Ninja Storm: Rise of the Eclipse- Chapter 25: Shimazu's Return: Part I
Disclaimer: Saban owns all Power Ranger lines. I only own Crystal and Lucy and anything else unrecognizable.
It was one of the quieter days for the Rangers. Where there were no monsters, no Lothor to deal with. And they were taking full advantage of the day. None of the Ranger even went to Ninja Ops. They hoped that if they didn't go, they wouldn't get in a fight with Lothor. Tori, Dustin, Shane, and Lucy sat in the lounge of Storm Chargers. The three Winds were waiting for their favorite show to turn on. The Silver Ranger was sitting in a beanbag chair, reading her book with headphones on. Crystal glanced at them from her spot behind the counter. She rolled her eyes, disappearing to the back to get some work down.
"Hi there, couch potatoes," The host spoke up. "Stu Starmaker here. This is the place where dreams become reality — 'Totally Talented'!" He introduced. "Plenty of lucky contestants, all potential stars but only one gets to go to Hollywood to fulfill their dream." Stu didn't get any further into his introduction. Kelly marched into the lounge, flipping the TV off. She placed her hand on her hip, staring down at the four Rangers sitting.
"Hey!" Dustin called out. "What was that for?"
"We were watching that," Shane added.
"You have to be kidding me." Kelly finally spoke. "You don't watch this, do you?" She asked. The three teens grumbled in response. "This is an action sports shop," She placed her hands on her hips. "There will be no trash TV viewing here. Sorry." She walked away.
"Yo, what's up guys?" Blake asked, stopping in front of the three Rangers. Hunter stopped next to him, hands in his pockets. The Navy Ranger looked back at the black screen. "Where's Stu?"
Shane sighed. "Denied,"
Hunter shrugged. "Oh, well, I was sick of watching it anyway,"
At that point, Lucy dropped her headphones in her lap while Crystal ventured over to the team. The blonde scrunched her face while stopping next to her boyfriend. "You make me watch it with you when we're hanging out and it's on," Hunter rolled his eyes, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"You two did not just bag on Stu," Dustin pointed at the blonde couple.
"I said I was sick of watching it," Hunter rephrased. "But not being on it," He clapped hands with Blake while smiling.
Shane leaned back on his forearms. "What's the deal?" He asked, throwing a leg over his other.
Blake held up a poster. "They're looking for future stars," He smiled. "That's us. We try out next week,"
"What do you guys do?" Dustin questioned, earning a chuckle from the team.
Blake's smile dropped. "Hey, we do plenty,"
Lucy snorted. "Like what? You couldn't take us out when we fought each other," She pointed out. Crystal pointed at her sister, agreeing with her.
Hunter and Blake stared at the sisters. "You didn't take us out either," The tall blond shot back.
"You hit me over the head with a frying pan two weeks after meeting me," Crystal shot back. Her hand went to the back of her head. "I still have the bump from it."
"I didn't hit you that hard," Hunter argued.
"Tell that to my dented frying pan I can never use again," Crystal grumbled, pulling away from her boyfriend. She disappeared into a different part of the store, away from the blond. Lucy knew that if she had continued the conversation, she would have taken Hunter out.
"You know, Shane, you have a great voice," Tori pointed out. "You should try out,"
Shane hit Tori on her knee. "What about you, Tori? You're a fierce dancer."
"Hey, and me… Sax master extraordinaire." Dustin smiled.
"Yo, yo, yo, hold on a sec," Blake butted in. "You guys are cutting into our action here,"
"I gotta go practice." Tori scrambled from the couch. "There a jazz class at 7." She stated, leaving the store.
"Hey, Kelly!" Dustin yelled, standing from the couch. "Can I use the backroom to practice my sax?"
The brothers huffed. "I don't believe it," Hunter grumbled. The two sat down on the couch.
"I told you we should've kept it on the DL." Blake threw the poster at his brother. He turned to the Silver Ranger, who was sitting near the TV. "You and Crystal gonna sign up too?"
The brunette looked up from her book, pulling an earbud out. "I'm sorry, what's happening?" She asked, looking around. "Where'd everyone go?"
"Gone, out to practice." Crystal came back. She sat down next to Hunter. "Dustin kicked me out of the back and no, we aren't as talented as you think,"
Hunter snorted. "Sure, you two can take on a monster all by yourselves and not be out of breath," He turned to his girlfriend.
"Believe what ya want." Crystal stood. "But I got nothin'." She walked away. Lucy wasn't too far behind her.
After Crystal's shortened shift, the two took off from the team. They ended up in the forest, isolated from the world. Strapped to the back of the Gold Ranger was a guitar case. Bulky but fragile, the guitar in the case was one of Crystal's prized possessions. The two needed to get away from the team, hoping that the silence of the forest would keep them sane. But Crystal's morpher ruined the unspoken silence.
Lucy huffed. "This better be good,"
Crystal lifted her morpher. "Brewer,"
"Saw you two out in the forest," Cam spoke up. "Wanna take a trip with me?"
"Where?" Lucy asked, her hands on her hips.
"Meet me at the Museum of Asian History,"
Crystal breathed. "See ya there." She told him, cutting the connection. "Sorry, the concert's canceled,"
"Eh, not really feeling the hike we have to finish." Lucy peered over at the large hill that was behind the two. "That is one massive hill," She muttered to Crystal.
"Come on, ya goober," Crystal pushed Lucy forward. The two returned to Crystal's jeep to go meet Cam.
"Cam, what are we doing here?" Lucy asked, seeing the genius walk up to them. The sisters were sitting on the steps of the museum. Lucy stood first, wiping the dust from her shorts. Crystal stood, following her sister's lead. She dusted the dirt from her jeans, wiping her hands on her thighs.
"My father wanted me to collect something," Cam explained, climbing the stairs to the museum. "Figured you guys could help,"
"Always able to." Crystal smiled, stuffing her hands into her back pockets.
A few minutes later, the three were in the back of the museum with the director. They were all looking through the shelves of the storage room. "I know it's here somewhere," The director said, walking down an aisle. "Let me see." He stopped in front of a box. "Here it is," he tapped it.
"You know what's in it?" Cam asked.
"I was hoping you would tell me," The director told the three. He patted Cam on the back, walking away from the three.
Crystal lifted it off the shelves. "Only one way to find out," She told the two. The blonde leaned down the see the inscription on the box. "'Stand united as one, as the power is yours. Play a riff, and call forth the elephant of old'. Wonder why it's carved into the crate and not the inside box,"
Lucy reached over, her hand ready to open the box. But a crash made the three Rangers turn. Dressed in plaid dresses and pink berets, Marah and Kapri stood in front of the two. "Let me guess, field trip?" She asked, hands finding her hips.
"No!" Kapri stated, crossing her arms in anger. "Showoff,"
"Yeah, that was so last week." Marah brushed off.
The Rangers all raised an eyebrow when Motodrone came out of the aisles, draped in a cloak. "Perry?" Cam asked. "Is that…?"
"I have no use for Perry," Motodrone snarled at the three. "I am my own being. Brought to life but the great and powerful Lothor,"
"That's nice for you. But we have to go." Cam turned around, facing the sisters.
"Not before you hand that over," Motodrone stated.
Crystal hopped over the table. Lucy rounded it. Both stepped behind Cam. "If you want it so bad, come and take it," The blonde challenged.
Motodrone grabbed his cloak on the shoulder, ripping it off. The ninjas followed his lead, pulling their clothes off for their ninja suits. Crystal ran at Motodrone first. Motodrone kicked up, which Crystal pushed down. She and Motodrone switched places, with Crystal trying to punch him. Motodrone caught her arm, shoving her back. She rolled back, kicking him in the chest.
Lucy took her spot. She blocked a kick, then dodged a roundhouse. Motodrone ended up breaking a few pots on the shelves. He sent another kick, pushing Lucy back. He swung, breaking more pots. The Silver Ranger went to punch but ended up kicking Motodrone in the leg. Motodrone used that leg to push Lucy into the shelves. He hauled her up by her jacket, sending her flying over the table.
Cam scrambled to help Lucy up. When he saw what she had landed past, Cam made a break for the table, jumping up on it. When the golden monster reached for the box, the Green Ranger kicked him away. He jumped off the table, landing in front of Motodrone. The two grabbed each other on the shoulders, rotating around. Motodrone shoved Cam into a group of ancient pots. He shoved Cam into a bookshelf, then kicked him back. The green ninja went flying into boxes. Motodrone hoisted him up, shoving him into another shelving unit.
Crystal and Lucy stood right behind the table, eyeing Motodrone. The golden monster leaped for the box, flying. The golden ninja was faster. She grabbed the crate, pulling it away from the table, and watched Motodrone crash through it. The three ninjas took off, disappearing from the backroom.
After the fight, Crystal handed the crate to Cam, telling him he better get to Ops. The sisters took off, disappearing into the forest. Once again, Crystal's prized guitar was strapped to her back. They were halfway up the monstrous hill when Lucy's morpher rang. "Brewer," She huffed, planting her butt on the ground.
"Lucy, we have wolves in the forest," Shane reported. "Meet us at the semi,"
"Looks like we won't be able to play today," Crystal sighed, starting back down the hill. Lucy stayed put. "Don't make me drag your ass,"
"Any sign of them from the surveillance drone, Cam?" Shane questioned, standing behind the genius. The Wind Rangers were standing next to their leader while the Eclipse ninjas sat on their bikes.
"Well, I see nothing, but that doesn't mean there's nothing out there," Cam reported.
Shane slapped his hand on Cam's shoulder. "I say we do a little patrolling," He turned to Dustin.
"Where are the thunders?" Cam questioned.
"Totally secret talent show practice," Tori retorted.
Crystal turned. "Hunter messaged me that he was with Blake,"
"Not them, too," Cam sighed. Dustin and Shane chuckled. Suddenly the screen changed. "Wait, I'm picking something up." The camera zoomed in, finding Wolfblades hiding behind trees.
"I don't think this is gonna be easy." Lucy gulped, staring at the Wolfblade on the screen.
The Rangers decided that they were gonna patrol together. That would make it easier for the Wolfblades to find them. "They can't be too far away," Cam noted.
Footsteps were silent. "Okay, they're right behind us," Shane reported
"You sure about that?" Dustin asked.
Shane turned around. "Where?" He asked. When he heard growling, he ran over to his teammates. He looked over his shoulder, spotting the three Wolfblades appear behind them. "Guess it's time for some obedience training,"
"Lead the way," Tori called.
"Ready?"
"Ready,"
Ninja Storm, Ranger Form
Eclipse Storm, Ranger Form
Samurai Storm, Ranger Form
Ninja Ranger Power
Guardian of the Sun
Guardian of the Moon
The Three Winds flipped over the wolves while Cam and the sisters dodged them. The wolves charged, prompting the Rangers to pull out their form of a sword. One Wolfblade flipped Dustin while sidestepping Shane. Another wolf pulled Tori and Cam from the bunch, pushing Cam against a tree. The last one took on the Guardians, hissing when they attacked.
The white wolf, fed up with the Rangers, sped past the Rangers and Cam, knocking them to the ground. "All right, I'm taking suggestions," Shane regrouped his sword.
"Rolled-up newspaper?" Dustin fired off.
"How about one of those electric collars?" Tori tried.
There was a blur of gold and silver. In a blink, the Guardians had pushed the three Wolfblades back. The Silver Ranger swung her rapier, hitting the black wolf in the chest and causing sparks. Lucy struck the brown wolf with her rapier, pushing him back. "Run home and tell your master that he will never get what he wants," She snarled to it.
The wolf didn't seem to care. He went to swipe across Lucy's torso but a bright light stopped him. Crystal threw her arm out, blinding the wolves. The white wolf turned, striking Crystal on the shoulder, sending her crashing to the ground. Lucy tried to hold one-off but ended up being sent to the ground. The Wolfblades were about to shred the sisters when crimson blasts knocked them back. The brown wolf whipped around, finding Blake and Hunter standing across from them. Both had their specialty weapons and their staffs out. "Down, boy," Hunter commented.
"Bad dog," Blake held his staff in front of his face.
"Blake,"
"Hunter,"
The wolf shifted around, snarling and growling at the two Thunder Rangers. Finally, they turned, jumping back into the forest, disappearing from the Rangers' sight. The Winds, Thunder and Cam ran to where the wolves were standing. Cam glanced around. "Maybe they're afraid of thunder?" He tried.
Hunter moved to Crystal, who was lying on her back. "You okay?" He asked, kneeling beside her.
"Could be better," The blonde groaned. "The suit took most of the damage but that friggin' hurt," She sat up, her hand protecting her shoulder. Hunter hauled her up by her armpits.
Back at Ops, the primary Rangers settled in a circle around the table. Hunter, Blake, and Cam sat on it while the Winds took the end of the table. Lucy and Crystal moved to the bookcase, searching for a specific book. "Ah-ha!" Lucy yelled, lifting a rather thick looking book into the air. "Ninja Folklore," She smiled, moving to the table. She opened the book, thumbing through the pages until she reached the page she wanted. "Look at this," She slid the book on the table, near Cam.
"I saw him — it — at the museum," Cam pointed at the page. "But it was just a statue,"
"So, who is this guy, anyway?" Dustin questioned.
"The ancient warlord Shimazu," Crystal spoke up from the bookcase. The Rangers turned to see her with a different book in hand. She moved to stand near Sensei. "Ravaged a village 2,000 years ago. What we saw, Cam, was Shimazu's spirit preserved for centuries in a stone mask made in his image,"
"How do you know this?" The red ninja asked.
"What power do you think locked him away?" Lucy crossed her arms over her chest. "He'd terrorize the people of the village with creatures called Wolfblades. Snarling wolf-like monsters that destroy anything and everything in their path."
"So this guy and his Wolfblades are roaming around Blue Bay Harbor now?" Hunter clarified. Crystal and Lucy nodded. "How is that possible?"
"I bet that whatever energy source was used to bring back Motodrone rubbed off on Shimazu." Cam theorized.
"Great." Shane sighed. "Now we got a 2,000-year-old kabuki dude with an attitude and his three pet wolves running loose in the city,"
"Don't forget Lothor," Dustin added.
Tori rolled her eyes. "Trying to look on the bright side?" She quipped.
"Dustin brings up an excellent point," Sensei spoke up. "If Shimazu was brought to life by Motodrone, there is an excellent chance he has already aligned himself with Lothor,"
"See? Not so dumb," Dustin smiled, tapping his temple.
"But there is a catch," Lucy winced when she spoke. All the Rangers turned to her. "Shimazu put a curse on his Wolfblades, saying that only the power of the elephant of old can bring true death to the wolves,"
"Great, where are we even gonna find an elephant of old?" Tori dropped her head. She lifted it after a second. "Wait, what's the folklore behind your powers?" She turned to Lucy.
"It's said that when Shimazu burned the local village, the elders prayed for a solution; guardians of day and night. Ones who protect the village," Crystal answered, sitting on the edge of the table that wasn't occupied. "So, the gods blessed two sisters with the Solar Staff and the Lunar Lance as a way of defeating Shimazu. When they weren't needed anymore, the two sisters vanished, but not before their powers ended up at the academy,"
"Since then, the Eclipse Academy has been the keeper of the powers until now," Lucy added.
Cam stood from his spot, moving to his usual seat in front of the computer. Right when he sat down, the computer beeped. "What is it, Cam?" Shane asked, moving to lean on his chair. The rest of the Rangers trailed him, moving to surround the genius ninja.
The Green Ranger shook his head. "No sign of Shimazu, but I've got Motodrone on the scanner,"
"He's mine," Hunter stated. "You guys look for the three Wolfblades." He reached down, wrapping his hand around Crystal's hand, giving it a squeeze of assurance.
"All right, we'll take the forest," Shane agreed.
Cam typed on his keyboard. "And I'll track what's going on from the Samurai Star Chopper," All the Rangers moved to stand near each other.
"Ready?"
"Ready,"
Ninja Storm, Ranger Form
Thunder Storm, Ranger Form
Eclipse Storm, Ranger Form
Samurai Storm, Ranger Form
Power of Earth… Air… Water
Power of Thunder
Guardian of the Sun
Guardian of the Moon
Hunter took his Ninja Glider Cycle, riding through town. Coming up on the spot where Motodrone was standing, Hunter slowed his bike down. He stopped when he found Motodrone.
The golden monster had wrapped himself up in his cloak, standing near his bike. "Welcome to your nightmare, Crimson Ranger!" He reached up, pushing his hood off. "Remember me?" He snarled, letting his clock hit the ground.
Hunter pointed to Motodrone. "As if I could ever forget that face," Motodrone glowered, climbing onto his bike. "Ninja Glider Cycle," He revved the engine. The two charged each other, with Motodrone sending lightning at the blonde. It hit the barrels behind the crimson ninja, sending out a slight shock wave.
"Tori, Dustin, I got you on the tracking system," Cam reported from his zord. "You've got Three boats approaching,"
The brown Wolfblade jumped through the air, using its claws to strike Tori and Dustin. The two hit the ground, rolling to their knees. "We found 'em, Cam," The two scrambled to their feet. "Nice puppy. You wanna play fetch?" The Wolfblades only advanced.
"Better call in the others," Cam watched Tori and Dustin get advanced on. "Shane, Blake, Crystal, Lucy, Tori and Dustin need your help at the city square,"
Shane whipped his bike around. "On it," He turned to Blake, who stopped a few feet from him. "Got it?"
Blake threw him a thumbs up. "Got it," The two revved up, taking off towards the city center.
"Shane, Blake, Crystal, Lucy, Tori, and Dustin need your help at the city square,"
"You got it, Cam," Lucy acknowledged, swerving her bike around. She glanced around, spotting Crystal already turned. The two kick-started their bikes, taking off and bursting out of the woods.
"Easy, big fella," Tori tried. "Nice and easy,"
The black Wolfblade jumped up, intending on attacking Tori and Dustin. But, that plan failed when yellow lasers hit the Wolfblade right in the stomach. He fell to the ground, whimpering when he rolled. Shane and Blake rolled in one way while the sisters rolled in the other.
"What up, dog?" Blake asked, lifting his bike to land a jump. Tori and Dustin stood straight, smiling under their helmets. "Time your you to get housebroken," Blake swiftly moved to crouch on his bike. When he was ready, the Navy ranger pushed off, flying with his staff in hand. He struck the Wolfblade twice, turning around and striking again.
Shane followed the same motions Blake did. He shoved off his bike, slicing at a Wolfblade. The white Wolfblade kicked, but Shane blocked. The Red Ranger kicked the brown one, but he blocked it. The two switched places.
"Careful, Shane, they might have rabies," Tori advised.
The white Wolfblade wrapped his arms around the Red Ranger while the brown one circled. "Their bark is worse than their bite," Shane muttered, swinging wildly.
"Anyone got a silver bullet?" Dustin fired off.
"No, but does a silver lance work?" Lucy yelled, calling on her secondary weapon. She whacked one mutt with the butt of her lance, drawing his attention from Shane. He turned to her, snarling while he shifted around.
Crystal stopped near Tori and Dustin. The Yellow Ranger noticed a figure, looking exactly like Shimazu's statue, appear. "Come, on Power Rangers," he sat up from where he was lying on a bench. "Don't you know wolves can smell fear? You've obviously sent them into a feeding frenzy,"
Dustin clenched his fist. "The only ones who should be afraid is you,"
"And whoever designed that ridiculous outfit," Tori added.
"You're gonna wish you stayed a statue!" Crystal snapped, calling on her staff.
The warlord turned to the golden guardian. "Oh, my lovely sunspot," Shimazu clapped. He seemed to have forgotten about the other Rangers. "Where is my little moonbeam?" He glanced around until his eyes found the silver guardian holding a Wolfblade back.
"You lost once," Crystal walked closer to him. "You will lose again,"
"Why would I be afraid of children?" Shimazu snipped. "Your team is useless,"
"He did not just call us children," Shane practically snarled.
"Let's work this loser," Blake held his staff up.
The Rangers were about to charge when Crystal and Lucy stopped them. They held their weapons out, blocking the four from charging the warlord. "He's ours," Lucy glowered. "You handle the Wolfblades,"
The sisters heard the Rangers move, starting to take on the wolves of the warlord they stood across from. Both gripped their weapon tight, trying to not lash out at the warlord. Then Crystal charged. She relinquished her staff, wanting it to be an even fight between the two.
Shimazu dodged a punch, throwing his arm up to block her other punch. He went for a kick, hitting Crystal in the shin. It didn't stop the Ranger. She kicked up, striking his side. Shimazu backed up, curling his fist. He grabbed her flying fist, whirling her around until she was stumbling to her sister. The golden ninja stood straight, glowering under her helmet. She took off again, swinging over Shimazu's head. The warlord ducked and blocked, dancing around the Ranger's swings. He slammed his hand into Crystal's helmet, pushing the girl away.
Lucy took that opportunity. She charged Shimazu, swinging the bottom of her staff up, hitting him in the arm. He pushed it away, sending a punch of his own. The silver ninja dodged, but the warlord was faster. He slammed her into the ground, holding her there. The Silver Ranger struggled under him. She flung her leg up, hitting him in the side. Shimazu didn't even flinch. "You have a lot to learn, little warrior," He snarled. "You can start with respecting your elders. That goes for your little playmates, too,"
Dustin turned from the Wolfblade. "Lucy!" He called, bring the attention of everyone to the golden guardian. The Wolfblades stepped in front of Shimazu and Lucy. The warlord hauled Lucy to her feet, keeping one of her arms twisted behind her back.
Blake curled his hand around his staff. "Let her go!" He snapped.
"As you wish," Shimazu shoved Lucy away, sending her rolling on the ground. The Rangers surrounded her, with Crystal holding Lucy up.
"Lucy, you all right?" Tori asked.
"Allow me to help," Shimazu sent a bolt of lightning at the six. They yelled out, but when the cloud of smoke disappeared, all that was left was their suits. "A childish ploy. Unfit for a warrior, especially the retched guardians. No matter, I will find you and once I do…" The Wolfblades howled.
The Rangers heard the Wolfblades above them. They were crouching down underneath a stairwell, trying to make it harder for the pets to find them. They all stopped when they saw shadows of one Wolfblades poke out from the side of the top of the stairwell. Crystal's morpher beeped. "Shane, I've got Motodrone at the beach, but the Wolfblades are right around the corner from you," Cam reported.
Lucy leaned on her legs. "As long as I'm not pinned by that monster again," Crystal agreed.
"We'll take care of the fleabags," Blake motioned to himself and the other Rangers around him.
"Okay," Shane nodded, turning his helmeted head to his morpher. "I'm on my way, Cam,"
"Good luck!" Tori called out. The five watched Shane take off, ninja streaking off to take on Motodrone.
"We aren't out of the woods yet," Crystal muttered.
The five rounded the stairwell, finding the three Wolfblades standing at the top. Blake stepped toward them. "Man, don't these dogs ever lie down?" He asked.
The Wolfblades snarled, speeding past the five and striking them from everywhere. One Wolfblade grabbed Dustin by the collar, slamming him into a window, letting him fall to the ground. The Wolfblade struck again while his friends grabbed Dustin's arms. "Dudes, I'm getting thrashed here," He called.
"Time to send you to the pound," Tori pulled her ninja blaster from her back. She fired some shots, sending the Wolfblades away from where Dustin was lying. The Wolfblades rolled while the Rangers regrouped. "You fleabags need collars,"
"And muzzles," Dustin added.
"Where's animal control when you need them?" Blake asked.
Just then, Shimazu appeared, standing above the Rangers. "You, again?!" He sounded appalled. "I'd be impressed…" The Rangers turned to him. "If I weren't so annoyed," He blew a whistle.
"Keep dreamin', Shimazu," Lucy crossed her arms over her chest. She turned when the Wolfblades snarled and howled. They charged the five Rangers.
The Wolfblades knocked away the sisters with Tori and Dustin. That left Blake to stand alone against them. They stood around him, clawing at him and sending him flying. He hit the ground painfully while the four other Rangers regrouped around him. "Okay, guys, we need an alternative plan," Blake told them.
"I'm open for anything," Lucy stated.
"Yeah, the cujos aren't cooperating," Tori held her arm.
"Ideas?" Dustin asked.
Crystal glanced around. "Follow my lead," She stated. The Rangers stepped back. "This way," She took off running. The rest of the Rangers not too far behind her. They ran around the center, trying to lose the Wolfblades on their tail.
"Split up!" Blake called, running one way. The other Rangers took opposite directions. But the Wolfblades didn't like that. They turned to find Blake standing there. "Here, doggie, doggie, doggie," The pack jumped on Blake, tackling him to the ground. "Got for it," He called.
The two Wind Rangers pulled their blasters from their backs. "Fire," They called, firing off a few shots. They knocked the pack of wolves back but didn't keep them down for long. They turned, lining up in front of the four Rangers. They charged. "Come on," Dustin took off, but Tori wasn't fast enough.
The Wolfblades pounced on her, but she would have gotten three if it weren't for the sisters. They stopped two of the Wolfblades with their weapons. Both had shoved the shaft of their staff into the mouth of one of the Wolfblades. They shoved them aside, sending the two rolling on the ground.
"It's still got me," Tori called, referring to the one that was still holding her.
"Let her go," Dustin called, firing more lasers at the pups.
The Wolfblades regroup in front of the five Rangers. "All right, this calls for desperate measures," Shimazu blew his whistle. But instead of the Wolfblades attacking the Rangers and Guardians, they attacked themselves. They took each other down, snarling and clawing. "No, stop. What are you doing?!"
"Huh?" The Rangers asked.
"Call it guys." Crystal stepped back, letting the three other Rangers handle the monsters.
"Ninja Power!" The three called. They flipped, striking the three Wolfblades. They sparked, howling and screaming until they were nothing but bubbles.
Crystal and Lucy moved over to the three. "Can we bail on this doghouse?" The Silver Ranger questioned. The others agreed, taking off from the plaza.
When the five Rangers returned to Ops, they found Cam, Shane, and Hunter already there. Crystal stopped by Hunter, sighing while she felt a squeeze in her hand. Assurance. The regrouped Rangers moved to gather around the computer, where Sensei had settled himself. "You have all done well, but I'm afraid Shimazu has proven himself a worthy opponent,"
"No kidding," Dustin spoke up. "Those wolves were dogging us big time,"
"Unfortunately, they're not done," Cam pressed a button on his keyboard. The computer screen changed to show the three colored bubbles reform. Each image was a different part of a large three-headed Wolfblade.
"No way!" Tori complained.
"You have got to be kidding me," Shane groaned.
Crystal dropped her head. "This just got ten times worse,"
Lucy leaned on her sister's back, watching the video with the rest of the Rangers. She paled. "I think we're gonna need a bigger stick,"
Next Episode: Shimazu's Return: Part II
