Make sure your tray tables and seat backs are in their upright and locked positions, because we are making our final approach to our destination! And only a mere… two-and-a-half years after takeoff. Ahem. This final chapter is told by the same character that launched this rollercoaster ride: Tori. © November 2005.

Blues

Epilogue: Risk

Usually, running clears my mind. The breeze in my hair, the smell of the grass and soil, the sound of the wind rustling the trees... it leaves me in a state of total focus. I work out my body and leave my brain no energy to seethe, mope, or worry.

But this time it doesn't work. I push myself, running as quickly as I can without channeling any Ninja power. I've never run so fast... I can't even hear Dustin and Shane anymore. My muscles burn, my senses are at their sharpest, but I still can't shut off my mind. The memory of him, lying still as death, unresponsive, lips growing colder every time I forced air into his lungs... it won't go away.

It was close. If Hunter had fought me, delayed the CPR even by a minute or two, we wouldn't have been able to restart his heart. Or, if Cam couldn't get the Megazord to us, with its lifesaving AED. Or, if Ninja Ops wasn't equipped with medical machinery that would put many emergency rooms to shame.

It was too close.

Now, he's stable. After I spent anxious hours hanging over Cam's shoulder, he finally told me that Blake would make a full recovery. I have nothing to worry about. I shouldn't worry. I shouldn't... but I can't stop myself.

The dense forest finally gives way to the clearing, and I follow the sound of crashing water to the waterfall that marks our base. I close my eyes, doing my best to focus only on the sound of the water and the rhythm of my breathing.

Focus on breathing...

The sudden sound of the hidden door to Ninja Ops snaps me from my attempt at meditation.

"Hi, Tori."

I can only imagine what my face looks like right now. I stare, completely dumbstruck, as the person that's occupied my every thought for four days walks toward me, a hesitant grin on his face.

I... can't believe it. He's a little pale, and his steps are shorter, more deliberate than usual... but otherwise he looks okay.

He's okay...

"Blake!"

I take one step toward him, fully intending to tackle him in a desperate hug, babbling about how stupid he was, how worried I've been... make him swear to never take such a thoughtless risk again...

But something holds me back. Frankly, a few things hold me back.

I turn away, trying as discreetly as possible to wipe the relieved tears as I fumble for words. "You're alright."

"Thanks to you guys, I hear."

I glance at him, biting my lip and praying that my face isn't burning red. Did Hunter tell him about the CPR? I mean... I'm not embarrassed or anything. Or, at least I shouldn't be. It's not like I kissed him, or anything... desperate times call for desperate measures! And I'm certified! I knew exactly what I was doing!

Easy, Tori. Get a grip! No other guy has ever made you feel so self-conscious...

...which may mean you really like him.

I'm so wrapped up in my own mind, I don't even notice he's moving until he's three steps from me. Startled, I look up, just realizing that he's holding a bottle of water.

A bottle of water he hands to me, reminding me that I did just run ten miles, and that it's not good for anyone, especially a Water ninja, to get dehydrated.

"Thanks," I murmur, accepting the gift with a wan smile. Feeling entirely too out of sorts to look directly at him, I study the oh-so-interesting wrapper as I twist off the cap. Aquafina, huh? Did I leave this in the kitchen? Or, maybe Cam finally saw the light and switched from tap water...

"Tori, can we talk?"

I don't know what's wrong with me. I've been waiting for this for days... weeks, really. But now, standing so close to him, without any fear for my life, I just don't know how to act.

Bracing myself, I finally look up at him. He looks just as unsure as I feel, glancing to the side almost as soon as I look up.

Neither of us knows exactly what to do. I guess we just need to figure it out together.

It helps, knowing we're both feeling a little awkward right now. My smile is more relaxed as I nod toward the forest. "Shane and Dustin will get here any second. Want to go somewhere else?"

"Lead the way."

I turn around, walking directly for the steep cliff of the waterfall. Blake follows, just behind me and at my side, looking around curiously.

"Uh... is there another secret cave hidden in this waterfall?"

"No, but this is one of my favorite spots in this forest."

"Where?"

I focus my mind, holding one hand over the lake. A spurt of water reaches up like a fountain, about half a foot high and three feet wide. It should be sturdy enough.

I step onto the fountain, and reach my free hand to Blake. "All aboard the Water Ninja Express. Now departing."

He grins, taking my hand and stepping onto the water beside me. Once we're both steady, I concentrate my power, commanding the lake to cooperate... while, at the same time, silently praying I don't lose my concentration and embarrass myself.

The water spouts in a powerful upward current, carrying us to the top of the cliff. Blake's hand tightens over mine, and before I know it both my hands are covered by his, warm and safe.

It takes only seconds for the water to rocket us to the top, and from there we step onto solid ground.

"That was impressive," Blake praises, "Now I know how you manage to surf so well."

His teasing comment doesn't lessen the compliment, but I still roll my eyes at the implication. "Like I'd cheat. Besides, influencing the ocean's current is much more difficult than controlling still water."

"Doesn't mean you couldn't do it, though." And he... smiles. The same confident smile I first saw at Kelly's shop, when we first met.

And suddenly... I feel uneasy. I look down, at our hands still locked together, and tug myself free.

"Tori?"

"I'm... sorry," I sigh, making some space between us. I can't believe how quickly such a sweet moment turned sour. "But, when you said that... when you turned on the charm, I just started thinking about how we met, and..."

"You think I'm lying to you? Still?"

I wince at the hurt in his tone. "Not exactly... but I know you're good at being insincere."

"Insincere, huh?" he repeats flatly. After a pause, he folds his arms, his posture screaming 'defensive.' "I guess I deserve that."

Wow, did that come out wrong. "I'm not trying to settle any score, Blake. I want to be honest with you." I release a long sigh, and wave upstream. "Listen, let's get comfortable, and really clear the air. Okay?"

"Okay."

We start walking again, this time with a bit more space between us. I can't help but feel guilty for being so, blunt... but I also can't deny my feelings. Even if those feelings keep contradicting themselves.

The rocky edge of the cliff gives way to grass and trees as we move away from the edge, and we soon arrive at a serene spot by the river that feeds the waterfall. I take a seat on the grass, and after a moment's hesitation, Blake sits beside me. I glance at him, measuring the distance. He's just out of reach, unless we were both reaching out; both stretching to bridge the gap between us.

Uh... right. Obviously, I'm reading way too much into this.

"I've been meaning to give this back to you," I murmur, unstrapping the Thunder Morpher from my wrist. It's a pathetic attempt to restart conversation, but at least it's reasonably true. "And, I'm sorry for taking it from you to begin with."

"You didn't take it, I gave it to you," he responds. Our fingers barely touch as he takes his morpher.

"And I should've given it back." An entire sequence of events plays in my mind, bringing with it all the panic I felt in those moments. "Hunter attacked you because you were helping us! If you had died..."

I bite my tongue before it runs away with me. Blake doesn't need to know how horrified I was in that moment, watching him collapse as a web of electricity crackled over his body. How I immediately thought about all my furious words to him... and that I despite all his attempts to make me listen to reason, I spent all my time on Vertical Island either trying to beat him senseless or ignore him altogether.

I sigh, bowing my head as that familiar shame makes me feel slightly nauseous. I glance at him, realizing he's still waiting for me to finish my thought. "You... you could've died," I rephrase.

"Tori, please don't blame yourself," he insists. "I won't lie to you: part of the reason Hunter and I fought was because of you guys, but we have our own issues." He straps his morpher into place. "But we're working on them. We're on the right path, now."

"That's good to hear." I look at him, watching him contemplate the morpher on his wrist, as I muster the courage to ask my next question. "So, where does this 'path' take you?"

"Right here. Your sensei offered to continue our training, and let us join your team against Lothor. We're stronger together than apart."

My stomach flips at the thought, yet at the same time a murmuring worry has been laid to rest. Part of me did expect Hunter and Blake to disappear into the sunset, like they did the last time.

"I hope that's okay with you."

"It's great news," I assure him, "and I think Shane and Dustin will agree. We could definitely use your help. Hunter..." I choose my words carefully "..may take a little getting used to, though. He's really intense."

"He'll loosen up," Blake assures me, nodding his head. "This will definitely be good for him. For both of us. It's been a long time since we've been able to trust anyone, but we know we can trust you guys. Now, you need to know you can trust us, too."

And just like that, he cuts to the heart of the matter. "Blake, it's not that I don't... trust you. It's more like... a lot's happened. I don't know how to deal with it."

I gather my knees to my chest, silently watching the water flow stubbornly forward. I wish I could do that... stop thinking about the past, stop second and third guessing myself.

I mean... I understand his motivation for lying before. I was ready to forgive him before Vertical Island... and I know he wasn't to blame for that nightmare. But, I learned something about myself in that fight, and that's what scares me now.

I glance at Blake, watching him raise his head, staring into the sky above us. "Yeah, a lot happened after we met," he sighs. "A lot went wrong that I really wish we could just... undo, you know?"

He runs his fingers through his hair, making the dark strands stand on end. "There's a lot in my life I wish I could undo. But I can't. There's a lot that's broken in my life that I can't fix. But us... you and me... it's not beyond fixing. I care about you, Tori, and I think we still have a chance."

He turns around, facing me fully. "What do you think?"

What do I think?

I turn to face him, reading the determination in his eyes. He believes in us… believes we can be something. He does care about me. He's proven it as we fought our way through the tailor-made nightmare Lothor had orchestrated. There's really no reason to doubt.

And I care about him. As jumbled and confused my feelings are, I'm sure of that much. The way I feel around him, how often I think about him, how he's always able to get a rise out of me, one way or another. What I feel for him is surprisingly strong, considering everything we've been through the past few weeks. It's too late to prevent it now, and it would be stupid of me to deny it.

The question is… do I want to do anything about it?

I don't want to be vulnerable. I don't want to give Lothor any easy targets. He's already used my feelings for Blake to manipulate me; all of us, really. What will he come up with next? And if I'm put to the test, will I fall apart?

I work up the nerve to look at him. He's watching me closely, dark eyes intent, waiting for an answer.

Possessed by a sudden impulse, I reach for the hand that's lying in the grass just a few inches from mine. And holding his hand, focusing on that feeling of warmth and security, it's easier to bare my fears.

"I do care," I admit, my eyes trained on our hands. "But, I'm worried. Back on that island, when I attacked you... I turned into a different person."

That anger, born from hurt and betrayal, was the most frightening feeling I've ever experienced. I never thought I was even capable of feeling a rage that blocks out all reason. It's dangerous, and I just can't fall prey to that again. "Are my feelings... our feelings... giving Lothor an opening?"

He doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he shifts closer, releasing my hand in order to wind his arm around my shoulders. At first, my heart beats wildly at his sudden closeness, but I soon relax into him, my arm winding his waist, as I listen to the steady thrum of his heart.

After a few moments of peaceful silence, he releases a long breath. "I don't know about you, but I refuse to live my life in Lothor's shadow." He looks up at the sky again, squinting into the sun. "My brother is always thinking about Lothor; how he's going to defeat the man that killed our parents. But, it's not healthy. It's not right. I'll train hard, and I'll fight with all my strength, but I'm also going to live my life."

I grin against his chest. He's got a point. If I let fear of Lothor stop me from living my life, then I let him win.

Oh, what the heck. After all, I'm a surfer. The water may be cold, and it may be choppy, but I always dive in. Life's too short to let fear stop me... and Blake's worth the risk.

"Blake?"

"Hmm?"

I feel nervousness take hold again, holding my tongue. I know I'm being silly - I'm sure I care for him, and my decision has been made - but… I can't help it! At this moment, I don't feel like a Power Ranger, Wind Ninja, or reckless surfer. Suddenly I'm a sixteen-year-old girl, about to have her first official boyfriend.

My heart races, and my cheeks burn. Butterflies dance in my stomach, and I can't bring myself to lift my gaze for the life of me.

And despite the discomfort, the excitement and anticipation make me feel like squealing! I'm glad I'm still able to feel like a normal girl; that this crucible of Lothor's hasn't changed me so deeply I've completely lost touch with life as a teenaged girl.

"Tori?" he responds to my long hesitation.

"Let's… give it a try, Blake. You and me."

He jerks away from me so fast I nearly fall face-first into the grass. He shifts to face me, his hands holding my shoulders as his entire face brightens. He really is adorable when he's excited…

"You mean it?"

I nod with a shy grin, and suddenly I'm swallowed by a hug so tight my breath is stolen.

"I can't believe it! This is… this is great!"

He then draws back, taking my hands and bringing me to my feet. His smile is like the sun, surprising me with its intensity.

"So what do you want to do?" he asks. "There's a carnival in town, maybe we can try that? Or dinner? Or maybe a movie?"

His excitement brings an indulgent smile to my face. I open my mouth to respond-

"Dude, I so called it!"

"Shh!"

Our smiles drop in unison, and together we turn to the trees behind us.

I blink, noticing leaves rustling far more violently than the gentle breeze would allow. "Dustin? Shane?"

The two nosiest ninjas ever emerge from the shrubs. At least they have the decency to look ashamed.

"What are you doing out here?" I demand, embarrassment rapidly feeding my outrage.

Dustin winces. "Uh... when we got back to Ninja Ops, you weren't around. And we noticed Blake was gone, so... we put two and two together..."

"And we wanted to make sure he didn't try anything," Shane finished, folding his arms and glaring at Blake.

Blake sighs, drawing away from me... but I won't have it. "Knock it off, Shane! We're all friends here, okay?"

Then, I notice the folded bill in Shane's hand… and I feel like burying my head in the dirt. "Did… did you guys place a bet on something?"

Shane grimaces, reaching his hand back into his pocket, but Dustin grabs his wrist. "No way, Dude! No backing out now."

Shane glares at him. "Next on your list of self-improvement should be discretion, Dustin."

The comment was quiet, but it still reached my red-tipped ears. "You did bet on us! How could you?"

Since I know from experience that it can be impossible to get Shane to talk, I focus my furious stare on Dustin, who awkwardly rubs the back of his head. "Uh… well, we know you two like each other and all, and I said that you guys would, well, make it official, you know? And Shane thought Tori would just throw Blake in the lake for being such a pain in the rear. We argued about it a bit, and... well, Shane suggested I put my money where my mouth is."

Shane slaps Dustin's shoulder. "Way to blame me. You're the one that started that whole stupid conversation!"

If any more blood flows to my cheeks, I'll pass out! I glare furiously at my so-called friends, estimating the odds of beating them senseless before they have a chance to Ninja Streak to safety. I turn to Blake to see if he's up to a little "sparring," only his calculating smirk distracts me.

"Blake?" I murmur.

I watch, fascinated, as Blake approaches my teammates. "How much did you guys wager?"

"Twenty bucks each," Dustin confesses, staring at the ground.

"Well, Dustin, since you have so much faith in Tori and me, I think it's only fair that you contribute to our first date."

Dustin winces. "Uh…"

Blake then turns to me, offering a wink. "What do you say, Tori? The carnival, dinner, and a movie, sponsored in part by our oh-so-considerate teammates?"

I can't resist a grin. "Sounds perfect."

But I can feel Shane hovering near, and I turn to look at him. His face is grim, all traces of embarrassment lost, and his posture is still very imposing.

"Blake, can you give us a minute?"

He nods, giving my hand a squeeze. "You got it."

I watch him walk away from the river to give us some room. He doesn't leave my sight, though… he lingers by the cliff's edge. Far enough away to stay out of earshot, allowing us some privacy, but near enough to offer moral support.

Emboldened, I face my friend and leader. "What's on your mind, Shane?"

His eyes slides from me to Blake, then back again. He releases a frustrated puff of air before he finally speaks. "He may not be evil, but he's been a pain ever since we met him. Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

I close my eyes for a moment, exhaling slowly as I consider Shane's words. I know he's concerned for me; he doesn't want to see me hurt again.

I decide that his honest concern deserves an honest answer. "No, I'm not. But I am sure that it's what I want to do."

My smile is nervous. "I really like him, guys," I confess. "And I want to see what happens."

Shane's frown deepens as he considers my response. Then, he nods. "Okay, Tori. But if he screws up…"

"Dude, don't be ridiculous," Dustin interrupts, mock-punching Shane's shoulder. "If Blake screws up, Tori can kick his butt. She did better one-on-one than either of us did."

Shane shrugs, but doesn't argue the matter.

I smirk wryly at my best friends, giving each of them a tight hug in turn. "Thanks for caring, you guys. I'm really lucky you both have my back."

I then take two steps back, and hold out my hands, palm up. "But, don't think all this big-brotherly concern is getting you guys off the hook." I bend my fingers. "Pay up!"

The End

Phew! It's over! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to have finished this. I'll be honest with you, there were many times when I definitely lost my way with this story. Lost touch with the characters, couldn't find a resolution, didn't see a story worth telling… and now that I've finished it, I'm glad I put in the time and effort. And I really hope the ending lived up to your expectations.

I know I've said it before, but I'd like to send out a warm, sincere thanks to all of you for your patience and interest! I'm floored that this little POV experiment broke the 100 review mark… I didn't realize at the outset how many Ninja Storm fans there'd be on the web. All reviews were read and very much appreciated, and suggestions were taken into consideration whenever feasible. In fact, if you guys hadn't been so insistent that I continue, I probably would've ended this story with "Intervention."