TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY 13
Question: What is the definition of a Mary-Sue?
a) A character that is the writer BUT 100 times exaggerated
b) A flawless character who can do anything (ahem and everyone -0)
or
c) Any OC at all
And another question: Is it a Mary Sue if it's a villain? Just a conversation I've been having with a friend of mine. Anyway I'd like thoughts on Cassidy so I can stop her becoming a true Mary Sue (she really can't do everything she's really a total bitch but she has a pretty good heart deep, deep, deep, deep, deep down (maybe deeper) and her Romantic prospects aren't ACTUALLY all that great.)
MINOR SLASH AHEAD and a bit of fluffy Tori/Blake AND METIONS OF R-A-P-E as a prelude to the darker fic that is this fics sequel.
THE FIC:
Chapter 13: Divided Difference
Hunt pivoted and kicked the support rod of the storage space's mesh door. It slid down trapping Cam and Hunter. Hunt looked at Christian who'd picked up the book and walked away. "Trust me, it's better this way" Hunt cackled. He darted off in the opposite direction.
Hunter hit the mesh in a rage. "Damn how did we let this happen?"
"We weren't to know" Cam said. "It makes sense…he is the one person who had the morphers, we were looking for 2 people! It was only 1 person all along!"
Cam grimaced. "We're getting out of here now!"
Dustin was surprised when another Rider joined him. The black and white bike bounded over the hill after him. He raced after it up the mountainside. The rider skidded to a halt at the top. Dustin stopped inches away.
Christian pulled off his helmet and swung off the bike. "Hey" he said with a shy smile. "How's it going?" Dustin removed his own helmet and did what he could with his hair.
"Hey dude" nodded Dustin. "Haven't seen you on the track before"
"Well I'm free to ride now" smiled Christian. He reached out and tucked Dustin's fringe out of his eyes. "Want to go for a ride?"
"Sure" Dustin said as he put on his helmet. There was something very strange about Christian right now. "But, uh, where?"
"Anywhere" laughed Christian. "It's a big world!"
Hunter blasted the door open. "I have to say, that was pretty weird" he said. "How can two people become one?"
"Ninja Magic - Cassidy" stated Cam. They jetted back to the Ninja Ops as fast as they could. Cassidy was working at a console with Cyber Cam.
"Listen you Prism Petting Pixel Pretty Boy," she snapped. "I don't care what you say but there is no WAY in hell we can use a 249 to replace the Alpha-53 piece. It's just not done!"
"Dudette I know this system, I like this system, I AM this system and I totally do not want to short circuit!" retorted the hologram
"Well in that case" Cassidy pressed a button and Cyber Cam's next few words were in fluent Spanish. "Better" she sighed.
"Cassidy?" Hunter and Cam rushed in. Cassidy turned and raised an eyebrow. "We have a problem" Hunter said.
"Hunt and Christian got the book…and then they became two people…and they were ninja's…he was…they…" Cam rubbed his head. "Hunt and Christian split into two different people because of a spell he read…"
The spanner in Cassidy's hands clashed to the ground. "Oh fruit-loops" she muttered and sat into a chair. "I know the spell. It's a real stinger. It can be used to split good and evil but only for a few short hours then they have to be put back together…or both sides burst into blue flames and rot in a painful agonizing hell for what remains of their lives."
"You're kidding" murmured Hunter.
"No. Go" Cassidy said. She looked over the console to Trini, Rocky and Adam who were trying to adjust a control box. "Okay a little to the left and we can talk about getting a lock on the sword."
"Yeesh does Hitler know you're stealing his bit?" snorted Rocky.
"I don't know does Naughty Boys On Camera know you've stolen their wardrobe?" Cassidy smirked. Adam went red and Trini turned pink…they both stifled laughs.
"Not funny" Rocky said in a singsong. Cassidy walked away…which is why she didn't see the trio have a mental blast. In the dojo Kim and Jason flinched as they saw the sword in the cave, the could tell exactly where it was…
"We have to go" Trini said distantly, hauling the two boys with her.
"Hey! Wait!" exclaimed Cassidy. But they were already gone. "Oh damn it" she muttered. "Right…well it's just me to fix the cable then" she muttered. She looked at Cyber Cam who was talking in Spanish. "I wonder if I can make you speak Pig latin" she mused.
The net came out of nowhere and before they knew it - - - Kapri and Shane were tied up in a cave on a wooden stake around which weird Chipmunk-things were setting firewood. "Alvin – Theodore – Simon" a voice said. The glowing purple eyes of a demon were in the darkness of the cave. Shane looked over Kapri's shoulder…the sword! NO! D came forwards, it's appearance shifting in a mass of shadow tendrils to become Dustin. "Such loyal things and so hideous…" cackled the monster. "Well here's the nice thing – they found the sword just after they caught you…and now it's mine."
"What about my mother! ?"
"Oh that's not up for conversation" Dustin-D sneered. "But we might send her back to you…in pieces. How will it feel? Painful. I know" spat the demon as Shane angrily struggled in his bonds. "Don't bother my pathetic little ranger… I will not rest until all rangers are destroyed and since those ropes are nice and tight…I'll start with you." D looked at Kapri. "Sorry Kap" he said. "But you have to stay tied until he dies…just the way the Chipmunks knotted the ropes, the fire won't touch you!"
"That's - comforting" murmured Kapri. Dustin-D reached for the sword against the wall…Jason leapt through the air, grabbed the blade and rolled away with it. Dustin-D roared in rage and fired a blast of energy after him. Kim cartwheeled and kicked the demon off balance. Trini planted three Mantis-Kicks on the demon and Rocky judo flipped it so Adam could land a flying shoulder drop to it.
"Ow" D muttered. Rocky, Adam and Kim dispatched the chipmunks as fast as they could. Trini and Jason untied Shane and Kapri.
"Your mothers still alive" Kapri whispered. "I'll try and tell her to stay hopeful – oh – and sorry".
"For what?" Kapri gave him a rather gentle energy zap. He fell backwards and she spun away from him. Dustin-D transformed into Onikage-D.
"You're so toast" D hissed.
"Don't count on it" Shane said. "NINJA STORM! RANGER FORM!" he transformed and attacked. His sword clashed off the long black blade of D's. The sparks and lighetning flew…and then D blasted him with an under-arm lightening bolt.
"No fair!" The ex-Rangers attacked D as it prepared a killing blast. Kicks and punches from all around dragged Onikage-D down. It rose with a roar and blasted a wave of black lightening out knocking them flying.
"Ex-rangers are about to be past tense in EVERY way" spat the demon. A Falcon Blast knocked Onikage-D down into the very end of the cavern.
"Let's go" Shane said.
"We brought Cam's teleporter," explained Trini as she tapped the controls. Rocky Reached over, slapped the machine and a shimmering gateway opened. "Come on!" they darted in and vanished. Kapri leaned on the cave entrance and smiled…then the angry roar of Onikage-D rang out, shaking the cavern and a landslide loose.
"Dustin?" Dustin stepped away from Christian who was eating a hot dog. He touched the button on his com-link.
"yeah Cam?"
"Listen to cut a long story short Hunt and Christian were the same person, they've split apart and we have to get them back together before they die…"
"What?" Dustin interrupted.
"The Mara-Ishii" summed up Hunter.
"Oh. Freaky Shadow Mojo" nodded Dustin like he'd discovered gravity.
"You have to get Christian and Hunt back to Ninja Ops ASAP" Cam said. "If you see them…" Dustin turned slowly.
"I'm with Christian at the race track. How tough can he really be…I'm a ranger"
"No Dust--" Hunter was cut off as Dustin walked forwards and put his hand on Christian's shoulder. Christian looked up at him, finished his hotdog and rose. He looked into Dustin's eyes. And in a blur of ninja speed he was gone.
"Whoa" whispered Dustin. He looked around, satisfied no one could see him as he drifted over towards the bushes…and sped off after Christian. Christian was much faster then Dustin, his speed was different, he was pushing himself more then Dustin had to and couldn't jump like Dustin could…no instead he phased right through a large oak tree and wired through the brush.
Dustin grabbed a stick and hurled it. It was a thick piece of wood and when it hit Christian between the ankles it tripped him. He rolled along the ground and ended up in a crouch.
"You have to come back with me"
"No" Christian said quietly. Dustin launched a punch at him…in a Tai-Chi Chuan move Christian flipped him over. "Yellow rangers are often lighter in spirit then the others…but they're also easier to dazzle with superficial things…the earth is your element… thought is mine. We're aeons apart."
"What are you on?"
"I amn't sure…the trauma of what was doen to me…it's all getting up, and attacking, again" Christian flung him and his next kick aside and the punch after and the chop after that. "I can't stop the dark hands in the shadows touching me…tearing and scratching and hurting…" he raised a hand, the inex and ring fingers raised, the other two bent and his thumb out. "Don't make me hurt you Dustin. I don't want to but if I have to I will…"
Dustin advanmced…the pain rushed through his body like someone had his – eh – family jewels – in a vice grip. He crashed down and the pain subsided. He fought his way up and took another step. The pain was in his mouth like someone was biting his face and digging their nails into him. He fell again but he managed to rise, he was near Christian who was sobbing begging him to stop.
"Don't these are memories…the next one will destroy you" Whispered Christian. "Leave me alone and I won't do it…" and that was when Marah stunned the crying boy with a karate chop to the back of the neck.
"Are you okay?" she whispered, kneeling beside the fallen boy.
"Ice" groaned Dustin as she helped him up.
Tori and Blake walked down the street holding hands. It was strange now that her mother's "blessings" had been issued Tori felt like their relationship was even stronger. They stopped on the boardwalk to look out at the beach.
"You know…I love you" Blake said.
Tori looked up at him and smiled. "I love you too," she said and he leaned in to kiss her…and the morpher beep went off. "What timing" she groaned. "Yeah what is it?"
"We've got a problem," Cam said. "Hunt and Christian were the same person and the magic spells of the Mara-Ishii have split them into two people and we have to bring them back together before they both die."
"Come again" Blake said.
"Magic spells have split a split personality and Hunt and Christian will die if we don't get them back to Ninja Ops" Hunter said. "Keep your eyes open for Hunt, Dustin and Marah captured Chritsian"
"MARAH!" exclaimed Tori. Then lowered her voice after the strange looks. "Marah?"
"He didn't slur his words" Cam said. "She took Christian out with a karate chop"
"Any port in a storm" Blake muttered with a shrug.
"Hunt" Tori said. The guy was eating ice cream (in a very innuendo-filled manner) on the boardwalk. "Come on."
They approached. Hunt noticed them and smirked as he finished his snack. "Hey pretty girl" he smirked. "Let me guess what you're here for"
"Don't flatter yourself"
"You're not here to try and capture me? Oh well" he vaulted backwards out of the bench he was in and landed in a crouch on the sand below. He disappeared in a blur that was too fast to be noticed.
"Well that proves he's the Astral Ninja" muttered Blake. They darted down the street to a secluded alley and bounded after him, their ninja jumps closing the distance… until he ran through the wall of a cave.
"How did he do that?" Tori murmured.
"There's the entrance," Blake said.
They leapt in. The sand swirled around their feet into a sucking vortex. "Watch your step" laughed Hunt from his seat on a rock ledge as he made a circling motion with his right hand. "Ground may be a bit shifty!"
"How about a drink?" Tori said as she gestured. A rock pool erupted in a geyser and blasted Hunt off balance letting the two ninja's leap onto a rock. Hunt rose again and sneered. "Let's not have to beat you up"
"That's a laugh" he leapt at them in a spinning tornado of moves. Tori nimbly avoided them and instead he shattered a stalactite. He spun…and Blake kicked him in the head so Tori could swing her body low and planted a kick in the side of his neck before they finished him off with a tag team move.
Tori leapt into the air and Blake gave her an additional boost with his hands as she came down. She flipped her body over and crashed her legs down on Hunt. He flew backwards and hit a wall. The cave shook as red light glowed around him…then he fell unconscious.
"If he'd really used his telekinesis that mightn't have been so easy" Blake said as they grabbed an arm each.
"We have the Astral Ninja, the sword and cable TV" Dustin grinned. "What more do we need?" Even if the injuries Chirstian had inflicted had been mental he was still holding an icepack to his face and – eh – groin.
"Thank you" Sensei said to the ex-rangers. "Your spirits are still as strong as ever I see. I am sure Zordon would be very proud of you all."
"Thanks" smiled Kim. "We should probably get out of your hair soon. It's just been really nice to be able to help the group"
"hey any jobs going?" grinned Rocky. "Coz I wanna hang around Blue Bay to try that totally cool Motocross track"
"Dude" Dustin said. As they high five-d
"I know" Rocky grinned.
"It's a meeting of the flakes" smiled Tori.
"Rocky has a kindred spirit…that's a surprise we were sure there was no human like him out there" grinned Adam.
"Okay matter at hand everyone" Cassidy said. "I can undo the spell as part of the Clean Up The Mess deal I have. I only use the book if it's to clean up other peoples wrongdoings with it this does not mean I'll be translating or casting anything in it for you. Capice?" Everyone nodded.
Spell "What was one now becomes two. To themselves they must be true. Tie the knot and bind the ties…"
Christian and Hunt woke up and stared at each other…then attacked Cassidy stumbled back as the book was knocked away.
Hunt hit Christian and shouted because he had the identical signs of future bruising on his cheek. Christian backhanded him and grimaced in pain. Trini reached over as they pounded each other…and pressed down on nerve endings. Both boys collapsed and Cassidy muttered "Men" under her breath as she picked up the book.
Spell "What was one now becomes two. To themselves they must be true. Tie the knot and bind the ties. Spirits fly across the skies. Elder's souls now arise. Join the torn soul that cries. One becomes two as it should be. Cleanse the aura and balance the Chi" Spell
Christan and Hunt glowed black and white. Christian's white aura reached out and grabbed the black of Hunt's and they slid back together. There was a flash and a single boy fell to the ground. He was a lot like Christian and Hunt he was them except there was a different kind of familiarity about his face. His hair was a mix of blonde and brown and his lean body was covered in wounds.
"What happened?" asked Kim as they crowded around the boy who was losing a lot of blood.
"The curse of the morphers must have healed old wounds. This happened to him before her ever used the morpher" Cassidy said.
"These are Kelzack slashes" Cam said. "He's lost a lot of blood we don't have the facilities here…he needs a real hospital."
"Then take him" Sensei said. "You can make excuses"
"We're risking exposure" Blake said. "Are you sure we can't treat him?"
"Very" Cam said as Hunter lifted the wounded boy up. Hunter was so strong…NO! This was not the time or the place! He had to prioritise…and not watch Hunters ass move away…WHY WAS HE ACTING LIKE THIS
Cassidy followed his gaze, the others were with Hunter and she was the only one who'd noticed him noticing the PVC clad posterior. "Good taste" she whispered. "You should definitely ask him out…"
"Oh yeah I can see that: Hey Hunter want to go out for coffee? A movie? A walk? Making out before where I give you a hickey? Pass the spanner would you? Not going to happen," he whispered
Cassidy rolled her eyes. "You never know. What's the point of living if you cannot feel alive?" she muttered. "Just…don't let life pass you by it's only when you're together that you have all the time in the world."
She turned away and Cam hurried after the others.
"Matriarchus" Lothar growled. The alien shifted uneasily. "Why don't I have the sword?" she glanced at Rito-D
"The Demon failed to-"
"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH EXCUSES" Lothar roared. "Make the red ranger hand over the sword or I'll turn you into a cocktail Weenie!" he raised his hand and a laser bolt appeared in it.
"Well…since you put it that way…" Matriarchus disappeared.
"Someone Get me a mocha latte!" he shouted.
Rito-D pursed it's lips (not that the skeleton form had any) and turned away as it walked towards the scanner display.
"So this is Christian Hunt's family and friends?" the doctor said. The rangers looked up. "Or are you his brother?" he asked looking at Hunter.
"No we're just …his friends" Cam said.
"Ah…well sorry I was just looking for a relative"
"He's an orphan" Hunter said.
"Oh I assumed one of you would be a relative. Well perhaps you could point me to guardians of some sort?" they shook their heads. "Well your friend has lost a lot of blood and it's unfortunately a rare type…which we have a severe shortage of…actually we don't have a lot…if…any" he murmured sheepishly. "People haven't been donating lately"
The doctor showed them the details on the blood bank. "We're fresh out of his type now, we've had a few people in who needed it and our resources are exhausted. They can't even spare some in the other hospitals."
"That's my blood type" Hunter said. "I'll donate"
"Well that's a bit of dumb look" the doctor sighed. "Nurse!" the brute of a woman sauntered over. "Prepare him to donate for the Hunt boy."
"Ah pretty boy Blondie is doing something useful," the Nurse said. "Zat sweet boy needs some help vit the rare blood and the blood anomaly and ze hurt. Come on." She led Hunter away. Cam watched him leave…the idea of needles sticking into him was…unnerving but it was so lucky Christian would get the blood he needed.
The doctor left and Tori took Blake's hand. "I can't believe Hunt and Christian were the same person…they were totally different" Tori said.
"That's usually the case with schizophrenia" Cam said distantly. "He obviously had mental problems I bet the trap in the morphers accelerated it…" Dustin nodded.
"He totally whacked me with pain" he added. "But he didn't want to and Hunt…well he did that kiss of death thing on Cam and he, like, enjoyed hurting people."
"Weirdo" nodded Shane.
"I don't see why his body got so beat up though" Blake said.
"Probably in Lothar's attack on his school then the morpher virus healed him until it was broken, a trap or something I'd imagine" Cam said. "Cassidy called the boarding house, they thought Christian and Hunt were brothers who roomed together."
"What did the nurse mean by blood monopoly?" Dustin asked.
"She said anomaly man" Shane corrected. "no clue. Hey! Doc!"
Doctor Stevens walked over. "Yes?"
"What blood anomaly did the nurse mean?"
"Oh well I can't discuss that" the doctor said. "But I can tell you that it's a just a small twitch in his blood that means he's got a few odd things in it…" he stopped and gained a dull look in his face.
"Tell us" Cam said. "A trick Dad taught me" he added off the stares of his friends.
"The boy has the Anabranch Blood Anomaly" the doctor droned. "It showed up when we tested for HIV and AIDS and other STD's. It is nothing serious it is an anomaly that means his blood will reject blood substitutes…"
"Why did they scan him for STD's?" Dustin asked.
"The rape scars" replied the doctor. "They happened a while ago but frequently during the period of time they were made. He was negative…" Cam flinched and his concentration broke there. "What was I saying?" murmured the doctor.
"Nothing just that you're…hopeful about Christian's health" Tori said distantly.
"Oh…right…I am" he nodded and wandered off.
"Oh God" Tori whispered. "Poor Christian…"
"That would screw anyone up," Blake muttered. "Damn whatever sickos do that sort of stuff. They should all be killed," he murmured.
Shane rose and went to the vending machines. He needed to clear his head…so the reason Christian was screwed up was not down to Morpher Power but to the fact there were some sick human's out there… his mother told him that sometimes life was cruel but that was beyond cruel.
"Missing Mommy?" a voice sneered. Shane turned and looked at the nurse. Her eyes glowed and for a second Matriarchus' face flashed over her own. "Listen Red boy, we'll make the trade. The sword for your mother, at the old Rock Quarry on the edge of the forest! Be there in an hour or she dies!"
The nurse disappeared before Shane could speak. He hurried back to his friends.
Hunter grumbled, they were testing his blood to see if he could donate. He really hated needles but if it could save someone's life then he'd grin and bear it. "Doctor look at this" the Nurse said.
Dr. Stevens looked over her shoulder then looked at Hunter. "The chances of it being a coincidence… he's clean for the STD's?"
"Yes Doctor" the Nurse said. "And these are fresh off the printer results…"
"Best double check" the doctor said.
"What is it?"
"Oh Nothing" the doctor said. "Ready to give, give, give?"
"Here it is" Adam said as he handed them the package. They were in the hospital lobby. "Just be careful, if this doesn't go to plan you'd better have a back up. This was only a preliminary and this sudden push from the forces of Evil is a pretty big deal. They might be getting desperate".
"They are" Shane said. "And I have to save my mother."
"Then good luck" Rocky said. He was standing behind Adam grinning at a Nurse. "And another thing" he added. "Don't forget to blast them really well in case they come back kicking."
"Noted and double noted" Dustin grinned.
"Hunter's gotten the message" Blake added. "But he couldn't talk because the doctor was in the room. I left a "voicemail" telling him not to come until his blood sugar and all that stuff was at an okay level."
"Then let's go" Shane said. They crept into a secluded alcove of the hospital.
NINJA STORM! THUNDER STORM
RANGER FORM! HA!
Cam morphed to Samurai form and they leapt away.
Matriarchus was in the quarry, Greta was held in chains that were linked to one of her bracelets. Shane landed and held out the sword. "Glad you could make it" she said. "Now hand over the sword"
"Release my mother first!" he exclaimed.
"Don't hold your breath, sword!" barked Matriarchus.
Shane tossed the wrapped up sword to the ground before the alien. Matriarchus reached for it and smirked. "Thanks red ranger" she laughed. She pulled a dagger with similar design to the Kitana. "And now you will fall!" the dagger glowed. Matriarchus didn't notice anything as the smoke curled around her, not even Kapri grabbing Greta's arm and teleporting them out of danger.
In the Ninja Ops the real sword glowed and rose from its stand. "What the hell!" Jason exclaimed.
In the hospital Hunter sneaked out of the room and past the Nurse. He hurried to the quarry near the woods as fast as he could.
Lothar laughed and teleported down with his army.
The sky turned red as clouds swirled above head, the daggers light piercing them. The ex-rangers opened a teleportion gateway to follow the sword to where they knew it was going…the Quarry.
"What's happening?" Tori exclaimed as the rangers leapt from their hiding places.
"Something bad!" Dustin exclaimed.
"We can handle it" Hunter said.
"You should be resting after donating blood!" Cam roared.
"I had the cookie" Hunter shrugged.
Matriarchus watched the real sword fly through the air. "For trying to betray me YOU WILL ALL DIE FIRST!" she reached for the sword…it blasted her with blue fire. Lothar advanced and was blasted by lightening. Ice swept up his Kezlacks and froze them in sheaths of frost. The ex-rangers appeared as the black smoke snared the handle of the sword. Matriarchus-D laughed as it lifted the sword and slid the dagger into the hilt.
"Only those with power can ever use it" D said. "Poor pathetic Matriarchus…you may have taught me how to use evil magic…but I learned the MEANING all by myself!" the form of the Demon unravelled and turned into a black smoke moster with no particular shape and glowing purple eyes. "RAIN OR SHINE ALL IS MINE!"
The sword sliced Matriarchus in half. The world flickered a series of colours…and the alien witch demon exploded. "Let's leave the smoke thing to it everyone!" Lothar exclaimed as he picked himself up. "It's all yours rangers. Ta-Ra" he grinned and vanished.
"Coward" Shane said. "You should get to safety" he said to the ex-rangers
"No" Jason said. "We stay and fight and die if we have to"
"Die?" Rocky exclaimed. He relented when Adam looked at him. "You're right we're rangers we put the world first…" they readied themselves. The smoke around D cleared and thousands of monsters melded into one stood before them. Every master evil and general villain they'd ever heard of was Demon's new body.
"Prepare to shed the mortal coil RANGERS!" the blade sliced the air rapidly and sent a blast of energy at them. The explosion went off turning the sky even redder as it touched the heavens.
The smoke cleared and suddenly The Demon wasn't facing such a straightforward battle anymore…
TBC:
What few reviews. Next chapter is the last chapter and then the sequel, which will be darker and creepier…and more twisted. Also any characterization that's WAAAAAYYYY off? I'd appreciate a heads up if so.
Also: Who wants two guys to kiss and if so...which two?