Author's Note: It's the arc I have been waiting for. How does Nuala react to seeing her old friend Adam Park?
Rating: T for safety.
Dedications: Thank you to the following: Lightshadow and Marie798 for adding this story to their alerts.
I don't own Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. But I do own any original characters that are of my own creation.
Title: Raising the Stakes
Summary: After Lord Zedd arrives on the moon to complete the task that Rita has failed to do, the Rangers must take on new Thunderzords in order to battle him. Unfortunately with three Rangers leaving, a new power source is needed in order to keep the team from collapsing.
Billy looked around the youth centre and spotted the person he had been searching for. "Hey," he said, as he approached.
Nuala looked up and smiled. "Hey, stranger," she teased. She shuffled across the bench to make room for him to sit down, and turned so that she was facing him, as opposed to away. Ellis gurgled and Nuala switched him to her other knee. The baby smiled when he saw Billy and held out the toy in his hands.
Billy chuckled and took the tiger toy. "Thanks," he said. "Where were you yesterday? The others and I waited for you at the park."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Billy," Nuala said. "Ellis had been up all night teething. He's still not 100% today but Mum won't let me hide at home with him. She says fresh air helped with me."
"Fair enough," Billy said.
"Did you have fun at the park?" Nuala asked. She was disappointed that she had missed a day out with her friends, but her son's health had to come first, not to mention her own. Given that she had been up all night with Ellis the evening before last, she had spent the majority of yesterday cat napping.
Billy shrugged. "Not much," he said. "We hung out, listen to some music, Mr. Anderson's son Jacob went for a joyride and we met some new friends."
"Whoa, wait a minute," Nuala said, snapping her attention to Billy. "Jacob Anderson? He's, what, a couple months younger than Ellis, isn't he?" she asked.
Billy nodded.
"What happened?" Nuala urged.
"Apparently Mr. Anderson got into some trouble with a couple bikers and as they were pushing him around he fell against Jacob's stroller, pushing it down the park path," Billy explained. Nuala's eyes widened and Billy could see fear reflected inside her green eyes. "He's OK," he added hastily. "Wasn't even bothered when we caught up with him."
Nuala let out the breath she was holding and looked down at her son. He had taken back his tiger toy from Billy and was now chewing the ear of it. The fabric was soft against his aching gums, and he was thankful to have something to ease the pain in his mouth. "Thank god he's OK," she said. "I'd be on pins, even now."
Billy murmured in agreement. "Oh, did I mention we met three new friends?" he asked.
"You said something about them, yeah," Nuala said, looking back up. "How did you meet them?"
"They knew Mr. Anderson," Billy said. "They were also trying to help Jacob."
Nuala nodded. "Did you catch their names?" she asked.
"Aisha, Rocky and Adam."
Nuala perked up at the last name and looked to Billy, her mouth ajar as if to ask a question, however she was cut off as Tommy and Kim arrived. They quickly made their way over and filed onto the bench, nudging Nuala back towards Billy.
"I got to save a seat for, Ci," Nuala said, putting her baby bag on the seat and looking around for her brother. She spotted him sitting with his friends and then shook her head, setting the bag back down on the floor and letting Kim slide closer.
The pink ranger smiled and held her hands out to Ellis. "Hey, tiger toes," she said, lifting him into her arms and settling him down on her lap. "Where were you yesterday, Nuala? You missed a fun day."
"Billy was just telling me," Nuala said. "I hear you saved some kids life yesterday?"
"Couldn't very well let him get hurt," Tommy said. "It'd be like letting this little tyke," he tickled Ellis under the chin. "Tumble off a hill."
"Never said you would," Nuala said, smiling. "But not many teenagers would help. It's almost like its taboo to help a child under 10 when you're seventeen."
Kim smiled and kissed Ellis' head. "Well, it's like Tommy said, it would be like letting tiger toes get hurt," she said. "Not something we'd risk happening."
Nuala returned her friends smile and nodded.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer's voice sounded loudly around the centre. Drawn in from the outside, the last of the stragglers took their seats; amongst them were Trini, Jason and Zack. "Thank you for joining us today for the final competition for the great ninja title!"
The crowd cheered as the two teams took their positions on either side of the ring.
"On the right side of the ring," the announcer continued. "The reigning champions from Hasper City, and on my left we have the challengers from Stone Canyon!"
"Stone Canyon?" Nuala asked, looking up.
"Yeah, it's the city just outside of Angel Grove," Kim said.
Nuala nodded. "I know," she said. "It's where my friend Adam lives."
"We met an Adam yesterday," Tommy said. "He and his friends, Rocky and Aisha are supposed to be meeting us here today to watch the comp. But I haven't seen them, have you guys?"
Kim and Billy shook their heads.
"Maybe they couldn't make it," Billy suggested with a light shrug.
"Yeah, maybe," Kim agreed.
Nuala forced a smile and nodded. Besides, what were the chances that her Adam and the Adam her friends had bet yesterday was the same person?
The competition started one of the students from Hasper City and another from Stone Canyon faced off against one another in the centre of the ring. They bowed low to the ref and waited for him to signal the start, once he had the black ninja kicked his opponent in the stomach, sending him stumbling back.
Bulk and Skull cheered loudly as the black ninja dominated the ring.
Picking themselves back up, the white Ninja blocked a punch to the side of the head and shifted most of their weight to the left, using it as an advantage to try and flip the black ninja. But his opponent was much stronger and even worse, ready for the attack.
Still holding onto the white Ninja's wrists, the black ninja flipped him over and held him down on the ring bed.
Nuala winced as the ring trembled under the impact. "That's gotta hurt," she said.
"He's fine," Billy assured her. "See?"
The white ninja had jumped back to his feet and flipped over, landing on the right corner of the ring. They squeezed themselves out of the ring whilst their team-mate took their place. On the right side of the ring, the black ninjas also changed it up.
This time the white side seemed to dominate.
"Come on!" Bulk and Skull whined.
"Those guys fight really dirty," Kim said, watching as the black ninja held his opponent firmly and kicked him in the side.
Nuala nodded, watching the fight closely. There was something about the white ninja that seemed familiar, almost like she'd seen him fight before.
"Yeah, but the challengers fight clean," Tommy said, looking down at her.
"Which is always the winning solution," Billy agreed. He glanced at Nuala as he turned his attention back to the ring and frowned. "You OK?" he asked, nudging her.
Nuala shrugged and shook her head slightly. "There's something about that guy," she said. "The challenger. I know those moves, I've seen them before. Both in competition and in training."
"So you're saying that you know the challenger?" Tommy asked, confused.
"I think so," Nuala replied. "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm pretty sure that's Adam Park."
"Your friend Adam?" Kim asked.
Nuala nodded. "I could be wrong," she said. "I mean, I haven't seen Adam for nearly three years, so... I'm just saying that I recognise the technique."
"Well, you're about to find out," said Tommy, nodding at the ring.
Kim, Billy and Nuala turned their attention to the ring in the centre of the youth centre, as a bell signaled the end of the match. The reigning champions were all spaced out on the ring floor with the challengers standing over them, untouched.
"The judges have made their decision," the announcer called, taking the small card with the champions' names on it, and making his way back into the ring. "The match and title go to the challengers! The new ninja champions from Stone County!"
The crowd cheered wildly as those who were supporting the now-former champions, booed. Bulk and Skull included. Giving their titles as school bullies, it wasn't any surprise that they would support anyone with a mean streak.
"Way to go, guys! Yeah!" Mr. Anderson cheered as he made his way down onto the youth centre floor. His students remained in the ring and were in the process of removing their head gear for the crowd to see the faces of their new champions.
Kim gasped as she recognised the faces of the challengers. "Hey," she said.
"That would explain why we didn't see them in the crowd," Billy said, chuckling.
Nuala, on the other hand, had jerked forward in her seat. Her eyes fixated on one of the champion ninjas. "Adam," she murmured.
"Nuala!" Ciaran called, racing across the centre towards his sister. His shout had caught Adam's attention and his gaze followed the kid, whom he seemed to recognise, through the crowd and landed on a red-head in the second row.
Adam felt a smile tugging at the corner of his lips and a chuckle rippled out of his chest before he could stop it. Whilst the crowd cheered for him and his team, he only had eyes for the particular red-head. Once the announcer had presented them with their trophy, Adam made his way out of the ring as Nuala slid past Billy and Ciaran, and threw her arms around Adam as approached the steps.
"It's you," Nuala cried as Adam spun her around. "I can't believe it's you!"
"Oh, this is amazing!" Adam said pulling out of the hug and setting Nuala back down on the ground. She was a lot shorter than him, but she hadn't changed a bit. Except for the fact that last time he had seen her she was a few weeks pregnant. "What are you doing here?" he asked as they separated.
"I live here now," Nuala replied. "I have done for nearly a year."
"You've been here a whole year and you never once wrote to tell me?"
Nuala shrugged. "I didn't know if it were the same address," she said. "I didn't want to send a letter to some random kid telling them that I was in town."
"OK, fair point," Adam said. "I still can't believe your here."
"I can't believe that it is you," Nuala said. "I never thought I'd see you again. Not after last time."
"Speaking of which, last time we spoke, you send me an ultrasound," Adam said. "What happened?"
Nuala smiled and held up one finger. "Stay here," she said, slipping around him and leaning into the crowd. She took Ellis from Kim and turned back to Adam, balancing the baby on her hip. "Adam, meet Ellis," she said. "He's the baby from the ultrasound."
"So you weren't kidding when you said you were going to keep him?"
"No," Nuala said, shaking her head. "Having an abortion goes against not only my views but also my religion. Besides, he's the apple of my eye, I love him so much."
Adam smiled and looked between Ellis and Nuala as she kissed the side of the baby's head. He couldn't believe that he was standing in the presence of his old friend from Ireland. The last time he had seen Nuala she had been huddled up in the corner of a bathroom, cowering away from Chris Anderson as he brutally attacked her. They had been sixteen.
"I'm really glad you're here," Nuala said, lifting her gaze to meet Adam's again. "Even if it is only for today."
"Hey, now that I know you're here, I'll come by more often," Adam said.
Nuala smiled. "I'd like that," she said.
~*Raising the Stakes*~
Later that afternoon, after packing away their things and stowing them in Mr. Anderson's car, Adam, Aisha, Rocky, Nuala, Billy, Kim, Ciaran and Ellis stood around outside the Youth Centre as Mr. Anderson buckled his son Jacob into his car seat.
"That was really cool, you guys," Tommy said, nudging Rocky's arm.
"Yeah, it was really great to meet y'all," Rocky said, shaking hands with Tommy.
"We'll have to get together sometime," Tommy suggested. "You know learn some of those moves you did in the competition."
"Yeah, let's do it soon," Adam said, smiling at Nuala.
Ciaran grinned. "He hasn't even left Angel Grove yet and already he's thinking of reasons to come back," he said, poking his sister in the side. "I wonder why."
"Shut up, Ci," Nuala muttered, a light blush blossoming over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose.
Ciaran chuckled and Ellis pulled on his mother's hair as it fell forward and covered her face from view. Ciaran had always teased her and Adam about their friendship, stating that it was a lot closer than platonic.
"Alright," Kim said, cheerfully. "Bye Mr. Anderson."
"Bye, Kimberly," Mr. Anderson said, sliding Jacob into his car seat. "And, uh, thanks again for the heroic rescue."
The group eight chuckled.
"It was no biggie," Kim said, shrugging. She smiled and turned back to Aisha. "Bye, you guys."
"See you later," Aisha said, as Billy bypassed her. He stopped and turned back to Nuala and Adam.
Nuala smiled and pressed a kiss to Adam's cheek. "I'll call you later," she said. After he had finished packing up the car Adam had given Nuala his home phone number and told her to call him when she got the chance. Given they were both in the same state now, calling was easier and faster than email or letters. "Ellis, can you say 'bye-bye'?" she asked her son.
Ellis smiled and opened and closed his fist in a 'bye-bye' motion while saying "Bye."
Aisha, Rocky and Adam chuckled as Nuala smiled and pushed the stroller that she had for Ellis towards Billy.
"Bye, you guys," Ciaran said, waving to the three champions and racing off after his sister.
Adam, Aisha and Rocky watched them disappear before the latter two turned their attention to Adam.
"You remember that exchange programme they did back in fifth grade?" Adam asked. Rocky and Aisha nodded. "I was paired with a family in Ireland, Nuala's family."
"You went to Ireland for a competition two years ago, didn't you?" Aisha asked.
Adam nodded. "Yeah, I stayed with Nuala and her family again," he said. "It was the last time I stayed there. Something bad happened, and it kinda changed everything. Nuala didn't want me to get involved any more than I already was, and she wanted me to come home. I talked to her a few weeks later, but I never went back."
"What happened?" Aisha asked.
"I can't tell you," Adam said, shaking his head. "I promised her I wouldn't."
Aisha and Rocky exchanged concerned looks as Mr. Anderson finished with Jacob. Once he was satisfied his son was safely secured inside the car, he withdrew and called his students to attention. "All's ready this end, guys," he said.
"Sweet," Rocky said. "Let's get out of here."
"Yeah," Aisha agreed.
Adam, on the other hand, was staring off into the distance where Nuala and her friends had disappeared. He was wishing that he could stay. It had been a long time since he had last seen Nuala, and he felt that he had some major catching up to do.
~*Raising the Stakes*~
"Nuala and Adam sitting in a tree..." Ciaran sang teasingly as he and his sister walked away from the youth centre. He had been teasing her mercilessly ever since Tommy had suggested they meet up with Adam, Rocky and Aisha soon and Adam had agreed. He knew that Adam was only agreeing because Nuala was there.
Nuala glared at her younger brother. "Will you stop?" she asked, reaching over to swat him across the back of the head. "It's not like that."
"Oh come on, Nuala," Ciaran said. "Why are you being so naive? It's obvious he likes you!"
"Ciaran, we haven't seen each other for almost three years," Nuala said. "Of course it's going to look like that, but just because it does, doesn't mean that it isn't."
Ciaran scoffed and shook his head.
"What?" Nuala asked.
"You're in denial."
"What am I in denial about?" Nuala asked.
"Because you won't admit that there may be something more than friendship between you and Adam," Ciaran said. "I saw the way you hugged him, and the way he spun you around, the look both of your faces, that was more than just happiness for a friend."
Nuala shook her head and rolled her eyes. "It's official," she said. "My little brother is delusional."
"You're delusional," Ciaran said. "I'm going to walk with Tommy and Kim," He took off after the pink and white rangers, catching up to them before they disappeared from view and leaving Nuala with Billy.
"He's right, you know," Billy said, breaking the silence. He hated to admit it, especially since he really liked Nuala, but even he had seen the love in Adam's face when he had hugged Nuala earlier that afternoon.
Nuala groaned and stopped walking. "Not you too," she whined.
"I'm just saying," Billy said, holding his hands up in defence and chuckling lightly.
"And I'm saying this now," Nuala said. "There is nothing between me and Adam, except maybe a real strong friendship."
"So, you weren't close when you knew him?"
"Of course we were close," Nuala said. "And after what Chris did to me, it only seemed to bring us closer, but I didn't want him to get caught up in it all. After he had given his statement to the police, I told him that he needed to come home; that I would deal with everything else in my own time."
"And he just left?" Billy asked.
Nuala shook her head. "No, he argued and fought with me to let him stay, but..." she said. "I didn't want him involved."
"He was already involved," Billy said. "He pulled Chris off of you. Things could've been a lot worse if Adam hadn't have been there."
"Exactly why I didn't want him to stay," Nuala said, pushing Ellis along again. "I knew what Chris was like. You know what he's like. Just because he was in custody didn't mean that he couldn't hurt me or Adam. Chris had connections on the outside; one word from him is all it would've taken."
"Sounds... powerful," Billy said. "No wonder Rita agreed to keep him on as her Prince of Darkness."
Nuala shrugged half-heartedly. "He was more scary than powerful," she said. "He never called on any of his connections, just made sure that I knew they were there if he needed them. Kinda like a taunt - you talk and this will happen - I knew that he wouldn't risk coming after me again, but my family..." she sighed. "They were easy targets."
"But you did talk," Billy said. "He went away for three months, didn't he?"
"Yeah," Nuala said. "But it was on the confessions of other girls' he had targeted. He hadn't assaulted them like he had done me, but he had mess them around, almost like they were training wheels, gearing him up to his right target. Personally, I never went on the stand."
"Why not?" Billy asked.
Nuala shrugged. "I was underage," she said. "They didn't want Chris to see me and..." she trailed off, shaking her head. "I don't know the true reasons about why I never took the stand. My mother does, but I've never thought to ask. Although, I do know if I had taken the stand, they would've probably found out I was pregnant, and he would've got life for sex with a minor."
"You should've taken the stand," Billy said.
"I know," Nuala said agreeing. "But I was too scared to face him."
Billy smiled patiently and reached to take Nuala's hand. He squeezed it reassuringly as she swallowed hard. Chris had made her life a living hell in Ireland, and she hated having to relive it. There were times where she thought she was getting better at dealing with her past, but then times like this crept up and she realised how bad her reflections actually were.
Suddenly a scream ripped through the air.
Nuala and Billy stopped and looked behind them. The scream was high-pitched and feminine,
"Aisha," Nuala said.
"It's gotta be Goldar," Billy said.
Another scream ripped through the air, this time coming from ahead. Nuala looked around to see a group of putties swarming her and Billy. "Oh, come on!" she whined. "Starting to get the feeling that Zedd doesn't take the day off."
"Watch your back," Billy said, grabbing the wrist of incoming putty as the clay head made a move for the stroller.
"Not a chance," Nuala said, kicking behind her and knocking down two putties as they crept up on her. "Hey, hands on!" she added, pushing Ellis forward and kicking another putty in the chest. She hit the Z and the clay head disappeared.
"Heads up!"
Nuala ducked as Tommy flipped over her, grabbed the arm of putty and twisted it behind his back, leaving the Z open for an attack. Kicking up, Nuala hit the Z and the putty disappeared.
~*Raising the Stakes*~
Once Kim and Ciaran had returned to help with the rest of the goon patrol, the four rangers returned to the youth centre to find Adam, Rocky, Aisha, Mr. Anderson and Jacob were all missing.
"We're too late," Kim fretted. "Goldar already got to them."
"We should contact Zordon," Billy suggested.
Tommy nodded and raised his communicator to his lips. "Zordon, come in," he said.
"Tommy, Alpha and I are aware of the situation," Zordon replied. "Teleport to the command centre immediately."
"We're on our way," Tommy said, turning to his friends. The others nodded and checked around to make sure they were clear before teleporting. The last thing they needed was someone seeing them disappears, especially if that someone was Bulk and Skull.
Once they were sure they were safe, the four rangers, Ciaran and Ellis disappeared.
The reappeared in the command centre at the same time as Jason, Trini and Zack.
"What's going on?" Zack asked.
"Mr. Anderson, and the students from Stone Canyon have been abducted my Goldar," Kim answered.
"What?" Jason and Trini asked.
"This is a grave situation, Rangers," Zordon said. "Lord Zedd has captured the ninja team to try and turn them into his own evil warriors."
"Didn't he already try that once?" Ciaran asked. "You know, with Nala and all them? He failed then, what makes him think he will succeed now?"
"Because, wherever he is hiding them is cloaked," Zordon said. "Possibly until the champions are fully converted to his side."
Nuala swallowed hard. "Wait, what about the baby?" she asked. "Mr. Anderson's son, Jacob? What happened to him?"
"Baby Jacob is fine, Nuala," Zordon replied, "and in the hands of a couple of very unusual baby-sitters."
The team frowned and turned to the viewing globe. Reflected back at them was Angel Grove Park. Sitting at the picnic benches were Bulk, Skull and baby Jacob.
"Bulk and Skull?" Tommy asked, sharing a look with Billy.
"He'll be safe for the time being," Alpha said. "I think."
"I don't know who I'm most worried for," Nuala said, shaking her head. "Baby Jacob or Bulk and Skull."
Kim chuckled warily and turned her back on the viewing globe. "If their hiding place is cloaked, how are we going to find the others?" she asked.
"Alpha will continue to monitor for any disturbances," Zordon said. "Meanwhile, we cannot allow the ninja team to turn to the dark side."
"Something tells me that's not going to be easy," Ciaran said. "How is Zedd planning on doing it this time?"
"We're not sure yet," Zordon said. "But be assured, Rangers, we will find them."
Nuala sighed heavily and wrung her hands nervously. She'd only just been reunited with Adam, and now, thanks to Goldar and Zedd, they had been ripped apart again. Don't worry, Adam, she thought. We'll find you... I'll find you.
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Chapter written by xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated Monday, October 26, 2015 at 1:04am