Current Poll: Besides Shane and Skyla, what pairing combination do you want to see in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm? This gives you the chance to pick your favorite pairings and a runner up. If you don't see the combination you want, you can always let me know through reviewing.

A Note About Recent Polls: I have decided to take my time creating pairings. After all, some of the characters haven't really been given much of a chance yet. I know Hunter/Cam won the last poll, but it feels… forced. So, even though I will eventually listen to the readers, don't expect it right away. Also, a strong review (or being a regular reviewer) has a lot of sway too.

Author's Notes: This chapter borrows from the episode Gem of a Day, which is the episode that follows General Deception. It's another emotional, drama-centric chapter, without action. I'm really tired as I'm typing this up, so I apologize in advance if there are more typos than usual.

~Winner for the reviewer who came up with this chapter's most creative inspiration goes to… Ruon jian! It helped me decide on what to do with this chapter, so…

Review Comments:

Thanks Ghostwriter for your continued reviews! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I can't always get a "woah" chapter, but I try! This one reminds me more of a soap opera and probably wouldn't have appeared in Power Rangers (you know, since it lacks action). Still, you're like a super Power Rangers fan and you keep coming back for more, so I must be doing something right...

Thanks ken627for your concern and suggestion! I didn't really have time to do anything with TZCam liking TZDustin in this chapter because I dealt with so many other things, but I think TZCam likes everyone, just TZDustin in particular. I realized that you're right, what has happened here is in fact already changing each of the TZ characters, so I refer to that a little in here. As for what happens to Tobi and Dustin, you'll have to read to find out. And, lastly, I've decided that Hunter/Cam felt rushed and forced, so I decided to tone it down. It's hard for people to fall in love when someone else is dead, after all. Plus, it gave me a chance to build up the characters of TZTori and TZDustin.

Thanks Ruon jian for your winning the most creative idea award! Unfortunately, I ran out of prizes, so you'll have to imagine you won something. Now, as for what I will do with your idea, I guess we'll see… I don't want to say more because then it would be a spoiler. Okay, so reading your review would then also qualify as a spoiler. Hmm. Anyway, I also personally like Hunter and Tori (or Hunter/Tori/Blake or just Hunter/Blake) for this story, so maybe people will give it a chance. The whole Hunter/Cam thing feels forced (hence the new poll). And, lastly, you said that I made TZDustin and Tobi an impossibility and I realized that you're right. So, I decided to give the two something that may or may not give them a chance. I also tried to not make him so hated.

Thanks YellowPrincess for trusting me to make everything work out! But, I have to warn you that things won't work out right away. There are a lot of issues to tackle here and so I decided to go with another emotional chapter. I'm sorry I made you cry and I hope I don't do it again with this one, but I might… So, sorry in advance! It's just ideas come to me and I run with them. Sometimes tragedies help reveal aspects of characters that might not otherwise be revealed. And, about the poll, Hunter/Cam is leading by 1 vote over Hunter/Tori (if you ignore the other pairings, which you do except for Dustin/Tobi), but I try in this chapter to give people some other options. So, I show how each of the characters (well, not all, because I just didn't have time to deal with every character) could form a relationship with another. And, I try to remind people that Hunter/Tori can still exist (even though so many of them prefer Hunter/Cam, see note at top of page).

Thanks megsjedi for declaring me "excellent"! I assume you mean the writing and thank you very much! I'm glad I can evoke strong emotions. It shows I succeeded in both surprising and captivating you as a reader, drawing you into the drama. Speaking of drama, the drama continues in this chapter. As for what will happen to Dustin and Tobi, I guess you'll have to read to find out. I know this chapter won't be as good as the last, but I'd like to think it does still elicit at least some strong emotions. I'll guess we'll see!

Thanks griffin blackwood for pointing out when something is confusing or forced! First, I hope that the last chapter and this one are less confusing than chapter 34. I read it over, but I guess it makes sense to me because I'm the one who wrote it. The last chapter (35) seemed clearer in my mind when I was writing it, so I think it was less confusing. I can't win them all. Now, about Hunter/Cam, that's who won the previous poll. I didn't really want to do the pairing and it came off as forced, so I created the new pairing poll. Still, Hunter/Cam are leading once again in one form or another. So, I try to give people some ideas for other possible pairings in the chapter. It's hard to go with polls sometimes, because I don't always like the results…

Thanks FinalJudgement for the pep talk! Your support reminds me of a coach cheering on their star player! And, yes, you're right, help and encouragement is how reviewers work, although sometimes critique is necessary. For example, if something doesn't make sense or I have a bunch of typos because I'm tired out of my mind (like I have been recently). If no reviewer lets the writer know this, the writer might think he can write while half asleep. Next thing you know, the writer's drunk writing. And drunk writing isn't as good as sober writing. Not that I would know this! I have never been drunk. Uh, yeah, anyway! Since you couldn't come up with love interests for the other rangers, I figured I'd just focus on TZDustin and TZTori in this chapter and deal with the others at some point in the future. I like to just throw out possible pairings. It also means the characters get along better later on. Now, as for Stargate guys being hot… You're right, to each their own. I won't say any more!

Thanks BloodRoseNinja for declaring the last chapter "amazing"! I'm glad that I could shock and surprise you. I read your review while I was working on this chapter and I tried to think of something shocking to throw in here because I was like, clearly unexpected things work well. So, I debated whether it would feel overdone if I just kept doing surprising and twisted things. In the end, this chapter is a compromise. It's mostly just drama, but I try to add in some twists and turns to surprise the reader. I guess we'll have to see if I succeed. But, even if this chapter doesn't turn out as good, at least I can know I managed to earn a "holly shit" with the last chapter.

Previously in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm:

Dustin is kidnapped by the other dimension's Dustin. After they talk, Zurgane shows up and shoots one of them. Meanwhile, Cam's trapped under rock and uses Circuit to communicate with Goldwinger to call for help. The rangers enter Ninja Ops and find that only Dustin can save Cam, so they go in search of him. They find Dustin in shock, saying that the other dimension's Dustin was killed by Zurgane. After Dustin and Hunter rescue Cam, Tobi discovers that Dustin is really the other dimension's Dustin and when he tells Tobi his beloved Dustin is the one who died, Tobi freaks out, burning Dustin and everything around him. His sisters try to calm him, but he wanders through the city until he encounters Zurgane. Filled with rage, he destroys Zurgane. Meanwhile, Dustin confesses to the others the truth and Tobi's sister beats him up. Cam is the only one who helps that Dustin. Back at the beach, Tobi wants to join Dustin in death, so he removes his morpher with the Sun Amulet and collapses the cave on himself...

Parallel Realities Ninja Storm: Chapter 36 (The Perils of Love)

When the rangers arrived at the beach, the moonlight cast long shadows across the sand.

"Anyone bring a flashlight?" Shane called.

Suddenly a flash of lightning filled the sky, followed by another. Crack! Thunder rolled as lightning struck the nearby surf.

"Bro," Blake said, placing a hand on Hunter's arm. "I think it'd be safer if I handle this."

Hunter blinked and the lightning stopped. A moment later, Blake concentrated and the sky became alight with lightning striking between two layers of clouds.

With their surroundings now lit, they immediately saw that the cave Tobi had went into was now a mound of rocks and dirt.

"He collapsed the cave on himself," Tori realized, gasping.

Hunter streaked over and was the first to begin tossing rocks aside, digging through the rubble.

"How do we find him in all this?" Blake asked, gesturing to the mountain of dirt as he helped his brother.

"Dustin—that other Dustin," Shane began, "he'd be able to see through the dirt and even move through it."

Hunter's digging slowed as he fought back tears.

"I'll get him," the other dimension's Tori offered.

"We don't need him," Hunter growled out, causing her to pause.

"I don't care if you don't need him," she snapped. "The bastard owes us—and my brother." She then left.

The remaining Tori put a hand on Hunter's shoulder, trying in vain to sooth his tensed muscles. He just turned, revealing a tear-streaked face lit by flashes of lightning before continuing his digging. She lowered her hand and joined him.

As the other dimension's Tori approached her dimension's rangers, she noticed her dimension's Dustin limping along. "Go on ahead," she told the others. "I'll help Dustin."

"You're not gonna beat the crap out of him again, are you?" her dimension's Hunter asked skeptically.

"No," she promised and her dimension's Shane gestured for them to continue without her.

"And, Dustin," she said, "this will go smoother if you keep your mouth shut."

He nodded in agreement as the other dimension's rangers continued along the beach until they could see this dimension's ranger digging.

"Do we help them?" the other dimension's Blake asked, looking at his dimension's Shane.

That Shane looked torn, so his dimension's Cam spoke up. "If we don't, T will totally tear us apart," he said, referring to his dimension's Tori.

"I hear that," the other dimension's Hunter agreed as his dimension's Shane nodded and they joined the digging.

Tobi awoke to find himself hovering weightless above a mountain of dirt and rocks. He looked at his hands and saw right through his glowing semi-transparent palms and he knew he was dead… again.

"TZT…" a familiar voice whispered and Tobi could feel himself want to cry, but no tears came. Instead, he looked up to see Dustin. He had a concerned expression on his bright face and was staring right at him.

"Dustin?" Tobi whispered back, wanting to run to him but instead suddenly finding himself by his side. He'd almost forgotten the little things about being a spirit.

Tobi fell into Dustin's arms, but it felt soft and fluid, not like two real bodies meeting but like they were both made of clouds. "I love you, Dustin," Tobi told him, still unable to cry. Maybe it was something he couldn't do in his spirit form.

"I love you too, TZT," Dustin replied. "I love you so much."

There two were quiet for a moment as they held each other without the usual warmth or heartbeat. It was a little eerie.

"I'm glad you can see me," Dustin finally whispered, "but why'd you do it?"

Tobi pulled back to see a pained look in Dustin's eyes. "I couldn't live without you," he explained.

Dustin ran a hand through Tobi's hair. "I didn't want you to die," he said with a look that told Tobi he would be crying if he could, but apparently he couldn't either. "I wanted you to be okay."

"But I could never be okay without you," Tobi argued.

Dustin sighed, nodding. "Yeah, dude, I know what you mean, but I didn't wanna see you hurt. It freaked me out. But I guess you were hurt before you made the cave collapse…"

Tobi nodded. "In hindsight, it probably seems kind of selfish, killing myself to be with you."

"Yeah," Dustin agreed. "I'm sure Tori's like going crazy. Both Toris."

"I know," Tobi admitted. "I love them, but I love you more. I guess I love you more than life itself."

"TZT," Dustin whispered before the two were interrupted as the rangers arrived and began digging through the enormous mound of dirt below them. "TZT," Dustin began again, "I want you to be happy no matter what. You totally deserve that, but I'm worried about the others."

Tobi watched their faces as they dug at the seemingly endless amount of dirt and rocks in front of them. "So am I," he agreed.

"You always were kinda crazy," Dustin added. "Guess I should've seen this coming."

"We're not all psychic like Skyla," Tobi offered.

Dustin grinned. "Yeah. How cool is that? I saw how she like saw things coming."

"So, you… followed me?" Tobi asked.

"I couldn't leave you if I wanted," Dustin replied. "And I so don't wanna."

Tobi smiled. "You're like my guardian angel, my earth angel."

"Earth angel," Dustin repeated, snickering. "Totally." He reached out to touch Tobi's chin and frowned.

"What's wrong?" Tobi asked.

"It doesn't feel the same," Dustin explained. "Nothing does. I can touch you but it's like you're not real or I'm not real or we're both not real. And, dude, have you noticed thre's like no smells at all and I can't get hungry."

"Or cry," Tobi added.

Dustin nodded. "Yeah, noticed that too. Seriously never thought I'd want to cry."

"It helps sometimes," Tobi agreed.

"Yeah," Dustin mumbled.

"But, hey, you'll never stink," Tobi offered. "Like that first day we met when you took off your shirt and I passed out from the smell. Though, maybe it was also seeing you shirtless."

Dustin giggled. "Yeah, I think it's my awesome body." He cocked his head to the side. "But, okay, dude, I do stink sometimes." He paused. "Or did. So, no more pizza or ice cream, not just pizza ice cream."

"Yeah, no food," Tobi mumbled, looking back to the others.

"You wonder why Zurgane didn't end up like us?" Dustin asked.

Tobi turned back to him, surprised. "Maybe there's an Abyss of Evil in this dimension too and he went there, like Zordon went there back in my dimension."

Dustin frowned. "You think Lothor knows that?"

"I hope not," Tobi told him before staring into his eyes. Transparent brown just wasn't quite the same. And, a consequence of never being hungry, they couldn't make him crave chocolate even if they were solid. "Dustin, I tried to bring you back. I tried… but there wasn't even a strand of life in the ashes."

"Dude, I know," Dustin said softly, holding him closer. "It was kinda stupid of me really. I thought about trying to escape, but then I was like, TZD's an earth ninja too, so he'd just follow me, but, you know, maybe while he was trying to catch me again, we'd've missed Zurgane."

"I don't know," Tobi said. "I think Zurgane came there to kill one of you just like he was waiting at the beach for me."

"Yeah," that scared me, TZT," Dustin said seriously. "I stood between you too, but his attacks just went right through me. But, like you didn't even need me. You took him down all by yourself. I thought it was pretty awesome, but…" His eyes fell. "It didn't make you happy."

"No, it didn't," Tobi agreed. "It was just revenge and revenge couldn't bring you back."

Dustin nodded in agreement. "You know the first thing I thought when I died?" he suddenly asked.

"Uh, oh no I'm dead?" Tobi suggested.

Dustin rolled his eyes. "Nah, I didn't even know I was dead. See, I couldn't decide between trying to go underground and trying to split in two and I only had like a second, so I did both. Problem was, I also tried to push TZD out of the way."

"Why'd you do that?" Tobi interrupted.

"'Cause I thought you'd be really sad if he died," Dustin explained. "That thing he did with pretending to be me was pretty whack though." He looked away suddenly, noticing something.

"Totally," Tobi agreed, following Dustin's gaze. His sister was arriving with the other dimension's Dustin.

"TZT, why can't you love him?" Dustin asked, still watching the other Dustin approach.

"Because he's not you," Tobi replied simply.

"But, when me and you were in my room, you said me and him were the same except for unimportant thins," Dustin explained.

"Oh," Tobi realized. "Yeah, I remember that." He paused, thinking. As he did so, he could see the others move aside for the other Dustin, except for Hunter, who kept digging. "I think it's because I thought that I loved the Dustin I grew up with. But I could never admit I was in love, even to myself, until I met you. I guess it was kinda a slow process, but I started figuring out that what I feel for you was separate from what I used to feel for him. You two may look the same to my eyes, but my heart says you're two totally different people."

"I'm glad you love me," Dustin replied, "but I kinda feel sorry for TZD."

"I thought you wanted to hurt him for hurting me," Tobi reminded him.

"I don't think I needed to hurt him," Dustin said, gesturing toward the other Dustin. "Check out his face."

Tobi looked over to see a complex array of emotions, from anguish to guilt to determination, playing out on the other Dustin's face as he searched.

"He's over here," that Dustin announced, passing through the dirt and out of sight.

"He was telling the truth," Dustin continued. "He does love you."

"And now I'm the one who pushed him away, who hurt him and would rather be with someone not completely real than be with him," Tobi realized, covering his face. Unfortunately, he could see through his hands. "How can I blame him for something I did to him?"

Dustin rubbed Tobi's back, which didn't feel as good as it should have. It was just missing something: Life.

At that moment, the other Dustin rose out of the dirt holding Tobi's body in his arms. The others gasped as they approached the bruised and bloody lifeless form.

Tobi's spirit looked from his body up to the other Dustin's face and saw that he was crying.

"Where's his morpher?" Hunter asked, approaching the other Dustin. "He needs the amulet."

The other Dustin didn't say anything. He just handed Tobi's body to Hunter and turned around, vanishing back into the rock.

"Is he…" Tori whispered to Hunter.

"He can't be," the other Tori choked out, grabbing her brother's cold hand. "Tobi, why did you have to do this? I know you loved him, but what about me?" She looked up, adding, "And what about everyone else? That was really stupid," she choked out between tears, "but maybe it's my fault. You always said you loved me and I never said I loved you." She took a breath, wiping her face. "I love you, Tobi. I've always loved you. And I'm proud of who you've become. Now don't throw that away. Come back, little brother."

Tobi watched his sister and felt a surge of guilt. "I'm sorry," he whispered, knowing she couldn't hear him.

The other Dustin emerged from the dirt holding Tobi's gold morpher.

"Put it on him," Hunter ordered and the other Dustin obeyed, attaching the morpher to Tobi's wrist in an unusually gentle fashion.

"Thank you," this dimension's Tori told him.

He just blinked, staring at Tobi's body as the Sun Amulet began to glow.

"No!" Tobi shouted, but again none of them could hear his spirit.

Meanwhile, the cuts, bruises and broken bones began to heal on his body.

The tug was sudden and sharp. Tobi could feel his spirit form being yanked back to his body. "No!" he shouted again, holding tightly onto Dustin, which only resulted in pulling Dustin with him. "Don't let go!" he begged.

"I won't," Dustin promised, "but, TZT, they want you back."

"I can't leave you, not again," Tobi insisted, the pull threatening to yank him right out of Dustin's arms. If he could cry, he definitely would have been. "I love you!"

"I love you too, TZT," Dustin said as the lower half of Tobi's spirit form suddenly bent upward, entering his body. This left just his upper half still clinging tightly to Dustin's spirit.

"Dustin," Tobi whimpered as he chest was sucked back, forcing him to only have spirit arms.

Dustin promptly tightened his grip on what he could still hold. "I'll always be with you," he whispered.

"No, Dustin," Tobi begged, now only his spirit hands able to hold onto Dustin. Their spirit fingers intertwined. "I love you, Dustin. I'll find a way to come back to you." He could feel his fingers starting to slip as his head was being drawn back.

"I'll always love you, TZT," Dustin said, leaning forward and kissing Tobi's lips with his own barely real ones, "but if you love me, don't come back. Life for them and for me and for yourself. Dude, shine like the sun. I'll be… watching."

Tobi could do little more than cry out as his fingers slipped, his head flew back and, in one painful gasping breath, he was back in his body.

He blinked, looking around, but he could no longer see Dustin. And now that he could cry, that's what he did. He tilted his head, crying heavily onto Hunter's shoulder. He reached out, hitting him feebly. "Why'd you have to bring me back? Why?"

He felt a hand run through his hair as one of his sister's voices said, "Because we love you."

Tobi didn't say anything. He just continued to cry as Hunter carried him back to Ninja Ops, the others following. As he walked, Hunter whispered to him, "We're even."

By the time they returned to Ninja Ops, Tobi had cried himself to sleep in Hunter's arms and the older blonde carried him to the training room, laying him on the cot.

This dimension's Cam insisted on examining Tobi and his morpher, but did his best not to disturb him.

"Are you okay?" Tori whispered to Hunter.

"No, Tor, I'm not okay," he replied somberly, running a hand over his face, "but I'm gonna get some sleep. Keep an eye on Tobi."

"Of course," she agreed as he reached up and touched her hair before stopping himself.

"Goodbye, Tor," he said quietly before leaving.

"I'm worried about him," Blake whispered. "Tobi's not the only one with a death wish right now."

"But Tobi told Hunter not to throw the life he gave him away," she pointed out. "I thought he was over that."

"I heard what he told Tobi on the way back," Blake continued. "He said, 'We're even,' which means he no longer thinks he owes Tobi his life."

"Oh," Tori realized. "Yeah, keep an eye on him. I can't lose anyone more today."

"Yeah," Blake agreed.

She looked at him before wrapping her arms around him. "I miss him," she whispered.

"Yeah, me too," he whispered back.

"He was always there for us, since the three of us were kids together," she continued.

"Yeah," was all Blake could think of to say.

After a moment, the two released and he gave her a long look before leaving to follow his brother. As he did so, he watched the other Tori enter the training room.

"Blake," she said, passing him.

"Tori," he replied, leaving quickly.

This dimension's Tori noticed the other Tori staring as Blake left. "You actually care about him, don't you?"

The other Tori turned to her, forcing a smile. "That's a given. I did have sex with him."

Tori cringed. "Yeah," she mumbled.

"I guess I should apologize for that," the other Tori suggested.

Tori crossed her arms. "Yes you should."

The other Tori sighed. "I'm sorry I slept with your boyfriend. Well, okay, I'm not really sorry I did it, but I'm sorry I hurt you and… I'm sorry I hurt him." She turned back to the exit.

Tori watched her. "If you stare any harder, I'd think you love him."

The other Tori looked back at her sharply. "I'm not in love. I've never been in love, remember?"

"So, how would you know if you were?" Tori asked.

The other Tori paused, thinking. "I don't know. I mean, he is… different from my dimension's Blake. It's like with Tobi and this dimension's Dustin. It's like what I felt was always for this dimension's Blake and the other Blake was a substitute and I never new it until I met the real thing." She noticed Tori's horrified face and quickly added, "But I'm not going to steal your Blake. I'll be a good girl." She smiled for effect.

"I'll hold you to that, you know?" Tori said sternly.

"Yep, I know," the other Tori agreed, patting Tori's back.

Cam stood up, removing his glasses for a moment as he stared down at Tobi. "He'll probably stay asleep for a while, but he's okay. Physically, that is."

"One of us should stay with him tonight," Tori suggested.

"I should go back home so my parents don't worry," Shane suggested.

"Yeah, so should I," Tori agreed. "Maybe I should bring him with me."

"I'll stay with him," the other Tori offered.

"Sure," Tori said slowly, watching her.

"I'll stay in here tonight," Cam offered.

"What about the other versions of us?" Shane asked, gesturing to the training room exit.

"I can keep them in line," the other Tori replied.

"Okay then," Shane said with raised eyebrows. "Let me just say goodbye to Skyla first."

"Goodnight," Tori said. "And, goodnight Tobi," she added, leaving with Shane.

Cam watched her go, a disappointed look in his eyes.

The other Tori shook her head. "You've got it bad for her," she accused.

He returned his glasses to his face rather forcefully. "I just like her," he insisted. "We're friends. Nothing more."

"Though you wish it were more," the other Tori added.

Cam stared at her. "Yes," he finally admitted, "but she's made her feelings clear."

The other Tori smirked. "Guess you Cam's aren't that different after all."

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"I've had my dimension's Cam a few times," she explained. "Nothing serious, you know, just for fun."

Cam's eyes widened. "Oh, uh, I see."

She chucked to herself. "We could do it if you want."

He blinked at her for a while. "Uh…" he mumbled. "I mean…" He blinked some more before regaining his composure. "I need to get some sleep. I'll, uh, stay in here. Go check on the others. They're welcome to stay in Ninja Ops. And… I'd appreciate it if you find another room to sleep in."

She raised an eyebrow. "Don't trust me? …Or don't trust yourself?"

"I just want to sleep tonight," he said seriously. "Let Tobi sleep in peace too."

She frowned and then shrugged. "Yeah, okay. Goodnight, loverboy." Then she left the training room and Cam let out a long sigh.

"Dustin, don't leave!" Tobi screamed out, sitting up suddenly on his cot and looking around.

Cam woke up startled and groggily sat up on his cot. "Tobi, are you okay?" he asked, getting up. He approached the long-haired blonde and sat on the cot next to him. "Bad dream?" he asked.

Tobi looked up at Cam. "Not any worse than reality," he replied.

Cam sighed. "There's nothing I can say to make things better, so I guess I shouldn't try."

Tobi stared at his hands. They were no longer transparent and he could feel the warmth and blood flowing through his body. In a way, it was nice to be alive, but he still felt alone. "I saw him," he whispered.

"Who?" Cam asked, blinking the sleep from his eyes.

"I saw Dustin when I was dead," Tobi clarified. "It wasn't the same, being spirits and all, but it was still him. It was still the Dustin I love." He started crying again and buried his head in Cam's chest.

Cam patted Tobi's back awkwardly.

"I wanted to stay with him," Tobi continued between sobs. "I wanted to be with him forever, but you guys wouldn't let me and… and even Dustin wanted me to live."

Cam raised an eyebrow in surprise, but he didn't say anything.

"I know it was selfish to make everyone freak out about me, but I just don't know how to do it without him," Tobi explained, pulling back and wiping his face. He looked around the room. "He said he would stay with me," like he did before."

"So, you're saying he's here now?" Cam asked, following his gaze around the room. "In spirit form?"

Tobi nodded. "But I can't see him. And neither can Skyla."

"And I threw the Gem of Souls into the ocean," Cam added.

Tobi looked at him, confused. "What are you talking about? I used the Gem of Souls to defeat Zordon."

"I mean this dimension's Gem of Souls," Cam explained. "It's how Hunter and Blake first saw their parents' spirits. In the other dimension, the same thing happened when your spirit was reunited with your body."

"Oh, Tobi realized. "I guess I feel a little better now that I know he's with me, even if he's invisible."

"That makes sense," Cam agreed. "Part of me was hoping you wouldn't see Dustin, that there was some mistake and he was really alive." Tobi was quiet, so he continued, asking, "So… he can hear you now?"

"Yeah," Tobi nodded, adding, "I love you, Dustin."

"Uh," Cam mumbled, looking around. "Dustin, I…" He blinked at the empty room. "I'm sorry," he said. "You were like the younger brother I never had. I know at first I was a little… demeaning toward you, but once I got to know you better, I found you were… clever and… I learned to care about you a lot. I might even say, I learned to love you." He could see out of the corner of his eye Tobi give him a surprised look, so he added, "I mean, as a brother. And not necessarily Hunter and Blake brothers. I wouldn't have licked your nipples." He fidgeted nervously. "I, uh, mean…"

Tobi patted Cam's arm. "I think he understands," he whispered. "Though he's probably laughing now."

Cam nodded, his cheeks flushed.

"What time is it?" Tobi asked.

Cam looked at his watch. "Almost five thirty."

"In the morning?" Tobi asked, shocked.

"You can go back to sleep if you want," Cam offered, standing and stretching. "I'm going to see what I can do about the Zord Bay."

Tobi stood up and hugged him. "Thanks for staying with me last night, Cam."

"Anytime," Cam replied, still blushing. "Well, goodnight I suppose."

Tobi released him, nodding. "Yeah," he mumbled, looking around the room again.

"Tobi, I'm glad you're alive," Cam said. "And so are the others."

Tobi sighed. "I know," he replied quietly. "It's not that I don't want to be alive. I like the feelings, the senses. It's just… I miss Dustin."

Cam nodded. "So do I." He watched as Tobi sat on his cot and stared at the training room wall. He looked like he was waiting for Dustin to suddenly appear. Cam decided to reach out and pat Tobi's shoulder before leaving the room.

Tobi turned, surprised, and watched him go. Once he was gone, Tobi turned back to the empty room. "Dustin, I don't want you to feel alone," he said outloud. "Just know I'll never stop talking to you. Just pretend… just pretend I can hear you too." Then he covered his face with his hands and cried.

Cam entered the main room of Ninja Ops and started up the computer. It was early and he knew he could probably use more sleep, but he also knew the others would be asking for the Zords if Lothor attacked again and it was unfair to Tobi to constantly rely on him, especially in his current state. There might come a time when Tobi couldn't save the day.

"Is Tobi okay?" a voice asked Cam, startling him.

He spun around to see Dustin and, at first, his eyes widened and he felt such a sense of relief and joy, until he remembered the other Dustin. He promptly removed his glasses and tried to rub the sleep from his eyes.

"I heard him scream," Dustin continued.

"He's doing about as well as is to be expected," Cam replied, returning his glasses to his face.

Dustin pouted. "I feel really bad about everything. Is he going to hate me forever?"

"You'll have to ask him that," Cam suggested, though I don't think he hates you. Tori told me he set you on fire by accident."

Dustin nodded weakly before looking at the screen. "You can't bypass the bay's hydraulics that way," he interrupted. "I reconfigured the interface." He reached in front of Cam, typing on the keyboard.

Cam backed off, slightly annoyed. "So, uh, you said you have an alternative to using Zords?" he asked.

Dustin finished what he was doing before turning back to Cam. "The device this dimension's Lothor uses to make aliens grow is called a Personal Alien Manager, or PAM," he explained.

"Yes, I know," Cam replied. "Marah and Kapri traded it away one time and a boy ended up playing with it like it was a game."

"Oh," Dustin replied, thinking. "Then that's an idea. "See, I figured we only need to steal the device and Lothor won't be able to make aliens grow, which forces Zord battles. Marah and Kapri can sneak onto his space ship without being suspected and steal the PAM."

"I see," Cam said, thinking before looking at Dustin. "I was wondering, though, why you made Zords, especially with what Tobi told me about his past."

"Oh," Dustin mumbled. "I explained this to him. Hunter told me he and Blake were going to be getting Zords from their parents, so I thought they'd use them to smash the city unless I created Zords to battle with instead. Like robot battles where you build your own robot to fight someone else's robot."

"I remember those," Cam agreed. "I actually built my own robot to compete, even though my father didn't approve."

"Really?" Dustin asked, surprised. "Mine had this electromagnet that could short out the other robot but its own processor was shielded, so it wasn't affected. It won first prize, actually."

Can couldn't help but smile.

"What?" Dustin asked.

"It's just, for a moment there, you reminded me of him," Cam said.

"Him? Oh, him," Dustin realized.

"The way you explained things was almost like the excited way Dustin would explain modifications to his bike," Cam explained, blinking as his eyes grew moist.

"Oh," Dustin realized. "Thanks, Cam."

"For what?" Cam asked, wiping his eyes inconspicuously.

"For being the one person who actually seems to like me," Dustin replied.

"As I said, I just care," Cam told him.

"Do you think Tobi will ever…" Dustin began, biting his lip.

"Love you?" Cam suggested.

"Yeah," Dustin agreed.

"I don't know," Cam replied. "There's nothing quite like first love."

"I thought I was his first love," Dustin suggested.

"No," Cam disagreed, "but maybe you could be his second. After all, had he never come here, he probably would have eventually fallen in love with you."

Dustin nodded. "And your Dustin would be alive."

"Unless Zurgane killed him anyway," Cam pointed out. "Tobi did manage to get rid of Lothor's top general. And… I like having him around."

"Yeah, he starts to grow on you," Dustin agreed.

"Like a plant," Cam added.

"And I used to treat him like a weed," Dustin added.

"You can change that," Cam suggested before realizing something. "Air, water and earth. What's missing from that?"

"Is this a riddle?" Dustin asked, confused.

"I mean, what else do plants need to grow?" Cam clarified.

Dustin thought about that. "Sunlight?" he suggested.

"Exactly," Cam replied. "Tobi was always meant to be a Wind ninja and a ranger."

Dustin gave him a surprised look. "Because he has the power of sunlight?"

"Yes," Cam agreed.

"And that makes it so he can heal people or burn them," Dustin realized outloud. "But why didn't Sensei see that he was meant to be both a ninja and a Power Ranger?"

"Even a ninja master can be wrong sometimes," Cam suggested.

Dustin patted his shoulder. "You're his son. You can be the one to tell him that. But duck when he raises his little hands, Cam."

"I'll keep that in mind," Cam said, shaking his head and returning his attention to the screen.

Tori woke up to find she was in her own room, the first rays of sunlight shining in through her window. The way the sunlight danced through the leaves of the tree outside her window made the blue walls of her room look like they were shimmering with an underwater reflection.

She reached up, feeling her face. Apparently she had been crying in her sleep. The was a knock at her door and she quickly wiped her eyes. "Come in," she said.

Her door opened to reveal her younger sister, who had a concerned expression on her face.

"Ali," Tori greeted. "Good morning. Are mom and dad up?"

"Dad's making breakfast," Ali replied, approaching her sister. "Are you okay, Tori? You look like crap."

Tori rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Ali."

"Just being honest," she said, sitting on the bed next to Tori. "Does it have to do with Tobi?"

"Kind of," she agreed, shrugging.

"About him being… a Power Ranger?" Ali added.

Tori stared at her for a moment. "Look, Ali, I'm sure he was just joking with you."

"So you're gonna pretend you don't know?" Ali accused. "Because I saw him as a Power Ranger, the Gold Power Ranger. I guess he's new, being from another dimension and all."

"Oh," Tori mumbled as she searched her mind for an explanation.

"So, I guess that means you must be the blue Power Ranger," Ali continued.

Tori stared at her, horrified. "That's silly," she insisted. "Just because I happen to like the color blue—"

"Tobi had one of those fancy watches like you and I heard you talk to him through it," Ali explained. "You told him a monster was attacking and he said he'd be there. Next thing I know, he's a Power Ranger trying to save us."

Tori's head fell. "Ali, have I ever told you you're too smart for your own good?"

"A few times," Ali agreed with a smirk. "But you can say it again if you want."

"You can't tell mom or dad," Tori said earnestly.

"Why not?" she asked. "My sister's a Power Ranger!"

"Shh," Tori warned.

"Can I be the pink ranger?" Ali asked. "There's no pink one yet."

"Ali, listen to me," Tori said seriously. "You know how mom worries about me getting hurt surfing? Imagine if she knew I fought kelzaks and monsters on a regular basis."

"Yeah, total freak out," Ali realized.

"Exactly," Tori replied.

"So, where is Tobi anyway?" Ali asked. "I was gonna get mom and dad to buy me a car if he gets my room."

"He's sleeping at… a friend's house," Tori explained hastily.

"I like him," Ali said. "Plus, he said he's dating Dustin and I so want a photo of that for my blog, Alicat's Cutest Couples."

Tori choked, trying to fight back tears. "Ali, I need to get ready. Go help dad," she said quickly, turning her head away.

"Tori, what's wrong?" Ali asked, concerned. "Is it Tobi? Or Dustin?"

Tori just nodded, blinking away tears. "Dustin's…" She then began to cry on her younger sister's shoulder.

"Is he hurt?" Ali asked, worried.

Tori was silent until her morpher started beeping. She pulled away, wiping her eyes. "That's my alarm. I need to get ready."

Ali crossed her arms. "I already know it's a secret Power Ranger communicator."

Tori sighed, pressing a button on her morpher. "Tori here," she greeted unenthusiastically.

"Tor," came Blake's voice, full of concern. "It's Hunter…"

"What's wrong with Hunter?" Tori asked, quickly jumping off the bed and throwing some jeans and a t-shirt on.

"He's gone," Blake explained. "I think he's going to do something stupid."

"Where are you?" she asked, putting on her shoes.

"I'm at the apartment," Blake answered.

"Tell the others," she called. "I'm on my way."

"So, Blake's a Power Ranger too?" Ali asked, surprised..

"Ali, I have to go," Tori said seriously. "Please just keep the whole Power Ranger stuff to yourself. I love you and I'm counting on you." She then ran out of the bedroom, streaking across town.

After falling back to sleep for a short while, Tobi shuffled his way into the main room of Ninja Ops, where he found the others gathered around Cam's computer.

"I found him," Cam announced, talking to an image of Blake on the screen. "Blake, I'm feeding the coordinates to your morpher."

"I'm coming too," Tori's voice called as she briefly appeared on the screen before Cam began tracking their movements on a map.

"What's going on?" Tobi asked, approaching.

"Blake says Hunter snuck out during the night and now he thinks…" Shane began, glancing at Cam.

"Tobi, are you feeling up to coming with me right now?" Cam asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, sure," Tobi agreed, confused.

"Great," Cam replied. "Shane, keep an eye on the others while we're gone."

"Right," Shane agreed.

"Don't be afraid to wake my father if you need him," Cam added. "I think he may already be doing his morning mediation. Come on, Tobi," he added, heading toward the exit.

Tobi gave Shane a confused look as he passed while following Cam. But, on their way out, they ran into the other dimension's Dustin and Tobi had to look away suddenly.

"I'd like to help if I can," Dustin offered.

Cam looked at Tobi and then back to Dustin. "I don't think that would be a good idea." He then stepped around him.

"I'm sorry again, Tobs," Dustin offered Tobi as he passed.

Tobi let himself look at Dustin. The face, the eyes, they were so familiar and he found himself wanting to hug him, but he knew this wasn't the same Dustin. Still, he just had to say, "I'm sorry too." Then he left.

Blake was the first to spot his brother lying motionless next to a large rock atop a hill. He ran toward him, yelling, "No! Hunter!"

Tori covered her mouth, fighting back more tears as she ran with him.

Blake streaked to his brother's side, lifting the blonde and shaking him. "Bro, don't do this to me!"

"Is he okay?" Tori asked nervously.

Hunter groaned, opening his eyes. "Bro, stop it."

Blake immediately hugged him as Tori kneeled and joined the hug. "Hunter, you're alive."

"Of course I'm alive," Hunter said slowly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I thought you'd try to off yourself because of Dustin," Blake explained.

"Blake told me you told Tobi you were even now," Tori added.

"Because we are," Hunter replied, glancing between them. "I just came out here to be alone and think, not to kill myself. I guess I dozed off."

"Your brooding spot," Blake realized. "I should have thought about that."

"So… you're not feeling suicidal?" Tori asked.

At that moment, Cam and Tobi arrived, both looking worried.

"False alarm," Blake told them.

"False alarm for what?" Tobi asked.

"They thought I was going to try to kill myself," Hunter explained, glancing at his brother.

"Oh, because you loved Dustin too," Tobi realized.

"And probably because it would make sense," Hunter added, looking down. "I actually thought about it too."

The others gave him horrified looks.

"But I came out here to clear my head so I wouldn't do something I regret," he clarified. "It's just that everyone I've ever loved has died. It's hard not to think I'm cursed, just like last time."

"Last time?" Cam asked.

"Bro, you sure you're ready to tell this?" Blake asked, concerned.

Hunter rubbed a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I'm over it. It's a good thing too, because Dustin's death really hit me. I started thinking I was cursed all over again."

"Wait, start from the beginning," Tori insisted. "Is this about your parents dying?"

Hunter nodded. "Yeah, but it didn't stop with them. There was this girl I met freshman year. Her name was Jazmine and I loved her."

"You loved a girl?" Tobi asked, surprised.

"Yeah, I've loved girls before," Hunter told him, unable to keep from glancing at Tori. "Anyway, Jaz and I were… intimate."

"That's the girl you had sex with," Tobi realized.

"Yeah," Hunter agreed. "Everything was going fine until I said something stupid. Let's just say Blake's not the only Bradley who can stick his foot in his mouth. That's actually why I started thinking before I speak."

"Or not saying anything and just brooding," Blake added.

Hunter nodded. "So, she left and I knew I was wrong, so I followed her because I had to apologize…" His eyes began to water.

"Hunter, what happened?" Tori asked, concerned. She wrapped an arm around him for support.

"I guess she wasn't paying attention to where she was going," Hunter continued, choking back tears. "All she could probably see was that stupid smug look I had on my face before she left." This time, he couldn't hold back the tears and they flowed as he continued. "She was hit by a car, but she didn't die right away. I found her and… I tried to save her using the techniques Sensei Omino taught us, but all I was doing was prolonging her suffering. In the end, she still died." He covered his face with his hands as Tori held him tighter.

"I found him in the bathtub," Blake added, his arms joining Tori's. "He had slit his wrists and electrocuted himself using the power of lightning. The water was all red," he added, tears in his eyes.

"Crimson," Hunter corrected, his face still covered.

"So, you thought you were cursed because those you cared about the most died?" Cam asked.

Hunter nodded, lowering his hands. "I didn't want anyone else to die because of me."

"And then, when Dustin…" Tobi began, kneeling in front of Hunter. "It must have been like loving someone caused them to…" He shook his head. "Hunter, it's not your fault."

"I know," Hunter replied. "I did briefly wonder if Blake or Tori might be next, but I managed to convince myself that I can't think like that. I can't abandon everybody because of some superstition that says everyone I love will eventually die."

Blake breathed a sigh of relief, patting his brother's shoulder.

"Why did you think I might be next?" Tori asked.

"Oh, I…" Hunter mumbled. "You know I care about you."

"You said you thought people you love were in danger," she pointed out.

"He did say that," Cam agreed, thinking.

"Bro?" Blake asked, turning his brother to face him.

Hunter tried to avoid Blake's gaze.

"He loves her," Tobi realized.

"Bro, I thought…" Blake began, a frustrated look on his face as Tori looked extremely embarrassed. "Are you sure it's love?"

Hunter sighed, looking at Tori. "Yeah, it's love."

"Hunter, I…" Tori began before noticing Blake staring at her, a panicked look in his eyes. "I love you both."

"You do?" Hunter asked, surprised.

"I thought you didn't think you loved strawberry," Blake insisted. "Tor…"

"I'm sorry," she replied. "It doesn't change how I feel about you. And, yes, I love you too. I always felt something for both of you."

"You can love two people at the same time?" Tobi asked, shocked.

Cam placed a hand on Tobi's shoulder as he leaned over. "Yes, Tobi, you can."

"Maybe there's some hope for you and the other Dustin," Tori suggested to Tobi.

Tobi frowned, glaring at her.

"Too soon," Cam whispered to her.

Tobi turned to Cam. "Too soon as in never," he snapped, standing. "I'm never going to give up on Dustin—my Dustin. He's right here now and he can hear everything we say. Just because we can't see him doesn't mean he's not real. He is real and I still love him and that will never, ever, ever change… even if I do feel something for the other Dustin." He then stomped off.

"Tobi, I didn't mean…" Tori began before turning back to the others. "I just meant that he could also love the living Dustin."

"Eventually," Cam added.

"He doesn't know that now," Hunter said, "but he'll love again."

Blake looked at his brother. "And so will you. Another guy," he clarified, looking at Tori protectively. "How about Cam? You said you like him."

"Blake, you can't make someone love someone else," Tori interrupted, standing. "And I'm going after Tobi."

Hunter glanced between Cam and Blake. "We'll all go," he said quickly, joining her. "And, bro, you're a guy and I love you."

Blake rolled his eyes. "Let's just get Tobi before he goes all Hunter on us."

Hunter hit Blake lightly.

"I just meant the brooding part," Blake defended.

"I know what you meant," Hunter said, "but Tobi isn't a brooder. He's a doer."

"Then we definitely need to follow him," Cam suddenly insisted and the others nodded. "I'll go to Ninja Ops to track him."

"We'll split up and look," Blake told him. "Call whoever's closest when you find him."

Cam nodded, glancing between the three with a slightly pained expression before leaving.

"Is he okay?" Tori asked. "Maybe I should go with him."

Blake looked at her sharply. "Don't tell me you're in love with Cam too."

Tori rolled her eyes. "I do care about him. And, if I did love him, would you have a problem with that?"

Hunter mouthed "foot in mouth" to his brother and Blake nodded. "No, course not," he mumbled. "Love who you want."

Hunter looked between Tori and his brother. "I'll go check on Cam," he offered. Turning to go, he added over his shoulder, "Love you guys."

Tori and Blake both exchanged surprised looks.

"Going somewhere?" a voice called from behind Tobi as he walked through the woods outside Blue Bay Harbor. He turned around to see his sister.

"Are you following me?" he accused.

"Yes I am," she said boldly, approaching him and slinging an arm around his shoulder. "You know you'd be hopelessly lost without me."

"Guess I know which Tori you are," he replied.

"I think the other me would follow you too," she said. "She worries about you as much as I do."

"Maybe more," he suggested.

She sighed loudly. "Tobi, I know I don't tell you this, but I should have a long time ago. I love you and I'm proud that you became a ninja and a Power Ranger."

"Thanks," he mumbled. "I love you too."

She smiled. "So, where we heading?"

"We?" he asked. "I'm headed for the beach. Cam said he threw this dimension's Gem of Souls into the ocean and I thought maybe, if I concentrated, I could sense where it is."

"You can do that?" she asked, surprised.

"I won't know until I try," he replied. "I know how to see the life force in things and the gem has a life force of its own. It's what I used to defeat Zordon. He was stripped of his powers."

"So you really did that," she said quietly. "I guess I shouldn't be so surprised. You're pretty amazing. Sorry for not seeing it sooner."

"No one else did, not even me, so why should you have seen it?" he asked.

"Because you're my twin brother," she answered. "You have to be at least as amazing as me."

Tobi shook his head. "Uh huh," he mumbled.

"So, what do you plan on doing with this Gem of Souls?" she asked.

"Try to see him again," he replied with a sigh. "It brought me back to life. But, I had a body and his is…" He looked down, stumbling a little as he walked, but his sister kept him steady. "You know, he said he was trying to go underground and split in two."

"Split in two?" she asked.

"Yeah, I wonder about that too," he said. "I want to ask him. I have a lot to ask him." He paused. "Cam said that the Gem of Souls made it so everyone could see the spirits. It's worth a try."

"Yeah, sure, why not?" she replied.

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" he asked.

She shrugged. "It's never stopped me before."

He rolled his eyes as the two approached the beach.

"So, what do we do first?" she asked as they stared across the ocean.

"I'm going to try to search the ocean by leaving my body like I did when Sensei taught me how to meditate," he explained. "I could sense a lot of things then and I think I'm better able to control it now, so I'm hoping I don't catch on fire this time."

"You caught on fire?" she gasped.

"But you'll put me out and the Sun Amulet will recharge my energy while I heal myself," he assured her.

"Tobi, this really sounds like a stupid idea," she said, crossing her arms.

"If you have some other way for me to see him again, tell me," he insisted. When she didn't reply, he said, "That's what I thought. Just… I have to try this."

She shook her head. "I wish you could just love our Dustin."

"I know," he replied, looking at the ocean.

She shrugged, reluctantly agreeing, "Fine, but how do I snap you out of it if I need to?"

Tobi paused, thinking. "I don't know. Just shake me or something."

"You really know how to scare your sister, you know little brother?" she replied.

"Just put me out if I start to burn," he told her before closing his eyes and concentrating. He tried to remember exactly what Sensei had taught him. That day, he'd been able to see outside Ninja Ops and all the way to the coast. This time, he just needed to see the ocean floor for a few miles.

He let his consciousness stretch out until he felt weightless as he stretched his mind out farther, feeling the sand, the sky and the seemingly endless amount of water in front of him. What he didn't anticipate was that he sensed all the fish in the ocean, or rather the life in all the fish. So, he tried to remember what the fragments of the Gem of Souls felt like that night he threw them at Zordon.

He was starting to feel overwhelmed with all he was sensing, so he tried to pull himself back into his body to get his bearings. Unfortunately, he couldn't seem to figure out how to do that. So, instead, he just tried to hold the part of himself he was projecting out into a smaller area. As he did, he felt his consciousness form into a spirit. Even though he wasn't dead, apparently it's how the only way his consciousness knew how to contain itself in a small area outside the body.

Now able to look at one thing at a time, he saw his sister dousing his body with water while also shaking him. "Tori, use my morpher to call Sensei," he told her before realizing she couldn't hear him.

And, at that moment, getting his sister's attention suddenly became unimportant. Because, at that moment, he heard Dustin's voice say, "TZT…"

Cam glanced over to see Hunter following him as he made his way back to Ninja Ops. "I thought you could use some company," Hunter called.

Cam gave him a surprised look. "I thought you were the one who we were worried about."

"None of us are really okay right now," Hunter replied, catching up to him.

Cam nodded. "But some of us are more loved than others."

Hunter grinned nervously. "Look, Cam, I didn't know she actually loves me."

"I suppose it's possible she only said that so you'd feel better," Cam theorized outloud.

Hunter's face immediately fell.

"Or not," Cam added as they approached Ninja Ops. "Hunter, I..."

"What's he doing out here?" Hunter suddenly growled.

Cam looked up to see the other dimension's Dustin standing outside Ninja Ops, staring at the charred grass. "Did you expect him to leave?"

Hunter groaned. "I guess not, but he looks just like Dustin. It makes me feel insane. I want to punch him in the face for what he did, but I also want to run up and kiss that same face."

"I can see why that would be confusing," Cam replied.

"Yeah," Hunter breathed as they descended down into Ninja Ops.

"Cam, is Tobi okay?" hippy Marah asked the moment Cam entered the main room.

Cam glanced at Hunter. "I think he will be, eventually."

"Good, because Skyla thinks he's in trouble," Marah finished.

Cam sprinted the remaining distance to the computer and immediately began searching.

"Where is he?" Hunter asked as Cam typed.

"He's at the beach near where we found him," Cam began.

"I'm on it," Hunter announced, spinning in his tracks.

"The other Tori's with him, so I doubt he's trying to kill himself in front of her," Cam added. "I would imagine they have a lot to talk about."

"And I guess you're okay," Shane told Hunter.

Hunter shrugged. "More or less," he agreed before noticing the other dimension's Dustin entering Ninja Ops. He promptly grimaced.

"Tori told Hunter she loves him and Blake," Cam said flatly without looking away from the computer.

Shane raised an eyebrow toward Hunter. "Guess you're lucky you're his bro or you'd be—" he began, making a slicing gesture with his hand across his neck before stopping himself. "Yeah, not a good time for killing jokes."

Hunter nodded as cam looked up briefly. "I told Tobi I threw the Gem of Souls into the ocean. You don't suppose that he's gone looking for the pieces?"

"You mean, so he could see Dustin?" Shane asked. "Like we saw your parents?" he added to Hunter.

Hunter nodded again, his eyes darting around. "Yeah."

"But can't the gem also put a spirit back in a body?" Shane asked.

"We don't have a body to put him in," Cam pointed out.

"Oh yeah," Shane replied.

Hunter glanced at the other Dustin before turning back to Cam. "I, uh, have to go do something," he said quickly. "Tell Blake and Tori where Tobi is," he added, turning to go.

"Sure," Cam agreed, giving him a confused look before looking around. "Has anyone seen Circuit? And my father should be up by now."

At that moment, the other dimension's Cam, grumpy Sensei and his wife entered the room, laughing. "Alright, so the dog collar was probably too much, but you crawled around on all fours and plus you were constantly getting into trouble," grumpy Sensei said.

"Totally different than your father," Cam's mother accused.

"I may have been a trouble maker in my youth, but I like to think I matured over the years," grumpy Sensei defended.

"And shrank," the other Cam added, earning him a high five from his mother as grumpy Sensei glared at them.

This dimension's Cam turned around quickly, focusing his attention on relaying Tobi and his sister's position to Tori and Blake.

Shane noticed Cam wince each time the alternate Cam and family laughed. "Are you jealous?" he asked quietly.

Cam at him, surprised. "No," he said quickly. "I understand that things are different between me and my father and I didn't really know my mother."

Shane patted Cam's shoulder.

Cam turned his attention back to his computer and tried to tune everything else out.

Meanwhile, the other dimension's Dustin watched Hunter as he hesitantly approached the surviving earth ninja. "I… want to talk to you," Hunter said slowly.

Dustin gave him a surprised look before smiling.

"Let's go outside," Hunter suggested and Dustin immediately tensed. "I'm not gonna beat you up," he promised.

Dustin grinned nervously before following Hunter out.

Once the two were on the surface, Hunter turned to Dustin. He stared at his face, blinking before taking a deep breath. "You love Tobi, right?" he began.

Dustin nodded. "Yeah, I do."

"Good," Hunter said, pacing nervously. "And you'd do anything to make him happy, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Dustin agreed, confused. "Where're you going with this?"

Hunter let his eyes meet Dustin's for a moment. "You look just like him, but you're not him."

"I know," Dustin groaned. "I was someone back in my dimension. Now I just happen to look like someone."

Hunter looked down, silent for a moment as he thought. "I'll admit that I don't really know you, but I don't really want to know you right now."

"Oh," Dustin mumbled.

"So…" he continued. "There's something called a Gem of Souls. Well, it's in pieces, so I don't know if it would work, but with Tobi's help it just might."

"Work to do what?" Dustin asked.

"To put Dustin's soul in your body," Hunter finished.

Dustin's eyes widened before he realized, "What would happen to my soul?"

Hunter shrugged, gesturing around. "I guess you'd be like Dustin is now."

"You mean, you want me to die so your Dustin can live?" Dustin asked.

Hunter grimaced when he heard his plan put so bluntly. "I guess so," he said, looking back at Dustin. "Just, if you really love—"

"I'll do it," Dustin interrupted.

"You'll… Oh, okay," Hunter said, surprised.

"I owe him my life," Dustin added.

"I honestly didn't think you'd give in so easily," Hunter replied, admitting, "I thought I'd have to knock you out or something. You're… different than I thought you were."

"Yeah," Dustin agreed, "but still not someone anyone can love."

Hunter paused. He was starting to feel doubts about his idea. After all, this Dustin was a real person too and his willingness to sacrifice himself for someone else reminded him of something Tobi would do.

"So, where do we get a Gem of Souls?" Dustin asked.

Hunter shook off his hesitation and took a sharp intake of breath. "Leave that up to me," he said, allowing himself to give into something he'd been wanting to do. He leaned forward and hugged Dustin.

Dustin flinched at first, but then gave into the hug before Hunter quickly released him and began walking. "Where are we going?" Dustin asked.

"To my… 'brooding spot,'" Hunter answered.

"So you have one too?" Dustin commented, earning him a surprised look from Hunter as they walked.

When Blake and Tori arrived at the beach, they saw Tobi's sister shaking her brother while also dousing him with water from the ocean.

"What's wrong with him?" Tori asked, running up.

"He's in some sort of a trance," Tobi's sister explained. "He wanted to search the ocean for the Gem of Souls by leaving his body, but I can't snap him out of it."

"Why's he smoking?" Blake asked.

"He keeps catching on fire," she explained.

Tori looked down at Tobi's wrist and could see the Sun Amulet on his morpher constantly glowing. "At least the amulet's letting him keep healing himself, but how do we wake him up?"

"What if he doesn't want to wake up?" Blake suggested.

"What do you mean?" Tori asked.

"If he really did leave his body, maybe he can see Dustin now," he suggested.

"Great," Tobi's sister grumbled, soaking her brother again. "I'll be doing this all day."

Tori kneeled next to her. "I'll help," she offered.

"Thanks," Tobi's sister replied. "I'll just dry off a little over here." She then stepped away and ran her fingers through her hair.

"I'm sure Tobi appreciates what you're doing for him," Blake said, approaching her while Tori stayed by Tobi.

Tobi's sister looked at him, surprised. "I'd do anything for my brother."

Blake nodded, thinking. "Yeah, me too. I mean, with my brother."

She tilted her head, trying to get water out of her ear. "I have to admit, I was a little… self-centered and I ignored him almost as much as the others. But, it's never too late for a fresh start."

"Uh, right," Blake replied.

"And, as much as I liked… us," she continued, "I'm glad you and the other me are together. At least I know it's not my looks you resent."

"I don't resent you," Blake corrected. "And…" He lowered his voice. "I liked what we did… a lot."

"But you were thinking of her the whole time," she added.

"Yeah, of course," he said. "That's who I thought you were."

She smiled, pinching his cheek. "You're so gullible. It's adorable."

"Right," he mumbled, frowning.

Just then, Hunter and the other dimension's Dustin landed their ninja streak on the beach.

"What's wrong with Tobi?" Hunter asked as he approached.

"We think he's talking to Dustin," Tori explained.

"A sort of out of body thing," Tobi's sister added.

"Why's he… burning?" the other dimension's Dustin asked slowly.

Tori looked back, surprised to see him with Hunter. "He keeps catching on fire. I'm putting him out and the amulet recharges him when he heals himself."

"All that just so he can see Dustin?" Hunter asked, looking at the other Dustin.

The other Dustin nodded toward the small, dirt-covered sack in Hunter's hands.

"There might be another way," Hunter said, raising the sack and untying it.

"What's that?" Tori asked as the sack opened to reveal…

"The Gem of Souls," Blake recognized. "Where'd you get the pieces? Cam told us he threw them in the ocean."

"I didn't give him all the pieces," Hunter admitted.

"He doesn't know, does he?" Tori asked.

Hunter shook his head. "I thought maybe they'd help me see my parents and… I was going to tell him, but the more time that passed, the harder it became."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Blake asked.

"I don't know," Hunter mumbled. "I hid them out where I go to think and I'd just… look at them sometimes."

"Someone's full of secrets," Tobi's sister commented.

"There's an understatement," Blake agreed.

"Not anymore," Hunter replied. "I'm going to see if Tobi can use these to put Dustin's spirit in… a body."

"What body?" Tori asked. "Dustin was…" She choked at the memory of his ashes.

Hunter looked at the other Dustin.

"My body," Dustin spoke up. "I'll… give it up for him."

The others stared at him in shock.

"This was your idea?" Tori asked Hunter.

Hunter nodded. "Yeah, but this Dustin volunteered."

Tobi's sister approached Dustin. "So, you'd… die?"

Dustin nodded. "But I owe it to Tobi and Dustin, and the others."

She stared at him, blinking. "You've changed… so much. What does this dimension do to people?" She gestured around. "Tobi changed, you changed. Even I've changed."

"We've changed for the better," Dustin suggested.

She shrugged. "I don't know about that. You'd… be dead."

Dustin nodded. "Think of it as a trade."

"We have to discuss this with the others, especially Tobi," she insisted, looking at her brother. "Can you wake him up?"

"I'll try," Hunter replied, approaching Tobi's body and placing the gem fragments on his chest. As they began to glow, light flickered around his body.

Tori gasped, seeing the spirit form of Tobi hovering over his body, leaving behind a spirit form of…

"Dustin?" Tori gasped.

"You can see me?" Dustin's spirit asked, looking at his glowing form.

"Yeah, we can," Hunter breathed. "Dustin, are you… okay?"

"I'm not in like pain," Dustin's spirit replied. "Does that count as okay?"

"I guess," Hunter said just as the light flickered again as Tobi's spirit reunited with his body. "Dustin!"

"I miss being able to talk to you guys, especially you Hunter," Dustin's spirit said quickly as he began to fade. "Take good care of TZT for me. Promise that—" And then he was gone.

"I promise," Hunter whispered to thin air as the two Tories gently shook Tobi's body.

"Tobi?" Tori asked.

"We're sorry to interrupt your reunion," his sister added, "but we have something to talk to you about."

Tobi blinked and looked around. "I know," he replied quietly. "We were listening." He looked at his dimension's Dustin. "I know your plan, but Dustin—my Dustin—made me promise not to let you do it."

The others exchanged surprised looks.

"I had to promise him…" Tobi whispered, his eyes filled with tears.

"I know," Hunter mumbled, glancing between Tobi and the other dimension's Dustin.

"Maybe there's another way," Tori suggested.

"Yeah," Tobi replied, turning back to the ocean. "He explained what he did when Zurgane attacked and I wonder…"

"What?" his sister asked.

"Why he didn't survive," Tobi finished. "But at least I know he's always with me no matter what happens." He looked down at the fragments of the Gem of Souls. "And I can use these to get back when I see him again." He then turned back to the other dimension's Dustin. "And he says… he forgives you."

The other Dustin blinked before asking. "What about you, Tobs? Do you forgive me?"

Tobi frowned, looking from Dustin's familiar face down to the gen shards. "I don't know," he said quietly.

"I know he doesn't want me to trade my life for his," the other Dustin began, "but what about you?"

Tobi wiped his eyes before hesitantly admitting, "I'd… I'd be okay with the trade." He gulped as the weight of what he was saying sank in and he could see his answer cover the other Dustin's face like a mask. He was okay with the Dustin he grew up with dying. No wonder Dustin hadn't wanted Tobi to have a choice. The choice… hurt.

"Tobs, you can heal any wound?" the other Dustin asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Tobi replied.

"And, when you're a spirit, you can touch the other me?" the other Dustin continued.

"Yeah, why?" Tobi asked, confused.

The other Dustin had an almost tortured expression as he looked at Tobi. "Tobs, wait to heal my body until I've forced the… the Dustin you love into it."

"What are you talking about?" Tobi asked just as Dustin concentrated and a large chunk of rock flew up from the ground and shot through the air.

The others gasped as the rock stabbed into the living Dustin's chest and he crumbled to the sand.

To be continued...

Author's Note: Oh no! Another cliffhanger ending! So, TZDustin has a chance to redeem or sacrifice himself. What will happen? Review and tell me what you think. Also, Hunter's maturity doesn't just come with age. He's lived through a lot. Maybe he wasn't always a brooder, but he was probably always a little smug. And the things people do as a result of love… The Perils of Love indeed! Stay tuned for the next installment of the saga! And remember to review with ideas/comments/feedback!