"Any word yet Cam?" Shane asked the next day. Cam, Shane, and Dustin
were all sitting on the steps of the academy.
"No- nothing yet," Cam said. "I just sent it the day before yesterday. Who knows how long it'll take.
"Guys!" Hunter said as he ran across the lawn.
"Dude, aren't you like supposed to be at the Thunder Academy?" Dustin asked. Hunter stopped to catch his breath.
"I was- but Blake called me like really really early this morning. They're coming home as soon as they can. Tori's not doing too well from what he told me," he said. The guys all grew worried.
"Mr. Wantanabe!" a student said running to Cam. "There's someone at the secret entrance trying to get in!" he said. Cam looked around to the others and they all headed out.
(((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
"What the hell are you doing?" Eric asked as he watched in disbelief as Taylor tried to walk out onto a pool in front of a waterfall.
"Shh!" she hissed. "They'll hear you."
"Who?" he said. Out of nowhere he was knocked to the ground. Taylor saw four flashes of light fly by him and land in the form of four hooded ninjas in red, crimson, green, and yellow. She grinned and helped him up.
"Them. They're the protectors of the academy," she said.
"Nice welcoming committee," Eric replied. Taylor saw him take something slowly out of his pocket- it was his Quantum Morpher.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said. Eric slid it back into his jacket and looked at the group. The tallest of the four stepped forward.
"Taylor? Is that you?" the one in yellow said. Taylor felt Eric touch her hand. She looked over to him and mouthed 'It's okay' and moved forward.
"That's Lieutenant Earhardt to you," she said.
"Yup- it's defiantly Taylor," the one in red said. They ninjas removed their hoods and Taylor's face broke out into a huge smile.
Without warning, the yellow, red, and green ones ran over to her and grabbed her in a huge group hug. "Guys- I kind of need oxygen," she got out. They released her and she got a good look at them. "Wow did you guys grow up," she said.
Dustin ran a hand through his hair. "You, uh, you look. . ." he trailed off.
"I think what he's trying to say id that you look great and that he's really glad to see you," Shane finished. Taylor began to laugh.
"you guys will never change will you?" she said smiling. She looked behind them and saw Hunter, who had a goofy grin stuck on his face. "Who's the statue?" she said pointing to Hunter.
"Oh- that's just Hunter," Dustin said. Hunter put his head down, trying to hide his blushing face.
Taylor remembered Eric was standing right behind her and introduced everyone. She walked over to him and grabbed his arm. "Eric Meyers, this is Shane Clarke, Dustin Brooks," she paused and smiled at Cam. "And Cameron Wantanabe." Eric shook their hands and looked at Hunter who had joined them.
"I'm Hunter Bradley," he said extending his hand to both newcomers.
"Taylor Earhardt," she said taking a good look at him. Hunter felt her looking at him oddly.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" he asked. Taylor snapped out of it.
"No, sorry. You said you're last name's Bradley?" Hunter nodded. "Tori told me about a guy named Blake Bradley. You guys related?" The guys all got a sort of sad look in their eyes.
"Yeah- he's my brother," Hunter said.
"Well, where's Tori?" Taylor asked looking around. "I figured she'd be right here with you guys." Again with the sad look. Taylor got very nervous suddenly and back into Eric who placed a hand on her shoulder. "Where- is- she," she asked again. Cam saw tears beginning to gather in her eyes.
"She's on her way home- but before we go any further let's get inside. I know my father wants to see you," Cam said. They all agreed and walked towards the waterfall. Taylor grabbed Eric's hand and they walked over to the pool.
"What are they doing?" Eric asked as they walked to the water.
"They're opening the portal," she said like there was nothing wrong with it. They watched as the four guys held out their hands and a blue light came out from the falls. "C'mon." she said as she dragged hi across the water and through the portal.
((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))
Blake frantically got he and Tori's things together. Last night had been he most amazing, and at the same time the most frightening of his life. After he and Tori had danced, they made their way back to their bed and danced again under the covers- more than once from his recollection.
Tori had not slept well when they finally settled in. She was shaking, but claimed she was hot. Blake tried to make everything as comfortable for her as he could, but nothing worked. All he could do as hold her close until she finally let her eyes close.
Her alarm went off at its usual time, but Tori didn't wake up. She had only slept a few hours, but Blake knew he had to wake her to take her meds.
"Tor?" he whispered in her ear. Tori lay there motionless. Blake's heartbeat sped up when he leaned down closer to her face- her breathing was very slow and labored. "Tori? Tori, baby please wake up," he said shaking her slightly. Still nothing. Panic started to set in, but he tried to keep his calm.
He carefully picked her up and began rubbing her back. "Tori, wake up," he pleaded nervously. He slowly felt some movement from her. Tori slowly opened her eyes.
"What happened?" she asked softly. Her breathing was still slow, but at least she was awake. He kissed her forehead and cuddled her in his arms.
"I thought I lost you for a minute," he said. Tori slowly reached her hand up and rested it on his shoulder, with her head soon following it. "You need to take your meds," he whispered.
She smiled up at him. "Can you help me walk?" she asked. Blake gave her a weak smile and helped her off the bed so she could take her medication. After she had taken them, her breathing and strength got better and she decided to shower.
That was about half an hour ago. Blake called Hunter and told him they were coming home now- Tori needed to see her doctor. He finished packing just as she came out of the bathroom.
"What are you doing? I thought we weren't going until this afternoon?" she said.
"We leave on the next flight- you need to get home Tor," he said as he set the last bag at the door.
"Blake I'm fine now," she said.
"You really scared me this morning," he said going to her and kissing her gently. "And I know you don't feel fine, and that you're only saying that to make me feel better." Tori looked at him and saw the look of intense worry in his eye. He was right- about it all. She felt worse than she ever had before.
She put her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his chest. "You're right. I need to get home."
(((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))
The Wind Ninja Academy stood tall in front of them. Eric felt Taylor's grip tighten around his hand. He looked to her and saw tears gathering in her eyes. The last time she had been here was when she was 18. Her parents had shared custody, so when she was with her mother, she would come and attend classes with her sister.
Her mother had gone there when she was young and wanted her daughters to have the same opportunities she had. Taylor was only there a few times a year, but she learned how to respect the elements and all things around her. When she was chosen as a Wild Force Ranger, she often thought about how this place had instilled in her the idea of cherishing everything around her.
Now looking at the grounds, sadness overtook her body. Shortly after she left the Academy, Taylor went back to her father and received word that her mother had been killed in a car crash. That was the last time she was here and had seen Tori. They sat on the steps of the temple and looked out at the lake. Taylor put her arm around Tori.
'I'll always be here for you.' She had said to her baby sister. Tori leaned into her and held her hand.
'Promises you won't leave me Tay,' Tori said. Taylor kissed the side of her head.
'I promise.'
A tear ran down her cheek and Eric wiped it away. She turned to him and smiled. "I'm okay," she said. The others had run off somewhere and they began to walk to the main building. "It just reminds me of my mum," she whispered. They kept walking until they saw a tall figure clad in robes walking towards them. "Sensei Kanoi," she whispered.
"Go," Eric urged with a smile. "I'm going ot find Shane and see what lse I can dig up about you," he said with a grin that made her stomach flutter. She kissed his cheek and ran the rest of the way to Sensei.
She stopped in front of him and bowed out of respect, but then they hugged tightly.
"It is good to see again Taylor," he said as they parted. Taylor looked at him.
"you haven't changed a bit," she said. Sensei let out a small laugh.
"But you have! I heard you became an officer." Taylor nodded and they bagn walking.
"Sensei, how is she? Really?" she asked nervously. She heard him sigh as they stopped. Taylor felt her body get weak. They were at the temple. He led her to the same stair she had sat on all those years ago.
"It is far worse than we could have imagined I'm afraid," he said. Taylor looked down at her hands. "It has become too severe for the treatments she had before. The only think that Dr. Jones has suggested is a bone marrow transplant."
"And that's why you called me," she said still staring at the ground. They were silent for a few minutes. "Why did you wait so long to contact me?" she asked turning to him- tears now streaming down her cheeks.
"We tried, but I'm afraid the Air Force did not relay the messages. Do you have any idea as to why?" he asked.
Again Taylor looked down to her hands. "Yes Sensei," she said. Sensei looked to her and saw the struggle that was going on inside her head. "I left for about a year, and certain disciplinary actions were taken." Sensei furrowed his brow.
"You do not have to answer my next question if you don't want to. Why were you gone?" Taylor knew she couldn't keep her secret from him. He always had a way of getting information out.
"This is going to sound really weird," she began.
"Taylor, I have seen and heard many weird things in recent years. What you have to say may not sound as strange as you think," he said. Taylor smiled at him.
"I was a Power Ranger."
"No- nothing yet," Cam said. "I just sent it the day before yesterday. Who knows how long it'll take.
"Guys!" Hunter said as he ran across the lawn.
"Dude, aren't you like supposed to be at the Thunder Academy?" Dustin asked. Hunter stopped to catch his breath.
"I was- but Blake called me like really really early this morning. They're coming home as soon as they can. Tori's not doing too well from what he told me," he said. The guys all grew worried.
"Mr. Wantanabe!" a student said running to Cam. "There's someone at the secret entrance trying to get in!" he said. Cam looked around to the others and they all headed out.
(((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))
"What the hell are you doing?" Eric asked as he watched in disbelief as Taylor tried to walk out onto a pool in front of a waterfall.
"Shh!" she hissed. "They'll hear you."
"Who?" he said. Out of nowhere he was knocked to the ground. Taylor saw four flashes of light fly by him and land in the form of four hooded ninjas in red, crimson, green, and yellow. She grinned and helped him up.
"Them. They're the protectors of the academy," she said.
"Nice welcoming committee," Eric replied. Taylor saw him take something slowly out of his pocket- it was his Quantum Morpher.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said. Eric slid it back into his jacket and looked at the group. The tallest of the four stepped forward.
"Taylor? Is that you?" the one in yellow said. Taylor felt Eric touch her hand. She looked over to him and mouthed 'It's okay' and moved forward.
"That's Lieutenant Earhardt to you," she said.
"Yup- it's defiantly Taylor," the one in red said. They ninjas removed their hoods and Taylor's face broke out into a huge smile.
Without warning, the yellow, red, and green ones ran over to her and grabbed her in a huge group hug. "Guys- I kind of need oxygen," she got out. They released her and she got a good look at them. "Wow did you guys grow up," she said.
Dustin ran a hand through his hair. "You, uh, you look. . ." he trailed off.
"I think what he's trying to say id that you look great and that he's really glad to see you," Shane finished. Taylor began to laugh.
"you guys will never change will you?" she said smiling. She looked behind them and saw Hunter, who had a goofy grin stuck on his face. "Who's the statue?" she said pointing to Hunter.
"Oh- that's just Hunter," Dustin said. Hunter put his head down, trying to hide his blushing face.
Taylor remembered Eric was standing right behind her and introduced everyone. She walked over to him and grabbed his arm. "Eric Meyers, this is Shane Clarke, Dustin Brooks," she paused and smiled at Cam. "And Cameron Wantanabe." Eric shook their hands and looked at Hunter who had joined them.
"I'm Hunter Bradley," he said extending his hand to both newcomers.
"Taylor Earhardt," she said taking a good look at him. Hunter felt her looking at him oddly.
"What? Do I have something in my teeth?" he asked. Taylor snapped out of it.
"No, sorry. You said you're last name's Bradley?" Hunter nodded. "Tori told me about a guy named Blake Bradley. You guys related?" The guys all got a sort of sad look in their eyes.
"Yeah- he's my brother," Hunter said.
"Well, where's Tori?" Taylor asked looking around. "I figured she'd be right here with you guys." Again with the sad look. Taylor got very nervous suddenly and back into Eric who placed a hand on her shoulder. "Where- is- she," she asked again. Cam saw tears beginning to gather in her eyes.
"She's on her way home- but before we go any further let's get inside. I know my father wants to see you," Cam said. They all agreed and walked towards the waterfall. Taylor grabbed Eric's hand and they walked over to the pool.
"What are they doing?" Eric asked as they walked to the water.
"They're opening the portal," she said like there was nothing wrong with it. They watched as the four guys held out their hands and a blue light came out from the falls. "C'mon." she said as she dragged hi across the water and through the portal.
((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))
Blake frantically got he and Tori's things together. Last night had been he most amazing, and at the same time the most frightening of his life. After he and Tori had danced, they made their way back to their bed and danced again under the covers- more than once from his recollection.
Tori had not slept well when they finally settled in. She was shaking, but claimed she was hot. Blake tried to make everything as comfortable for her as he could, but nothing worked. All he could do as hold her close until she finally let her eyes close.
Her alarm went off at its usual time, but Tori didn't wake up. She had only slept a few hours, but Blake knew he had to wake her to take her meds.
"Tor?" he whispered in her ear. Tori lay there motionless. Blake's heartbeat sped up when he leaned down closer to her face- her breathing was very slow and labored. "Tori? Tori, baby please wake up," he said shaking her slightly. Still nothing. Panic started to set in, but he tried to keep his calm.
He carefully picked her up and began rubbing her back. "Tori, wake up," he pleaded nervously. He slowly felt some movement from her. Tori slowly opened her eyes.
"What happened?" she asked softly. Her breathing was still slow, but at least she was awake. He kissed her forehead and cuddled her in his arms.
"I thought I lost you for a minute," he said. Tori slowly reached her hand up and rested it on his shoulder, with her head soon following it. "You need to take your meds," he whispered.
She smiled up at him. "Can you help me walk?" she asked. Blake gave her a weak smile and helped her off the bed so she could take her medication. After she had taken them, her breathing and strength got better and she decided to shower.
That was about half an hour ago. Blake called Hunter and told him they were coming home now- Tori needed to see her doctor. He finished packing just as she came out of the bathroom.
"What are you doing? I thought we weren't going until this afternoon?" she said.
"We leave on the next flight- you need to get home Tor," he said as he set the last bag at the door.
"Blake I'm fine now," she said.
"You really scared me this morning," he said going to her and kissing her gently. "And I know you don't feel fine, and that you're only saying that to make me feel better." Tori looked at him and saw the look of intense worry in his eye. He was right- about it all. She felt worse than she ever had before.
She put her arms around his waist and leaned her head on his chest. "You're right. I need to get home."
(((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))
The Wind Ninja Academy stood tall in front of them. Eric felt Taylor's grip tighten around his hand. He looked to her and saw tears gathering in her eyes. The last time she had been here was when she was 18. Her parents had shared custody, so when she was with her mother, she would come and attend classes with her sister.
Her mother had gone there when she was young and wanted her daughters to have the same opportunities she had. Taylor was only there a few times a year, but she learned how to respect the elements and all things around her. When she was chosen as a Wild Force Ranger, she often thought about how this place had instilled in her the idea of cherishing everything around her.
Now looking at the grounds, sadness overtook her body. Shortly after she left the Academy, Taylor went back to her father and received word that her mother had been killed in a car crash. That was the last time she was here and had seen Tori. They sat on the steps of the temple and looked out at the lake. Taylor put her arm around Tori.
'I'll always be here for you.' She had said to her baby sister. Tori leaned into her and held her hand.
'Promises you won't leave me Tay,' Tori said. Taylor kissed the side of her head.
'I promise.'
A tear ran down her cheek and Eric wiped it away. She turned to him and smiled. "I'm okay," she said. The others had run off somewhere and they began to walk to the main building. "It just reminds me of my mum," she whispered. They kept walking until they saw a tall figure clad in robes walking towards them. "Sensei Kanoi," she whispered.
"Go," Eric urged with a smile. "I'm going ot find Shane and see what lse I can dig up about you," he said with a grin that made her stomach flutter. She kissed his cheek and ran the rest of the way to Sensei.
She stopped in front of him and bowed out of respect, but then they hugged tightly.
"It is good to see again Taylor," he said as they parted. Taylor looked at him.
"you haven't changed a bit," she said. Sensei let out a small laugh.
"But you have! I heard you became an officer." Taylor nodded and they bagn walking.
"Sensei, how is she? Really?" she asked nervously. She heard him sigh as they stopped. Taylor felt her body get weak. They were at the temple. He led her to the same stair she had sat on all those years ago.
"It is far worse than we could have imagined I'm afraid," he said. Taylor looked down at her hands. "It has become too severe for the treatments she had before. The only think that Dr. Jones has suggested is a bone marrow transplant."
"And that's why you called me," she said still staring at the ground. They were silent for a few minutes. "Why did you wait so long to contact me?" she asked turning to him- tears now streaming down her cheeks.
"We tried, but I'm afraid the Air Force did not relay the messages. Do you have any idea as to why?" he asked.
Again Taylor looked down to her hands. "Yes Sensei," she said. Sensei looked to her and saw the struggle that was going on inside her head. "I left for about a year, and certain disciplinary actions were taken." Sensei furrowed his brow.
"You do not have to answer my next question if you don't want to. Why were you gone?" Taylor knew she couldn't keep her secret from him. He always had a way of getting information out.
"This is going to sound really weird," she began.
"Taylor, I have seen and heard many weird things in recent years. What you have to say may not sound as strange as you think," he said. Taylor smiled at him.
"I was a Power Ranger."
