Chapter 12 transformations
As they climbed the last of the steps Chad caught his breath, it was really amazing. Although the area looked to be in ruins there was still an awe inspiring quality about the place.
Ryan thought it was nice, better than many of the places he'd lived with the demons.
All Dana knew was it was large, she could hear the tapping of her cane as they neared the top. It really sounded a lot louder than it had on the steps. Beside her Carter stopped and she did as well.
"Well?" She asked and there was a moment.
"It's incredible." He replied softly and then began to describe the area to her.
***
"Alright, we should do this now while the day is still with us." Dulsea called as she moved to where she kept the ninjeti dust. Then the warrior nodded the group to move to form a half circle around the alter. Only one held back.
"Dana what's wrong?" Carter asked looking at his girlfriend."
"I should stay out of the way."
"Why?" Carter frowned, what was going on? She was a member of this?
"Carter, this is to help you get to the great power, I'm not one of you in that sense."
"Dana," Dulsea left her spot to move t the injured young lady. "You have no doubt come to the conclusion that you can no longer fight the forces of darkness. Isn't that what you've done here?" The woman asked and Dana shook her head.
"That was different. I was just defending my friends."
"And taking out the shadow rapes." Chad picked up on Dulsea's line of thinking.
"Dana their right, although we don't have morphers all of us are still rangers."
"But how, I'm blind."
"Dana, I've seen you fight demons with more fire than in the last year." Joel put in adding. "Sight or not your one of us."
"Their right." Kelsey smiled it was true, in seeking independence Dana had found a way to still be one of the team."
Dana knew that they were right, it was true. She'd not been trying; she'd just not wanted to be a Burdon. That was why now she moved to stand with the others.
"Inside of each of us dwells the soul of an animal. They can be our greatest advantage or greatest weakness. If one is in tune with their spirit guide they will lead and protect them in all they do."
"So we will need their help." Chad nodded in understanding.
"Yes, now close your eyes." With that the six did and she blew the magical dust and the fire rose up, the animals emerged, whirled around above the waiting young people and chose their charges.
When she felt the jolt Kelsey opened her eyes, she found she was now clad in a bright yellow karate gee, she lowered her mask to look around at the others. They were all similarly garbed but in their respective colors. The thing that surprised Kelsey was that Dana was in lavender and now pink.
"Kelsey," Dulsea moved to stand before the raven haired young lady. "You are faithful and as wild as the wind. The mustang is your guide."
"Joel, you are the eagle, bold and yet fierce." The warrior intoned as she moved to the green clad young man.
Ryan waited from his spot beside the sky cowboy for his own proclamation. He saw the bird on his own medallion and thought it was a crow. Then as
"Ryan, schooled in resourcefulness you are strong and just, the crow will guide you well." The ancient warrior smiled at the blonde haired young man.
"From the shadows you have emerged, reborn, if you will, thus the bat has already chosen you."
"Chad, Wise placid and yet fierce when provoked the whale will survey you well." Dulsea wanted to laugh at the young warrior's expression. He looked disgruntled. It reminded her of Adam, the frog ranger.
"Do you not love the sea?" She asked frowning slightly instead.
"It's not that, a whale? Their slow and…"
"Full of strength and grace." She smiled then and he smiled back, a little tingle starting once more in the region of his heart.
Reluctantly Dulsea left the blue clad ranger to stand before the team's handsome leader.
"Carter, forged in fire you are the Phoenix." that donw she moved to stanc in the middle of the cemicircle.
"As individuals you are now even greater in your skills but as a team you will have to work to survive the trials that await you beyond this temple.
"So you are not accompanying us?" Chad asked disappointment evident in his solemn voice.
"No, I would if it was possible. I am not the age one would think and if I were to leave this area I would truly show my own age." Why was it he could never find a normal girl? First there had been Marina nod now this creature…
"It is growing late so you should stay the night. The temple will prevent any more attacks from those creature from this afternoon."
"So we'll not need to stay on guard?" Carter frowned, could this be true? Would they be truly safe?
"Yes, although this place is in ruin it still holds all of the power as it had in its birth." Dulsea told him and Carter thought about it, it would be wise, they could all get some sleep. They could start out once more in the morning. Looking to Ryan and Kelsey he caught their nods.
"Dana?"
"It's a good idea." The newly clad girl replied. Looking at the final members of his team Carter made up his mind.
"Ok, why don't we get things settle then and try and rest up."
***
The teens set up camp to the right of the standing circles. They were still under their protection and yet not in the dead center.
"You can not build a mortal fire with in this temple." Dulsea told them as she joined the group...
"Oh," Carter frowned, and then what were they going to do?
"Well, maybe we should camp somewhere…" Kelsey began thinking along the same lines.
"Kel, think about it we'll be able to really sleep and we all need the rest." Carter reminded his friend.
"Yes but I think Dana needs something to soothe her nerves. Today's just shot them." The yellow clad girl told them and that brought all eyes to Dana. She was sitting on the ground, going through a pack. Carter remembered her headache of not long ago and knew Kelsey was probably right.
"OH, well…' what could he say to that?
"I can create a spiritual fire which will give the needed cooking heat and over all keep everyone warm." Dulsea told the group and Carter glanced back at her.
"I think that would be best." Carter nodded and looked to his two companions for confirmation. Joel and Kelsey both agreed.
***
Angel Grove California
"Any news?" Katherine asked Adam as she and Aisha joined the other men.
"They've found Dulsea." The one time red Zeo ranger informed checking out a read out.
"Hmm… How did she welcome them?" Aisha asked a little smirk on her face at the memory of how Dulsea had introduced herself to Tommy.
"Well, better than she did us." Billy called coming in as he brought in a scanner type device.
"Good, I think they will be alright." Adam said thinking of Jason's cousin; Carter was a good leader from all accounts.
"I did pick up something odd about Dana." Talon said from where he sat with Cassie checking battle readouts.
"What's that?" Billy asked making adjustments to his scanner.
"She's developing additional powers to what the pink ranger should have." The one time phantom ranger informed them.
"She's not the pink ranger." Came Alpha sevens squeaky voice.
"No, she seems to be taking on the mystical powers." Adam said thoughtfully.
"Mystical?" Katherine asked frowning.
"Yes, the lavender ranger holds the power of the spirit. She will still be as gentle and caring but she will also contain the powers of telepathy, telekinesis and other things which develop." Tallon explained quietly.
"Well, that will be good but do you think she could really be a blind ranger?" Cassie asked frowning.
"It is possible, if she harnesses the power of the bat." Billy announced and Aisha nodded.
"What is her animal guide?" Tommy asked and seeing the look on her mate's face she rolled her eyes.
"Guess."
"Good, then the prophecy will come to pass." The robot replied quietly.
"Alpha what prophecy?" Aisha asked frowning. She knew of the purple powers but not of any prophesy.
"Oh Ayeayeaye." The little robot seemed frazzled and Aisha wondered if he'd blow a circuit.
"Come on Alpha what do you know about this?" Tanya asked.
"Nothing." The little android replied and rocky broke in then.
"I'll take apart your voice circuits and rewire them if you don't fess up bot boy." The one time blue Zeo ranger threatened gravely and Alpha backed away from them.
"Ok ok, Zordon told me once of a prophesy. It was regarding the shadow demons." The small automaton told them.
"In other words, he knew this was all going to happen." Rocky said frowning. Why didn't he tell them? They could have tried to prepare the new team?
"Here." Alpha said handing them a disk for the scanner. Billy scanned it.
"What does it say?" Katherine asked frowning.
"When the sixth is one and the birds will fly the demons shall die." The first blue ranger informed the group.
"So, now that they are on Fetos and they have their animal spirits they can come home?" Adam asked and Tallon shook his head.
"No, read the next verse."
"Through trials and darkness they will come and only then will they win as one." Billy read aloud.
***
"Hey how's it coming?" Ryan looked over to find his little sister moving to sit beside him on the log. Her new skills still surprised him. Even though he saw Carter receding back into the shadows he knew that she'd found him on her own. The new confidence she'd managed to gain did wonders for her abilities.
"Almost finished I think."
"Listen Ryan, I really am happy for you and Kelsey, you make a great couple." She told him, not sure how exactly to act, just knowing she had to make him see she was not upset about having to share him.
"Dana," He began but she shook her head and felt that pounding from before egging back in. Still she fought its pull, this was too important.
"No, Ryan, I missed out on a lot of your life and I'm just glad to be here to see you find a girlfriend." Dana told him sincerely.
"Funny, I was thinking that same thing last night." Ryan told her and there was a small tremor of laughter in his voice. It hit Dana just how young he still was and she put down the work she'd been doing and reached out to where he sat.
"You were?" She asked softly and he put down his own work, feeling as if maybe now was a good time for this. They were safe and finally had time to talk.
"Yes, you don't think you're the only one who missed out. Dana, I was your big brother, I should have been around to make fun of you on your first day of school." He said and she could almost see the smirk on his handsome face.
"there's still college if we…' She began wanting to cheer him up but gelling a lump in her throat. There would be fore him, but not her. How could she go to school? And what for? Medicine was out now. There was nothing left. She wished for once she could stay there, to be safe and not have to deal with going back.
***
"Dana?" He'd felt the sadness and hopelessness creeping in and knew that she was thinking again of all she'd lost. She'd been doing so well she'd not had real time to do so but now… he couldn't let her sink into that despair, the same despair he'd felt coming home when all he'd believed was wrong. No, he had to save her, as she tried to do to him.
***
"I um should get…" She was getting to her feet to leave. To not bring this onto his shoulders. He had so much and…
"Dana, just because you can't be a doctor doesn't mean you've lost everything." Ryan told her and she threw her hands into the air in defeated frustration.
"Ryan, I don't even know how I'm going to read so how can I even think about school." She burst out, forgetting how to keep her voice low.
"Come on, Dana, I can't read either. The demons never thought school mattered so all I know is what little I learned in kindergarten." He admitted and she knew that had to be hard. Just to admit that, let alone for it to be true… Tears filled her eyes, heavens she hated when they did that, they were cold and she wiped at them even as she stumbled forward.
***
"Dana…" He began trying to stop her, how had she kept this in? She really felt like this? It hit him that they were growing more and more alike everyday.
"Ryan, I should go me…' She tripped and he caught her this time, keeping her from falling. He could see Carter all the way across camp, he looked worried and he gave him a nod saying he had it. Carter just nodded and went back to work.
"Dana, calm down, it's ok, you have a reason to be upset, and whatever I've gone through doesn't mean I don't care about your plight."
"You shouldn't have too. You have enough on your own plate."
"Dana, that's just it, we're kind of in the same boat." He told her and she frowned and finished wiping the goop from her eyes. How could the doctors remove her eyes and yet leave the dammed tear ducts so they'd goop up? It really sucked.
"I have to learn to read and you'll have to learn to read Braille. Maybe we can learn together." He was suggesting and she felt his arms then, pulling her close, holding her tightly. Then she gave up, letting her tears come, soaking his shirt and clogging up her nose.
"You really think so?" She asked when she'd cried herself out, for him, for her and for all of the sucky things that had to happen to people.
"Yeah I do." He said brushing back the hair from her face and wiping the last of her tears away.
***
"You alright?" Joel asked when he caught Chad staring across the fire and just beyond their little camp. He had a love sick look on his face, just like Carter was wearing more and more lately.
"Hmm? Oh yeah I was just thinking." The blue ranger replied looking back this friend. He'd forgotten all about him and their job. Moving he got back to his task of laying the sleeping bags.
"She's very exotic." Joel commented and Chad frowned, what was he talking about?
"Yeah, but she's not even human." Chad side dismally and Joel felt bad. Here he'd been chasing after Ms. F and caught her, rather she'd caught him. Here Chad was and there wasn't' really even a chance for him and the warrior. His friend was a good guy and deserved to be happy.
"Come on man, Angie thinks I'm a dud so what's the problem?" He said cuffing Chad on the shoulder.
"Man, she is stuck here; she can't even leave this area let alone come home with us." Chad muttered glumly as he lay Dana's bag beside Carter's.
"Man that is raw." Joel nodded adding. "You do still have a little chance to get to know her." Chad thought about his friend's words and wondered at the wisdom spouting from the green ninja. He was usually so goofy. If he could be solemn maybe there was hope.
"Think you can lay out Keel's for me?"
"You got it man." Joel grinned and watched as Chad headed over to talk to the monster.
***
"Here we are." Dana said bringing Carter a dish of ham and potatoes.
"Hmmm." He replied quietly looking over at her instead of the plate. He'd seen the scene with Ryan and knew that with every talk, every cry they were getting closer. Yes, this trip had definite advantages.
Looking down at his food he wondered how she had done that while talking and bonding with her brother.
"Looks good." He said and she smiled. "I can't believe you did this so fast."
"Hay, I was a ranger, I can do anything." Dana grinned and he knew then what her conversation with Ryan had been about.
"Still are." He said and she shrugged.
"Maybe. Just eat up before it gets cold." She told him and he shook his head.
"Never knew you were so bossy." He muttered.
"I'd roll my eyes but they don't work."
"Brat." Carter laughed.
***
Moving silently from the camp Ryan headed off a little ways so he was still in his temple but so he could have a little quiet to think. It was one thing he missed. In the last month he'd tried to kill his sister, found out the last fourteen years had been a lie, chose his destiny and almost lost a big part of that.
Now, they were on an alien world, searching for a way to stop the demons. He knew they could do it, if not they'd not have made it this far. He'd not have come to love and understand his little sister or have feelings for Kelsey. For so long pain and rage had been his constant companions. True he was still hurt by all that had happened but he could deal now that he had his family back. And what a feeling that was, the knowing he was no longer alone, he was so much more than that.
Looking out at the sky he marveled at how different and how similar it was to that of earth, it had stars, twinkling and yet the color was different. It was a nice change. When he'd lived with the demons he'd never thought he'd see such a sight. Even after the demons ruled, he didn't even really care though, then, he just wanted revenge. Beauty was not something he gave a dam about. Now though he was finding it everywhere, in a smile, a night sky and a pair of soft brown eyes.
It struck him that he had been right talking to Dana; he did have so much to make up for, with her, with their father and in life in general. First though, he had a debt to repay. He would too, Ryan mused, with a vengeance. With out a thought he morphed into his animal. It was not until he felt the air on his wings that he realized he was flying. Woe, he didn't know he could do that…Sure he'd felt the change when they'd joined with their inner guides but not after. Still here he was, wings flapping, the night air cool on his feathers and his weight much lighter.
Man, he thought, this is incredible. Swooping back into the temple he watched the others as they sat, Dana and Carter talking, the red ranger smiling even though she couldn't see it. Kelsey sitting with Joel arguing about the meal, if it was worse than last nights. Looking down like this the meal looked like clumps of pink and white, yet Kelsey still looked almost magical. Her face flushed from the argument, her hands moving in the manner she sometimes used to illustrate a point.
When he spotted Chad he would have smiled if he'd had lips. The normally shy blue ranger was lost in conversation with Dulsea. They were sitting very close and he didn't have to be a genius to understand what that meant. The water lover was finding something else to connect with. And Ryan had to admit she was a real pretty one, but Kelsey was more his style, Dulsea was just too contained. He'd liked Kelsey's spirit, her heart, and her daring.
Why was it everything seemed to be coming back to the yellow clad young lady? He'd scarcely even known her a month and yet whenever he let his eyes go or mind wonder she popped up? He hoped he wasn't just using her as a point of focus, to take away his nerves over the true situation. He didn't want to use her like that. Maybe it would do them both good to take a step back. At least that way he could have some time to figure out his life.
With that thought in his mind Ryan was again in his natural form, striding back into camp.
TBC
***
Author's notes:
ChristalSteele: TY for the idea.
Unicornamk: TY for the heads up On Dulcea. I adjusted her name in the new chapter.
Ms. Birdman: TY for sticking around. It's nice to know you like the story enough to hang around during the really boring parts.
To everyone else: thanks for reading, and especially for the encouragement. I am also glad to have any advice on my characterization of the rangers.