Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: I know it's taken a bit for this chapter but I had to re watch the last couple of episodes, so…
A Change in Choices
Marah couldn't understand it. Kapri and she had done everything he had asked, and in the end they were tied up to a post next to Cam. He was their Uncle. He was their family. He agreed to take them with him while they went through the universe. It was supposed to be a fun, family outing. And yet, here they were. Sure he had made some comments here or there or treated her and her sister un-family like, but Uncle wasn't so affectionate…not like Dustin was.
The brunette sighed realizing that although she was stuck on a ship that was going to be destroyed, her thoughts still drifted back to the yellow ranger. The young man who had been in her every thought since that day on the track. She closed her eyes as she remembered that day. Marah had been kicked off the ship and the next thing she knew she was on earth, just walking…walking and crying. Then from out of nowhere she had felt a strong pair of arms grab her and pull her away and down rolling from what she realized afterwards was a bunch of bikes.
It was only after that that she realized it was Dustin, the Yellow Power Ranger. He was really cute, but she had thought all the guys were cute. But maybe it was because he saved her life or maybe it was when he had his arm around her back to steady her, or maybe it was the way he looked at her like she was the only person worth anything in the world, but whatever it was he had become cuter. Hotter. Better. Not an enemy. Someone she wanted a chance with, but that ended when she choose her family over him.
And it hurt looking at Dustin and calling him that name. Betraying him when he put everything to her. The young girl now thought back on that day that he had tears in his eyes. She had done that. And yet afterwards he gave her a chance. She still remembered that first night she saw him on their bench. It was rocky, but eventually they were sitting, holding hands and, Marah smiled at this next thought, they kissed. His kiss was worth everything in the world.
The kiss didn't exactly help instead it made things more complicated, but the complication that was worth it. Marah let out another sigh and looked over at her sister. There was a look of annoyance on her face but underneath that it was pain. Pain that once more the sisters had been rejected. Their parents had shoved them onto Uncle; they didn't want to deal with them. They'd rather be out doing who knows what. And they were only supposed to be gone for the summer, however at the end of the summer Uncle had a plan and when he called their parents to come get them they had said they were to busy.
Marah and Kapri had done the best they could, but it wasn't good enough for their family. Family? "Hey Kapri."
"What?"
"Cam's here."
Kapri rolled her eyes, "I know. I did help get him."
"No, the other rangers will come and save him, so they can't leave us."
"Marah, let's face it, they won't save us." Dustin would, Marah thought angrily in her thoughts. Although he was upset at her, so why would he? But he wasn't like that. If her life was in danger surely he would come to her rescue. But how could he? Unc-Lothor was down on Earth, Dustin's home, destroying it. Destroying it because she had helped. She looked down hoping she didn't cry thinking back at the last time she had been with Dustin, truly been with him. She had once more chosen family over him. If she had another chance she wouldn't make that mistake again, Dustin was her family, even if he didn't agree.
"Cam!"
"Thanks guys."
Marah looked up as Blake and Hunter came running in and over to Cam. They quickly began untying him. Dustin wasn't there, but they were good—sure not the most sympathetic ones. But maybe just maybe. "You can't just leave us here." Marah said hoping they would help.
Hunter stared at them hard and without missing a beat replied, "Why should we?"
Marah had no answer. She could tell that Kapri was at a loss for words as well. "Because they're family." Marah smiled as she realized that was Cam's voice. Family. Another family member that wasn't her sister that was going to save them.
Hunter came and untied Marah's hands. As Blake finished untying her sisters' she could here her sister, "Thank you. Thank you so much."
"We gotta get outta here." Blake called out as explosions started around them.
"Can you tell me how to release the student ninja pods?" Cam asked as Marah and Kapri walked backwards.
But Marah didn't really focus on what he had said instead she asked, "Hey cousin, you know the yellow ranger? I was just wondering, Is he still mad at me? Because I think he's really cute and I think we can make it—"
"Can we talk about this later?" He yelled turning them around only to face Choobo. He wasn't going to let them go.
"Hello. Going somewhere? And I see you have some new friends. This should be fun." He had brought Kelzaks in with him. They were going to force them to stay to die. Choobo, how did he get to be so high in Unc-Lothor's eye?
Behind her she heard Hunter speaking to Blake, "For old time's sake?"
Then a quick, but fierce reply, "Oh yeah."
At the same time they called out, "Thunder Storm Ranger Form." And morphed into the Crimson and Navy Rangers.
The fighting broke out; Hunter, Blake and Cam began fighting. After some fighting and another blast Marah hurried over to Cam, "Hey cousin, if you blow that console, it'll short out the ships main operating systems and release the ninja students." She told him pointing out the console where they had stood so many times.
Cam looked at her in surprise, "You're really not dumb?
The girl looked at the ex-ranger, "Yeah I know. I keep trying people that and no one ever listens to me."
"Hunter, Blake. You're got to blow the console."
Blake quickly replied, "Right."
The two brothers put the weapons together without a word said and aimed it at the console, "Thunder blaster. Fire!" The weapon did just what it was supposed to. One problem, the ship was about to explode.
"Run!" Blake called out causing everyone to start running for the door. A beam fell down which Blake and Hunter quickly held up. Marah was there in between her sister and her cousin who had saved them. She remembered how nice it was to touch someone and she realized the she was so close to Kapri and Cam, they were touching. It would have been nice to hold onto Dustin one more time. But now it was too late. There would be no more talks with Dustin, no more watching him, no more talking with her sister. She wouldn't be able to get to know Cam or even her new Uncle. Instead she would die here with Dustin still upset at her.
So lost in her thoughts she didn't even here Cam when he said, "Teleporting now." She didn't realize that Cam had taken her with until she saw that she was in a weird type ship. She looked around and saw Hunter, Blake, Cam and Kapri there with her. Looking outside she saw the ninja students falling back to earth and the ship exploding. She smiled, she was alive. She was alive and hopefully she could see Dustin soon.
They landed the ship in Ninja Ops. And immediately Hunter and Blake looked at each other and nodded and Blake ninja streaked off towards where the students had landed and Hunter called his glider cycle and took off. Cam was about to leave when Kapri spoke up, "Thanks."
"Yeah. Um, cousin…you know about up there? When you said…" Marah looked down as Cam somewhat glared at her.
"You made it back. I knew you would." Marah and Kapri turned and saw their Uncle, as a human. Marah's mouth dropped open. "I see you brought back some…family." He said looking at Cam.
"Dad."
"Go. They need you."
Cam nodded and looked at Marah and Kapri and ninja streaked off. The two girls turned towards their Uncle and looked down. He looked them over and smiled, "Perhaps you would like to change?"
Marah looked at Kapri who nodded, "Yeah."
"Good. Change and come with me." The sisters looked at each other and quickly changed their clothes and hurried after the older man. "I will not ask of what happened on the ship with Lothor, only if you wish to explain it you can."
"Umm…excuse me." Marah timidly spoke up.
"Yes Marah."
She smiled, he knew her name. "What about D-the other rangers? Aren't you worried about them?"
He smiled, "I have complete faith in them. And worry not, they will all return. Cam, Hunter, Blake are going to help Tori, Shane and Dustin. They will defeat Lothor." He looked directly at Marah when he said Dustin which made Marah wonder if he knew about her and Dustin's meetings.
"Well then what should we do?" Kapri asked. "Where should we go?"
Marah bit her lip, "Our parents…we could leave." She felt her heart drop at that thought. Leaving Dustin behind, never to see him again. She and Kapri would be banned from Earth.
"If you wish. But there is a place for you here. We will re-open the Academies and you two are more than welcome to join, if you wish."
Kapri and Marah looked at each other, smiled and then nodded at their Uncle. "Thanks." Kapri said.
"Yeah, thanks." Marah could barely contain herself as she felt herself jump a bit.
"Well then, shall we go."
And with that Marah and Kapri walked off with their new family. Marah only wished that Dustin would forgive her as easily as Uncle had.