IMPORTANT: This is your last chance to vote in the "What previous generation Power Ranger(s) should appear in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm?" poll at the top of my profile page (click on Rogue Ranger to the left and my profile loads). Once I complete the next chapter, I am going to have a new poll up!
Author's Notes: I don't usually do this, but I went back and added something to the previous chapter. I did it within 24 hours of posting, but if you read Chapter 20 before that, here's what I changed: 1. When Tobi heals the bonsai, he is weakened by the process. 2. There is some doubt about light being Tobi's element. See the review comments for why I did this.
Anyway, he drama is back! That's right, it's once again time to explore the characters' emotional motivations and growth/changes. If that's not to your tastes, this might not be the chapter for you, but I've found that drama is a great way to build up emotions before an action scene and therefore intensify it. After all, if someone you don't understand or really care about is in danger, it's just not the same, right? And now, review comments:
Thanks Magichalo for helping out my inner scientists! You will notice that Cam uses some of your comments (because he's the closest to a scientist I can get). Also, I did like the idea of light, but then the idea of fire could work. Even if I decide otherwise, his sister being water creates a separation between the twins and can tie into Sensei's conflict with his twin brother Lothor. However, as a result, I decided to add some doubt about the element to the previous chapter as I listed above. Also, I decided that healing something should weaken him, so that I can do something with that later on… And, as for romance and that kind of stuff, I deal with a little of that in this chapter, but I'm still trying to tie up everyone's emotional motivations.
Thanks Ghostwriter for reviewing all my chapters with expressions! This one I know though! "I'm lovin' it" is from McDonalds. See, I'm catching on! Anyway, glad you liked the chapter. More to come (obviously). Catch you on the directionally transposed side!
Thank you YellowPrincess for your appreciation for Tobi (who also thanks you of course!)! There is some more set destiny vs. choose your own destiny debated in this chapter, since it wasn't really resolved before. And, I really want to say something about how powerful or not Tobi will become, but I feel like I might spoil things if I do… Awww… Anyway, I don't think you're crazy for liking grumpy Sensei because I like him too! He gets to say the things no one else would dare! But I like to have characters grow and change, so don't be surprised if… Well, I can't say more because then I'd spoil it! And, sadly, no Tori/Hunter moments in this one as I had Hunter and Blake still off looking for their parents in this chapter, but I will add something in the future just for you!
Previously in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm:
Tobi suggests that Goldwinger, the alien who originally sent Tori to Tobi's dimension, might be able to send the rangers back to their dimension, so they head out to look for the alien while Tobi stays behind to ask Sensei about making his sister no longer evil. Tobi discovers that an ancient scroll shows Shane, Tori and Dustin defeating Sensei's brother, Lothor. Because of this scroll, Sensei is convinced that his twin brother is beyond hope and that there is a destiny and fate that can not be changed no matter what. Later, Sensei trains Tobi to control his power and discovers his power to be over light, not an element but something released when matter is converted to energy. This ability might make him either very powerful or very dangerous. Then Tori calls to say that Cam went off to find his mother who is alive in Tobi's dimension, Hunter and Blake went off to find their also living parents, but that her mother is dead and Shane's brother is dead. Yet, with Dustin falling for Marah, it looks like the others might want to stay in Tobi's dimension. Tobi assures her that their "destiny" lies in the other dimension and offers to join their search for Goldwinger. He brings the two Senseis along...
Parallel Realities Ninja Storm: Chapter 21 (Dustin's Destiny)
Tobi walked down the street toward "Pudgy Pig's Pig Out" with a Sensei on each shoulder. They gripped his long hair with their tiny hands for support as he approached a table outside the restaurant and greeted Tori and Shane.
Tori was grinning when she saw him and he felt a sense of relief that she wasn't as down as she had sounded only moments before over the communicator. "That's an… interesting look, Tobi," she commented.
"Oh," Tobi realized. "Well, I couldn't find a bag and it seems to work."
"They look kinda like big fuzzy earrings," Shane added, glancing between the two guinea pigs. "How do you tell which one's which?"
"Well, aside from one missing a hat, just ask them a question," Tobi suggested.
Shane have him a confused look, but decided to go ahead. "Which one of you is Sensei Watanabe?" he asked.
"We both are," one said calmly.
"I'm Sensei Kanoi Watanabe!" the other replied hotly. "The other one's a clone! And a stupid clone at that! Gah!"
"I see what you mean," Tori said, wide eyed.
"I hope that one doesn't pull your hair out," Shane added.
"Then I would fall on the ground and be stepped on!" the grumpy Sensei replied. "I am no fool!"
"Of course not," Tori said diplomatically, forcing a smile.
Tobi looked around at the humans, kelzacks and aliens walking around town. "So, the others are still… doing their thing?" he asked. "I was actually hoping to talk to Cam. I had something to ask him."
"I too would like to speak to Cam and… perhaps his mother," Sensei agreed.
Shane raised his morpher. "Dustin, Blake, Hunter, we're going over to Cam's mom's house, which is…" He looked at Tori.
"1653 Stornbrook Avenue," she explained, loud enough to be heard over Shan's morpher. "It's near the Blue Bay Harbor Shopping Plaza."
"Meet us there when you're… done," Shane finished.
"Will do," Hunter's voice replied first.
"Sure, dude," Dustin's voice agreed, "but you guys should come back us out at the park. We're totally rocking." Music could be heard in the background while he talked.
Tobi looked between Shane and Tori. "Maybe we can make a short stop at the park," he suggested.
Tori grinned. "Somehow I knew you'd say that."
Was he really being that predictable? He just felt the need to… check on Dustin.
One of the Senseis made a gagging noise. "Tobi is as queer as a three dollar bill," he said with disgust. "There is an ancient saying that I think applies to you," he added, pulling Tobi's hair to turn his head.
"What's that?" Tobi asked, frowning.
"Dustin likes girls!" he shouted in Tobi's ear.
"Can't argue with ancient wisdom like that," Shane suggested, grinning.
Tobi just made a face and began to head toward the park.
The five arrived at the park in time to witness the end of a performance featuring Dustin playing a saxophone, Marah and Kapri banging on tambourines, an alien with trumpets on its body that were blowing, a fish-like alien gurgling, a DJ-like alien spinning a disk on its head and several kelzacks dancing.
"It's… interesting," Tobi offered, trying to focus just on Dustin's playing. "Dustin sounds pretty good."
Shane was making faces. "I think my ear drums are going to rupture," he said, covering his ears dramatically.
"They're not… that bad," Tori replied, putting a hand on his raised arm. "Close though," she agreed.
"Make the torture stop!" one Sensei complained while the other commented, "I find the tempo and melody both complex and soothing."
Once the "performance" was over and the crowd of humans and aliens began to disperse, Dustin spotted them and came running over. "Did you guys hear that?" he asked excitedly. "Were we awesome or what?"
"Uh… sure," Tori agreed.
"You play the sax really well," Tobi offered. "I don't know about he rest though," he admitted.
"You need to go solo, bro," Shane suggested.
"So, how did we do?" Marah asked, approaching with Kapri.
"You were awesome!" Dustin quickly told them both though he was obviously eying Marah specifically. "You were like… bam! And I was like woo! And then I'd be like waa! And you'd be shake! Shake!"
"Total harmony," Tori lied for the sake of her friend. Tobi glanced at her, remembering what Sensei had said. She lied to Dustin to keep him happy because the truth would hurt, but didn't Dustin deserve the truth? But didn't he deserve to be happy? Then again, what if he was happy here, but "destiny" said he couldn't stay?
"For our next performance, we're going to sing," Marah declared happily. She and Kapri then began singing… for practice?
"Oh, look at the time," Shane said, looking at his morpher as if it were a watch.
"Yeah, we need to meet up with a friend of ours," Tori quickly added.
"Dustin, do you—" Tobi started to ask just as a small fireball hit Kapri in the face, knocking her to the ground.
"Someone had to shut them up," the grumpy Sensei commented from Tobi's shoulder as Marah rushed down to see if Kapri was okay. Kapri raised her head, her face covered in ash and opened her mouth. A cloud of smoke came out.
"Dude, why'd you do that?" Dustin asked, suddenly upset. He bent down to check on the girls.
"At least it wasn't Marah," Tobi whispered to Shane and Tori. "Hey, Dustin," he called out. "We're going to go check on Cam. Do you want to come?"
Dustin helped Marah lift Kapri to her feet. "We were gonna practice and perform and stuff," he explained. "Hey!" he said, suddenly changing his tone. "You guys can perform with us! Shane, you can sing and Tori, you can like dance."
"Uh, that's okay," Tori replied, embarrassed. "We were actually going over to see Cam and his… mom."
"I thought Cam's mom was…" Dustin began before realization dawned and his eyes widened into big chocolate candies. "She's alive here in the Twilight Zone!" he clapped his hands against his face and grinned widely. "What about Hunter and Blake's parents?"
"They're alive, but—" Tori began before an overly excited Dustin interrupted her.
"I knew it!" he exclaimed. "Marah was saying how she's like into astronomy and stuff."
"Astrology," Marah corrected, smiling brightly at him.
He gave her an overly mushy smile. "Right!" he agreed. "And that like the universe has stuff and we're supposed to do it, you know, like destiny!"
"Destiny?" Tori repeated, giving Tobi a sideways glance.
"The universe guides your fate," Marah explained," clearly enthusiastic about the topic.
Kapri opened her mouth to add something, but only puffs of smoke came out.
"You're right," Marah agreed with Kapri's smoke puffs. "Some things are meant to be." She looked adoringly toward Dustin. "Some… people are meant to be."
Dustin shuffled his feet and nervously ran a hand through his hair.
"Wait, you two are…" Shane said, pointing between the two.
"You see, man, I knew there was something I was holding back with Hunter," Dustin explained, making nervous faces, "but I like didn't know what it was. And now I know."
"We're meant to be together!" Marah cheerfully chimed in. "It's our destiny. And I don't even care that he had a boyfriend or anything like that."
The others looked from Marah to Dustin, who grinned uncomfortably.
"I belong here," he added, gesturing around him. "I'm not the crazy or outrageous one anymore. I can be me and no one has to tell me to like tone it down. It's the Twilight Zone, dudes!"
"Dustin, you do not belong here," came the calm yet authoritative voice of Sensei from Tobi's shoulder.
Dustin looked at Sensei with big brown puppydog eyes. "Sensei," he began in a pleading tone, "I fit in here."
"You 'fit in' back in our dimension, where you are still a Power Ranger," Sensei replied.
"But Hunter and Blake's parents are alive here," Dustin defended. "And Cam's mom… Dude, she's like your wife and all." He kept staring at Sensei until Tobi could feel the guinea pig shift on his shoulder.
"Dustin, this is not your destiny," Sensei finally said.
"Sensei," Dustin addressed, lowering his voice. "Aren't you always saying to like listen to your inner ninja? My inner ninja says I need to be here." Sensing that Sensei was about to object again, he gestured toward Shane and Tori. "We'll all be happier here. Right?" he asked Shane and Tori.
The muscles in Shane's jaw tensed, but he kept his mouth closed. Tori put a hand on his arm, sensing the tension. "Right, dude," Shane choked out.
"See!" Dustin beamed. "And, look, you already got a guinea pig friend too!"
"We are not friends," the other Sensei replied.
Tobi looked over at Shane. He had chosen not to tell Dustin about his brother and Tori didn't mention her mom, but why? Would they really give up their own families and their scroll-foretold destinies to make Dustin happy? Yes, they would. And, he knew he would too, but it was not easy on any of them. Tobi could see it in both Shane and Tori's eyes and he knew it probably reflected in his own. Still, even Sensei was quiet as Dustin encouraged Marah to shake her tambourine around.
"We better be going," Tori said, her hand still on Shane's arm. Tobi could sense that she needed to get away from Dustin's influence to really assess the situation. He wondered if he did too.
"You guys can invite Cam and his mom too," Dustin immediately offered happily. "Cam could play guitar and his mom can… do whatever she does. It'll be awesome! We can all do a huge performance together!"
"That does sound awesome," Shane offered, "but my voice isn't really that great today." He coughed for effect.
"What about you, TZT?" Dustin asked, turning to Tobi. "What can you do? Instrament? Sing? Dance? Got some crazy moves? I'd so like to see that!" He let his eyebrows raise as he grinned wildly.
"Uh," Tobi replied, "I used to sing a long time ago, but I doubt I could—"
"You have to join us!" Dustin interrupted.
"I didn't know you could sing," Tori said.
"Yeah, well…" Tobi mumbled. "The last time I sand in public was at… our mom's funeral."
"Oh," she replied, puckering her lips and looking back at Dustin.
Dustin watched Tobi for a moment, all of the excitement gone from his face as fast as it had come. "Your mom's…" he began.
"Yeah," Tobi said. "In this dimension, she died when a Zord attacked the town."
Dustin looked from Tori to Tobi as she gave her brother a sympathetic look that seemed to say, "I'm glad I didn't have to be the one to tell him." While they both wanted Dustin to be happy, he would have found out eventually.
"My brother… Porter, he's… dead too," Shane decided to finally admit.
Dustin had an overwhelmed look in his eyes. "Dude, I'm… sorry."
"He is," Marah chimed in. "he cares a lot about you guys. He says you mean a lot to him."
The muscles in Shane's arms tensed but he tried to shrug off Dustin's concern. "Look, it's cool bro," he said. "It's not like we were ever close. He was always ragging on me…" His dark eyes were noticeably shiny.
Dustin blinked several times and looked down before turning to Marah. "Hey, I'll… cath you later," he said. "I got… stuff to talk about with these guys…"
"That's okay," she replied. "I understand. I need to get Kapri some water anyway."
"And singing lessons," the grumpy Sensei chimed in.
Marah leaned up and kissed Dustin on the cheek before running off with Kapri and giggling.
When Dustin turned back to face the others, his cheeks were flushed and he had tears in his eyes.
"Dustin…" Tori started to say, but Dustin waved his hand. He needed a moment to compose himself and everyone obliged him.
Once he was ready, he stared seriously at each of them. "You don't need to tell me I always rush into things without thinking," he said slowly. "I just… I thought it was supposed to be, like…"
"Destiny," Tori finished.
"Yeah," he agreed, "but destiny can't have you lose your mom or you lose your brother," he added, turning from Tobi and Tori to Shane.
"Dustin, if it will make you happy," Tori offered, tuning to look at Tobi, "I'm sure we'd all be willing to live with a little… sacrifice." Tobi nodded and she offered him a weak smile.
"Yeah, bro," Shane agreed.
Dustin's eyes went to Tobi's shoulder and he knew Dustin was waiting for a reply from Sensei. "All I can tell you to do is to do what would be best… for the team," Sensei finally offered.
Dustin's watery eyes became lost in thought.
Tobi felt something within him compelling him to say something. "Dustin…" he said barely above a whisper. "I don't believe in destiny. I don't believe there's one fate and there's no escaping it. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad, you can change it. Even if an ancient scroll from a thousand years ago said you were supposed to save the world, it's up to you to do it. You make your own destiny. And…" Dustin looked up and their eyes met, brown colliding with blue, and Tobi's voice caught in his throat. The rest barely came out even as a whisper. "…and I… we will always… love you no matter what you choose."
"You guys would give up…" Dustin said, his voice trailing off. "For me?"
"Tobi's right," Tori said, her eyes also shiny. "We love you."
"No matter what, bro," Shane added.
Dustin looked almost… remorseful and guilty. He blinked away the tears from his eyes. "Cam's smart," he said. "He'll know what to do."
Tobi gave him a confused look. He was giving up his decision on which destiny to follow to let Cam make it for him? But, then, maybe Dustin really didn't want to be the one to choose. There was no way to make everyone happy. It was something Dustin seemed to realize even before Tobi did.
Later, Shane, Tori, Dustin, Tobi and the two Senseis arrived at Cam's mom's house. Cam was sitting outside on the front porch, alone. He was looking down and his face had a far away look.
"Cam, what's wrong?" Tori asked immediately walking up and sitting down next to him. Tobi took a seat on the opposite side while Shane and Dustin watched.
"Was she not there?" Shane asked.
"No, she's here," Cam said quietly.
"Cam, talk to us," Tori encouraged.
"She doesn't want anything to do with me," he said somberly, adding, "with his son."
Tori looked over at the Senseis on Tobi's shoulders.
"Dude, why would she be like that?" Dustin asked.
"I have no idea," Cam replied.
"People are… different here," Shane reminded Dustin.
"Right," he agreed, thinking. "Maybe we should check on Hunter and Blake."
"Did you want us to try talking to her?" Tobi offered.
Cam shook his head and stood up. "No, I'm… ready to go."
"Cam…" Tori said softly, standing and putting a hand on his arm.
He turned to look at her, a mixture of hurt and confusion in his eyes. "Thanks," he whispered, "but I'll be okay." He took her hand in his and squeezed it, still looking into her eyes. She blushed for a moment before he turned to Tobi and the two Senseis. "I'm sorry, dad. I… had to know."
"I understand, my son," Sensei replied.
"She was a bitch anyway," the other Sensei muttered.
"Don't you ever say that about my mother," Cam warned, the edge in his voice surprising everyone, turning even the grumpy Sensei silent. He then turned back to the others. "So, let's go find Goldwinger."
Shane and Dustin exchanged surprised looks. "Uh, right," Shane agreed.
"But let's get Hunter and Blake first," Dustin chimed in. "I mean, like if their parents were ninjas and everything before they died, these guys might be evil ninjas."
The others looked at each other. "Dustin has a point," Tori agreed, watching Cam out of the corner of her eye.
"I'll let them know we're going to meet up with them where they are," Shane offered, raising his morpher.
"Uh, Cam?" Tobi asked hesitantly. He wasn't sure if it was the right time to bring this up or not. "Can I ask you a… science question."
Cam groaned and adjusted his glasses, looking from his father back to Tobi. "Of course," he replied with exhaustion in his voice.
"Well, Sensei—both Senseis really—think the element I can control is… light," he began.
"Light is not an element," Cam pointed out.
"I know," Tobi replied, "but it's something you get by pulling energy out of matter."
"Energy is not drawn out from matter without a loss of mass," Cam explained. "Matter can be converted into energy."
"So… I'm not going to cause an atomic explosion?" Tobi asked.
Cam raised his eyebrows. He shook his head before sighing and continuing. Apparently, he was used to being asked questions that made little to no sense. "A flame is produced by the conversion of matter to energy," he explained, "but it does not always lead to a forest fire. It think it's more probable that your element is fire, possibly electricity or lightning."
"Are you saying I was wrong?" the grumpy Sensei asked in a slightly less hostile than expected tone.
"Maybe," Cam answered with a sigh. "Scientifically speaking, I'm going with the more probable."
"You're not the idiot I thought you were," that Sensei told Cam. "Not that I'm saying I was wrong! I still think it is light; rare but the ancient Dawn Temple taught the worship of light."
Cam stared at him for a moment.
"I'm just saying that… I may have been wrong about you, Cam," he continued in a much softer tone. He looked over toward the house. It's just… not easy being a guinea pig."
"He seems to be able to deal with it," Cam said, gesturing toward his father on Tobi's opposite shoulder.
"Because he's a stupid clone!" Sensei spat before noticing Cam's glare. "This isn't about him," he quickly said in a gentle tone, hopping from Tobi's shoulder over to Cam's shoulder. "It's about you and me and… I'm sorry. Your mother and I… have had our share of issues to deal with and I admit that I may have taken that and my physical form out on you. I may have… overlooked the type of a person you became."
Cam turned to the guinea pig on his shoulder, giving him a both surprised and confused look.
"I'm trying to say I'm proud of you!" he shouted. "Say something, you idio—son…"
"What can I say?" Cam asked. "You're not my father."
"Cam, I…" he whispered, looking down.
"Let us give them a moment," the calm Sensei still on Tobi's shoulder whispered into his ear. "It may be beneficial to all of us if my counterpart resolves his… issues."
Tobi nodded, stepping away. "If he can change, why not Lothor?" he whispered to Sensei.
Sensei was quiet for a moment. "I will… consider that possibility," he finally agreed.
Tobi turned and smiled at him. He couldn't help but think there was hope for his sister… and maybe even her friends, the other Power Rangers.
"For now, if your element is fire, I should be able to train you farther," he suggested. "Fire, although connected to earth, is taught under the element of air, which I studied in my youth. However, if you would prefer to train under Shane…"
"No, that's fine," Tobi replied. "I'm just kinda puzzled by my twin's element being water and mine fire."
"I'm not certain it is fire," Sensei conceded, "but additional training will reveal that. And twins are not always identical even when they appear to be." He gave Tobi a knowing look, and Tobi thought of Sensei's twin brother who became Lothor.
Tobi looked from Sensei over to Dustin, who was glancing around with strong emotions playing out on his typically carefree face. "Are you okay?" Tobi asked, walking over to him.
"Yeah," Dustin agreed. "I'm just like choosing my destiny, you know?"
Tobi nodded weakly. He was starting to wonder if Dustin really ever had a choice. It was almost like his destiny was set in stone… or scroll. Because of who Dustin was as a person, there really was only one path to choose. He'd choose his friends, the many, over Marah, the one, but what about her destiny? What about their feelings? After all, Dustin deserved happiness but didn't everyone? Could he go back to Hunter or even… Tobi? What would make him… and everyone happy? If unhappiness made someone mean and potentially evil like Sensei said, making other people happy had to be all of their goals in life. It had to be everyone's… destiny.
To be continued...
Author's Notes: Aw, the drama continues! Also, I added in Tobi being able to sing for the funeral reference and truth reveal, but I was thinking about actually having him sing at some point. Too corny? Please review and make suggestions regarding the story, events, characters, etc. Your input helps shape the story! It's true. Just look at earlier reviews to see that for yourself. Oh, and please vote in the poll on my profile page if you haven't. I will put at least one past generation character in the next chapter!