Hey guys, I apologize in advance for the long author's note and acknowledgments. I guess I'm just in a chatterbox mood. I think it's safe to say that this chapter has been a bit of a bugger as an old friend of mine would say. That's in part to a little bit of writer's block when it comes to this story and in part because I was bitten by the Ninja Storm bug and generated about ten stories about the Blue Bay crew. That's what I get for having such a soft spot for cute Power Rangers guys I guess. Anyway, I apologize for the two month wait. The reviews for this story have spurred me to think just a little bit harder about where I want this story to go and as what happens frequently with my other stories that I started a few years ago, I ended up going in a direction I hadn't originally planned to go in. (Thanks a lot cmar for wanting this thing to actually have a plot :p) But all joking aside, it's people like you that make me want to be really good at what I do, so this chapter is dedicated to you.

To Ryan: I don't always review either, so I know what you mean by feeling compelled to review some stories. But I'm so very glad you like this story enough to jot down a few comments :) I'm sorry for taking so long to get this chapter out even when you asked me to be a little bit quicker about it, but like I said, writer's block and plot bunnies tend to knock me out occasionally. I'll try not to be so long about getting Chapter Five out to you.

To cmar: You wouldn't be my favorite reviewer and most valued critic if you didn't manage to find something wrong with my work. Lol. I'm glad you thought the fight scene was good. I tend to be very wary of writing out fight scenes, because it's difficult to write a good fight scene without getting repetitive. (There's only so many ways to write a punch, kick, etc.) If I ever decide to do a major-level story, I might see if I can find someone who can write fights excellently but isn't very confident about romance and join forces with them to try to make a real kick-ass fic. Anyway, you'd be right about Sara and Adam being the focus of the story for awhile. I'm considering doing a chapter or two on Rocky and Aisha's reaction to their best friend and Red's sister being on a planet they'd never heard of, and maybe the others' thoughts on the whole Alex/Sara situation as well. I'd appreciate your opinion on whether or not I'd be a good idea before I try anything like that though. As for the explanation of the Phaedos/Ninja power thing, I tend to do that a lot, though I hope it hasn't been all that often in this fic.

To mythic-lionheart: Welcome to the tiny band of people who seem to like this story. Lol. A Kat fan huh? I used to totally envy her accent, because it seemed so exotic and I've got the Texas twang (or so I'm told). I'll admit that the series has gotten a bit ridiculously long and I'm really too old to be watching it, but the guys are always so damn cute. I usually find at least one in each incarnation that I wish did work that was a little less embarrassing to admit to watching. (And unfortunately for me, and the people waiting for this chapter, there are two in Ninja Storm.) But anyway, Kat might pop up later on in this, but I can pretty much tell you that the entire Kim/Tommy/Kat ordeal isn't going to happen in this story. The Kim-Tommy romance was so involved and lasted for so long in the series that thinking that Tommy would just turn around and date Katherine so soon after Kimberly dumping him just isn't jiving with me. I think they did a poor job of resolving the Kimberly issue. But that's me.

Disclaimer: I own Alex/Sara and the general plot of this story, but everything you recognize is Saban/Disney's.

Chapter Five: Explanations and Stormy Emotions

I opened my eyes when the wind died down again to find myself standing in the middle of the Ninjetti Temple, still holding Adam's hand. I glanced around and noted with interest that while some aspects of my surroundings were the same as the movie set, there were some that were completely different.

"Welcome Black Ranger."

We both spun around and I had to swallow a laugh when I realized that I had responded without even thinking about it. Dulcea smiled at our reaction and extended her hand to us.

"My apologies. It is uncommon for two of the same color to be traveling together. Welcome, both of you, to Phaedos. I have been expecting you young panther."

Adam looked down at me. "Is this Dulcea?"

I nodded with a smile. "I had a feeling you were. My guide said that the answers I needed were here?"

Dulcea nodded. "Yes. Please, make yourselves comfortable. What I have to tell you is somewhat complicated."

Adam gave me a skeptical glance but I just smiled again and took his arm, guiding him over to the steps. "Adam, relax. Dulcea is not our enemy."

"Who is this guide you're talking about?"

"Remember when you asked me who I was talking to earlier? My spirit guide, the panther, showed himself to me. It must have been him who directed my thoughts to Dulcea and Phaedos."

Dulcea nodded. "The sacred animal spirits are not beyond revealing themselves in order to guide their charges onto the right path. It is time for your destiny to be revealed young one."

I didn't know about Adam, but I felt like this was all one tricked-out dream instead of reality. I didn't know what I had expected to come out of her mouth, but temporal healer was not it.

"Let me get this straight." I said hoarsely, the cleared my throat. "Because I just happened to keep track of Power Ranger history, I'm the only person who can fix the mess the Fates have made?"

Dulcea shook her head, reaching out to place a hand on my shoulder. "You were not randomly chosen Sara. This was to be long before you were born. The prophecy I speak of has been known for thousands of years."

I stood up abruptly. "Why me? Why am I the one who has to fuck around with the fate of a dimension I don't even belong in? Isn't it enough that I've taken their friend from them? Isn't it enough that I've invaded their lives? Do I have to purposely let them get hurt too?"

"Destiny…" she began.

"Screw destiny." I spat, taking off.

I made it down the last few steps to the beach before I was caught in strong arms and held tight. I fought against the hold fiercely.

"Let go of me Adam." I warned.

"Just calm down Sara."

I grunted and finally managed to free myself, whirling around and shoving him for good measure. "Goddamn it, I don't want to calm down." I growled at him. "I'm so goddamn sick of this always happening to me. I just want to be normal. All I ever wanted from life was a few true friends and maybe a decent guy. But this shit happens. All of you are already wary of me because I took Alex away from you. All I'll ever be to any of you is the girl who isn't her. And now I'm responsible for keeping your dimension from imploding and I can just see the reactions now. 'She can't even hold a fucking power. How is she going to keep from screwing this up?' Well here's news for you: I wouldn't have chosen me either."

I spun and started walking again until I was caught again a few feet away, this time by the arm. "Is this about what happened with Kimberly?"

I laughed humorlessly. "I'm not naive Adam. If the kindest one of you doesn't want me around, that pretty much speaks for the rest of you." I pointed out as I pulled away.

"That's not true."

"Don't patronize me Adam. Give me that much."

He caught my arm again, turning me around. "Sara, stop. Okay? Kim didn't mean half of what she said. She was just worried about Alex, and considering how close she and Jason are…"

"Yeah fine. But that doesn't change the fact that none of you want me around."

Adam sighed. "Sara, that's not true. I mean, of course we wish that Alex hadn't been taken from us, but that has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the fact that she isn't with us. We just wish we could have met you a different way, that's all."

"Yeah well, you didn't. And I'm always going to be Alex's twin first and Sara second."

"I know it isn't fair. Just give it some time Sara. In time, you'll have your own identity as we notice more and more of your differences."

I laughed lightly. "If that's supposed to be reassuring, it isn't working. The fact is I'm going to be compared to Alex no matter how long it's been. You know that as well as I do. And I'm going to disappoint everyone every time because I'm nowhere near the woman she is."

"No, you aren't. You're just as special in your own right. Yeah, you share a lot of the same things we like about Alex. But you also have qualities of your own that are beginning to grow on us. I love Alex dearly, but there are things about her that drive me crazy. Your approach to life is very different, and I don't know about the others, but I like that about you. And like anyone else, there are things about you that drive me insane too. One of those things is how you tend to be too hard on yourself."

I smirked humorlessly. "Adam, if anything I'm not hard enough on myself. Otherwise I'd have a hell of a lot more waiting for me back home. Considering that my only companion is my word processing program, I'd say room for improvement is an understatement."

I blinked in surprise when he forced me to meet his eyes. "Sara, that isn't true. The guys and I…we like you just as you are. Okay, so maybe you don't trust as easily as most people, but neither do we. Being Rangers, we have to constantly be prepared for every person we meet to be more than they seem. We keep secrets even from the people we know we can trust because we have no choice. You have no idea how good it feels to not have to hide the Ranger part of our lives from you."

Frankly, I had no idea how to react. I knew he was only trying to get through to me, but I wasn't used to being touched in such a personal way. I preferred to think that it was surprise that made my voice so soft.

"I've been such a burden already. How can I ask anyone to just accept that I'm here to stay? Especially when I can't tell anyone the real reason."

"You aren't alone in this secret Sara. I know everything you know." Adam pointed out.

My eyes widened at that. I had forgotten about that. Because of me, he was going to have to lie to his best friends. The Rangers needed to be a cohesive unit to keep Zedd and Rita in check. A big thing like this being kept secret could only backfire in the long run.

"I shouldn't have agreed to let you come." I said softly.

"I would have found a way whether you liked it or not. There are some things one person can't shoulder alone." Adam replied just as softly.

"You can't help me Adam. They need to be able to trust you for the team to function. No matter what happens, you can't let on that you know any more about this than they do."

"And leave you to the lions?"

I held his gaze steady. "You have no choice. There is no teamwork without trust. I won't be responsible for succeeding where Rita and Zedd have failed time and time again. Give me your word that you will keep your peace or I will ask the Power to make sure you remember nothing of our time here." I threatened seriously.

Adam sighed. "Fine. I promise to deny knowledge of what I've learned here. No matter what." He added darkly when I made my glance pointed.

I nodded briskly. "Let's get back."

With that, I stepped past him and began the climb back up to the Temple. I hadn't enjoyed threatening him, but I knew it was the only way to extract a promise. And something told me that he was a man of his word. I also didn't enjoy having to keep him at arm's length. During our small talk last night I had entertained for just one moment the thought that maybe, just maybe I could really start to like Adam. I don't know, maybe it was that stupid little celebrity crush I had always had on him. But a tiny part of me hoped that he might be attracted to me too.

But that wasn't likely to happen now. Getting close to him would only turn the others against him when it became apparent that I knew more than I was telling them. I smiled bitterly. He had been so nice to me. I would miss that. And Rocky. I wasn't even his real sister and yet he tried to be a good brother to me. I supposed I should have just been grateful that I hadn't gotten too used to their companionship. That would have been much worse.

Dulcea looked somewhat relieved to see me enter the ruins. "Are you all right?" she questioned tentatively.

I flashed her a half-hearted smile. "As all right as I can be."

"I am sorry."

I shrugged as I sat back down by the fire. "You had nothing to do with it. So I'm the answer to this prophecy. Now what?"

"Now your training begins. You will be given the power of the Ninjetti so you may remain on the front lines of the fight against evil. But you will be merely an ally, someone to be called upon to aid Zordon's Rangers."

I smirked humorlessly. "Second-string."

"Yes. Until your team is complete, you will not be able to give any but the most basic aid."

I quirked an eyebrow. "My team?"

Dulcea smiled. "The Ninjetti Rangers. They will find you, one by one. It will be up to you to bring them here for their quests."

I understood then. "It wouldn't make much sense to empower only one Ninjetti Ranger. Where there's one, there's generally five more." I nodded.

"Yes. Tomorrow you will learn to defend yourself, both from young Adam and myself. In the meantime, you should both rest. Where is the frog?"

I glanced over my shoulder to indeed find that Adam hadn't followed me up. I lifted one shoulder in an awkward shrug. "I guess he needed a moment or two alone."

Adam's POV

I don't know how long I stood at the bottom of the cliff fuming. I don't like being manipulated. I could understand her point, but threatening to erase who knows how long from my memory was simply cold. All I wanted to do was help her. Keep the burden of her destiny from being too much for her to handle. Was that really so bad? I know we hadn't known each other very long, but I thought we kind of clicked. I really liked her, and didn't like to see her put the world on her shoulders when I could help shoulder the weight.

I sighed loudly and ran my hand through my hair in frustration. As frustrated as it made me, if she didn't want my help there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to hope that she reached out to me or one of the guys when the pressure got to be too much to bear. I looked up and scanned the night sky for where my heart said the Earth was and sighed softly.

"She's so proud Rock. I'm afraid that even if there weren't any danger in accepting my help she wouldn't out of pride. But I promise man, I'll do everything I can to keep her safe."

I took one last look up at the stars and then climbed back up to the temple. Dulcea was nowhere to be found, but Sara was stretched out by the fire, fast asleep. Looking at her with her guard down, I felt my annoyance with her fade somewhat. She looked so vulnerable. I couldn't help but think that she was truly a terrified young girl behind that tough chick act.

"She was worried for you."

I turned around in surprise at Dulcea's soft voice and frowned. "She was? Why?" I asked, careful to keep my voice low.

"You have been gone a long time." the beautiful warrior said with a small smile of amusement. "The panther does care young frog."

I shrugged the comment off. "Could have fooled me. She doesn't even want me here."

"She blames herself for the young raven's disappearance and she also knows that it will not be easy from here on out for either of you. Your friends may not react well to her duty. She only wishes to spare you the same turmoil she herself may face."

"Maybe. But it's too late to worry about that. I know what she was sent here to do and I can't just stand back and do nothing when I can help. I felt the same way when I found out who the Power Rangers were. I didn't become one myself until a little bit later, but that didn't stop me from helping them when I could."

"You have a noble heart Adam. But it is her decision to make. You must wait until she comes to you. I know it will not be easy, but as with any problem, the first step is admitting that one needs help."

I sighed. I knew she was right. But that didn't mean I liked it. "I know."

Dulcea smiled slightly. "Get some rest Adam. Tomorrow you must help me begin her training."

I nodded and walked quietly over to stretch out so that we made a right angle with our heads in the middle. I propped myself up on one elbow facing the fire and watched Sara for a few minutes before giving in to the impulse to lean over and kiss her forehead gently. Sara stirred a little but didn't wake much to my relief. But a little smile curved her lips and that made me smile too before I laid my head down and closed my eyes, letting sleep overtake me.

Sara's POV

It was the smell of food cooking that woke me and I was confused for a few seconds before I recognized my surroundings. I raised my eyes to see that the sky was just beginning to lighten and groaned softly. I was so not a wake-up-before-sunrise person. I noticed an odd sensation of my pillow moving abruptly and thought for a second that the painkillers I had been high on yesterday had an unexpected effect. Then I remembered that I hadn't had a pillow and looked down to see that my head was resting on a black T-shirt.

I was able to curb my panic enough so that I didn't freak out physically, but my brain was definitely freaking out. How on Earth had I ended up using Adam for a pillow? And was that his arm draped over my waist? I carefully slid out from his hold and scrambled back, fighting a blush. I managed not to let my face heat up, but I was terribly embarrassed that I had sought out his body heat during the night.

And oh man, what if he had woken up before I did? I wanted to hide at just the thought of the way he would have reacted after our argument last night. I pushed myself to my feet and escaped to the railing overlooking the Monolith to give myself time to calm down.

"Good morning Sara."

I glanced over my shoulder and nodded to Dulcea. "Morning. When did Adam get back?" I asked curiously.

"Not long after you fell asleep. Did something happen? He seemed troubled when he returned."

I shook my head. "Don't worry about it Dulcea. It won't interfere with training." I said with conviction.

If there was one thing I knew about Adam Park, it was that he put duty first and emotions second. And whether I liked it or not, he was involved in this mess. If I wouldn't let him help me face the others, nothing on either this planet or ours would deter him from helping to train me to defend myself from our enemies.

Dulcea nodded. "I have no doubt of that. But what of your friendship? Would it not make things difficult?"

I shrugged slightly as I turned back to face the jungle. "I'm not sure he could afford to be my friend once the others learn that not all of the battles to come are in Fate's hands."

"Is that not his decision to make?"

I considered that for a while. "Perhaps the best friend I could be to him is to leave him out of this. I know he wants to help. He's a wonderful person and the best friend a girl could ask for. But even if he did face the others with me, he couldn't make the decision whether or not to support me for them. The most it would do is pressure him to make a choice between me and his friends and strain the bond that has proven so effective in defeating Rita and Zedd's plans over the years. Maybe such a test is inevitable. But I refuse to be the one make it immediate. I'd take myself out of the equation before I would ask him to make such a choice." I answered finally.

"That is a difficult decision to make, turning down the help of a good friend. Yet you do not hesitate to do it for the good of the many. Perhaps the Fates chose wisely after all."

"That remains to be seen." I murmured.

I sensed her looking curiously at me, but she didn't comment on my vague answer. It was just as well. I wasn't sure myself which part of her statement I was referring to-doing it for the good of the many or that the Fates chose wisely.

It's kind of depressing that it took that long to write out what basically ended up being a filler chapter. But I shall prevail, just try to be patient with me. I'll see you guys later, and please consider dropping me a few lines, even if it's just to yell at me for the lateness/shortness of this chapter.

Jen