The Astro Megaship mark 4 landed on the beach, and all of the people looked toward the plateau that was barely visible off in the distance. "Well come on." Tommy said with a bit of forced cheer. "Lets go and see Dulcea." All of the trainees and masters wore their ninja uniforms, while the charmed ones wore hiking boots and shorts the wand wielders had also left their wands behind on the ship.
Conner looked over at Kira and Ethan. "Is it just me, or is Dr. O a bit nervous about something here?"
"Yeah I think your right."
"Just stay alert you, never know what you'll find when Dr. O's nervous." Kira said, as she eyed the area around them warily.
The three younger rangers turned back to the others. "Yeah, maybe Dulcea will flip you over again." Kim said with a smirk, as they found the trail.
"C'mon, how was I supposed to know that she was going to consider us a threat?" Tommy asked as they trotted down the well-remembered trail.
"Tommy we were unknown people to her at the time and it was her job to guard the planet and the beginning of the quest. Of course she's going to be cautious." Adam reasoned with his old friend.
"Not to mention you don't get the title Master Warrior without learning how to deal with wannabe fighters that are trying to prove themselves." Aishia added. Tommy nodded, but sent a death glare at the dino thunder and ninja rangers who quickly stopped laughing at the casual way they talked about Tommy's defeat.
"Besides, a Paleontologist like yourself should probably know at least from some of your archeology friends that warrior cultures very rarely offer their right hand in greeting." Billy added, ignoring a glare that Tommy was sending at him.
"Didn't stop her from kissing Adam later now did it?" Tommy added sullenly.
"She what?" Tanya asked, while looking at her husband.
"Ooh you are so busted dude." Conner said smirking at the couple, he was quickly silenced Kira hitting him in the back of the head and Ethan hitting his shoulder. "What?"
"Hey, don't bring me into this, and whatever happened to you guys promising to never tell anyone else about that?" Adam asked his friend in annoyance. "And honey it was only on the cheek, and it was more of an ego booster than anything else."
"Either that or it was a kiss of death." Trent said, as he walked past them. Adam froze as he considered this swallowing nervously at the thought.
"Cheerful guy you got there man." Zack said smirking at Tommy. "He was obviously trained by the first Green Ranger, he's even got the whole brooding thing down to an art."
"Hey I didn't teach him that! Former evil rangers are masters of brooding right Blake?"
"I don't know I was never much for beating myself up for something I had no control over." Blake said, amusement colored his voice.
"And I don't recall Kat letting her time under Rita's spell to make her into any kind of brooder, Rocky added, "Billy did you notice any of the signs? Maybe I missed them."
"I'm afraid not."
"Hunter how about you? C'mon, surely one of you was a brooder." Tommy pleaded to the crimson ninja master.
"Please dude, if there was a contest for brooding, Hunter would so be in the semi finals with you guys." Dustin said staring at Tommy and Jason, as he enjoyed the feeling of the ground beneath him. The others nodded in agreement, the two original rangers were sometimes freakishly quiet as they stood and watched the others.
"C'mon we have a long way to go still." Hunter said, as he increased his speed.
The others nodded and followed after the crimson ninja. They all finally made it to the edge of the forest, Tommy found himself in the lead, but hesitated as he reached the edge of the forest.
"Something wrong Dr. O?"
"Just nervous, this isn't exactly the friendliest neighborhood in the galaxy." He told Ethan.
"But I thought the problems didn't start until after you had talked with Dulcea."
"Yeah, but that's because she was our guide to where we learned about our animal guardians, I doubt just one side of the forest is dangerous and back then we had Zordon's recommendation that we were okay. We no longer have that protection."
"Well, maybe this just means that we're supposed to guide them in." Aishia suggested, as she gestured to the ones that had never been here before.
"Doubtful, Dulcea likes to give everyone their last and final warning and chance to turn back before she leads them forward. I doubt she would want to miss that."
"So maybe she doesn't want to be found." Piper suggested.
Adam winced at this. "Then that could be dangerous for us, considering the fact that we need her help to even try to touch the Great Power. I'd prefer to think that she's just testing us."
"Very good young Frog." A voice said from above them. The group looked up just as a cloaked figure with a staff dropped to the ground and knocked Adam, Tommy and Rocky to the ground. The cloaked figure then held their staff against Tommy's throat. "Why have you returned young Falcon? You know the dangers of coming here very well."
"Nice to see you again too Dulcea." Tommy choked out, as he looked up at the woman that had incapacitated him once again.
"Hang on Dr O!" Conner yelled as he rushed at the group. Dulcea knelt down and the teen went flying over the back of the woman and slammed into a tree. Ethan, Ron and Trent followed after Conner, but the Master Warrior sent out a spin kick that slashed across all three of them and sent them flying into the ground.
"These young ones are almost as cocky and impulsive as you once were at their age my young Falcon."
"Thanks I think." Tommy said from where he was laying.
"Now then, why have you returned to this place?"
"Zedd's back." Adam answered, as he slowly pushed himself into a sitting position.
Dulcea jerked her staff back at this. "Then it is good that you have come, for none know of the way his mind works better than you who have fought him before, but who are these others?"
"Friends and allies to help us since Zedd's teamed up with a dark Earth Wizard, and Zedd currently commands the demon world of our planet."
"So these are the allies you hope will be able to help you battle these new and old enemies." Dulcea said, as she looked skeptically at some of the people.
"Yes." Kimberly said, as she stepped forward and bowed to the older woman. "We also need your help to restore the mind of one of our own. You may be the only chance that he has to regain his memory." Kimberly pushed Jason towards the woman with hopeful expression.
The master warrior nodded, as she looked Jason in the eye as if peering into his very soul. "If I cannot heal him I shall summon Leirgott to aide me in the returning of one of our own." The group all nodded their thanks to the woman.
"You guys all right?" Tommy questioned his students, as he finally got back up and stood over Conner.
"Just glad I didn't eat anything." Ethan said, as Dustin hauled him back up.
"For sure dude." Conner said, as he rubbed his back where he had slammed into a nearby tree.
"Don't call me dude." Tommy said with a deadly warning in his voice.
"Well come on I'd rather not face this place without Dulcea." Aishia said, as their guide took off into the jungle. The others sighed in agreement and followed after the woman who was already moving swiftly through the trees.
The group finally made their way to the fireplace they turned their eyes toward the sun and saw that twilight was quickly approaching. "Gather around the fire." The warrior woman ordered her charges. "When you are done here this night you will not so easily be parted from your guides again." She finished this while giving the former Ninjetti a brief glare.
"Anybody else wishing to disappear right now?" Rocky mumbled, as he looked at his feet in embarrassment. The others were silent as they moved to their spots around the fire.
"Um excuse me? But how will this effect our abilities as ninja?" Cam asked.
"The powers will fight for dominance, you must embrace the ninjetti side though if you are to even hope to pass the Quest for the Great Power."
Shane shook his head and stepped back from the fire. "Sorry lady, but I'll take my chance with my own abilities." The other members of Ninjastorm nodded in agreement and stepped back from the ring of fighters.
Dulcea's eyes widened in surprise at this, it was one thing for a person to ignore her warnings of the dangers seeking the power meant, but to also ignore her offer to help them was unheard of.
"Um hi, before you go and get all insulted I have a suggestion." Phoebe suggested, as she slid between the Ninjastorm team and the Master Warrior.
"And what might that be?"
"My sisters and I and maybe even Sensei Watanabe cast a spell while the animals and them come together, we try and make the two slightly different powers unite."
"It has never been done before, but I suppose that we can do it." Dulcea said reluctantly.
"Good, so everyone gather around the fire." Piper ordered everyone.
"Yes, all except Jason, you have to make a choice first before you can truly rejoin the ranks of your brethren young one." Jason nodded reluctantly. as the others made their way back to the circle. The witches and two masters had a quick conversation before they each began quick preparation. Jason drew a hasty pentagram with a piece of chalk with the three sisters and two masters each standing at one of the points. Once that was done Jason stood back and let the others prepare for the spell Dulcea stepped forward and dropped some sand into the fire before she took her spot at her point. The five then began to chant the required spell.
By the Worldly Power of Three and power of the Warrior Masters we call upon the Ninja Element storm powers four.
By the Power of Three and power of the Warrior Masters we call upon the inner warrior beasts of those gathered.
United we Stand we ask a favor of the Ninja Element powers four.
United we Stand we ask a favor of the inner warrior beasts of those gathered.
Mix and Join we beseech thee Ninja Element storm powers four.
Mix and Join we beseech thee inner warrior beasts of those gathered.
Grant unto these thy joint vessels thy joint power. Let them be the twice blessed Avatars on their outside as well as in their core.
The smoke cleared and they saw the combination of the two powers. The Ninja Ninjetti were dressed in the black leathers of the ninja, but the clothing had shifted a golden emblem sat next to the elemental symbol on their shoulders, and the stripes had changed from one color that lined their uniforms to two lines that were different colors. The group looked in shock as they felt the combined powers that filled them. Dulcea took advantage of the silence to step into the large circle and smiled at them all as she felt the unity of the two disciplines. She walked up to one of the older Ninja Ninjetti and smiled.
"Have you found your princess yet young frog?" She questioned the once unconfident young man. She looked over the uniform the black and blue stripes on the edge of the uniform.
"I'd like to think so." Adam said, still slightly embarrassed about his sprit animal, as he gripped Tanya's hand tightly.
Dulcea smiled at the two happily. I am glad to hear that she said giving Adam a brief hug before she continued. "Tanya true and pure of heart, the noble wildebeest are you." The girl smiled as she looked at her own uniform that now held blue and whitish lining on it. The groups had lined up as teams and now it was time to meet those teams.
"Aishia my mighty Bear, you are as powerful and strong as ever." Aisha smiled in response as she admired her double line of yellow proudly.
Dulcea continued on around. "Rocky, as playful as ever my dear Ape, but now you have gained the wisdom needed for when you need to play, and when to work."
Rocky nodded eyes half closed, his embarrassment gone savoring in the feel of the power of the ape once again.
Dulcea stopped in front of the next one. "Katherine, though you like Tommy were infected by the darkness of Rita you did not let it bring you down. Instead you jumped back in the fight, much like the jumping Kangaroo would."
Kat smiled as she felt the spirit of the Kangaroo within her she looked with a smile at the pink and blue striping.
Dulcea stared intently at the one in front of her this one had been forced to bear many heavy burdens, but their rest was farther down the road yet. "Tommy, the Falcon has returned to you once again. So, Lord of the Sky are you once again."
Tommy smiled at this. "Thanks." Was all he could muster, as he touched the gold emblem of the bird. "I'm still white?" He asked with wonder.
Dulcea nodded in understanding the reconnecting of animal spirit and fighter was a sacred occasion to morphing warriors. "Yes young Falcon, in the morphing grid white is your true color stay true to it this time young one." The Master Warrior said sternly before she moved onto the next warrior of the Light.
"Kimberly, agile and graceful as ever, and willing to sacrifice what you want for the good of the team."
Kimberly blushed, as she looked at the purple that was alongside the red of her uniform.
"Zachary, sure footed, agile and protective always heading into trouble the Charging Ram are you.
Zack nodded, as he saw that his uniform lining was a combination of Gray Black and Navy. "My mom always did say that I was hard headed." The young man replied, flashing his best lady killer smile at the woman who smiled at him before moving on.
"Young wolf, you are even more cunning and swift then ever." Dulcea said, as she looked at Billy. "Added into that has been the wisdom of experience." Billy nodded the blue and yellow of his uniform seemed to almost melt into one.
"Hunter proud and fierce, yet undeniably loyal to your family. The Brooding Gorilla are you." Hunter scowled slightly at this, the move didn't even faze the woman who merely smiled at the action. Hunter turned to the others, and sent a few warning looks at them before Dulcea moved on. From the Crimson colored one.
"Blake fast, sure and loyal, the swift footed Gray Hound are you."
Blake smiled as he looked at the Long Navy colored stripe that went into his clothes.
"Shane a true master of the air the ever reaching Hawk are you." Shane nodded as he saw that next to his ninja red a new brighter color of red had joined the lining.
"Tori Mistress of the sea, the wise and playful Dolphin are you." The blonde nodded as she examined the aqua that stood next to her blue.
"Dustin you are like some of the barbarian warriors of old, like the lion you have a lazy laid back nature yet, when battle comes you are among the first to come forward."
"Is there any other way to live?" Dustin asked with a goofy grin.
"Cam, patient builder, you are the right hand of your father, though many forget at times. The calm and understanding Panda are you. The Green Samurai nodded as he looked at the pure green line that he was wearing.
"Conner the dino gem chose your power wisely. Though you are often headstrong and foolish, you are also strong of heart like the Thundering Mustang." Conner nodded, as he looked at the dark red stripe that ran down his uniform beside the yellow.
"Thanks." The woman nodded as she moved on.
"Ethan, playful and curious about all around you, yet you are also protective of those around you the mischievous Raccoon are you."
"Sweet." The young man said as he looked at the
"Kira angelic voiced daughter of the air. Music has always been your way of dealing with a problem, as a cry of peace or as your diving battle cry. Though you try and hide it your soul and heart are Golden as the pure Gold Eagle." Kira blushed at this, as Dr. O and her former teammates looked at her proudly. She softly ran her hands along the dark golden color of her uniform striping.
"Trent silent and guilty, here you are reborn take on the mantle of a new color and let the Komodo Dragon be your guide." Trent nodded, as he looked at the new addition of pale green to his uniform.
Remus last true founder of Marauders, it is good another wolf has joined this mighty and powerful pack. You have lead a long and hard life moonchild; your path has been filled with difficulties. It is past time for you to accept that you are a part of this world. Remember your teenage years and the being that you once were. Remember the path of your pack it is time to find that path again." Remus nodded as he looked at the light blue and silver lining in his uniform.
"Hermione daughter of knowledge, yet strong in your beliefs ever fighting for those who could or would not. The judging lynx are you." Hermione nodded as she looked at her own new addition of Sapphire to her uniform.
"Ron, impulsive strategist, brother to a family of fighters, yet none are quiet like you. You have a destiny in this oncoming war, but you must use both of your abilities to fight like the crafty fox that you are." Ron's face brightened at this as his eyes roamed up and down the glittering yellow color that stood next to the yellow.
Dulcea stood in front of a scared looking Harry who shifted uncomfortably before the woman. Dulcea smiled and cupped Harry's face in one of her hands. She looked at the young teen who was finally beginning to show some new muscle after nearly a months worth of training. His new uniform hugged him tightly in just the right spots, the Ruby red in his uniform shone next to the bright red of his element.
"Harry, child of prophecy being a Chosen One is a hard and wearisome task, but now you are surrounded by other Chosen Ones. Look around you child, and see the warriors and champions of the Light that stand alongside you in this war. Learn from them as they fight by your side. Let your heart soar once again like the Soaring Harpy Eagle."
Harry worked on blinking away tears, as he realized for the first time in a long time that he wasn't alone. Ron and Hermione broke the circle and held onto their best friend. Remus patted the three friends and just held the three of them while the rangers looked on with sad smiles as their newest member found acceptance with his path.
Dulcea waited silently as the Harpy Eagle regained his composure before she addressed the group. "My friends, there is much to do and little time to do it. I already sense that the powers of Darkness are turning their attention to us your time grows short. The time to take the Quest is now or never. Let the spirits of your animals guide you." The group nodded, as they looked at the path that was before them. "Those of you who have taken this journey before will meet you at the end of the trail, and meet the final task with you." Before anyone could object, the six disappeared in bright lights of their ninjetti colors and disappeared. "Good luck my friends." Dulcea whispered as she watched the remaining Ninja Ninjetti silently head down the path.
The Master Warrior finally turned to Jason who stood there quietly hidden in the shadows of one of the Pillars. "Greetings Jason, your coming was foreseen long ago." Jason nodded, as he hesitantly stepped into the light of the fire. "The power of Ninjetti is a powerful weapon young Jason, but you must understand that there is still more, with the coming of your friends they have changed the very power itself into something even more powerful." She nodded respectfully to the Charmed Ones and Sensei Watanbe. "Now though, we must deal with your problem, your animal spirit would come to you even as you are but it might be weakened by the loss of yourself I hope to help you find yourself."
Jason nodded licking his lips as he stood near the fire and waited for something to happen. "Look into my eyes Jason, and see what there is to see." Jason swallowed, before looking into the deep eyes of the warrior woman. He felt himself falling into the deep green orbs, which were a paler version of Harry's. The two continued to stare into each other, and angry red demon fire surrounded them. Leo pulled Piper back not wanting her to become hurt. The other two witches swallowed, but stood their ground. The angry light flared around the two of them, and suddenly Dulcea was sent flying across the ground one way, while Jason was sent the other way.
"Oh, that hurt." Jason said, as he struggled to his feet.
"Indeed young one, unfortunately I underestimate the power of the spell, even with you wanting to break it. I wish that I dared to chance you on the quest of great power but I believe I have another plan."
"And that would be what?"
"You must take the proving trail." Dulcea said, the Master Warrior waved her staff and they all turned and looked as a pathway became visible in the dying sunlight. "That path shall take you to where you need to go, it run adjacent to the path for Great Power and ultimately leads to the Monolith, but veers off where a test will form. By passing the test will you prove you are worth the planet's help, and will be healed of these dark energies. If you succeed, your animal spirit will seek you out, if you fail, return here and we shall try and bind you and your spirit together." Jason nodded, and kneeled before the Master Warrior before he came back up, bowed to Sensei Watanbe, and then nodded toward the Charmed Ones before he took off on the trail.
They all watched as Jason disappeared. "So what didn't you tell him?"
"That the tests in there is every bit as terrifying and life threatening as the ones for the Great Power and in some cases even more so. None have succeeded in this particular path in centuries. If by some miracle and a stroke of luck he passes the physical part of the quest, the mental part may very easily destroy him. What is worse, is that with this path he has no extra power than what he already had. He must face the challenges without the power of ninjetti to aide or guide him." The witches nodded, they knew that they had done all that they could, for what was to come the next part was Jason's responsibility.
"Come, perhaps with you abilities we can slow the forces of darkness that are coming until we learn whether they have failed or succeeded." The group nodded, and followed after Dulcea, as she led the way back to the edge of the forest. "I shall wait here for them to come."
"And I shall wait here with you, do you four think that you can hold them for a while?" Watanabe asked the witches and white lighter.
"Sure no problemo." Piper said shrugging, "and if it get to be to much we'll hide out on the ship."
"Be careful not to be cut off from your defense then." Dulcea said, "I cannot venture to much farther from here than I do now."
"Gotchya." Phoebe said, as they made their way down to confront the creatures under Freebooter if they had to.
Minerva sat sadly in a chair and looked into the fire that was crackling. The strict teacher and head of Gryffindor house had been spending a number of nights merely staring into the fires as she tried to understand where she had gone so wrong that her students no longer trusted in her. She knew that Miss Granger trusted her on an academic level, but if what Jason said was true the young girl, no woman didn't trust her when it came to her life which in itself was disturbing. What had she doe that allowed them to distrust them so much?
She looked up as Hagrid stumped into the room, his shoulders sagging as he pushed a stump toward the fire, while McGonagall conjured a chair strong enough for him to sit upon. "Pr'fosser." The half-giant greeted solemnly. The half-giant had taken the trio's disappearance extremely hard, and had spent large portions of his time looking for the three alongside Charlie Weasley until the Weasley's had learned that they were safe. Now Hagrid spent his time preparing for classes, or tending to the grounds wondering from time to time where the three young adventurers were.
"Hagrid." The woman said stiffly in greeting.
"So how's it feel tah know that ya got a nephew?" The half-giant questioned.
"I am not sure, and as I have only formally met him we shall have to see."
"Ya mean he ain't been by tah see ya yet?" Hagrid asked curiously, but didn't look to surprised by it either.
"That is correct." The transfiguration teacher noticed that the big man lacked any real surprised. "Tell me Hagrid, why doesn't this seem to really surprise you, Filleus or even Ponama?"
The half-giant looked uncomfortable suddenly. "Do ya really want me tah tell ya these things pr'fessor?"
"Yes Hagrid, I have spent nearly three weeks sitting by this fire at night trying to figure out why it is that my Gryffindors don't trust me. Do you know that I even did some searching around a few of the last appropriate establishments and found the same thing?"
"Don't surprise me all that much pr'fosser." Hagrid said, shrugging as he looked deep into the fire with his black beady eyes.
"But why?" McGonagall asked.
Hagrid let loose a mighty sigh before turning back to his fellow teacher. "Tell meh pr'fessor, what two tings nearly broke the three oh them apart during der third yer?" McGonagall looked with confusion at the giant man. "Ah see," the man said shaking his head. "Ow bout where did the twins go when dey needed time away from each other?"
"Hagrid, those two were never apart, and you very well know it."
"No pr'fessor, I actually know better." The half-giant said uncomfortably, as he added a large log into the fire. "Might as well make yerself comfy pr'fessor, ah tink were gonna be here a while. When they needed time away from each other whether it was because o a fight, or jest to get away Fred went ta that north tower that no one uses while George went and used a couple o the dungeon rooms that no one used. Now den let me ask ye this when was de last time ya showed that yer students meant somtin ta ya? Pr'fessor Snape for all o his faults has always done quiet a bit tah show dat he'll be dere to protect his students. You though, its been years since ah've seen ya try an know a fellow lion."
Hagrid looked apologetic as he said this, while McGonagall felt as if she had been punched n the gut. "Why do they come to you? You don't treat them any different."
Hagrid scowled at this. "Ah may not be a good o teacher as you are pr'fessor, but ah sure treat em better than you do at times." The half-giant began to scold the teacher like she hadn't been talked to in years. Where was ye when Arry and Ron had tah be set straight about pets brooms an friendship? Where was ya when Harry needed a friend durin is second year? The only help ya gave Harry durin the tournament was a classroom. When was the last time ye listened tah any of dem? Did ya know that the Patil twins act de way dey do cause dey hate being treated like de next generation oh Weasley twins? Dey have ta show dat dere diff'rent from each other. As fer Romilda Vane she's a bit oh a pure blood snot, but she's also a fair hand at drawing lot like Dean in sixth year. Then there are the Creevey bro'thers some of the wildest ah've seen, but loyal ta a fault, know quiet a bit about carin fer animals because oh der old pap."
"But he's a muggle."
"Don't mean de man don't know about car'in fer beasties." The C.O.M.C teacher replied gruffly. "Be onest pr'fessor, ye ain't let a student close to ya since James an Lily died god bless der souls, an now yer pay'in fer it. Pay'in fer with the son o James an Lily I might add."
"That most certainly not the case." McGonagall retorted weakly.
"Dat a fact? Den why am I de one dey come tah to talk ta despite not avin any power tah deal wit any oh der problems? Ah'll tell ye why pro'fessor cause I ain't specting dem to act like adults an ah listen ta em when dey need a friend. As ead oh yer ouse dat's what yeh should be do'in. Instead yer play'in politics cause Dumbledore asks ya. Great man Dumbledore, but yer fergitting that Ogwarts is supposed tah be safe. Tell meh, did yeh ever tell de three oh dem dat yeh was sorry about no believing dem about de Stone? Ah thought not." Hagrid said, as the witch merely stared speechless at him." Arry's a tough kid but, e can only take so much. Witout Sirus e lost one o his strongest supporters."
"But I am here." She said quietly, the woman was still thinking mainly on what Hagrid had said about her not getting close to any of her students since James and Lily, that she missed the closest thing to an insult to Dumbledore that Hagrid had said since he was a student who wrestled mountain trolls at night. Had she really let herself fall so much? Did she even have students that trusted her anymore?
Hagrid stopped his ranting and let the woman gather herself together before he continued. "Yer gonna ave tah prove it dem not me pr'fessor." He said quietly, as he summoned a house elf and had a pint of butterbeer drawn up, as he looked deeply into the fire lost in thoughts of days that were not as troublesome.
"You've given me quiet a bit to think on Hagrid. Why don't you tell me about my students." McGonagall said, Hagrid nodded and in a slow rambling voice he began telling stories about the various Gryffindors that were currently attending Hogwarts. He spoke of their dreams hopes and friends in other houses. The two spent the night that way, joined by Flitwick and Sprout who had stories of their own Houses to add to those the half-giant told.
Zack looked uncomfortable as he led a group of people he barely knew. He personally thought it was a bad idea to place him in charge of the group, but for the moment it seemed that he was the one in charge. "So tell me man, which way do you think would be best?" He asked of Shane, a former Red Ranger who had some idea of how to lead a team.
No idea man, this whole place is messing up my sense of direction. Hunter how bout you?"
"I'm getting nothing the Crimson ninja ninjetti growled, as he looked around in confusion.
"Cam, Tori how about you guys?" The two shook their heads in negative.
"So what do we do know?" Conner asked in annoyance. "Ethan did Dr. O's video files say anything about how they got to the Monolith?"
"Not really dude, it was like they already knew the way."
"All right then," Zack said, "I guess we follow that trail and hope that it leads us right. All right people lets go." The group nodded and followed after the others all wondering where it was that the trail would lead them to.
Harry grumbled as trees blocked his way. "This place is worse than the forbidden forest." he joked with his friends. "Of course then you only have to worry about the animals and not the trees themselves trying to block you."
"Yes, its like Fangorn forest in the 'Two Towers' from the 'Lord of the Ring' series, or maybe closer to the Old Forest from the 'Fellowship of the Ring' book."
"Can you please not bore us to death with whatever schoolbooks you're talking about this time Herms?" Ron asked, as he fought against a couple of weeping willow like tendrils that he tangled his arm up.
Hermione rounded on the redhead at that. "My name is Hermione Ron, not Herms! Herms and Hermy are something that Grawp calls me because he's still learning English!"
"But you let Harry call you Mione." Ron defended, as Remus helped him to break free of the vines.
"That name I can actually tolerate." The girl said, as she rolled her eyes at the red head, who was actually trying to justify his horrid nickname. The girl then stormed off to walk alongside Trent who smiled at the witch and the actually began discussing the Lord of The Ring books much to Ron annoyance.
"Ron why are you arguing with her on that? It is her name." Remus admonished, "Perhaps you should respect her wishes."
"All right." Ron said sighing, as he nodded in defeat.
"Smart man." Remus said, as he patted Ron on the back pushing him forward.
"Why couldn't we have brought our brooms?" Harry grumbled, as he jerked to the side to avoid a tree branch that Trent had pushed back.
"I think that would defeat the purpose of the quest Harry, for all we know the quest tailors itself for each group, what do you think Mr. James?"
"Hmm might be, I don't completely understand how magic works though, so I couldn't give you any guarantees."
"I don't get it though, with so many of us the threats will have to be either really big or really powerful. You know what I mean dudes?" Dustin questioned the others.
"He's got a point you know, even though we've lost seven people we're still a pretty big group." Kira pointed out to the others. "Could there be something powerful enough out there to hurt us?"
"Doubtful." Hermione and Ethan muttered.
"What?" Ethan asked as everyone stared at them. "We have the power of multiple elements, and if that isn't enough we also got our numbers and whatever tricks we each have, and then there are the abilities we picked up from adding the ninjetti powers with all that other stuff. I'd say that we have a pretty good chance of taking any and all comers."
"Like you guys did with Master Warrior Dulcea?" Shane asked with an amused grin, as he looked at the younger teens.
"I didn't see you trying to help out." Conner shot out.
"Easy there champ!" Zack said, resting a hand on Conner's shoulder. "We need to work together, not try and blow each other apart."
"Fine," Conner huffed as he walked on.
Zack then turned to Shane with a less than amused glare. "There a reason you're trying to get him to loose his cool?"
Shane shrugged. "The guy is a bit of a hot head, he has to learn how to control that temper just as much as the those two." Shane said, nodding toward Harry and Ron.
"They're too impulsive, and that could get them killed."
"So your pushing his buttons in the middle of something that he needs to have a clear head?" Zack asked, "his team may be a bit more impulsive than you guys, but they don't have the benefit of years of mental and physical training either. They were plucked from their lives and trained to be warriors, they had to learn the best way to balance themselves out, and meditation doesn't calm them down where as a soccer ball does cool him down. Besides as I recall they were more than able to stand up to you on a one on one despite not having ninja patience."
"Yeah but."
"Dude you need to let me worry about the training of my students." Dustin broke in, "now how about we get going? Sooner or later something is going to happen, and I'd rather not be distracted by you."
"All right, but I still think that they're aren't focused enough."
"Fair enough, now come on." The group walked and found themselves getting ready to pass through a courtyard.
"Okay if I was a test this is where I would be." Tanya said, as she looked around cautiously. She stepped into the courtyard, and walked carefully in. She was about halfway through, having just past an arch in the middle of the courtyard, when she was forced to jump back, as a dart flew at her and slammed into a nearby tree. She tried to take a step back, but another dart came from that way she was trapped inside the arch.
"You got to be bloody joking." Ron grumbled, as he looked at the mess the woman was in. "We got to get through that?"
"Looks like it," Zack said, "this is more of an agility test than a combat test though. It's also a test to see what you'll be willing to do for one of your teammates. Hey you birdbrains do you see a lever or something to turn this corny Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom reenactment off?"
"I don't think that superior eyesight comes with the power of birds." Shane said uncertainly.
"Just try, it will probably be something obvious and hard to reach." Kat ordered, as she looked at some of the statues that were shooting at Tanya. She gave a start, when she realized that the only statues that were shooting at Tanya were creatures that preyed on the wildebeest. She saw lioness and cheetah statues on this side of the arch were the ones that fired. Zack look at the statues, what here hunts your spirit animal?
"Mountain Lions and coyotes." Zack answered as he saw, two statues catching onto what his teammate was talking about, and saw other predators for their various spirit animals.
"You see anything like what they were talking about mate?" Ron asked, as his friend's emerald green eyes began to frantically search the area for a possible target.
"I don't see anything." Harry hissed back to his friend in frustration at his inability.
"Imagine that its a snitch." Hermione told her friend, Ron and Hermione both lay a comforting hand on the shoulder of their friend as he continued his search.
"There!" Harry said, pointing above the head of Tanya. "There's some kind of lever there."
"You sure kid?"
"Hey, he's the best at finding things like this, besides what do you have to loose?" Ron defended his friend.
"No offense meant man." Zack said taking a step back. "We really got to work on your teamwork abilities big guy."
"Sorry, so how do we get her out of there?"
"The air ninjas create a wind tunnel to Tanya, and then someone else can travel in the wind tunnel. Hopefully the power of the wind tunnel will keep the darts off the back off whoever goes down there." Kira explained with amusement. "Just like one of Ethan's video games. That is possible right?" She asked suddenly uncertain.
Shane nodded, "but it takes a whole lot of control, if you get distracted even for a moment you could loose control of the shield."
"Good thing we have a master that can coach us through it then." Harry said.
"We'll go," Zack said nodding toward Kat, "the two of us should be able to manage this part easy enough."
"I don't know." Conner said doubtfully, "this might be a good chance to use the ninja's training for this sort of thing."
Zack smirked at the others. "You need people with agility that means us, there's a reason why are both dancers we're just as likely to dodge darts as the ninja."
"He's right they can d it." Remus said, cutting the two former reds off. Shane bowed in agreement while Conner merely gave them worried nods.
"Hey it'll be okay." Kira promised her friend.
"Just be careful." Conner said, before he let out a small grin. "Cause I am so not explaining to Dr. O why three of his friends got blasted by a few hundred darts."
Kira slapped him upside the head before joining the other winds. "Watch it jock, or I'll make it so you have to sit the entire fight out cause I broke you." Kira threatened with an evil glint in her eyes.
Conner's grin just widened, "All right, I promise, now go and do you blowing thing."
Trent glared at Conner before he turned his attention to the trio who were having their own pep talk. He had never really fit in with the other dino thunders, they trusted him to an extent but that was it. He knew that deep down they would always be wary of him. He wished it wasn't so, but he had earned it, first there was the whole being evil, then there was the fact that he hadn't told them vital information like his father and Mesagog sharing the same body. Kira had been sympathetic the first time, but Conner had never truly forgiven him. The fact that Conner felt responsible for his friends was probably why as well, since he had hurt them all. He shrugged those thoughts off, and stood beside Hermione and Ron as the air ninja erected the wind tunnel.
Zack and Kat waited patiently till the wind tunnel was in place, they then ran forward and began doing handsprings toward their friend. The two of them reached their friend, and the two of them made powerful leaps in the air and struck the lever making the darts to stop shooting.
"Good job guys." Zack congratulated them. The others nodded and they all ran across the courtyard before anything else could happen.
"Well that wasn't so bad," Ron said with a grin, "what's next?"
"Someone get him quiet before he jinxes us even worse with something even worse and more challenging than that." Ethan said, as he took a couple of steps away from Ron.
"Oh honestly, don't be so superstitious." Hermione said.
"Right, and Ron never asked if anything else could happen and something bad didn't happen." Hermione shrugged her shoulders, as thoughts of Peeves using those lines against everyone ran through her mind.
"Thought so, so please dude don't tempt fate like that." Ethan pleaded with the redhead.
"Sure, whatever you say mate." Ron said, shrugging at the odd comments.
"All right, enough drama lets get going we have a monolith to get to." Hunter said, as he strode forward followed by Blake. The two thunder ninja blazed a path they continued until they came to a clearing that had a small pond and was near a rocky sandy area.
"Careful there may be some animals around here." Trent warned, "This is the first water hole that we've come across."
"Dude, there is no way I'm going to drink water here unless I totally have to." Conner informed his teammate.
Tori shook her head. "Come on, think of it as good practice. Here, let me show you. Feel the water." She instructed holding her out over the water. A small pillar rose from the water before it went back down. See no problem now you try it. The other water ninja looked around hesitantly as they tried the exercise with varying degrees of success. Hey Ethan Conner said there was a bone yard as a part of Dr. O's quest right? Kira asked as she looked over a hill.
"Yeah sure why?"
"Oh no reason, I just think we found the bone yard." Hermione said, as the two girls looked across at the small desert that they had to cross.
The others joined leaving the water ninja to their small training as the glanced around the bone yard that was before them. "This looks like it's going to be fun." Harry muttered as he looked at the next part of their quest.
"Dude, you so need to get yourself a new and improved dictionary if that is your idea of a fun time."
"Um a little help here!" Remus called out they all spun around as they saw that the water ninja had all been struck by the tentacles of what appeared to be an octopus or squid with to many arms holding each of the ninja.
"Remus!" The trio cried out in fear for their friend and protector.
"Looks like its time to go to work." Conner said, "Blake, Hunter! Take the Thunders and distract that thing for a few moments. The rest of us have to get them away from that thing. Shane you and the others get them free." Conner then dove into the ground and after a moment's hesitation Ron followed after the impulsive Earth ninja, the two burrowed beneath a tree and uprooted it, while Zack, Hermione, Blake and Hunter shot small balls of energy at the tentacles. The others meanwhile were playing games of cat and mouse with the other tentacles dancing out of the way as the tentacles made grabs for them and freeing the water ninja. The tree landed with a satisfying smack and struck several of the tentacles pinning them down freeing all of the water ninja except Remus.
"Mione, Ron, arrowhead formation now!" Harry said, remembering some of the things he had learned from the ninja training about tactics. "Hermione you lead, Ron and I block." The other two nodded and created a small triangle as they began running up the log, a stray tentacle struck Ron and sent him flying, but Dustin managed to catch the kid before he fell and hurt himself. They watched as Trent flipped over the braches and took Ron's spot, the three of them then battled their way toward Ron, the Water Thunder and Air attacks keeping the arms at bay as they finally reached the arm that still held on possessively to the werewolf that was the friend and mentor to the wizards on the team.
"All together." Trent yelled, the other two nodded.
"Power of Air!"
"Power of Thunder!"
"Power of Water!"
The three streams of energy struck the coils and forced them to release the werewolf. Remus flipped in the air and landed on his feet. That was a mistake rubber arms Remus said flexing his muscles.
Harry shook his head that sounded like something that Sirus or Rocky might have said not Remus. His inattention allowed a tentacle to backhand him and sent him flying Cam jumped into the air and caught the boy. Thanks Harry said as he turned to where Hermione and Trent were landing having leapt out of the way.
The werewolf twisted his neck back and forth. "Now that was really a mistake, you mess with one Marauder you mess with us all. Ron, Earth blast." The teen nodded, his normally cheerful blue eyes had a hard edge to them as he sent an energy blast that blew the ground at Remus's feet up, and sent the werewolf flying at the creature. "Show me what you got, you overgrown piece of sushi." The older wizard snarled, as he bounced between the arms that were still free, several of the arms chased after the wizard as he bounced in between them. Remus seemingly played with the creature. "Come on, I know giant squids that move better than this." The werewolf mocked, as he spun between a loop in one arm while another arm followed right behind him. Remus landed on one knee, as he turned, his eyes had taken a slightly golden glow to the tentacle that was flailing a few feet from his face in a desperate attempt to entangle him again.
"Well that's one way to stop it." Conner said with a grin, as he looked at the tangle of limbs.
"Thank you Ron." Remus said a wide grin of his own covering his face. "I haven't felt that alive in years, not even when Sirus was back. No, I haven't truly felt that alive since James and Lily died."
"Well I guess its good we did all this then." Harry said, with a small grin of his own, he then turned to Trent. "Thanks for joining us up there, it means a lot to know we got people to fight with us, not just watch us fight."
Trent nodded silently. "It was no problem."
"So, how many more of these crazy tests do you think we have to deal with?" Blake asked, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm loosing what little patience I do have."
"It should be somewhere beyond the bone yard, if Dr. O told us right that is. It also looks like we're starting to get pretty close to it."
"Fine, lets go, I'm getting tired of all of these games." Hunter said, as he stepped into the bone yard. The others followed after the Crimson Master warily as they walked through the bone yard.
"What did Tommy and the others have to face when they walked through here?" Zack asked, as he looked around curiously.
"They had to fight what they think was a T-Rex skeleton." Ethan replied, as he looked at one such skeleton. They beat it by removing something in its spinal column I think, the whole thing just collapsed."
"Great, well lets get this done with already, I want a shower when this mess is over."
"Dude, I think that shower is going to have to wait, take a look." The others turned and saw two sabertooth tiger skeletons, three of raptors, and the tyrannosaurus skeleton. The creatures growled ominously as they moved closer.
"What I wouldn't do for my wand right now." Ron said, as he looked around for a way out of the mess.
"Forget a wand, I think I'd rather have Fluffy and Norbert right about now." Harry returned, as he eyed the long teeth of one of the sabertooths.
"Grawp and Hagrid wouldn't be to bad to have right now either." Hermione said, as she looked at one of the raptors skeletons.
"Or at the very least one of Hagrid's blast ended skrewts." Ron added, the other two looked at him in disbelief. "All right maybe not." He quickly amended as he thought about that for a moment.
"I wish we had a zord personally, preferably one that can fly so we could shoot it a lot but they can't hit us."
"Well we can either all wish for something or we can take these things out." Cam pointed out to the others.
"Then lets do it. Power of Air!" Shane yelled, and smirked as he watched a small tornado pick up the raptors and dump their scattered bones a few feet away. "This is way to easy."
"Maybe not," Hermione said, "look at the raptors."
The Air Master turned to look, as the bones finished reassembling themselves. "But how? I thought that all you had to do was break them apart and they stayed down."
"That was then mate, this is now, did you really think that they were going to make it that easy on us?" Ron asked in surprise. "It's never that easy when they give you a pop quiz."
"As much as I hate to admit it Ron has a point, it never is that easy the second time around."
"Hey, what's wrong with me being right from time to time?" Ron asked, slightly insulted at the remark.
"Sorry Ron, but you don't ever seem to pay that much attention except when you want to."
"Well excuse me for enjoying my life!"
"It's better than being an ignorant dolt who doesn't want to do anything other than be a flyboy!"
Harry turned to his friends, but was stopped by Remus. "No Harry, if their friendship is to be anything then they have to have more in common than their connection to you."
"But."
"They need this Harry," the werewolf explained, "their arguments would destroy the team from within. You know this but have ignored it. No more, its time that they finally put their feelings on the table."
"Do they have to go at each other when everyone else is watching though?" Harry asked his former teacher.
"I'm afraid so, come on we've got to keep the others back." Harry nodded reluctantly and joined Remus in waving the others off. "Worry about those things first," Remus told the others, "those two need to overcome their differences before they can move on, or else they're going to always be stuck in a friendship that requires a crutch. Let them try and figure themselves out, we need to deal with these guys." He gestured to the animated skeletons that seemed to be eyeing them.
"Well I guess I'm going to lose the bone head award for this fight." Conner said, as he ran at one f the Saber-Tooth's.
"Conner!" Kira and Ethan cried, as their teammate bounced off a paw with extended claws, and back flipped onto the Sabertooth's back.
"I'm going to kill him when he gets down from there." Kira growled, as she watched her teammate play cowboy on the monstrosity.
"Careful Kira, people might think you like Conner as more than a friend." Ethan teased as he sent a water blast at the Sabetooth.
"Please, we have nothing but Rangering in common."
"You mean besides your competitive natures, your disregard for rules, your masks that you put up, or maybe the fact that your so concerned about who you both like? I mean you were worried for Conner dating Krista, which sounds a lot like Kira if I do say so myself, but that's probably just a coincidence right? Oh, and lets not forget how worried Conner got about you whenever you were alone or lusting over Trent."
"Do you want me to hurt you?" Kira asked, as she jumped over a tail from one of the raptors and landed on its back on her feet.
"Not particularly, but psychology class has been real interesting as well, and I've been analyzing a lot of the things we used to do." Ethan said as he landed on the skeleton of one of the other raptors.
"Dude, only you would do something like that." Conner said, as he made his ride turn its face toward a boulder and slam into the rock. Conner struggled to stay on. "Hey where is everyone else anyways?"
"Oh, you finally remembered that it's not just us here?" Kira growled, "They're busy trying to get the Tyrannosaurus to fall down and stay down."
"And Harry, Trent and Remus are fighting the other Sabertooth."
"Are we missing something?" Conner asked, as his Sabertooth tried to rake him off.
"I think so, but I don't know what."
The Ninjastorm and older Rangers were striking at various spots on the skeleton, only to watch in disbelief as it reassembled itself after it fell apart. Add in the fact that their attacks were having less and less affect on the bones they were all beginning to wonder what they could do.
"I don't get it." Shane said, as he sent an energy blast that knocked the dinosaur back. "How do we beat this thing? Every time we take it apart it comes back together."
"Well maybe we need to try something else then." Zack said, as he jumped and landed on the knee of the dinosaur, and tried to dislocate the joint.
"And what would that be?"
"If I knew I'd be doing it." The dance chorographer snapped. "Anyone else have any ideas?"
"Just one." Tori said, as she summoned a giant orb of water and had it hover over the dino. "You're about to be wiped out." The girl said, as she dropped the orb on the dinosaur. The bones scattered all over. "Dustin you know where they usually find fossils like these?"
"No where?"
" Under the ground." She told her friend.
The Earth master grinned at this. "You got it, one earthquake coming up." Dustin slammed his hand into the ground as the others began moving away as the Earth opened up and swallowed bones. "Hope he doesn't mind being buried in the past." Dustin quipped, as he watched the last of the bones to fall down the pit and close up with a large chunk of mud.
Harry and Remus were on either side of the large sabertooth. Harry was watching the face, while Remus kept trying to get close enough that he could hit the giant cat from behind. Harry stood between his arguing friends who were oblivious, and both their magic and their elemental powers were making it impossible for anyone to get close enough to stop them as a mystical dome had grown from no where and Earth and thunder bolts were flying around in the dome. The two of them though were oblivious to the danger as their magic kept them protected from any damage that might happen to them.
Harry ducked the swipe of a heavy looking paw, and returned with a spin kick to the jaw sending the under jaw flying, but leaving the rest of the creature's massive teeth in place. The creature roared in anger at Harry and slammed its teeth downward. "Now this is familiar." Harry muttered as the oversized teeth cam at him.
The sabertooth roared in anger, as its teeth sliced through the empty uniform. The creature shook its head, and freed it teeth from the uniform. "Looking for us kitty cat?" Remus taunted, as he slid between the sabertooth and Harry.
The cat roared and lunged at the two. The wizards met the charge, and slammed the sabertooth to the ground, while the cat was getting up it was slammed by the other sabertooth, and then the two raptors slammed into the two knocking them down again.
"That look like a good cave in place to you guys?" Conner asked, as he saw that a number of large rocks surrounded the creatures.
"Looks good to me." Harry said, as he and Kira generated a wind that began knocking some of the rocks over. Remus and Ethan nodded, and added a water attack that held the creatures in place; Conner finished the joint attack off by causing an Earth shake that toppled the boulders down onto the bones.
"Nicely done." Dustin said, as he walked over to the group and looked at the bones that were now lying shattered.
"So, how long are those two going to be going at it?" Tori asked, wincing as a large boulder flew threw the air toward Hermione, who was busy yelling at Ron who was nearly completely red in his own anger and yelling. The girl made a gesture and the boulder blew up the pieces struck out and hit Ron.
"I don't know, I've never seen them this angry before." Harry replied in shock, as the magic bubble that was holding them in grew larger, as more storm clouds and earthquakes shook the others. Dustin, Blake and Hunter were the only ones able to stay standing. "Remus, what's going on?"
"Basically it's been their way of dealing with each over the years." Remus said frowning as he watched lighting bolts stop another boulder, and send the steaming rocks back towards Ron. "I wonder if the headmaster hasn't had them under some kind of spell. They haven't had a real argument in over a week and a half and now it seems to be catching up with them. I'd say they're fighting the spell and sense its trigger is arguing about stupid things."
"They're fighting it the only way that they know how then." Blake finished in understanding.
Harry shrugged at this. "I personally don't care, as long as I can get to my friends. Sorry Remus I have to do this though." He said, right before he lunged at the magical shield which let him through, though it felt like he was pushing through jello or something. He turned and saw that Remus and the other were banging on the shield, Blake and Dustin were trying to break through it, but Harry understood that the shield was made up of a combination of his friends' elemental powers and their magic. He turned to his two friends who were standing about fifty feet away from each other and yelling at each other.
"HONESTLY! YOU ARE THE WORST KIND OF PERSON THAT THERE IS!! YOU'RE NOTHING MORE THAN A CHILD WHOM NEVER GREW OUT OF YOUR PATHETIC INSECURITIES!"
"BETTER THAN BEING A KNOW-IT-ALL BUCK TOOTHED BOOKWORM! I AT LEAST HAVE A CHANCE OF ACTUALLY GOING SOMEWHERE UNLIKE YOU!!"
"IS THAT A FACT!!"
"ENOUGH!!" Harry shouted over the boulders and thunder. "We are the Gryffindors that represent all the houses best. Now is the time to show them why we may have Gryffindor courage, but we also have Hufflepuff loyalty, Ravenclaw intelligence, and Slytherian cunning. Don't you think it odd that this is going on guys? Your very magic is wrecking havoc here while you argue with each other." The two paused as they turned and saw the damage that they had caused while they had been oblivious to their surroundings. "That's right, look around you, and see the damage that you've caused by arguing like you have."
"Its her fault mate." Ron said angrily.
My fault? Honestly, why I ought to."
"Enough." Harry said coolly having them focus back on him. "Its actually Dumbledore's fault, we are stronger together we know that, yet whenever we seem to becoming closer as a group we seem to loose our focus cause something happens, an argument or something when we should have pulled together for. Think about it with Buckbeak we, Ron and I that is, lost our way, during the Tri-wizard championship Ron got lost again, somehow we managed to turn Mione's Yule ball night into a catastrophe. Then last year I tried to deal with years of anger on you guys. Now is the time we need to stop this though, now is the time we unite and break whatever Dumbledore did to us what do you say?"
Ron and Hermione nodded and clasped hands they each grabbed one of Harry's. "Where did you learn to give speeches like that mate?"
Harry smirked at his friend. "Adam left some old philosophy books on the floor one day and I was bored."
Hermione smiled and began speaking. "We are the Gryffindor trio, Brave as the Lion, as Studious as the Raven, Loyal as the Badger and as Cunning as the Serpent."
Ron sighed before he added his own version. "We are the Gryffindor three Red and Gold on the outside with our own colors on the inside. Hermione is Blue and Bronze within, I am Yellow and Black within, while Harry is Green and Silver within, together we make the four houses of Hogwarts." The three didn't even notice at first as their ninjetti stripes began to glow until they were almost blinding. The streaks of light lifted off and disappeared for a moment when the lights reappeared Remus found himself within the group somehow.
A white owl that reminded them of Hedwig looked down upon the group. "Young mystics, you represent one of the strongest groups since the Founders themselves roamed your planet, and so to you go the weapons that were forged in secret for when the times turned dark. The history of these weapons will become known soon enough."
" To you Emerald eyed one the Sword of Gryffindor comes." Harry stepped forward, and accepted the Sword with its ruby encrusted hilt as it appeared out of the red light then stepped back.
"To you young Thunder Sage goes the Bow of Ravenclaw." Hermione held her hand out into the light trembling slightly, as she stepped forward and accepted the weapon, she pulled her arm back and gasped with surprise as she saw the bronze bow she held in her hand with blue sapphires on the tips.
"To you oh fire haired one the Spear of Hufflepuff." Shaking, Ron stepped forward and placed his hand into the light and withdrew a black spear with yellow sapphires decorating the shaft.
"And last but certainly not least Amber eyed one step forward and claim your weapon for agreeing to train and protect the warriors of tomorrow, the chosen champions of Hogwarts." Remus stepped forward, and placed his hand in a merger of the three lights in his hand he held a shield with the Hogwarts crest on it. "The Kite Shield of Hogwarts is both a weapon and a defensive object, in time you will understand how to use your weapons chosen Warriors of Hogwarts." The white owl flew off, back the way that they had come from earlier.
The four looked at their weapons in awe examining the weapons with curiosity tracing the old runes that were engraved on the various weapons. "Watch out!" Remus shouted, as the last of the raptor skeletons came out of its hiding place. He came between the skeleton and the trio and blocked the attack with the shield. The block pushed him back, but he stayed up and strong.
"Lets do it." Harry said as he felt the sword tingle in his arm, he rushed forward and struck at the creature taking out its tail. Hermione pulled the bow back and an arrow with black and blue fletching stood ready in the bow, the girl then released the arrow an watched as the arrow lodged itself in the eye of the raptor. The creature clawed at its eyes as if she had actually blinded it in its eye with the arrow. Ron finished the creature off by running forward and slamming the spear into the chest of the creature. The skeleton staggered a couple of seconds before it exploded.
"That was bloody amazing!!" Ron said, as he picked his spear up.
"Ron, language." Hermione said in a teasing voice causing the trio to chuckle.
"You did it guys, you broke the spell." Remus said, "I'm proud of you."
"No Remus," Ron said as he used his spear as a walking stick and headed for the fading magical shield. "We did it. Me, and my best friends did it." Remus nodded in understanding, as the three teens joined the others. The group barely even noticed as their weapons disappeared.
Albus Dumbledore stared dumbly at the glass case that had held his sword. The blade with a gold hilt and rubies encrusted in it had been his to use as he saw fit as the headmaster of Hogwarts. It had been a symbol of his growing power and dedication to the light and now it was simply gone.
He wondered how someone could break through the wards of his school so casually, he had checked the ward stones after he had felt surges of power blasting through them, and had been shocked when he had seen that the ward stones were actually weaker than they had been before, it would take quiet a while to recharge the wards unless he got the goblins help. Still though, the breach in the wards was actually of secondary importance to him, since his sword was now gone. That was the blade that he was going to wear on the final battle blast it! He had planned on wearing his purple robes with stars and moons on them, with the sword strapped on over his robes with his cloak billowing behind him. He was going to use the legendary blade to beat the Sr. Malfoy and McNair, maybe even try and behead the Lestranges. Yes that would have been nice, he might also have let that Longbottom boy finish her off and telling them how justice had finally been served. Such a move would remove a problem that the crazy witch was, and cement the Longbottom family to him for years. But that didn't matter right now, first he had to find his sword, and if he couldn't find the sword then he had to find a way to make an appropriate spin on how come it was gone. For now he could tell people that he had merely put the blade away for fear of Tom trying to get at it. He really hoped that Tom didn't have it, or he would have to deal with the risk of the blade becoming the next horux and that would not be good for him. He shrunk the case and wondered what else it was that might have been taken, he checked and grinned that his Philosophers Stone was still safe with this stone he never had to worry about buying anything. He closed the lid and returned the stone to its hiding place. Now to plan he still needed an in with the Black boy.
The Charmed ones and Leo watched, as the various creatures were let down a monster or demon of some sort led them along with Freebooter following close behind. Careful lads you don't want the wild warrior witch to get ye now do ya? The pirate asked as he held his swords at the ready. A few of the creatures shuddered at this but continued to march forward.
All right that's far enough. Piper ordered the advancing army as she walked toward them. The foot soldiers paused at this they were all familiar with the attitude that this human had it was the kind of attitude that they faced right before a power ranger decided to fight them. Was this human a warrior to defeat them or merely a cocky and overconfident fool?
"What are you waiting for, destroy her!" The monster ordered.
"Crap." Piper muttered, as the creatures began running toward her. She had really hoped that she would have been able to intimidate those things into backing down. She began waving her hands and struck down various creatures the only problem was though that she couldn't keep up with the number coming at her even if she had dropped 8 of them more were still coming there were a lot more than she had expected. Paige and Phoebe waited as long as they could before joining their sister, the three of them began to work as a team, but they were being steadily pushed back. The sisters saw that unconscious foot soldiers were also surrounding Sensei Watanbe, but he to was being forced back, the only difference was that while they were retreating toward the ship he was retreating toward the woods.
"I don't think that we're going to be able to stop them." Paige said, as she orbed an energy bolt back toward a Quantron.
"That's right ye won't lass, you can't stop my crew." Freebooter crowed at the witch as he gave a nasty smile before he sent in six gray creatures.
"Meet the ultimate putties girl, I present to ya the last of the Super Putties. There are only handful of weapons that can destroy them."
"We'll just have to see bout that." Phoebe said, as she kicked one, but hopped back as her foot was now tingling from where she had struck the Puttie. "Okay, ow that really hurt." The Seer said, as she limped back to stand with her sisters.
"Paige, orb us back to the ship now." Piper ordered, "we need a new plan."
The pale skinned witch nodded and the three of them began to sparkle, but stopped when Paige was struck from behind. Before the witch could regain her concentration the three of them were grabbed and placed in chains that contained their powers.
"Soon I'll have the whole lot of ye, and not even the warrior witch can do anything about it." Freebooter said, laughing at the helplessness of the three witches. "Soon I'll have my prisoners and I'll have Zedd's fee."
The group made their way silently as they approached the Temple of Power. "Where do you reckon Dr. O and the other originals are?" Ethan asked, as he eyed the temple.
"Right here Ethan." A figure said from near a fire. The other five original Ninjetti rose up beside him, alongside them a giant figure dressed in some kind of blue armor with a giant sword on its back. "We've been waiting for you guys. You've all done well, but now its time for the last test."
"And what might that be?"
"Battling the totem itself." Tommy said, as he led the group of heroes to their next challenge. The group walked to the front of the temple. "This is the part that we have to all prove ourselves on. Get ready guys, cause the last time it was a tough fight, but from what I know of the challenges you guys dealt with it could be a lot tougher than it was last time." The others nodded and joined the adults who had stopped at the bottom of the steps to the temple. The group waited and then figures began to exit from the temple.
"Okay Dr. O, who are those guys?" Conner said nervously as he looked at the figures that stepped forward. The men wore armor that was similar to the giant figure that they had just left on the chests of their armor they each had a certain totem.
"You have come to claim that which is not yours." One of the figures stated, glaring at Tommy. "The Power has moved on, you are no longer the chosen Avatar foolish Falcon. Did you think we were unaware of you?"
Tommy blinked in surprise at this. "I was unaware of this actually."
"Go now before you anger us." Another said dismissivly.
"You obviously don't know him, very well if you think that he's going to take that kind of attitude very well." Rocky said with a smirk. "And seriously, what is with all the armor, are you that scared of what it is that Tommy boy will do to you?"
"Silence Ape, we were not speaking to you. You should not speak unless spoken to."
"So not gonna happen." Ron said, as he glared at a figure that had his emblem on his chest. "Come on mate why don't you show them what you got or are ya to scared?"
"Are you actually talking to me?" The figure drawled out. "Why is a lower being such as yourself talking to me? You terran's are way to reckless to be truly trusted with the power."
"That a fact?" Ron asked his ears turning red.
"That is a fact."
"Says the Malfoy wannabe." Ron said smirking at his opposite. "Tell me Ferret brain, what's it like to be an embarrassment to your people cause your always opening your mouth when you should be quiet?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but I am no Ferret and I'll show you what I truly am. Power of the Fox!" Hermione and Harry smirked.
"Busted, your really the totems aren't you, not guardians." Kira asked as she eyed the figures. Who now had a seething member that reminded her vaguely of an Indian dancer, only his costume had elements of a fox in it.
"Very well then, to battle. One of the figures said, as they stepped forward
"Um Dr. O?"
"Yeah?"
"They outnumber us." Ethan said, "seems like they got a couple of extras."
"I noticed." Tommy said, as he eyed the armored figure in front of him who was slowly shifting into the falcon totem warrior. The two extras were some kind of cat totems, but that was all he noticed before the fight was on. He swung at the falcon totem, but it ducked beneath his blow, and kicked him back, as Tommy looked back up, he got a kick in the back as one of the cats dealt him a crushing blow. He spun around only to get raked by his totem's talon's, he saw that some of the others were getting pretty beat up as well. The cat totems were focusing mainly on him and Kim, but they were also striking pretty hard at Conner and Dustin. He did a spin kick only to be blocked by one of the cat totems, while the falcon totem performed a flying kick that sent him flying to the ground.
"Tommy, we need to find a way to stop those two things or they're going to destroy us." Kim moaned, as she was slammed down next to him.
Tommy looked up at her, and winced as he saw the scratch she had on her face from either claws or talons. "Any ideas? I'd welcome any of them right anout now. Tommy watched as Ethan slammed his raccoon into one of the cats giving Conner the chance to pile drive his opponent into Kira's and Trent's who had been back to back, the other two took that moment to help Conner to his feet.
"That's why you leave them to us." A new figure said, as two new figures in Ninja ninjetti uniforms stepped out of the shadows. The two figures flipped through the air and landed beside the cats, they then grabbed the cats and flung them toward the woods and disappeared within the woods.
"Now that's good timing." Conner said with relief. As he then turned to his horse totem warrior and swept its feet out from under it and then delivered a hard kick to its chest that slammed it into the wall of the temple, the guardian disintegrated as it passed through a spike. Tommy kicked the head off of his and watched as dust settled around him. Tommy turned and saw that one by one the others were winning their fights. A moment later the fight had stopped and the Rangers all turned to look towards the woods where the two new comers were finally coming out.
"Thanks for the help, not sure what we would have done without it."
"Done something incredibly idiotic like try and fight those two as well as your own most likely." Kim answered him; the two unknowns chuckled at this. "Well, shall we lay our claim to the Great Power?"
"Indeed, come in one and all." Ninjor said happily, "it is time that you retook your place amongst our ranks or in some cases finally took your place." He added as he looked at the wizards.
"Guys, may I introduce you all to Ninjor Guardian of the Temple of Power."
"Greetings young ones." Ninjor said nodding to the various rangers. "Ah and I see our guest has finally awoken as well." The Guardian said, nodding toward one of the unknowns. "Step forward and claim your Powers Rangers."
Tommy nodded and stepped forward, he had really wanted to do this with Jason but he supposed he would just have to wait. He stepped forward with all the others and smiled as he felt the Power surge over him. He opened his eyes, and saw that he was in the White Ranger uniform, though it was slightly different than his old White One. This uniform was actually more like a merger of his Morphing uniform, the uniform of the Ninja Storm rangers, and the dino thunder uniform. It had the silver chain mail like spandex that covered his arms a black diamond pattern running up the arms and legs it had a chest shield on it like the old one. His hands reached out and touched his helmet and smiled as he felt a beak on his helmet instead of tiger fangs. He looked down at his side and drew his weapon.
"Saba?"
"Tommy is that you?" A small British voice called out from the tiger like hilt.
"Yeah its me buddy, how are you doing?"
"I appear to be fine, though I feel a little odd."
"Probably from all that sleep you had Saba." Tommy teased, "Its been a long time old friend."
"Indeed."
"What? No welcome back for us?" One of the unknowns asked, the helmet opened up and Tommy stood in shock for a moment. This figure also wore a uniform that was a blend of Morphing, Ninja Storm and dino thunder. The figure wore a dark yellowish gold uniform, the diamond pattern running up and down the arms and legs was black, the helmet was decorated with a cat emblem, the boots and gloves were more in line with the old thunder ninja uniforms, and a chest shield finished it off. The shield held a square center, unlike his own, which held a circle design in the middle, or the dragon shield, which had a diamond design.
"Trini?" Zack asked hopefully, as he looked the girl up and down.
Jason smiled as his own helmet opened up. "Hey guys miss us?"
The original group soon swarmed their lost teammates. "But how?" Kim asked, as she held Trini tightly, afraid she might wake up and find out that this was all really a dream. "I was there at your funeral."
"I was put in stasis by the Power," Trini explained, and then made as one of the trials Jason had to deal with."
"And Jason won? But you and Jase are usually fairly evenly matched!"
"No I didn't have to fight her Zack." Jason said grinning "I had to fight for her." The group laughed at this
" The original power team is back together!" Zack said with a wild grin. "Zedd better be careful we are gonna tear him apart."
"Affirmative, the probabilities are not nearly in the preference that Zedd presumes them to be."
"Billy said that things are not as easy as Zedd expects them to be." Trini said, when she saw the eager look of her friends, true her friends were older than she and Jason were, but they were together right now, and that's all that mattered.
Jason and Trini turned and grinned at their friends, and then they took a deep breath and looked at the others. Jason released Trini's hand and approached Tommy. The White Ranger paled as his younger, muscular friend/brother approached him. He silently placed Saba back in his sheath. The others broke ranks and allowed him through, though Trent and Conner only did so reluctantly, and only after Hermione and Kira dragged them out of the way. The two looked each other over, Jason had a dark red uniform that was decorated with the dragon shield, black diamonds on the arms and legs, and at his side he had what at first glance looked like the dragon dagger, but this weapon was shaped differently having a blade on either end. "Tommy."
"Jason."
"Its good to see you bro."
"You to man." The two finished off with a complicated handshake.
"Power Rangers, as much as I wish we could let you all catch up time is of the essence, you must teleport to Dulcea and help protect the planet from Freebooter."
Jason's smile changed at that. "I owe that guy a serious pounding after that little stunt of his nearly fried my mind."
"Then lets show him what happens when you mess with a Power Ranger." Tommy said, clasping hands with Jason again.
"Sounds like a plan bro." The group prepared to teleport and Jason looked over at Tommy. "You wanna say it or should I?"
"Together?"
The young man nodded. "Back to Action!!" The two leaders cried out right before they were teleported.