Heart of Crimson

Summary: What if Hunter wasn't the first Ranger to wear Crimson. AU for MMPR Season 2. Dairanger powers, sorta. TommyKim, JasonOC slash.

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor do I intend/desire to make any money off the Power Rangers/Super Sentai concepts and characters presented in this story. They are fully the property of their respective owners and are used with loving respect. Furthermore, this story utilizes concepts borrowed/adapted from Chris Claremont's run on X-Men. Certain aspects of the story are also due to my current obsession: Jyuken Sentai Gekiranger.

Chapter 3: The Golden Blade

Kim took a big sip of her smoothie and smiled contentedly at the taste. Trini smirked at her friend's expression and then sighed, "I'm going to miss these mornings once school starts again."

Kim gave a sigh of her own, "Yeah. A good morning workout followed by the best smoothies on the planet. It's too bad we've never been able to get the boys to join us."

"Because that would ever happen," Trini picked up with a laugh. "Billy's the only one you can get out bed before 9 when school's not in session, and that's only if there's a project for him to work on."

Kim's smirked around her straw as she looked over Trini's shoulder, "You may have to take that one back Tri."

"Why?" Trini started to ask, but got her answer as Jason sat down at their table, dressed for a workout in a red tank top and white gi pants.

"Morning girls," Jason said with an unusually wide-awake smile.

Trini and Kim exchanged a look and then Kim responded, "Morning to you too, Jase. Although we gotta ask, what's got you up so early and so awake when there's no school and no monsters?"

Jason blushed slightly, but smiled as he answered, "I'm meeting Brandon here. He's gonna try and show me some of that Jyuken he practices."

Kim leaned forward, and her entire body seemed to vibrate with barely controlled excitement, "Really? So yesterday afternoon went well?"

"Yeah," Jason replied.

Kim glared at him and whined, "Jase, you gotta give me more than that!"

Now it was Jason's turn to share a look with Trini, who just smirked in return. While she wasn't quite as forward as Kim, she had to admit to being just as curious. Jason finally relented, "Yes, yesterday went well. We went to the park, the mall, and we talked. I walked him home before dinner, and then he called me afterwards and we talked for another three hours."

"Three hours? On a phone? You?" Kim said in shock. She was both amazed and excited. Jason hated the phone and would rarely talk longer on one than absolutely necessary. "Ooooh, this must be love!"

"Kim!" Jason hissed as he turned a deeper shade of red. He really wished his "little sis" wouldn't get so . . . involved in everyone else's love life. Yes, Jason was sure he liked Brandon, and the other boy had said he was interested in getting to know him in a "more than friendly" way, but so far, they had only really talked and spent some time together. It's not like they went on a date or anything. Okay, so Brandon had kissed him. That thought brought a dopey grin to his face.

Kim spotted the grin, sucked in a breath and nearly squealed. She was about to launch into a high-speed barrage of questions when the topic of conversation came up behind her from the stairs on the locker room side of the Juice Bar. "Morning girls," Brandon greeted them with a small smile, one which grew larger as he placed a hand on Jason's shoulder and continued, "Ready to show me what you've got?"

Jason blushed slightly, and then took in what Brandon was wearing. Like him, the other boy was ready for a workout, wearing loose-fitting, dark red training pants and a black muscle-tee. Jason fought through a brief internal war, but in the end, his competitive side won over his hormones and his blush changed to the same smirk that graced the Red Ranger's face whenever he was presented with a friendly challenge, "Let's go."

The two boys walked over to the training mat. They took up positions on opposite sides and faced each other. Jason bowed from the waist, his arms at his sides in the style he was taught. Brandon followed his own style, placing his fist into his palm and bowing from the head and shoulders. They went into their ready stances and an instant later, the fight was on. Within seconds, Jason knew this was a fight unlike any before. Brandon's movements were quick, precise and he fought from the upper body, using quick hand and elbow strikes, while Jason's style favored kicks and grabs . . . grabs that Brandon seemed to slip out of as fast as Jason could make them. After a few minutes of non-stop sparring, a crowd began to gather. Jason's group of friends sparring in any combination was old news around the Youth Center, but Brandon was new, and so the fight was fresh. After another few minutes with neither boy getting the upper hand, Jason thought he had Brandon until he heard the other boy mutter, "Geki Waza Senkou Fenikkusu!" Suddenly Brandon was past Jason's defenses, there seemed to be a split second flash of reddish light, and the Red Ranger found himself on the floor.

Brandon stood over Jason, smiling, and offered him a hand. Jason took it and Brandon pulled him to standing. As Jason found his feet Brandon said, "Stallion, definitely."

"Huh?" Jason responded, confused.

"Your Geki. I knew it had to be some kind of leader of the pack, protector kind of animal. But the way you fight, those kicks, I'm definitely seeing a Stallion."

"Oh," Jason smiled, remembering the previous day's conversation about the Geki spirits, "um, thanks."

Brandon laughed and grabbed their towels, tossing Jason his, "Well, I'm not 100 percent certain. To do that I'd have to teach you the first Waza. Now, Master Kandou . . . he can just look at a person and tell. Although he's always told me I have good instincts about the Geki."

They were now walking up to the Juice Bar and Jason asked, "About that, there at the end of the fight, I heard you say geki waza . . . something?"

Now Brandon blushed, "Oh, that. Yeah, it's a focus to help me channel my geki into a strike."

"Really? Is that what I saw?"

Brandon stopped. "You saw the flash of geki?"

"Um, yeah. Is there something wrong with that?"

Brandon seemed to shake something off and then smiled again, "No. No, it's just that most people can't. But then, you said you've been studying martial arts since you were a kid, so I shouldn't be surprised you'd be tuned into that kind of energy."

They two boys arrived at the Rangers' usual table, which was now a bit crowded as Billy, Tommy, and Zack had arrived during the match. Zack greeted them excitedly, "Bro, that was awesome! Brandon man, you kick butt!"

"Yes," Billy added, "You are exceptionally skilled."

Tommy had an odd expression on his face, but then seemed to shake off whatever he was thinking and added, "Yeah Brandon. And it's nice to finally have someone else around who can take Jason down . . . that ego needs to be popped every so often and I was getting tired of always having to do it." Everyone laughed, except Jason, who scowled for a moment before joining the laughter. After a moment, Tommy jumped up and said, "Mom gave me money for a round of smoothies. Jason, the usual?" The dark haired boy nodded. "Brandon?"

"Oh, wow, um, thanks. Yeah, I guess I'll try the chocolate strawberry."

"Oooh, you'll love that," Kim said as she got up to help Tommy with the order. Brandon and Jason sat as Tommy and Kim moved to the bar. Once there, Kim elbowed Tommy and in a low voice asked, "Okay, I know that look, what's wrong?"

Tommy sighed, glanced back at his friends laughing at the table, and sighed, "He beat Jason."

"So? You're not jealous are you?"

"No, concerned." Tommy looked off for a moment, and then continued, "It's probably nothing. Just thinking about the fact that it was me being able to fight that well against Jase that made Rita choose me."

Now a look of concern crossed Kim's face, "You don't think?"

Tommy seemed to think for a moment and then shook his head, "No. I'm probably just being paranoid. After all, Zedd has repeatedly called me Rita's worst mistake. I doubt he'd try anything with someone who's not already prone to evil."

Kim relaxed, "Good point." By this time, Ernie had finished making their smoothies and they rejoined their friends, who were apparently involved in some conversation about Brandon's Geki Jyuken.

" . . . we always knew Jason was a stud!" Zack was saying with a laugh as Tommy and Kim walked up. The White and Pink Rangers exchanged a glance while Billy interjected, "Well, it does make a certain amount of sense if one looks at it from a standpoint of Jason's personality. Wild horses, like other herbivores, form herds around a dominant stallion who acts as the herd's primary protector. This is very similar to the role Jason took with all of us as we were growing up."

Zack seemed to consider that as Kimberly set down the smoothies and asked, "What are you guys talking about?"

Trini answered, "Brandon was telling us he thinks that Jason's Geki, or the animal form he would take in Jyuken, is Stallion."

"Really?" Kim asked as she sat down, "Can you tell that just from fighting him?"

"Well, some is his fighting style, but some is his personality," Brandon answered.

"Can you figure that out about anyone?"

"I guess," Brandon shrugged.

"Oh, do me!" Kim bounced.

"Um, okay." Brandon studied her for a few minutes, although his eyes seemed to defocus. Finally, he said, "Some kind of bird . . . but one that's graceful both in the air and on land. A crane, maybe?"

Kim smiled, "I love cranes! Do Trini next!"

Brandon frowned, "Well, like I told Jason, I'm not very good a determining Gekis."

Jason put his hand on top of Brandon's . . . a gesture not unnoticed by his friends …, "You also said your Master told you that you have good instincts about it. Besides, it's just for fun."

Brandon smiled at Jason, "Okay." He looked at Trini the same way he did Kim and finally said, "Something cunning and quiet, but also aggressive . . . fox, I think. I kind of see the same thing in Billy, but there's the potential for complex communication, so I'm gonna go with wolf for you." Trini smiled and nodded, Billy just looked surprised, but pleased.

"Cool man, how about me?" Zack asked.

Brandon barely paused, "Coyote . . . although that's more based on what Jason has told me about you than any deep analysis."

Zack's glance was directed at Jason while his question was directed at Brandon, "And what did my dear friend tell you."

"That you're sure-footed, think fast on your feet, and that you can be a bit of a mischief maker."

"Oh," Zack smiled, "the man speaks the truth." Everyone laughed, "That just leaves Tommy."

Brandon studied Tommy for several moments and then finally said, "I'm definitely seeing a bird . . . a bird of prey, but I can't seem to narrow it down. Sorry."

Tommy smiled, "It's okay. It's still interesting regardless."

"Thanks," Brandon rubbed his forehead. "Actually, all of you are a bit hard to read."

Several of the Rangers simultaneously asked why, to which Brandon responded, "I don't know. It's almost like there's something else there. They're not Geki, although it kind of feels similar, and it's almost like its pushing your Gekis to the side." The Rangers all exchanged nervous glances that Brandon seemed to miss. "Master Kandou could probably figure it out, but I just don't have that kind of experience."

Suddenly, Brandon got a far away look in his eyes, but snapped out of it a second later, "Hey, what time is it?" he asked Jason.

"About ten to eleven," Jason answered.

"Aw man, I gotta get home. Mom wants me to help her run some errands this afternoon," Brandon explained. He downed the rest of his smoothie and jumped up, "Thanks for the smoothie," he directed at Tommy. He then kissed Jason on the cheek and said, "I'll talk to you later," before heading for the exit.

Kim waited until Brandon was out of sight before squealing. However, before she could say anything a familiar six-tone chime came from each of the Rangers' communicators. "Saved by the chime," Zack said with a smirk as the Rangers jumped up."

The Rangers arrived at the Angel Grove Mall where a monster composed of women's shoes and a group of standard Z Patrollers was tearing through the food court. "Okay, seriously, what is it with Zedd and women's accessories?" Kim asked as she jumped into battle.

"Repressed transvestitism?" Billy offered as he blocked a punch and slammed one of his own into a Z Patroller's chest emblem.

"So not a mental image I needed Bill," Zack responded as he flipped a Patroller into Trini's waiting tornado kick.

In the meantime, Jason and Tommy had focused their efforts on the monster. It was a standard Zedd monster, created by transforming whatever was handy, mildly intelligent with a few surprises . . . in this case razor sharp high heels and exploding flats, but nothing that the Red and White Rangers couldn't handle. They knocked it back, through a plate glass window and into the parking lot with a double kick and moved in to finish it off. However, as Jason and Tommy exited the building they saw the shadows under the cars move; slide across the pavement and into what appeared to be the thing's mouth.

"Oh crap," the two Rangers muttered simultaneously. The monster laughed evilly as the shadows filled it and it rose to its feet.

They didn't have time to move, to react as the thing was on them, knocking them both to the ground and scattering the other Rangers with an explosive shoe as they ran to help. Turning back to Tommy and Jason, the monster raised two more explosive shoes and prepared to finish them off, but was stopped when bolts of crimson energy knocked the weapons from the creature's hands.

In a blur of color the Crimson Ranger appeared between Jason and Tommy and the monster.

"You" the monster growled in a guttural tone.

"Yes, me," the mysterious Ranger responded. "And this." He held his blaster out to his side and said, "Phoenix Avenger, saber mode!"

The body of the weapon folded at the point of connection to the handle until they were in line with one another. The body then split down the middle along its vertical axis and the barrel rotated inside the body while a short gold blade rotated out. The body closed and two more sections of blade telescoped out of the first, creating a long, single-edged golden sword.

The Crimson Ranger launched himself at the monster, hacking away at it with lightning fast slashes until finally he said, "Phoenix Avenger Saber, full power!" Crimson energy crackled along the blade as with one final, arcing slash the newest Ranger on Earth sliced the creature in half. The shoe monster fell and energy exploded out of it. The Crimson Ranger began to walk away, but stopped between the Red and White Rangers as a silver orb descended, exploded, and the monster reformed at gargantuan stature . . . but without its shadowy enhancements. "I think you can take it from here," The Crimson Ranger commented before continuing to walk away.

Jason looked at the Crimson Ranger's retreating form and then at Tommy as the other Rangers gathered around him, "You got this?" he asked.

"On it," Tommy answered with a nod, and then looked to the horizon and called on the Zords, "We need Mega Tigerzord power, now! White Tiger Thunderzord Power!"

The rest of the Rangers followed suit as Jason ran after the Crimson Ranger:

"Pink Firebird Thunderzord Power!"

"Black Lion Thunderzord Power!"

"Yellow Griffin Thunderzord Power!"

"Blue Unicorn Thunderzord Power!"

Jason caught up to the mysterious Ranger just as the Mega Tigerzord finished combining and went into battle, "Wait!"

The Crimson Ranger stopped, but didn't turn around, "This is becoming a habit with you, Red Ranger."

"Only because you show up and then just leave. You're a Ranger, fight with us."

Now the Crimson Ranger turned, "I can't."

"Why not?"

"You have your mission, and I have mine. You protect the Earth, I fight the Shadows. Right now, our missions overlap, but I must fulfill mine alone."

"Why?"

The Crimson Ranger never answered, he just looked at Jason for a moment and then vanished in a colored streak. Behind Jason, the others finished off the monster.

Deep in a hidden corner of the moon's caverns, Draeveus cursed to himself, "Arrogant, overbearing fool! Blaming everyone but his faulty strategies for his failures!" The Shadowmancer calmed himself, "No matter, it's just evidence that his previous defeat by Zordon has weakened Zedd's hold on the host, which makes things ever so much easier for me." He smiled grimly as he checked the readout attached to the strange crystal apparatus his minions set up upon his arrival, a readout showing five percent of capacity. "Yes, much, much easier."