Chapter 18: To Be A Team

Training was well under way for the Rangers, who were slowly growing accustomed to the new member of their team. Philip was a skilled fighter and kept up easily, until something new was presented and threw him.

"That's just cheating!" Shelby complained as she and Olivia were tossed to the ground. "I petition that Teddie and Chase don't get to team up any more!" she declared to the others as the Black and White Rangers high-fived.

"At least not if they're using powers," Olivia added. Shelby shot her a scowl. "I mean, at all," she amended quickly.

"I'll take them, come on Koda!" Tyler laughed to the caveman, who nodded, and they rushed Chase and Teddie. Ivan, Riley and Philip looked around from what they were doing to watch as the twins worked in perfect unison despite not speaking, dodging attacks thrown their way. Tyler suddenly vanished, and Koda pushed Chase back with much greater strength.

"Oh sure, we're cheating but you don't say a word about Ty's powers or Koda's caveman strength!" Teddie complained, and ducked, grabbing onto something unseen. Tyler let out a cry as he materialised again, flipped over Teddie's shoulder.

"Good use of the Swoop technique," Chase told her, bumping her fist as he managed to turn Koda's strength on the caveman and knocked him to the floor.

"My strength...betray me," Koda sighed as Tyler laughed from the ground beside him.

"Sir Riley, how about we show them how it's done?" Ivan suggested, and the Green Ranger grinned, raising his sword and nodding. They launched at Teddie and Chase, who grabbed their own blades and blocked the attacks. However, it didn't take very long for them to be knocked back, their sabres landing on the ground away from them.

"And honour is restored," Riley bowed as the others clapped. Teddie stuck her tongue out and stretched. She then glanced to Philip, who was watching with awe at not only the odd fighting methods, but seeing his idol, Ivan, in action. Teddie grinned, turning to him properly.

"Care to try your luck?" she challenged him, and he quickly raised his hands.

"No, thank you," he refused with a little alarm.

"Aw, boring," Teddie complained.

"Don't listen to her mate," Chase nudged his sister. "She loves to show off," he said, and everyone snorted.

"Oh, I do?" Teddie turned to him. "Hypocrite!" the two began to spar as the others rolled their eyes and got back to their own training. Philip watched the pair, fascinated. Their skills were far greater than he imagined, in styles he didn't recognise. Even as twins, they didn't share a fighting style. And the others all possessed a lot more skill than he expected. He'd only started training after meeting them for the first time, and while he'd learned and improved quickly, he couldn't help but feel a little outclassed.

"Honestly, you two idiots," Ari rolled her eyes as she healed the bleeding cut across Chase's forehead. "How many times do you need to be told about watching where you aim your magic?" she scolded the pair. "Do you need more time with Tanner?" she threatened mildly.

"No..." they chorused.

"They were showing off," Olivia called over. Chase shot her a half-hearted scowl, before Ari turned his head back.

"Shocking," she muttered, and stepped back, letting the glowing fade as Chase wiped the blood from his forehead.

"My, there really is so much to take in," Philip commented softly as Arianna sat down beside him. She covered her quiet laugh with her hand.

"Thankfully it's pretty much all Teddie and Chase. And Tyler. Oh, and Koda," Arianna glanced to the caveman. Philip nodded, quiet, and Arianna turned her pale gaze to him, tilting her head. "Is everything okay, your highness?" she asked him.

"Hm? Oh, yes," Philip cleared his throat, but her concerned expression didn't fade entirely. He had to admit, she was quite perceptive.

"I believe you're all due upstairs for work?" Kendall reminded with an arched eyebrow as she walked past. All but Philip and Ari got up and went upstairs, with Arianna pausing to touch Philip's arm. He started at the sudden contact, and his face warmed.

"If you need to talk, I'm here," she smiled, before jogging after the rest of the Rangers. Ari rolled her eyes with an amused smile, and stood, stretching.

"Who'd have thought I'd become a medic after all? I suck at healing magic," she said to herself quietly, before approaching Philip as he looked through a message he'd received. "Used to the whole Ranger thing yet?" she asked, taking a seat beside him as he looked up sharply.

"It is taking some time, I will admit," he replied to her, and she chuckled.

"Yeah, that I can understand. Even if you want to become a Ranger, actually being one is..."

"Different," Philip finished, and she nodded.

"Yup," Ari agreed. "But it'll get easier, trust me," she chuckled.

"I see," Philip looked down at his hands, feeling even more outclassed next to the woman he'd learned had been a Ranger on five different teams. She held herself like he'd been taught to, but something about her was much more powerful than he felt. He glanced to the doors again, thinking about Arianna and her offer to talk. She was sweet, and kind to him, and had seen the good in him from the moment they met.

"Tyzonn will probably kill me for this," he looked at Ari again as she sighed, shaking her head. "Arianna should be due her lunch in about three hours. She loves the park," with that, the woman stood and walked away, not looking around as Philip's face grew warm again. He couldn't believe her suggestion. But worse, he couldn't believe he was considering it.

Work was cut short for the Rangers when the computer sensors picked up an alien attack in town, and they ran to find the coordinates.

"There!" Tyler spotted Fury and his latest monster, who was laughing as he bounced around. He grabbed a table as the people sitting at it fled screaming, and it began to warp around his hand.

"Oh, that doesn't look good," Teddie commented.

"Rangers!" Fury snarled. "I'm here for your Energems, and this time I'm not leaving till I get them!" the cat-like creature roared, drawing his sword.

"Fat chance Fury," Tyler rolled his eyes and lifted his Charger. "Dino Charger, ready!"

"Ready!"

"ENERGISE, HA! UNLEASH THE POWER!" the Rangers Morphed and drew their weapons.

"Vivix!" Fury called on the footsoldiers, who flooded in and swarmed them.

"Let's go guys!" Tyler called, and the group of Rangers moved into action, fighting off their opponents as Ivan and Philip faced Fury, and Tyler faced Copperbend.

"You guys aren't a match for us, when are you going to get it through your heads?" Teddie taunted as she landed on the shoulders of one of the Vivix. With powerful slashes of her sabre, she took down the ones around her as they leapt at her, before she leapt up and flipped, cutting down the one she'd been using as a step.

"Probably around the same time you and Chase lose your egos," Olivia teased as she moved past Teddie, kicking another back.

"Mean!" Teddie pouted at her, before dancing out of the way of a punch. "It's not arrogance if it's right," she added with a grin.

"Yes it is," Riley argued. "And I believe Ivan and I showed that you're not the best out there," he added as the others laughed.

"Everyone's against us," Chase complained.

"Accept you're not the best and we'll stop being so mean," Olivia told him sweetly.

"Like that's gonna happen," Shelby scoffed as she punched another of the white footsoldiers.

"You will pay for humiliating me! Both of you!" Fury roared, cutting across Philip's chest and making the young man cry out as he was floored. Fury's next swing was blocked by Ivan's sword, and the cat was shoved back, away from the fallen Prince. "To have lost the Gold Energem 800 years ago, and now the Graphite Energem, Sledge will destroy me for certain, unless I destroy you first!" Fury snarled.

"That shall never happen, foul beast!" Ivan declared as metal clashed against metal, ringing through the air. "Dino Charger! Ready!" he slotted it into his Morpher. "Lightning Strike!" he slashed down, slamming the electric attack into Fury's chest and making him shriek in pain. The cat-like alien crashed through the tables and chairs, and Ivan turned, offering Philip a hand.

"Thank you..." Philip spoke quietly as he accepted it, getting to his feet.

"The battle is not over, let us join the others!" Ivan declared, and they ran over to where Copperbend was using a warped table to toss Olivia into the air.

"Gotcha!" Chase caught her in his arms, and grinned under his helmet.

"Thanks. Now, let me go please?" Olivia asked with a sigh. Chuckling, Chase let her down, and grabbed his blaster. He fired several shots that made Copperbend cry out and stumble back.

"That's playing dirty!" he complained as Fury staggered over to him.

"Let's get out of here," Fury snarled, and the pair rushed off before the Rangers could stop them.

"They're gone," Shelby groaned.

"Not for long. They'll be back," Tyler said as he turned to them. "We need to be ready," he told his team, who nodded.

Philip looked at the Energem in his hand, his mind on the battle that had taken place. He'd stood no chance against Fury. If it wasn't for Ivan, he'd have been destroyed for sure. He gave a wry smile. Only his second battle and he'd been stomped on. He couldn't help but wonder just why the Energem had chosen him.

"Your highness?" he looked up as Arianna approached him with a careful smile. "You were deep in thought, I called you a few times," she commented.

"I...I apologise, I..."

"Want to talk now?" Arianna offered as he trailed off. Philip nodded, feeling like a child. "Come on, let's go for a walk then," she suggested, and the two began to walk. They walked in silence, and Philip realised that she was waiting for him to speak, patient and not pushing him to speak.

"Do you feel that I am unsuited for being a Power Ranger?" he asked her suddenly, and Arianna looked at him, surprised.

"Why do you ask such a thing?" she questioned.

"The other Rangers, they've been very welcoming but," Philip hesitated. "I'm completely outclassed by them. They're much more skilled than I. I've only been training a little while, but-"

"You shouldn't compare yourself to the other Rangers!" Arianna told him, alarmed. She took a seat on a bench, indicating for him to do the same. "You're not them, but they're not you either," she said as he sat down.

"Yes, I know that, but in that last battle, I was no use against Fury. If it wasn't for Ivan, I'd have been destroyed," Philip told her, his confidence shattered. Arianna tilted her head, watching him as he looked at his Energem again. It hung from his neck like the others wore theirs.

"But that's why you're a team. You have each other's backs. Nobody thinks less of you for not being able to take Fury. None of the Rangers could alone," Philip frowned at her words.

"But Tyler and Koda are strong, Teddie and Chase-"

"Everyone brings something to the team, and you bring your heart," Arianna stopped Philip before he could continue. He wasn't too sure how he felt about her cutting him off. He wasn't entirely used to being treated so casually. "You wanted to help so badly that you found an Energem. You helped fight off Fury and the Vivix with courage," Arianna told him firmly.

"I don't know how that makes me useful to the team," he shook his head. Her words warmed him, but did little to make him feel better. Arianna sighed, shaking her head.

"Because you won't give up. You don't give up. And the Rangers are a team, nobody is expected to fight alone," Arianna told him. "Being a Power Ranger isn't about being able to take on a bad guy by yourself. Look at any group through history and you'll see that they face the threat together. And you're forgetting one thing. You've only been a Ranger for a few days. They've been Rangers for months," Philip frowned at his hands as her words started making sense to him. "You think that any of them were as good then as they were now? They've trained every day since they became Rangers. You need to keep training, and you'll forget this who inferiority thing in no time," Arianna smiled again.

"Inferiority?" Philip spluttered, making her laugh.

"Yes, sorry your highness, but as Ari told me, I call them as I see them," she told him unapologetically.

"I see..." Philip glanced away again. "Thank you, Arianna," he murmured, thinking over her words.

"Feeling any better?" Arianna asked, leaning forwards as her fingers curled around the edges of the bench. She watched him out of the corner of her eye as he seemed to be listening to what she had to say. He was definitely as stubborn as the rest of them. He watched her with his own pale blue eyes, silent for a moment.

"Arianna," he suddenly reached out, and her smile fell, her cheeks warming, as his hand closed over hers. He lifted her hand, turning her to face him.

"Your highness-"

"Philip. Please," Arianna struggled to refuse him, but her pounding heart refused to let her. She met his gaze nervously, but the moment was interrupted by Philip's Dino Comm beeping. He released her hand, and lifted it, activating it.

"We've found Fury and the monster, meet us there," Tyler told him, and Philip stood.

"On my way," he nodded, and the link ended. He slipped the comm back into his pocket, and turned to Arianna, who was blushing furiously as she looked at her hands. He couldn't help but smile at her shyness. "Arianna, once this monster has been destroyed, would you accompany me on a date?" he asked her, and Arianna's blushing spread, turning her ears pink.

"I, um..." Arianna swallowed. "Yes," she nodded quickly, not able to look at him, or his excited smile, before he turned and hurried to find the monster. As he left, Arianna couldn't stop her own smile spreading across her face.

"This time, don't screw up," Fury was snarling at Copperbend, who nodded.

"I won't fail this time!" he grabbed a lamppost and yanked it out of the ground. The metal immediately began to warp around his body as the wires sparked dangerously.

"Oh yeah you will!" the monster let out a wail as several energy blasts connected with his body, and he dropped the pillar in his grip as he fell over.

"Rangers!" Fury snarled.

"Oh yeah! And this time, there's no escape!" Tyler told him as the group stood together. "Let's go Rangers!" he told his team, who nodded.

"Vivix!" Fury summoned the footsoldiers to come help.

"It's always you losers," Teddie commented as she danced around their attacks. "You'll never stand a chance against us!" she flipped into the air and kicked them as they swarmed her. The Vivix sprawled to the ground, and she landed with a laugh.

"Careful Teddie, there's that ego again," Olivia warned as she fought off her own attackers. Teddie stuck out her tongue uselessly at the Forest Ranger, who didn't even see it due to her helmet blocking it off.

"You Rangers have humiliated me for the last time!" Fury vowed as he fought Ivan and Philip.

"I doubt that," Philip bit back, dodging the sword swing to kick him into Ivan's path so the Knight could cut down his back with a powerful sword strike. Fury roared in pain, staggering away from the pair as nearby Tyler shoved Copperbend back with a punch.

"You'll not beat me!" the monster vowed, using the metal he'd warped onto his fists to punch Tyler and toss him backwards with a yell.

"Tyler!" Shelby cried, running to his side. Chase raised his blaster and fired, but it bounced off the metal, making him frown.

"That metal armour he's got, it's blocking our attacks," he warned.

"That just tickles!" Copperbend mocked as he moved the metal and rammed Riley, throwing the Green Ranger to the ground next.

"Then we'll use something more powerful! Chase!" Tyler called to the Black Ranger, who nodded.

"Dino Armour X Charger, ready!" he summoned the powerful orange jaws that covered his hands.

"What's that?" Copperbend yelped as it saw the new weapon.

"Dude! When'd you get that?" Teddie demanded. "I want one!" she whined.

"Sorry Teddie, only works with me," Chase smirked at his sister, and turned to the monster. "Your time is up! Spiral Attack!" he launched at Copperbend and spun. The monster shrieked as the Black Ranger collided with him, snapping through his metal easily. He landed behind the monster, who groaned and fell over, exploding.

"Not again!" Fury yelled, before the green light of the Magna Beam hit the monster, regenerating him.

"I'm back!" Copperbend sang, towering over them.

"We need the Zords! Dino Charger, ready!" Tyler shouted. "Summon T-Rex Zord!"

"Summon Tricera Zord!"

"Summon Stego Zord!"

"Summon Ptera Zord!" the four Zords formed the Megazord, and the Rangers materialised inside it.

"So this is the inside of the Megazord..." Philip commented as he looked around, fascinated.

"That's right, but I think we could use a bit extra firepower," Teddie grinned. "Dino Charger ready! Summon Compo Zord!" she summoned her small Zord, which leapt across the buildings towards them before jumping into the air and changing into a sword.

"Let's go Rangers!" Tyler called, and they launched at Copperbend, but his metal armour easily deflected their strikes.

"His armour, too strong," Koda frowned as Copperbend laughed.

"You'll never beat me now! I'm too strong for you!" he declared, punching the Megazord and making it stumble backwards.

"We need more firepower," Chase frowned.

"I have an idea! Dino Charger, ready! Summon Pachy Zord!" Philip called on his own Zord, which replaced Shelby's Tricera Zord.

"Oh, it's a mace," Olivia realised, and Philip nodded.

"Let's smash this guy!" Tyler cheered.

"Pachy Wrecking Ball! Final Strike!" they threw out the wrecking ball and it slammed into Copperbend, shattering the metal armour he wore, and tossed him into the air for one final punch. He yelled, exploding, and the Rangers cheered at another victory.

"Great work out there today Rangers," Kendall nodded as the Rangers returned to base.

"Yeah, that new Zord is super strong," Tyler grinned. Philip gave a smile as he walked in, sliding his phone into his pocket.

"I wish that I could remain here with you all, but I'm afraid I must return home," he told them, and they nodded.

"We understand," Riley nodded.

"Royalty comes with its own responsibilities," Shelby voiced. Teddie smirked.

"At least she's come to respect that," Shelby blushed as Teddie elbowed her. She pushed the White Ranger back, shooting her a scowl as the others laughed.

"And I promise to protect the Graphite Energem. Use the Pachy Zord and Graphite Chargers in your quest to find the remaining Energems, but if you ever require the help of the Graphite Ranger," he summoned the Graphite Energem from the Crystal Beds, still fascinated that he could do so. "I will return," he vowed.

"Sweet, cause otherwise we'll have to come to you," Teddie grinned at him.

"And you really don't want her in polite company," Chase smirked.

"Either of you," Riley corrected, and the others nodded.

"Rude!" they complained as Philip couldn't help but laugh at the team. He turned to leave, before pausing and glancing to Arianna.

"May I have a word?" he requested, and she followed him out as the others snorted.

"Bet Tyzonn is gonna love that," Chase grinned. Ari sighed, putting her head to the desk.

"He's gonna kill me!" she cried.

"I am sorry I must leave so suddenly," Philip turned to Arianna once they were away from the others. "But I will be back, and when I do...will you still have that date with me?" he requested, and Arianna blushed.

"Of course," she smiled at him gently. Philip took her hand, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"Then I look forward to my return," he murmured, holding onto her hand for a moment longer before releasing it.

"Me too," Arianna admitted, making him smile before turning and walking off. As he did, she leaned against the wall, shaking her head. "Somehow, I don't think this is what dad meant by experience on Earth," she couldn't help but laugh to herself.

This chapter turned out pretty different to how I originally planned it, but I much prefer it that way. I wanted to flesh out Philip's character a bit, and I felt that once he joined the team, he might find himself in over his head a little.

I hope you liked it!

Please review!