AN: Okay…wasn't having much luck trying to write this chapter or chapter 7, so just tried to write something. Quite frankly, I think this chapter is "Bleh".
Thanks to everyone who left reviews. Always a great feeling to know someone enjoys your work.
To Crash: The music box will come back into play later on down the line, but it won't be until after Kim leaves for Florida in the MMPR canon timeline.
Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Saban. I own nothing other than Phoenix and the concept of her powers.
"What!?" Trini exclaimed uncharacteristically of her usual peaceful nature. She fell onto the bench outside of the Youth Center. It was an early Saturday morning, and the rangers had arranged to meet up outside of the Juice Bar before heading to the command center to take Phoenix on a tour of Angel Grove.
"We almost kissed." Kim reiterated to her friend as she fell down next to her on the bench. It was now three days after the incident occurred. Neither she or Jason had brought it up after Tommy's call, both concentrating on their homework in silence until Mr. Scott had come down to get Jason to head home that night.
"I had no idea you even felt that way for Jase." Trini replied, finally recovering from the shock of Kim's news.
"Neither did I." The scenario kept replaying in Kim's head and she desperately needed to talk to her girl best friend about it.
"What happened after Jason's dad came in?" Trini asked.
"Nothing. I left to go back down to my room, and then Tommy called just as Jase was coming in." Kim answered, slumping in her seat as guilt rose up in her. "Of all the times for him to finally call."
"Wow…" Trini replied, straightening up in her spot next to Kim at the mention of their mutual friend and former teammate finally contacting one of them. "What did Tommy say?"
Kim sighed, running a hand through her hair as she shifted her position to face Trini. "That he misses us, and that he's sorry it took so long to call."
"Did he say if he is coming back?" Trini asked, shifting her position to match Kim's.
"No." Kim replied dropping her head to look at her hands in her lap, playing with a ring she had on one of her fingers. "He said that right now, it's too hard for him to be around us. Add in Rita's attacks and him not being to do anything to help, he said it was too much."
Trini nodded, understanding Tommy's feelings. She missed her friend as much as the others did, but knew that the bond between Tommy and Kimberly was different.
"And what did he say about what's going on between you two?" Trini posed the question to Kim now that something seemed to be developing between two of her best friends.
Kimberly blew through her cheeks, fluttering the strands of hair that fell in her eyes. "That he shouldn't have taken off the way that he did, and to give him time."
Trini leaned down in an attempt to meet Kim's eyes, sensing her somber mood. "Kim? You okay?"
"I don't know, Trini." She answered, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I feel so confused."
"Because of what happened with Jason?" Trini asked. Kim simply shook her head in the affirmative in response. "Are you upset with Tommy for leaving?"
Kim remained silent, pondering the question. "No." she replied. "Maybe I was a little bit at first, but after talking to him, it all disappeared."
"Maybe that's all the "almost kiss" was with Jason." Trini suggested listening to her friend. "A moment of vulnerability with someone who you are close and comfortable with."
"Do you think so?" Kim asked bringing her head up to look at Trini directly.
Trini placed her hands over Kim's in a sign of comfort. "You and Jase have been friends for a long time and known each other for ten years. It's not unusual to seek comfort in someone you're that close with, and it wasn't intentional."
Kim nodded, listening to her friend's reasoning. "Maybe you're right."
"Do you have feelings for Jason?" Trini inquired as Kim once again fell silent to think over her friend's question.
"I don't know." She answered honestly. "I love Jase, but it's always been a friendship kind of love. I'm not sure if I see him as…more."
"And what about how you feel for Tommy?" Trini countered back.
"I like Tommy." Kim answered immediately. "He's a friend, but it's not the kind of friendship like the one between Jase and me."
"Just a friend?" Trini asked.
"I'm not sure." Kim stated changing her position to fully face Trini. "He kissed me after asking me to the dance, and we went on a few dates before he left. We haven't really seen where things could go between us."
"Do you want to?" Trini responded.
"Yeah, I do." Kim replied. "With Tommy, if it never works out, I think we could at least still be friends."
"Where as with Jason, you're risking ten years of a close friendship if you two tried and didn't work." Trini responded, giving voice to the same reasoning in Kim's head.
"Exactly." Kim replied.
"See where things go with Tommy." Trini stated giving Kim's hands a gentle squeeze.
"He's not here." Kim countered.
"He'll come back." Trini replied.
"How do you know?" Kim asked.
"Because, if Tommy's feeling for you are real, he'll come back." Trini responded.
"What about Jason? What if we really messed up our friendship?" Kim replied, her distress and worry switching targets.
Trini gave her a gentle smile, seeing the concern on Kim's face. "Jason loves you and you know him. He's not going anywhere, and he'd tell you if he was."
Kim smiled and leaned in to pull her friend into a hug. "Thanks, Trini."
"You're welcome, Kim." She replied returning the hug. A blur of red and black caught her eyes and looked over to see Jason and Zack heading towards them from the park. "The guys are here."
Kim pulled back and turned to see their two friends approaching. They both stood up from the bench and walked over to meet them.
"Back up a second, you did what?" said Zack as he halted his steps forward. He and Jason were walking through the park heading towards the Youth Center to meet up with Trini and Kimberly.
"We almost kissed." Jason repeated to his walking companion. "I don't even know how we got there."
"What exactly happened?" asked Zack.
"We were in her room doing homework when my dad came and asked me to give him a hand with the work in the attic." He recounted, going over everything that occurred before the "almost kiss" with Kim. "I told her I'd be right back, and went to help. She comes up a little later, tells me about having Phoenix stay with her, then…THAT happened."
"Oh man." Replied Zack as he processed the information continuing on their way through the park.
"I know, bro." Jason responded. "I don't know what I was thinking."
"Well, how did Kim take it? Was she upset?" Zack inquired as they took one of the branching pathways.
Jason brought up a hand to rub the back of his neck. "No. She didn't even say anything afterwards about it. We were both pretty embarrassed."
"You guys haven't talked about it at all?" Zack asked taken back that his two friends had yet to address the situation.
"Not yet." Jason replied. "After dad got back, I headed back down to Kim's room and Tommy called."
Zack winced at the mention of their friend and former teammate's timing. "Ouch."
"Yeah, tell me about it." He answered putting his hands in his pockets, a new wave of guilt rising in him. "I said I wouldn't do that to him." Jason tilted his head back towards the sky, letting out a frustrated sigh.
Upon seeing his friend's distress, Zack placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, come on, man. It's not like you did it intentionally. It just happened."
"It shouldn't have happened in the first place." Jason countered. "I don't want to confuse her and I can't stand the idea of betraying Tommy like that."
"Hey, man, nothing happened." Zack responded, giving Jason a reassuring squeeze on his shoulder before dropping his hand and putting it in his pocket. "Don't beat yourself up over it, and talk to Kim. Clear the air."
"If she'll even talk to me. After we were back in her room, we didn't say a word to each other until dad and I left." Jason replied as they walked off the path and onto the grass leading up a hill.
"Like you said, you both were embarrassed. She probably didn't know what to say." Zack countered. "You two have been friends since forever, she's not going to write you off over something like this. That's not Kim."
"Yeah, you're right." Jason replied giving Zack a pat on the back. "Thanks, bro."
Zack returned the gesture. "Don't mention it." They passed over the crest of the hill and onto the sidewalk of the Youth Center to see Kim and Trini sitting on a bench. The pair of girls stood up and started to approach them.
"Hey guys." Said Kim.
"Hi girls." Replied Jason as he and Kim locked eyes with each other.
"You girls ready to go?" Zack asked as he looked between them.
"Think so." Trini answered, then glanced around. "Where's Billy?"
"Already at the command center. He wanted to check in on Nix and see how her control has been progressing with the training simulations." Zack replied.
"Then we should head over." Trini stated lifting her wrist that was adorned with her communicator.
"Hang on." Said Jason, whose eyes were still on Kim. "Kim, can I talk to you really quick?"
"Um…sure, Jase." She replied, then they broke away from Trini and Zack heading back over towards the bench, their friends exchanging glances to each other as they walked away.
"Is something wrong?" Kim asked once they were out of earshot.
"I just wanted to make sure we were okay after what happened a few days ago." Jason answered.
"I guess we did kind of leave everything up in the air and awkward, didn't we?" She responded, biting her lip.
"Yeah, we did." He replied. "I'm really sorry, Kim. I shouldn't have done that and with everything going on with Tommy, the last thing I wanted to do is confuse you."
Kim smiled gently at Jason as he watched her take his hand in hers. "You have nothing to apologize about, Jason."
"What about—"he started.
"It was both of us, and it wasn't intentional." She interjected trying to reassure him everything was okay. "Let's just forget it happened and move on."
"So…we're okay?" he asked.
"Yes, we're okay." Kim answered. She wrapped her arms around Jason's neck, pulling him into a hug as his arms found their way around her waist.
"I love you, Jase." Kim whispered into his hair as they held each other.
"I love you too, Kim." Said Jason, gently squeezing her in the embrace before the untangled from each other.
"Come on, Zack and Trini are waiting for us. So are Billy and Phoenix." Kim stated, taking Jason by the hand and leading them back to their waiting friends.
"Looks like they resolved whatever they needed to talk about." said Trini as she and Zack watched their two friends standing a few feet away.
"I guess so." Zack replied.
"He/she told you." Zack and Trini said at the same time.
"When did she tell you?" asked Zack.
"While we were waiting for you two to get here." Trini answered. "When did he?"
"On the way over." Zack replied.
"What are you two talking about?" Kim asked as she and Jason reached them.
"Nothing." They said in unison, causing them to laugh while Kim and Jason both looked at their friends with curiosity.
"Okay, you guys ready to go?" asked Jason.
"All set." Replied Zack coming down from his burst of laughter.
"Then let's go." Jason responded, and with a quick check to make sure they were clear, the foursome teleported away.
"Okay, Nix." Said Billy as he moved to stand on the side of the current exercise simulation he and Alpha were running for Phoenix. "That was the last exercise."
"It looks like you've regained full control over your powers." Alpha stated as he shut off the simulation.
"Thank you for taking the time to help me do so." Nix responded.
"Aw shucks, it was nothing." Alpha replied, the android's bashfulness making her and Billy smile.
"You as well, Billy." Nix faced him. "You have been taking time between your ranger duties and other responsibility to assist with these exercises."
"Oh, it's nothing." Billy replied. "I've enjoyed the time we've spend together and it has given me a better chance to understand you and your powers."
"It shows." Nix stated. "I seem to have a better control of my powers than I did before."
The smile on Billy's face widened at her compliment. "Well, once I understood how your powers work and how you use them, I tailored the simulations to accommodate you accordingly."
"Hi Billy, hi Nix." Kimberly called out as they entered the simulation room of the command center. The rangers had taken to using entrances over directly teleporting in for Nix's sake.
"Hi guys." Billy returned to his friends as they entered. It's okay to teleport in now. Nix has fully re-mastered her abilities.
"I apologize for being an inconvenience all this time." Nix directed to the rangers. "Billy has been integral to my training process."
Billy blushed at Nix's words as he pushed up his glasses. "I'm glad to have helped."
"Oh! Rangers! How nice to see you all." Alpha exclaimed as he re-entered the simulation room.
"Hi Alpha." Four voices rang out in unison.
"Speaking of teleporting." Billy said turning to Nix. "I have something for you, Phoenix."
"For me?" she inquired, her brows raising in mild surprise.
"Follow me." Billy replied, leading the group out of the simulation room towards the main chamber.
"Hi Zordon." The four rangers greeted their leader and mentor.
"Rangers! Good to see you all." He returned the greeting. "What brings you all here this morning?"
"We wanted to check in on Phoenix." Trini answered. "And now that her powers are under control, we wanted to take her to see Angel Grove."
"That's very considerate of you all." Zordon replied. "I believe it will do her good to get out for a while."
"That's what we're here for!" Zack exclaimed, his arms out in a showman-like manner.
"But before anything else." Billy interjected. He walked over to one of the control panels and picked up a small rectangular box. "I made thing for you."
Billy walked back over to Nix, handing her the box. She accepted the small, black, rectangular box from Billy, then looked up at him seeming to be confused.
"Open it." Said Billy with a nod of his head to box in her hands. With a glance around to the other rangers, Nix looked down to the object in her hands and lifted the lid, the object within making the rangers smile.
"A communicator?" Nix asked rhetorically. The device resembled that of the rangers with an amber color within the grooves of the bands.
"You were quite fascinated with mine, so I thought you would appreciate one of your own." Billy stated as Nix traced the device with her finger tips. "And now it also serves as a proficient way to celebrate your first day seeing Angel Grove."
"It's also a bit of a "rite of passage" with us." Jason added.
"Yeah, it means you're officially stuck with us." Zack remarked, causing everyone to laugh.
"Here, let me." Said Billy as he took the box from Nix's hands and lifted the device out of it. Taking Nix's left hand, he placed the communicator on her wrist, and closed the clasp.
"There we go." Billy remarked as he looked up from Nix's hand. His eyes went wide to see a light blush tinting Phoenix's cheeks. The other rangers noticed the exchange and looked to each other, each one poorly managing to stifle the grins on their faces.
"Wait." Trini spoke up. "Phoenix doesn't possess a power coin. How is she going to teleport here if we take her out?"
Trini's question brought Billy back to the events in front of him. "I guess we forgot to tell you all. Zordon and Alpha created something like an "Entry Coin" for Phoenix."
"Entry coin?" Jason asked, his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the ledge of the computer.
"Right." Billy confirmed, then looked over to Phoenix. "Care to show them?"
Nix moved around Billy to stand before the other rangers. Holding out her hand, she summoned the coin into her palm. Each of the rangers glanced between each other and the coin in Nix's hand.
Trini picked up the small object from Nix's hand, turning it over in hers. "This looks like a power coin."
"It resembles one, but doesn't perform the same function." Billy stated as Trini traced the Phoenix emblem of the coin.
"What do you mean "doesn't perform the same function"?" asked Zack as Trini handed the coin to him.
"Well, the simplest explanation would be, my powers are tied to my being, not the Morphin Grid. Due to that difference and the nature of my powers, trying to merge them with the Grid would be dangerous." Nix explained as they continued to pass the object to each other.
"Dangerous how?" asked Kim.
"It would make both my power and the Morphin Grid unstable and overload each other." Nix answered. "Which, in turn, could kill me and make you all either lose your powers, or destroy you as well."
Four pairs of eyebrows shot up as Phoenix explained the purpose for the Entry coin.
"So, you couldn't become a ranger?" Jason asked as he returned the coin to Nix.
She shook her head in negative. "Afraid not. Thus why Zordon and Alpha created this entry coin."
"It combines a minor amount of power from the Morphin Grid and Phoenix's powers to allow her entry to the command center." Alpha explained further.
"Well, if Phoenix now has a way to enter the command center, that means she doesn't have to stay here, right?" Kim inquired as she processed the new information.
"That is correct, Kimberly." Alpha answered the pink ranger. "Phoenix is now able to come and go as she pleases."
"In that case, I have a favor to ask." Kim looked up to Zordon. "Zordon, I'd like for Phoenix to come stay with me."
"That is very kind of you, Kimberly." Zordon replied as he gave the pink ranger an appreciative look. "If Phoenix wishes to accept, then I have no objections."
Kim smiled with excitement as she brought her gaze down to Phoenix. "What do you say, Nix?" Kim asked giving her a light tap on her arm. "How would you like to stay with me?"
"Uh…" Nix replied as she looked between Kim and Zordon. "I don't know. Are you sure?"
"Yes." Kim answered taking one of Phoenix's hands in hers. "I think it would be a lot of fun to have you."
Nix gave Kim a gentle smile at her thoughtful gesture. "Then…alright."
Kim jumped at Nix's acceptance, making her friends and teammates laugh at her giddiness. "This is going to be great, Nix."
"Now that Phoenix will be residing with Kimberly, it would be wise to have her attend school with you all as well." Zordon commented looking to his rangers.
"Won't that be a little awkward for her?" asked Zack. "An Eltarian attending high school with teenagers from Earth?"
"Despite her age, Phoenix can physically pass as a human adolescent." Zordon stated. "Having her attend school with all of you will avoid suspicion on her as well as all of you."
"I'm not sure I understand what this "high school" is." Nix commented looking at the rangers in confusion about the subject of discussion.
"Don't worry." Trini replied placing a reassuring hand on Phoenix's arm. "We'll show you. That way you won't have anything to worry about."
"Yeah." Jason added. "We'll be there with you to help with everything."
Nix shook her head in the affirmative. "I'm sure it will be fine with all of you to help."
"And it will be fun." Said Zack as he put an arm around Nix. "On that note, we should head out. We have a full day of dragging you around Angel Grove."
"Before we move ahead with our scheduled activities, we should assist Phoenix in obtaining attire that would be less conspicuous." Billy posed to the group.
"Trini?" Kim said looking over to her friend.
"He said we should probably find clothes for Phoenix that won't make her stand out." Trini translated for the group. Everyone turned their attention to the armor Nix was still wearing.
"I suppose it would be a wise choice to avoid suspicion." Nix commented as she observed her appearance in comparison to the others.
"I believe I can be of major help on that subject." Kim replied, not hiding her enthusiasm at the prospect of taking Phoenix on a shopping trip.
"Of course." The other four rangers said in unison, laughing at how Kim perked up at the thought of shopping.
"I'll go with you, Kim." Trini offered as she looked Phoenix over. "We'll stop over at my house first. I think Nix will be able to fit some of my clothes."
"Well, you girls have fun." Said Zack.
"Meet us at the Youth Center after." Jason replied.
"Don't take too long, or we won't have time to do everything we planned for today." Billy chimed in.
"Challenge accepted." Kim replied as she poked Billy in his arm.
"We'll see you guys at the Youth Center in a few hours." Trini responded, then all three girls activated their communicators and teleported out, the boys following after to the juice bar.
Jason and Zack moved together side-by-side as they went through the movements of a kata. It had been a few hours since they'd left the command center and Kim and Trini had taken Phoenix on an impromptu shopping trip.
"That was Trini." Billy said to Jason and Zack as he jogged over to the two after taking a call on Ernie's phone. "She said they'll be here soon."
"Cool." Said Zack, relaxing his stance.
"I wonder how Nix enjoyed her first consumer experience." Said Billy as he picked up his water bottle. He'd been training with Zack and Jason until Ernie called him to take the call.
"Knowing Kim, Phoenix was either overwhelmed or found it fun." Jason joked as he was more than familiar with Kimberly's shopping habits having accompanied her more times than he could remember.
"At least she's never talked Billy or me into going with her. It's either you, Trini, or Tommy." Zack commented slapping Jason on his back.
"We could fix that, you know." Jason remarked giving his friend a mischievous smirk.
"I think I'll pass." Zack replied, laughing at the mock threat. "Hey, we should catch a shower before the girls get here."
"Yeah, we should." Jason agreed and picked up his gym bag, the three men disappearing into the locker room.
"Hi guys!" Kim said as she bounced up the steps to the juice bar where Billy, Zack, and Jason sat.
"Hey Kim." Jason replied, turning his stool around to face her.
"Someone is full of energy." Zack commented at Kim's perkiness. "How'd it go?"
"Absolutely fantastic!" Kim answered as a wide smile spread across her face.
"For you or Phoenix?" Jason quipped as Kim's happy mood seemed to increase.
"Both, I am a miracle worker." Kim replied, lifting her arms dramatically which made the boys laugh before she dropped them to clasp her hands together in front of her. "She looks amazing."
"Speaking of Phoenix." Billy interjected. "Where is she? And Trini?"
Kim turned towards the entrance of the Youth Center she just came through to see neither Trini or Phoenix behind her.
"They were just behind me." Kim replied as a look of confusion crossed her face. She stepped away from the bar to go back to the entrance to see where the other girls went, the boys following behind her.
"Oh, there you are." Kim said to Trini as she walked through the entrance, but Phoenix was nowhere in sight. "Where's Nix?"
"Outside. She's a little nervous about how she looks." Trini answered as the boys halted on the steps leading to the lower level of the juice bar.
"She's nervous about how she looks?" Zack reiterated Trini's words curious to what would cause Phoenix to be shy.
"Well, she has been accustomed to armor for a significant amount of time." Billy stated. "Having to adopt to modern apperal must be an adjustment for her."
"Wait here." Kim said, gesturing to the guys to stay put. "Let's go get her, Trini." Kim grabbed her by the arm and the two went out the entryway to find their new friend.
"You think it's that big of a change?" asked Zack.
"I have no idea." Jason answered. "She might just not be used to it, like Billy said."
"Come on, Nix." Came Kim's voice as she and Trini re-appeared in the entryway, speaking to a Nix who was concealed behind the corner.
"You really do look fine." Trini commented, echoing Kim's reassurance, gently pulling Nix forward.
"Whoa…" three male voices rang out in unison as Phoenix stepped around the corner of the entryway and into the gym area of the Youth Center. Her leather armor had been traded for a long-sleeved orange crop jumper, a black skirt, short black boots, and her once waist-length hair had been cut to below her shoulder blades with her communicator and piercings still in place.
Trini and Kim shared a look to each other, amused at their male friends' reaction.
"I saw her first." Jason joked, pointing at Zack who stood behind him on the steps.
Zack patted him on the shoulder, still staring at Nix. "Hey bro, dreams don't count."
"Shared dreams especially." Billy added as Zack gestured to him in agreement. Phoenix attempted to duck back behind the corner of the entrance as Kim caught her arm.
"They're just teasing, Nix." Said Kim pulling her back into the juice bar.
"Yeah, we are." Jason replied in an apologetic tone as he moved from his spot again the railing of the steps. "Sorry if we made you uncomfortable, but you really do look fine."
"I concur with Jason's assessment." Billy stated as he came to stand beside Phoenix, making a shy smile appear on her face.
"Thank you." Said Nix as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I suppose I just need to get accustomed to this type of appearance."
"So…" said Zack rubbing his hands together. "How about we all head out and show Phoenix all that is Angel Grove."
"Absolutely." Jason commented. "Let's head out."
Kim and Trini linked arms with Phoenix as they all walked through the entryway and headed out of the juice bar.
