Hello, hi everyone! Welcome to the newest Power of Winter chapter! Just a head's up, I have started crossposting my chapters on here and AO3, so don't be alarmed if you see them show up there, I promise that it's me. Lol.
Thank you so much to FallenArcana, Disneyfan10, Ten Duel Commandments, dguice, fandomenforcer, brankel1, and DJ Scales for your lovely comments on the last chapter. Here we go!
"This banner looks great," Tori said, reaching up to slightly adjust the banner hanging over her head. "If you had surfing, I'd be all over this Total Trek."
"Oh yeah, that'd be fair," Dustin replied. "You blowing everybody out of the water?"
"And the problem with that is?" Tori asked with a smile.
"Guys, check this course out," Kelly called, causing the three Rangers to look over at her. The redhead was standing at a map showing the Total Trek course. "We start at the skate park, then run to the motocross track, and then an urban climb to the finish. You entering, Dustin?"
Dustin scoffed. "I am never getting on a skateboard again," the Yellow Ranger said, holding his hands up. "I've got bruises from last year."
Kelly laughed. "What about you, Andi? You can race."
"Nah," Andi said. "If it was freestyle instead of racing, I'd totally enter," Andi said.
"You're the best freestyler in the city, figure out skateboarding and you'd totally win," Tori said, causing Andi to blush at the complement.
"Thank you, but skateboarding is more Shane's realm than mine. Two seconds on a board and I'd be flat on my ass," the White Ranger said.
"Hey, you got an entry form for my kick-flip challenged friend here?" Shane's voice asked, and the Red Ranger soon appeared, Hunter right with him.
"Individual, or are you guys doing the team competition?" Kelly asked; if the Crimson and Red Rangers teamed up, they'd be sure to dominate.
"Us… together?" Hunter asked, surprised.
"You got a better chance of seeing me on blade skates," Shane added.
"Just asking," Kelly said as she grabbed an entry form and handed it to Hunter. "Well, you're the second one to sign up, Hunter."
"Oh, who's first?" he asked.
Shane smiled then, and brushed off Hunter's shoulder. "Ah, you're toast, Dirt Boy." He turned to walk out of the store.
"Wait!" Hunter said, catching up to him. "Do you hear that? It sounds like, uh… your hopes and dreams coming crashing down around you."
With that, Hunter left Storm Chargers, Shane quickly following after him.
"And here we see Alpha Males in their natural habitat," Tori said dryly.
"This is why there should never be two Reds," Andi said, crossing her arms. "A White being leader with a Red on the team was confusing enough." She kept her voice low, careful that only Tori and Dustin would hear her.
"Oh, I forgot about that," Dustin said. "The White Mighty Morphin Ranger was leader for a bit."
"And then he turned Red," Andi finished. "Jason was furious because Tommy stole his color. And then Tommy was furious that I stole his."
"Speaking of, you tell Jason, yet?" Tori looked at Andi with raised eyebrows as Dustin wondered away.
Andi's face morphed into one of severe sheepishness. "Not yet. Tommy, Adam, and Rocky all figured it out on their own, but Jason still doesn't know. And if he does, then he hasn't said anything to me about it, which I doubt."
"You need to tell him before he finds out some other way," Tori said.
"I will!" When all Tori did was raise her eyebrows again, Andi waved her hands in front of her. "I'm going to tell him!"
"When?"
"Soon! Okay? But not today," the White Ranger hoped the conversation ended there.
"I just don't want him to find out some other way and you end up getting yelled at," Tori said, slinging an arm around her friend's shoulders. They walked out of Storm Chargers.
"And I appreciate you," Andi replied. "Just give me a few more days. If he finds out while our Reds are fighting, he's gonna feel the need to come down here and try to whip them into shape. They can't take a Jason Whipping."
"They're highly trained ninjas, you don't think the two of them together could take your brother?"
"He's a professional martial artist who co-owns a dojo, I know they can't take him. He has years more of experience than them. It's the reason why I can never beat him. I gotta go, but I'll meet you at Ninja ops later, okay?"
"Alright," Tori said, and the two separated.
…
Andi stood next to Blake, her eyebrows raised, as Hunter tried and failed to skateboard.
Wincing as Hunter fell, again, Andi crossed her arms.
"Ohh," the Navy Ranger said, wincing as his brother lay on the bottom of a skateboard ramp. "So, what do you call that?" he asked as he helped Hunter stand up.
"I'm just getting loose," Hunter said, hoping Blake would buy it. He did not.
"Yeah? So's your board, bro."
"I gotta beat this guy," Hunter said, dropping his board back onto the ground. "I don't care what I have to do."
"My advice to you is to maybe just get a stunt double," Andi said, a small grin playing at her lips. Hunter narrowed his eyes at her and turned, intent on skating away to prove his point. Instead, he turned too sharply and ended up on the ground again.
Blake and Andi both winced, and Andi put a hand up to cover her face. She felt bad for the Crimson Ranger, but he wasn't gonna listen to her, so what could she do?
Sharing a look with Blake, Andi gestured with her head to a bench, and the Navy Ranger nodded, the two going to sit down as the Crimson Ranger continued trying to teach himself how to skateboard, with less than stellar results.
…
Andi sat cross-legged at Ninja Ops, reading a book. Now, she was trying to get through the Lord of the Rings books, and was only halfway through Fellowship of the Ring. They weren't an easy read, but she was determined to get through them. Tori, Blake, and Dustin were watching a livestream Cam had pulled up of Shane and Hunter trying to beat one another in a race.
Soon, a boxing kangaroo monster showed, and instead of trying to defeat it, Hunter and Shane fought over who would defeat it, which allowed Bop-A-Roo to escape.
"So let me get this straight," Tori said, hands on her hips. "There's a kickboxing robot kangaroo bouncing around Blue Bay Harbor, and they're out playing Follow the Leader?"
"The egos of two Red Rangers are bigger than most," Andi said, glancing over the top of her book.
"Sensei, we need help here, something… Sensei like," Dustin said, running a hand through his hair.
"They must both learn that the best quality of being a leader is to understand when to be a follower," Sensei said.
Andi nodded in approval. "Sounds like something Zordon would have said."
"Dude's way deep," Dustin smiled. "Especially for a rodent."
Andi smiled, and returned to her book.
Not too long later, Cam's computer beeped. "Cam! That kangaroo clown's back for Round 2! We need help!"
"Right!" the boy in green said, turning as Dustin, Andi, Tori, and Blake stood up.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Ninja Storm!"
"Thunder Storm!"
"Winter Storm!"
"Ranger Form! HA!"
"Power of Water!"
"Earth!"
"Power of Thunder!"
"Power of Winter!"
Jumping into a Ninja Streak, the four Rangers soon met up with Shane and Hunter where they were facing off against Bop-A-Roo.
"I'm one maniacally mad marsupial!"
"What did he say?" Tori asked, confused.
"No idea!"
Beginning to glow, Bop-A-Roo would have smirked if he could. "A conflagatory conflagration!" His attack hit the Rangers, throwing them all into the wall behind them.
"Okay, my hatred for this guy has just doubled," Andi said, pushing herself up.
"Haha! Rumble fried Rangers! Hahahaha! Exceptional, positively no current commotion as they are fully in the grasp of my fingerments!"
"I've had enough of this!" Shane exclaimed. "Bring 'em together!"
"Storm Striker!"
"Thunder Blaster!"
"Fire!" Hunter called.
"Fire!" Shane followed.
Both blasters were fired, but before they could hit, Bop-A-Roo generated a shield, causing the attacks to bounce off and hit the Rangers.
"What happened?" Shane asked, standing back up.
"He stole my thing!" Andi answered, enraged.
"Some kind of shield!" Hunter said.
"I did it! It worked!"
Turning at the voice, the Rangers found Marah, Kapri, and Zurgane. It was Marah who was cheering, a device of some sort in her hands.
"My shield worked! How cool am I?"
"How lucky are you?" Kapri asked, looking annoyed with her sister.
"Great, the whole family is here," Tori said.
"Let's do this!" Shane exclaimed.
IN front of them, Kapri, Marah, and Zurgane all attacked with their swords, and behind them, Bop-A-Roo also attacked. It was six against four, and it wasn't looking great.
Andi clashed blades with Kapri; the pink haired girl was skilled with her swords, and soon threw the White Ranger off, allowing Hunter to take her place. He was also thrown off. Next to them, Blake was fighting Marah, who had some surprisingly good moves.
"Bop-A-Roo taught us some bucolic biggerfic tricks!" Marah exclaimed once she managed to throw Blake off her.
"Let's face the ruckus through rareficated roosterments!" Kapri added.
"Did you get any of that?" Blake asked.
"Not a word!" hunter answered.
"Speak English!" Andi exclaimed.
"Hey!" Marah exclaimed, stepping forward. "Look deep into my eyes, Ranger boy," she said to Blake. The gems on the top of her head glowed, and then a beam shot out and encircled Blake, raising him up until he hit the top of the staircase, hard. He dropped to the ground.
"Come on! Put 'em up!" Kapri said, raising her fists up as Andi and Hunter stared at her. Glancing at each other, the two Rangers shrugged.
"You got it!" Hunter exclaimed, rushing forward to attack. Andi was right behind him.
Hunter tried to hit her with his staff, but Kapri dodged neatly. Jumping over Hunter, Kapri smirked, now in the clear of him, only for Andi to smack her across the face with a staff made completely of ice. It wasn't her normal weapon, but once she had created with her control over ice to help her out.
"That wasn't nice!" Kapri exclaimed, her cheek already beginning to bruise.
"You're trying to destroy us, I'm pretty sure I'm allowed to fight back, bitch," Andi said, twirling her staff around her hands. "Now why don't you run back to your uncle."
Kapri narrowed her eyes at the White Ranger. "Oh, you're asking for it, now!" Kapri exclaimed, grabbing her sword. Andi smirked, then, and stood up straight. In a flash of light, her staff disappeared.
"Ninja Sword!"
Charging forward, Andi made the first move, striking with her sword. Kapri met blades with her, and the two girls ended up face to face. Or, face to helmet.
"You're good," Kapri said. "But I will destroy you if it's the last thing I do!"
"Good luck," Andi sneered, throwing the pink haired girl off her.
Kapri landed on her back, but was quick to scramble up as Marah joined her, Blake and Hunter both appearing on either side of Andi. The White Ranger was breathing heavily, her sword held in front of her defensively.
"Try this on for size," Kapri said with a smirk, and she sent a powerful beam of energy at the three Rangers, throwing them all. Andi landed right by Hunter, only feet away from Shane.
"We need help!" Hunter called over to Shane. "Any ideas?"
"Cam, what if there were a way for Hunter and I to combine our energies?" Shane asked, his wrist up by his mouth. "Would that be enough to bounce the beam back?"
"We could give it a go!" Hunter agreed.
"Whatever you guys are gonna do, do it quickly," Andi said, pushing herself up into a sitting position. Her entire body ached.
Hunter nodded and brought his wrist up. "Cam, can you draw the power from me?"
"It's worth a try," Cam said. "Here goes. I'm channeling it directly into your ninja sword, Shane."
Hunter hit his morpher, and a crimson colored light flew from Hunter's morpher and into Shane's sword.
"Got it!" Shane exclaimed. "Hope this works!"
"I got the Red Ranger on the ropes!" Bop-A-Roo exclaimed, hopping around as Shane stood up.
"Ha! You're the one who's going down for the count!"
Easily taking an attack from Bop-A-Roo, Shane took his sword and held it in front of him.
"Ninja Sword! Thunder Power!" slashing at Bop-A-Roo, Shane managed to throw him back.
"Ready?" Dustin asked, the Storm Striker in his hands.
"Ready!" the others exclaimed, as the Thunder Blaster appeared in Hunter's hands.
Both blasters were aimed at Bop-A-Roo, only for Marah, Kapri, and Zurgane to reappear.
"Not so fast!" Kapri exclaimed. "You thought hers was good? Try mine," she said, pulling out another device. A shield appeared in front of them, stronger than Marah's.
"That looks pretty strong," Tori noted.
"What now?!" Shane demanded.
"What if we combined all of our weapons?" Hunter suggested, looking down the line of the other Rangers.
"Hey, that might work!" Shane agreed.
Without another word, they combined the Storm Striker and Thunder Blaster, creating a large cannon that would definitely get through the shield.
"Thunder Storm Cannon!"
"Look at that thing!" Kapri exclaimed. "Let's get out of here!" She, Marah, and Zurgane all disappeared, leaving Bop-A-Roo alone, and defenseless.
"My buddies have bailed!" Bop-A-Roo exclaimed.
"Ready?" Hunter asked.
"Full power!" Shane exclaimed.
Pulling the trigger, the cannon fired, easily breaking through the shield, and destroying Bop-A-Roo.
"Alright!"
"Yeah!"
"Good one, guys!"
"Yeah, woo-ho!"
"Sweet!"
Of course, because when do they not, Bop-A-Roo reappeared, the size of a building.
"I'm one BIG Bopper!"
"Whoa!" Shane cried. "Cam! Zord time!"
"On their way!"
Soon, the Zords appeared and combined to become the Storm Megazord and the Thunder Megazord.
"I've got bouncification for the both of ya!" Bop-A-Roo exclaimed, ready to destroy some buildings. As the Rangers called on their weapons, Bop-A-Roo clapped his gloved hands together. "I'm feeling punchy!"
With swords drawn, the two Megazords charged, striking at Bop-A-Roo. However, he was able to block both of them, so Cam spoke up from Ninja Ops.
"Shane, Hunter, call the Mini Zord!"
Both Reds gained the necessary Power Coin, which they each locked and dropped.
"Ready, Hunter?"
"Oh yeah!"
"Locked, and dropped!"
"I am Mini Zord!"
"Whoa, sweet!" Shane said. He still wasn't quite used to using their new little Zord.
"Thunderzord Megazord Formation! Engaged!"
One hit from the more powerful Megazord caused Bop-A-Roo to explode, giving the Rangers another win, and Lothor another loss.
"Good job, guys!" Andi complimented, leaning back in her seat.
Shane and Hunter both just grinned.
…
Standing in the audience, Andi, Dustin, Tori, Blake, and Cam all cheered as Shane competed in the skateboarding part of the Total Trek competition. He was showing off some serious moves, showing his skill in the sport. Hunter stood beside Blake, watching his partner skate. Once that was run, they raced to the motocross track, where Hunter tore up the track, easily coming in first place.
Finally, the Red and Crimson Rangers ran towards the finish, where they would have to complete an urban climb in order to win. As long as one of the two made it to the top first, the two would win.
"Go for it, guys!" Blake shouted as the two got strapped in.
"You can do it!" Andi cheered, and Hunter looked around at her. She smiled brightly at him, and he smirked, determined to win.
The Red and Crimson Rangers climbed quickly, and, at the same time, they both touched the bar with FINISH written across it in big letters.
They had won.
…
"And this winner of this year's Total Trek is the team of Shane and Hunter!" Kelly said, holding a very large trophy.
Smiling, Shane and Hunter grabbed the trophy, holding it up together. Everyone cheered, as the two finally seemed to be working together.
Walking over, Tori touched their elbows, so they would raise the trophy and she could get under it.
"Not bad," the Blue Ranger said.
"Yeah, good job, guys," Andi said, joining Tori under the trophy.
"Hey, we're trying to learnify with great knowledgeness," Shane said.
"…What?" Tori asked, looking at Shane blankely.
"We're starting to hang together better," Hunter translated.
"Somehow that was harder to translate than anything Billy ever said, ever," Andi said, shaking her head and reaching up to take the trophy. With it out of their hands, Hunter went for a handshake, while Shane went for a hug. Both realizing, Hunter changed to a hug, while Shane changed for a handshake.
"Okay, okay, just…" this time, they were able to coordinate, and slapped their hands together.
This was great, until they both started holding on tighter and tighter, back in a competition to see who was better.
Andi shook her head as she watched this.
"Well, at least they're better than before," she said, crossing her arms and sharing a look with Tori.
"Yeah, it's a start," the Blue Ranger agreed, and the two laughed.
Boys will be boys indeed.