Variations Of SPD
Chapter 8: Journey Of The Ninjetti
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: November 29, 2005
Summary: The second half of their journey begins, but they suddenly find themselves alone, will the triumph or fail?
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
AN – Thanks to preciousbabyblue and my very own adopted little sister, BloomingViolets, thanks for all your help with the test ideas and chapter names
"Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before." -- Erich Fromm --Dedication – To the Ninjetti spirits within us all! May they protect us always!
--
They arose before dawn the next morning, each still sleepy as they trudged into the room where they'd met their guides for their journey the night before. Ninjor sat on a pillow, his back to them, and looked to be deep in meditation.
None of them dared disturb the Master Ninja, so they simply stood together. Bridge yawned as he and Z leaned their heads together, his arms wrapped securely around his girlfriend. He had to smile. He hadn't noticed it the day before, but she was wearing the heart pendant of citrine and emeralds he'd gotten her for their first date. He prayed she'd remember she was wearing it and think of him while she was on her quest. For his part, Bridge had her earrings, which she'd taken off the night before, tucked safely in the pocket of his shorts.
Jack stood between Z and Sky, his hand grasping one of Z's tightly while the other was resting comfortably on Sky's shoulder. He was nervous, as well as surprised to feel the tension in both of his best friends. It wasn't like them to be this tense, but then he knew it had to do with not knowing how this mission would turn out. This was far different than facing Gruumm or Visvajita; this was an unknown.
Tucked safely under Sky's right arm was Syd, still half asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. Sky was doing everything in his power to now start to worry about what lay ahead of them, instead he was trying to focus on the events of the night before, or the celebrating they could do when they got home. Sydney maintained a strong outward front. She didn't want to think of the dangers she knew they were going to face. Her right arm was wrapped around her brother, who was leaning on her shoulder and trying to meditate lightly, making the trio look more like a family then they would have ever thought.
That was the picture Ninjor was presented with when he stood and turned to them. They were all connected, in some way, and looked more like a family then the mere team they were, even with Brian's added presence to the group.
"The second half of your journey is about to begin, and it is far more treacherous and difficult than anything you have faced to this point. Are you ready?"
Six heads nodded in unison, making Ninjor smile under his helmet. "Good. Follow me."
--
She ached all over. Kat and Commander Cruger had been correct when they'd said that their Ranger powers wouldn't hold up against their latest foe. One by one, every member of her team, and Cruger who'd been in battle as Shadow Ranger, had been forced to demorph, thanks to energy blasts and the foot soldiers they'd learned were called Tengas that had ganged up on them.
"Alley, you still breathing?" Leave it to Travis to try and crack a joke at a time like this, she thought, grinning.
"Barely. You?"
"Barely. Aaron?"
"You call this breathing?"
"Could be worse, you could have had to stay in the infirmary like Commander Cruger," Alana muttered, rolling on her side so she was cuddled against Aaron's side, making the Red Ranger hiss in pain as he tried to wrap his arm around her shoulders. Cruger had suffered nine broken ribs, which Kat and Boom were trying to help Dr. Felix fix even as they spoke. Aaron was infinitely glad none of the rest of them had gotten hurt that bad; Cruger healed a lot faster then they did.
"Brett?" Alley asked softly.
"Just let me die in peace!" the Blue Ranger snarled, his soreness and pain evident in his voice before Travis touched his shoulder. He and Travis were laying on the floor of the common room, perpendicular to each other, his head on one of Travis' thighs. Aaron and Alana had pushed the couches together so they could lie side by side, and Allison had collapsed in one of the chairs, her feet up on a foot stool.
"When are the others getting home?" Alana questioned, her voice slurred by pain and oncoming sleep.
"Soon," Alley whispered. 'I hope' she added silently, a picture of her boyfriend and his teammates popping into her head. 'I miss you, guys, come home safely. Especially you, Jack.'
--
They were sleeping when she strode into the common room. They were none the worse for wear, merely banged and bruised from the fight with Lord Vampra's Tengas. She couldn't help the grin that stole across her face.
"Rest while you can, Rangers," she muttered softly, watching them with an intensity that was damn near scary. "Soon, your precious friends will be gone, the Phoenix and Dragon will belong to Lord Vampra, who will destroy Earth with their power, and I'll have Sky all to myself."
With a flourish, she turned and swept from the room, leaving the A Squad Rangers to rest, only, one of them wasn't sleeping. Sitting up, Allison looked around, her eyes wide with shock.
"Did I just hear that right?" she asked herself, wondering if it had been a dream or reality.
--
They trudge to the very edge of the Temple's grounds, to a small cave that was hidden obscurely behind a waterfall. Carefully, the six gathered around while Ninjor went about unlocking the heavy, oak and metal door that locked unwanted wanderers out of the cave.
"Through this door awaits the second half of your journey, Rangers. Be careful, for things are not always as they may seem, and remember, you will be tested to your limits before you discover that which you covet. I shall meet you on the other side."
"Ninjor, won't the other side be outside the temple grounds?" Jack asked, having paid attention to the placement of the waterfall.
"Remember, young ones, things aren't always as they seem. Good luck."
The team nodded and one by one, they hugged Ninjor and entered the cave, the door shutting firmly behind them with a resounding thud.
--
