The drive to the town of Millport was pretty quiet all things considered. Dane was thankful that Brody seemed more interested in the surroundings than talking, because he was a little deep in thought as they drove.
He loved having his boys back in his life. His time in the Nexus Prism was something he couldn't describe. In a lot of ways, being ripped from it, coming back to Earth was like being ripped from paradise and dumped in a wasteland. It wasn't like everything was provided for him. There was no sandy beach, no eternal buffet, no cinema showing all his favourite old movies, it wasn't even like he could remember any kind of physical feeling at all. He wasn't even sure he had a body; it was just more a feeling of contentment. Dane had never been a religious man, but with one exception, the fact he did not have his wife and his sons with him, he would have easily been convinced this was the concept of "Heaven" he had heard so many people talk about.
Coming back to Earth did bring with it a lot of negative feelings he just didn't get. Now, things could feel cold. Things could feel painful; he could feel regret and remorse. Having been in the peaceful limbo of the Nexus Prism, coming back to Earth would have seemed almost like a punishment if it wasn't for the fact he got to see his sons again. It caused him pangs of regret that they were now grown. That he had missed out on their childhoods. He hadn't seen them grow up and become who they were today. That said, having his sons back made this preferable to where he had been.
He was troubled by the thought of the diary. There was a time that he had loved the Wind Ninja Academy as much as anything else in his life. He hadn't had much in his life before he went. He had actually been brought there as a child himself and lived most of his life there. He had grown into a man there; he had learned almost everything he knew there. He had met his wife and had his children there. He was convinced at one time he would end his days there, but something happened that changed all that.
No one really knew what happened to his wife. There was a lot of medical talk and a lot of technical terms thrown around, but when all was said and done, no one really knew why his wife, an energetic and unstoppable spirit fell ill. She just kind of weakened by the day shortly after Brody was born. Within days, she was gone. Suddenly, the Wind Ninja Academy wasn't a home for Dane anymore. The people he saw every day, the forests he used to walk with his wife, the Sensei Quarters they shared...everything was a painful reminder of what he had lost. In the end, when he saw his children were suffering as a result of his inability to function any longer when the ghost of his wife was literally in everything he saw, he decided he had to leave. For the sake of his sanity and his children, he packed up his few possessions and left Blue Bay Harbour and everyone he knew behind.
It was understandable that his sons would go there to find answers. Levi had explained his flashbacks, and how he had discerned that the Wind Ninja Academy was where his past lay. He was glad that allowed him to remember who he really was, even if he still did choose to be Levi. The diary though troubled him in a way. Mariko...she had been a dear friend, a member of the family at one time, one he hadn't seen since he had left the Academy. He hadn't honestly thought much about her since then. Now though, he couldn't help thinking about the diary, and wondering what could be inside.
"Dad, there's a space over there!" Brody told him, bringing his attention back. "DAD!"
Dane finally came back to his senses and turned in, parking up the truck. They both got out, onto the "street" which didn't even have asphalt. It was more of a trail than a road, and the sides of the street were still wooden walkways. Brody smiled broadly as he looked around.
"Wow, I honestly don't think this place has changed at all!" He said gleefully. "Hey, look, the ice-cream store is still there...I think that sign was...holy cow, they do the same sundae I that they did when I was a kid!"
"Yeah, I guess some things don't change." Dane chuckled. "Except if I bring you here another time you might order that and be able to eat more than just the cherries and the wafer biscuit!"
"Oh, I definitely could." Brody agreed as they headed for the hardware store. In here, things hadn't changed either. The town was like a time warp to a simpler time. Most of the businesses were family legacies, handed down through the generations.
As they went inside, there were a lot of people looking around, picking out the little odds and ends they needed for their businesses. Millport very much was a working town, almost an organism. Every business funnelled into each other. The farmers got their tools and parts here, and they supplied the food that kept the town running. As they approached the counter, Dane recognised the guy behind the counter. He was a little older, the middle-age spread had set in and he had lost some hair, but the owner was still the same man.
"Hello there sir!" The owner greeted him, before squinting a little. "I'm...I'm sorry, you look familiar."
"Yeah, I have one of those faces." Dane said, having to remind himself that he hadn't actually aged inside the Nexus Prism. He still looked the same as he had on the day Galvanax had attacked his farm. "I was looking for some lumber, some nails, all-weather paint..."
"How about you give me the list and my boy will look it out?" The owner stated. "Burt, get out here and earn your pay check!"
A kid, who looked about the same age as Brody, perhaps only a year or so either way came out of the back, taking the list from Dane without a word. He was wearing a black T-shirt and pale blue jeans. He looked about as enthusiastic to be in Millport as the average inmate looked to be in Rykers.
"This is a lot of stuff." The kid said rather abruptly.
"We brought a truck, its fine." Brody stated.
"This looks like a big job." Burt stated.
"Yeah, it kind of is. The old place has definitely seen better days." Brody answered.
"Just as well we're not afraid of some hard work." Dane said with a smile.
"I hadn't heard of anywhere needing a lot of work recently." Burt's father stated. "Where are you guys anyway?"
"Oh, we're about five miles up the track that way." Brody told them. There was a crash as someone dropped a bucket of nails. Every other sound instantly stopped. Brody and Dane looked around as they realised everyone was now staring at them, completely wordless.
"The...Romero place?" Burt asked.
"Yeah, that's right." Brody stated. They knew that around here the farm had a reputation. It had worked in their favour since the land had never been bought in the ten years since the attack, but clearly the people of the town were a little surprised to hear someone was on that land. A few of them started whispering.
"You know that...strange things...happened there right?" Burt's father asked. Dane just looked around.
"I ought to, it's my farm." He told them. He offered the man his hand. "Dane Romero, this is my son Brody."
"The Romeros?" Brody distinctly heard people whispering. It only started to get more pronounced. Burt's dad just coughed.
"Burt, why don't you take Brody here around the back and look out the lumber?" He asked. Burt just nodded.
"This way." He told him. Dane went to the shelves and started to look around, at which people slowly but surely started to go back to what they were doing, but always keenly aware that there were eyes on him the whole time. As a ninja, it felt unnatural to have so many people pay attention to him. He was starting to wonder how Levi managed it.
Over in Zandar, the Ninja Steel team followed Phillipe inside, where they were taking in the wonders of the palace.
"My servants are taking your luggage to your rooms; I'll have you directed there shortly." Phillipe stated. "In the meantime...ah, perfect timing!"
They all watched as a blonde woman with shoulder-length blonde hair came down the stairs. She was wearing a suit, much like the other guards and staff. She seemed to walk with a little bit of a limp, favouring her right leg. She came over to Sarah first of all, hugging her tightly.
"Margret!" Sarah shrieked. "It's great to see you! Your hair looks amazing!"
"Yeah, it's growing in pretty well." She said with a smile. Margaret had been Phillipe's main confidante, personal assistant and bodyguard at one time, having been in the Royal Household since they were both children. She had lost her leg to bone cancer and her hair to the resulting chemotherapy. Sarah had heard she had gotten the all-clear some months ago, but she hadn't actually seen Margaret since she left Amber Beach.
"And I know you were determined to walk down the aisle." Sarah commented. Margaret lifted her trouser leg, letting her see the prosthetic.
"I have to say it didn't take quite as long to get used to as I'd have thought." She answered.
"She's definitely a trooper!" Phillipe said, kissing her softly.
"Well, you definitely look great!" Sarah reiterated.
"So, this is the new team?" Margaret asked. "You all look after this one; this girl was a God send in Amber Beach!"
"Oh, she's saved our butts more than a few times." Preston said, putting his arm around her. "She's been amazing."
"Well, I think there are some hungry campers who are getting impatient for dinner and..." She paused as there was a clashing of steel on steel. The Ninja Steel team were going for their morphers, but Margaret just held up a hand to stop them.
"Not again." She grumbled. Moments later, the team watched as two men appeared, swinging swords at each other. They were both wearing surcoats, one of them green with white thread, the other black and gold. "Guys, really?"
"Um...should we stop them or something?" Calvin asked. "Those swords look pretty...uh...real."
"Trust me; they did this all the time." Sarah sighed. "But they didn't get dressed up to do it. Come on guys, knock it off!"
"Lady Sarah, it is a pleasure!" Ivan greeted her without looking at her. "I promise to catch up when we're finished, so...it won't be long."
"Oh, you got that right!" Riley agreed, going for him. The team watched as their swords clashed a few more times, before Riley managed to sweep Ivan's sword from his hand and bear him to the ground. He held the sword to Ivan's throat. "Do you now accept your former squire's surpassed you?"
"Ah, Sir Riley, you may be a knight, but you still failed to learn one lesson." Ivan said with a smile. "Mind your FOOTING!"
Riley only then noticed he had stepped on Ivan's surcoat. Yanking it hard, Ivan caused Riley to fall to the floor. Ivan retrieved his sword and levelled it at his throat.
"Now sir, do YOU yield?" He asked. Riley just sighed.
"Just help me up would you?" He grumbled. Ivan helped Riley to his feet. "You know, some of us don't get all day to practice anymore. College takes up a fair amount of my time now."
"Ah yes, college may be broadening your mind but it is blunting your edge." Ivan stated as he crossed to the team. "Sir Ivan of Zandar at your service. It is a pleasure to see you again Sarah."
"Wow, he actually talks like that?" Hayley asked. "I thought you were exaggerating about your 'back in the day' stories."
"You must be Hayley, the aspiring politician." Ivan said as he approached her, taking her hand and kissing it. "I am sure she exaggerated only to flatter this humble knight."
"I'm Preston." The Blue Ranger introduced himself.
"Ah, the wizard, and young Sarah's suitor from what I hear." Ivan stated, causing Sarah to become a little uncomfortable. She and Preston were dating, but taking things slowly. Of course she had talked to her friends about it, but she did somewhat forget that things were a little more forthright in Ivan's day and culture. "Tell me; are your intentions toward the young lady honourable?"
"Ivan, stop!" She begged him.
"I only mean to ensure the young gentleman..."
"Uh...yeah, do we I need to remind you that your past isn't exactly a spotless record on that front?" Sarah asked him. "I mean, Zac exists right?"
"Point taken." Ivan said, clearing his throat.
"So, Riley, how's college?" Sarah asked him.
"Oh, it's amazing! I'm so glad I got early admission!" Riley told her. "I've learned so much, and I don't mean just in class! It's a whole different world..."
"Yeah, I can't wait to go myself! You and Leanne must be having a great time!" Sarah said. Ivan just coughed a little and gave a cut-throat gesture.
"Yeah...that...we're not together anymore." Riley told her.
"Oh, right, I'm sorry to hear that." Sarah said regretfully. "Was it...? I mean...are you alright?"
"As good as can be expected." Riley sighed. "I wish I could say different, but I really screwed things up. I guess I have to wear that."
"Anyway, onto happier topics, I believe that dinner is being served." Ivan stated. "And I for one have worked up quite the appetite!"
With that, they headed into the dining room where the others were waiting. Allison, Erin and Chase quickly came over to greet the team.
"OK guys, this is Chase, the Black Ranger, um...his girlfriend?" Sarah asked tentatively. Allison just nodded to confirm the detail. She really didn't want to make any more assumptions having already had her uncomfortable encounter with Riley. "And Erin...Ivan's girlfriend I'm hoping?"
"Yes, still together!" Erin said happily.
"And you guys have your own Levi!" Calvin joked as he pointed to a guy in a Stetson. Kendall was sitting, holding hands with him.
"Matt Griffin, Dino Charge Silver." He said, tipping his hat.
"So, let me get this straight. Tyler, James, Kendall, Matt, Riley, Ivan, Chase, Shelby and Phillipe were all Rangers...the rest of you knew about it?" Preston asked. "Wow, now I don't feel quite so bad about the number of people who found out about us."
"Yeah, the base did get pretty crowded sometimes." Chase chuckled. "Anyway, what are we waiting for? This feast isn't going to eat itself!"
"A man after my own heart!" Calvin agreed as they all started to reach for the centre of the table. "I am famished."
Back in Millport, Brody and Burt were picking out lumber, stacking it up ready to be bundled for loading onto the truck.
"So...you were here before." Burt said, breaking a somewhat tense silence. Brody just nodded.
"I guess you could say that." Brody answered. "We uh...had to leave...in a hurry. But we're back now."
"You should have stayed away." Burt said gruffly under his breath.
"What's that meant to mean?" Brody snapped, becoming unhappy. Burt just looked to him.
"You actually got out of here and then you came back?" He asked. "Why would you come back to this dump?"
"You don't like it here?" Brody asked.
"Are you kidding? I HATE this town!" Burt told him. "You think I want to spend my whole life cutting lumber and telling people what type of paint is waterproof?"
"Nobody said you had to..."
"Yeah, well some people don't have many choices in life!" Burt told him. "My dad's set on me taking the store when he retires and thanks to my SAT's I'm pretty much left with that and life as a hobo as life options."
"What makes you think other people have any more choice than you do?" Brody asked. "Believe me, I didn't leave this town by choice, but now I'm back I just want to make the best of things. Life doesn't doll out chances every day."
"Sometimes it doesn't dole out chances at all." Burt grumbled. "You're just like brainiac."
"OK, I don't know what your deal is, and frankly it really doesn't concern me." Brody told him flatly. "Now, I can bundle this lumber myself and leave you to sulk or you can help, it really makes no difference to me."
"Whatever!" Burt muttered as he grabbed some of the lumber, beginning to bundle it. "So, you're rebuilding the old farm?"
"Yeah." Brody answered. Burt just shrugged.
"I guess it'll be good not to drive past a rotting old shack on deliveries." He commented. "Leave that stuff."
"Look, I don't know what your deal is but I could live without..."
"No...I mean, you were going to grab pine. That's better for interiors." Burt told him. "That darker pile next to it is cedar. It weathers better. If you're rebuilding the workshop and the farmhouse you'd be better off with that."
"Oh." Brody said as he considered it for a moment, before going to the other pile. "Thanks."
"What can I say?" Burt replied, looking to Brody. "I might not know about much, but I know about wood."
"Well, I'm sure my dad will appreciate it when the workshop doesn't fall down in the first high wind." Brody said with a little laugh.
"Careful, that can be quite heavy..." He stared to say, before Brody effortlessly hefted a large amount of cedar off the pile and put it onto the ground. "Wow, someone works out."
"I like to keep in shape." Brody said. Burt grabbed some rope.
"Alright, pay attention; this is the best way to bundle." He told him. "If you don't want to lose half your lumber on the road home, you want to tie it like this."
Back at the Romero Farm, Tom and Levi were waiting for Brody and Dane to return with the supplies. They had done a little work but without the supplies there was only so far they could go. Right now, they were in the house. Tom was tuning the TV, or at least trying to.
"Man, I never realised how spoiled I was with satellite." He commented, smacking the TV and adjusting the old wire antenna. "You've got to get your dad to at least get cable!"
"Good luck with that one!" Levi said with a smile, looking up from the diary. "If I wasn't cute enough at twelve to convince him what makes you think I can convince him now?"
"Good book?" Tom asked.
"It's better than a static screen." Levi commented. "It's pretty interesting reading."
"OK, how interesting is it?" Tom asked him.
"It dates back before we were even born." Levi told him. "This Mariko seems to have known dad before he even met mom. She talks a lot about what it was like when they were students together."
"Really? Dane Romero's school days?" Tom asked. "What was he like?"
"Let's put it this way, I already have a ton of ammunition if he ever talks about us misbehaving!" Levi laughed. "I'm barely a few months in and he's spent more time in the Headmasters' office than the sparring mat."
"So, your old man was a bit of a rebel in his youth?" Tom laughed. "I guess that apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"
Just then, they heard a horn as the truck pulled in. Levi put the diary down.
"I'm going to ignore that!" He told him. "Come on, the truck won't unload itself."
A/N: Well, I know it's unusual to see a chapter going up today, but hey, that's how the schedule went. Happy holidays! Whatever festival you celebrate or even if you just take advantage of the time off to spend time with family, I hope you have a good one.
More is coming soon, and trust me, things are going to get pretty lively!