STOP! This is Chapter 4 of Between Good and Evil: Ninjetti Rising. Chapter 3 was originally an author's note, but was changed to an actual chapter a few months ago. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ CHAPTER 3 GO BACK AND DO SO NOW!
The journey to the Delta Plateau was made in silence. Kimberly set a grueling pace which was matched by all of them but left little breath left for words. They reached the ruins just before the sun vanished completely beneath the horizon. A small fire was already burning in a pit with a cauldron of stew heating over it.
"Is someone else here?" The only answer Ashley received was a mysterious smile from her cousin. Exhausted, the Astro Rangers wandered into a circle around the fire while Kim dished stew into each of the eight bowls stacked next to the fire. Silence reigned as everyone ate their dinner and remained unbroken until Zhane finished his second helping and set his bowl down.
"Where is Dulcia?" Andros asked pointedly.
Kimberly shrugged, a small smile tickling her lips though her eyes showed no humor. "I honestly have no idea; probably somewhere nearby." She turned to look directly at her cousin and smiled conspiratorially, "It's the first time I've initiated anyone."
Ashley's brow furrowed in confusion. She glanced from Kim to her boyfriend and back. Andros' gaze remained steady on Kim and eventually she turned back to him. Her eyes flicked to Ashley one more time before speaking. "She has no idea why you're here."
"Neither does Zhane." Andros acknowledged with a nod to indicate the Silver Ranger. "I didn't know Dulcea had and apprentice."
"She has six, technically," she cast a quick glance at Servia when the Pink Ranger gasped, "I'm just the only one who has fully awakened."
"Phaedos hasn't had a Ranger team since it fell in the Great War six centuries ago." Karone's icy tone drew everyone's attention across the fire.
"Things change."
"Not on that scale." Servia interjected.
"Over a few centuries . . ." Kim shrugged a little as she trailed off.
"Phaedos died." Karone answered, her voice still carrying no inflection.
"Look around you." Kimberly stretched her arms out to indicate the lush forest and battering waves. "She was merely asleep."
"You're talking about another Nexi shift aren't you." Ashley spoke up. The others turned to look at her. Most of their eyes held confusion but Karone and Kimberly's narrowed gazes were calculating and caused the Yellow Ranger to shrink back slightly. Andros noticed and turned to glare at his sister and the Ninjetti warrior. Both women blinked and shook off their questions for the time being.
Kimberly looked up at the stars for a few moments before she stood. "We should begin."
The others quickly followed, although Ashley and Zhane were still unsure of what was happening. The Astro Rangers arranged themselves in a semicircle with the stone arches leading to the jungle at their backs and the fire in front. Kimberly retrieved a bowl of glittering sand from a small alcove and came to stand in front of them.
"Buried deep within each of us is an animal spirit waiting to be released," Kimberly began. The power of the ritual began to thrum around and through the seven Rangers and their guide. "Close your eyes and look deep inside."
Kimberly gently cupped the sand between her palms and blew it over each of them as she turned. The five Rangers who had already undergone the ritual smiled as they felt their connection to their animal spirits reconfirmed and the Power flooded through them. Karone outright grinned as she felt fully connected to her animal spirit and her Power for the first time.
Ashley and Zhane gasped as they felt the Power that their animal spirits brought. It surged through them and settled as warmth around the heart. It was as if a piece of a puzzle had been put in sidewise on the day they were born and had now been turned so that it fit perfectly into place.
Ashley opened her eyes and pulled off her hood as she looked down at her new outfit. It was bright yellow and very loose around the joints. The edges tucked into her boots and gloves and a belt and collar made sure it kept the correct shape. There was a gold medallion centered on her chest but her attention was brought back the ceremony before she could examine the design.
Kimberly walked over to one end of their line and smiled. "Zhane, playful yet protective you are the Monkey. Never feel that you must hold your tongue for it is often at the darkest hour that others forget to see the light." She continued down the line speaking to each Ranger as she came to them.
"Karone, you are the Coyote, inventive and ingenious," she leaned in close to the Purple Ranger, "Trust your instincts, the Coyote is known for its trickster nature as well as resourcefulness, both will serve you well." Karone nodded with a cautious gleam in her eyes. She knew as well as the others that there were some things that only she and Orian had the temperament for.
"Mysterious and secretive Orian, you are the Black Bird. Often overlooked your observations will be strong asset to your team. However you must not be afraid to trust others, they can become your greatest allies.
"Graceful and swift, you Servia are the Deer. Never forget that you are the guardian of your team, they rely on you to heal them in mind and heart as well as in body.
"Kalic you are the Turtle, patient and enduring. Remember that tenacity and perseverance are as important as strength and courage for while others may take the lead someone must cover the rear or all will fail."
Kimberly stopped in front of Ashley and smiled proudly at her cousin. She reached out and gently ran her fingers over the golden medallion. "Cunning and wise, you are the fox. Like the coyote most today see the fox as a trickster, a villain. Do not be afraid to show your true colors and speak out in your own defense. Those who are worthy of you will see you as you truly are." Ashley's shoulders tensed as her cousin spoke, but as their eyes met once again she relaxed and gave her a small smile and nod. It would not, could not really, happen overnight, but she was beginning to see her own self worth once again. The others could not help but smile at the interaction.
"Andros, you are a true leader, strong and decisive. You are the Puma. Do not be afraid to take the advice of your teammates into consideration. Remember, patient is not the opposite of decisive; both are traits of the Puma." Andros nodded slowly.
Kimberly stepped away from the Red Astro Ranger and bowed slightly before them all. With that the air around them relaxed and spell was broken the others congregated around Ashley in order to congratulate her while Andros gave her a quick hug and whispered something to her before going to talk with Kimberly. The warrior had gone to stand at the edge of the plateau and look out over the jungles.
"How long have you been here?" he asked after a few moments of silence.
"Two years, give or take. Why?"
"Ashley didn't know you were here. I doubt she knew you left Earth."
"Hmm."
"Ashley didn't have any problems until a year or so ago . . ."
"Um hmm."
"Why didn't she know you were gone?"
Kimberly sighed heavily and turned to face the Red Ranger. He wasn't going to let this go without some sort of explanation. He was a bit too much like Jason and . . .
"I had been in a secluded gym training for a major competition for four months before I was forced to come here. Suffice it to say, I didn't have much contact with anyone at the time and I was forced to do some rather unsavory things to make sure no one would try to contact me once I left and realize that something was wrong." Seeing the look on his face she hurriedly continued, "That's all you're getting out of me, there are others who deserve to hear the story first, even ahead of my cousin." She glanced toward the area where Ashley and the others were beginning to settle down for the night. "Now it's your turn. What caused my little cousin to become the Yellow Ranger of KO-35."
Andros sighed heavily and also turned his head to look at his girlfriend. Ashley seemed to sense him and grinned at the two of them before turning back to her conversation with Servia and Karone. "It's a long story, most of which should be told by her when she's ready." He held up a hand to forestall Kimberly's protest and met her gaze before he continued. "Suffice it to say, the people of Earth, particularly their Rangers, are not anywhere near as accepting as they could be."
With that Andros turned and walked over to settle in with his friends leaving Kimberly to her thoughts. What could have happened that made the Rangers outcast someone, especially someone as sweet and outgoing as her cousin? She turned back to the jungle, missing the worried look Ashley sent her way as she began to get up and Andros' hand drawing her back to the Astro Rangers for the time being.
She stood watch as Ashley gradually tilted to the left and finally fell asleep on her boyfriend's shoulder. Shortly after that the others began to yawn and move away from the fire to settle down for the night. Some part of her was aware and thankful that they all felt comfortable enough with her cousin, and with her, to sleep with a stranger on watch.
The Astro Rangers had only been asleep for an hour or so when the familiar presence flew down from its perch on the ruins.
"Your cousin in far more intelligent than she lets on, to know of the Nexi Shifts," Dulcea said as she came to stand just behind her. "I doubt anyone was able to tell her about the catalyst of the last Great War."
Kimberly took a deep breath and looked up to the stars before answering. "Ash has always been a good student. She absorbs everything like a sponge and finds the connections between the most unlikely things. Knowing that she's no longer stuck on Earth, it doesn't surprise me that she knows. I'm curious as to where she came across the information; sure," she shot a glance over her shoulder before looking back to a particular point in the sky and whispering, "I'm worried about the fact that she's right."
"You speak as though your cousin was always meant to leave the Earth." Dulcea looked over each of the sleeping Rangers before returning her attention to Kimberly.
"She only ever really fit with our family. Most others liked her well enough, she's just one of those people, but. . ." Kimberly sighed again and shook her head before looking to where her cousin lay curled up in the Red Astro Rangers' embrace. "Seeing her with them . . . they fit. Wherever they are is where she is meant to be." She shook her head sadly and purposefully kept her gaze averted from the stars this time.
Dulcea took in the slumped shoulders and heartbroken tone of her apprentice with sad eyes. "You have been here for quite sometime, Kimberly, with only one short trip back to your home planet." Kimberly's eyes shot open and her breath sped up. She barely noticed the sunlight peeking over the horizon as her mentor continued. "You are much stronger now than you once became and no one else will be drawing on your—"
"How long?" Kimberly interrupted.
It was Dulcea's turn to sigh and she shrugged although Kimberly's back was still to her. "Ten months, a year, perhaps more if you're careful."
"I could help." Kimberly's voice was quiet as she spoke the words aloud yet to herself. She jumped slightly when Dulcea's hand came to rest on her shoulder; she had not heard the other woman move.
"The Great Power was gravelly reduced by its use on Earth. It will not be fully restored until the Nexi have finished their shift."
"I know," Kimberly replied, meeting her mentor's gaze with excitement in her eyes for the first time in over a year, "but I can still help."
Dulcea smiled and reached forward to place a light kiss on Kimberly's brow. "Be safe, my Crane." Kimberly pulled back slightly and Dulcea's eyes softened further at the worry she saw in the Pink Ninjetti's brown eyes. "I will see you," she assured her, well aware that her blessing had sounded much like a farewell. "When all is complete, I will see you . . ."
Kimberly smiled and turned to walk over to where the Astro Rangers were beginning to stir. She was so focused on gaining a ride that she failed to hear Dulcea's final words, spoken quietly as the Master Guardian disappeared among the ruins.
". . . if only for the last time."
A/N: Yes, more Rangers are being added. Don't worry though the story focus is still on the Astro's, this is just set up. On another note, I will be updating whenever I get a chapter done. That just seems to be easier and less stressfull for me. What that means is that some weeks (or even days) there will be multiple updates and sometimes it may take a while. I will do my best to make sure that no other long periods of absence occure (Deja Vu), but I want to make sure that your getting as much of the story as possible without my backloging things, going in to change something and then not updated for months at time. Let's all hope this works out.
~Fantasywriter13
