The Phoenix Series

Ninja Storm: The Firebird

By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Tongue and Cheek

After Soccer practice that day, Sabrina decided to walk back into town. Her mother was still up in Reefside she was supposed to be coming home tomorrow at the latest, her Uncle Tommy was still away on his business trip and Sabrina was still at home alone. After last night's nightmare though she had asked Tori if she would sleep over at least until her mother came home. Of course Tori had agreed and they had moved her over night things in before Sabrina had gone off to Soccer practice. Adjusting the straps on her soccer bag, Sabrina frowned as she felt eyes on her. Coming to a stop she glanced over her shoulder and saw an older man leaning against the wall of a near-by garden. The young red head shook her head, and carried on walking. Maybe it was just her imagination messing her around.

As she carried on walking, the stares became more and more frequent and she even heard footsteps getting closer, stopping once more, she frowned as she realized the footsteps had stopped too. Looking over her shoulder once more she noticed the same man from before, sitting on a bench over-looking the open beach and the sea behind her. At first she didnt think anything of it, maybe he was just going in the same direction as her, but stopping when she stopped? That was suspicious, what also alerted her to suspicious is the fact that it was a gorgeous day, the sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky and this man was wearing jeans, t-shirt and a big leather jacket with a hat. Was he insane?

Finally deciding to find out what was going on, Sabrina turned to the man; even though her mother had always warned her not to talk to strangers she had to know why he was following her "Excuse me?" she called, approaching the bench wearily. It wasnt like he was going to pull a fast on and drag her into a car, he was on foot and besides if he did try and over-power her she had the power of the Firebird on her side. Although she wasnt supposed to use the Power of the Firebird to escalate a battle. "Are you following me?"

The man turned in her direction but didnt look up "My apologise," he said "but you remind me of someone"

Sabrina frowned "Oh,"

"Yes," the man nodded "You remind me of my daughter..."

"You're daughter?" Sabrina asked, her stomach turning over slightly

The man nodded again "Oh yes, she also had red hair and blue eyes like yourself. Im guessing you're what, 16?"

The red head nodded, backing up a bit from the bench as the man got to his feet and turned to her, although he kept his head down and Sabrina became aware that it was for a reason. She never once saw his face. "You look so much like you're mother," he added "Hayley Horizon, right?"

"How do you know my mother?" Sabrina asked, swallowing nervously

A smirk graced his face "Oh, we go way back!" he told her, but there was something about his tone that scared Sabrina "I actually know her quite well"

Sabrina nodded "Well, what's your name?" she asked "I could tell my mom that you're in town"

The man shook his head "My name is not of importance...and she wouldnt like it that I am here"

"Bad History?"

"You could say that," he answered, before smirking once more "Very inquisitive aren't you? Very...curious?"

Sabrina nodded "Yes, my mother tells me that all the time"

"You should be careful," he added sharply "Curiosity killed the cat, didnt you know? Your curiosity is going to get you into trouble one day!"

"Of course..." she said, drawing out her words slowly, before glancing at her wrist "Well, I gotta go...It was nice talking to you, I think"

The man laughed softly "Yes, It was Sabrina..." he said "I hope we will meet again. Soon."

I doubt it, Sabrina thought as she took a step back away from him, turned and walked swiftly down the street. She turned the corner; she flamed out mid-run and reappeared back home. Locking all the doors and windows, she dropped down onto the couch staring at the TV with a blank expression her face. Mentally swearing to herself, that she would only leave the house unless she really needed too. And even then she would flame out, she wouldnt step foot outside the door, in fear of that man being there. Was it possible that he knew where she lived? Hell, he knew everything else about her. He even knew her name...God! He knew her mother's name, what was up with that?

Lying back against the sofa she sighed heavily and closed her eyes "Something strange is going on," she mumbled to herself.

xXx

"Lucky you were there to help Kelly," Shane said, as he, Sabrina, Tori and Dustin stood inside Ninja Ops. Dustin had just told them about the thieves at Storm Charges the night before.

Dustin nodded "Yeah,"

Hunter and Blake entered at that moment "Hey check this out," the tall blonde said as he held up a paper

"Our boy, here's a celebrity" Blake inputted, pointing at Dustin

Sabrina frowned and took the paper from Hunter and looked at the front page "Kelly must have told a reporter about what you did," Hunter said

"Blue Bay Seeing Yellow," Sabrina read, on the front page of the newspaper was a picture of Dustin in his ranger form, with a massive bold headline "Blue Bay Seeing Yellow - is Yellow Going Solo?

Dustin smiled "How cool is this?"

"'While the city has gotten used to the heroic's of the Power Rangers, this is the first time one has stepped forward on his own'" Shane red from the column beside the picture

Tori looked at the text "'Is this a change of things to come, as Yellow going solo?'" she finished

"Hey, that's stupid!" Dustin said, pointing at the paper "Why would I ever go -"

But he was cut off as the computer beeped from behind them "What's up Cam?" Tori asked

"I've been keeping tabs on some of the fan sites," Cam explained "Yellow ranger just got fifteen thousand letters in counting"

Shane scoffed "Their all for him?" he asked

Dustin smirked "Hey, don't sound so surprised"

"It's over-loading the system," Cam said nervously "It's gonna crash!" there was a spark and the rangers jumped back in alarm as the computer died. The Samurai sighed and turned to Dustin "Next time you choose to become a celebrity, tell your fans to send letters the old fashion way -" the computer sparked again "with stamps!"

Dustin scoffed - as if this was his fault?

xXx

"This place is packed!" Shane commented as he, Sabrina and the Thunders walked into Storm Charges that afternoon, the red head pushing her way through the crowd and jumping up onto the front counter beside Kelly.

"Hey Kel," Sabrina said with a smile "What's the deal?"

Kelly looked up and smiled "Ever since the Yellow ranger made an appearance, I can't keep people away!" she answered "Its kinda crazy but its great for business!"

"What?" Shane asked in surprise "Just because the Yellow ranger was here? He's not even the red one!"

Sabrina rolled her eyes "I hear the Scarlet and Blue had all the attention before," she smirked, sticking her tongue out and Shane

Kelly rolled her eyes at the younger red head "I dunno, there's something about a guy in yellow" she smiled, before tapping Sabrina's shoulder "There's someone here for you"

"Whoo," Sabrina said laughing slightly "Really?"

The older red head laughed and nodded, as she pointed at towards the TV room, Sabrina looked around and frowned "Aww, I was hoping for someone else!" she complained when she spotted Peter and the soccer team "Well, I gotta go! My first Soccer game awaits"

"Good luck," Kelly called after her

Sabrina run into the TV room and jumped onto the seat beside Bailey and Peter, as the team chuckled at her enthusiasm. The Thunders and Shane watched her for a few minutes before Dustin ran out of the back room. "Oh, man I lost track of time" he said "Let me wash up!" and he run back in.

Shane nodded before turning to the Thunders "What are you guys doing, while me and Dustin are at the Skate park?"

Hunter handed over a letter "It's from our adoptive grandmother!"

"Yeah, she's really sick" Blake sighed

"You gonna go visit her?" Shane asked

Blake sighed once more "That's the problem, she lives really far away!"

"You think Sensei will let us use the Ninja Red Eye?" he asked

Shane shrugged "There's one way to find out"

"Hey, who's watching Sabrina at the field today?" Hunter asked quickly...a little too quickly, this made Shane and Blake grin; and the Crimson ranger to roll his eyes.

Shane chuckled "Uh, Tori and Cam, I think..."

The Thunders nodded and left the store, wishing Sabrina good luck on their way out.

xXx

"Can we go Sensei?" Hunter asked, after the Guinea pig had read the letter

"As you know Ninja Skills are only to be used for the betterment of humanity," Sensei answered "and I believe caring for your family certainly falls into that category"

The Thunders smiled "Thank you Sensei," Blake said

"We'll be careful," Hunter promised

Sensei nodded "You must," he responded "we cannot afford another situation like the one Dustin has gotten himself into"

xXx

Sabrina laughed as she run off the field as the referee blew the whistle for half time. Cam, Tori and Kelly were waiting for her, the older red head held a bottle of water in her hand, which she tossed at Sabrina when the 16-year-old got close enough. "You're amazing out there," Tori said

Cam nodded "5 goals in the first 10 minutes" he congratulated her

"Thanks," Sabrina smiled, before pointing to a woman over Kelly's shoulder, the woman was carrying a camera "You see her?" she asked her friends "she works for the Soccer foundation Magazine"

"No way," Tori asked "I thought they closed down?"

Sabrina shrugged "I don't know," she answered "but can you make sure she is watching? This may help me get sponsored"

Tori, Cam and Kelly smiled and nodded "Sure" Kelly said "Go for it!"

The 16-year-old nodded, and handed back the bottle of water as she run back onto the pitch, past the defensemen just as the referee blew his whistle once more, signalling for the second half.

"Come on Sabrina!" Tori and Kelly yelled, catching the attention of the photographer, who started snapping pictures of the teen.

-Scene-

The game had ended and Sabrina's team had won by an outstanding 25 goals to 3; most goals had been made by Sabrina which resulted in her being carried off the field by her team-mates. Kelly had congratulated the red head after she had been hugged by all her team-mates and the older red head had returned to work. Returning to Tori and Cam's side, the two patted Sabrina on the back and congratulated her also.

"Well done, Sabrina" Tori said with a wide smile

Cam nodded "You were brilliant out there!"

"Thanks," Sabrina said, before looking down as their morphers beeped

"Guys. We got a major problem" Shane said, just as Peter and the rest of the team approached Sabrina from behind

"Hey," Peter said, touching Sabrina's shoulder "we're going out to celebrate. You in?"

The red head sighed, why did there always have to be a problem? "I can't," she told her captain "Emergency! Maybe next time"

Peter looked crestfallen, but nodded as he and the team watched Sabrina run off with Cam and Tori.

-Scene-

"Im worried about Dustin," Shane said, as he, Cam, Tori and Sabrina sat inside Ninja Ops. He had just told the other three what had happened at the skating demo "I mean, if all this attention gets to his head..."

He was cut off as Dustin entered the room "What? There won't be enough room in here for the rest of you?" he asked

"Something like that," Shane sighed

Dustin scoffed "You know, I think you're just jealous and dude, Green is not your colour" he commented

"But it is my colour, dude" Cam said, "and I think Shane's has a point...for what it's worth"

"Typical," Dustin said "everyone thinks Dustin can't be right"

"This isn't about who's right," Tori said, getting up "it's about doing, what's right"

"We are all pleased that you have gained the world's attention," Sensei spoke up "but how you use that is what's important"

Dustin nodded "Uh, thanks for your concern but I think im doing just fine. Now I got to go. I've got to take another call from my agent" and he walked off as the Rangers exchanged looks

"Agent?" Sabrina asked

"We may have a problem," Shane sighed

"That may not be the only problem," Cam said, from the mainframe "I just lost all trace of Hunter and Blake"

-Scene-

"I've traced the Thunders DNA," Cam said after a while of searching "they disappeared off the map here -" he pointed to a spot in the middle of the woods "and repapered - there!" the screen changed to the power plant where Lothor's monster was standing.

"Lothor's post monster general," Shane clarified

Sabrina smirked "Lothor didnt strike me as the type to collect stamps"

"Must have gone postal on Hunter and Blake" Tori said, pushing Sabrina slightly for her bad joke "Let's go"

"Someone beat you too it!" Cam sighed

The rangers looked up to see Dustin already there "How did he get there so fast?" Sabrina asked

"He's the great Yellow Ranger, remember?" Shane asked "of course he's there first!"

"Shane," Sensei spoke "I seem to remember that before you and Dustin were Rangers, you were good friends." He reminded the Red ranger "It would be a shame to lose that"

xXx

"Ninja Storm -"

"Wait a minute!" Shane yelled as he and the girls joined Dustin in front of the monster

"Mind if we crash your party?" Tori asked

Shane turned to Dustin and frowned "Dont answer that," he said "because we already did!"

"Ninja Storm! Ranger Form!"

Dustin and Shane started to fight over the front spot, as Tori and Sabrina exchanged looks and rolled their eyes

"Guys!" Sabrina yelled, her eyes turning a slight scarlet colour. The Red and Yellow rangers glanced her way and stepped away from one another as they morphed. Tori frowned at Sabrina before the red head morphed "Fire Storm! Ranger Form!"

Tori pushed past the boys and stood with Sabrina on the front of the line "What did you do with our friends?" she yelled

"I've stamped them out!" the monster answered "and you're next!"

"Look out!" Sabrina yelled as she and Tori rolled aside as the monster blasted them. Shane and Dustin just managed to avoid the blast as they rolled in the opposite direction to the girls.

Shane put his hand on Dustin's shoulder "Stay down!" he ordered "I'll get him!" he ran at the monster and pulled out his Ninja sword, he attempted to attack with it but the monster gripped the blonde and pulled him over his head. Shane landed on his feet and turned around "You're through!" he growled

"Dont make me laugh," the monster chuckled

"Ninja Air attack!" Shane said, running through the air to attack the monster

Dustin skidded across the ground and attacked from below, the monster stumbled backwards and the yellow and red rangers faced one another "He's mine!" Dustin hissed, "Back off!"

"Listen to me," Shane said trying to reason

Dustin shook his head "No!" he retaliated "im tired of listening to you!"

"Stop it you guys!" Sabrina protested

Tori nodded "You're being ridiculous!"

"Time for me to get in a few licks," the alien said, throwing out his tongue and wrapping it around Sabrina's waist as he pulled her into him

"Sabrina!" Tori yelled, her voice cutting through Dustin and Shane's argument

The monster laughed as he held onto Sabrina tightly "I've got a new Phoenix stamp!" he said shooting at the others. Sabrina struggled against the monster but he held her tightly as her friends re-grouped ahead of her. All the Wind rangers could think about was if the postal monster got away with Sabrina, then Lothor would get his hands on her powers and it would be the end of the human race.

"I've got to help her!" Dustin yelled

Shane turned to him "You?" he demanded

"This whole thing is my fault!" Dustin explained

Shane sighed "If that's the way you want it, here..." and he thrust his Hawk blaster into Dustin's hands

"You're Hawk blaster?" the Yellow ranger asked

Shane nodded "You're gonna need all the fire power you can get!"

"I don't want to go at it alone!" Dustin said "I want to be a team again! Like we were before!"

Tori turned quickly to them "Can we do this later?" she asked "Sabrina! Phoenix! End of the World!"

The two boys turned to her and nodded, as Dustin jumped to the ground and Shane got onto his friends back. They flew forward and attacked as the Slob Goblin let go of Sabrina as she rolled away from him and the attacking rangers. Tori run forward and pulled the 16-year-old to her feet and hugged her in relief. The two girls then got to their feet and finished off the monster as they regrouped after.

"We cool?" Shane asked

Dustin looked around at Tori and Sabrina before smiling "Yeah," he said "we're cool!" the boys high-fived, before the monster grew tall again.

"Special delivery" the monster said, as he towered over them

"Ready guys?" Shane asked

"Ready" Dustin answered as their visors snapped close.

"It's Zord time Cam" Shane said into his morpher and minutes later the Dolphin, Hawk and Lion Zords were there and already forming the Megazord.

"How do you lick this rangers?" the postal monster asked as he threw out a temporary tongue and wrapped it around the Megazord "A little tongue tied?"

There was a split second as his eyes flashed and the tongue caused the Megazord to spark; there was a sound of helicopter and the monster turned to see the Samurai Star Megazord flying towards him "Hold on guys," Cam said as he fired lasers at the monster and the tongue around the Storm Megazord disappeared.

"Thanks Cam," Dustin said "that was starting to gross me out"

"I hear that" Shane agreed "he needs some major tongue scraping"

"My mother always said, brush your teeth after every meal, floss and never use your tongue on robots" Tori spoke

"That tongue needs a lesson," Shane said "Power disk – locked and dropped"

"Is my breath really that bad?" the monster asked

"Super stamp!" the Wind rangers yelled, as a Power Sphere appeared outside their Zord, they threw it at the monster, pulling it down his front. There was an explosion and the letters came spilling out of his mouth with all the other captured people.

"How about a combo?" Cam asked

Tori's dolphin Zord detached itself from the Megazord and "Samurai Storm Megazord!" Cam said reattaching himself in her place

"Uh-oh" the monster said, knowing it was his demise

The spinners on Cam's Zord started to rotate and the lasers fired at the monster, destroying him completely.

xXx

"How was it seeing your grandma?" Dustin asked the Thunder brothers

"She is so cool," Hunter answered "and feeling better now as well"

Blake nodded "she wasnt even fazed by the monster attack," he said "man that's one tough lady"

At that moment Sabrina flamed into the room, holding a newspaper and looking at her phone "Check it!" she said, holding up the paper. There was a picture on the front of the Wind rangers in their ranger forms. With the headline in bold RANGERS CONTINUE TO STIFLE CRIME in capital bold letters.

Dustin chuckled as he took the paper "That's us," he said

"Front cover," Shane said taking the paper from Dustin "Nice"

"I guess the press did show," he said, looking over the front page, from Shane's shoulder

"Fortunately they showed up before either of you opened your visors," Sensei said, as the four Wind rangers exchanged glances. That would have been bad.

Dustin rolled up the paper "Well, im through being a celebrity" he said "from now on, its all for one and one for all"

"We heard about your match," Hunter said, turning to Sabrina "Nice one"

The red head smiled up at him "Thanks" she said, before turning to Cam who spoke

"Hey," Cam called from the mainframe "check this out. It seems not everyone shares the team spirit"

Chubo was wandering around aimlessly, calling out for help on the screen. "Hello? Im not a stamp anymore...I wanna go home"

The friends started to laugh at the scene on the screen, before Chubo finally disappeared back into space with the rest of Lothor's space freaks.

xXx

Tonight was supposed to be the night he struck; but she wasnt alone when she got home another girl was with her. A blonde. The same van from the two nights ago stopped outside of the Horizon household, but this time it didnt move and two girls made their way into the house. He was supposed to have acted tonight, but he didnt want to leave a witness and therefore had to put off for another night or come up with a plan to remove the blonde from the household so he could obtain what he wanted...what he needed. After the door had closed he stood and headed down the street. Two blocks over from the Horizon household he entered his own home.

She had spoken to him two days previously, she was so much older than he remembered her, but she was still as he remembered her. Red hair and blue eyes. A champion soccer player. She always had a passion for soccer even from a young age, when he used to watch her on one of his visits she would always be in the garden kicking the ball around or playing for kids in the park, kicking the ball around. When she became older, Hayley enrolled her in a local soccer group and Sabrina grew and learned to become a soccer player. He always knew she would be brilliant one day, and after seeing her performance on the field today, he knew he hadnt been wrong.

Dropping his keys onto the table beside the door, he walked into his living room, the lights were off and the curtains were closed. Reaching under the lamp shade he flicked the switch as the lamp illuminated the whole of the living room and momentarily blinding him before he looked away. He shrugged off his jacket and removed his hat as he threw them onto the couch. The small coffee table in front of him was littered with different pictures all of the same girl, and some were years old. He picked up one which he had taken two days ago. It was of Sabrina Horizon, she was watching as a car pulled off and disappeared down the street, the day he had taken this she had looked straight at him, but because he had been hidden in the bushes opposite the store Storm Charges, she hadnt seen him. He had snapped the picture when she looked his way.

There were alot more pictures all of Sabrina, in most of them she was alone, and in others she was with a group of people. He picked up two separate pictures Sabrina was in them but she was with two separate groups. One he recognized as her Soccer friends, but the other consisted of five boys and a girl. The same girl who was with Sabrina tonight. They were all standing around outside Storm Charges and he remembered snapping several shots of her before she disappeared. In another picture it was of Sabrina getting onto a motocross bike behind a tall blonde. The man frowned as he threw the pictures back onto the table, some of them ending up on the floor.

6 years ago, he nearly had her in his grasps. But Hayley had taken her and he had lost his chance. Now, he was going to do it right. He would get what he wanted; he always did! And what he wanted right now...was Sabrina Horizon.

A/N: Oh another creepy ending. Who is this man? And what does he want with Sabrina? More to come.

Review

~*Kara*~