I don't own any of the characters used in this story, though it would be cool if I did. But, unfortunately for me, Saban does. Oh well. Hope you enjoy! The songs used in this fic belong to 'N Sync and Savage Garden.

United at Last

By: Emily

The one-man ship traveled through the galaxy passing millions of stars and planet, but not stopping at any. The ranger inside sighed as he passed them, not caring about the beauty of each planet. All the beauty in the entire galaxy could never really make him happy. All because of her. The only beauty that he cared about was that of a young woman, a power ranger to be exact.

I should not have left. I should have gone back, back to her. I don't have anywhere else to go, any other planets to help. Every since Zordon's wave of light passed through, evil everywhere has been eliminated! With them gone, there isn't much for me to do. Actually, there isn't ANYTHING for me to do but see if anything happens. Maybe I should go back to her! The Phantom Ranger sighed as he closed his eyes, shaking his head.

"No, I can't go back to her. I don't even think that she would want me back. After all, I haven't visited her! Why should I go back to her, anyway. Besides, it's been to long. I can't even remember how many years I've...avoided her. She's probably forgotten about me," he said as he put the ship on auto-pilot. Even as he tried to concentrate on flying the ship, his mind kept wandering back to Cassie. Images of her swept through his mind, even as he tried not to think about it. As he stood up to walk to the back of the ship, his arm knocked into the controls on the right on him, causing music to play. As he reached to turn it off, he stopped.

This is the music from Earth! The kind that Cassie listened to! He sat back down in his chair and closed his eyes, listening to a song that he had recorded, that night he had seen Cassie dancing with someone at the formal dance.

Lying in your arms

So close together

Didn't know just what I had

Now I toss and turn

'Cause I'm without you

How I'm missing you so bad

"THAT'S for sure," Phantom Ranger said out loud. "I just wish I would have realized that sooner." As he realized how close the song was to how he actually felt, he listened closed as sadness pulled at his heart

Where was my head?

Where was my heart?

Now I cry alone in the dark

I wonder if I still HAVE a heart, he mused. Shame filled him as he thought about Cassie. After all, I just left her! I couldn't even tell her how much I cared for her.

I lie awake

I drive myself crazy

Drive myself crazy

Thinking of you

Made a mistake

When I let you go baby

I drive myself crazy

Wanting you the way that I do

I still can't believe how stupid I was. She's perfect, yet I let her get away from me. I didn't even TALK to her. I wish there was a way to change what I've done to her. She probably hates me by now, the ranger thought as he leaned back. "Not that I wouldn't blame her. I should have done something!"

I was such a fool

I couldn't see it

Just how good you were to me

You confessed your love

And dying devotion

I confessed my need to be free

"I couldn't see how good she was. She loved me unconditionally, and I threw it away. Just like I've throw everything else away." he sighed as he stood up, and walked to the back of the ship. He reached over to a small compartment and pulled out a picture of her, looking as radiant as he had ever seen her.

And now I'm left

With all this pain

I've only got myself to blame

"Isn't that the truth," he admitted. He walked back over to his chair, carrying the picture of Cassie back with him. "I've not only caused myself pain, I've also done it with her! What am I going to do?"

I lie awake

I drive myself crazy

Drive myself crazy

Thinking of you

Made a mistake

When I let you go baby

I drive myself crazy

Wanting you the way that I do

A sudden thought caused the Phantom Ranger to jump. "I have to go back. I have to go back to her, just to see her again. She's probably forgotten about me, but I couldn't forget her. I have to see if she still cares for me." He leaned over the controls and began to type in the coordinates for the planet Earth

Why didn't I know it

(How much I loved you baby)

Why couldn't I show it

(If I had only told you)

When I had the chance

Oh I had the chance

I might have missed my chance, but I don't care. I have to go back. I have to try and make another chance, so I can see if there's a chance I can still get her back. It's the only way for me to move on., he thought as he took auto-pilot off.

I lie awake

I drive myself crazy

Drive myself crazy

Thinking of you

Made a mistake

When I let you go baby

I drive myself crazy

Wanting you the way that I do

As he turned his ship towards earth, all he could think about was getting to Cassie. And finding out if she still had feelings for him.

As she watched the fireworks burst in the air, Cassie Chan couldn't help but feel sadness, even as she watched her friends' happiness. It was the beginning of another year. Another year had gone by, and she still hadn't received any messages from him. Not one.

I should be over him by now. It's been five years since he left, and I haven't heard from him since. It's not like I haven't tried to. No one's been able to contact him. It's like he doesn't want us to find him. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought about him. Even when I realized he wasn't coming back, I tried to find someone else. But I couldn't. Anytime I would close my eyes, he would come to my mind.

"Cassie, are you okay?" Cassie jumped as someone laid their hand on her shoulder. She turned around and found herself face to face with a sympathetic gaze of Kimberly Harte. Though she never could figure out why, Cassie had immediately bonded with Kim, even though the two had barely known each other. Ever since all the rangers had reunited after the Countdown, Cassie and Kim had become very good friends, confiding in each other constantly. Maybe it was the fact that they were both rangers. Or maybe it was because they were the only two rangers left that did not have a significant other. Whatever the reason, Cassie had begun to think of Kimberly as a sister she had never had. Kimberly looked at Cassie, and whispered, "Are you still thinking about him!"

Cassie felt tears begin to well up in her eyes as she looked down. "I can't help it! I know I should be over him but.." she trailed off as her voice cracked. Kim put an arm around her shoulder and walked Cassie over to the edge of the lake, away from the celebrating people.

"I know what it's like," Kim sighed, as the two of them sat down. "It's hard to love someone when they act as if you don't exist." Cassie nodded, sniffling as she looked into the lake. "But you still have a chance. He will come back, if he does care for you. And you know he does. He just might now know."

"But, what if he doesn't come back?" Cassie whispered. "I've tried so hard to forget about him, but every time I close my eyes, he comes to my mind. I don't know what to do!"

Kim hugged the younger girl. "I know it's hard, but someday, when you find the person that belongs with you, they will fill up your mind. He won't forget about Phantom Ranger, not by a long shot. He'll always have a place in your heart." Cassie looked at her and smiled, hugging Kim back. Kim stood up. "Are you ready to go back?"

"I'll be there in a couple minutes. But you go back," Cassie said. Kim smiled and walked back to the party. Cassie watched until she was out of site, her heart feeling lighter.

I know that I'll never forget him, she thought. She laid back in the grass and looked up at the stars. But I wish that he would come back.

As she looked up at the stars, a new song started playing. Cassie closed her eyes and smiled, recognizing the song.

Any time I need to see your face

I just close my eyes

And I'm taken to a place where

your crystal mind and

Magenta feelings take up shelter

in the base of my spine

Sweet like a chic-a-cherry cola

That's for sure, Cassie thought ruefully. Even when I'm not thinking about him, his face comes to my mind.

I don't need to try and explain;

I just hold on tight

And if it happens again, I might move

so slightly

To the arms and the lips of the face

of the human cannonball

That I need to, I want to

Come stand a little bit closer

Breathe in and get a bit higher

You'll never know what hit you

When I get to you

"If he does come back, I don't know what my reaction would be!" she exclaimed to herself. She sighed as she opened her eyes and looked back up at the stars. "But would he allow me to become closer to him?"

Ooh, I want you

I don't know if I need you

But, ooh, I'd die to find out

Ooh, I want you

I don't know if I need you

But, ooh, I'd die to find out

I'm the kind of person who endorses

a deep commitment

Getting comfy getting perfect

is what I live for

But a look, then a smell of perfume

It's like I'm down on the floor

And I don't know what I'm in for

Conversation has a time and place

In the interaction of a lover and mate,

But the time of talking,

using symbols, using words

Can be likened to a deep sea diver

who is swimming with a raincoat

How would we be able to talk to each other? We don't know anything about each other! The sudden thought caused her to sit up in shock. "Would we be able to even see each other? What if we don't have anything in common? Then what? Oh, what if he doesn't have any of the feelings I have for him? What if this whole thing is pointless?" Tears once again filled her eyes as she tried, unsuccessfully, to stop thinking about him.

Come stand a little bit closer

Breathe in and get a bit higher

You'll never know what hit you

When I get to you

Ooh, I want you

I don't know if I need you

But, ooh, I'd die to find out

Ooh, I want you

I don't know if I need you

But, ooh, I'd die to find out

Cassie stood up and blocked the song out. Taking a deep breathe, a smile crossed her lips as she finally put her feelings of the Phantom Ranger behind her. It's time for me to let him go. It's been too long.

She started walking back to the party, not noticing the small ship that landed on the opposite side of the lake.

This is pointless, Phantom Ranger thought as he landed his ship by the side of the lake. I don't even know if she's here anymore. Heck, I don't even know if she still cares about me anymore! He made his way out of the ship and looked around, squinting to see through the darkness. As he looked around, a flash of pink caught his eye. He focused in on it and was overcome with joy to see that it was her. It was Cassie. He closed his eyes and disappeared in a cloud of smoke, hoping to make it over to her before she could get too far away

A flash of light caused Cassie to whirl around and to get into a defense stance. Seeing no one, she carefully walked forward. Suddenly, a noise in the bushed caught her attention. She lunged forward and found herself face to face with none other then-

"Phantom Ranger!" she exclaimed, looking at him in shock. As she looked at each other, neither of them heard the song that started playing

As we stare each other down

like victims in the grind

Probing all the weakness

and hurt still left behind and we cry

The tears of pearls

We do it. Oh we do it.

As Phantom Ranger remained silent, Cassie felt dread began to build up inside of her. Oh no. He's here to tell me that he doesn't have any feelings for me. That I don't mean anything to him!"

She doesn't want me to be here! thought Phantom Ranger as he watched emotions playing on her face. Why did I even come back?

Is love really the tragedy the way you

might describe it?

Or would a thousand lovers

still leave you cold inside?

Make you cry...

These tears of pearls

"How have you been?" he asked, wildly looking for a way to talk to her. She looked around uncomfortably, trying to find away out before he could tell her that he didn't like her.

"Fine, fine." she answered quickly. As she looked down, he sighed.

"I missed you," he admitted quietly. Cassie looked up, hoping that she hadn't been imagining things. She looked where his eyes would be, trying to see behind his mask.

"You...you missed me?" she asked, praying that she was right. He slowly nodded, the simple response filling her with joy.

All these mixed emotions

we keep locked away like

stolen pearls

Stolen pearl devotion we

keep locked away from all the world

"Yes, I...I did," he said, stumbling over the words. Cassie looked at him, a smile crossing her face. She looked at him shyly, almost like a little girl.

"I missed you, too." she said, emotions tugging her in all different directions. "Why did it take you so long to come back?"

He sighed, not saying anything.

Your kisses are like pearls,

so different and so rare

But anger stole the jewels away

and love has left you bare,

Made you cry...

These tears of pearls

"I, I was...afraid." he finally said. Silence fell between the two of them once again, as both tried to think of something to say.

I have to tell him!, Cassie thought. But her mouth wouldn't obey her. She was scared. Scared that he wouldn't return her feelings.

I have to tell her!, Phantom Ranger thought, but he couldn't form the words to do so.

Well I could be the tired joker

pour my heart to get you in

Sacrifice my happiness

just so I could win

Maybe cry..

There tears of pearls

"I have to tell you something," both Cassie and Phantom said at the same time. Both of them stared at each other for a moment before a small chuckle escaped from both of them, easing some of the tension.

"You go first," Phantom told her. She nodded and took a deep breathe.

"I missed you while you were away and-" she stopped for a second, as if she couldn't finish. She shook it off and continued. "and I realized how much I cared for you." She held her breathe, waiting to hear what he would say.

All these mixed emotions

we keep locked away like

stolen pearls

Stolen pearl devotion

we keep locked away from all

the world

"You, you like me?" he asked in astonishment. As she nodded, he did the unexpected. He ran over and picked her up, hugging her. At first she was too shocked to do anything, but soon hugged him back.

"I do." she answered. He smiled at her and with two simple words, did something he had never been able to do before.

"Power down." he commanded. With those simple words, the Phantom Ranger costume left, leaving a humanoid creature in it's place. And the words he said caused Cassie to fill with joy. "And I like you, Cassie Chan."

We twist and turn where angels burn

Like fallen soldiers we will learn

That once forgotten, twice removed

Love will be the death...

The death of you

As he said those words, Cassie hugged him again. As the two embraced, love filled both of them, something they had never felt so powerful. As he pulled away, he looked deep into her eyes, like he was looking directly into her soul.

"I love you, Cassie Chan." he whispered. As he pulled her close to him, she closed her eyes in happiness.

"And I love you, Phantom Ranger." she said into his ear. As the two embraced, neither of them noticed the small group of people watching them, watching them through the bushes. One by one they smiled and walked back to the party, leaving the two alone.

All these mixed emotions

we keep locked away like

stolen pearls

Stolen pearl devotions we keep

locked away from all the world

The End.