Summary: As the fight continues, the rangers try to keep their lives as normal as possible while learning about their full powers.
Phantom Rogue: This one probably sweeter. All fears will be explained in the last chapter.
Arwennicole: Well, this one is really almost finished. Just getting the rangers free, have them defeat that Mirage Mage and talk a little and then it's done.
Jenny: Good luck eating normally after this chapter.
DizneeDol: No need to wait any long… I want to start on Secrets Untold. :P
The-power-of-love: I had a great birthday, thanks.
Star Fata: Ask Phantom… those three stories are nothing… I've got a sequel series for this one… I wonder why the hell I introduced the Element Rangers… Luckily that's only a two part series… and then a sequel story to that one… I can't say more about that. Then I've got a sequel for Nate… and tons of standalones demanding to be written… I've got my work cut out for me… And I'm really tempted to run away screaming.
As The Battle Rages
Chapter 30
"Talking food?" Ray asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I hate living food." Kagan's voice came from a far corner of the room.
Soft giggles and sniggers rose from the group around Ray and Dakota just looked stunned, still gaping at the suddenly still chicken wing held limply in his hand.
"We didn't laugh at your fears either." Ray said pointedly and walked over to the table piled with food. "Talking food or no talking food, I'm still starving."
He picked up a slice of the most delicious mozzarella pizza he could imagine and took a large bite out of it, ignoring the desperate wails of 'don't eat me' and 'ouch, that hurts you know'. The other rangers looked at each other and shrugged, practically running over and digging in. The room was soon filled with desperate cries of the foods not to be eaten that were pointedly ignored by the starving rangers.
Kagan tentatively got up and walked over, watching the other rangers dig in happily and hearing his own stomach rumble. Reluctantly he took hold of another chicken wing and raised it to his mouth.
"DON'T EAT ME!" It shrieked in a moment of deja vu.
Kagan froze. He couldn't do it. Suddenly a gentle hand guided the piece of chicken towards his mouth and he felt his jaws closing involuntarily around it, only somewhat helped by his friends. His taste buds finally enjoying the taste of chicken they had been longing for since he had seen the food-filled table, Kagan quickly swallowed and took another bite.
It wasn't until he finished the chicken wing that it occurred to him someone had helped him and he looked to his side. Dakota was staring at him, his arms crossed over his chest and an amused expression on his face.
"Thanks." He offered, before digging in with the other rangers.
He had barely worked through a juicy hamburger when all of a sudden the room brightened and he woke up.
"Did you have to wake up so soon? I was enjoying that corn." Reese complained lightly and everyone laughed while Kayla and Dakota helped Kagan to his feet and making the effects of the mist disappear.
"Close your eyes and tell us who we should go for next." Ray told him, shooting a quick glace at Aurora and Chaitlin to make sure they were still okay.
"Abby." Kagan decided and when he opened his eyes again, the other rangers had already gathered round his sister.
He barely had the time to join them, when someone grabbed his arms and he was sucked into his baby sister's fear illusion.
When they opened their eyes they were standing in the park of Crystal Springs on a bright sunny day. Kagan turned a full circle, closed his eyes in concentration to do a double take and then stumbled backwards in shock.
"There's no one around but us…" He muttered. "Abby's out there somewhere. I felt her faintly, but I think she can't feel us."
"Well then, we'll just have to go to her." Dakota declared, almost cheerily, and Kayla's hands filled with purple sparkles as her eyes closed.
They were all surrounded by the purple glow of Kayla's magic and when it faded they were cramped into Abby's room. Kagan quickly launched at his sister's bed and lay down next to the bump under the comforter. He gently gathered the bump into his arms and held it tight.
"I am so sorry." He whispered softly, not caring that almost the whole team was there watching. "I'm sorry I was so mean to you. You're my only sister, Abby. I love you and I should have listened to you. You all were right and we were wrong. Please forgive me?"
The bump under the comforter moved and Abby's head peeked out from under it.
"Who are you and what did you do to my brother?" She demanded with a small smile on her face.
Then she just kicked the comforter off and wrapped herself closer into her brother's warm and loving embrace.
"Where have you all been?" Abby asked weakly, trembling slightly from the effects of her fears.
"Fighting our own fear illusions." Kagan explained. "This is not real, Abby. You are not alone and you never were. We were all kept asleep and dreaming of our worst fears." He added firmly, "It's time to wake up now. We've got a few more rangers left to wake as you can see."
Abby looked over her brother's shoulder and nodded.
"I'm not afraid… not now that you're here."
As the words left her mouth the room brightened again and moments later Abby felt herself be lifted to her feet and two strong arms wrapping around her.
"Kagan." She gasped happily, realizing that his words had not been just a dream, tears springing into her eyes as she buried her face into her older brother's shoulder.
"It's okay, Abby, everything is going to be fine now." Kagan whispered back into her ear. "Who should we wake up next?"
"Anlon." Abby muttered loudly enough for the others to hear. "I want Anlon."
Ray didn't even doubt the words and moved into position.
"Anlon it is."
A/N: Yay! Almost there! Just the last 5 rangers. :D Then they can go kick some ass! Hope you liked it. Review!
