Disclaimer: I don't own the power rangers.
Note: slash factor gets worse so don't read if you don't like that kind of thing. Also don't read if you don't like the rangers arguing.
We all have Shadows.
Confessions.
The remaining rangers return to their HQ battered and bruised only to turn on one another. "Why did you let him take her!" Blake erupted at Hunter. "How do you know we can trust him?" He shoved the Crimson Ranger into the wall. "I hate you." He muttered pounding his fists into Hunter's chest.
"I... can't explain..." Hunter managed.
"You can't even give me a reason!" He continued pounding on the Crimson Rangers chest. "You knew how I felt about her... I loved her." Tears welled up in his eyes. "Were you jealous?"
"We couldn't do anything for her." Hunter told his brother. "Cam said so himself. We could either watch her die or let him take her in the hopes he can save her."
"It's true. I don't know what Venator did to her." Cam interjected hoping to calm things.
"Even so you didn't answer my question." Blake rounded on Hunter. "You were jealous of us from the beginning weren't you?"
"This isn't about that..."
"You were! Just admit it." Blake pinned the taller man to the wall. "You couldn't stand your little bro. getting the girl you liked."
"Shut up!" Hunter shoved Blake off him. "Just drop it."
Blake went for Hunter but Cam held him back. "We all let him take her. None of us tried to stop him, we went along with Hunter's decision."
"I would have if he'd not been able to beat me with his eyes closed. You saw what he did to the space goons." Shane burst out not wanting to stay quiet any longer. "I felt there was no choice."
"Give it a rest the lot of you!" Dustin snapped out of his little world. "If you want to blame someone blame me. It was my fault! If I hadn't been such a crap ranger then none of this would have happened." With that he stormed out of ninja ops.
"Dustin..." Hunter made to go after him.
"Wait Hunter." It was the voice of sensei Watanabe. "I am ashamed of all of you. To busy to blame each other to notice a friends pain."
"But..." Shane tried before being cut off.
"But what Shane? You always have choices even if it may seem you don't. Hunter was correct, if you could do nothing then letting somebody else try was a good choice. At some level you agreed with his decision because you accepted it and allowed it to happen."
"You're right sensei." Shane admitted.
"I always am that is why I am the master. Now I suggest that you all go and get some rest for there will be many battles ahead."
-
"Tori. Tori wake up."
"What? Where?" Tori went to move but found she hadn't the strength.
"Hey take it easy. You were hit pretty hard."
She rolled her head to the side to see who was talking to her. "Who are you? What do you want?" She saw a figure move in the shadows.
"Let's just say I'm a friend."
"Wait I know you." She forced her body to move even though it fought against her. "Arc. It's you isn't it?" The figure shifted in the shadows. "Arc show yourself." Tori let out a gasp as the figure stepped into the dim light.
"As you can see I'm not this Arc person." The black clothed ranger replied.
"But... that voice. I'm sure it was Arc's. You are Arc aren't you?" Tori managed as she winced in pain. "Look please tell me."
"Fine." The ranger replied. "Power down." The suit shattered away to reveal a blond haired man.
"Why did you lie? Why didn't you tell me you were a ranger when we first met?" Tori asked sounding wounded.
"Why didn't you tell me?" "Arc countered. "I didn't know you were a ranger. We are meant to keep our identities secret."
"But you attacked us. Even without knowing who we were. You could see we were rangers we could've solved the problem without fighting. Tori protested.
"I was attacked first by the Crimson Thunder Ranger. How was I supposed to know you weren't bad? He just demanded that I give him the crystal of life, and when I refused he attacked me." Arc moved over to Tori and sat down next to her. "I'm its guardian and I am to protect it from any that would use it for evil."
"Trust Hunter, he always was the act then think type." Tori said trying to sit up. "Cam never should have sent him to get it. If only he'd told you why we wanted it."
"So why do you want it?" Arc questioned helping her sit.
"We wanted to put it somewhere Venator and Miasmus couldn't get it."
"They can't get it where it is if you're talking about who I think you are. So Hunter is the Crimson Thunder Ranger? I did try telling him that but he wouldn't listen." Arc looked about avoiding eye contact with Tori. "So I guess Dustin is a ranger then."
"Yeah, the Yellow one. Shane's the Red one, Blake's the Navy one and Cam's the green one." Tori looked about taking in her surroundings. In the middle of the room was an hourglass, around it were twelve crystal monoliths with runes carved into them. "So where are we?"
Arc stood up and spun about with his arms out. "This." He said. "Is the Nexus of Time." He stopped spinning and looked at her. "I brought you here after that monster hurt you."
"About that. I kind of don't know what happened after he hit me?" Tori said looking bemused. "Why did you decide to help me."
"When I realized who you were I didn't want to fight you. It was my fault that you were hurt because I didn't help you fight those monsters." Arc looked at his feet out of shame. "I'm to blame for this as much as Hunter. I did fight back. You'd tried to be my friend and for that I am grateful. When the green one said that you could die I had to do something, I've seen enough death lately."
"Okay, so I'm dying. Then why am I still alive?" She asked looking even more confused.
"Time's stopped here at the moment." Arc explained pointing at the hourglass in the center if the room. "See the sand's not running. Because you're here and time's stopped, what was killing you has stopped also." He reached into his training uniform a pulled out a vial. "That reminds me drink this." He handed Tori the small vial.
"What is it?" She looked at the clear liquid inside.
"An elixir of healing. It will heal your physical wounds..." Arc paused and Tori looked at him. "But it won't stop the life drain which was killing you. If you leave here your energy will be drained and you will die."
"That's okay. I'll stay here until you find a way to stop it." Tori replied understandingly. "Maybe you should talk to Cam he might be able to figure it out."
"How do I find him?"
"Ask Dustin or Hunter they'll help you."
"Just out of curiosity Dustin said you had a twin brother. What's his name?" Arc asked not wanting to sound too keen.
"Tobias, why?" Tori replied.
"I was just wondering that was all. I'll be off now." Arc turned and walked though a portal that Tori hadn't noticed was there.
-
Dustin stood outside ninja ops and watched as one by one the other rangers left. It was Hunter who noticed him. "I've got some stuff to do. I'll catch up with you later." He told his brother as Blake continued down the forest path.
"Sure, whatever." Blake called back. Things were still a little tense between the two of them.
Hunter waited until Blake was out of sight before walking over to Dustin. "That was some outburst in there." He said unsure of what to do. "That's the second one today Dustin. What's going on with you?" Taking a few more steps he waited for Dustin to reply. The dark haired man glanced over his shoulder but remained quiet. "Dustin help me out. I don't know what to say or do. What would Tori do in this situation?"
"Tori isn't here though and it's my fault." the Yellow Ranger spun round to face the Crimson Ranger. "If I wasn't such a crap ranger none of this would have happened."
"Dustin..." Hunter took the other man into an awkward embrace. "It's not your fault. That could've been anyone of us."
Dustin looked into Hunter's blue eyes but remained silent. Before he realized what had happened he put his lips on Hunter's.
They stood like that for awhile until Hunter's brain kicked in and he shoved Dustin off. He spat and made a show of wiping his mouth. "What the hell brought that on?" he said backing away from Dustin.
Dustin looked from Hunter to the ground and then back at Hunter again. He then turned and began walking away. "Sorry." He called back to Hunter.
"Where do you think your going?" Hunter ran forward and caught hold of Dustin. "What gives you the right to just kiss me and then walk off?" He spun the other man around and held him firmly at arm's length. "I want some answers."
"You should have just left me alone!" Dustin broke free of Hunter's grip and ran away not looking back to see if Hunter had followed.
Hunter sank to the ground. "What have I done?" He muttered to himself. I only wanted to help him and I've gone and made things worse. I can't do this I ruin everything, first Blake and now Dustin. I even lied to Arc. I'm such a fool I wish I could make things right. He broke down and cried into the forest floor as rain began to fall.
-
Arc was walking though the park when he came across Dustin. "Hey Dustin you alright?" He called as he walked over to the dark haired man. Dustin was soaking even though the rain had been last night. "Dustin..." Arc looked at the man and saw bags under his eyes. "Have you been here the whole nigh?" He asked but Dustin only looked at the gray sky. "What's wrong?" Arc stretched out an arm and put it on Dustin's shoulder. But the other man simply pushed it off. "Dustin..." Arc pulled the man into a hug refusing to let go as Dustin struggled against it. In the end Dustin gave up the fight and just cried into Arc's shoulder.
The sky grew darker and the first drops of rain fell. "Why?" Dustin muttered as Arc let him go.
"Why what?" Arc pulled Dustin into another hug.
"Why do you act like this? Being so caring and stuff. You know how I feel about men yet you'll still hug me." Dustin worked his way free from Arc's grasp.
"Are you saying you fancy me?" Arc joked but stopped when he saw that Dustin wasn't in the mood. "Dustin, I'm secure in my feelings for others. I just think it's important that those around you know how you feel. If you hide your feelings from them for to long you my never get the chance to express them and it can lead to all sorts of problems." Arc pulled Dustin into yet another hug. "I like you as a friend and nothing is going to change that. If you want a shoulder to cry on then use mine. I'm not afraid to do what I have to in order to help you."
"But what if I kissed you?" Dustin tried not to think about it too much.
"Is that what it would take?" Arc wasn't stunned by the question and his reaction surprised Dustin.
"I... don't know? I'm a little confused about my feelings right now." Dustin admitted knowing how dumb it sounded.
"I kinda figured that out on my own." Arc messed up Dustin's wet hair. "If I can do anything for you don't hesitate to ask."
"You wouldn't mind doing me a favor would you?" Before Arc had answered Dustin had removed his morpher and handed it to Arc. "Could you give this to Blake or Hunter? I want some time alone to think." Dustin turned and left Arc stood in the rain speechless.
-
"Hunter you haven't seen Dustin? It's just he's late for work and he was supposed to meet me at the track this morning but he didn't show." The short red haired woman asked.
"No!" Hunter snapped. "Do I look like his keeper."
"What's up with you. I just thought that since you guys hung out you may know where he is." Kelly looked hurt. "I hope your not going to snap like that at the customers. Look I'm just worried about him."
"Well the last time I saw him was yesterday." Blake cut in before Hunter could say something stupid. "Hunter you need to chill."
"Why are you getting at me? It's not my fault he isn't here is it!" Hunter threw the spanner he was holding onto the floor. Maybe it was my fault I shouldn't of reacted the way I did. I'm so stupid to let my feelings get the better of me. "You know what. I can't take this any more." He stood up and glared at Blake. "I don't need to chill!" This outburst drew the attention of the few customers there were. "I'm sick of being blamed for everything that goes wrong in other peoples lives. I have enough problems of my own and I don't need you adding to them."
"Hey Hunter, can I talk to you?" It was Arc.
"No!" Hunter stormed out of the shop, pushing Arc out of the way as he passed.
"Hunter..." Blake called after his brother, but was held back by a wet hand.
"I'll go. As you can see I'm already soaked." Arc pulled his clothes out to emphasize his point. "It's just a bit wet out there." He smiled at Blake before running into the rain after Hunter.
-
Dustin sat in a tree on the edge of the park watching the rainfall, thinking. If only I were stronger. I could've helped Tori. If I'd been stronger Tori wouldn't even need help. I'm a loser and I always have been. Everyone was always better than I was. No wonder Shane went for Cam instead of me. Arc must really like charity work for him to want to help me. I wish I were stronger, better. Then I could show them how good I really am.
"If you really want to be better then maybe I can help you." A brown haired man appeared out of nowhere.
"If you really want to help me go away." Dustin called from his perch.
"Don't be to quick to judge. I could give you power enough to show your friends how good you are. You could become so strong that you could even defeat Lothor on your own."
"What? No one has that much power." Dustin looked down in amazement at the other man.
"Come and I'll show you." The man stretched out an arm to Dustin. "There's no reason to be afraid."
Dustin jumped out the tree and took the other mans hand. "So where are we going?"
The man waved his free arm and an ancient symbol appeared under them. "To a school of the best warriors." The symbol erupted in a burst of energy that when it had died down the two men were nowhere to be seen.
-
"Get over it!" Arc grabbed Hunter by the wrist and spun him round so they were face to face.
"What!" Hunter replied yanking his wrist free from Arc grasp.
"You heard. Get... over... it..." Arc deliberately drew out the words. "I only wanted to give this to you." He handed Dustin's morpher to Hunter. "It's from Dustin."
"Well did he say anything?"
"He just said he wanted some time to think. Why?" Arc looked puzzled. "Did something happen between you? I don't get you. Are you like a tap?"
"What? Why are you comparing me to a tap?" it was Hunter's turn to look puzzled
"'Cos you're always running hot and cold. Would you rather I compare you to a light switch?" Arc smirked which caused Hunter to smile. "See things aren't really that bad." He put his arm on Hunter's shoulder. "So what happened between you and Dustin?"
face to face with Arc. Hair plastered down, water dripping off them. Hunter broke down crying tears mixing with rain water. Arc pulled him into a hug letting Hunter cry onto his already soaked shoulder. "He was upset about... so I tried to... then he just... I don't want talk about it." Hunter regained his composure but didn't break the hug.
"Ain't that cute a ranger crying to his boyfriend." A black haired man appeared in a flash of light.
"He isn't my boyfriend!" Hunter yelled at the new man breaking the hug. "Besides what's a ranger? Who are you anyway?"
"I'm hurt you don't recognize me." The man waved his arm. "Maybe this will help." His form shifted and Hunter instinctively push Arc behind him. "Remember me now?" before the two men stood now stood a golden amour clad monster.
"Venator." Hunter muttered under his breath. "Arc get out of here." He commanded pushing Arc away from the monster.
"Why what are you going to do?" Arc asked standing his ground.
"Do you really think I'll fight you in this form." Venator waved his arm again. "Behold my true form." His form changed again and now he looked like a cross between the two other forms. While he looked almost human, his left arm and chest bore golden amour and his right leg from the knee down. He also had a bracer on his right arm and plates on each thigh. "I only came here for your friend. Now hand him over and no one gets hurt."
"What do you want with me?" Arc demanded.
"Only to make you into one of our own rangers. Miasmus already has his candidate I believe you know him." Miasmus then appeared holding an unconscious man. His form was very similar to Venator's the only difference was the placement of amour.
"Dustin." Both men gasped.
"What have you done to him?" Hunter demanded running forward.
"I don't think so." Venator said grabbing and throwing Hunter back at Arc's feet. "He will become the Amber Ranger and will help us take over this world. Miasmus take him away I'll join you shortly after I have the other one." Miasmus teleported away with Dustin as Hunter could only watch.
"It's Tori all over again." He muttered to himself.
"If you think I'll help you hurt my friends your mistaken!" Arc yelled at Venator. "I will never help you." He spat backing away.
"Suit yourself." Venator smashed his fist into the ground. "You won't leave here alive." A symbol appeared under Venator that stretched out under where the two men stood. Venator stood up and pulled a sword from the ground where his fist had hit. At the same time energy burst from the edges of the symbol creating a wall of force. "It's a confinement spell you can't go anywhere." Venator laughed.
"Well what are you waiting for Hunter? Morph already." Arc called at Hunter.
Hunter froze at the words. How long has he known? "What?" he called back.
"Fine. Shadow storm, ranger form, ha!" Arc called moving as he did so. There was a flash of light and in Arc's place stood the Shadow Ranger. "Well now you know. So just morph already."
"Thunder storm, ranger form, ha!" Hunter called doing the actions for morphing. "So how long have you known." He called to Arc.
"Tori told me."
"But in the cave. It was you I fought."
"I'm sorry about that. Tori didn't tell me until after the fight. You knew it was me, that's why you let me take her right?"
"I wasn't sure. It was only when you asked me to trust you."
Venator cut in at this point fed up of waiting. "Can we get on with this. I'll destroy both of you." Venator lunged at Hunter and at the last moment swung his sword in a slicing motion. The blade cut across Hunter's abdomen and he fell to the ground. The Crimson Ranger curled up in pain as Venator stood over him sword raised to strike the final blow. "Good bye ranger." He said swinging the sword. "What?" Arc had shot Venator's sword out of his hand. The sword landed blade down behind Venator.
"Not today." The Shadow Ranger unleashed a volley of shots at the monster knocking him back. Arc took up position between the wounded Crimson Ranger and Venator. Venator grabbed the sword from the ground and begun swinging wildly at Arc. He managed to dodge the first few but then couldn't move any further back without tripping over Hunter. He resorted to using his forearms to guard against the onslaught of Venator's attacks.
Hunter struggled to his feet and staggered across to Arc still clutching his abdomen. "I thought you could beat him?"
"I'm not at my full power. We have to retreat." Arc replied raising a small dome of energy around them.
Venator attacked the dome with his sword and energy blasts but it withstood the attacks. "What do you mean not your full power." Hunter asked falling to his knees next to Arc.
"Can we talk about it later. First we need to escape." Arc moved over to Hunter and put his arm around him to support him. "Do you trust me?"
"Do you even have to ask. I trust you and always have done." Hunter replied putting an arm around Arc for extra support.
"Just though I'd check." The shadows beneath them formed a puddle and the two rangers began sinking. "Well Venator, love to stay and chat but I've got better things to be doing." Arc quipped as they vanished from sight.
Venator jumped grabbing madly at thin air. "This isn't over yet!" He slammed his fist into the ground before teleporting away.
-
Hunter collapsed to the ground his suit shattering. "Tori help me with him." Arc called as he himself demorphed. He knelt on the floor next to the injured Crimson Ranger.
"What happened?" Tori rushed over and knelt on the other side of the wounded man. "It seems like you only just left."
"I explain later, we need to help him first. Venator attacked us and he was a lot stronger than before." Arc said pulling Hunter's shirt up to reveal a big cut across his abdomen. "It's still bleeding." He said as he examined the wound.
As he did so Tori caught his wrist. "Look at your forearm." She exclaimed twisting his arm so the cuts across it were clear to see. "How did this happen? Were you in ranger form?"
"He must have used a weapon that could damage us though our suits." Arc pulled his arm free. ""Look I'm fine, they're just scratches. I'm more worried about Hunter." Hunter went to move but Arc pushed him gently back down. "Just rest, I'll be back with some healing stuff." He got up and turned to Tori. "Take care of him I'll be back before you know it."
Before she could reply he'd gone. She looked at Hunter who was sweating profusely and very pale. The sound of someone collapsing behind her made her jump. The Blue Ranger turned to see who it was and rushed over to the man when she realized. "Arc are you okay?" she looked worried and rolled the man over.
"I'll be fine. Give this to Hunter." He held out a small vial. "It's the last of the healing elixir I have."
"What about you?" She refused to take it from him.
"I'll be fine." He repeated. "Hunter needs this more than me." Arc rolled onto his knees and crawled across to where Hunter lay. He put one arm under the other man head and lifted him into a sitting position. "Drink this." He popped the top off the vial with his thumb and held it to Hunter's lips. Hunter slowly drank the liquid feeling stupid at the fact he was too weak to do it himself. "Just rest, you'll feel a whole lot better when you wake." Arc said laying Hunter gently back down.
"Thanks." Hunter muttered before falling to sleep.
"Why'd you do that?" Tori asked in a hushed voice so not to disturb Hunter.
Arc stood up and walked over to the hourglass in the center of the room. Leaning against it he turned to Tori. "I've seen enough of people I care about dying and I don't want to see it happen any more." He turned away from the blond girl in an attempt to hide his tears.
"Arc..." She went over and put and comforting arm across his shoulder. "What happened?"
"The academy where I lived was attacked by Lothor. He killed every one and burned the school to the ground." He sank to the floor more tears falling.
"Why'd he kill every one and not capture them like he did the other schools?" Tori asked puzzled.
"Those energy sphere prison things, can't hold a shadow ninja." Arc gave a little smirk. "Not much can. Anyway my adopted farther gave me the morpher and told me to protect the crystal."
"What happened to your dad?"
"Lothor killed him. I watched as he tried to protect me and Lothor cut him down." Arc fully broke down tears flowing freely his eyes red. "I went back after the fighting had stopped but there was no trace of the school left. All my friends and family gone. It was like they had never even existed."
"I know how that feels." It was Hunter. He walked over and hugged the crying blond. "Lothor killed my parents."
"You heard?" Arc looked at Hunter. "How are you feeling?" he changed the subject before things got awkward.
"That potion worked wonders, though I do feel a bit weird." Hunter replied letting go of the other man.
"What like some things draining your power. That would be because Venator's attack does that." Arc told a stunned audience. "I figured it out when I went to get the elixir."
"So that means you..." Tori gasped unable to finish the sentence. "When were you going to tell us?"
"It's fine. I think I have a solution." Arc got to his feet but fell to the ground again in pain.
"Arc what's wrong?" Hunter grabbed hold of the other man and helped him up.
"Um guys. I don't mean to interrupt but why is the sand running?" Tori starred at the hourglass where sand was pouring from top to bottom at a steady rate.
"What do you mean?" Hunter turned to look at Tori.
"Well when I first came here the sand had stopped flowing."
"I can't hold time sill any longer." Arc looked up at the other blondes. "It's too much of a strain on my body."
"So when you said you weren't at your full power this is what you meant." Hunter held onto the other man tighter as his body gave way again. "How long have you been doing this?" He asked concern growing the weaker Arc became.
"Since the battle yesterday."
"What's the longest you've ever done it before?" Tori looked at Hunter.
"The longest I've held it is ten hours." Arc was growing weaker by the minuet.
"And with Venator's energy drain and the fight." Tori gasped. "How long do you have left?"
"I don't know. The energy drain is slower if your body is healthy and you don't over exert yourself." Arc fell to his knees despite Hunter's efforts.
"Arc what is it that can cure us?" Hunter knelt down next to the man.
"The crystal..." Arc managed to get the words out.
"But we don't know where it is. Stay with us." Hunter shook the man trying to keep him conscious.
"Portal ... twelfth... monolith..." Arc stuttered before passing out.
"Tori which one is it. We can't do them all. What if we end up somewhere and can't get back?" Hunter picked up the other man. "We need to help him fast."
The Blue Ranger stood and thought then pointed to the monolith behind the Crimson Ranger. "That one. Let's go."
"How do know that?" Hunter looked ant the monolith and the markings on it.
"See the first symbol. It has twelve dots." She then pointed to the one on the right. "That one has one and so on." She pointed at each pillar in turn. "So lets go."
As they approached the monolith the symbols began glowing and a portal appeared. "Well I guess he goes nothing." Hunter walked into the light followed by Tori.
-
To be continued...
Note: is it just me or do these things seem to get longer. Anyway please review and keep me motivated.