Notes: Takes place in Power Rangers Zeo. It's just a quick fic, and actually takes place after Billy's return from Aquitar. Changes things a little for where Billy goes to when the affects of the negative whatever things hit him.

Never Leave Your Side

"What song is that?" Billy looked over to see Tanya nearby, the Yellow Zeo Ranger having not been heard due to the volume of the music he was listening to.

"It's Japanese. 'At Times, Love is'. It…it's important to me."

Tanya looked confused as the others came up to visit. "You're kinda hard to find," Rocky told the former Blue Ranger, "or at least communicate with."

"I was working and listening to music."

Tommy smiled at the track as he said, "You were also thinking about Ami, huh? Heard recently from her?"

"She's graduated as well," he told his old friend with a smile as he stood up, "She's starting med school. Wondered how you and Jason were doing. She also sends her congratulations to Jason for gaining the Gold Powers--."

"Wait, she knows--," Adam started but Billy finished while Jason smiled at this, happy to see his old friend so happy.

"And also asked how you were doing."

"What'd you say?" Jason asked.

"I told her that we were all doing good, things considered, that we had new Rangers, and that you were still makings sure to knock before entering a room I went into."

The newer Rangers turned to a now-red Tommy, who coughed uncomfortably. "Billy--I told you I was sorry."

"And it's still fun to tease you about it," Jason pointed out, "Keeps you on your toes, bro."

"You're supposed to be on my side."

"Since when?"

Billy gave a smile as the newer Rangers asked who Ami was and why they hadn't heard of her before. He, Jason and Tommy told them that all would be explained later, and as it turned out the Machine Empire decided to cut their discussion short. The Rangers teleported down, dispatching the monster sent down with ease while Billy didn't really need to help them out too much, but instead planned on what he would say about his contact with Ami and about her identity as a Senshi, or even what had happened…

The Rangers teleported back and quickly and Billy smiled at them. "Good job."

"Was it just me being suspicious," Tommy asked, "or was that one too easy?"

"You," Jason said with a grin, then frowned, "Though you are right. That one was too easy."

"Do you think they're planning something?" Adam sounded concerned. Obviously the discussion about Ami could be put off.

"For all we know they're getting sloppy," Rocky pointed out, then looked over at Billy with a grin. "So…about this Ami."

"You were thinking about her for most of the fight, weren't you?" Kat asked and Rocky shrugged. "What can I say? I'm interested in the person who knew Jason and Tommy's identity and whom we don't know."

Billy looked at his two former teammates before saying, "She was…well, she was an exchange student whom my family were hosting while over here. She found out our identities and has since returned to Japan."

The newer Rangers exchanged looks. "She finds out and didn't become a new Ranger or anything?" Rocky asked, having become one in such a way.

Tommy and Jason exchanged glances once more with Billy before Tommy said, "She couldn't stay forever, only for half a year. And…well, it's complicated."

"Very," Jason added, remembering the events, "but in the end it worked out."


RANGERS, Zordon's voice made Billy glad that he had sent a response to Ami earlier. THE MACHINE EMPIRE HAS SENT DOWN A NEW MONSTER TO ATTACK ANGEL GROVE.

The Rangers headed out while Billy transported to the Power Chamber and began to look for weaknesses right when he saw it. "Oh no."

"What is it?" Alpha asked.

"The monster," current one on the view screen had two scythes and a maniacal grin on it's face, and was currently attacking the Rangers and sending them back, "is even worse then the Wolfbane one they had to fight when the Gold Powers came to Earth. It's going to take out the Zeo Crystal!" He turned and hit the line to the communicator. "Guys, get out of there, now!"

Nothing.

"Ay-yai-yai, the monster is blocking out the communication lines and teleportation! We can't get them out, only send things in!"

Billy's mind raced, he hoped that he could figure this out. He typed, his mind going through everything, on overdrive.

Inside of him, the Soul of Knowledge pulsed once, and only once.

The duty of the Soul of Knowledge to show insight. To give power to those who carry it to find the right reasoning.

But what was the right reasoning? He had to find a way to help the Rangers, to give them a fighting chance because he couldn't do anything else--

That is why you are here? But there is no way you can help them--

That wasn't true! He always figured these things out! He could always--

--by staying here. You must fight.

With that? He had no Power…

…he had the Soul of Knowledge, at least half of it. Could he do this? Was there another way?

It is the duty of the Soul of Knowledge to show insight. Would I have chosen such a time had there not been any other way?

No.

"I'm going down."

BILLY--

"It's the only way, Zordon. I know it is."

Without further questions or answers, Billy teleported down to the battlefield.

"Billy!" Tommy's voice didn't really do much except alert him to the fact that the Rangers were behind him and hurting.

"Ah, it's the no-longer Ranger," Billy gave the monster a calculating look.

#Billy-chan.#

Ami?

#Do you need help?#

The monster threw a scythe and Billy moved in time to avoid it before landing a kick and nearly being thrown back to where the Rangers were struggling to get up. It would be appreciated.

She laughed. #Hold on.# He felt something appear and then touched it, seeing a dark blue visor cover his eyes. Scans quickly begun and he could almost feel Ami standing next to him as they scanned and dodged, kicked, threw punches at the monster who had threatened his friends. Their friends.

We can do this!

There was the weakness, but he didn't have her power. All he had was his own, non-augmented strength and speed, his mind, the extra that had been given to him by Ami--

And the Soul of Knowledge, which gives insight but also gives power. This will cleanse you. It will hurt, as much as the hurt you felt as you tried to hide it from your friends and yourself when you were first infected. You will need cleansing through the ginzuishou. And you may not come back.

Can they risk it?

Yes. Everything was set up enough that they can help themselves. Tommy is quick in learning as well, he would make a good person to give the task to of inventing. All of them will work together, but possibly be unable to, at first, accept that. They will, as will those who did not have you working with them, befriending them. But you know what your fate will be should you return from Japan after all this. I need not give you insight into that. The only relevant question now is if you take the pain, the chance, and go for it.

#Do you, Billy-chan? If so…I will be by your side.#

Domo arigato, Ami. I can do this. I will do this.

"BILLY!" Jason's yell was the last sound he consciously registered in that reality.


The world was blue, ice and yet there was heat, there was cold and heat and everything sunset was only for a moment before the sun once more brought heat yet the world registered only cold.

Mercury. The innermost planet of this system.

No, that is wrong. The innermost one was Vulcan, the planet where all weapons are made. Where the greatest weapons are made. Where the ones used by the Power Rangers of Earth, the Senshi of the Outer System except Saturn, where some of the metals for the staffs that Queen Selenity held came from.

But it had recently been swallowed by the sun. And then the sunspots. They knew full well that it was time. Mercury was the innermost planet now, but in the end, they were of knowledge.

The knowledge was thus. The Silver Millennium was to end. The prophecy, the curse, which Neheleria had placed upon the young Princess Serenity, was about to come true.

The Princess of Mercury, the Senshi of Mercury, the one who protected the princess of the Moon, was there as the first attacks came. Nothing he had ever seen could account for the scale. Was there even supposed to be that much carnage? That much destruction. There was no looting, no pillaging. Nothing that came with most war-zones. Only destruction, single-minded destruction of beautiful marble pillars and silver streets. Of the screaming and scared citizens who fought back and died. Only the insane laughs of those who fought them, turning into demons and the youma, some that Billy thought he recognized.

And instead of the Senshi, there were the Rangers, their places and outfits replacing the Senshi. He stood where Sailor Mercury did, fought as she did, though his Lance cut through the beings. Nearby, Jason fought as Sailor Mars, fire and the Power Sword also cutting. Sailor Venus and Tommy were the same, but Tommy was in some odd mixture of coloring that nearly covered most of the Ranger colors. Jason had gold on his uniform as well. Everyone else was coloring, another blue Ranger but he couldn't tell where Senshi and citizens ended and where Rangers began.

Kimberly screamed and fell, the Bow falling from her hands. They were getting too close to the Prince and Princess!

Billy felt himself suddenly transported out and turned to see that another Blue Ranger fell instead. A woman cried out something to Endymion, then a dark being appeared above her before she cut into Endymion's back. Princess Serenity screamed out in loss. Sailor Venus/Tommy cut into the woman and instantly she fell, as did Tommy/Venus. The poisoned sword was on the stairs before the Princess. She picked it up and--

The Soul of Knowledge gives insight.

What insight is this into? The death of the ones whom I have met and cared about in what happened long ago? This will not happen again!

The ones bearing it must bear what each of the others has.

Then this is her memory of the first time she died. This is the memory of what happened, can happen, could happen again.

The Command Center suddenly exploded, and everyone, only recently returned to being teens, looked around. Billy turned when he heard a crackle from the morphing grid and jumped in front of the others. "Look out!" The particles went into his body and--

The suddenly teleportation sent them outside of the destroyed Command Center and while Billy felt sick, he also felt sadness. Around Ami were the other Senshi, once more taking the places they had at the Silver Millennium ending. They were near tears, even Rei. They finally traveled in to try and salvage something, Billy's intentions on finding something to start again, maybe even in his garage if he could. The drop to the Power Chamber had been unexpected but welcome now that they saw what was underground and that they were now able to still fight the forces of Rita and Zedd, as well as whatever else came there way.

They could do this.

But then, when even Zordon hadn't been watching, Billy scanned himself after being sick in the bathroom. The results were damning. He couldn't have the Power. He could never have the Power again. He would be nothing more then their friend, an outsider, unable to join them in a fight, a liability and back to what he had been with the Alien Rangers. He had hated being unable to help, being unable to fight, and now…

The Soul of Knowledge gives insight.

You're scared, Billy-chan? Scared to only be a liability, to do nothing but make them weapons and watch as they risk their lives?

I've risked my life as well, Ami. I can't easily watch them fight and not try to do something. I don't want that. I don't want to become a Nowhere Man, or a--a--fixer. Just a person who can make tools for them, who can fix their Zords.

Blue surrounded them and he was once more dressed in the outfit that he had seen some of the original Rangers, or former Rangers, dressed in, his blue like his Ranger costume and with no other colors. Ami was in her princess dress, the color the same dark blue as his. She moved forward and embraced him.

#I'm not good, only good for plans. What do my attacks do? I blind people with soap bubbles!#

I'm not good, only good for parts. What can I do? If I try anything, the Machine Empire could get me. I'm amazed they haven't tried it yet.

You are both, have both, been unsure. But now…are you so unsure Billy? Are you, Ami? Both of you are important as well.

The Rangers unable to morph, or dead, the world under the Machine Empire's control--

The Senshi unable to fight off the last of the DD Girls, Sailor Moon dying before she reached her Mamo-chan, or remind him to be good once more.

We are needed!


"BILLY!" Jason's voice cut through as Billy grabbed for something on the monster and let out a scream of pain. Tommy felt his mind go cold. Billy, one of the few constants during his time as a Ranger, was about to die. Because he couldn't defeat the being, because he hadn't been strong enough. As a leader…as a Ranger.

The Soul of Knowledge gives insight--

Billy's head jerked as the rest of the Rangers struggled up and suddenly, behind Billy, was a glowing circle of blue. It glittered and then turned into a large crystal, or half of one.

"What the--?" Adam said.

"The Soul of Knowledge," Jason breathed out as the Billy's both jerked while the Soul hung only a breath away from his body. Clogs suddenly appeared, probably to either finish the Rangers off or gain the Soul, possibly both, when--.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" The water surrounded the Rangers and froze the Clogs in their place.

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!" They were all there, both Tommy and Jason realized as they saw the Senshi appear while Sailor Mercury, the front of her also glowing with the extracted Soul of Knowledge as well, or the other half, waited as the monster was blasted away and Billy, turning, walked over to her side before the rest of the Senshi gathered with the Rangers, Sailor Moon healing the Rangers quickly with her own powers before they turned to face where the monster was getting up.

"Think that will stop me?" the monster said, standing up for the next assault.

"I see you've changed costumes," Sailor Uranus said with a wink to Tommy, "And coloring. What, third time's a charm?"

"I happen to think red looks good on me," Tommy pointed out, "But, don't we have to worry about the monster?"

"Of course," Sailor Neptune said, "but we wanted some time to tease."

"Come on!" the monster yelled, scythes ready as the Senshi took their positions with the Rangers. To the side, Billy held the part of the being in his hand, the metal and circuits now dead while Sailor Mercury also was by him. The monster went after them and the Rangers, Billy and Mercury jumping aside and fighting as the Rangers did, Sailor Uranus pulling out her Space Sword while Tommy pulled out his own weapon. "Space Sword Blaster!"

The red and gold energy combined and hit the monster dead on.

"Submarine Reflection!" the blue energy combined with that of the Blue Ranger to hit the monster again.

"Mars Flame Sniper!" The Pink and fire energy hit the monster hard.

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!" the sharp leaves and Black power hit it back again.

"Venus Love and Beauty Shock!" Venus and the Yellow Ranger ended the attacks for now, while the monster struggled up, Sailor Moon blinked. "Scary how determined he is, ne?"

"At least your English has gotten better," Jason pointed out, "Wanna have a go at him?"

"Hai! Ready?"

"Ready. Gold Rush!"

"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!"

The gold fire and crescent moons combined and ended the monster's life…for a moment. As the Soul of Knowledge returned back to Billy and Sailor Mercury's body, Rocky said simply, "Okay, a lot of explaining is needed."

The monster laughed and they turned to see that Mondo had decided to see it grow. "Oh great," Tommy muttered.

"Happen a lot?" Sailor Mars asked.

"Rita wasn't playing last time you were here," Jason said, "Let's get our Zords in, guys."

"Right!"

Billy looked over to Sailor Mercury. "I have to go. They'll need me at the Power Chamber."

"Understood," Sailor Mercury gave him a kiss. "See you soon, Billy-chan."

"Ah, reunited love!" Sailor Venus sighed as the Zords went into battle. "The passion! The--."

"Venus!"

"Sorry, I got caught up. I am the Goddess of Love, after all."

"We should help them," Sailor Mars pointed out.

"We'll lend them our powers," Sailor Uranus said. Sailor Moon nodded, holding up her current Moon Rod.

"Mars Crystal Power!"

"Venus Crystal Power!"

"Mercury Crystal Power!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power!"

"Uranus Crystal Power!"

"Neptune Crystal Power!"

"Silver Moon Crystal Power!" The Moon Rod grew, turning into the Silver Crystal Moon Staff.

"POWER TO THE RANGERS!" The rainbow of colors reached the Zord, making it glow bright enough that monster moved back, then igniting the Ranger's weapons.

"That gave them a huge boost!" Billy's voice came in over the com system, "Guys, now's the chance! Hit it in the spot I attacked it!"

The monster tried but failed to block, and with one hit from Pyramidus and the MegaZeoZord, the monster was destroyed.


"So you're the newest Rangers," Haruka smiled, "I approve."

"I didn't know we needed your approval," Tommy asked with a smile. Haruka sighed but smiled back.

"So you have to take Billy?" Kat asked.

"Sadly yes," Mako said, "While the Soul as well as the attack on the monster did cleanse him of some of the negative-stuff, he still needs treatment by the ginzuishou."

"And we'll be happy to provide it!" Usagi said cheerfully.

"At least your English is better then before," Jason pointed out.

"But your Japanese is worse," Rei said slyly, "so it all works out."

"Where's Billy and Ami?" Rocky asked.

"Ask Tommy," Minako said with a large grin, "Maybe he knows."

"Guys…" Tommy blushed red.

"Why would he know?" Adam asked.

"He--." Michiru covered Minako's mouth quickly and shook her head. "Don't mind her."

"Or what happened," Rei said as well, giving a smile.

The Rangers now looked at Tommy and Jason, Jason barely holding in his laughing and Tommy doing an impression of a tomato.

"Oh come on, tell us!" Rocky asked.

"No," Haruka said, "it's embarrassing. Right now, let's just let call them and see if they're ready."


"It's been great, guys," Billy told them, shaking their hands.

"We'll miss you, bro," Jason told his long-time friend.

"Don't worry about Mondo," Adam said, "we'll kick his butt."

"I wasn't worried about that," Billy said, "I'm more worried about you all bugging Tommy."

Tommy looked down. "I could just tell them."

"Then they'll bug me," Billy pointed out, "I hope you don't mind if I just leave before they get too interested."

They nodded as Alpha gave Billy a good-bye present from the others and looked ready to cry, had he tears. Zordon said simply, BILLY, IT HAS BEEN A HONOR HAVING YOU AS PART OF THE TEAM.

"Thank you, Zordon." As he said that, Sailor Mercury walked into the room. "Ready to go, Billy-chan?"

"Hai," he said then looked at the others, "See you later."

"Call often," Aisha said with a smile as Billy walked over to stand next to Sailor Mercury. The two smiled at the Rangers, then Sailor Mercury took Billy's hand and held up her other. "Mercury Power! Teleport!" In a brilliant flash of blue, they were gone.