Chapter 10: Golden Cadet
Drumming his pencil on the desk, Spencer pushed his glasses back up as they slid down his nose. Music blared in his ears as he turned the page of the textbook in front of him, and began writing notes as he read the text.
After a few minutes, he leaned back, letting his pencil drop onto the desk with a small clatter. He reached out and lifted a photo from his desk, lifting it into the light. In the picture was a young woman with curled blonde hair, her arm around Spencer, who had grown taller than her after what felt like an eternity of being shorter than his best friend.
Beside them was a young man a little older than Annie, with black hair and dark brown eyes, and a confident grin. He was almost the same height as Annie, who was already showing that she was going to be tall. Her cousin didn't seem to be going the same way, definitely inheriting his father's height.
On Kayden's other side, stood another girl whose hair and eyes made her look more like Aunt than Annie did. As her cousin and the God-Daughter to Spencer's Uncle Joe, Serafina had known them for as long as she could remember. Born to Zoe's eldest brother and a Fire Ninja, Sera resembled the family of Moon Ninjas, with the personality of a Fire Ninja. The four had been friends for years, and all shared the same goal.
Setting the picture down, Spencer pushed his glasses up to pinch the bridge of his nose, and pulled his headphones off. The music ended abruptly, and he stood to stretch. Checking his watch, Spencer found he'd been studying for hours. His stomach growled in a protest that had been ignored until now.
Walking to the door, he paused in front of the mirror for a moment. His dark hair messy from constantly running his fingers through it, and his green eyes tired behind his thick-rimmed glasses, Spencer resembled his father moreso, but his eyes and expressions belonged entirely to his mother. He was tall and toned from years of various training, and wore a pair of black jeans and a red chequered shirt. Unlike his parents and so many of their friends, he didn't favour one particular colour, which his mother explained was entirely to do with being a Ranger.
Turning away from his reflection, Spencer opened the door and went downstairs in the all too quiet house. Despite his parents being out frequently, it was rare for it to be so quiet. He and his friends often studied together for the entrance exams, but as of late it had been him and Sera, as well as a few of her friends who he didn't particularly care for.
As he opened the fridge, he heard the front door open, and his head lifted, ears twitching.
"Hello? Anyone home?" a familiar voice, lilted with a New Zealand accent, called through the house. "Hello?" she called again.
"Keep it down, mum's sleeping," Spencer walked out into the hall, a carton of eggs in his hands.
"What? But it's only half four!" Chase raised an eyebrow at his older brother, who had a few inches over him.
"She's not slept much this week. She went for a nap and I didn't want to wake her," Spencer studied his twin siblings. Almost 8 years had passed since they had moved to New Zealand, and they'd changed a lot in that time. Not only had the accent stuck, but the 15 year olds had shot up in height. Teddie's black hair had grown long, tied back in pigtails, and Chase, already a head taller than her, had his hair cut shorter than Spencer's fluffy mop. It would have been a shock to the system, but it wasn't like Spencer hadn't seen the two since they'd moved with their grandparents.
"She's still travelling?" Teddie blinked in surprise.
"Taking a break for a week," they looked around as Ari walked down the stairs, running a hand through her hair as she yawned widely. "Rose's orders. She banned me from the SHARC..." she complained.
"For good reason mum, you're running yourself ragged," Spencer scolded her. Ari raised an eyebrow at him, and the 17 year old hesitated at her expression.
"You're making food?" she eyed the eggs in his hands. He nodded. "Good. Make enough for everyone, would you?" Ari grinned, and Spencer sighed, turning and walking back into the kitchen. As he did, Ari turned to the twins. "Dad called and let me know. So you're moving back?" she asked with a smile.
"Gramps said we've learned as much as we can from the Dunedin Kingdom," Chase nodded with a grin.
"So we're back for good now," Teddie smiled brightly, and both were pulled into a tight hug. "Mum...suffocating here..." Teddie groaned, and Ari let them go.
"I'm glad. While I might not be home every night, I've missed you both," Ari smiled at them.
"And we've missed you," Chase nodded. "Any luck on the search?" he asked curiously, and Ari turned more serious. She ushered them into the kitchen, and they dumped their bags and sat down as Spencer moved around the kitchen, preparing food.
"Honestly, it's like Mack vanished off the face of the planet," Ari slumped into her seat. Chase and Teddie joined their brother, grabbing plates and glasses. "Can't find anything to do with him anywhere. The satellites can't seem to get a hold of him either," she shook her head.
"It's been nearly 8 years mum, would the satellites even recognise him anymore?" Chase asked her as he set the glasses on the table.
"Mr. Hartford and Rose have been updating them to track what he'd look like now," Ari shrugged. "Not that it matters, it's not helped. A lot of dead ends," she yawned again.
"You're home to take it easy for a week," Spencer told her over his shoulder. "So just relax. The others have it handled for a week," he said.
"When'd you get so bossy?" Ari complained as she stretched.
"When you decided searching for Mack would be okay with no sleep," Spencer replied lightly. Ari stuck out her tongue childishly at him.
"Oh yeah Spence, when's your exam?" Teddie remembered, looking to her brother. He sighed.
"Two days," he muttered, scooping eggs onto a plate and passing it to her.
"You'll do great Spencer," Ari told her son, hearing the nerves in his voice. She looked around to the 17 year old as he handed Chase two more plates. "Just keep focused and confident in your skills," she said with a smile. Spencer nodded, feeling the nerves gathering in his stomach at the thought.
"I can't believe you're applying for SPD," Chase took a seat at the table.
"I think it's so cool," Teddie elbowed her brother. Spencer took a seat as well. "I can't believe Kayden and Annie have already gotten in as well," she mused as they began to eat.
"It's no surprise. Kayden's a skilled Water Ninja, and Annie's just as talented as a Thunder Ninja," Ari spoke up. "And they're smart as well. You've all worked very hard," she said to Spencer, whose face flushed as he stared at his food.
"I haven't gotten in yet," he muttered. Ari tutted, rolling her eyes.
"The one time you don't have your father's confidence," she sighed. Teddie grinned at her words. "You'll be fine Spence. It won't feel that way until it's over, but you'll be fine," Ari insisted. Spencer nodded wordlessly, forcing his food down.
"Let's change the subject," he decided. He then looked at the two sitting opposite him. "How was the Dunedin Kingdom?" he asked, and the two broke out into a rambling conversation.
Lifting clothes from his drawer, Spencer shoved them into the large duffel-bag on his bed. Taking a step back and breathing, Spencer ran a hand through his hair, making it stand on end even more. Looking around the room, Spencer felt a pang in his chest as he saw how empty it looked. While he was far from bringing everything he owned, he was bringing a lot, leaving a lot of empty space in the bedroom he'd been in for as long as he could remember.
"Yo Spence!" Chase called up the stairs, and Spencer's green eyes went to the door. "Your ride is here!" Spencer swallowed, nerves filling his stomach again.
"I'll be down in a second!" he called back to his brother.
"You don't have to pack your entire room you know!" his father shouted up, humour laced in his voice.
"Why didn't you tell me that sooner?" Spencer shouted down, rolling his eyes with a faint smile. Fixing his glasses, he lifted the two photographs from his desk, and put them into the bag before zipping it up. Hauling it up, he rested the bag on his shoulder, and walked out, closing the door behind him.
Spencer's stomach twisted again as he walked through his home and down the stairs. Of course he was nervous. He'd never been away from home for longer than a few weeks, and even then that had been in the Magical Realm; his second home.
"Thought you'd never be ready," Annie called from the window of the car, adjusting her sunglasses. "I was ready to leave without you," she told him.
"Remember that, the next time I leave you in the dust," Spencer retorted as he walked out, squinting in the bright sun.
"All ready Spence?" Ari asked with an amused smile. Having rested a great deal, at the insistence of everyone, Ari looked a lot better, and was ready to go back out looking for her lost friend.
"Yep," Spencer nodded. Mixed in with his nerves, was the excitement that he could hardly contain as he grinned to her. Ari's smile widened.
"Good. You're gonna kick butt," she told him, pulling him into a hug. "Let us know when you get settled into New Tech City, okay?" she said.
"Of course," Spencer nodded, smiling at her. "Thanks mum," he spoke a little quieter. Ari patted his arm, tears shining in her eyes as she took a step back.
"Try not to be as big a hero as your mum tries to be," Xander grinned as Spencer turned to him.
"Hey!" Ari protested, going red.
"You do like being the hero mum," Spencer grinned after hugging his dad. Chase and Teddie nodded in agreement, laughing.
"That's putting it lightly," Zoe called from the driver's seat of the car.
"I'd say brat is more accurate," Hunter taunted.
"I've never been afraid to use my powers on you, remember that Hunter," Ari told him, sticking out her tongue.
"Can we go now?" Annie complained loudly. "I told them I'd only be a few hours away from the Academy," the Thunder Ninja and now SPD Cadet said. Spencer rolled his eyes.
"Alright, Captain Impatience," he sighed.
"Less lip, Sergeant Slacker," Annie replied, disappearing back into the car.
"God, you two really are like Ari and Hunter," Zoe pinched the bridge of her nose. Spencer laughed quietly, and turned to Chase and Teddie.
"Stay out of trouble," he told them, ruffling Teddie's hair.
"Us? In trouble? Never," Chase flashed a charming smile, and Teddie elbowed him.
"You're in trouble more than me," she told him.
"Only because you get me caught!" Chase and Teddie began bickering, and Spencer went over to the car. After dumping his back in the back, he opened the side door and shoved Annie away. The blonde laughed as she scooted over, and Spencer turned to wave to his family before climbing in.
"Here's when I tell you I'm stealing your son and converting him to the ways of Moon Ninjas!" Zoe called as she started the car.
"Good luck with that!" Ari scoffed, waving as they drove off.
"I can't believe Spence is gonna be in SPD," Teddie laughed as they watched the car drive off. Ari sniffed, rubbing at her eyes.
"There there, you knew it was going to happen eventually," Xander grinned, putting a hand on her head.
"Not this soon!" Ari wailed.
"You were 15 when you first left home, he's not got anything on your record," Xander pointed out.
"Yeah, and we were six," Chase interjected, which only made Ari wail louder.
"Not helping," Xander told him son, shooting him an irritated look. Teddie giggled.
"Come on Chase, we've got training with Dia and 'Pollo," she nudged her brother. "See you later!" the girl called to her parents as she and Chase left the garden.
"My babies are all leaving me!" Ari's wail reached them as they walked down the street.
"Mum is so weird," Teddie laughed.
"Our whole family is weird Ted," Chase reminded her. "Let's hope Spence keeps some kind of normalcy in SPD," he mused. Teddie grinned at him.
"You realise that both the A and B Squads have Ranger programs?" Chase groaned at his sister's words. "Come on, we don't want to be even later than we're already going to be," she called over her shoulder as she walked ahead.
"Fine, fine," Chase increased his pace. "Hey, have you seen that crazy Maori lady in town?" he asked.
"I didn't know there was a Fortune Teller in town. Wonder if she has anything interesting to say," Teddie mused as they walked into town to meet their adoptive Aunt and Uncle.
Well, that's it for Arc 1 of the Legendary Golden Warrior series! Next up will be SPD: A New Sun Warrior, which hopefully I'll get started this week!
I hope you've enjoyed, and thank you all for your support so far! I hope you'll like what's up next!
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