Disclaimer: I do not own the power rangers. I'll give them back when I'm finished. Character's you don't recognise belong to me.

BlueGirl90: Here's your update. Enjoy.

Crimson-Ranger: You turned him evil three times. I bet there's more times to come. Good luck with your update.

Jenihenpen: Thanks for your review. I'm not really a big fan of Mary Sue either. I'm trying to not let it happen here. If it ever happens in this story, let me know.


Chapter nine

As Jake walked back to his cousins house, he began to think about home and his father. He didn't like hiding the fact that he was a power ranger from him and he was sure Simone felt the same. He smiled when he thought about his sister. He promised their father that he'd watch out for her at the ninja academy. Neither of them had expected her to actually take it seriously and graduate, but she did and now she was a power ranger and becoming a very mature, strong willed adult. He didn't have to look after her so much anymore, he didn't have to try and scare away any boyfriends. She could take care of herself. Jake rolled his eyes at the word boyfriend. He had a feeling that there was something going on between his sister and Hunter, but he wasn't completely sure and he didn't like the fact that they were training so hard either. He knew from firsthand experience that it was better to do training in moderation, or you would burn out. As he looked up, he could've sworn Hunter was walking on the other side and futher down the road. Upon close inspection he realised that it was him. He also looked like he was talking to himself. "Hey Hunter." He called out. When Hunter didn't acknowledge him, he ran across the road towards him. "Hunter. Are you on another world or something?"

"Huh? Oh erm, I was miles away." Hunter tried to put on a fake smile. Really he just wanted to get his job complete. 'On the other hand, destroying the red lightning ranger now could be a good thing. If only there was less people around.' He thought to himself. "What's up?"

"Nothing. You looked like you were talking to yourself."

"Just repeating a reminder to myself. There's something I have to do. It's a constant battle to remember and carry out my tasks." In a sence, that was true since he was battling good Hunter in his mind.

"Oh. Well then I'll let you continue." Jake was about to turn his back on him and walk away. "One more thing. Is my sister at home? I know she was with you guys today."

"She might still be at the track."

"At the track? So you weren't training?"

"No."

"Good. I mean...I just don't want her to overdo it you know. Wouldn't want her to be worn out before confronting Emma and Madas." Jake folded his arms.

Hunter grunted. He really didn't have time for this. Destroying the red ranger would have to wait. "Look man, I have to go. I'll c-ya." With that Hunter left. Inwardly, he smiled. 'Training. No amount of training will help any of them.' He then ninja streaked it to ninja ops when the coast was clear.

Jake watched as he did this. Ninja streaking in public without there being an emergency was something they weren't allowed to do.


Cam laid down restlessly in the darkness of his room. All he could think about was the crystal. He told his father that he would rest, but he couldn't do that without cracking the secrets of the crystal first. Slowly he sat up in his bed, turned on the light and reached for his glasses. Putting his legs over the side of the bed, he put on his shoes, only to be interuppted by an alarm. An alarm that would warn him if anyone was tampering with the crystal without his permission. He raced out of his room to reach the command centre of the ninja academy. When he arrived, he came to an abrupt halt. Looking around he found the crystal was gone, including it's containment unit. Cam ran to his computer and activated the survailance. He watched the crystal closely as it disappeared in a flash. He thought he saw a crimson streak, but wasn't sure. After rewinding the footage back, he played it again in slow motion as his father arrived. Cam's eyes widened as he witnessed Hunter steal the crystal. "Hunter? But why would he take it? Where is he taking it?"

"What's the matter son?"

Cam turned to face his father. "The crystal has been stolen, by Hunter." Cam shook his head. He couldn't believe what had happened and didn't understand why either. "I'll call the others."


As Hunter was nearing the meeting point of the cave, his pace began to slow down beyond his control. "No, you can't stop me. We will succeed." He was getting closer to the cave, closer to wining, closer to getting Lothor back and closer to Emma to let her surpress good Hunter. He couldn't be beaten now. Not even by the ranger's. He kept willing himself to go on. Repeating that he was going to make it. The cave or what was left of it soon came to view. Hunter saw the Phoenix Warriors standing guard outside. Hunter felt his pace decrease again and again and again, until finally he came to a complete stop. He dropped the containment unit and clutched his head as the pain from earlier came back. "I can do this, I can do this, I...can't do this, I won't do it." Hunter collapsed to the ground as he blacked out. When he opened his eyes again he saw himself not standing too far away from him. He already knew who it was. He stood up slowly and faced him. "I don't know why you're trying to stop me. Don't you understand, it's my destiny, our destiny."

"To be evil? I don't think so."

"You don't have a choice."

"Have you been sleeping for the last five minutes? I've been getting stronger."

"No." Evil Hunter yelled.

Good Hunter grinned. "Any minute now, my friends will find me and there is nothing you can do."

"Do you really believe your friends care about you anymore? They'll think that you betrayed them. No spell involved."

"They'll figure it out. Especially Blake."

"Not that you'll be around when they do." Evil Hunter took out a sheathed sword. "This is my body now, not yours." He ran forward with the weapon. Just as he was about to strike, his body shuddered and he woke up again, in the real world.

Emma leaned over him. "Hunter are you alright? I sensed your inner battle with your good self. I've surpressed him again, but I don't know how long it will last until he tries to come back."

"I'm ok, now." Hunter stood up with Emma's help. He took in his surroundings. He was outside the crystals crumbled home. He also noticed someone standing behind Emma. The figure wasn't human. He had two blue fingers and a thumb on each hand and his face was masked. The figure wore all black.

"Hunter, this is Madas." Emma introduced him. "He's the person who suggested that we bring back Lothor and together with the the crystal's power we can."

Hunter nodded towards him.

Madas walked forward. "You have done well. I will see to it that you are rewarded for you efforts to complete this mission." He turned to Emma. "Let's get this done."


At ninja ops six colourful streaks entered and came to a stop by Cam.

"Hey dude, what's the emergency?" Dustin tried to look at the computer screen. "Did they send a monster?"

"No Dustin." Cam sighed and glanced at where the crystal used to reside. "The crystal has been stolen."

A series of replies that included, "What?" and "How is that possible?" made themselves heard.

But one reply stood out from the others and it came from Blake. "Where's Hunter? He should be here by now."

Cam fixed the glasses on his face before answering. "He, erm, he's the reason why the crystal has gone missing. He took it."

Blake folded his arms and shook his head in disbelief. "Nah, he didn't. He wouldn't do that. My brother's not a theif."

"I saw it with my own eyes on the video footage. He streaked in here and streaked out with the crystal. I'm sorry Blake."

"No, I won't believe it."

Sensei walked forward and looked at Blake. "I am afraid that it is true Blake. I too saw it."

Dustin ran his hand through his hair. "Oh man. Why would he take it? He knows that it's safer here, away from Madas and his follower."

"Maybe it was an imposter or he did it against his will. I know my brother and he wouldn't do that."

"I'm with Blake." Shane stepped forward.

"Me too." Tori agreed. "There has been a time where he was under a spell. It's possible that it's happened again."

"I think Tori's right." Jake said. "Emma has wicca powers, she could've turned him."

"We did find him unconcious before we retrieved the crystal. It could have happened then." Cam deduced.

"I-I can't believe I didn't realise when he grabbed my arm and...plus he was being...and - and the gem on his wrist, I've seen it before."

"Trying to jump onto your train of thought here Simone but your going a bit too fast for me." Dustin announced.

"He was rude during points of the day at the track Dustin, remember. And he had this headache after you left. He grabbed my arm asking for help, then I thought I saw the gem around his wrist glow. Afterwards he said he was fine, it was just a headache and he was going home to rest." Simone explained. "Plus I just realised where I've seen that gem. On Emma's necklace."

"We have to find him, before it's too late." Blake decided. "Cam can you track onto his morpher?"

"I'm on it." Cam answered as he ran to the computer.