A/N: Lately, I've noticed that "Top of the World" has some missing scenes in it, so this story is basically to fill in those gaps. I am also going to add those chapters that I thought would be omitted, including "Trading Places".

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. Mr. Saban does and always will.

If you are confused, you might want to go back and read Top of the World first.

~PRS~PRS~PRS~PRS~

"He had won over the others, but why did Kevin have to be so difficult? 'Because he's a damn stick in the mud,' Mike replied."

Top of the World ~ Side Story: Reading between the Lines

Chapter 9.6: The Blue and the Gold

June 22, 2012

Shiba House, Meeting Room

"Behold!" Antonio announced. Emily had brought him home about fifteen, sixteen minutes ago from the Pier. Anyways, on the table in front of Antonio was a wooden pot. "This…is our new and improved friend, the Clawzord."

Softly smiling, Jayden asked, "Where did you get this?"

Thus began Jii's explanation. "The Clawzord was battle damaged during your parents' generation, so I hid it away."

"Mentor asked me to perform a bit of my tech-wiz magic," Antonio sounded somewhat pleased that he had a unique mission, all his own. He could prove himself again to the others, to prove that he was a very valuable member to the team.

Jayden raised an eyebrow at Jii.

"I wanted to see if he could actually do it," Jii explained in a whisper.

Antonio flipped open his morpher. "It's pretty simple. I text over some over Power Symbols to the Clawzord, he gets reprogrammed, and as before you know it, Clawzord's back in action."

Everyone else seemed impressed.

"So," Mia spoke up. "You've been using electronic symbols?"

"Welcome to the 21st Century," Antonio replied.

"Impressive," Kevin cut in, as politely as he could. "But this is the work of a computer nerd…not a Samurai."

What?

What did Kevin just say?

Antonio's smile was wiped right off his face, as was Emily's, and everyone else's.

"Huh?" Emily tried to sound clueless, but inside, she was fuming. Where did that teamwork go? When they defeated Steeleto together?

"Look, I know I wasn't born into the Samurai life like you guys," Antonio tried to explain, "but I'm just trying to help in my own way."

"That's very noble of you, but I still stand by what I said…"

Emily slammed the book she was holding down on the table. The others glanced at her, preparing for her feisty side. "Kevin, we've already accepted Antonio on the team. What's the deal?"

"I said I'd give him a chance!" Kevin retorted back at her. "But being a true Samurai means a lot more than just pressing some buttons!" And he left the room, for the kitchen.

Emily glared after him, even going as far as standing up, but Antonio held her back by a gentle cuff of her arm.

"Yeah, being a true Samurai is what's in your heart," he said.

That's right…

Thank you, Antonio. I needed that.

And Emily calmed down immediately.

Jayden met eyes with Antonio. "It's up to you to change his mind, Antonio."

Antonio nodded.

~P~O~W~E~R~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~T~O~P~O~F~T~H~E~W~O~R~L~D~

Panorama City, Pier 11

"Eat, drink, and sleep like a Samurai is the only way to impress him," Mike said.

"Okay, but why does Kevin have to be the difficult one?" Antonio asked.

"Because he's a damn stick in the mud," Mike replied, before motioning to Mia. "We'll be at the House if you need us. You also have our frequency, so feel free." Antonio nodded as Mike and Mia walked back to the Shiba House.

Antonio turned back to the waves, effectively calming him.

Emily leans on the railing next to him. She decided to stay behind.

She didn't have to say anything either. Antonio already knew she was there.

"I just don't understand why Kevin could hate me so much. I guess he only likes real samurai, huh?" He rolled his eyes, his inner pain allowing his sarcasm to take over.

"That's not true, Tonio. You see, I'm not supposed to be a Ranger either, but Kevin likes me just fine."

Huh?

"What? You're not?! Why not? You sure look like a real Samurai to me!"

How could she not be a Samurai? She was here, wasn't she? She got called to the Shiba House.

"Hahaha~! Thanks, Tonio, but my older sister, Serena, got sick and so I had to take her place. She's the real Yellow, not me."

Oh…right. Older sister…that first-born birthright thing… Jayden explained it to him when they were still kids.

"Don't sell yourself short, Em. I'm sure she's proud of you."

But just because was a replacement didn't mean that she wasn't a Samurai. She was still Emily Suzuki, the Yellow Samurai Ranger. And he would treat her as such.

"I know she is, and I am proud of you. You know for a fact that a being a true Samurai is what is in your heart. All you have to do to make up with Kevin is get him to realize that. Hey, who knows? Maybe you'll get him to loosen up a bit..."

Keep going, Antonio Garcia. Keep moving forward.

~P~O~W~E~R~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~T~O~P~O~F~T~H~E~W~O~R~L~D~

June 23, 2012

Shiba House, Meeting Room

The next morning, Mike greeted Emily with a smile. "Morning, Em. Hey, Mentor got Cocoa Puffs."

"Because you guys do deserve a treat every now and then," was Jii's excuse.

Emily sent them a little smile before it disappeared.

"You okay, Em?" Mia asked the younger Samurai, noticing the somewhat dark circles under her eyes.

"Y-Yeah…" Emily replied, sitting down and rubbing at her eyes. "I just didn't get enough sleep last night."

"Tough training?" Mike asked.

"No, couldn't sleep at all," she replied, pouring herself a glass of apple juice. "I couldn't get rid of this awful feeling, like something bad was about to happen. I still have it now."

"Relax," Mike said. "Everything's just fine." And turned back to his Cocoa Puffs.

"And even if it does feel a little tense, everything will clear up eventually," Mia added, before going back to her toast.

But this only worried Emily more than usual.

"It's okay, Em," Emily turned to Jayden. He looked just as worried as she did. "I have that feeling too. But all we can do as of right now is keep our chins up and hope that everything is alright, but be ready for anything."

Emily nodded.

~P~O~W~E~R~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~T~O~P~O~F~T~H~E~W~O~R~L~D~

The digital clock on the bookshelf flashed 8:01 AM.

"Kevin would never be this late from his morning jog," Mia mentioned, feeling guilty that she blew Emily's worry off as nothing. Mike felt the same way. "He's always back here at 7:50 AM sharp, and ready to go at 8:00 AM, on the dot." Yeah, Mia had memorized Kevin's entire schedule.

8:02 AM

"Alright, that's it," Jayden announced sternly. He glanced over at Emily. "Enough waiting. It's time to take action."

Emily nodded at him once again, this time a more determined look in her eyes.

~P~O~W~E~R~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~T~O~P~O~F~T~H~E~W~O~R~L~D~

Shiba House, Indoor Dojo

"Stealing toys from little kids?" Mike asked, looking at a teddy bear. "Now that's even low for a Nighlock."

"But we get to make things right," Kevin replied. "Right, Antonio?"

Antonio glanced at Kevin, both smiled, and he nodded. The two shared a fist-bump.

"It's best we returned anonymously," Jayden suggested. "We don't want to draw attention to ourselves."

"It'll be fun playing Santa," Emily shared a little smile with Jayden.

Mia, with the other three as they sorted out the toys, muttered, "Ho, ho, ho."

The others couldn't help but laugh at her attempt at humor.

Jayden leaned in toward Emily, and whispered to her, "Antonio is proving himself day after day. You're right. One day, he'll probably become a greater Samurai than me. And that's saying something."

Emily giggled. "That's saying a lot."

Jayden smiled back at her, eventually snapping out of this trance, the evidence of which led to the fact that he was getting lost in her eyes. He motioned to the toys. "Let's go help."

Emily nodded once more, this time with a smile on her face.

~PRS~PRS~PRS~PRS~

Note: The second scene in the beginning of the chapter, some of you may notice, is from Top of the World. It's one the memories I wrote in "Stroke of Fate".

A/N: Well? What do you think? Review, please! And now for the next chapter. Check it out:

Chapter 11: 10.1 – The Birthday Girl

"It was her birthday today. She deserved to be happy, and as her best friends, it was their duty to make sure she was."