AN: Okay, as I said in the update, I pulled the first version of chapter 7 as I wasn't happy with how it turned out. I did a little revising, and despite this chapter being a ROYAL pain in my side *grumble grumble*, I think this version came out better than the one that was previously updated.

And before anyone asks: No, I am not planning on a Jason/Nix thing.

Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Saban. I own nothing other than Phoenix and the concept of her powers.


Billy and Phoenix walked through the main entrance of Angel Grove High, having once again volunteered his time to be of assistance to her, this time to get Phoenix registered as per Zordon's suggestion. They'd put together a schedule where she'd have a class with at least one of the rangers until Nix had adopted to the concept and institution that was "high school", and were now on their way to the Youth Center to meet up with the others.

"Is it customary to impart this much "homework" on adolescent youths?" asked Phoenix as she dropped her overburdened bag on to a bench to shrug off the flannel shirt she'd worn to tie around her waist.

Billy grinned at the manner Phoenix had posed the question. As much as Billy loved his friends, occasionally he found it exhausting having to rely on Trini to interpret his particular way of communication. The fact that Nix could effortlessly switch between plain English and his "techno-speak", as the others had so lovingly called it, was refreshing as well as welcoming.

"It seems daunting now, but it's only because our teachers are attempting to get you caught up on all the subjects that are currently being discussed in class." Billy replied as they crossed the street and took a path leading into the park.

After completing her registration, he'd taken Nix on a tour of the campus in order to get her familiarized with where her classes would be. However, in doing so, had also led them to catching some of their teachers still in their classrooms and wasted no time in doling out a week's worth of assignments.

"If it would help, perhaps we can organize to meet and I can assist you in reviewing the course material in order to get you caught up." There he went again. Though Billy had no qualms volunteering his time to help others, especially when it came to furthering ones knowledge, but when it came to Phoenix, he noticed that he seemed to do it almost excessively. Billy pondered the thought as they took the pathway in the park leading towards the Youth Center. He liked Phoenix, yes. She was intriguing and he'd come to very much enjoy her company during the time they'd spent together in the Command Center as he worked with Alpha to help Nix regain control of her talents.

"Am I attracted to her?" Evaluating his thoughts, Billy glanced over at his walking companion's profile. Phoenix had exotic features with glowing amber eyes that gave the impression a flame danced behind them. One could find it either bewitching or intimidating. Yes, she was attractive, he could fully admit that and it was just a fact, but physical attraction wasn't exactly grounds for anything amorous…was it?

"You want to tutor me?" Phoenix asked, turning her head ever so slightly to Billy. He quickly looked away, suddenly aware that he had been staring at her.

"Well…" Billy started, irritated that his neurons were failing him at the current moment to put a coherent thought together.

"All of us." He finally managed to get out. "I'm sure the guys all have extensive notes from class. I'm positive they'd be willing to lend assistance in order to get you up-to-date on the current lessons."

"So…the little bird has returned." Said a gravely, animalistic voice that Billy recognized and that Phoenix hadn't heard in years.

"Goldar…" they said in unison as they turned to face the source of the voice.

"Looks like Zordon finally let his pet out of her cage." Goldar taunted as he approached them.

"And looks like Rita still has her chore monkey on a short leash." Phoenix countered as she and Billy maneuvered to keep Goldar at a distance.

"You seem to forget, I nearly captured once ten-thousand-years ago, little bird." Goldar replied, in an attempt to unnerve Nix.

""Nearly", being the operative word." Nix retorted.

Goldar raised his sword towards the duo. "Rita still has plans for you, and I intend to see them through."

"Phoenix, you should get out of here. Teleport to the command center." Said Billy as he placed himself between Goldar and Nix, dropping his bag to the ground.

"And leave you alone with him?" she asked incredulously looking at Billy.

"Nix, you can't morph or use your powers in the open." He pleaded, hoping Phoenix would retreat for her own safety.

"You can't protect her, Blue Ranger! Rita will have her." Goldar charged them, interfering with any escape attempts. Billy and Nix jumped away from each other as his sword swung down on the spot they had just evacuated. Putties materialized, surrounding Phoenix as Billy got to his feet.

"Nix!" he called out, anxiety evident in his voice as the putties started to advance on her. He ran forward, only to immediately stop as Goldar positioned himself in front Billy, impeding his path to Phoenix.

"Take her!" Goldar commanded to the putties as they initiated their assault on her. "The phoenix is mine, ranger!" he addressed Billy as Goldar moved to attack.

"Not if I can help it." Billy retorted, reaching behind him for his morpher.

"TRICERATOPS!"

The ringing of metal hitting metal rang out as Goldar's sword met the speared end of the Power Lance.


"Just perfect…" Phoenix muttered in annoyance as she dropped her bag and eyed the circle of putties surrounding her. She heard Goldar's command for them to attack, and all at once they went after her. She dodged the punch of one, and catching its arm, propelled it over her and down into one of the putties behind her. She threw a kick, connecting with a putty that approached her right then used her momentum to flip out of the way as two more approached.

Gaining some distance from the onslaught, she glanced back at Billy, now morphed, and dueling Goldar. She saw their weapons locked as Goldar put his strength behind his sword, trying to make the blue ranger lose either his ground or his weapon which was keeping the sword from striking him across the chest. Goldar's eyes flashed a murderous red, letting one clawed hand free of his sword to strike Billy across the head with a vicious punch, causing him to stumble back and leaving Goldar the opening he was anticipating. With a swift swing, the sword caught the blue ranger across the chest, sending sparks flying.

"Billy!" Phoenix called out as her feet began to move towards him, before she felt a kick connect with her stomach. She stumbled back, but recovered in time to dodge a punch, grabbing the putty by the wrist and delivering two simultaneous kicks to its back. A second wave of putties appeared before her, wasting no time to attack. Spotting a branch nearby, Nix dove for it, breaking it in half to use as makeshift weapons. She pirouetted around a charging putty, blocking its punch with one of the broken sticks as it approached her. Maneuvering her wrist, she raised the putty arms up and above her to move under as her other hand came up to deliver a strike to its back with the other stick, causing it to fall forward.

Goldar snarled at the scene of his putties having yet to capture Nix. "You clay idiots! Can't you deal with one bird!"

Flipping over a fallen putty's back, Nix landed a crescent kick to another. It stumbled back, then approached to throw a punch, which she maneuvered around, blocking another with one of the sticks, but didn't see the putty that had come up behind her. It swept Nix's feet from under her, making Nix fall onto her back.

"I've had enough of you, ranger." Goldar growled at Billy. He threw out a blast of energy at the Blue Ranger, knocking him back as more sparks rained out from his suit. Turning his attention away from Billy, Goldar teleported over to Phoenix.

"Nix, watch out!" Billy called out as he moved to get on to his knees.

Phoenix rolled away as Goldar appeared next to her. She attempted to get up, as two putties grabbed her arms and brought her to her knees, restraining her. Goldar stepped in front of her, and using the tip of his sword, forced her head up to look him in the eyes.

A twisted sneer formed on Goldar's face, seeing his quarry finally caught as the crease in Nix's brow deepened as she scowled at him, her eyes narrowing in anger. "Rita will be pleased to finally have you at her disposal, phoenix."

The ringing of metal against metal reverberated in Nix's ears as another sword swung downward in front of her eyes to strike Goldar's, a blur of red catching the corner of her eye.

"Back off, Goldar!" came Jason's voice from inside his helmet as his Power Sword pinned Goldar's to the ground. Using the opening he made for her, Phoenix adjusted her position to knock out the feet of one of the putties holding her, sending it crashing to the ground. With one arm now free, she grabbed the other putty holding her and flipped it over to land hard on its back as Jason gave Goldar a hard punch to his jaw. Nix followed it up with a kick to his chest, making Goldar stumbled back.

"Nice moves." Said Jason as he helped Nix up.

"Nice timing." She replied as Billy and Zack ran up to them.

"Nix, are you hurt?" asked Billy.

"A little sore, but I'm okay." She replied looking to the rangers. "Thanks for coming."

Zack placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, what friends are for. What do you say we send these clay-heads back to Rita?"

"Sounds like a plan." Jason answered. "You guys take care of the putties, I'll handle Goldar."

"Got it, Jase." Billy replied, the three breaking off from Jason.

"Get out of my way, ranger." Goldar snarled as he pointed his sword at the rangers' leader.

"Not gonna happen." Jason replied defiantely. Goldar charged at him, swinging his sword to strike, which Jason parried. Disengaging from Jason, Goldar swung down again, this time Jason blocking the blow and locking them in a test of will. Quickly, Jason reached for his blade blaster, pointing it at Goldar who eased off his sword to moved out of the way to avoid the blasts at the last second.

"Ignore the rangers for now! Get the phoenix!" Goldar ordered the putties, his patience running thin and his temper rising.

"Hey! We miss the party?" Asked Kim as she and Trini approached Nix, Billy, and Zack.

"Just in time." Zack replied as more putties materialized around them. "Don't these guys ever learn to quit?"

"Perhaps we should try splitting up in order to disperse their number for a more strategic approach." Billy recommended as the four rangers and Nix took on fighting stances.

Nix's eyes fell on to a bench nearby. "I have an idea."

She broke off into a run towards the bench causing some of the putties to give chase after her as the rangers dealt with the ones that remained behind. As she got within reach of the bench, Nix propelled herself into a flip, her hands grasping the back of it. She lifted her feet in the air and over her in a cartwheel, landing on a putty that moved to the other side in an attempt to catch her off-guard. She landed a palm strike to another as it attempted to climb over the bench, making it fall into the ones behind it. They fell to the ground and disappeared. Seeing the last of the putties vanish, the rangers ran over to Jason.

"I am not here to play with you rangers." Goldar growled as he circled around the group. "Give me the phoenix!"

"You're not taking her anywhere, Goldar." Jason stated as his teammates came up behind him, each one bearing their weapon. "Alright guys, let's end this."

Seeing his plans to capture Nix had failed, Goldar snarled at the rangers, choosing to retreat for now. "This isn't over, rangers!" he exclaimed before teleporting away.

"Let's go get Nix, quick." Trini said before they broke out into a dash towards Phoenix.

"Nix! You okay?" Asked Billy upon reaching her. He placed his hands on Nix's shoulders, examining her for any indication she was injured behind his helmet.

"I should be the one asking you that." Nix replied with an amused smile. "I'm okay, a little sore, but okay." She answered, giving Billy's wrist a light squeeze in reassurance.

"Nix, you were great!" Kim exclaimed, seeming impressed with her ability to fight.

"Man…I've never seen putties so persistent." Said Zack.

"No kidding." Jason commented. "And with Goldar, that means Rita knows about Phoenix."

"She does…" Nix replied as she and Billy dropped their hands back to their sides. "Goldar said as much when he attacked us."

"So much for us trying to keep you out of her sight." Trini commented, a tone of worry in her voice.

"No doubt we can count on Rita taking advantage of the fact that Nix can't put her powers into practice to defend herself without drawing attention." Billy stated as he brought his helmeted gaze back to her.

"Yeah, I think you're right." Jason agreed. "We're all going to have to be on alert and on guard even more from now on." He turned his attention to Nix. "You too, Nix."

She nodded in agreement. "I know. This was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Don't worry. We'll be here if Rita or Goldar try to do anything." Trini said as she placed a reassuring hand on Nix's shoulder.

"Yeah, If Rita wants you, she has to go through us first." Said Zack

"You guys, we should get out of here before Goldar or Rita decide to try again." Kim said, placing a hand on Jason's arm.

"Yeah, let's get out of here." He replied.

"Hold on." Nix said before breaking off from the rangers to retrieve the bags she and Billy had discarded earlier. As she made her way back to them, she checked around to ensure they were clear. "Okay, let's go."

Jason nodded, and with one last glance around, they disappeared in streaks of colored energy and light.


"How many times did this one make it?" Zack asked, seated in what was now in the completed attic room of the Hart House that was serving as Nix's bedroom. As a "Welcome Home" gift, the rangers had set up the room for her.

They had come over for a study session and to help Phoenix catch up in the classes they each had with her. Jason, Billy, and Phoenix had laid claim to the small couch, Zack sat at her desk, while Kim and Trini lay against the headboard of the bed.

"Four times this week. Six if you count Rita attacking twice consecutively on the same day like she did today." Billy replied as he looked up from the text book that was lying in his lap from his spot beside Nix.

"She's either getting desperate, or she actually thinks she will catch us off guard at some point." Trini commented from the her spot beside Kim.

"As if Rita wasn't a big enough of a pain already." Kim replied as she sat up against the headboard of the bed.

"I could use a break." Said Jason from the other side of Nix as he closed his textbook, leaving his notebook between the pages to mark his place in the chapter they were going over. He leaned forward and placed his books and pen on the short coffee table in front of the couch.

"That does sound like favorable suggestion." Billy said as he pushed his glasses up to his forehead to rub his eyes.

"Agreed." Said Nix, setting down one of the stapled stack of notes Trini had copied for her to stretch out her arm that was cramping up from writing.

"Yeah, I'm getting hungry." Zack commented.

"Me too, now that you mention it." Kim replied as she swung her legs over the side of the bed. "How does pizza sound?"

"Awesome!" Zack answered. "How about we go to the place down the street?"

"Sounds like a plan. It'll be nice to get out and get some fresh air." Trini replied, they all stood up and began to file down the steps of Nix's room.

"How are you doing with being out of the command center?" Jason asked Nix as they walked down the steps of Kim's porch, on to the walkway, and then to the sidewalk.

"To say a lot has changed would be an understatement, but it is nice to see something besides the same walls day after day." Nix answered. "And Kim has been wonderful for the time I have been staying with her."

"Aww, you're not so bad yourself." Kim replied with a smile, giving Nix a quick one-armed hug.

"You're handling the change better we thought you would." Trini stated from her spot next to Zack as they took on the formation of a line as they walked: Trini, Zack, Jason, Nix, Billy, and Kim.

"Yeah, we all were kind of expecting it to be kind of a shock to you." Kim commented as she looked down to Nix.

"I thought that as well." Nix replied as she dropped her eyes to the ground in thought. "The only explanation I could think of was the dream where we all encountered each other."

"You mean our shared dream?" Trini inquired, which Nix nodded in reply.

"Each time I appeared to you all in my astral form, before I found any of you, I would be flying over the modern city." Nix explained as she recalled how she'd come across each of the rangers. "It wasn't until you all showed me around that I realized it was Angel Grove that I was seeing."

"So, it would be correct in assuming that's how you learned our identities?" Billy asked as he glanced over at Nix.

"It is." Nix answered. "Your enemies seemed to have no reservations in using your names, and each of you revealed your faces to me. It's how I knew who each of you were when we formally met in command center."

"Wait…that does that count as breaking the condition of not revealing who we are?" Zack asked to the others.

Nix smiled at the question. "Seeing as you all still have your powers, I don't believe so. It was a dream, you all hardly had any control of what was happening in it, and you're in no danger of me exposing your true identities."

"Good thing all of that was a dream." Jason commented as he took several steps ahead of the group to hold open the door to the pizza parlor for his friends. As Nix stepped inside, Jason placed a hand on her arm to gently hold her back. "Hey, Nix, can we talk for bit?"

"Um…yeah, sure Jason." She replied, blinking a few times as the others walked in ahead of them.

"Anything wrong, Jase?" Trini asked.

"Nah, just want to ask Nix about something. You guys go on in, we'll be right there." He replied with a sure smile, the others walking into the restaurant.

The place was noisy with the cacophony of sounds from the music playing over the speakers, chatter of other teens and families who had come out, and the sound effects of the arcade games being played by patrons somewhere in the back. They found an open booth next to a window looking out to the street and sat down. Kim sat in a spot next to the window, having a clear view of Phoenix and Jason as they talked near the entrance. Jason leaned against the hand railing near the doors, his arms folded over his chest as Nix stood just off to the side of him, standing at an angle that left her back towards the window, but her profile in view.

Kim blinked several times as she felt an unpleasant feeling rise up in her as Jason gave Nix one of the half-smiles she had always found to be adorable. Glancing over, Kim saw that Phoenix also wore a small smile on her face.

"They're just talking. What am I getting tense about?" What WAS she getting tense about? Kim's brows furrowed together wondering where exactly had the odd, unpleasant feeling suddenly come from. Rolling her eyes at herself, she forced the feeling down as she tried to bring her attention to her friends at the table and what they were talking about.

Curiosity getting the better of her, her eyes once again drifted to Jason and Nix outside. She saw Jason nod his head in the direction of the entrance and Nix nodding in agreement to what she assumed was them finally coming inside. As Jason once more moved to hold open the door, Kim felt every muscle in her body tense as Jason placed a hand on Nix's farther shoulder, as he guided her inside.

"Okay, Hart, stop it! Kim mentally scolded herself feeling completely ridiculous over Jason being friendly to Nix. "She's our friend, OF COURSE he's going to be nice to her."

"Hey! About time you two got in here." Zack said giving Jason and Nix a smile as they slid into his side of the booth.

"Sorry, guys. Guess we took a little longer than we thought." Jason replied as he folded his hands together on top of the table.

Kim bit the inside of her cheek as Jason sat down next to Nix. Again, she internally kicked herself. Why was the closeness that developed between them in the last few weeks bothering her so much? Kim liked Nix, she knew that, and now that Nix had been under the same roof as her, they had spent a lot of time getting to know one another. Since the day she and Trini had taken Nix shopping, she'd felt a close bond forming between them, so the fact that she was getting annoyed with Jason's attention to her was making her feel lousy.

"Not to mention, she clearly likes Billy." Kim thought to herself as she recalled Nix's clumsy attempt to dodge her questioning about her interest in their bright friend during one of their late night conversations before Jason had dropped by. A previous conversation floated back into Kim's head as she attempted to tune back into the conversation taking place at their table as the waitress came over and Zack placed their order.

-FLASHBACK-

"I think our Main Brain has a thing for our new Fire Bird." Said Zack as a sly smile formed on his face.

"You think so?" Kim bemused at the thought of her clever friend and their newcomer being interested in each other.

"Absolutely." Zack replied. "When it comes to matters of the heart, the Zackman is your resident expert." He joked, causing his friends to roll their eyes in response and smile.

"He did seem rather fascinated by her. It's not every day you meet an actual phoenix." Trini commented as she pushed a completed bin over to Zack.

-END FLASHBACK-

Kim looked over to Billy, and as she suspected, though he wore a smile and kept engaged with the conversation with everyone, he also kept occasionally glancing over to Jason and Phoenix.


Despite his best efforts to quell his curiosity and the odd surge of nerves that kept rising in him, Billy couldn't help the intermittent glances he kept giving to Phoenix. His mind was racing with scenarios as to what Jason could have wanted to talk to her about away from the rest of their group.

"Don't be so irrational." Billy internalized, turning his attention back to the group, suddenly finding his neuroticism to be absurd. Phoenix was proving herself to be a loyal ally and a fast friend to each of the rangers, and at some point or another they'd each pulled one another aside to talk in private. "That fact alone means there is nothing about their brief moment alone together to get anxious about…right?"

Once again, Billy couldn't help the impulse to glance over and Phoenix. She was attractive, yes. The level of her intelligence that he'd seen so far was intriguing, her curiosity about their world was endearing and cute…but did that mean he…liked her? For the same reasons, he'd found Marge and Melissa to be both interesting and attractive, yet he'd never felt the odd sensation of each muscle of his body tensing like it was now as his eyes focused on her face. He felt himself blush as Phoenix turned her eyes to him, catching his gaze on her. She blinked in curiosity before a genuine shy smile spread across her face to him.

"Okay…maybe I am being a bit ridiculous." He thought, now mocking his own thoughts. They'd only known Nix for less than a month, and she was still adjusting to her new life. "I'm over-thinking matters."

Jason was simply making Phoenix a friend and making sure she was feeling comfortable with being the new addition to their group, it's how he was. Even now, Billy remembered that he'd voiced to Trini that it would be better to let Nix get to know them better and they her in return. He smiled in relief as their food arrived, thankful for the distraction to get him out of his head as everyone began to dig in.


A loud cheer rang out from the game room in the back of the pizza parlor, making the whole table turn their heads in the direction of the noise.

"What's all the noise about?" Phoenix asked as she turned back around in her seat to face the others.

Jason grinned at the curious look on Nix's face. "Want to go check it out?"

"Um…no, it's fine." She replied, unsure if she wanted to investigate the source of all the cheering. "Besides, we should get back soon."

"Hey, come one it'll be fun!" Zack chimed in, then turned to the others. "How about it guys? A few games before we get back to the homework grind?"

"Sure, why not!" Trini replied with a smile as she got up from her seat, the others following suit. They weaved through chairs and excited kids running back and forth as they made their way into the game room. Zack and Trini went over and deposited coins into a Super Hang On cabinet as the others crowded around to watch.

Another roar of cheering went up in the room, making Nix turn her head in the direction of the sound. A group of teens were crowded around a zombie shooter game, one of the boys trying his best to beat the current high score on the one they were playing on.

Jason followed Nix's line of sight before turning back to look at her. Smiling, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on, I'll show you how it works."

They broke off from the group, Jason steering Phoenix in the direction of the video game. Billy stood back as he watched Jason deposit coins into the cabinet, then picked up one of the controllers that resembled their Blade Blasters all the while talking to Nix in what he assumed was about how to play the game.

Kim, like Billy, also watched from her spot behind Trini's seat at the game, that same unpleasant feeling rising up in her as before.

"Actually, I think I'm going to get some air." Kim said excusing herself from her friends, suddenly feeling the need to gain a little distance from the sight of Nix and Jason's sudden closeness. She hurried out of the game room and made her towards the front of the restaurant, stepping through the entrance and out into cool air. The sun was just beginning to set as Kim leaned back against the railing near the entrance as she watched cars and people go by.

"Kim? Everything okay?" Trini asked as she stepped through the entrance.

Kim glued a smile onto her face as she looked to her friend in yellow. "Of course. I just wanted a small break from all the noise in there."

Trini moved to stand in front of Kim, not at all convinced. "You sure that's all?"

"Yes, Trini, I'm sure." Kim replied, reaching her hand out to grasp Trini's in a sign of reassurance. She turned her eyes back towards the window as she saw Billy, Zack, Nix, and Jason start to come forward from the game room back over to their table.

"Jason and Phoenix seem to be getting pretty close." Kim stated as she bit her lip, staring through the window at the people in question.

Trini shrugged in return, not thinking much on the statement. "Goldar and Rita have been pretty relentless lately with trying to capture her, and you know Jason. Once a friend is in danger, he switches into his protective mode. He's probably taken on his "Big Brother" role with her."

"That does sound like him." Kim internalized as she thought over Trini's assessment of the recent closeness between Jason and Nix. "Yeah…I guess you're right."

"Everything okay out here?" came Jason's voice as he stepped out of pizza parlor alone and walked over to the two girls.

"Yeah! Everything's great, just needed a breather from all the noise inside." Kim answered with a laugh in her voice as Jason came to stand next to them.

"It is pretty loud in there." He said, raising his brow in agreement as he shot a smile at her. "The guys are on their way out, then we can head back."

"Oh, I should go give my part of the bill." Said Kim as she moved to stand and head back inside.

"Don't worry, I covered it for you." Jason replied, giving her a smile that was reserved only for her before turning to Trini. "You too, Trini."

"Thanks, Jase." Trini replied, giving him an appreciative smile. "I'll pay you back."

"Me too." Said Kim as Jason waved off the gesture.

"Hey, don't worry about it, and Billy covered Nix, so we're good." He said in return as the others finally exited the restaurant to join them.

"Hey, everyone good to go?" asked Zack, placing an arm on Jason's shoulder.

"Looks like it." Trini answered as they each glanced around at each other.

"Cool, then let's head out!" said Zack as they all once again fell in step with each other heading back in the direction Kim's house.