So here's the beginning of the newest story! This is a completely original story that will lead into the second arc, which will start with SPD: A New Sun Warrior.

I hope you like this!

Chapter 1: A New Chapter

If she had the choice to never had to get out of bed and face the world again, Ari would have snapped it up in a heartbeat. If it meant not risking throwing up by simply moving, she would have done it.

For the last fortnight she had been feeling worse and worse. She was constantly exhausted, and she could barely keep food down. Xander had been attempting to make her go to the doctor, but she had refused, believing it to be a stomach bug or the flu that just wouldn't go away. It didn't help that her muscles were in constant discomfort, like she had been exercising too much.

"Hey Ari, I gotta go," Xander opened the door and peered into the bedroom, where he could see the lump that was his wife hiding under the blanket. "With the new store opening in Harwood County, I have to make sure the place doesn't fall apart while Toby's gone," he crept in quietly.

"Make sure not to let Chip near the discounter again," Ari muttered.

"You're never letting me live that down, are you?" Xander asked with a sigh.

"Not until I stop finding labels everywhere. I found one in the microwave the last time I was in," Ari mumbled.

"I think I've got them all now," Xander defended. "And seriously, if you feel any worse, let me know," he told her. Moving the blanket carefully, he pressed a kiss to her damp temple.

"And let you drag me to the doctor for no reason? Please," Ari grinned weakly up at him. "Go and supervise," she teased, before her grin disappeared. Xander moved aside just in time for her to bolt out of bed and slam the en-suite door. Xander groaned as he heard the not so pleasant sounds of Ari throwing up into the toilet for the 5th time that morning, and lifted his phone from his pocket.

"You are not calling in sick again! Go before I-" Ari's threat was cut off by another round surfacing. Xander frowned, and looked down at his phone. He scrolled past the number for Rock Porium, and instead dialled a different number.

After what felt like wave 40, Ari was finally able to make it away from the bathroom. She looked at the scorch mark on the door, where she had thrown an energy-ball to deter Xander from staying. She felt bad for doing it, but she didn't want him staying at home worrying about her when she'd eventually get the bug out of her system. Plus, he said it himself, Toby had been relying on him to make sure the store was run perfectly while he was out of town.

Slowly making her way down the stairs, Ari felt another wave of nausea and for a terrifying moment was afraid she was about to throw up again. After a moment it faded, and she reached the kitchen, managing to pour herself a glass of water. As she took a sip, she heard the front door open, and scowled.

"Xander, if you've left early to baby me, I'll-" Ari stopped as she walked out and saw Zoe closing the door behind her.

"Wow, you really do look terrible," the Moon Ninja commented bluntly.

"Duh," Ari rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

"I'm here because you're a pain in the ass and Xander's worried about you. And taking a look at you, so am I," Zoe told her. Ari groaned. "None of that. Go upstairs, get dressed. I'm taking you to the doctor," she ordered.

"But-"

"I just said none of that. Upstairs, now," Zoe pointed to the stairs to Ari's left.

"If I puke again, I'm aiming for you," Ari warned in a mutter. She slowly made her way up the stairs, and Zoe sighed, her stern look disappearing as a worried look replaced it. She adjusted her glasses.

"Always sick, always tired, always in the bathroom, sore...if I'm right, these two are morons," she muttered to herself, and followed Ari up the stairs to ensure her best friend was changing and not just climbing back into bed.

"Where's Annie?" Ari asked weakly, slowly pulling on a pair of jeans.

"With Hunter. He had the day off from the Thunder Academy," Zoe explained, leaning against the doorway as Ari pulled on a hoodie. "Don't bother trying to convince me to go home and leave you to it," she warned when she saw Ari's expression.

"Why bother? You never listen to me," Ari grumbled, and Zoe smirked.

"For good reason, you're a walking disaster. Now come on," she instructed as Ari managed to pull a pair of shoes on.

"I hate you, you know," Ari told her.

"No you don't," Zoe hummed as she lifted her keys and ushered Ari out the door.

After dragging Ari to the doctor's, Zoe sat in the waiting room while Ari spoke with the doctor alone. She flicked through her phone, messaging Hunter back before continuing her conversation with Kira, who had become a good friend after their team-up during Operation Overdrive.

"I guess I'm not the only one with my suspicions..." Zoe murmured as she read Kira's message, which reflected her own thoughts. Both were worried about their friend, and once Kira had heard just what was wrong with Ari, she began to think along the same route as Zoe. "Now if she wasn't so stubborn and went to the doctor herself," Zoe sighed, leaning her head back against the wall. Her phone buzzed, and she looked down to read Kira's reply with a small smile.

"Wait, stop!" she looked up in surprise as the door to the doctor's office flew open. "I'm not-" before she could finish talking, Ari had sprinted out and through the exit.

"Ari!" Zoe called after her as she leapt to her feet, but Ari was long gone. "Great," she groaned, dialling a number on her phone and putting it to her ear.

By this point Ari had already left the building and was sprinting away, her heart hammering in her chest. Her brain told her that she was being stupid, that running away wasn't going to help anyone, but she was panicking, and when she panicked, running away was what she did best.

Before she realised it, Ari was in the forest, passing through the gateway to the magical realm. Only then did she stop, gasping for breath as she realised her lungs were burning. Tears stung in her eyes, and she wiped them away furiously, starting to walk again. After a while, she found a fallen log and took a seat, putting her hands to her head as she processed what the doctor had told her.

"Yikes, someone's not looking as uh...bright as usual," she looked up in surprise as Phineas approached her carefully.

"Phineas?" she blinked, tears still running down her face.

"That's me!" Phineas took a seat beside her. "So, what's up? What brings you to the forest?" he asked curiously.

"I...I didn't know where I was running. I just kinda ended up here," Ari admitted, wiping her tears away.

"Yep, tends to happen when you're born here," Phineas nodded. He sat quietly as Ari sniffed, trying to wipe away her tears, as a peaceful silence fell over them.

"I went to the doctor this morning. I've been feeling really sick for a while now," Ari mumbled.

"Yeah...Xander said," Phineas nodded. "Is...everything alright?" the Troblin asked. Ari couldn't stop the burst of laughter escaping as more tears ran down her face.

"Yeah, everything's great. But terrifying," she put her hands to her face. "I'm pregnant," she admitted.

"Congratulations!" Phineas smiled widely, pulling her into a hug. "Oh yeah, the crying," he remembered, releasing her.

"Thanks," Ari couldn't help but laugh.

"But that's great news Ari, why are you so sad?" Phineas asked her curiously.

"I'm scared," Ari admitted, finally lowering her hands. "I'm scared that something will happen like what happened with me and my parents, that I'll lose them," she sniffed, her voice shaky.

"Yeah, that's always a risk," Phineas nodded in agreement, as blunt as always. "But from how I see it, that's what needed to happen for you to become, well, you!" he turned to her and smiled a wide, toothy smile. "You needed to become who you are now, to become who you were destined to be! The Legendary Golden Warrior!" he reminded her.

"And what if they are like me, and become a Ranger?" Ari sniffed. "It's so dangerous...I don't think I could face having my kid fighting evil like I have," Ari thought of all her battles, from Lothor, Mesogog, the Master, Moltor and Flurious, and Dai Shi. They were all fierce battles, and there had been more than one time that Ari had almost been killed. She touched her stomach, which was lined with four scars, which had faded slightly, but still stood out.

"That's not something you can decide. I don't think Althea and Daggeron wanted that for you," Phineas reminded her. Ari gave a small laugh.

"True," she agreed, before looking up as she heard someone approach.

"Ari!" Xander was running towards her. "I had a feeling you'd be here," he looked relieved to see her safe with Phineas.

"Well, I better go get myself all dressed up," Phineas stood up. "Got me a date with Leelee tonight," he winked to Ari, making her giggle. "Best be careful with that one," Phineas muttered to Xander as he passed, and walked off singing loudly and off-key to himself.

"Ari, are you alright?" Xander was immediately crouching in front of Ari, looking worried.

"I'm fine," Ari nodded, her fear returning.

"Is that why you ran off earlier?" Xander raised an eyebrow at her. "What's going on Ari?" he asked.

"I..." Ari bit her lip. She took a breath. "I'm pregnant," she revealed, and his eyes widened.

"Really?" he couldn't help but laugh. Ari nodded, and he laughed again, sweeping her into a hug. "Ari, that's amazing!" Xander told her as he released her.

"But what if-"

"Ari, what happened to you isn't going to happen to them," Xander immediately realised why Ari was panicking. "We've been over this. It's not going to happen. The most we're going to have to worry about, is if they're going to get your powers, and whose magic they'll inherit," he grinned.

"You swear?" Ari asked in a small voice.

"I swear. I'll never let anything happen to you," Xander vowed, and Ari's smile grew. She threw her arms around him in a hug. "You're such an idiot," he muttered as she buried her face into his neck.

"So are you," Ari's voice was muffled, before she stiffened. She suddenly pulled away and sprinted away behind a tree to throw up.

"Well...great," Xander sighed, getting up to hold her hair back. He really hoped that it wasn't going to be like this the entire time she was pregnant.

Zoe squealed as soon as she saw Ari, and rushed over to her, grabbing her in a hug.

"Careful, I am delicate and more likely to vomit on you than normal," Ari groaned, and Zoe set her down.

"I knew it, you idiot!" Zoe smiled widely at her.

"Knew what?" Ari frowned, and squeaked when Zoe poked her stomach. "Hey, don't! I'm delicate!" she cried again, pulling away.

"I know that! But I can't help it! I'm so happy for you!" Zoe smiled widely. Ari blushed at Zoe's words. The Moon Ninja had figured it out before her. So much for being smart. "Now come on, let's see if you have a bump already!" she grabbed Ari's shirt before the younger woman could stop her.

"No!" Ari tried to stop her, but Zoe stiffened.

"What the hell happened to you?" she demanded as she saw the long scars. "What did you do?" she whirled around to Xander, who raised his hands.

"Hey, I didn't do anything!" he said defensively.

"Ari, what-hey!" Zoe yelled as she found Ari running away. "Get back here!" she ran after her best friend. Xander shook his head, watching them.

"You can't kill me! I'm the Godmother to your child!" Ari's cry echoed over to the Green Mystic.

"I'm not going to kill you! I'm just going to beat you senseless for hiding this from me! Who hurt you?!" Zoe demanded as they ran around the house.

"I'm pregnant, you can't beat me up!" Ari yelled back.

"Well...at least I'm used to children running around already," Xander muttered as he heard a crash upstairs. Shaking his head, he walked up to find out what had happened.

Let me know what you think!

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