Ninja Storm: Rise of the Eclipse- Chapter 13: Samurai's Journey: Part II
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines. I only own Crystal and Lucy and anything else unrecognizable.
The air ninja flipped off his horse. "Password." He commanded. "Tell me the password or perish where you stand."
"Air, Water, and Earth as one." Cam courageously told him.
"Sorry." The ninja said. "Wrong answer." The ninja took Cam by his arm and flipped him to the ground.
"Look, trust me, someday, that will be the password," Cam replied, but the ninja ignored him. Cam got his attention by pushing his leg from under him and sent him to the ground. Cam got up. The ninja attacked before the genius used the same move on the ninja.
The ninja stood up. "We teach only students that move." The ninja growled, standing up. "Where did you learn it?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told," Cam told him.
"Try me." The ninja charged again. A glow from the waterfall stopped him.
"That is enough, Kanoi." The headmaster told the ninja before the fight could continue.
"Kanoi?" Cam questioned.
The ninja only stood up, pulling off his mask. He turned around with an angry expression. "Sensei, I caught this intruder," Kanoi told his headmaster. "He knows our ways, our techniques."
"Give them test uniforms and have them join the new students." The headmaster instructed. "We'll know if they're meant to be."
"Test uniform?" Cam asked. "You still have-"
The headmaster cut him off. "Until we can decide whether you belong to Air, Earth, or Water, you'll wear no color." The headmaster explained. "And Kanoi, don't be late for class again. I'm questioning your commitment to your ninja training." He told the Air Ninja. The headmaster turned around and walked through the portal he created.
"Looks like someone's in the ninja dog house." Cam smiled.
"Don't push your luck." Kanoi snapped. "And stop staring at me."
"Sorry, you remind me of someone," Cam told him.
"Follow me." Kanoi breathed, heading towards the waterfall. He threw his hand in front of him and disappeared in a flash of light.
"Coming… father." Cam sighed. He heard a weird sound coming from his pocket. Cam pulled the Scroll of Time out of his pocket and unrolled it. On the page, some writing had disappeared. He shoved it back in his pocket, taking the step into the ninja academy.
Back in the present, the drained Rangers stood frozen. "I must transport them back to Ninja Ops," Sensei stated. He hopped around the keys of Cam's computer. "Where our force field will protect them." He hit the main button.
In a matter of seconds, all seven Rangers were standing in Ninja ops. Crystal stumbled backward and yelped when she hit the ground. "Are you okay?" Tori turned around to see the sprawled out Gold Ranger.
"Except for my pride, fine," Crystal muttered. She rolled over to her side with the nudge from Lucy. All the other ninjas stretched out on the floor. Blake took the table with Tori leaning on his leg. Crystal laid back, her head finding Hunter's leg.
"Comfy?" Hunter looked at her. Crystal looked up at him and nodded.
"Oh, man, what's the deal?" Blake questioned, sitting up.
"I'm so weak." Hunter groaned, leaning against the table.
"Save your energy, Rangers," Sensei advised. "I have engaged Cam's teleportation system to bring you to safety, for now."
"Where is Cam?" Tori asked, looking around Ninja Ops.
"He has embarked upon a journey that could very well determine the fate of the world as we know it," Sensei explained.
"Nothing like the weight of the world on your shoulders there," Crystal muttered. She rolled to her side and closed her eyes.
Back at the Wind academy, Cam was staring at the platform in front of them. "Students. Stand at ease." The headmaster ordered. The trained students fell into a state with their hands behind their backs. "In the tradition of the Wind Ninja Academy, we must welcome our new students with a demonstration." He told the group. "Our best fighter, Kanoi," The Headmaster looked down at the boy that was kneeling to the side of the platform. "will show the sword technique of the air ninja." All the masters moved off stage, Kanoi stood up.
As they were watching, Cam noticed that an earth ninja was standing next to him. He had the same look as Kanoi, but his hair was slicked back. "Kanoi talks tough." He spoke. "But he can be beaten." The earth ninja spoke. "I should know." The ninja smugly smiled.
"You two…" Cam started putting two and two together. "You're…"
"Twins." The earth ninja answered. He breathed. "I'm Kiya. Lucky for me, I got all the personality in the family." Kiya shrugged. "Kanoi got the good looks."
"I can't believe Dad never told me," Cam muttered.
"What?"
"Uh, nothing," Cam told Kiya. "It's been a strange day."
"For our next demonstration, we'll need a volunteer." The headmaster spoke. He walked the front line, which included the new students. He stopped at Cam, then moved to the student beside him. They had a mask on. They took the sword and bowed their head.
"But, Sensei, this is a new student." Kanoi pointed out. "The fight is unfair."
"We will see." The headmaster answered, smiling a bit. "You may begin." He called. The new student arrived on the platform.
The student and Kanoi bowed to each other, starting their fight. It ended with the student knocking Kanoi off the platform in the crowd of ninjas. Cam and Lucy stared at the student. "The only time I've seen sword technique like that was from a…" Cam trailed off.
"Samurai," Kiya spoke. Kanoi got up and growled. He flipped onto the stage. He breathed and stared at the sword in front of him, blocking the swing. The student flipped him to the ground, and his arm pinned to his back.
"Excellent, Miko." Sensei congratulated.
"Miko?" Kanoi climbed to his feet and breathed. "That's the name of a girl." The student pulled off her mask and shook her hair out. Few people had their eyes on Miko, others were plain confused.
Cam stared at the woman. "Mom?"
"He's a she." Kanoi stuttered. "I mean, she's a girl."
"That seems fairly obvious." The headmaster smiled. "Kanoi, meet your victor… Miko." Miko bowed.
"But her sword work… it's not the Wind ninja way," Kanoi told his teacher.
"Very observant," Miko spoke. "I was trained as a Samurai by my father."
"Sensei, this school's bound by tradition," Kanoi said. "There are no women allowed here." He looked at Miko.
"Yet, there are two standing on the grounds." Lucy snapped. Kanoi glared at her.
"Why, are you afraid of a girl?" Kiya suggested, earning mutters of agreement from the rest of the ninjas. "Maybe our traditions need to change."
"Oh, you like breaking the rules, don't you, brother?" Kanoi snapped. Kiya stared at him. "I know what you get up to in your free time."
"Watch what you say, brother." Kiya pointed to Kanoi. "One shouldn't make accusations without proof to back them up." He detailed.
"Enough," The headmaster announced, settling the fight and the crowd. "She has displayed impressive skills. I will allow Miko to enroll here as the first female ninja in the school's history." The headmaster informed his student. Kanoi shook his head, marching off stage.
"Thank you, Sensei." Miko smiled, turning to her fellow ninjas and bowing. When she stood up, there was a green pendant hanging from her neck. Cam stared at it. Miko looked down and saw that the pendant was hanging out. She shoved it back into her shirt and smiled at the crowd.
Later, after the morning, Miko was found in the woods. She was training, away from the males of the academy. Abruptly, Kiya was standing in front of Miko, the latter having her sword pointed at him.
"Please. Don't stop." Kiya said. Miko belted her sword. Kiya looked at the pendant around her neck. "The pendant… it's beautiful. May I?" He asked. He leaned closer to her.
Miko placed her hand over the pendant. "I'm sorry." She apologized, backing up from Kiya. "It's a family heirloom." She explained. "You understand."
Kiya stood up and backed away. "Of course." He nodded. He then leaned forward and his eyes grew black. "Tell me about it." He ordered. Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Let me see that amulet." Miko froze, her hand slipping away from the pendant. It shined green. Kiya's eyes returned to white.
"Am I interrupting?" Cam asked, looking at Kiya and Miko. Cam walked down the hill. Miko shook her head. "I'm sorry. Miko… I wanted to talk to you about your Samurai technique." Cam told the two.
"Of course." Miko smiled, tucking her pendant back under her shirt.
"I must go." Kiya almost sneered. "We'll talk later." He told Miko, walking away. Cam watched Kiya leave.
"How did you learn those moves?" Cam asked. He and Miko walked through the Academy.
"The samurai spirit has always been a part of my family for generations," Miko explained.
"Along with the amulet?" Cam questioned. The two continued down the path.
"Yes," Miko answered, glancing over at him. "It was a gift to me from my father." They continued walking through the training area. "Tell me about your family." She stared at him.
"Well, my father's my sensei," Cam told her. "My mother died when I was young."
Miko turned her head. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"She was an exceptional warrior," Cam explained. "My father says she would never approve of the life I've chosen—of me doing what I'm doing."
"I have a feeling if she could see you now," Miko turned to him. "She might feel the opposite." With that, Miko walked off to her tent.
"Thanks… mom." Cam smiled. The two took off. Only stopping when a whirring sound came out of Cam's pocket. Cam shoved his glasses on his face and pulled the Scroll of time out. "All right, I get it." He spoke to the paper. "The letters are stronger when I'm near the amulet. What am I supposed to do about it?"
Inside the tent, Miko placed her amulet down, delicately, before bowing. She disappeared behind a screen and pulled out a paper to write a letter. Everything was quiet, especially when the mysterious ninja appeared in her tent. They grabbed the amulet and took off, but knocked over a water glass.
Miko turned. "Cam?" She questioned. The ninja bolted out the door. "Wait! That's mine!" She called out, taking off after the ninja. She had chased the student out but lost them in the woods.
Cam stood in the woods. He turned his head when he saw a faint green light. Miko jumped out at him, pushing him to the ground. She twisted one of his arms behind his back. "Where is it?" She demanded, almost snarling in his ear. "Where did you take it?" She held his arm tighter against his back.
"What are you talking about?" Cam winced at the pain. Miko was confusing Cam. He didn't understand what she was talking about.
"Give it back and I'll make sure that your punishment is merciful!" Miko snapped.
A few ninjas appeared around the two. Kanoi led the group. He spoke up. "As Captain of the Ninja guard, I must place you under arrest." He pointed to Cam.
"What's going on?" Cam yelled, dragged away from Miko; the girl following him.
While a few of the ninjas pushed Cam back to the academy, Kanoi spotted something. It was a faint green light. "What's that?" He asked quietly, moving towards the light.
Cam knew it was bad. He accompanied to the center of the stage; the ninjas holding him broke off to the sides of the stage. More ninja stood off to the side, hitting the heads of the mighty drums. Once the guard reached the sides, the drums finished their music and held still. Cam searched the crowd. Miko was in the front, glaring daggers at him.
"You stand accused of stealing from a fellow student." The headmaster shouted, standing behind Cam. "We've heard from several eyewitnesses who saw you commit this crime. Do you have anything to say?" He challenged.
Cam immediately found Miko in the crowd. "Miko, I would never do this to you." He told her.
The headmaster spoke up once more. "The law of the Wind Ninja Academy does not waver this issue. Those guilty of breaking the ninja code become banished. The evidence seems irrefutable." Cam kept his gaze with Miko. The headmaster continued talking. "I will now pass judgment on the accused."
Back in the present-day, all the ninja's sat around the table. Hunter sat on the floor with a sleeping Gold Ranger on his leg. Lucy was lying in front of her. Tori and Blake sat on the table. Shane and Dustin leaned on it. "Cam has gone back in time to get help," Sensei spoke to his drained Rangers. "But if he does not return before time resumes, I fear that Madtroplis will destroy our planet."
Tori lifted her head to the sky. "Come on, Cam, we need you."
"My judgment is that I find you…" The headmaster started.
" Not guilty."
The voice broke the silence. The population of the academy gasped at the statement. All the crowd turned in shock to find Kanoi holding a student in a colorless uniform. Kanoi ripped off the mask to expose Kiya standing between the two.
Miko stepped forward, "Kiya?" Miko questioned, shell-shocked.
Kanoi pushed Kiya towards the front. "Now, tell the truth." He snarled, shoving Kiya to the ground.
The earth ninja grunted when his body connected with the stage. Kiya looked upwards. "I'm the one who took the amulet." He confessed.
"I caught him in the woods. Trying to use black magic to unlock the amulet." Kanoi crossed his arms, his hand around the amulet.
Kiya placed his hands on the ground. "You always knew how to spoil a party, didn't you, brother?"
"Any use of black powers will be immediate expulsion." The headmaster spoke. "This is the first rule of the Wind Ninja Academy. Have you anything to say, Kiya?"
The ninja rose to his feet. "Not really," Kiya spoke. He stood at his full height. "I'm more of a man of action." He lifted his head to the sky. He turned his sights on the headmaster, blasting him and some surrounding ninjas to the ground. Twisting around, Kiya blasted all the students but Kanoi. The earth ninja blasted Kanoi, knocking the air ninja on his butt. The amulet went flying from his hands to Miko, who wanted to catch it, but Kiya blasted her. She spun in the air, kicking the amulet to Cam. The boy caught it.
Kanoi sat up. "Stop him!" He yelled at Kiya.
Kiya turned around and pointed his finger at his brother. "This is between me and the new kid!" He screamed. Then he yelled, throwing his hands in the air. An inky purple and green force field appeared, containing Cam and Kiya.
"We can't get through! It's a force field." One student observed.
"Pity," Kiya yelled over the powerful winds that became contained in the bubble. "Things were going so well until you and your friend showed up." He sounded disgusted.
"Sorry to spoil your fun," Cam yelled out. He placed the Samurai amulet around his neck.
Kiya sickly grinned at him. "You want to make it up to me." He spoke up. "Hand over the amulet." He ordered, bending down and picking up a fallen sword.
Cam picked up the other one. "I can't do that." He told Kiya. The two circled each other.
"Well, then…" Kiya continued to round a circle with Cam standing opposite of him. "I'll have to take it from you." With that, Cam yelled, charging Kiya. Both swung and paired, neither hitting each other. Then that developed into a grudge match with their swords. "You're a stubborn one," Kiya mentioned.
"It runs in the family," Cam told him. Kiya tried to reach for the amulet but shifted the sword fight so they were shoulder to shoulder.
"Give me the amulet." Kiya sneered. "Or you'll regret ever crossing my path."
"Like I already don't," Cam replied. He pushed Kiya back. Every time that Cam would get close, Kiya would knock him on his butt. It ended when Kiya sent Cam rolling on the ground. The boy hit the force field and groaned.
Kiya towered over him. "You put up quite a fight," He commented, yanking Cam to his feet. "But now, prepare to meet your fate." The ninja shoved Cam to ground and stood over him yet again.
Cam climbed to his feet, holding his own against Kiya. The Earth ninja had his sword pressed against Cam's in a grudge match. Both were under the strain of each other before the Samurai Amulet glowed. Kiya let up as the amulet let out an intense light, wrapping around his arms. It pushed him against the top of the bubble. Kiya came down, hitting the ground hard. The bubble disappeared. Kiya sat up, screaming in anger.
"Are you okay?" Miko questioned Cam, helping her up. A few students held Kiya down to the ground.
"Yeah," Cam answered. He opened his mouth to say more.
Miko stared at the amulet. Kanoi stood behind Miko. "The Samurai amulet had found its rightful owner."
Cam glanced down at it. "This is yours." He told her. "I can't take this."
"You must," Miko answered. "That's why you can here, isn't it?" She questioned.
"You think you can stop me from harnessing the darkest powers in the universe?" Kiya spoke up. "I will rule this world." Kiya sneered. "And all others with my reach." He told everyone.
"You've brought this fate upon yourself." The headmaster spoke. "You will be cast adrift in the universe where your black ninja powers may cause no harm." The headmaster pointed to Kiya. "You are hereby stripped of your ninja rank, and the man known as Kiya will no longer exist."
"I have no use for your archaic ways or worthless name." Kiya sneered. "From now on, I will take the name of the ancient warrior of evil! From this point forth, I am… Lothor!" He cackled.
"No!" Cam yelled. He wanted to run to Lothor, but Kanoi stopped him before he could do anything. The headmaster threw his hand out, creating a white orb and sending it to Kiya.
The disgraced ninja yelled; his body materialized in a bubble. He hollered, wanting someone to break him out. "I will not forget the part you played in this, brother!" Lothor yelled. "I will have my revenge." He snarled.
"Be gone, Lothor." Sensei sent his hand into the air, sending Lothor up with it.
Cam struggled against the headmaster's arm. "He has to be destroyed!" He fought. "What if he comes back?" He questioned.
"We can only judge someone by their actions in the present," The headmaster told Cam. "Not by a future we cannot see."
"Please, trust me on this," Cam replied. "We have to destroy him now." There was a beeping noise. Cam pulled the Scroll of Time out of his uniform. He opened the scroll, revealing the fading words.
"Use the amulet," Miko told him, stepping up to the side of Cam.
"Wait." Cam stopped. "How will I know — There's so much I want to ask you, so much I want to tell you."
"Goodbye, Cam." Miko smiled. "Good luck." She shared a look with Kanoi, who came up behind her. The teenager left the period of twin brothers and black magic behind.
Crystal woke up when she felt something off. Opening her eyes, the blonde found her sister sitting up slowly. Hunter and Lucy helped the Golf Ranger up. She looked down to find her hand turning invisible. Lucy stared at her, watching Crystal's hand.
"Sensei, what's happening?" Tori asked, also looking down at her hand.
"Time is resuming its correct course," Sensei explained. "You will return to where you were the moment time stopped."
"That could either be good or bad," Lucy muttered, disappeared.
All the drained Rangers appeared back in their spots. Madtroplis screamed when he stepped over to the Rangers. Shane turned around, hearing a distant engine whine. "What's that noise?" Shane asked. Crystal and Lucy grew grins. They watched a whirling bird appear in the sky.
"Look!" Tori pointed them out. The other Rangers followed suit.
The Rangers watched the Green Ranger step out of his zord. He was hanging on and whipping the thing on his side to where his lips would be. "Hello, Power Rangers." He spoke into the thing, making his voice more amplified. "Looks lie you could use a little help." He told them. Shane sort of smirked. "Green Samurai Ranger at your service."
"Hey!" Madtropolis yelled. "Who are you?" He demanded. Hunter and Crystal shared a look, turning their heads to watch the battle.
"I'm the Ranger that will bring you down." The Green Ranger answered. He returned to his cockpit, placed his sword in the holder. Lasers fired from the shoulders of the chopper. The monster howled in pain.
"Two can play at that game." Madtropolis kicked the creature away from him, sending lasers to the chopper. The helicopter moved aside.
The Green Ranger smirked under his helmet. "Is that the best you got?" He questioned. "Samurai Star Megazord." The zord transformed into a Megazord. "Bee Spinner. Locked and dropped." He called. A bee-like spinner popped out of the sphere, and the Megazord grabbed onto the handle. The Megazord let the bumblebee rip, hitting the monster, destroying Madtropolis in seconds.
"Ha-ha!" Shane laughed.
"Yeah." The rest of the boys cheered. Crystal and Lucy tapped forearms, smiling.
The Samurai Star Megazord landed on the ground. The Ranger jumped out. They landed in front of the rest of the team. "Is it me or is there a guy in Green Ranger gear over there?" Dustin slurred.
"No, dude." Shane shook his head. "I see it, too."
"Yeah, you guys said nothing about a green one," Blake spoke up.
Hunter glanced at Shane. "Way to hold out on us."
"News to us too, dude," Lucy crossed her arms over her chest, lifting an eyebrow.
"We're all hallucinating," Dustin suggested.
"You're not hallucinating, Dustin." Cam's voice flowed from the helmet.
The Yellow Ranger shared a look with Hunter. "How do you know my name?" Dustin stood, shell-shocked.
The Green Ranger nodded. "Why wouldn't I know your name?" He asked. Tori smirked, knowing who it was. The morph of the Green Ranger disappeared, leaving Cam in the Ranger's place. All the Rangers smiled, relieved to see that it was someone they knew under the helmet.
"This is gonna be awesome." Lucy smiled, earning a grin from Cam.
Next Episode: Samurai's Journey: Part III
