Sorry this new installment took so long! I had to do some tweaking to my latest chapter of Love Across Time. Now that I have some time, myself, let's get down to business!
Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own Disney, Power rangers or anything along those lines!
Also, I wanna send a shout out to all my reviewers and special props to GottaDance88, ThunderYoshi and TennisGal456! Thanks for liking the last chapter of When Blue Turns Green! You rock! :D
Okay, so since the formalities are out of the way...On with the next installment!
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Summary: Gwen, known for her quiet voice, seems to be suffering from a malady that causes her to hold back when battling Ocean Bluff's latest threat. Feeling conflicted between her animal spirit and what's expected of her, can a new master help her realize that it's okay to just let go?
Power Rangers Jungle Fury: WORSE THAN HER BITE
The sun was greeting Ocean Bluff with a salmon colored sky as the owner and employees of Jungle Karma Pizza were having breakfast in the loft before they opened up shop. Everyone had already taken their showers and just as Casey was pouring himself a bowl of corn flakes, the foursome was graced with an unexpected visit by Gwen and Keenan. The sibling pair decided to drop in before they headed for work and Gwen looked like the picture of health. You'd never know that she was fighting for her life against a lethal venom just the other day.
"Morning, guys." The siblings greeted cheerfully.
The three Pai Zhuq rangers and their mentor greeted back as Keenan's eyes traveled to the stack of pancakes the cheetah was holding. Lily giggled to herself as she knew what the eagle was going to ask.
"Care to join us, Keenan?" She asked holding up a plate in one hand and a spatula with a flapjack balanced on it in the other.
Keenan, never one for turning down food, just grinned. Mostly because his lady friend offered.
"I see something else I'd like to pour that syrup on." He thought lustfully. He shook the naughty thought from his head and answered hoping he wouldn't commit a Freudian slip and reveal what he was really thinking. "Don't mind if I do." He grinned as he took a seat at the island.
Gwen just rolled her eyes in shame as she took a seat next to her younger brother. Her sibling was about to partake in the offered food when Gwen leaned her elbow against the counter. Her thoughts went to Keenan's past gluttonous escapades and they brought up a valid question.
"Keenan, I may be way off base...but, didn't you just finish eating breakfast before we came over here?" She asked in slight annoyance.
"Your point?" He retorted with a shrug as Lily passed him a short stack.
Gwen just let her head slump down and let out an exasperated sigh while Casey and Theo laughed at the exchange between brother and sister. Since their adventure navigating through the Ancient Spirit Temple, the red and blue rangers were getting along much better.
"And I thought Casey was a chow hound." Theo replied with a chuckle. "Keenan, I think you may have a tapeworm."
"Tape snake is more like it." Gwen grumbled. That was the only thing she hated about Keenan; the fact that he could eat like his stomach was a black hole and not gain a single pound. "I hate you." She thought...albeit playfully.
Gwen was about to berate her brother on how much of a pig he could be when her eyes caught sight of RJ sitting across from her. Her lips curled into a smirk when she noticed how good he looked in his purple short-sleeved shirt and faded jeans. There was just something about the color purple that made him look even more handsome in her deep brown eyes.
"Morning, RJ." She greeted with a sweet smile. "You're looking pretty good."
RJ flashed his crooked grin at the lady vet as he scooted closer to her. Her lab coat was still in the car which gave the pizza chef an excellent chance to see how well her blouse and black skirt fit her.
"And you're looking lovely as ever." He replied with his own brand of confidence. "How are you this bodacious morning?"
"Better now." Gwen replied with a wink.
Casey shook his head and picked up on the vibes that his mentor and the woman whose life he helped save the other day wanted some alone time.
"I think there's something down in the shop we need to do...right, guys?" Casey asked as he motioned with his head for the others to follow him.
Theo looked at his leader and was completely oblivious to the message he was trying to convey.
"Um...no, we did everything last night. All we really have to do is open up." Theo replied mid swallow.
"Uh, no. There is something we can do...downstairs...right now! Get it?" Casey stressed through clenched teeth.
Theo may have been smart about things like school and martial arts, but when it came to affairs of the heart, he was utterly clueless. Thankfully for Casey, Lily and Keenan picked up on the tiger's not-so-subtle cue for the foursome to hit the bricks.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot we had that...thing to do...downstairs...right now. Keenan, wanna help?" Lily asked as she grabbed Theo by his collar and dragged him towards the stairs. The blue ranger protested while shaking a peeled banana in his hand.
"Sure. I always wanted to toss dough." He chuckled as he followed Casey and the others towards the stairs leading down to the JKP kitchen.
Leaving RJ and Gwen alone was the plan, but you know what they say. Plans don't always go smoothly. Seeing that they were seemingly alone, RJ and Gwen engaged in a bit of small talk.
"So, how are you feeling?" RJ asked as he ate a spoonful of his cereal. "It's not everyone who can recover so quickly from a Rinshi snake bite."
"I'm feeling much better, thanks." She answered taking a sip of orange juice. "Oh, and I figured out where that black aura came from. You know, the one you said formed around me when I was having that reaction?"
The pizza chef's interest was now piqued which was evident by his raised eyebrow. Ever since that scare in her hospital room where the black aura first appeared, he wondered where it came from if Gwen was unable to summon it.
"How could I forget? That was the biggest scare I had in a long time." He replied with his swagger. He put on the air of being cool and calm, but inside, he was still shaken up. He was an eyelash away from losing Gwen and he never felt so helpless. "But, do tell; if you didn't call for the aura, who did?" RJ wondered aloud.
Gwen let out a soft chuckle through her nose as her thoughts went back to last night. It still surprised her, but in a roundabout way, it also made perfect sense.
"Believe it or not, the aura came from Kiva."
"Your panther?" The Pai Zhuq master mused with wide eyes.
"Mm-hmm." Gwen nodded since she was drinking more juice. "It was the strangest thing...well...I guess 'strange' isn't the right word. I don't know what you'd call it, really. Last night while I was finishing up with Tahj and the other animals, Keenan and I were going over the whole 'black aura' incident when I looked over to Kiva."
RJ shifted closer to the lady vet as she regaled him with the events of the other night.
"She was just...staring at me. And it wasn't one of those blank stares, either. She was trying to tell me something." She continued unsure of whether to include the fact that she had an unusually strong connection to animals or just to let it slide. "RJ, I think Kiva knew I was in trouble and she used her spirit to save me." She said in a quiet tone.
RJ's expression was a mix of amazement, disbelief and just plain 'whoa'. He knew the spirits of animals could do incredible things, but never did he think that they were capable of something like this.
"This is...wow." He couldn't think of any other way to express his feelings. "Are you sure?"
The black ranger just nodded softly. Kiva was her own pet and she didn't fully know what the ebony feline was capable of. Maybe what happened last night was just the tip of the iceberg. Maybe...Kiva wasn't the only one who could do it. Since Gwen started taking care of the animals she kept in the big cat compound, Midnight and Serena included, she felt that they were something more than just endangered species...much more.
"It's just so surreal." Gwen was feeling a bit uncomfortable and decided to change the subject to something a little lighter. "So, can I ask you a personal question."
Neither the vet nor the pizza chef knew that just shy of the bottom of the stairs, Casey, Lily, Theo and Keenan were listening in on the couple.
"Ask away." RJ grinned. He wanted to know what was on her mind. "I'll answer any question you want." He thought wistfully.
"Okay, what was going through your mind when you first saw me?" She asked with a smirk as she rested her chin on one hand.
She wanted to see if he remembered the day they first saw each other and not the day they first 'spoke' to each other. RJ, unlike most guys when faced with the same situation, remembered that day very clearly.
"Ah, you mean the day you first came to JKP?" The Pai Zhuq master recalled. "I remember it well. When I first saw you...I thought that you were beautiful and that you had the sweetest voice I ever heard." He began. "And that there was no way I'd have a shot with you." He cringed.
Gwen was taken aback by his statement.
"What? Why would you think that?" She asked in shock.
"Well, think about it. Here you come, walking in all put together, nice hair, nice skirt and a lab coat...and there I was in a flour-dusted jacket, zebra print bandana and an apron. I guess I thought you were out of my league." He admitted finally.
"So, that's why you never said anything to me until that day?" Gwen asked softly.
RJ nodded meekly. Looking back on it, his reason did seem rather shallow, but at the time, he thought it was the truth. Gwen just gave RJ a smile letting him know that his preconceived notions were way off.
"I don't know why you'd think I was above you. I'm no different from you. You work for what you have and so do I. I love my job and I know you love yours. If anything, we had two things in common right off the bat." She chuckled. "But back on the subject, what made you finally introduce yourself to me?"
RJ's face had a slight tinge of pink when she asked him that.
"I wasn't sure if I'd ever get to see you again so I took a shot. I'm glad I did now." He replied sincerely as he took her hand in his. "Now, it's my turn to grill you. No pun intended." He chuckled. "What were your first impressions of me?"
Gwen shifted uncomfortably in her stool and her face contorted into an expression that practically screamed 'do you really wanna know?' She wasn't sure just how RJ would take her answer.
"Well..." She began and cast her eyes upward hoping for anything to happen where she didn't have to answer. "No hurtling asteroids, huh? Thanks a lot!" She thought to the powers that be. "To be honest, when I first saw you...oh, boy...I thought you were some kind of fruit loop." She replied quickly as she squinted her eyes.
At the stairs, the four rangers who were blatantly eavesdropping, quickly covered their mouths to keep the giggles that were bubbling up within them from escaping.
"Well, that's very...you thought I was what!?" RJ shouted in amusement. He wasn't mad; he knew what she meant. But the rangers...they couldn't keep it in any longer and soon, their boisterous laughter gave them away. RJ and Gwen whipped their heads to the sound of the rangers laughing and smirked. They knew their moment 'alone' was too good to be true.
"Okay, guys. Come on out." Gwen ordered playfully.
One by one, Casey and the others crawled up the stairs and onto the loft kitchen floor. They were laughing so hard, they couldn't steady themselves enough to walk in under their own power. Theo rolled over on his back as he tried to stop the laughter that threatened to asphyxiate him.
"Okay, I can honestly say I've never heard anyone be called that before." The jaguar said in between giggles.
"How long were you guys listening?" RJ asked with his arms folded.
"Since...we left?" Lily chuckled nervously.
"But, back to you guys. What did you mean by...'fruit loop'?" Casey asked as he broke out into laughter again.
Gwen just hung her head and shook it in humor.
"What I meant was when I first came to JKP and while I was waiting on my order, I thought RJ was...stalking me." She cringed playfully as she turned her eyes to said pizza chef.
"I was not stalking you. I was...I was...I was admiring you from an extremely close distance." He was about to say something else when he saw five rangers give him the 'yeah, right' look complete with raised eyebrows. Feeling outnumbered, the Pai Zhuq master conceded. "Okay, I was kinda stalking you. But only because I was too chicken to talk to you then." RJ said in his own defense.
The others chuckled and took their spots at the island and resumed their breakfast.
"Okay, we'll let you go with that one. Considering that you were pretty much a statue the day we finally met her." The cheetah giggled. "And no, we're never letting you live that down." She smirked.
RJ hung his head and laughed. He should have known his hesitation would come back to haunt him. As Gwen stood to stretch, Theo remembered their conversation about last night and it brought up an interesting question.
"Hey, Gwen. I've been meaning to ask you this since we met, but, how did you and Keenan get your Master Stripes?" The jaguar asked.
Gwen tilted her head slightly as the jaguar's guts to ask a question about something so classified.
"Trying to get an early advantage for when you go after your stripes?" Gwen smirked. "Because the test requirements are switched up for every group of students."
"What? No, of course I...what I mean is...crud." He stammered in defeat making his teammates look away in mock shame. Seeing his friends acting ashamed, Theo was a little put off, but only a little. "Anyway..." He began slightly annoyed. "So, what's your story?"
"Yeah, I was wondering about that, myself." The red tiger added.
Casey, Lily and RJ all focused their attention to the two siblings as they prepared to tell their tale. How that day transpired was something of a revelation for Keenan and Gwen...in more ways than one.
"Let's just say we found our true path that day." Keenan chuckled as he and his sister thought back to their Academy days.
[Flashback]
It was the night before a teenage Gwen and Keenan were slated to take their Master's Test and a nasty storm was whipping up outside. With the exception of the occasional thunderclap, the academy was silent as Masters and students alike were asleep for the night, resting up for another day of grueling training. The young panther was fast asleep in her room when her thoughts were invaded by an eerie dream.
[Dream Sequence]
Gwen found herself in a lush forest teeming with wildlife. She took a deep breath and enjoyed the clean air as she listened to the abundant sounds of the animals scurrying around when suddenly the sounds started to fade into a deafening silence. She looked around in horror for any signs of life other than the surrounding foliage and found that all the animals were gone.
"What's going on? What happened to the animals?" She gasped.
A flash of light blinds Gwen momentarily and this time she was transported to desert where the outcome was the same. Not a living creature in sight; at this point she would have tolerated the sight of her biggest fear: the tarantula, if it meant there was something alive there besides herself. In her dream, she was taken to the frigid arctic, the depths of the ocean, and the wetlands where she strained to find any animal still crawling around or at least hear the sound of one. But not even an earthworm was seen. Now in a panic, one more flash of light transported her to the jungles where, thankfully, she caught sight of a tiger, a cheetah with her cubs, a jaguar, a wolf, an eagle and a panther. But to her horror, they, along with the other jungle animals, were starting to vanish before her eyes.
"No! What's going on!?" She cried as she tried to run to the animals in a last ditch effort to save them, but she felt as if she were trying to run through mud that was up to her neck. It was worse than slow motion. The ebony feline, who seemed to be leading this doomed group of animals, looked at Gwen with pleading saffron eyes that peered right to her soul before speaking.
"Listen carefully. My time, as well as the other creatures of this planet, is running out. We're being driven closer to extinction by the hands of man, but thankfully, it is also man who is striving to protect us. But I'm afraid it's not enough." The panther explained, its eyes never leaving Gwen's.
"What do you mean it's not enough?" The young Pai Zhuq student asked.
The panther looked back at the other animals who were roaring in fear as they disappeared and then turned to face Gwen, its own body fading before her eyes.
"I mean those who fight for us need you-we need you!" Before it completely disappeared, it uttered four last words as they echoed through her mind:
"Help us, young panther!"
[End Dream]
Gwen shot up in a sitting position and was panting heavily. Sweat beaded on her body as she threw the covers off of her and put on her black robe and bunny slippers. That dream shook her to the core and she had to tell someone about, so she ran out of her room and went to find the first person she thought of: Keenan. Maybe he'd make sense of what her dream meant; this was no run-of-the-mill dream where butterflies and visions of The Rock graced her thoughts. This was huge! She was no more then three feet from her door when she ran smack dab into a tall form dressed in a silver robe. Looking up and rubbing her now sore nose, she saw that it was the very person she was looking for.
"Keenan? Just who I need to talk to." She whispered low enough to not wake anyone else.
"Ditto, but let me go first. What I have to say is big." He replied.
Gwen looked up at her brother and noticed that his demeanor was the same as hers-out of breath, sweating and from the look in his eyes, shocked out of his mind. She could only guess that he also had a wild dream.
"Okay, fine. You go first." Gwen conceded.
Keenan took a deep, cleansing breath and started to tell his sister what was on his mind.
"Gwen, I had the scariest dream. And before you say anything, no, it had nothing to do with the clown from 'It'." He clarified before going on. "I was in all these different places, but I couldn't find a single animal. Not even a bug! The next thing I knew, I'm in this jungle where a tiger, a mama cheetah and her cubs, a panther, a jaguar, a wolf and an eagle were vanishing and the eagle told me that they needed my help. Heavy, huh?"
Gwen just looked at him vacantly before she spoke.
"Wanna know what's even heavier? I had the exact same dream." Gwen replied.
Keenan gasped in revelation. Now, he was convinced; this dream was more than just a dream-it was a message.
"We have to tell daddy about this." Gwen suggested.
Nodding in agreement, Keenan and Gwen made their way to their father's chambers and, forgetting that they were trying not to wake up the entire school, pounded on his ornate wooden door and shouted his name.
"Dad! Wake up! We need to talk to you!" The siblings shouted.
This went on until the sound of flesh banging against wood was replaced with the dull noise of flesh hitting...flesh. Unbeknownst to the teens, the large door had opened and they were now pounding on the increasingly sore chest of their father. Noticing that the loud banging sound had changed, they looked up to see a smirking Master Mao looking down at them.
"Hi, dad." They chuckled nervously in unison.
"They've gotten stronger." He thought as he coughed lightly. "If you two are done using me as a punching bag and waking up the entire school, why don't you come in?" He asked as he ushered in his children. He saw how their expressions turned serious as they sat down on his bed.
"Now, what is it that has you both so tense?" He said bringing Gwen and Keenan two cups of hot tea.
Taking a sip, Gwen spoke first.
"Dad..."
"Uh oh; this must be serious. You hardly ever call me 'dad' unless it was." Master Mao interrupted.
"It is. I had this nightmare and it turns out Keenan had the same dream..." She began as she told every detail to her father. Once she finished, she and her brother waited for his reaction. "Dad, I don't know what to do. I want to do what I can to help but...I also want to be a Pai Zhuq master. What should I do?"
Master Mao took his seat close to his children and mulled over their dream while sipping his own tea. Since he adopted the two children, he felt the connection they had with animals strengthen and knew that this decision would come for both of them; he just didn't think it would come so soon.
"Well, Lotus, I can see where this would have you conflicted. And as much as I wish I could help you, the decision falls on your shoulders. You, alone, have that choice to make." Her father told her wisely. And, unfortunately for her, he was right...as usual. She could ask him for all the advice he had, but in the end, it was up to her.
"Why can't you just tell me what do to like normal dads?" Gwen thought bemused. "Okay, I'll think about it. But, just so you know, you could give me some kind of clue as to which path I should travel." She smirked.
"Now, what kind of father would I be if I did that?" He asked returning the smirk.
"A normal one?" Keenan chimed in with a chuckle.
Master Mao let out a laugh as he hugged his children before they left his room to go back to their own quarters. Gwen plopped face down onto her bed and turned over on her side before drifting off. The choice weighed heavily on her mind as she slept; tomorrow was the day of her test and her actions would determine if she'd be a master or not.
The next day approached and the time for Gwen and Keenan's Master's test had arrived. The two teens were dressed in their slate and black uniforms as they were led to the testing area where their father and various masters stood by the large golden gong. Neither student knew what was in store for them but they did know, from their chats with other students, that the test changes with every group of students. One group had to run a gauntlet through the woods while another has to sit and meditate outside for a week, and that was when a thunderstorm hit the academy.
"I can't even imagine what they're gonna make us do." Gwen thought to herself.
Her heart was filling with dread. Not only because of the upcoming test, but because of her dream last night and the choice she would inevitably have to make. She was snapped out of her thoughts when Master Finn walked up to the gong, with mallet in hand, struck the instrument until its metallic song reverberated throughout the courtyard. Once it died down and everyone around recovered from the temporary loss of hearing, the Shark Master spoke.
"Gwendolyn, Keenan. This is the day where we find out if you earn your Master stripes." He grinned lightly before continuing. "The two of you have been training hard since you arrived and now, the time has come for your test."
Keenan and Gwen bowed before looking to their father who had stepped back. For obvious reasons, he took a back seat as not to show favoritism towards his children.
"Take a few minutes to mentally prepare, and we'll start."
Both teens sat in the lotus position and closed their eyes as they meditated. Keenan was focused, but Gwen was torn. That dream affected her more than she cared to admit and the masters noticed. A few minutes passed before Master Finn ordered them to stand.
"Students, the time for your Master's test has arrived. To pass...you must each defeat a master of our choosing." Master Finn nodded to the opposite side of the concrete area where two opponents stood. One was a tall, muscular man with bronze skin and a bald head. The other was a slender woman with blonde hair streaked with green highlights. Keenan looked at the man who would fight him and nodded before looking to his sister to see if she was ready.
"I'm so psyched for this! How about you?" Keenan asked Gwen as he bounced on the balls of his feet.
Gwen just looked at Keenan with a look of uncertainty as she shrugged her shoulders in response. Then she looked at her opponent and was even more unsure.
"Ready..." Master Finn started.
Keenan and his opponent took their defensive stances while Gwen's opponent took hers. Gwen, slowly went into hers and was ready to fight...that is until she heard the sounds of an animal in distress. Following it to the source, she saw a tiny fawn limping out from the trees.
"Begin!" Master Finn shouted as he banged the gong for the second time. Keenan and his adversary began their fight, but Gwen's attention was focused on the fawn. The poor thing was in excruciating pain as its hind leg looked dislocated. She was slated to battle with her opponent but she was fighting a greater battle within her heart. Her head ping ponged back and forth between the master and the baby deer. Master stripes or a fawn's life...which meant more to her?
"I'm sorry! I can't do this!" Gwen shouted as she ran off the concrete stand. She ran to the screeching deer and knelt down next to it trying to assess its injuries. The fawn bucked and struggled as it tried to get away since Gwen was unfamiliar to her.
"It's okay, little one. I won't hurt you." Gwen replied soothingly.
She stroked the fawn's head and as it looked into Gwen's eyes, it immediately calmed down.
"I'm here to help."
As Gwen took her black sash off to use in a splint, she felt someone kneel beside her.
"No, we're here to help." Keenan said winking at his sister.
Gwen whipped her head around to see that her brother had forgone his test in order to help her with the small fawn.
"Keenan, you can still take the test. You can still get your Master stripes." Gwen whispered as she felt for the dislocated joint in the fawn's leg. "I don't want you to lose out on your chance because of me."
"Sis, we both had the same dream last night and we both had the same choice to make. And it looks like we both chose the same thing." Keenan whispered back. "Okay, I'll hold the little guy down while you pop his leg back into place."
Gwen nodded as she looked at the baby deer. She could see the pain in its dark eyes and spoke softly to the frightened animal.
"This is going to hurt, sweetie, but it's so we can make it better. Okay? It'll only take a moment." Gwen said reassuringly.
When the fawn calmed down, Gwen took the opportunity to pop its leg back into its socket. The baby let out a scream but it only lasted for a moment, just as Gwen promised. Keenan took his sister's sash and tied the baby deer's leg so it would have a chance to heal without too much movement. The young eagle picked up the tiny baby and carried it to the fight area with Gwen right beside him. Both students looked up at the masters' faces and saw that their actions were less than appreciated.
"Would you mind telling me what was the meaning of your running out in the middle of a Master's test?" Master Finn asked in a booming voice.
He and the other masters in attendance looked at the sibling and wondered the exact same thing...all, but one. Master Mao knew and he was proud of his children.
"Well, say something!" The Shark Master ordered.
Keenan was about to speak, but Gwen cut him off. She wasn't about to let him go down with the ship with her.
"This is my fault! But I don't regret anything I did today." She began, her face never faltering. "Last night, I had a dream where all the planet's animals vanished and they pleaded for my help. When I woke up from it, I took a lot of time to do some soul searching. Yes, I do want to be a Pai Zhuq master and as most of you know, I love animals, too, and I'd do anything to help them. So, I had to make a choice. Do I pursue my dream of earning my stripes or do I look at the bigger picture and try to help save the animals?" Keenan looked at his sister and she helped up her hand to stop him from interrupting. "Well, I'm sorry, but my choice is the animals. I know we're training to be guardians of the box that holds Dai Shi's spirit, but if I don't do something to help now, the animals we represent will become just that-spirits. So, you can kick me out of the academy, I don't care. But don't penalize Keenan for helping me. He deserves another chance to get his stripes." Gwen finished her speech and petted the baby deer as it nuzzled her hand.
"Sis, wait!" Keenan had to speak his peace. "If she goes, then so do I. We came here together, and we'll leave here together. She deserves a second chance, too. You're not gonna find anyone with more heart and determination than her. She loves this place and everyone and everything in it. And if you're gonna count this one act against her, then maybe you don't deserve your stripes."
Gwen looked to her brother with questioning eyes.
"Keenan, what do you think you're doing?" She whispered.
"Standing by you." He answered. "And I meant every word."
Master Finn and the other masters listened intently to the siblings speeches and gathered for a conference in the corner of the courtyard. Keenan and Gwen stood in the test area wondering what they were chatting so secretively about.
"You think they're gonna tell us we failed?" Gwen whispered to her brother.
"Right now, I'm just hoping they let us stay." Keenan whispered back as the fawn looked up at him.
After deliberating for what seemed like forever, they returned with Master Finn taking the lead.
"I have to admit that in all my years of teaching at Pai Zhuq, I have never witnessed a student run out during a test for any reason, let alone for a fawn." The baby deer just looked up at the shark master and snorted playfully. "And your speeches...as eloquent as they were, they weren't enough to warrant excusing you from the test...but seeing you come to the aid of this animal was." Gwen and Keenan's eyes widened as they listened to their test administrator. "A Pai Zhuq master's human sprit and animal spirit are intertwined. Without the animal, we're nothing. So, with out blessing, you two may pursue your calling to protect the animals of the planet."
Keenan was happy, as was Gwen, but she was still worried.
"Wait...what about the test?" She asked.
"Look at your arms." Master Swoop said with a smirk.
Gwen pulled up her right sleeve and a black aura shone as it formed her stripes on the inside of her forearm.
"Oh...my...God! I got my stripes? Not that I'm not thrilled, I am. But why?" Gwen asked.
Keenan handed the fawn to Gwen as he looked as his own right arm and a silver aura formed his stripes inside his forearm.
"This is awesome! But...how?"
"The reason you two earned your stripes was because you understand that the animals are the soul of Pai Zhuq." Gwen's female opponent explained.
"As Master Finn said, without the animals, we're nothing." Keenan's opponent chimed in.
Keenan and Gwen both bowed to the masters as Master Mao stepped forward and smiled at his children. They exceeded every one of his expectations.
"You have no idea how proud I am of you both. Congratulations on achieving Master Status."
As everyone cheered, the feline master hugged his adoptive sone and daughter.
"And on a lighter note...Gwen, Keenan...the next time you kids have a nightmare and you wanna tell someone about...wait til morning." Master Swoop smirked.
"We promise." The siblings laughed.
[End Flashback]
"And that's how it happened. Not your typical outcome, but hey, nothing that happens nowadays is typical anymore." Gwen chuckled.
RJ and the rangers were in awe. They had no idea the black and silver rangers went through such an adventure.
"That was such an awesome story!" Lily whispered.
"That must have been some intense dream." Theo added.
"You have no idea." Keenan replied.
"Can you imagine what would have happened if you guys didn't have that dream?" Casey asked.
"I don't even want to think about it." Gwen shuddered. She did think about what would have happened. She never would have been a vet; she never would have a job she loves; she never would have been a ranger and met Casey and the gang; and most importantly...she never would have met RJ and that was the kicker for her. With a smile, she looked down at her watch and her eyes grew wide. "Oh, man! Guys, I hate to cut this short, but if Keenan and I don't book right now, we're gonna be late!"
"Oh, do you have to? It feels like you just got here." The Pai Zhuq master replied with a pout.
RJ looked disappointed. He hoped he'd have at least one more minute with the black ranger. Gwen looked at his sad face and those puppy dog eyes he was giving her and giggled.
"Oh, those eyes. He's turned that look into an art form!" She thought playfully. "Aww, don't pout. I'll come back for lunch, we might be able to spend it together, okay?" She asked stroking his facial stubble making him smile.
"Now how can I refuse such a tempting offer?" He replied, his swagger returning.
With a chuckle, she kissed him on the cheek before running out with Keenan in tow and everyone saying bye to them.
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Meanwhile...
Camille skulked in the catacombs of the lair. The memory of her near victory over the black ranger irked her constantly. She was so close to getting rid of her but the rangers came through with the antidote. That, alone, was enough to make her clench her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white. But one image did overshadow the sting of her defeat, even if foe a moment. Seeing Velociviper destroyed was a rare treat. Her moment of savoring the snake's demise was short lived as Flit buzzed around her head in a taunting manner.
"I don't want to rub salt in your wounds...but this is like, what, the third time that black cat got the better of you?" Flit asked. "Or was it the fourth? I lost count."
Camille snarled at the buzzing little announcer and grabbed him by his bulbous head.
"If I wanted you to keep score, I'd have asked you a long time ago!" The chameleon replied as she shook him like a martini. "But that doesn't matter. She has nine lives...but I'm determined to take a few of them away...if not all of them. I have a plan."
"That's what you said last time...and the time before...and the time before that." Flit droned. "What makes this time any different? You're gonna lure her with a giant ball of catnip? Because that only works in the movies." Flit joked.
"Joke all you like, you motor mouthed maggot." The wily chameleon growled. "This plan will work."
"Okay, I'm all ears. Well, technically I don't have any ears, but that's beside the point." Flit rambled. "Whatcha got?"
Camille held a silk pouch and produced a golden idol of a bird. Flit looked at the statue's decorative tail plumage and scoffed.
"A cockatoo? Your plan to finally defeat the rangers involves...a cockatoo?"
"This, my flittery fly, is a lyre bird. It's able to mimic any sound it hears." Camille explains as she places it on the head of a nearby rinshi causing it to change. "Say hello to Passerina!"
The rinshi's form expanded and exploded into its final form. The creature was as Camille promised. Standing in front of the unlikely pair was a female lyre bird with ornate tail plumage shaped like the instrument that was her species namesake and a feathery, striped punk mohawk. Passerina stroked the hair on top of her head and instead of the melodic tune you'd expect, the sound of a rocking electric guitar echoed.
"Passerina at your service, and yes, I do take requests!" The avian minion cackled.
Flit buzzed around the new enemy and was less than impressed.
"You're grasping at straws, Camille. What's she gonna do to the rangers with music? If I remember right, Stingerella tried this tactic and she got vaporized." Flit reminded his reptilian hostess.
Camille snarled at her small fly and looked to her newest creation.
"Give him a sample of your work." Camille ordered simply.
"Rockin'!" Passerina shouted.
She strummed the slender feathers of her tail and the sound of a flute wafted through the air. Camille covered her ears while Flit started buzzing in rhythmic patterns around the room.
"Wha-hey! I can't stop! What are you doing!?" Flit asked as he tried to stop dancing.
"This is her special talent. I'm sure you heard the story of the Pied Piper. Well, her music can basically make the listener do anything she wants...anything." Camille smirked as she gave Passerina a silent cue. Taking the hint, Passerina changed her tune slightly and made Flit fly repeatedly into the brick wall next to the crafty lizard.
"Wait...ow! I...ow! Believe you...ow!" The tiny fly relented as he kept getting slammed.
Camille nodded again and the lyre bird rinshi stopped strumming her tail feathers long enough for Flit to zigzag to his owner.
"Let's go again!" He slurred dizzily.
"Once the rangers hear her music, they won't be able to defend themselves. They'll be rendered powerless making them easy pickings for Dai Shi." Camille smirked. "Just imagine, Flit. The rangers not in control of their own bodies...unable to morph...unable to fight..."
"Unable to see straight...like a certain fly I know." Flit buzzed.
"That can be arranged. Passerina, you seem to have rehearsed long enough. I think it's time you made your debut on Ocean Bluff."
"I was hoping you'd say the word. Time for my concert!"
"Oh, one more thing...if you happen to run into the black ranger, make her suffer!" Camille sneered.
Passerina cackled as she skipped from the catacombs en route to an unsuspecting Ocean Bluff.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Back at the Animal Hospital...
Keenan and Gwen were in the middle of their morning rounds and had already checked on the patients in the wild animal compound. While Keenan looked over his list of new patients, Gwen was speaking to Nancy, one of her most trusted assistants.
"Okay, Nancy, how are the reptiles holding..." She never got to finish her sentence because something came over her and her voice seemed to have a mind of its own. "I thought I told you to tie your hair back!"
That sudden outburst made Gwen clamp her hands over her mouth in shock. Her eyes bugged out in surprise; she was going to talk to Nancy about her hair...but she was never going to yell at her.
"Oh, my God! Nancy, I'm so sorry! I never meant to yell; I don't know what came over me!" Gwen frantically apologized.
Nancy nodded. She was very forgiving and knew Gwen would never yell...especially over something so trivial as not having her hair tied in a ponytail during work hours. Yes, there was a dress code, but not having a ponytail was nothing to shout about. Keenan heard the outburst and went to his sister.
"Are you okay, Gwen?" A concerned Keenan asked.
Gwen just turned to face her brother and her face spoke volumes. She was surprised, she was flat out scared. The only time she every shouted like that was the day they were adopted by master Mao and those boys pushed Keenan down.
"I-I don't know. I never did...you still haven't paid me back that five bucks you owe me!" Once again, her hands flew to her mouth as she gasped. "I'm sorry, bro! I don't know why I snapped like that!"
Keenan was now growing worried as his sister couldn't seem to control her own mouth.
"It's okay. I'll go get you the five bucks right now." He replied as he went to find his wallet.
"Keenan, the money isn't even important. Forget it, please." Gwen begged before turning to Nancy again. This time she felt anxious because she didn't know whether her voice would be normal or if it would turn into another shouting match. "Okay, Nancy, about those...Nancy, make sure those vaccine vials are stored properly!"
Gwen cringed as she heard her voice and banged her head on the desk. She didn't know what else to do. After she finished giving herself a concussion, she looked up to a very worried Nancy.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I've never snapped like that before. Nancy, I am so sorry. You've don't nothing wrong; I want you to know that." Gwen reassured.
Her assistant just gave her a warm smile. Since she was hired by Gwen a few years ago, she'd seen the head vet at her best and at her worst. She also hadn't known Gwen to be anything else besides her soft-spoken self.
"It's cool. I can understand that stress gets to people. This job can definitely take its toll on you, especially if you love animals." Nancy explained with a soft smile. "Maybe you should go take a walk to clear your head. Keenan and I can handle things here until you come back."
"Are you sure." Gwen asked making sure it was alright.
"We're sure, sis." Keenan agreed as he gave Gwen her jacket and a hug. "Take your time."
"Okay, and I really am sorry." She apologized again.
"It's okay, really." Nancy reaffirmed.
With a small smile, Gwen left the animal hospital and went for a cleansing walk. She didn't know where she was going, but some time away from the hustle and bustle of her job would do her some good.
"What's going on with me?" The black ranger asked herself. "It's like I'm coming down with Tourette's or something!"
As Gwen walked towards the main section of downtown, A certain lyre bird had appeared and was ready to cause her own brand of mayhem.
"Hmmm, this stage looks perfect for my debut." Passerina laughed evilly as she stroked her head feathers. "Okay, Ocean Bluff, tune your ears to this!"
Passerina strummed her tail plumage until it played a booming rock guitar song. The music flowed through the city and anyone who listened lost control of their bodies. Pedestrians and bike riders who were preparing to cross the street found themselves walking right into busy traffic while those driving cars swerved off of the road and into vendor carts and lamp posts on the sidewalks.
"Now this is what I call 'slam' dancing!" Passerina cackled.
Gwen, who was close to the mayhem, heard the sounds of people screaming for help and ran to the source of the noise. When she arrived at the core of Downtown Ocean Bluff, she saw Passerina playing her feathers like a rock guitar and relishing in the havoc she was causing.
"Hey, knock it off, bird brain!" Gwen shouted as she caught sight of the culprit.
Passerina stopped playing long enough to turn around and face Gwen.
"Now who's this little lemming?" Passerina quipped.
"You're about to find out!"
Feeling that a punching bag was just what the doctor ordered, Gwen slipped on her Solar Morphers, tapped the left side of them and shouted...
"Jungle Beast! Spirit Unleashed!"
Going through her kata, she transforms into the Black Ranger and takes a defensive stance. Passerina just laughed a her primary target just revealed herself.
"Ah! So you're the Black Ranger Camille is talking about?"
"Hmmph. Nice to know I made a lasting impression on her." Gwen replied.
"Indeed, you did. Although looking at you know, I don't see anything the slightest bit impressive about you." The lyre bird rinshi insulted.
As if Gwen wasn't agitated enough. Now this reject from Colonel Sanders has the audacity to insult her. Clenching her fists, the panther was wound up tighter than a two dollar watch and she was ready to shove this bird's beak down her throat.
"You want a demo? Just say the word!" Gwen replied using a musical pun.
Passerina just waved the Panther Ranger closer indicating that she was ready to brawl. With a snarl, Gwen charges the waiting lyre bird and they immediately trade blows. Gwen was going full blast but Passerina blocked every punch and kick the black cat threw at her.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Back at JKP...
The alarms start blaring on RJ's tv system making him and the three rangers rush to the viewing area. They were shocked to see Gwen fighting with Passerina and having trouble.
"It's Gwen, but what's that she's fighting?" Lily asked as she observed the fight in progress.
"Who cares? She needs help!" Theo replied.
RJ watched as Gwen struggled in her battle and sat in his chair.
"Contact Keenan and tell him to meet at Gwen's location. This looks like one tough bird." The Pizza Master quipped.
"We're on it! Let's go, guys!" Casey ordered.
The three rangers swung through the portal and as they ran to Gwen's location, Casey tapped the side of his shades to activate the comlink.
"Keenan! Keenan, pick up!"
At the animal hospital, Keenan heard his shades beeping and told Nancy that he'd be right back. Going into his office, he dons his Solar Morpher and opened his end of the comlink.
"Yeah, Casey?"
"Keenan, meet us downtown! Gwen's fighting a monster and she needs help!"
"I'm on my way!"
Keenan slipped off his shades and went to the foyer of the hospital to tell Nancy that he had an errand to run and that he'd be right back. Seeing her agree, he ran out to help his sister. Downtown, Gwen was still having difficulty putting away Passerina as the lyre bird proved to be more formidable than the panther first thought.
"What's wrong, kitty? Getting tired? Maybe you should just give up; save yourself the trouble." Passerina goaded.
"Shut it, Budgie!" Gwen growled as she fought harder.
She goes in for a frontal attack but gets knocked back into a car by a laser blast from Passerina's beak. Gwen's energy was dropping as she struggled to get back up.
"What's wrong with me?" The Black ranger growled to herself. She was halfway to her feet when she sees Passerina closing in on her.
"Looks like you're on your last life! Too bad it's gonna get cut short!" Passerina cackled.
She strummed her head feathers until they glowed a bright red. She was about to launch her final attack when another blast hit her right in the chest, blowing her away from Gwen.
"Get away from her!" Casey shouted as he and the other morphed rangers joined their battered teammate.
"Am I glad to see you guys!" Gwen groaned in pain. "Watch this one; she's a toughie."
Lily looked at the lyre bird and at first glance, she didn't look like much of a threat. I mean, what can a second rate peacock do?
"So are we!" The cheetah replied.
The lyrical avian rinshi was now perturbed that the solo act of the Black Ranger had now turned into a quintet.
"Oh, great. Everyone wants to get into the act. What is this, America's Got Talent!?" Passerina groaned in annoyance.
"Doesn't matter! You're gonna be singing a brand new tune. Jungle Fans!" Theo shouted.
"Jungle Mace"
"Jungle Chucks!"
"Jungle Sais!"
"Jungle Katanas!"
Passerina sees the rangers now equipped with their weapons and looked completely unimpressed.
"You're preaching to the choir! Rinshi!"
With a snap of her fingers, a horde of hopping minions advance towards the rangers.
"We've heard this song before!" Casey replied as he led his team into battle. Weapons clashed and bodies were flung as the rangers took control of the battle easily. Once they disposed of the rinshi, they turned their attention back to their main focus, Passerina.
"Is that all you got? Spare me! Lemme show you some real instruments!"
Passerina stood back and strummed her tail feathers until they played the same rock tune that whipped the citizens into an uncontrollable frenzy. At first, nothing happened, but soon, the rangers all start moving to the music...unfortunately, it was against their will.
"What's going on?" Theo asked as his body started to twitch. Soon he and the other rangers were dancing...rather badly...to the hypnotic music.
"I love dancing as much as the next person, but this is ridiculous!" Lily grunted as she tried to fight it.
"I can't stop!" Casey shouted as his body jerked.
"Neither can I!" Gwen agreed. She was never much of a dancer and having her lack of talent shown in public just made her more self conscious.
"This is a disgrace to dancing! Wade Robson, I'm sorry!" Keenan shouted to the sky.
"Oh, this is just the first verse. Here comes the chorus!" Passerina quipped with another musical pun.
Changing the rhythm of the song she was playing to a faster beat, the rangers all faced each other in a circle and attacked each other with their own weapons. Sparks flew as each ranger fell back from the force of the attacks. Gwen, was now livid.
"That's it! I've had it with you!"
She got up from the ground and charged at Passerina once more with all she had left, but it felt like she was somehow holding back.
"I can't let her get to me!" She thought as she threw more punches that had no effect. "I can't lose control!"
Passerina flawlessly blocked every advance and let out s sigh of boredom.
"Honestly, is this all you have? Is this the end of your track? Sorry, chick, but you're nothing but a One Hit Wonder!"
The last she was saving for the other rangers was given to Gwen as she used her sonic blast to throw her into her team.
"And to think Camille had a hard time beating you! Ha! Until next time, rangers...Bye Bye Bye!" With a cackle, the lyre bird flies away to report to Camille and Dai Shi.
"No!" Gwen growled as she punched the blacktop. "Nothing we did made a dent!"
Her friends went to her and helped her up. Seeing how she held back in her fight, they were naturally concerned.
"Gwen, are you alright?" The Silver Eagle asked.
Gwen looked into her brother's hemlet and replied in a soft voice...
"I don't know."
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Back at the loft...
Casey goes over the last fight with everyone and his focus turned to Gwen, who worried him the most.
"Gwen, I never seen you like this before. You usually go all out in a fight."
"I know...it's like I...I wanna wring that lizard's neck!" Gwen shouted. The volume of her voice made everyone jerk back in surprise. Hearing such a loud voice come from someone who was known to be 'quiet' was a shock. Gathering his courage, Theo was the first to speak.
"I'm guessing you mean Camille?"
Gwen quickly turned to Theo and answered him.
"No, I mean Godzilla! Of course I mean Camille!!" Gwen quickly smacks her hands over her mouth and gasps after realizing that she just snapped at her friend. "Oh, my...Theo, I am so sorry!"
Lily carefully went to a frightened Gwen and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Gwen, I know this is stressful, but you have to control your anger." The cheetah pleaded.
Gwen leaned next to the juke box and put her head down on it.
"It's like I can't control my mouth." Gwen whispered. "And this isn't the first time this happened. I snapped at the hospital, too, before I fought that KFC candidate."
She looked up and the strain was clearly visible on her warm face making her friend worry even more. As they tried to console Gwen, none of them knew that someone was watching and listening to them, or that this someone had been watching them since their battle with Passerina.
"Guys, I don't know what's wrong with me." Gwen whispered.
"I believe I do." A woman's voice echoed throughout the loft making everyone take a defensive stance.
"Who's there!? Show yourself!" Casey demanded loudly.
Everyone looked around until their eyes fell on a shadow by the door...
XXXXXXXXXXXX
End of Chapter One
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Looks like they have a visitor, but is it friend...or foe? And what IS going on with Gwen? She's snapping at everything nowadays! Think she'll deal with it? Well, you guys know the drill, read review....ESPECIALLY REVIEW. And pass it on! New readers are welcome!
