded and the dragon let out a loud cry. It swung it's tail wildly causing Trini's zord to lose it's grip and she went flying through the air and crashing into Kimberly's zord bringing them both to the ground.
"Alright guys.. this is getting us nowhere." Jason stated as he rejoined the group with a hobbling T-Rex. "Let's bring em together."
"I love this part." Trini said as the zords began to gravitate towards one another. In a whirlwind of lights and clanging metal the group stood up collectively as one reaching a height that now rivaled the dragon in front of them.
"You have one last chance before we tear that thing apart." Jason warned as they approached. Once they got no response they began a lumbering run in the Megazord. It reached the Dragonzord and the two were locked in a test of strength.
"Trini.. now!" Jason said as the Megazord connected with a punch the rocked the Dragonzord for the first time. Kimberly followed suit delivering one of her own and soon the behemoth was being driven away from the city and back towards the ocean. Billy hit a kick that put some space between the giants.
"Zack you give it one too." Jason stated. Before Zack could follow suit though the Dragonzord whipped it's tail around and hit the Megazord directly in the chest knocking it backwards and to the ground in a huge crash.
"That thing packs a punch." Billy said as the group attempted to raise the Megazord to it's feet. Before they could the Dragonzord had reached them and kicked them once more knocking them over on their back once more. Soon the hands of the Dragonzord were outstretched and pointing down at the fallen Rangers. Missiles appeared at the end of the fingertips of the dragon.
"It has missiles!" Zack exclaimed.
"Roll!" Jason exclaimed as the missiles fired and the Megazord just managed to roll clear. There was a gigantic explosion beside them and Jason turned to see a huge crater in the ground where they had been. The Megazord reached it's feet just as the dust and smoke cleared. "Alright guys, we got to finish this."
"Swords?" Kimberly asked.
"Swords." Jason responded. Soon the Megazord was brandishing two swords in it's hands as the Dragonzord approached it once more. The Dragonzord swung it's tail once more but the Megazord countered with a sword slash that knocked it away. This was quickly followed by one that slashed the Dragonzord across the chest and knocked it backwards into the water.
"Do we finish it?" Zack asked as he looked up to where Jason was.
"We have to." Jason responded as the Megazord held the sword high above it's head. The Dragonzord reached it's feet just as the swords of the Megazord began to glow from within. The Megazord brought the swords down in a powerful motion and they pierced the armor of the Dragonzord and the beast fell backwards slowly into the ocean disappearing beneath the surface.
"I'm going after the Green Ranger." Jason stated as he leaped from the cockpit and down into the water below. He began to swim down, feeling the suction from the Dragozord pulling him down faster than he could even swim. Pretty soon he saw the beast just as it hit the bottom and clouded up the water around him. Jason swam over to the head of the zord and peered inside the glass to see the Green Ranger's body floating motionless in the cockpit. Jason activated his sword and broke the glass in front of him. He reached inside and grabbed the Green Ranger by the arm and pulled him out. He quickly began to swim upwards.
"Come on Jason." Kimberly said as the rest of the Rangers gathered on the shoreline.
"I'm going after him." Zack stated as he began to approach the water. Before he could jump though the surface was breached below them and two heads popped out. Kimberly and Trini raced over to Jason and helped him pull the Green Ranger's lifeless body onto the shore.
"Are you okay?" Kimberly asked Jason as he rolled over and his armor disappeared.
"I think so... but I don't know about him." Jason replied as he nodded over to the green form next to him. Jason crawled over to him and sat up. The rest of the Rangers gathered around them and powered down. Trini put a hand on the helmet of the Green Ranger looking for a way to get it off. Without warning the Green Ranger's hand shot up and wrapped around her wrist.
"What are you doing?" Green Ranger asked with a weak voice.
"We are trying to help you." Trini replied as she felt the grip on her wrist loosen. The rest of the Rangers stood up and watched as the Green Ranger sat up and looked around.
"It's over.." Jason stated. Green Ranger didn't reply but instead began to stare in the direction of the fallen Dragonzord.
"It can't be..." Green Ranger stated under his breath. "What have.. what did I do?"
No one had time to answer his inquiry as their was a flash overhead and the group turned to see Rita approaching them. The group dropped into a defensive stance, prompting her to stop a few feet away. She looked at the group and then at the downed Green Ranger. She shook her head in disgust.
"Get up." Rita said as motioned with her hand at the Green Ranger. He followed command and wearily got to his feet. "You let them destroy my dragon."
"I tried.." Green Ranger replied.
"Shut up." Rita responded coldly. "You were never worthy to have that power."
"I.." Green Ranger started to reply.
"You have one last chance.." Rita stated. "Here they are before you now... kill them."
"I c.. I.." Green Ranger turned to the group of Rangers who instinctively morphed again to protect themselves.
"You don't have to listen to her." Jason stated as he glanced back and forth between Rita and the Green Ranger.
"You know.. I am really starting to hate you Red." Rita informed him.
"The feeling is mutual, trust me." Jason rebutted as he turned to her.
"Avenge me!" Rita shrieked in the direction of the Green Ranger. He stood without movement, his head hanging down. "Fine!"
Rita raised her staff and it began to charge in a brilliant gold glow. She aimed it at Jason, but before she could fire a green and gold blast hit her in the chest and knocked her to the ground. Jason turned to see the still glowing shield of the Green Ranger with his sword drawn. Jason smiled and then turned back to Rita who was having trouble getting to her feet.
"How dare you?!" Rita exclaimed. She raised her staff at the Green Ranger. Jason used his sword to knock it from her hand and into the water nearby.
"No you don't." Jason stated as he stood over Rita.
"This is not over.." Rita said as she looked beyond Jason to the Green Ranger standing now being shielded by the rest of the Rangers.
"Maybe not.. but we'll be ready for you." Jason reacted as he watched Rita disappear in a flash of light. Jason waited for a moment before turning to the group behind him. They all turned in unison to the Green Ranger who was standing behind them. His sword disappeared and his posture eased.
"Thanks.." Jason said as he approached him. The Green Ranger took some hesitant steps backwards as he approached. "Hey.. it's cool.. our fight is over."
"Is it?" Green Ranger asked. "After what I've done?"
"You were not in control of yourself." Billy suggested.
"Sure.. but it doesn't change the fact I nearly killed all of you." Green Ranger countered.
"We are willing to look past that if you promise not to use your powers for evil anymore." Jason stated.
"Yeah... I... you don't have to worry about that." Green Ranger replied. "I don't even want these powers anymore."
"Hey.. how about you let us get you to Zordon..." Trini suggested.
"What will he do... imprison me?" Green Ranger asked.
"No... it's not like that." Kimberly answered.
"Come on." Jason said as he extended his hand to the Green Ranger. After a few hesitant moments the Green Ranger finally clasped his own hand in Jason's.
(****)
"I think it's time you revealed your identity to the group." Zordon explained as he looked down at the group in front of him with a still armored Green Ranger in front of him.
"I..." Green Ranger began as he looked around at the group.
"It's okay.." Trini said as she placed a hand on his arm. Green Ranger nodded at her touch and then in a flash of green the armor was gone.
"Oh.." Kimberly said under her breath as his identity was revealed.
"Tommy.." Trini said as she moved to stand in front of him. He avoided eye contact with him until her hand came up to his face. He turned to her.
"I'm sorry." Tommy said as he locked eyes with her and then turned to the rest of the group.
"You couldn't help it.." Zack stated with a shrug.
"You guys were good to me and I.." Tommy whispered as he locked eyes with Kim and then Jason.
"It could have happened to anyone Tommy." Jason said as he stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. Tommy nodded and offered him a small smile. He turned back to Zordon.
"Can you take the powers from me?" Tommy inquired.
"Take them from you?" Zordon asked.
"Yes.. I don't deserve them." Tommy answered.
"I beg to differ." Zordon replied. "The powers chose you.. bonded with you.. it was not by accident."
"But.. I used them for evil.." Tommy persisted.
"The powers are not evil... Rita's influence on them was." Zordon explained. "That influence is broken now."
"But.." Tommy began to protest but looked around at the group.
"We could use you." Jason stated.
"Yeah.. Rita will not let up and having you on our side puts as at an advantage." Alpha chimed in. Tommy looked around and then back up at Zordon.
"I..." Tommy hesitated. "Are you sure her influence is broken?"
"I am positive." Zordon responded. Tommy nodded and then sighed with relief.
"If.. if you will have me... It'd be an honor to help you try to stop her once and for all." Tommy stated, prompting smiles from the rest of the Rangers.
"Then welcome to the team." Jason said as he extended his hand to Tommy who gladly took it and shook it.
"I was able to salvage the Dragonzord and return it to it's docking bay." Zordon informed the group. "So it will be ready once you call upon it again."
"That's great." Tommy replied.
"Here." Alpha said as he handed a box to Tommy. Tommy opened it to see a dagger inside. He pulled it out and looked at it curiously.
"What's this?" Tommy asked.
"That is the Dragon Dagger." Alpha replied. "It will allow you to control the Dragonzord remotely, and it is a powerful weapon in it's own right."
"Cool." Tommy said with a nod.
"Remotely huh... can I get one of those?" Zack questioned with a grin, prompting a laugh from the rest of the group.
(****)
Jason plopped down on his bed and let out a breath of air he felt like he had been holding in for a week. He had just got through explaining his disappearance to his freaked out parents. It wasn't an easy sell but he told them he had been caught outside of town with a dead cell phone when all of the madness went down with the giant monsters again. He wasn't sure if they believed him but they were relieved enough to have him home that they didn't question him too much.
Jason rolled over on his side and glanced at his window. He smiled when he saw her sitting there halfway in and halfway out. He motioned for her to come to him. She gladly obliged and climbed into the bed next to him. They lie facing each other for several moments without speaking a word. Finally she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his in the lightest of kisses. Enough to tease him and make him want more.
"So... did they buy your story?" Kimberly asked as she ran a hand across Jason's cheek.
"I doubt it but.. they didn't ask many questions." Jason replied as he reached up and took her hand and turned it over to place a kiss on the back of it. Kimberly reached down into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone and handed it to Jason.
"I think this belongs to you." She said with a smile. He returned it and pressed the button to see it was dead. He flipped it over his shoulder and pulled Kim closer into him.
"I was worried." Jason said as he placed a kiss on top of her head.
"About what?" She asked.
"That I wouldn't get the chance to hold you again." He answered. She looked up at him with a smile before kissing him fully this time.
"I worried too... but here we are." She stated as they broke the kiss reluctantly.
"Here we are." Jason echoed as he pulled her close once more. Pretty soon they had drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.