Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. Only my OCs.

Chapter 18: I Love Lothor

Previously:

Zoey was standing the battle field again. Only this time, the battle was over. The destruction and carnage was everywhere. She didn't know why, but she started to cry. Almost as if she had lost her own home. She felt this heart wrenching pain come over her.

"I don't understand!" She yelled into the wind. "Why do you keep showing me this?" Shoving her hands into her hair, she growled in frustration. "Please?"

Sitting down in the dirt, she looked over when a young woman started walking through field, crying. She was holding a bundle of sticks in her arms, picking up another. It had some red gem at the end. Looking around, she walked on. Away from the devastation.

"No, wait!" She got up, ready to run after her, "Stop!" Breathing heavily, she just looked. And looked. "Please." Hearing a sound behind her, she turned around and saw the Kitsune. "You." Walking over to her, stopped, just staring. "Why?" She asked, "Why do you keep bringing me here?" Tears were just rolling down her face.

The star on her forehead glowed. Feeling a warmth coming from under her shirt. When she pulled out her necklace, the pendant was lit up. Looking up, she asked:

"Why?"

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Blinking her eyes, Zoey took in her surroundings. She was back on the Simu-Deck of the Astro Megaship. Her brother was the only one in the room. He was sitting on the floor leaning against a console with his eyes closed. Looking at her watch, Zoey was startled to realize that it had been over 5 hours since she had sat down to mediate.

"Tommy?" Startled, her brother popped up and looked over at her. Seeing that she was back to normal, he ran over to help her up.

"Are you ok?" Running his hands over her, checking to see if she was alright, he asked her, "What happened?"

"I…" Hesitating, she looked in his eyes, "I, um…" She shook her head, "I saw."

"You saw, what?"

"The Kitsune. She's my animal spirit. My fox." She took a step back and ran her fingers through her hair. Looking over as Jenna, Jason, and Andros came back in, she continued. "It's more, what my fox is destined to become. It's the Spark. I've always been so afraid of delving deeper into my spirit, because I was scared of what the Spark would do." Walking over, she hugged her friends, "I'm still scared. I think you're supposed to be. But I'm not worried anymore. I know that when the time comes, everything's going to be ok."

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After a week of training with the guys on the ship, Zoey and Jenna walked through Blue Bay Harbor heading towards Storm Chargers.

"So, we're agreed, right?" Zoey said before going in, "We try our best not to expose our new abilities as much a possible."

"Agreed. We don't want to give the Space Freaks a new goal."

"But, no secrets from the team. We tell them everything once we can get to Ninja Ops." The Pink Ranger paused, "Well, not everything. I don't want them knowing about the waking dreams yet. Not unless they need to know."

"Deal," Seeing they guys coming toward the store, the girls wave. "Hey guys!"

"Jenna!" Hunter ran over and picked her up.

"Hey, hey!" Zoey backed away as he started swinging her around, "Not in public! There are impressionable young children around here. They don't need to see that." She put her hand on her head, "They're going to be scarred for life!"

Laughing, the others gave her hug while Hunter and Jenna got reacquainted. "Seriously, you two! Knock it off!"

They went inside to see some sort of demo being set up. They walked over to Tori and Kelly, "Hey, what's this?"

"Real Sport Pro Cook-Off?" Shane frowned skeptically.

"Yeah?" Tori's voice had the edge of warning in it.

"Since when is cooking an action sport?" Dustin asked with a grin.

"Trust me, I've seen you guys cook." Zoey grinned, moving to give Tori a hug, "It's a real spectator sport if I ever saw one."

Tori grinned, hugging Jenna as well. "Welcome back you too. It's been too quiet around here without you." She steered them over to the "How was your trip to Angel Grove?"

"Illuminating."

"Hey girls." Kelly was behind the table organizing the fruit, "Real Sport Pro Drinks has chosen Storm Chargers to host a series of cooking demonstrations," she explained. "Want to participate?"

"Dude, this stuff is nasty, I don't care how you cook it," Dustin shook his head, refusing to accept it.

"Cook?" Jenna asked, looking incredulously at the Yellow Ranger, "I'm confused. I didn't know you could cook a smoothie. When did that become a thing?"

Ducking behind Hunter when Dustin lunged at her, she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Stick around, you might be surprised," Tori challenged as Kelly just laughed. Hunter walked over to the table, pulling Jenna with him, to steal a piece of fruit.

"You know, I could use some help from a couple of expert smoothie makers," Kelly said, looking at Zoey and Jenna, "What do you say?"

Blake snuck a piece of fruit from behind, making Tori slap his hand. "Expert smoothie makers?" She said, looking at Kelly, "What does that mean?"

"Jenna's brother owns the Youth Center in Angel Grove... "

"Runs! Didn't we just have this conversation?" Jenna interrupted, "He co-owns, and his wife runs it. Along with Rocky."

Zoey continued, whacking Blake across the back of the head, "They're known for their smoothies. We used to work there."

"We were there when it was still Ernie's." Jenna said, leaning against Hunter.

"Well, it was Ernie's first. Ernie's Gym and Juice Bar. Then he left for the Merchant Marines and sold it to Lieutenant Stone. Then the Lieutenant was offered a promotion to Commandant of the Junior Police Academy." Zoey said, slapping Dustin's hand away from the fruit without even looking, "So he sold it to Adelle Ferguson, who turned it into a Surf Shack. After the invasion, Adelle sold what was left of the building for cheap. Our brothers and their friends decided to buy and restore it to its former glory."

"I haven't been back in a few years. I may have to make a trip down there." Kelly put another bowl of fruit on the table, "Maybe during the summer."

"I think that's a great idea, Kelly. And we'd love to help." Jenna said, "Our smoothies are legend."

Grinning, everyone looked around as Cam walked in, smiling at them.

"Cam, you're taking cooking?" Shane smirked as he stood beside Dustin, who was nursing his hand. The other guys started to laugh, and Cam rolled his eyes, his smile fading.

"Look, Tori wanted someone to take the class with her, and dad said I should get out more. So here I am," he explained.

"Yeah, but cooking class?" Shane laughed regardless, but their laughter stopped abruptly as a group of young women walked in.

"It has his advantages," Cam grinned back, as Shane and Dustin stared, unable to believe that they hadn't thought of it.

"Dude's got a point..." Dustin admitted, following them around to sit beside them. Hunter just shook his head and stole another chunk of mango. Grinning, he dodged the spoon Jenna swung at him, and went over to sit down. Zoey and Jenna took their places next Kelly, and Cam took a seat beside Tori. When he whispered something to her that made her laugh, Blake frowned, still standing at the front.

"Great..." he muttered, before noticing Zoey watching him, any trace of a smile gone as she just smirked him. He rolled his, pointed a finger at her, and took a seat on Tori's other side.

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Once the Storm Charger Smoothie was finished, Kelly invited everyone up to have a taste.

Blake took a glass and raised it to is lips. "Past the lips, over the gums," he said taking a sip, "Whoa. That tasted weird," he commented as he looked at the glass in his hand.

"Let me see," Cam said, taking the glass. He took a sip and shuddered.

"Mine's fine. I mean, could probably use a few more strawberries. Maybe a little honey." Zoey said. Looking over, she saw Cam's eyes go all glassy.

"It's not very sweet, is it?" Tori frowned, looking at the girls who made them.

"Um, Cam? Are you alright?" Zoey asked, snapping her fingers in front of his face.

"Nothing will ever be as sweet as you," Cam told Tori with a love-sick smile, taking them all by surprise. Zoey and Jenna backed up, while Shane was busy doing a spit take, grinning.

"Uh...thanks, I guess," the Blue Ranger leaned back, confused, and looked to Blake, only to find him gazing at her with the same expression as Cam. "Why are you grinning at me like a lovesick baboon?" Tori asked uncertainly.

"Because he is one," Cam retorted, glaring at the Thunder Ranger.

"Ooh!"

Everyone had to stifled giggles at Cam's snipe. "Go swing from a tree and let the humans have a conversation," Cam growled at Blake as everyone just watched. Blake threw protein powder at him, glaring at him. "Back off. I saw her first."

"Whoa!" Zoey stuck and hand out, "Guys, knock it off."

"Technically, Cam knew her first," Jenna pipped in with a grin. "And you lied to her."

Cam grinned and pointed at the Ice Ninja, "You should listen to her."

"Stay out of this, Jenna!"

Jenna just smirked, leaning against the table. "Maybe we should get out of here," she said to the girls, "I don't know what's going on with these two, but I really don't like the look on Hunter's face."

"Please. You love the look on his face," Zoey said, "It makes you shudder." She grinned when Jenna nudged her. "But, you're right. He's up to no good."

Cam, glared at Blake, "You want me to back off?" He opened a can of Protein Powder and threw it at him. "Then make me!"

"I will!" The Navy Ranger retaliated by throwing more powder.

Zoey and Jenna quickly moved away, just as Hunter and Shane called for a food fight. "How am I not surprised?" Zoey said, pulling Tori out of the way.

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Walking up some stairs in down town, the girls heard Blake and Cam, who were still fighting and shoving at each other, ran up from behind them.

"Tori," Blake said, trying to get to the Water Ninja first, "Hey, Tori, wait up."

"Keep walking," Jenna said, shaking her head, "I don't know what happened, but let's see if they'll go away."

"Probably not," Commented Zoey, pulling Tori with her, "This is out of the norm for them. I think they're under some sort of spell."

"Spell or not, they need to stop," Tori said, rolling her eyes, "They're creeping me out."

They didn't get much farther as Blake and Cam caught up to them. "Hey, wait up." Turning, they saw that the boys each held a bag in their hands.

"I got you a little something," Blake said, handing her his bag.

"This outta be good," Jenna snickered, "I thought Hunter was going to beam him when he got me a wolf Whoopi cushion for my birthday last year." Laughing, when Tori opened it.

"Oh, how sweet," she said, with a restrained smile, "my very own socket wrench set."

"Wow!" Zoey said, trying not to laugh, "that's, um, very…" trailing off. She had no words.

"Pathetic and impersonal?" Cam asked, "A true man would know what a woman really wants." Grabbing the bag, he was holding out, Tori pulled out a tube of cream.

"Acne face wash!"

"Oh. My. Zordon." Shaking her head, Zoey just cover her eyes in astonishment. "Are you guys nuts?" Hearing her best friend choking, she looked over to see the Purple Ranger covering her mouth. Her face had gone red, trying not to laugh. "Clueless. They are absolutely, clueless."

"I think that I need some time with the girls," Tori said, handing back the bags, "away…" Grabbing their arms, they started to leave, "Just… away!"

1-2-3-4-5

Tori asked the girls to let her walk alone for a while, needed to get her mind straight, so they went back to Storm Charges. Everything had been cleaned up, including the leftover smoothies. "Oops."

Walking over, they girls apologized to Kelly, "We're really sorry, Kel," Jenna said with a pout, "We meant to come back and help, but we were trying to get Tori out of the way."

"No problem." Kelly said, fixing some of the chairs, "I got it handled."

"Where'd you two go?" Dustin asked as they all sat down. "You missed an awesome food fight," he grinned, and Zoey grinned back.

"Yeah, that's why we left." she looked over at Jenna, who sat on Hunter's lap, "No more seats?" They all laughed as the Power Couple got comfortable.

"And now we'll be following the Real Sport executive chef's appearance on the cooking channel," Kelly smiled, and hit play on the remote. The tv turned on, but all they saw was and image of Lothor and the words 'I Love Lothor' written on the screen. Frowning, the rangers exchanged confused looks.

"I read the TV listings every week, and I'm pretty sure this wasn't in there," Dustin said, scratching his head.

"We better check this out," Jenna said, getting to her feet. "Maybe this has something to do with what's going on with Cam and Blake." They ran out of Storm Chargers and contacted Sensei. "Hey Sensei, you wouldn't happen to have caught the new fall tv lineup, have you?" The Ice Ninja asked as she lifted her morpher up to her mouth.

"Yes. Lothor is using subliminal signals in his broadcast to make people fall in love with him," Sensei responded.

"Those must be some serious signals," Dustin grimaced.

"Well, there's an interesting development," Zoey announced, crossing her arms, "What did I say the other day about villains stealing from other villains?"

"Right? I mean, didn't Lord Zedd do the same thing with his "Z-waves"?" Jenna asked.

"Doesn't matter," Hunter growled, "We have to shut down that broadcast."

"I love it when he gets like this."

"Don't make me sick."

"Hurry. I will try to reach the others," Sensei told them.

"Fat chance," Zoey muttered, frowning. "Where's the studio it's being broadcast from?" she asked. Before anyone could answer, they heard screaming coming toward them. They moved to the other side of their hiding place to avoid being seen, while a crowd of screaming women ran past.

"You know, just off the top of my head, I'm gonna say that we follow them," Zoey determined, pointing to the crowd. "Don't ask me why. It's just a feeling."

"It's a good feeling." Dustin agreed. "Now, let's go." He said, and they Ninja Streaked to the studios.

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Coming out of their streak, they reached the studio where Lothor was filming his show. The crowd of screaming women, led by Kelly, gathered around the front door waving 'We Love Lothor" signs.

"How'd they get her so fast?" Jenna asked, looking on incredulously. The four Ninjas came to a stop, just staring. "We're the ones with the Ninja Streak."

"This is pure evil." Dustin said, shaking his head.

"Doesn't matter. We gotta get them out of there," Hunter spoke from his perch on the ramp, looking down at the other three.

"This is just gross, on so many levels." Zoey grimaced, looking at the scene in disgust.

"Hey, everybody!" Shane yelled, waving his hands to get their attention, "Lothor's a creep, and he's put you under a spell."

"No way!" Kelly shouted back, "We love Lothor!" she insisted. Looking at the rest of the crowd, she pointed her sign at the Rangers, "Get them!" the screaming crown took off and started chasing them.

"Really, Shane?" Zoey yelled they ran away.

"Hey, we needed them away from the studio!" Shane said, defensively. "I didn't see you coming up with anything." They turned a corner and the girls ran past them.

When the coast was clear, Zoey turned to Shane and grabbed him by his shirt. "You do that again," she smirked, "and I'm going to make you the sacrificial lamb and throw you to the wolves. And I'm not talking about Jenna." She turned to check to see if it was all cleared, "We better go check on the others."

Taking off, she missed the scared look Shane threw at the others.

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When they reached the beach, already morphed, they found Tori on the ground, with her visor down, and Blake and Cam were swaying, pink hearts flying out of their chests.

"Tori!" The girls helped her to her feet as they reached her. "Are you okay?"

"What happened?" Shane asked as she looked to them.

"I don't know. But I got worked," Tori fell back down, unable to stand on her own.

"Tori!" Blake and Cam ran over, checking to see if she was alright as well. Unfortunately, the battle wasn't over. Everyone looked up when a giant rat appeared above them, a heart on his chest.

"This is the big-time!" he declared as they looked up.

"We'll handle this one, right, Cam?" Blake said, looing at the Green Ranger.

"Yeah. He's all ours!" the Samurai agreed. "Come on!" He ran to call on his Megazord

"Samurai Star Chopper, now!"

Blake looked to his brother, "Ready?" Nodding, they called on their Thunder Zords.

The others stayed on the ground as they formed their Megazords, watching as Ratwell dodged their attack. The Thunder Megazord blocked an attack that was coming at the Samurai Megazord. The two then combined, taking everyone by surprise.

"What the hell?" Zoey exclaimed, "Since when can they do that?"

"And why is the new Zord getting the combo, and we're still solo?" Jenna asked.

"Check it! A new combo Megazord!" Dustin yelled with a grin.

"It's amazing!" Tori smiled, leaning on the Earth and Air Ninjas. It didn't take long with the new Samurai Thunder Megazord combo, and they defeated Ratwell with a powerful attack.

"Awesome!"

"Yeah!"

"I feel kinda cheated," Zoey said, pouting, "We didn't get to anything other than run from a gaggled of love-obsessed Lothor fans."

Patting her shoulder, Jenna consoled her, "We can always beat up on the boys for ruining the demo."

Still holding Tori up, Dustin and Shane just looked over at Zoey's smirk, in alarm.

1-2-3-4-5

Zoey and Jenna met Dustin outside the entrance to Ninja Ops. "Whatcha got there, Dustin?" The Pink Ranger asked, curiously.

"Not sure," He said, holding up chicken take-out boxes, eating a chicken leg. "They were just sitting here."

Shaking her head, Jenna grabbed some boxes from him and handed a few to Zoey. "Let's go find out, shall we?"

"Who ordered take-out?" Dustin called as they walked down the stairs. Seeing the guilty looks on Shane and Hunter's faces, the girls just laughed.

"Seriously, guys?" Zoey said, putting the boxes on the tables. "I've seen you cook."

"Yeah," Jenna smirked, sliding her arm around Hunter, "there's a reason you're not allowed to cook for me anymore."

"One time," Hunter protested, "that was one time!"

"One time too many." Zoey muttered, sharing a grin with Blake.

"Since when does homemade food come in a bucket, anyways?" Tori asked playfully.

"Busted," Dustin grinned guiltily, and everyone laughed, grabbing a piece each to eat.

"Cam?" Zoey looked over at the genius, "Could you bring up a training simulator for us?"

"Um, sure." He got up and walked over to the mainframe. "Is there a reason why?"

"We just need to get as much practice in as possible. The more practice, the better the control."

Everyone looked over them as they walked over to Sensei, "We promise to try and stick with our Ninja training when fighting Lothor, Sensei." Jenna said, as they bowed.

"I believe that you, as Rangers, should do everything in your power to protect the city. No matter where the power comes from." He said looking at the girls, "As long as you are being true to yourselves and using those powers to help others, I see no harm in it."

"Thank you, Sensei."

"What powers?" Tori asked, "What are you talking about?"

They looked over to see the guys staring at them with questions on their faces. Looked like they had some explaining to do. Of course, they don't need to know everything.

Yet.

Hope you guys like it! Don't forget to vote on the poll. I have plans in mind for the next story, and your opinion really matters. Thank you for reading.