Disclaimer: Everything you recognise belongs to Disney/Haim Saban

Thursdays meant the ninja academies for the ninja students and some one-on-one time for Eva with Dayton. Eva enjoyed spending time with the former Life Spirits guardian. Not only was he caring, and intelligent, he could also be amazingly clueless about day-to-day things that she took for granted, which was just hilarious, in Eva's opinion. And the fact he was drop dead gorgeous wasn't a bad thing either.

He would have been the perfect man – if he didn't come from a time millenias ago.

Right now, they'd just finished her physical training and Eva was flat out on the command base floor, panting. Dayton sat on one of the cushions he kept lying around, completely relaxed and not out of breath at all. Eva sent him the evil eye. "You're not human."

Dayton blinked. "But I most assuredly am."

Eva rolled her eyes. "It was an expression, Dayton. One expressed in – oh never mind."

Dayton grinned. "I know Eva."

Eva's eyes widened and she sat up so fast, Dayton idly wondered why she didn't look dizzy. "Oh my god! Did you make a joke? No, wait it was more a sarcastic comment! Man, the others should be here! This is a historic moment!"

Now Dayton really did look puzzled. "I do not understand."

Eva grinned, waved a hand in dismissal. "Never mind, I'm babbling. And thirsty. Man, what I wouldn't give for a can of soda right about now."

Dayton's eyes lit up. "Soda? I have that. I think. In a moment, please."

And again, her mentor left her stunned. Eva shook her head, grinning. Man, oh, man, was Dayton adjusting to modern life. It wasn't quite safe enough to let him go wandering around in a mall on his own yet, but he was close.

Dayton returned, holding two cans of soda. "David bought this for me. I have only tried one but it was an…experience."

Eva grinned. She bet it had been, for someone who was used to only drinking water. Pure, sweet, clear water, sure, but water all the same. She caught the can he tossed to her – her grin widening as she thought about how it was such a Jay move. Dayton was being influenced by them, sure as they were being influenced by him.

They popped the tabs at the same time, Eva taking a deep gulp while Dayton took a long sip. Eva let out a soft, satisfied sigh, head dropping back. "Just what I needed." Then she grinned, something her brother said drifting through her mind. "This isn't exactly healthy, you know."

Dayton nodded. "I know. You would be better off with water. But," his smile was soft, "you did well today, so I believe you deserve a reward."

"Yeah?" Eva grinned at him. "I did good?"

He nodded. "Very good."

Eva lifted her can in a toast. "Yay for me!"

Dayton laughed, imitated her. "Yay for you, indeed."

She was mid-drink when the alarms went off, when the screen hanging by itself flickered on. "Monster attack!"

"Yes." Dayton's face was suddenly stern as he went to the controls, fingers moving across dials, switches and buttons only he understood as he sought to pinpoint the monster's location. "He is in the forest."

"The forest?" Eva frowned, cocked her head. "There's nothing out there."

"He stands in front of a waterfall. Alone, once more. Eva, morph. I will transport you out there using your pressen."

"The others?"

"I am calling them now."

"Right. Griffin Rider, Ranger Form!"

The blue lights appeared from nowhere, circling the teen's head, descending as they circled, getting larger and large until the light engulfed her body. When it faded away, the Blue Griffin Ranger stood in Eva's place. "All right," she said, nodding at Dayton. "Let's–"

Sudden screams erupted from the screen. Eva and Dayton turned, eyes widening at what they saw. The monster had already unleashed its attack and the waterfall was gone. An illusion, Eva realised distantly, as she stared at large wooden buildings and the clean grounds and the people in black curled up on the ground. Then the monster attacked again.

The buildings began to shake, the people curled up tighter and then the buildings began to fall. On them.

There were three who weren't curled up on the ground. They were racing to the buildings, and suddenly the communication lines in the base opened up. "Dayton! Dayton!"

Trev's voice, laced with just an edge of panic. Dayton answered, his voice as calm and steady as ever. "Yes, Trevor. The monster is –"

"Attacking the ninja academy! Damnit, we can't morph. My stupid force fields are something blocking the morphing grid!"

"Nice, Trev," Jay's voice came over the line, tensed with anger. "Real nice work."

"Shut up Jay!"

"Rangers!" Dayton's voice was sharp, a reminder of who they were. "This is not the time to bicker. I am sending Eva there – she is already morphed. The others –"

"We're already here Dayton," David said suddenly. "With the Thunder ninjas."

Eva's head was spinning. Everything was moving way to fast. "What?"

"Eva, I want you to take out the monster. We have to help out the academy."

David's voice steadied her, enough that she could focus. "Yeah, okay. Dayton?"

Dayton's didn't reply but he didn't have to. The portal was already open, swirling in front of her. She called up her bow first, the blue tip bow appearing in her hands and feeling comfortable in her grip. She nodded at Dayton and, holding her bow in one hand, stepped through the portal.

It was chaos in the Wind Ninja Academy. The monster attack had stopped – for now at the very least – but that didn't mean everything was fine. The buildings were collapsing, and David could have sworn he heard his dad groaning, "not again", as they raced through the academy grounds.

Everyone from the Thunder Ninja Academy was there. Ever since his parents' days as rangers, the bonds between the two academies were tight. Tight enough they'd signed a pact; if either of the academies were attacked, the other would come to help out, no matter the circumstances.

Right now, most of the thunder ninjas were heading towards the toppling academy buildings. There was already a flood of students and teachers coming from them, a few of the older students lining up along the edges of the flood, trying to gain some order. The other thunder ninjas were helping the ones on the training grounds up, checking them over, making sure they were all right.

David spotted his mum, but Aunt Leanne was already helping her up so he sped on. Most of the beginner and intermediate students' classes were housed in the buildings which meant only one thing to him; his sister was in there.

There were sudden screams as another part of the building fell. "Please tell me there was no one in there!"

"No," Trev's voice suddenly came through his wristlet, tense but steady. "Everyone was already evacuated from there."

"Mary Ann?"

"Not out yet. And I can't find Sara, Michelle or Calum either."

"Ris?"

"No sign of them." Ris's voice sounded even but he could hear the tint of fear in it. He sped up.

"Jay?"

"In the grounds. I'm heading towards the bui–"

The next attack knocked David flat. His force field activated before his mind had even registered the attack. It shimmered in front of him, almost imperceptible apart from the slight yellow cast to his surroundings. He gained his feet, stared around as everyone else curled up on the ground, hands clamped firmly over their ears. "Check in!"

"I'm fine."

"I'm good."

"Okay."

"Still heading towards the buildings."

David had to smile at Jay's reply. His cousin had a one track mind and though it could oftentimes be annoying, this time it was an asset. "Work fast everyone. I know no one's moving right now but the building sure as hell is. Get everyone out there, even if you have to carry them."

"Got that," Jeanie said. "I'm at the entrance now, heading in."

"Be careful."

"Always."

David had reached the buildings now. There were crowds of students here, some crowded in groups, some prone on the ground. All of them were holding their ears. None of them were his sister or his cousins.

Jay joined him, moving carefully. Jeanie re-emerged from the building, holding a young student. The boy didn't even have his element yet. There was blood tangled in his light brown hair. Jeanie was shaking her head. "Got hit with a beam. Had to lift it off him."

"He okay?"

"Pretty much, I think. I'm taking him to Ris to Heal." Jeanie moved off.

The attack stopped as suddenly as it started – but this time there was a bellow of pain. "Eva," David murmured in a satisfied voice.

Jay nodded. "Let's hope Pleance won't be adding any Frissons to the mix."

"Don't worry," Eva's voice crackled over their wristlets. "I'm using my bow. Long distance."

"Keep at it, Eva," David told her before moving towards the academy building.

"David!" The yell came from a thunder sensei. "Don't go in there, it's too dangerous."

"But –"

Trev suddenly appeared, face pale and set. "Listen to him. We're students here, remember?"

David nodded and reluctantly joined his sensei, helping him and the group of thunder students with him herald the younger wind students towards the pre-determined safe zones. And, still, neither Mary Ann, nor Sara, nor Michelle, nor Calum were among them. Fear leapt into David's throat. Where could they be?

"They're in the far east wing," Cam said and though he wasn't talking to David, the teen's head turned anyway. Cam was talking to Hunter, brows furrowed and dark eyes trained on the collapsing academy buildings. "The one farthest from any entrance. Damnit, I knew this building needed more entrances but I let my dad and the other sensei browbeat me into keeping the original design."

"It's not your fault, Cam. There's no way you could have foreseen this."

"Yeah? Then why does it feel like it?"

"Watch it Cam," Shane joined them, voice low and warning. "The students and other sensei are watching us, looking at us for guidance. We used to be the rangers, remember. They expect us to know what to do. It won't do to have them think we're not confident in ourselves, in our decisions. So keep your mouth shut and you can beat yourself up later. Hell, I'll even help you if you want."

To David's surprise, Cam managed a laugh, though it was hard and on the edge. "I might actually hold you to that. What's the situation?"

"The blue ranger's keeping the monster occupied, stopping it from sending any more of those freak attacks. Those orange freaks have appeared but our experienced students and whatever sensei we can spare are holding them down."

"What about David and the others? Think we can get them out of here?" Hunter asked, his voice low.

Cam shook his head. "No. They're our kids. Means everyone not only knows them, they keep an eye out for them. They disappear, everyone's going to be looking for them."

"Damnit!" Hunter glared up at the still falling buildings.

"Look out!"

The yell came from the other side of the buildings and ninjas jumped out of the way – a few ninja streaking back – as a side of the building crashed to the ground, revealing the inside of the academy. There were still students in it.

David recognised four of them.

Oh god. They and a bunch of other students were staring in horror at where the wall had once been. Beneath their feet, the floor, having lost its support, actually moved like a wave before simply crumbling.

Screams and shouts filled the air.

David rocketed forward, hardly noticing anything else, eyes fixed on a girl with long black hair and almond sharp dark eyes, dressed in black with blue trim as she fell through the air, arms and legs moving as she tried fruitlessly to slow her fall. Oh god, oh god. His baby sister.

There was an energy moving through him, one he didn't recognise but he knew it all the same. It wasn't his ninja power, he knew that much. But it was power and it might just be what he needed. With one desperate thought – save them – he threw the power out of him, watching, half dazed, as a rush of red arced through the air, heading for the falling students.

It reached the students and spread out, covering them, until it was thin enough you could see through it. And suddenly, the debris that had been falling around them was bouncing off the red. And David knew; shield. It was a shield.

He would have whooped, jumped up and down except, damnit, they were still falling. And he couldn't control it. He could keep the shape, the shield up, he could feel that, but he couldn't control the damn fall.

Suddenly, the ball of red slowed, began to float. Gently, gently, like a feather riding a breeze, until it landed on the ground. Around them, the academy continued to fall, but none of the wreckage hit the students, thanks to the – his, David thought with pride – shield. After what felt like an eternity, the last of the remains fell, throwing dust in the air and nothing else. With a thought, David dissipated the shield.

The sensei rushed forward, to help the stunned students up. David would have moved with them, except a sudden wave of dizziness overtook him. He stumbled, nearly fell except a strong arm slid around his waist, held him upright. "It's okay. I've got you."

David blinked up into bright blue eyes. "Uncle Hunter."

The thunder ninja nodded, helped David steady himself. "You did good, David. Lucky for you, everyone else was focused elsewhere."

"Yeah." David managed a nod. "Didn't think about that."

Hunter chuckled, ruffed the teen's hair. "Bet you didn't. Want to go check if Mary Ann's all right? Everything should be done by now. Your Eva's managed to beat back the monster while you were taking care of that. It and its little friends are all gone now."

David nodded again, barely noticing Hunter's use of 'his' Eva. "Mary Ann!"

"David!" Her face was pale, awash in tears but she was up and steady and running towards him, arms outstretched. "David!"

He caught her, hugged her tight, rocked her from side to side.

"Mary Ann! Baby!" It was his dad who yelled, moving through the crowds, holding on tight to Tori's hand. "Mary Ann!"

"Dad!" She was crying again, and holding her arms out but David couldn't let go of her, not just yet. It'd been too damn close.

"Oh, baby." Blake dropped Tori's hand only to envelope both his children, squeeze them to him. "Oh, David. Mary Ann."

"They're all right." Steady now that she could see it, Tori touched David's light blond hair, Mary Ann's near black hair. Smoothing her hands over their heads, she leaned in, pressed her face between theirs. "They're all right."