A/N: Wow. It's truly been a long time. MMPR will always be very important to me as is this community and this story. I am not in touch with my co-writer anymore however I have reached out. I would like to continue this story for any fans lingering and I'd like to have her blessing to do so.

There are two chapters that were never posted here that were on Perfect Chemistry so for those of you that haven't read them, here they are. I will be posting the last "written" chapter next week.

I hope you all have been well and are super excited for the new MMPR movies.

Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me, the use of the characters, and original ideas all belong to Saban and there respective partners. The plot and substories for this belong to both of the authors.

Summary: Intent on capturing all of the Rangers, an old evil has returned and Jason and Kim must face their own nightmares as they race to protect the plant one last time…

Written By: Chrisangelo and Jade-Max

Chapter 10 - Wolf, Tiger, Jackal

The rustle of the leaves in the wind was the symphony that greeted the three former rangers when they became aware once more of their surroundings. Trees hemmed the small clearing where they'd landed after Dulcea had dismissed them for their quest. Quests none but Billy had ever endured - and neither Trini nor Zack knew what to expect.

A quick, cursory examination of their surroundings revealed the clearing seemed to be deep inside a forest of sorts. Billy, ever the tactician, scrutinized the surrounding vegetation without looking at Trini and Zack. He felt strange being with them once more - strange but good all at the same time. When Jason and Kim had told him of their demise, he'd been inconsolable for weeks. Having them back at his side, teamed up once more as they set out to become Rangers once more was some kind of twisted version of his favorite fantasies; where no one ever died and Rangers were Rangers forever.

"See anything helpful, Billy?"

"Negative."

"Me either," Trini confirmed. "Where are we?"

"In the middle of a forest." Billy and Trini turned to look at Zack in the same movement and the former Black Ranger grinned impishly. "We wouldn't be here unless we were supposed to be, right?"

"A valid observation."

Trini held up her hand as Zack looked towards her questioningly and smiled faintly. Old habits die hard - and translating for Billy was one she'd never grow out of. "Which is fine, but what is this spirit quest going to involve exactly? Dulcea didn't give us a lot to go on."

Billy took another look around and then shoved his hands into his pockets with a sigh. "Previous experience would dictate an involved mental, spiritual and physical trial of conscience."

"Say what?"

"What Billy means," Trini translated with a wry smile. "Is that this isn't going to be easy."

"Didn't Dulcea say that?"

"True, but Billy just confirmed it's not going to be just a physical trial; this is something we're going to have to work through together."

"That doesn't mean I have to solve a riddle or something do it?"

"Unlikely."

"Oh, good." Zack looked relieved. "So where do we start?"

Trini looked from one to the other - and did something unexpected. She wrapped her arms about Billy and hugged him tightly. Billy looked down at the diminutive Asian woman with a surprised expression and, after a moment of complete shock, wrapped his arms about her.

"It's good to see you Billy - even if you're not our Billy."

"I would be remiss in not expressing my own delight at seeing you as well, Trini - and you too Zack. When Jason initially found me and explained the two of you had been... lost, it was most unsettling and upsetting time."

"We're just glad to be here," Zack told him honestly, not really understanding him, but smiling anyway. Some things didn't need translation and Billy's smile was one of them.

"It's like that for us too, Billy." Trini spoke softly, easing away. Her arms unwound from his neck and his eased their fierce grip on her waist.

Slowly, Trini let her hands drift down Billy's upper arms, trailing down taking a hold of his wrists. Trini met Billy's brilliant blue orbs, a moment shared between them as if it was another world in another time. Her hands locked around his wrists, she searched those familiar blue irises for some kind of sign he was the Billy she remembered. It was the raw emotion in his gaze that didn't allow the conviction of anything but the reality. Billy was Billy, this time or another, and the same derth of feeling was visible - she knew what to look for. Her stance wasn't firm or tense, giving an indication of vulnerability, as if Billy was the one she remembered and loved. Her body swayed almost imperceptibly towards his, a silent invitation.

A too familiar heated sensation rose to Billy's cheeks as he smiled down at the former yellow ranger. Lost in the moment, even as he tried his best not to get entranced by her, he couldn't help but simply look. The short raven hair he remembered so well, soft as silk - he knew from accidental brushes through their teenage years - dark eyes he could drown in for hours on end, the light of intelligence more alluring than any physical feature. The luxury to touch her was at his finger tips and, for once, he was disinclined to resist. Lifting his hand, he freed it from her grasp with a turn of his wrist and slowly, watching her eyes, cupped her cheek as his thumb brushed across soft skin. The reverence in his touch was too long denied to be feigned.

As strong as she tried to be, the gesture was the same in both worlds. With a shiver, Trini broke the out of the semi-embrace and looked away with a slight frown

His hands dropped. "I... I apologize Trini." Taking a step back, Billy turned around, trying to compose himself.

After his Trini left for Switzerland, it had been a long struggle not to fall into the hole of emotion that had ever surrounded her. She was his best friend and confidant in every way; there had been emails, letters, and - of course -phone calls exchanged through the years, but when he had found out from Jason of her demise, the only thing he'd wished for... was time. Time to spend with her; time to finally let her know of his feelings; time to simply see her - be with her.

They hadn't been able to hold a funeral for Trini - or Zack - since the traces of the bodies had been lost within the Dark Dimension. The death of his Trini was his first and only reason for helping Jason and Kim track down the other Rangers.

"Earth - or where ever we are - to Billy? You in there man?" Zack waved a hand from afar, trying to get the genius' attention.

Billy snapped back to the present with a jerk, his cheeks warm and his smile chagrined. "My apologies, Zack - were you saying something?"

"You okay?"

Nodding, the former blue ranger found glanced towards Trini and then back to his black skinned friend. "For the moment."

"Good. Any idea where we are?"

"A cursory examination of our surroundings would indicate we must still be on Phaedos."

"But where on Phaedos - and why? What's this have to do with the quest Dulcea sent us on?"

Billy considered his answer, grasping the distraction Zack offered to clamp down on his wayward emotions - something he normally didn't have trouble with. The knowledge that his Trini was dead, but to be faced with a second chance in the form of the alternate timeline Trini was overwhelming. If he let it, it would dictate every irrational urge he possessed and that was unprudent in their current circumstance.

"When we came to Phaedos the first time, we were sent on a quest to obtain the full use of our powers," Billy chose his words carefully. He knew Trini was listening, but he didn't need her to get his point across anymore. Before he'd fallen into old habits; it was time she saw him for who he'd become in his time and not the Billy she remembered from her timeline. "Initially, Dulcea helped us tap into the basic powers, giving us a limited transformation ability and several useful Ninjetti skills. The source of the powers we now seek, as I understand it, come both from within and without. This quest will be mental, physical and emotional for only when the mind and body are peacefully one, can the Ninjetti animal of your spirit speak with you."

"But Dulcea's already given us the name of our spirit animals," Trini put in. "You're the Wolf, Zack's the Jackal and I'm the Tiger. If we know what they are, shouldn't the quest to speak with them be easier."

"In theory," Billy conceded. "Previous experience had dictated that anything the Ninjetti Queen says should not be taken lightly."

"Huh?"

"Take everything Dulcea says with a grain of salt," Trini supplied before Billy could correct himself.

"Oh." Zack shook his head. "I'd almost forgotten the human dictionary you are, man. So what's next?"

"I would suggest we start with the necessities; food, water and shelter," Billy admitted reluctantly. "We have no way of knowing how long our quest will take or what forms - we should prepare for anything."

"Then let's get started." Zack looked around them determinedly. "Any idea which way we should go?"

West...

The three shared a look and turned, as one, to the West - towards the setting sun.

"That way."

Neither of the men disputed Trini's quiet assertion; they'd all heard the whisper and knew Dulcea was watching over them. Billy took the lead, surprising both of his teammates, and flashed them both a faint smile.

"A lot has happened since the Billy you knew died; I am not him - nor am I just the sheltered book worm you remember. I believe we've all acquired skills that will shock one another; but for the better. Follow me."