Ninja Storm: Rise of the Eclipse- Chapter 8: Return of the Thunder: Part II
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger line. I only own Crystal and Lucy and anything else unrecognizable
Lucy groaned, her hands finding her face. Once she realized that she was okay, the brunette felt around her. her hands planted themselves on rocks around her. Pushing up, Lucy blew a few chunks of hair from her face. The Silver Ranger found her sister lying a few yards from her. " Rys!" She breathed. A cough ripped through her body.
Crystal huffed out a breath. She opened her eyes, her hand finding her head. She slowly sat up." My head," She complained, squinting around. " All I remember is fighting Hunter and Blake then nothing," She squinted up at her standing sister. She glanced down at her jeans, finding sand all over them. Her hands ran around the sand, brushing it off her thighs and shoulders.
" Crystal, Lucy." The Eclipse Rangers turned around to find Dustin and Tori standing there. The two slowly walked over to the Eclipse Rangers. " You two okay?" Dustin asked. He helped pull the Gold Ranger up.
The brunette brushed the sand off her pants and tank top then off her shoulders." Yeah, little bruised but okay," Lucy answered.
The four started to walk once more. That's when the sisters noticed that Shane was in front of the four, not talking to any of them. " Shane in the brooding mode," Tori told the sisters. " He doesn't believe that Hunter and Blake weren't evil," The Blue Ranger admitted.
Everyone stopped when thunder crackled overhead. A streak of navy rushed past the five Rangers. " You guys saw that, right?" Dustin asked, pointing to where the streak was.
" I did," Tori told him. Crystal and Lucy nodded.
" Good." Dustin dropped his arm. A crimson blur ran past the tree line.
Shane turned back to the four. " Over there." He pointed, taking off into the forest. Everyone followed him. After racing through the forest, everyone stopped. " It came this way." The Red Ranger looked around at the treetops. " I saw it."
Hunter and Blake appeared in front of the five. " Good eye, Shane," Blake commented, his arms across his chest.
" You ever wonder if two Thunder ninjas got into a fight with three Wind ninjas and two Eclipse ninjas, who would win?" Hunter matched his brother's stance.
Crystal matched his stance. " That is the dumbest question to ever come out of your mouth, Hunter," She snorted. The taller blond glared at the Gold Ranger. She stared at him. " You broke our pinkie swear,"
" Like you said, childish," Hunter snapped back.
Crystal narrowed her eyes at him. " No one breaks 'em,"
" No one would win," Tori answered, referring to Hunter's question. " The only way we win if to work together." She admitted.
" I thought we were doing," Dustin added in.
" Guess you were wrong." Blake retorted.
" Tell you what, we'll even give you a head start," Hunter suggested. " If you want to run." He evilly smirked.
Crystal and Lucy both rolled their eyes. " Did you hear that Rys?" Lucy poked her sister in the ribs.
" Sounds like they're too chicken to take us on," Crystal challenged.
Shane turned to Tori. " Sorry, Tor." He said. " Whatever's up with these guys, we're not going to fix it by letting them stop on us." Shane glared at Hunter, who returned the look after glowering at the Eclipse sisters.
" I have no intention of letting them stomp us." Tori stared at Blake. For a second, everyone stood, waiting to see what the move was.
The calm before the storm.
Then the five Rangers pulled their street clothes off to reveal their ninja uniforms. They fell into their stances. Blake and Hunter followed suit. " We don't wanna fight you." Dustin pleaded one last time.
" But you give us no choice," Shane replied.
" Enough talk." Hunter snapped. The Thunders charged first.
Shane took on Hunter. The Red Ranger kicked up first then the blond boy kicked up. Shane blocked it, swinging his arm around. The Crimson Ranger tried a punch but Shane was faster; blocking Hunter's forearm with his own. After that, it was random punches and kicks to see who landed the first blow. Shane and Hunter went in for a kick and ended up pushing each other back.
Falling into their stances, Hunter and Shane stared. Then they attacked once more. Hunter leaned down and threw his leg up high to which Shane replied with a back handspring. Hunter moved closer to him and tried to sweep Shane's feet from him but the air ninja flipped over the tall blond. Shane landed on the ground. He tried to punch the Thunder ninja but Hunter lifted his foot up and slammed it down on the air ninja's back.
Shane flipped up into the air just as he and Hunter punched each other in the hand. The force of the two caused them to be pushed apart. Shane landed softly. Crystal tagged him on the shoulder. " Do it." He whispered. The Gold Ranger nodded. She charged Hunter.
Hunter was surprised when Crystal's fist met his face. He bent over in pain while Crystal stood above him. Managing the pain of his bruised cheek, Hunter stood, towering over the girl. " I'm not afraid." She admitted, throwing another punch.
The Thunder ninja caught her arm, flipping her. He pinned her to the ground. " You think you can beat me?" Hunter leaned closer to her face.
Crystal scowled while she tried to move. " No, I'm only here to outsmart you." Hunter raised an eyebrow. Crystal slammed her knee into Hunter's stomach. He hissed in pain. He let go of one of her hands to hold his stomach for a minute. The Gold Ranger slammed her fist into the side of Hunter's face. Wrapping her leg around his, Crystal flipped the two of them. She pinned his arms to the ground. " See, outsmarted." She pushed down on his wrists. She lifted her body up and bend over backward before lifting herself up and falling into her stance.
" Nice moves." Shane smiled. Both watched Hunter climb to his feet.
" I try," Crystal muttered. The two went back to fighting the thunder ninja.
Dustin and Tori both punched at Blake, who simply caught their wrists and twisted. He pushed them back, using Dustin's arm to kick Tori and flip Dustin. Tori turned back at the fight and watched Blake twist around and held Dustin's arm behind his back.
" Stop it," Tori called. She ran back into the fight. She threw a punch but Blake caught it and spun around, flipping Dustin while Tori kicked up. Blake blocked it, turning around and slamming his elbow into her back. The Navy Ranger flipped up and tried to hit Dustin in the back. The Earth Ninja rolled out of the way. Blake recovered quickly.
Blake kicked up. Dustin pushed it down. Then they started to throw and block punches. Tori got involved. Blake aimed a punch near her legs but Tori anticipated and blocked it. she kicked up. Dustin swept under but Blake jumped up and avoided it.
After a few seconds of fighting, Blake pushed both ninjas back. Tori grabbed her wrist as Lucy joined in on the fight. She jumped up and kicked upward. Blake stumbled back. Lucy charged him. The Silver Ranger jumped up and tackled him to the ground. The side of Blake's face hit the ground hard when Lucy pushed off and fell into her stance.
Groaning and standing up, Blake fell into his stance. He ran at her and Lucy saw a little confusion in his eyes but it disappeared when he swung over her head. Lucy ducked, slamming her fist into his gut. Grabbing his wrist, Lucy maneuvered her body and used her force to flip Blake onto his back.
Crystal yelped when she was pushed back from the fight. Rubbing her arm, she watched Shane lock arms with Hunter before they disappeared. Crystal rolled her eyes, taking off after them. Landing next to Shane, Crystal positioned her body to be ready for anything that Hunter threw at them.
Seconds later, Tori, Dustin, Lucy and Blake hit the ground before fighting a few more seconds. Tori and Dustin ran over to Crystal and Shane. Lucy took one step closer to the Rangers. Blake and Hunter fell into their stances. Blake looked a little tired from fighting three Rangers at the same time.
" We having fun yet?" Shane asked. He and Crystal stood next to each other and in front of Hunter.
" No." Hunter shook his head. " But there's always this." He stood straight alongside his brother.
Thunder Storm, Ranger Form.
Power of Thunder
Crystal sighed, watching the Thunders morph. She blinked a few times, standing straight and stepping in front of the three Wind Rangers with Lucy. " Let's make this fight end," Crystal muttered.
Eclipse Storm, Ranger Form
Guardian of the Moon.
Guardian of the Sun.
The Eclipse Rangers watched at the bug brained idiots grabbed their staffs. Crystal pressed her hand to her rapier hilt as did Lucy. They stood facing each other, ready for any other moves that could come into the fight.
" We knew that was coming," Dustin muttered. The three Wind Rangers stood straight.
Ninja Storm, Ranger Form.
Power of Air
Power of Water
Power of Earth.
" Oh, it's on now." Blake snapped. Crystal and Lucy backed up to be beside Dustin and Tori. " We're through taking it easy on you." He sneered.
" You're right Shane," Tori told the Red Ranger. " They're not going to listen to reason." Crystal nodded, repositioning her hand.
Dustin took a step forwards. " If it's them or us, I choose us." He agreed. Lucy nodded.
Shane turned to his teammates with his hand on his sword. " Thank you." He nodded. " Finally, someone's listening to me."
" Ninja Swords." The Winds called out. They jumped into the air along with the Thunders. After clashing with each other, all the Rangers landed on the ground. Shane took on Hunter and Dustin and Tori took on Blake.
Hunter struck Shane twice with his staff. Shane twisted his body and landed on a cliff above the Thunder ranger. " Hawk blaster," Shane called. He shot down at Hunter; who blocked all shots.
" My blaster's bigger than yours." Hunter gloated. He shot Shane off the cliff. The Red Ranger fell to the ground.
Crystal jumped over Shane. She slammed her foot into his side. The Crimson Ranger released his blaster. He yanked out his staff, charging the Gold Ranger. She held her rapier up, meeting Hunter's staff. Crystal preyed on the situation, kicking Hunter in the stomach.
The Crimson Ranger stumbled back, clutching his stomach. The Gold Ranger ran past Hunter, slicing upwards when she got close. That created sparks from Hunter's suit. She went for another attack but Hunter grabbed her rapier. He yanked it away from her, throwing it across the field. Hunter threw her back near Shane.
Crystal huffed, her helmeted head turned to Hunter. She snarled. " I'm so done with this," She ran at Hunter again.
Tori and Dustin both tried to hit Blake, but he stopped them. Pushing the swords upwards, Blake swung around and stuck Tori before striking Dustin. Dustin rolled from the landing stop and got up in a crouch. " Ninja beams." He called out. He shot bright yellow beams from his morpher. Blake managed to defend himself from each one. He redirected one to Tori, which hit her in the chest. " Tori!" Dustin called out.
Tori lifted herself up. " I'm fine." She called back. Lucy rushed over to Tori. She started to help the Blue Ranger up to her feet.
" You're aim is lame, Dustin." Blake held his hands in a formation. " But I'm not shocked, are you?" He asked leaning back. He shot his head forward. Navy lightning wrapped around Dustin. Blake lifted him up and Dustin started to freak out. Spinning him around, Blake finally released Dustin to hit the water.
Lucy charged Blake, her rapier away. She threw a punch, which Blake grabbed, trying to flip her over. Lucy flipped over and landed on her feet. She spun the Navy Ranger around, shoving her foot into his back. That sent him to hit the rocks.
All the good Rangers gathered together. Hunter pulled out his blaster once more and shot at the Rangers. All the Rangers went down. Lucy landed on her side while Crystal hit her back. " You've got to stop this." Shane pleaded, glancing up at the Thunder Brothers. Blake walked over to his brother with his staff and weapon drawn.
" Say goodbye, Rangers." Hunter evilly laughed.
Shane groaned, standing. " Alright, look, you obviously have some serious emotional problems you're dealing with." He spoke, confusing everyone. " You ever consider group therapy?" He asked.
" This is getting really old." Tori stumbled to her feet.
Dustin following her. " Hey, I love dirt as much as the next guy…" The Yellow Ranger said, holding a handful of dirt that fell back to earth.
Blake cut him off. " Too bad it doesn't show in your riding, Dustin." He shot back, walking in front of his brother.
" You did not just bag on my riding." Dustin snarled. He then charged Blake, who started to fight back.
Hunter looked at the two of them. He glanced at the ground. " Why are we fighting them?" He quietly asked.
Crystal raised an eyebrow. She stumbled to her feet, squaring off against the taller blonde. " Hunter?"
Blake grabbed Dustin around the waist with his pincers and pushed him down. " You want some more?" He asked, looking at the downed Yellow Ranger.
" Hey, wait," Hunter called to his brother. " Isn't Dustin our friend?" He asked, dropping his blaster arm. " Blake, this is wrong."
" Hallelujah," Lucy yelled, throwing her arms in the air.
" What are you talking about, Hunter?" Blake asked, his head snapping to his brother.
Shane and Tori lifted their arms. " Ninja beams." They shot blue and red beams at Blake. Flying through the air, Blake landed on his brother. " Storm Striker." All called out. They attached their weapons together. Standing behind the Rangers, the sisters watched Hunter and Blake get hit with a two-ton ball. After the two brothers rolled to their feet, the Wind rangers pulled out their swords. They slammed them down on the brothers' shoulders.
" Now just stay down." Tori smiled.
" Can we get out of here?" Dustin turned his teammates.
" Good idea." Shane turned his head to Dustin. " I'm so over this." He nodded.
Four out of the five Rangers pushed Crystal in front of them. They figured that Crystal was more prepared to handle taking the Thunder ninja's down. Lucy was a close second, but she couldn't take Hunter on as well as Crystal could. Blake groaned, lifting his head up. " Ow, my head," He grumbled, standing slowly. His visor snapped open.
Hunter sat up, his visor open. He had confusion written all over his face. " Where are we?" He asked. " You okay?" He asked his brother once they were standing.
Blake nodded. " Yeah," His eyes landed on the Gold Ranger in front of him. " Crystal, what are you doing here?" The smaller brother asked, his eyebrows scrunching together.
Crystal pulled her golden helmet off, pushing hair away from her face. Her head was throbbing from all the hits she took. Her green eyes met Blake's then Hunter's. " I enjoy island hopping," She sarcastically answered, tucking her helmet under her arm.
" You guys okay?" Shane questioned, stopping behind Crystal. Lucy stopped next to her sister, her silver helmet tucked under her arm.
Hunter glanced at all of them. " What happened?" He asked.
" They seem themselves," Tori turned her head to Shane. The Red Ranger made a face of slight disagreement.
Crystal glanced between the two teams. She glanced at Hunter. " You guys went mental on us," She answered. " Again," She added. She turned to the Wind Rangers. " I guess it could have been a memory wipe,"
" Are those possible?" Lucy asked, readjusting her helmet. " I mean, Sensei does them sometimes, but they're rare. And why wouldn't he try it on us?" She asked. Everyone glanced between the two.
" You two are stronger," Blake pointed out.
" Think about it," Crystal turned to her sister. She set her helmet on the ground. " Lothor isn't like any ordinary ninja." She glanced around at her team. " Lothor couldn't get his hands on the two of us. He tried at the Cavern, and he's gonna try again, but you two weren't on the team." The Gold Ranger turned to the Thunder Rangers. " A general could have easily tricked you two because you walked away from the team," She rambled.
Blake hit Hunter on the shoulder. " Choobo," He muttered. Crystal raised an eyebrow. " We met with Choobo before meeting with you and Tori," He explained.
The conversation could have kept going, had a yell not stopped them. " Hey!" Choobo's voice rang out. Every Ranger turned to find him up on a ledge. " You down there in the bug suits." He yelled.
" He better not be talking to us." Hunter practically snarled. His visor snapped closed.
Crystal and Lucy replaced their helmets. The rest of the team's visors snapped into place." I think he is," Lucy answered the crimson ninja.
" Yeah, I'm talking to you," Choobo yelled down to the group. He had heard Hunter's grumble. Choobo wasn't going to let the Rangers defeat him. He had a brilliant plan. " I've worked too hard for you to mess things up now." He growled. An explosion rattled the Rangers. They turned around when manically laughing was heard from the smoke. " Super Toxipod." The general called out.
A giant shell appeared in the air. Then the monster popped out. " You can't keep a good snail down." He muttered, his voice horse and crackly. " Did you miss me?" He asked. Suddenly, his eyes grew red. Fire shot out of his mouth. It hit the Wind Rangers and sent the Thunder and Eclipse siblings flying. Crystal landed on her back. Lucy coughed, landing on her side. Turning her head, Lucy looked around for Crystal.
" Didn't we already fight this guy?" Shane asked everyone. He rested on his arms.
" But he smells even worse," Tori commented.
Super Toxipod laughed. " Everything about me's worse." He shot back.
" Aw, now what does he want?" Dustin asked.
" Want?" Super Toxipod snapped. " I want to sink this island with you on it. I want to cause an atmospheric reaction that will drop the temperature to 100 degrees below zero." Super Toxipod explained. " I want payback." He growled. He fired beams at the Wind Rangers. Kelzaks appeared, joining the fun.
" How'd they get here?" Tori asked. Shane groaned about the kelzaks showing up.
" Maybe they got a group rate," Dustin suggested. Kelzaks started to slash his suit. The Winds then started to fight back. A rouge one escaped and ran towards the four other Rangers. Crystal stepped in front and sliced him upwards, making it fall to the ground.
" Blake, we gotta help them." Hunter stepped forward. Lucy ran into the battle against the kelzaks. Crystal hesitated.
" I'm all over it, bro." Blake agreed. " Let's go it." They started to move.
Choobo stopped them; the Solar ninja included. " Not so fast." He yelled, landing a few meters from the three Rangers. " Listen to me, Crimson Ranger." Crystal raised an eyebrow. " Your brother betrayed you, hear me?" He must not have even cared that Crystal was with the two.
" That's crazy," Hunter argued.
Suddenly, a light pink light shot from the sky and was heading to the three really fast. Hunter glanced up first, seeing it come down. He shoved his brother and Crystal out of the way. " Blake, Crystal lookout." He called. Crystal hit the ground after Blake. The two watched Hunter get hit with the light. The Crimson Ranger groaned, his suit glowing pink. It disappeared and Hunter stumbled.
" Are you okay, dude?" Blake asked, worried for his brother.
" I don't know," Hunter admitted. Crystal slowly walked over to him with Blake. " I think so. I feel kinda weird." Crystal scrunched her eyebrows. Hunter's visor glowed pink for a second before fading.
" Here's the real deal," Choobo spoke up. " You can't trust those two anymore. That pretty Gold Ranger convinced him to turn against you."
Crystal and Blake stepped forward." You're lying." Crystal snapped.
" What are you babbling about. I'd never turn on my brother." Blake shot back. " You're the one with the evil plan." Blake pointed his staff at Choobo. Crystal turned back to Hunter, who was surprisingly still.
" Tell him the truth." Choobo urged. " He deserves to know." He lied. " You've betrayed him and your poor lost parents."
" Hunter, don't listen to him." Blake whipped around to see his brother. " It's all a bunch of lies." He then turned to Choobo. " You're trying to destroy us."
" My own brother." Hunter's visor glowed pink once more as the lies were fed to him. He tightened his fist, swinging the staff around. It missed Crystal's head but struck Blake in the chest.
" What's the matter with you?" Crystal looked up at Hunter.
" Have you lost your ninja mind?" Blake asked at the same time.
" You don't deserve to call yourself a Thunder Ranger." Hunter snarled at his brother. " You traitor." He yelled, charging the Navy Ranger.
Crystal stepped in and blocked his swing with her rapier. " Hunter, this isn't you." Her voice strained by the amount of force needed to hold the large blond back. " Snap out of it." He pushed down harder. Crystal rolled out of the way. Hunter went for his brother once more.
" Do you remember anything that's happened?" Blake asked.
" I remember you sold me out to those Wind weasels," Hunter growled. He lifted the staff and swung down, striking Blake in the chest. The staff went up at the other tip stuck the Navy Ranger. Hunter sliced down once more.
Lucy caught a sword while pressing her rapier to the kelzak's neck. " Great, Hunter's now fighting his brother." She called, flipping a kelzak. She slashed another one in the chest while kicking one in the face.
Tori looked over, her body in the same position as Lucy's was. " That's crazy." She commented, turning her head slightly to see the fight between the brothers.
Dustin was wrapped up with Super Toxipod. " Dude, why do you have to be so crabby?" He asked. Super Toxipod rumbled, tossing the Yellow Ranger to the ground.
" Dustin, you okay?" Tori quizzed. She, Shane and Lucy ran over to him. Lucy and Shane kept watching. Tori turned to him.
" Yeah," Dustin replied. Suddenly, white puffs of steam burst from between the rocks, startling the Rangers. They backed up when more steam flew out.
" What's that?" Shane asked. He and Dustin switched places, watching more steam.
Super Toxipod laughed. " Toxic steam." He started to move his arms. " The island is sinking fast. Soon, the earth will be one giant snow cone." He pointed to the Rangers. " And you can't do a thing about it."
" Wanna bet?" Shane stepped forward. The others followed. The kelzaks flipped in the air, striking down on the shoulders of the Rangers. Lucy whacked hers before it could strike. In a puff of smoke, the Wind rangers were gone, all but their ninja suits.
The kelzaks looked around. Shane pushed a kelzak into a stream of steam. Green goo was scattered over his face when he stood up from the facial he got. He swung his arms while Super Toxipod stared at the henchman. " Whoa, toxic facial." The monster commented. The kelzak then started to beat the crap out of his fellow henchmen.
" Weird." Dustin shook his head.
Lucy cringed. " Gross is more like it," She turned to the Wind Rangers. " What now?" She demanded. Everyone stopped to observe the fight that was happening between the kelzaks.
" I get it." Tori nodded her helmeted head. " He's fight because of the steam."
" Like I said." Dustin reiterated. " Weird."
Hunter spun the staff around, hitting Blake right across the chest. The Crimson Ranger caught him by the shoulder again. Crystal, fed up with Hunter, slammed her foot into his leg. She spun around and hit his helmet with her heel. He shook his head, pushing the pain of her kick from his head. He raised his staff and brought it down above the smaller blonde. Blake pushed Crystal out of the way then stopped Hunter's weapon. Falling to the ground, the Navy Ranger couldn't stop his brother's force. " Hey, what's taking so long?" Choobo ordered from his cliff. " Finish off those Rangers so we can take control of the planet. It'll be a cold new world." He laughed.
" Yes, general." Super Toxipod closed his fist, whipping back to the Rangers.
Hunter stuck Blake twice. The boy fell to the ground. Hunter placed the tip of the staff near Blake's helmeted head. " Now, you'll pay." He sneered, lifting his staff up.
" No." Blake curled his arms to his chest.
Crystal sat up from her spot in the dirt. " Hunter, wait," She yelled.
" Stop," Dustin yelled, pushing up off the ground.
" Don't do it." Tori pleaded.
Everyone tried but Hunter didn't flinch. " You brought this on yourself, Blake," The ninja muttered.
Blake held his hands in front of him. " But you're not thinking straight." He tried once more. " You got zapped with that beam, remember?"
" More lies," Choobo yelled down to him. " Don't listen to him."
Crystal huffed out a breath. She turned to him. " No one asked you!" She screamed back at him.
" But…I…" Hunter paused as he thought.
" Hunter." Blake softly started. " Look into your heart." He breathed. " You know the truth." Suddenly the toxic steam burst. Blake looked at it. He rolled out of the way but Hunter wasn't that lucky. The steam hit him right in the face. " Get out of there!" Blake yelled at him.
Hunter didn't listen. " What's happening to me?" He yelled, groaning in pain. The same green goo splattered his helmet, making Crystal cringe.
" The steam got him." Shane winced.
Lucy looked up from her spot to see Crystal and Blake standing, staring at the Crimson Ranger." Right in the face." She shook her head.
" It's going from bad to worse." Dustin looked at his friend.
They watched Hunter fell to the ground, shaking. His hand was near his helmet before he put it down and looked up. Crystal moved to him. " Hunter?" She questioned, her hand slowly moving to her rapier.
Hunter growled, whipping around to her. He sent her rolling on the ground, crashing into a rock formation. " It's over," He snarled, making his way over to the downed Ranger. Crystal tried to get up, but Hunter practically flinging her into the rocks hurt like hell.
Blake made his way over to the blonde, slowly helping her up. " No," Blake whispered beside Crystal. The Gold Ranger grunted in response.
" This is the end," Hunter shouted to his brother. His voice was full of anger and rage. He charged the Navy and Gold Rangers.
" No." Tori and Dustin yelled.
Hunter swung his staff at the boy in blue and the girl in gold. Blake blocked his brother's swing. Crystal, mustering her strength, kicked him in the stomach. Dustin and Tori pushed him back. " Don't hurt him." He pleaded with the Blue and Yellow Rangers.
" We're not trying to hurt him." Tori's voice was strained. She tried to get a better grip on the Crimson Ranger. But it didn't help.
" We're trying to hold him." Dustin turned his head to the Navy and Gold Ranger. Hunter managed to shake the Rangers off. He slammed his staff against their torsos. They rolled between the Red and Silver Rangers taking on Super Toxipod and the Navy and Gold Rangers taking on Hunter. They climbed back to their feet and charged Hunter once more.
" No, stop." Blake ran towards his brother. He wrapped an arm under the blond's and the other went around the other side. " Come on. You're stronger than this." He pleaded. Hunter threw his arms off and whipped around. He slashed Blake a few times as sparked flew. The Navy Ranger hit the ground. Hunter charged once more. Blake blocked it, standing up. Hunter caught Blake's stomach and lifted him overhead. The Crimson Ranger threw him to the ground like a rag doll. " Think about everything we've been through," Blake yelled to him, sticking a hand out. " This isn't you."
Crystal stopped in front of Blake, her rapier drawn. " It's doesn't matter. The steam got him." She turned back to the running Hunter, his staff raised. He whipped his weapon around and caught Crystal's side. She was tossed to the ground. She climbed to her knees with her hand on the ground.
Hunter swung at Blake. He hit Blake's side, causing him to fall back. The Crimson Ranger smacked his weapon against Blake's. " Hunter, please, you have to stop." Blake pleaded. The crazed blond merely growled. The navy ninja turned to find Crystal tackling Hunter, taking him to the ground. Both rolled to a stop, Crystal on top of Hunter. She tried to keep him pinned but the Crimson Ranger was stronger. He shoved the gold ninja off, pushing her back towards the team.
Shane stopped in front of the unconscious Navy Ranger and the downed Gold Ranger. " This had gone far enough." Shane lifted his hands." Ninja smoke screen." The Red Ranger threw his hand down, causing all the ninja to disappear in puffs of smoke.
" What?" Hunter thundered, swinging his staff around. " Come back. I'm not through with you!"
" You blew it." Super Toxipod grumbled, turning back to the general.
Choobo groaned. " This was not part of the plan." He growled, stalking off.
On the other side of the island, the Wind and Eclipse ninjas found a cave to hide in. Shane and Dustin were carrying the semi-conscious Thunder Ranger between them. Lucy was supporting Crystal, who had taken a beating. Tori stopped, moving over to help the Silver Ranger with her sister. All ninjas, but Blake, were demorphed. The girls watched Dustin and Shane put the boy on the ground. Crystal hissed when Lucy tried to get her to sit. " Ow," She complained. " Ow, ow," Her hand went to her ribs.
Tori left Crystal to kneel beside him. " Blake, wake up." She placed her hand on his chest and shoulder. " Please wake up." After a few seconds, navy-colored lighting surrounded the ninja. Everyone stepped back. " What's happening to him?" She asked, worried stitched into her voice. The lighting suddenly stopped. The suit disappeared from Blake, leaving him in his ninja uniform. Tori knelt back down. " Blake." She worried. Blake cracked open his eyes and jolted up. Shane placed his hand on his shoulder." It's alright," Tori assured him, smiling a little. " You're alright." Blake looked at her. He dropped his head back into the sand.
Blake recovered from the fight faster than Crystal. He was on his feet, pacing and thinking. " If you keep pacing, Blake, I'm gonna kill you," Crystal muttered, hissing while Lucy poked at her torso. " Would you knock it off?" She snapped, slapping her sister's hand away from her side. She slowly stood, following the wind ninjas, who were trailing Blake.
Once the six ninjas reached a hill, Blake suddenly faced the group. " Hunter's the only family I have. He's always been there for me." He told the group. " Now he needs my help. For the first time in our lives, he needs me. I'm not going to let him down." Blake paused. " I can't let him down,"
" We'll do whatever we can," Tori assured him.
" Shane, that wasn't us back there," Blake told the Red Ranger.
" I know." Shane nodded his head. " I should have known. We're there for you, bro." He assured the navy ninja.
" Fully." Dustin agreed. Blake nodded. The sides of his lips kinked upwards.
Hunter breathed. He staggered through the rocky terrain. With a few more steps, the Crimson Ranger made it to the top of the rock pile. " Where are you?!" He howled, spinning his staff around. With a deep growl, Hunter turned his head to the sky. " Blake! Blake!"
Next Episode: Return of the Thunder: Part III
