ATTENTION!: How do you feel about having a character die in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm?" Please vote in this poll at the top of my profile page (click on Rogue Ranger to the top left of this). If it remains a tie between somewhat open and somewhat against, I reserve the right to override the tie and KILL a character! Remember, you can also make your opinion known by reviewing.
Author's Notes: I decided to lighten up the mood of the first half of this chapter because things have been a lot more serious lately. So, some fluff and exploration of Tobi's dimension, some drama and then some action. Oh, and we finally meet Goldwinger. If you are re-reading this chapter, I made parts of the fight scene clearer.
Short review responses this time since I think the story would answer most of my comments (and it's going to take a while to type it all up since this chapter's very long):
Thanks Ghostwriter for keeping up with the chapters and for the encouragement!
Thanks YellowPrincess for the compliments and this chapter will answer your question about if Marah forgives Dustin (and I threw another "Poor Blake" moment)!
Thanks Magichalo for all your suggestions that I always take into consideration, including the Sun (from your review to ch. 21), counter element and Tobi controlling a Zord!
Previously in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm:
Tobi joins the rangers at the Thunder Ninja Academy, where they are attacked by Sensei Omino, Leanne and Hunter and Blake's parents, all of whom think that the rangers stole some amulets. Skyla appears and says she took them and that Tommy tricked her into giving him the Shade Amulet. She then gives Tobi the Sun Amulet, but neither knows how to use it. Later, Skyla says she can see the spirits of Hunter and Blake's dead parents. Then, the rangers have to stop a black Dragon Zord from destroying the city. Shane, Tori and Dustin use their Zords to attack the Dragon Zord while Lothor and the Golden Guardians go after Hunter, Blake and Tobi. When a monster is enlarged to stop the Zords, the thunder rangers and Tobi help save Lothor and the Golden Guardians. Then then the Dragon Zord runs out of power and Dr. Oliver emerges and makes it disappear. The others have no choice but to retreat since Lothor refuses to believe they're there to help. Meanwhile, Marah wonders if the Power Rangers really are evil...
Parallel Realities Ninja Storm: Chapter 25 (Heroes From Another Dimension)
"Dude, what does it mean 'access denied'?" Dustin asked, standing outside Ninja Ops.
"Dustin, what are you doing?" came Cam's voice from a small monitor next to the sealed door in front of Dustin.
Dustin put a hand to his forehead. "Dude, I'm just trying to get in."
"And who have you brought with you?" Cam asked, his face appearing on the monitor.
"Oh, hey, dude," Dustin greeted the screen, holding up a small brown dog and smiling. "He was lost and like all alone and I rescued him."
"Congratulations," Cam said unenthusiastically. "That's what pet shelters are for."
"Aw, but Cam!" Dustin protested.
"Ah, now I see it," Cam commented.
"Yeah, isn't he cute?" Dustin cooed. "I mean… like in a manly kinda way. At least, I think it's a guy." He lifted the dog, holding it above his head and studying it.
"What I see is why you make that face anytime you want something," Cam corrected. "But, Dustin, the puppy dog eyes only work if you're a dog."
"Dude, it's a girl!" Dustin interrupted, studying the dog. "Yep, definitely a girl."
"Dustin," Cam said with a sigh. "Fine, just come in."
The door in front of Dustin opened and he bounded happily down into Ninja Ops.
"What's up with all the extra security, Cam?" Tori asked before Dustin could.
"After Hunter and Blake's parents paid me an unexpected visit, I thought it was necessary to have everyone scanned before entering Ninja Ops," Cam explained.
"Hey, it makes sense," Shane offered just as Hunter, Blake and Tobi arrived and entered the room.
"Making us go through one at a time is a bit much, Cam," Blake said upon entering.
Suddenly Dustin's outfit barked.
"Dude, did you just bark?" Shane asked, leaning over Dustin's shoulder.
Dustin sheepishly pulled out the small brown dog and smiled. "Cam said it was cool if I kept her and she can stay here and be like our ninja dog!"
"I only said that I wasn't going to leave you outside because you picked up a stray," Cam corrected.
"So, which one's the stray?" Hunter laughed.
"Aww," Tori cooed, grabbing the dog and making faces at it. "Who's a good boy? Who's a good boy?"
"She's a girl," Dustin said, taking the dog from Tori before it could lick her face.
"Let me guess," Hunter suggested, "a friend for Sensei."
"My father is a guinea pig, not a chew toy," Cam chimed in.
"Well, I think she's cute," Tobi offered, petting the dog. "And now Tori's not the only girl. Oh, and she's got your hair and eyes, Dustin."
"Maybe they're related," Blake suggested. "They're both probably just as clean."
"Ha ha," Tori said humorlessly. "Dustin, maybe she belongs to someone who's looking for her?"
Dustin clutched the dog tighter to his chest. "But I didn't even get to name her yet," he protested.
"Tori's right," Tobi told Dustin, giving him a sympathetic look.
"Cam," Tori addressed, "do you think you can help make a flyer to put up around town?"
"I suppose," Cam agreed, "but who do we have them call?"
"Good point," she realized.
"Maybe we should take her to the park," Hunter suggested. "A lot of people walk their dogs in the park. That's where someone might go if they were looking for their dog."
"Do what you want with the dog," Cam agreed. "I still haven't tracked down where our mysterious Dragon Zord disappeared to, but I have a fix on Circuit and the other Sensei's location and I'm going to go check it out. Since I don't have Cyber Cam, though, I'll need a volunteer to stay in Ninja Ops."
"What about Sensei?" Shane asked.
"One, it's his nap time and two, I don't want to leave my father here alone," Cam explained.
"I'll stay, Cam," Tori immediately volunteered.
"Thanks, Tori," Cam replied. "I can always count on you." He smiled and blushed ever so slightly.
"I'll stay too," Blake chimed in.
"I guess that means the rest of us are leaving then," Hunter concluded before walking up to the two. "Bro, behave yourself," he told Blake. "And, Tor, if he tries anything, you have my permission to hit him."
"Hey!" Blake protested.
"All's fair in love and war," Hunter said with a shrug.
"Call me if anything changes on the screen," Cam told Tori and Blake. "And don't press anything, even by accident."
"What do you think we're going to be doing here, Cam?" Tori asked.
Cam cringed. "I just meant if you had to hit Blake, I'd understand," he said. "Just don't do it around the computer. Thanks, Tori." He smiled and turned in his tracks. "Oh, and… thanks, Blake."
"You're welcome," Blake said sarcastically.
"Feeling unappreciated?" Tobi asked.
"Uh, no, I'm fine," Blake said hesitantly.
Tobi frowned. "I wasn't going to kiss you," he told him. "Besides, I thought you liked it."
"He did," Tori answered for him.
Blake became flustered as Tobi put a hand on his shoulder. "My sister likes you a lot," he told him. "Don't hurt her again… or you'll regret it."
Tori shook her head. "I can take care of myself," she reminded him, "but I guess it's nice everyone cares."
Blake pouted, so Tobi gave him a quick kiss on the forehead. "Better?" he asked. Blake just blushed and gave Tori a panicked look.
Tori had a smile on her face. "Like your brother said, all's fair in love and war," she reminded Blake.
Tobi stepped over to Dustin, who was trying to come up with a name for the dog. "It has to be something cool because she's our mascot," Dustin explained.
"Our mascot?" Shane repeated.
"Yeah," Dustin agreed. "Every Power Ranger team needs a mascot."
"I thought Sensei was our mascot," Hunter offered.
"Dude, don't let Sensei hear you say that," Shane warned with a grin.
"We're still a team, right?" Dustin asked.
"Of course, bro," Shane assured him. "Why'd you ask?"
"Because I'm not a Power Ranger anymore and…" Dustin began to explain.
"You'll always be a part of the team, Dustin," Shane assured him, putting an arm around Dustin's shoulders.
"Didn't Sensei say you're the heart of the team?" Hunter added.
"Thanks, guys," Dustin said with a grin. "Hey, anyone have a Frisbee?"
"Wait up, Cam," Tobi called, seeing Cam start to leave. "I'll come with you. I have… some place I want to stop by."
"Sure," Cam agreed. "It will give me a chance to examine that amulet of yours too."
"Yeah," he agreed. "Bye, Dustin! I'll meet you at the park later. Have fun!"
"We will!" Dustin agreed, lifting one of the dog's paws and waving it in the air toward Tobi and Cam.
"Cam, can we stop by a little place along the way?" Tobi asked as they entered the city.
"I suppose so," Cam agreed. "What are you up to?"
"I'm not 'up to' anything," Tobi disagreed. "I just had an idea for a gift for Dustin."
"A gift?" Cam repeated. "What's the occasion?"
"Just because," Tobi answered.
"Oh," Cam replied. "One of those gifts." He couldn't help but grin as he shook his head.
"I just want him to feel appreciated," Tobi clarified.
"Of course," Cam agreed as the two stopped off at a small shop with a sign outside that consisted of a moving sewing wheel.
"Hello and welcome to Madame Pinweeble's Custom Fashion," a large spider-like alien greeted them. Her body seemed to be part sewing wheel and her various arms were hard at work sewing various outfits.
"Hi," Tobi greeted. "I want to make a costume for a friend of mine."
"Ah, tell Madame Pinweeble about this costume," the alien suggested.
"Well, I was thinking full body spandex," Tobi explained, "all yellow, with a logo that has the letters A and D and then an exclamation mark. Oh, and a cape with the same logo."
"Very nice," the alien commented. "Madame Pinweeble is seeing it now. What are your friend's measurements?"
Tobi turned to Cam. "Why would I know?" Cam asked.
"Because you designed Cyber Dustin," Tobi explained.
"It was based on a body scan," Cam explained.
"Couldn't you… guess?" Tobi pleaded.
"Oh, alright," Cam agreed. The alien handed him a pen and paper with one of her free arms and he started writing down measurements. He then handed the paper and pencil back to the alien, who studied it.
"For measurements and labor, fifty dollars," she calculated.
Tobi looked through his cash and frowned. "I only have eight dollars left. What can I get for that?"
"Madame Pinweeble can do the cape and maybe a mask for that amount," she offered.
Tobi thought for a moment before an idea occurred to him. "How about two capes?" he asked.
"Maybe if one is very small," she concluded.
"That's just what I had in mind," Tobi said with a smile.
"Will this help?" Cam asked, producing a wad of alien money. "I found it when I was going through the other Dustin's closet."
"Perfect!" Tobi declared, taking some of the money. "Here," he said, giving the alien the cash. "Now can I get the whole costume? Oh, and I still want the little cape with the same log."
"Your costume will be ready in thirty minutes," the alien stated, taking the money. "You can wait or come back."
"We'll come back," Tobi told her, turning to leave with Cam, who had a confused look on his face.
"And, now, since you have money, let's get something to eat," Tobi suggested. "I'm starving!"
"Um, I'm not sure about the food around here," Cam said hesitantly.
"Don't worry, I know a good place," Tobi offered.
A few minutes later, the two were seated in an ice cream shop. Tobi was eating pizza ice cream with the works while Cam had chosen a single scoop of vanilla.
"So, you recharged your energy when you held it?" Cam asked, studying the Sun Amulet in his hands.
"Yeah, it glowed for a moment," Tobi explained, digging into a layer of tomato ice cream below the cheese.
"It might be an energy source of some kind," Cam theorized.
"But, if Doctor Oliver does have the Shade Amulet, how come he can do all kinds of stuff with his amulet like turn into smoke and I can't?" Tobi asked.
"I don't know," Cam confessed. "Maybe he was able to bond with it because he uses to be a Power Ranger that drew his power from an elemental power source in a similar fashion."
"Oh," Tobi replied, frowning.
"At least it hasn't killed you," Cam suggested, handing Tobi back the amulet. "Sensei Omino said it could destroy someone if used incorrectly."
"I guess that's a good point," Tobi agreed, returning the amulet to his neck. "So, you think my element is sun instead of fire?"
"Sun if both fire and light," Cam pointed out, "but you're saying your element is sunlight and you just happened to be given a Sun Amulet? I thought you didn't believe in destiny."
"I'm just saying…" Tobi mumbled. "But, then, if Doctor Oliver tricked Skyla for the Shade Amulet, then who was it meant for? Was it really meant for Leanne Omino?"
"Do you really expect me to know the answer to that?" Cam asked, making a funny face as he tasted his ice cream.
"What, you don't know everything?" Tobi asked with a grin.
Cam rolled his eyes. "On another topic," he said, "I was wondering what kind of milk is used to make the ice cream."
"Oh, that's why I came here," Tobi assured him. "They only use human milk here, no aliens."
"Did you say… human milk?" Cam asked, his eyes widening.
"Yeah, I promise," Tobi replied.
"Human milk, as in from women's… breasts?" Cam asked.
"Uh, yeah, that's how it works," Tobi said. "Oh, I get it. Straight guys and boobs." He made a face. "I'll never understand that."
Cam stared at his melting scoop of ice cream skeptically. "So, now I'm curious," he began. "What are burgers made out of?"
"It depends on the burger place," Tobi explained. "Some places use grains. Some only use vegetables." He made a face. "Some use soy or wheat gluten."
"What about meat?" Cam asked.
"What do you mean?" Tobi replied.
"You know, what animals are used to make the meat?" Cam clarified.
"Animals?" Tobi repeated. "You don't mean… in the other dimension, you eat animals?"
"So everyone here's a vegetarian?" Cam asked.
"That means that when we went to McDonalds, that burger…" Tobi made a horrified face. "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"Maybe it's the food," Cam suggested, gesturing toward the M&Ms and vegetarian peperoni.
"They'd never kill and cook animals here," Tobi defended, still making a face.
"Uh, so, how long have there been aliens on Earth?" Cam asked, trying to change the subject.
"Since all of history, I guess," Tobi answered, now mixing his ice cream around with his spoon, but not eating it. "They helped build the pyramids in Egypt thousands of years ago."
"There are actually some people who believe the same thing back in our dimension" Cam replied, watching Tobi's face contort. "So, are we ready to go look for Circuit and the other Sensei?"
"Yeah, I guess I lost my appetite," Tobi agreed. "Eating animals! Gah!" His eyes widened. "You don't think Dustin is going to eat the dog, do you?"
"I really wish I never brought this up," Cam groaned.
A short time later, the two approached a large, rundown shack with a barely legible sign that read, "Gold Wing Comics."
"I expected something… different based on Dustin's description of some mass producing comic book giant," Tobi commented.
"Maybe comics are more profitable in the other dimension," Cam suggested, knocking on a door that looked ready to fall off its hinges.
The door swung open and a human wearing punk attire and a dog collar glanced up and down at them. "What do you want?" he asked impatiently.
Cam squinted. "Perry?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's me," Perry replied.
"You were the one who created Motodrone," Cam realized.
"Motowhat?" Perry snapped. "I don't know what the f*! you're talking about."
"What did you just say?" Cam asked.
"I said, I don't know what the f#%$ you're talking about," he repeated.
Cam and Tobi exchanged looks.
"You'll have to excuse Periwinkle here," a voice said a large gold moth alien pushed him aside. "Now, run along and check on the binding machine. It's been acting up again."
Perry grumbled something unintelligible before shuffling off.
"That boy has quite a mouth on him, so I had no choice but to modify his collar with an anti-profanity filter," the alien told Cam and Tobi. "Of course, with a butt like his, I think I'm going to have to equip myself with my own anti-profanity filter!"
"Goldwinger," Cam noticed.
"That's me!" Goldwinger declared happily. "Have we met before? You'd think I'd remember such handsome gentlemen as you two."
"Uh, right," Cam said, glancing nervously toward Tobi.
"Oh, I'm being so rude!" Goldwinger suddenly declared. "Please come in!"
"Uh, thanks," Cam replied, entering with Tobi. The inside of the building looked like an abandoned factory except for the fact that a series of machines connected by some kind of long assembly line was running, printing and sorting what must have been comics.
"Please make yourselves comfortable," Goldwinger offered. "Take a load off. Take your clothes off if you want. I don't mind!"
"Uh, no thanks," Tobi said. "Did you happen to see a robot owl and a talking guinea pig?"
"Ah, yes," Goldwinger replied. "Not the kind of thing you forget, you know?"
"Yes, we know," Cam agreed. "So, where are they?"
"Are they friends of yours?" Goldwinger asked intensely, "because they stole… something of great value from me and I do need it back. "So, maybe you'd be so kind as to track those two adorable little thieves down?"
"Sure," Tobi agreed, looking at Cam.
"Can we ask what they stole?" Cam asked.
"Of course you can!" Goldwinger replied.
Cam waited.
"You can ask," Goldwinger clarified, "but it's a trade secret, you know?"
"Won't we end up finding out anyway when we find the two who stole it?" Tobi pointed out.
"Oh," Goldwinger realized. "You're right." He paced back and forth for a moment. "Alright, it's a Zord."
"You have a Zord!" Tobi declared.
"It's a harmless little thing," Goldwinger explained, waving his hand dismissively.
"And why would Sensei—the guinea pig—steal it?" Cam asked.
"Well… it does things," Goldwinger replied. "You know, a little gold dust here, a little fairy magic there…"
The two stared at him blankly.
"It can travel between dimensions," Goldwinger finally admitted.
Cam and Tobi's eyes widened.
"I know what you're thinking," Goldwinger continued, "but there are other dimensions… Well, at least one other. I remember when I first emerged from my golden cocoon and accidently discovered that I could travel between dimensions… Ah, the memories!"
"In the… other dimension, are the Power Rangers… good?" Cam asked.
Goldwinger spun in his tracks to look at Cam. "Yes, they are. Ah, it's the comics that gave it away, isn't it?"
"Sort of," Tobi agreed. "Why do you make comics about another dimension and then sell them there?"
"It's a long and tragic story," Goldwinger said with a sigh.
"Then we'll just go find our friends," Cam said, backing off.
"No," Tobi interrupted, stopping Cam. "We want to hear it."
Cam offered Tobi a raised eyebrow.
"Alright," Goldwinger agreed. "Follow me." He led them into a room filled with tv screens, only some of which were showing something. Some had Zord battles, some Power Ranger fights and others just random street footage. "You know, I would be more comfortable if you two were at least shirtless," he suggested. "If would help me relax, you know?"
Cam frowned and looked at Tobi.
"If it makes him comfortable," Tobi told Cam, removing his training gear and then shirt.
Goldwinger looked at Cam.
"I'll keep my clothes on, if that's alright," Cam said coldly.
"Hrmph," Goldwinger mumbled. "You know, I often wished I could make love dust instead. I could make you two fall in love and—"
"Just get on with the story," Cam told him.
"Fine, fine," Goldwinger conceded. "Well, a long time ago, I was part of project Zord vs. Zord."
"Zord vs. Zord?" Cam asked.
"Before making aliens grow, they tried Zords against the Power Rangers' Zords," Tobi explained.
"Exactly," Goldwinger agreed, "but when the project was scrapped, I found myself out of work. And it's not like Zord-making was a useful skill in the job market, you know?"
The two just nodded.
"Then an idea came to me to make Zords for the Power Rangers in the other dimension," Goldwinger continued. "But the Power Rangers thought I was some kind of a monster and tried to kill me. I must say, I was a little hurt by this. You don't think I'm scary looking, do you?"
"Uh, no," Tobi offered as Cam kept quiet.
"Thank you," Goldwinger cooed happily. "You're such a dear! So, anyway, I stumped onto comic book making after I saw human children dressed as Power Rangers and realized how popular comics of their adventures would be. I always fancied myself an artist, you know, and so I was off and running. I collect a bunch of footage using mini optical transmitting holograms and sort through it all."
"Mini what?" Cam asked.
"MOTHs," Goldwinger clarified. "Tiny flying creatures. You've probably noticed them before. Though, only some are my wee ones, you know?"
Cam and Tobi just exchanged looks.
"So, anyway, I'm about a year behind, meaning I'm working on Wild Force, but have been collecting footage for what I think I'll call Power Rangers Ninja Force."
The two stared at him with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah, I know," Goldwinger relented. "I was thinking the same thing, Time Force, Wild Force… My other idea was Power Rangers Ninja Storm. I got the idea based on what they say when they morph."
"So, you've seen us—them morph?" Cam asked. "You know the identities of all the Power Rangers?"
"Not all of them," Goldwinger conceded. "I'm still trying to learn more about the mysterious green ranger."
Cam and Tobi exchanged another look.
"But I mostly pay attention to what they do as Power Rangers," he continued, sighing. "It's too bad my audience is children because, personally, I love all the relationship issues the Power Rangers have."
"Right," Cam and Tobi agreed, blinking.
"But, of course, I can't sell the comics here," Goldwinger continued, "and yet I can't spend the money I make selling them in the other dimension here because they use weird money, so I'm forced to trade for parts there and sell them here. It's not terribly profitable, as you can tell." He gestured around. "Most of these screens were payment."
"Why not just move to the other dimension, then?" Tobi asked.
"And have the Power Rangers try to kill me again?" Goldwinger protested. "I think not!"
"We understand," Cam agreed. "So, you can travel between dimensions whenever you want?"
"Yes I can," Goldwinger replied happily.
"Can you take people with you?" Tobi asked.
"I suppose," Goldwinger theorized. "I can create a sort of vortex between dimensions that stays active for around twenty-four hours. And then there's my Zord, that I use to transport the comics. It can come and go too."
Cam and Tobi exchanged looks. Cam couldn't help but glance down briefly at Tobi's pink nipples, which were pointy because of the cool room. His cheeks flushed as he pictured Tori in the same situation. "So, uh," Cam stuttered, "if we find your Zord, you'll be able to take us back to our dimension?"
"Back to your dimension?" Gold winger repeated.
"Yeah, it's a long story and I'm getting kinda cold," Tobi interrupted.
"I'm sure your handsome friend can warm you up," Goldwinger suggested.
Cam groaned, crossing his arms.
"Fine, fine," Goldwinger agreed. "We have a deal."
"Thanks!" Tobi declared, pulling on his clothes.
"Uh, we'll let ourselves out," Cam said, leading Tobi away. Once the two were outside, Cam gave Tobi an exasperated look.
"What's wrong?" Tobi asked.
"Let's just say… I can't wait to get back," Cam replied. "A world with a few evil space aliens suddenly doesn't seem so bad."
Tobi frowned at him.
While Cam headed back to Ninja Ops to track Sensei and Circuit, Tobi picked up his order from Madame Pinweeble and headed to the park. As he entered the park, he noticed Marah and wasn't sure whether he should hide or not. It was too late, as she approached him.
"I don't want any trouble," he told her.
"I'm not here to turn you in," Marah said, stopping a few feet away from him. "I'm here to… apologize."
He gave her a surprised look.
"I heard about what you did for the Golden Guardians," she continued, "healing one of them and I'm sorry. Your friends were fighting the other Zord. Its' just…"
"You were upset and felt betrayed," Tobi suggested.
"Uh, right," she agreed, giving him a surprised look.
"There you are!" Kapri declared, running up to Marah. "We're starting in like ten minutes!"
"I'm coming," Marah assured her. "We're performing," she told Tobi as Kapri ran off. "I was just hoping to find Dustin and tell him…"
"You're sorry?" Tobi suggested. "Well, I'm looking for him too, so we might as well look together."
"Thanks," Marah told him with a smile.
"No problem," he replied.
A dog barking drew their attention to a secluded area of the park where a small brown dog was running around. And there, below a tree, were Dustin and Hunter… kissing.
Tobi and Marah both froze in their tracks as they watched. Just then, Geo came running over to play with the dog and Hunter and Dustin immediately broke their kiss, both blushing heavily.
Tobi looked over at Marah, who was frowning and glaring. "I know you're feeling jealous right now," he told her, "but, if you care about him, you'll want him to be happy no matter what."
She looked at him. "I know the philosophy," she said, "but…"
"Yeah, but…" Tobi agreed.
She gave him a surprised look. "You like him too," she realized.
"Yeah," Tobi gulped. "I do."
"I, uh, better go…" she mumbled, turning to leave.
"No," Tobi said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Marah, he still needs to see you."
She bit her bottom lip nervously. "I really should…"
"Here," he said, leading her by the hand over to the others.
Dustin had let Geo throw a Frisbee for the dog to catch and bring back when the Frisbee hit Dustin in the chest and he pretended to faint. "Oh, no! You got me!" Dustin said, falling to the grass.
The dog immediately jumped him and started licking his face, causing Dustin to giggle. Then Geo jumped him and started barking like a dog, which only made Dustin laugh harder. Meanwhile, Hunter stood watching with a smile on his face.
"Thinking about becoming a dad?" Tobi asked as he approached Hunter. "Dustin's willing to adopt."
Hunter furrowed his brow while watching Dustin play with Geo. "I think Dustin would be a great dad, but… I don't know if I can do it."
"Why not?" Tobi asked. "you're a big brother."
"Yeah," Hunter agreed. "And I did help out that kid who…" He suddenly froze. "What's she doing here?"
"Marah wants to say something to Dustin," Tobi explained, forcing a reluctant Marah forward.
"Oh, really?" Hunter said, staring at her suspiciously.
"Marah, I'm a dog!" Geo declared happily, crawling on all fours over to her and barking.
"Oh, Marah, hey," Dustin noticed, brushing a hand through his hair nervously. "What's up?"
"We were just going to perform and…" Marah trailed off.
"We'll totally stick around to watch," Dustin agreed. "Right, dude?"
"Right," Hunter said slowly.
Tobi patted Marah on the back for support. "And…" she added. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, uh, no prob," Dustin said, looking flustered. "I like get it and all."
"So… you two, huh?" Marah asked, gesturing toward Hunter.
"You saw that?" Dustin said, grinning nervously. "We were…"
"Kissing," Hunter finished.
"Yeah," Dustin agreed, fidgeting and smiling even wider. "For fun and stuff," he added.
"Fun?" Marah repeated.
"Uh…" Dustin mumbled.
"Oh, Dustin, I brought you a… gift," Tobi broke the tension.
Dustin immediately transformed his expression into that of a kid on Christmas morning.
"A present?" Geo asked, suddenly hopping up on his feet to study the parcel in Tobi's hand.
"I had to kind of guess on your measurements," Tobi said, handing the parcel to Dustin, who tore it open like a wild animal while Geo looked on.
Dustin pulled out the yellow costume and smiled wide.
"AD exclamation mark?" Hunter read. "Did you mean ADD?"
"Awesome Dude!" Dustin declared, running off quickly before emerging from the other side of the nearby tree only seconds later wearing a yellow full body spandex suit, complete with cape. "And, look! It even has a bib for when I eat!" he added, wearing the smaller cape in front of him.
"Well, you need it," Hunter said, grinning while looking Dustin's skin tight outfit up and down. It hugged Dustin's every muscle and curve.
"Cool!" Geo declared.
"Actually," Tobi said, removing the smaller cape, "it's a cape for the dog. It works both ways, as 'Awesome Dude!' and 'Awesome Dog!'" He put the cape on the dog, which promptly tried to pull it off.
"Oh! Awesome!" Dustin agreed, placing his hands on his hips as the wind blew his cape and gravity shifted certain contents in his tight costume.
"So, have you guys come up with a name for the dog yet?" Tobi asked, trying not to stare.
"Hunter likes Dusty," Dustin chimed in, "but it's not really like a girl's name."
"How 'bout Chocolate?" Geo suggested, trying to get the dog to wear the cape.
"It has a nice ring to it," Tobi offered.
Dustin turned to Hunter. "I guess it works," Hunter agreed, "but I don't get all the obsession with chocolate."
"Dude, you don't like chocolate!" Dustin asked in shock.
"I like chocolate, I'm just not obsessed," Hunter clarified.
"Look at Dustin," Tobi told Hunter. "Now imagine those caramel chocolate eyes staring at you from below those waves of dark chocolate curls. Imagine his skin isn't just the color of milk chocolate naturally or from dirt, but from melted chocolate… and you have to lick it off his body while he squeals in delight and finally covers himself in milk chocolate colored—"
"I get it!" Hunter interrupted, panting. "I… understand, Tobi."
"Okay," Tobi replied, nodding.
Meanwhile, Dustin looked even more flustered.
"What about… Destiny?" Marah offered.
The others looked at her, surprised.
"It's a girl's name and it sounds like Dusty," she explained.
"Right," Tobi agreed, looking between her and Dustin.
"Destiny," Dustin said outloud, watching Marah before looking down at Geo and the dog. "Destiny Chocolate Brooks."
Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Well, I, uh, better be going," Marah said, also giving Dustin's body a once over with her eyes.
"Yeah," Dustin agreed. "I'm glad you're not like mad at me anymore."
Marah paused, looking up into Dustin's eyes. "I'm glad too," she told him. "And… I'm glad you're happy." She glanced at Hunter before turning to leave.
"Marah, I…" Dustin began, pulling her by the arm and turning her around.
"What?" she asked, facing him again.
He fidgeted nervously, just staring at her.
Hunter glanced at Tobi, folding his arms. "Just kiss her already," Hunter told Dustin. "I know you want to and… I don't mind." He gritted his teeth at the last part.
Dustin gave him a surprised look before looking nervously back at Marah, who was also blushing. The two stared at each other for a moment longer before Dustin leaned down and tilted his head.
Marah's eyelashes fluttered as she tilted her head and let their lips meet. It was a very light and not very long kiss, but Dustin was the first to pull away. "I don't want to like lead you on," he suddenly told her. "I was just curious and I like you and…"
She grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his face back to hers, their lips locking tightly this time. When she finally released him, they were both panting for air.
"Eww!" Geo complained.
"I… better go," she said, smiling and blushing heavily before running off with her cousin. "Come on, Geo."
"Bye, Awesome Dude!" Geo called. "Bye Destiny!"
Dustin just stood there with his mouth hanging open and another part of him no longer hanging.
Tobi glanced at a confused Hunter. "Well, I guess she figured it would be her only kiss," he suggested. "Or, maybe she was trying to change his mind…"
Hunter stared at Dustin. "Did it work?" he asked, looking down.
"Did what work, dude?" Dustin replied, looking dazed.
"I'll have to remember that one," Tobi mumbled. "If she was jealous, it was a lot more effective than turning you in or slapping one of you."
Hunter and Dustin gave him a confused look.
"Nevermind," he told them. "Let's listen to Marah's… performance. "Oh, Dustin," he paused, realizing something, "I was wondering how you do the whole changing clothes thing."
"Changing clothes?" Dustin repeated.
"You know, throw off one outfit and different clothes are underneath," Tobi explained.
"Oh, like this?" Dustin asked, grabbing at his costume and throwing it backward to reveal his ninja training outfit, which couldn't possibly have been underneath it. Then he threw that off and he was back in his casual clothes.
"Yeah, how do you do that?" Tobi asked.
Dustin approached him and told him how to hold his arms. "Here, like this," he said, holding Tobi's wrist.
"Even I know how this ends," Hunter mumbled, turning away from them.
"And then you fling your wrist back while moving your other hand, palm flat, down," Dustin explained.
Tobi followed his instructions until his training outfit flew off in one fluid movement. "Wow!" Tobi declared happily. "Thanks!" He hugged Dustin spontaneously before stepping away and blushing.
"No prob, TZT," he told him, running a hand through his hair while licking his bottom lip. "So, uh, now try it yourself, dude."
Tobi broke his eye contact with Dustin and focused on following through with the same movements on his clothes, but somehow he ended up completely nude except for his amulet. He gasped in surprise.
"He's buck naked, isn't he?" Hunter asked, still facing away.
Dustin looked Tobi up and down, blushing. "Dude, we'll, uh, have to, uh, work on that…"
"Yeah, sorry," Tobi apologized, getting his clothes from the grass.
"Oh, yay!" a voice called. "I'm not the only nudist!" A naked man happily jogged by. "Naturists rule!" he yelled as he trotted along barefoot… and bare everything else. "If aliens can be nude, so can we!"
Hunter and Dustin stared in surprised confusion as the man left.
After Tobi had redressed, the three watched Marah and Kapri perform a kind of singing puppet show. Marah would hold a cow puppet while Kapri held a moon or one would have a unicorn puppet and the other a rainbow, all while singing things like, "I'm the happy cow that jumped over the moon. I'm the happy unicorn that pranced over the rainbow." Needless to say, the three were cringing as they watched.
When it was over, though, they decided to offer a polite applause.
"Encore, encore!" Dustin yelled as Marah and Kapri ran off stage.
"What are you doing?" Hunter asked him.
"What?" Dustin asked, confused. "They were good!"
Both Hunter and Tobi stared at him in shock as Geo went on stage and pounded on an alien made out of drums. It didn't look happy, but Geo definitely did.
"Did you really like it?" Marah asked, prancing over with Kapri.
"Yeah, it was awesome!" Dustin agreed. "I haven't seen singing puppets since… since I was like a little kid and stuff."
"Uh, yeah, me neither," Tobi agreed.
"Sorry we can't do an encore, but we're making… milkshakes!" Kapri announced happily.
Marah giggled and blushed. "Home made, of course," she told Dustin. "I hope you like my milkshake…"
"Yeah, I'm sure it'll be awesome," Dustin agreed.
"Why don't' one of you guys perform while we're milking?" Kapri asked.
"I don't have my sax with me," Dustin explained before turning to Hunter, "but Hunter can rap."
"Uh, not really in the mood," Hunter shrugged off Dustin's offer. "Did you say you were going to be… milking?" he asked Marah and Kapri.
"Only the fresh stuff for our fans!" Kapri declared.
Marah giggled. "Yeah, it's sort of a folk singer thing," she said. "Anyway, I'll get your shake."
"Thanks," Dustin replied, turning to Tobi. "Hey, you said you can sing!"
Tobi fidgeted nervously. "Well, I…"
"Oh, you should so do it!" Kapri insisted, grabbing him by the arm.
"Do it!" Dustin declared. "I promise I won't laugh or anything. You'll be awesome!"
Tobi stared at Dustin's sparkling brown eyes. "Alright," he reluctantly agreed. "For you," he added in a whisper as the girls led him to the stage and grabbed an alien with a banjo. Once Geo's drumming was done, the girls pulled Tobi onstage before scurrying off to make milkshakes. "Uh, you know the tune to 'Dust to Dust'?" he asked the banjo holding alien.
The alien just nodded before producing music that couldn't possibly have come from the banjo in his hands.
Tobi looked out nervously at the crowd of humans, kelzacks and aliens before spotting Dustin, who waved encouragingly at him. He couldn't help but blush again as Dustin's eyes caught the sunlight. Then, clearing his throat and tucking his hair behind his ears, he waited for the music as his cue. "I've been on the outside looking in," he sang. "I've been at a crossroads wondering where to begin." He cleared his throat again and smiled nervously, but Dustin just gave him a thumbs up. "I wish I was carefree. I wish I was cocky. I wish I was crazy enough to believe in you and me. But dust to dust we're born, what we know not for. The one thing I know for sure is I've been waiting for more…" Suddenly a trumpet began playing along with Tobi's singing. "You're heart's like a lion with it starts to roar. You're brave as a falcon when it learns to soar. You're smart like a dolphin who knows much more. You're love's like the thunder echoing from a distant shore. And now I know, you're the more I've been waiting for."
Hunter and Dustin's morphers beeped and they listened to their wrists as Tobi sang, both of them nodding.
"You've been on the inside looking out," Tobi continued. "You've been at a crossroads without a single doubt. You know you're carefree. You know you're cocky. You're even crazy enough to believe in destiny. But dust to dust we're born, what we know not for. The one thing you know for sure is I'm not what you've been waiting for. You're hearts like a lion…" His voice trailed off as Dustin tried to get his attention by waving his hands and pointing to his morpher.
Wandering off stage with flushed cheeks, Tobi approached the others. "Cam says he's spotted the Dragon Zord," Hunter told him.
"He wants us to go check it out while he argues with Sensei or something," Dustin added, turning and preparing to leave. "Oh, and awesome singing, TZT," he told Tobi, "but kinda a sad song."
"Yeah," Tobi agreed, blinking heavily at Dustin.
"Fresh milkshakes coming through," a voice announced as the three turned to see Marah and Kapri bringing over a tray of cups with straws.
"We'll take them to go," Hunter told the girls.
"Where are you going?" Marah asked, pouting.
"You know, smash a Zord, save the world," Dustin explained with a grin. "The usual."
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Let's go, loverboy."
"Huh?" Dustin asked, taking his milkshake from Marah and sipping it. "Mmmm, creamy!" he declared.
Geo ran over to them. "Did you like my drumming?" he asked.
"Yeah! You were totally rocking, Geodude!" Dustin agreed.
"We'll see you later," Tobi told Marah as the tree guys looked for a secluded spot to streak from. "Would you mind keeping an eye on Destiny while we're gone? I don't think it'll be safe for her."
"Oh, right…" Dustin said, disappointed.
"Sure," Marah agreed as Geo picked up the dog.
"Thanks," Dustin mumbled, glancing between Destiny, Geo and Marah before the three streaked off.
"Wow!" Geo declared as he saw them become colored blurs. "I want to be a Power Ranger!"
Marah looked at him sharply before her eyes softened. "Yeah," she agreed. "They're not so bad…"
The three streaked to a rock quarry, where the black Dragon Zord looked ominously down at them. But, as they joined the other rangers who were already there, they realized that the Dragon Zord was still completely motionless.
"I saw you guys were… busy at the park," Shane told Hunter and Dustin, "so I went back to Ninja Ops, where Tori and Blake were… busy too."
Hunter looked over toward his brother and Tori, both of whom were blushing. "It was just a kiss," Tori assured Hunter.
"Yeah," Blake chimed in. "You're not jealous, bro?"
Hunter stiffened. "Course not," he defended. "Just want my bro and my… friend to be happy."
Blake laughed, nodding toward Dustin. "Shane tells us you got some action too."
Hunter smiled nervously. "Well… Dustin also kissed Marah."
"Dustin kissed Marah?" Tori repeated, surprised.
"It was… quite a kiss," Hunter added, cringing.
Dustin blushed and kicked some rocks with his shoe.
"So, you kissed Hunter again and Marah," Tori told Dustin. "Did you kiss Tobi again too?"
"No, he didn't," Tobi answered for him.
Dustin grinned nervously while his eyes darted from Tobi to the others. "Uh, maybe later," he mumbled.
Shane shook his head. "So, Cam says he thinks this big thing doesn't have a power supply, so it has to keep sucking up energy from the earth," he explained.
"Then, when it runs out of energy, it has to recharge," Tori finished.
"Then now's our chance to destroy it," Hunter suggested.
"Cam says he almost has the Megazord configuration ready and we'll need it to make even a dent against the Dragon Zord's armor," Shane added.
"So, where are Doctor Oliver and the others?" Tobi asked.
"Cam doesn't know," Shane replied.
Suddenly a shadow passed over the group. They looked up in time to see a black spiderweb forming around them. "Like flies to honey," a voice commented as a shadowy figure took shape outside the web.
"It's a trap!" Shane realized while Dustin tried to touch the black web surrounding them.
"Ah!" Dustin yelled. Both Hunter and Tobi ran over to him and, as he fell to the ground, he became completely motionless. They turned him over to see that his eyes were entirely black.
"Please, by all means try to get out," the figure said, forming into Dr. Oliver. He waved a hand and the web began to shrink.
"Ah!" Tori was caught off guard and was hit by the contracting web. Immediately her eyes went black.
"Dustin!" Hunter yelled, shaking his arms, but there was no response from the earth ninja.
"Why are you doing this?" Tobi asked Dr. Oliver, glancing away from Dustin's once lively brown eyes that were now a lifeless black.
"Really, you're just in the way," Dr. Oliver said dismissively.
"Ah!" Hunter yelled. Since he was facing Dustin, the web had caught him from behind. He fell lifelessly beside Dustin.
"Bro!" Blake yelled, reaching out and ending up with his hand touching the web. Both the brothers' eyes were now black.
"What are you doing to them?" Shane growled, ducking to the ground with Tobi as the web around them continued to shrink.
"For them, it's just like a bad dream they can never awaken from," Dr. Oliver explained, "until the blackness destroys their minds or stops their hearts. Either's a possibility. They'll feel so depressed they'll welcome death with open arms… and open eyes." A grin curled up on the edge of his mouth.
Tobi wanted to reach for Dustin, but he was now outside the web, lying motionless, his black eyes open wide, as if in horror.
"Ah!" Shane gasped, falling onto Tobi and knocking him to the ground just before the web could reach him too.
Outside the web, Dr. Oliver crossed his arms and waited.
Tobi looked at Dustin and the others and then back to the contracting shadow web. He tried to think of what he could do and decided on focusing on the web, but he couldn't see it in his mind. It was like it wasn't even there… and then it reached him.
"Ah!" he cried in pain as he felt his eyes grow black and his body grow limp.
He felt himself soaring weightlessly in a sea of blackness. There was no point to trying to fight it. The blackness had won. It was hopeless. There was no reason to go on…
He felt his body beg for death and wanted to give in. It all seemed so pointless.
…
But… there was something…
There was a point, some meaning…
He couldn't quite remember what it was, though. It was… a person? But why would he care about a person? No one cared about him. No one loved him, so why would he love someone who cared nothing for him? Why would he…
Dustin.
That was it, the person, the reason…
"Dustin…" he choked out into the blackness. "I lo—"
Immediately, the pain and sorrow hit him harder than before, the darkness sweeping over him. But, it was too late.
He felt something burning within him and let the feeling grow, igniting it and fueling it with every last thread of his strength.
Suddenly a blinding light burst out from behind his eyes.
"Not possible!" Dr. Oliver declared as Tobi's eyes transformed from black orbs to glowing lights.
Tobi gasped, blinking repeatedly until he could see. He looked around, scrambling to find Dustin, who was still lying helpless on the ground with eyes full of darkness. He grabbed Dustin's hand in his own. "Dustin," he whispered. "I'll always be here for you... even when you don't need me." He watched as Dustin's eyes returned to there familiar warm caramel chocolate color and he blinked.
"Dude, I feel like I got hit by a truck," Dustin complained as Tobi shook off a wave of fatigue and went on to Hunter, who was lying nearby. He touched Hunter before noticing Dr. Oliver raise his arms.
Tobi raised his own arms at the exact same moment that lighting shot from Dr. Oliver's palms. A wave of energy bounced the lighting back, knocking Dr. Oliver to the ground.
Immediately, Tobi went on to Tori and then Shane and Blake.
Blake actually threw up on the ground. "I feel awful," he complained.
Tobi fell to the ground, panting. He tried to reach his shaking hands for his amulet, but couldn't find the strength necessary after freeing the others.
Suddenly he felt his fingers wrapping around the metallic surface. And, as it glowed, he felt his strength returning. "Thanks," a voice whispered to him and he opened his eyes to see Hunter looking at him. He gave Hunter a surprised look before he noticed Dr. Oliver regaining his footing.
Tobi promptly launched a wave of energy against him, knocking him back to the ground. "No, stay down!" Tobi yelled, anger in his voice.
Tori approached him, staring with wide eyes. "Tobi, are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah," Tobi breathed. "Are you guys okay?"
"I guess so," she agreed, glancing at Hunter, who looked back at Dustin and nodded.
"What?" Tobi asked, as both Tori and Hunter looked at him strangely.
"Your eyes… they're glowing," Tori said.
Tobi furrowed his brow and blinked. Why would his eyes be glowing?
"There, it's going away," she told him.
"Oh…" he mumbled, confused.
"Finally you three return," Dr. Oliver declared before becoming smoke.
The group watched the smoke approach three figures that were holding shopping bags. It was Kimberly, Billy and Alpha 6.
"Don't blame me," Kimberly said, eyeing the group suspiciously.
"I'm just stocking up for the apocalypse," Billy explained, gesturing toward the bags of clothes hanging from Alpha 6 like a coat rack.
Shane nodded toward the others. "Ninja Storm! Ranger Form!" The rangers morphed and, when Tobi looked over, he saw that Dustin was now in his "Awesome Dude!" costume, cape flapping behind him.
"What the—?" Shane began.
"Let's not ask," Tori suggested.
"Here," the smoke told Kimberly and Billy as it formed a pair of hands that gave something to the two.
"Where did you…?" Kimberly began to ask. "Oh, Tommy…"
"Just activate them!" Dr. Oliver commanded.
"It's morphin' time!" Kimberly declared. "Pink Ranger Power!" She held out a golden amulet with a crane carved into hit.
"Blue Ranger Power!" Billy called, also holding an amulet of his own with a wolf carved into it.
The two transformed into ninja Power Rangers, Kimberly wrapped all in pink and Billy in light blue wrappings. The others looked at each other in surprise at seeing two new Power Rangers.
"The Mighty Morphin Ninja Power Rangers!" Dustin announced.
"The power won't last," Dr. Oliver warned. "Kill them now."
As the pink and blue ninjas sprang into action, immediately attacking the other rangers, Dr. Oliver swirled around the group.
Billy punched Dustin with one hand, which sent the unmorphed earth ninja flying through the air until he finally collided with the metal surface of the Dragon Zord's foot. Hunter sprang toward Billy, but the blue ninja just kicked him aside. "I so missed this!" Billy commented.
"You're not the only one," Kimberly agreed, taking on Tori and Blake. Blake kicked her, but she vanished, appearing directly behind him, where she knocked him to the ground before kicking Tori.
Shane spun around, surprised to see the robot Alpha 6 standing in front of him.
"I-I-I," it whined in a high pitched voice. "I-I-I'm going to kick your ass!"
"Good luck, tin head," Shane mocked.
"It's copper!" Alpha 6 corrected, swinging an arm toward Shane, who dodged it before kicking the robot. The sound of a metallic clank filled the air and Shane hopped on one foot, obviously in pain.
Meanwhile, Tobi ran over to Dustin, helping him up. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, I—Look out!" Dustin warned as Dr. Oliver swirled around Tobi.
"You will be the first to die," the smoke declared. "You are a worthy adversary."
Tobi sent a wave of energy out around himself, but the smoke just reformed.
"You can't do anything to me when I'm like this," the smoke told him.
"But you can't do anything to me, either," Tobi realized, reaching into the smoke. Suddenly, he felt like he'd been shocked and he fell backward, hitting the ground hard.
Immediately, Dustin reached to help him up.
"Maybe we should keep one alive long enough to lead us to their power source," Kimberly suggested while throwing Blake against Tori.
"A good idea," Dr. Oliver gasped. He was now fully formed and lying on the ground. Apparently, when Tobi and Dr. Oliver came in contact, they somehow incapacitated each other.
Tobi looked closer and noticed a silver amulet attached to Dr. Oliver's belt. He had to get the amulet away from him, but the moment he dove toward Dr. Oliver, he became black smoke that streaked around like a shadow.
"This one's like even dumber than me and like not even a Power Ranger," Billy said, kicking Dustin away from Tobi. "We don't' need him alive.
Tobi grit his teeth, spinning around.
Tori was closest, so she ran over to stop Billy. "Tobi, your eyes…" she called, as Kimberly knocked her to the ground.
Tobi just waved his arm and Billy was shot through the air until he hit the distant edge of the quarry.
Suddenly a jolt of electricity shot through Tobi's body and he fell to the ground. He looked over to see Dr. Oliver, once again formed and now lying near him. He must have intentionally touched Tobi, incapacitating them both again. "Now!" Dr. Oliver choked out. "Finish him!"
Instantly, Kimberly was on Tobi, punching him repeatedly before he could recover from his contact with Dr. Oliver. He felt his nose break and blood cover his face.
"No!" the others yelled, clutching their injured bodies and limping over to stop Kimberly. Hunter went over to check on Dustin while Tori struggled to pull the much stronger Kimberly off Tobi. Blake and Shane's path was blocked by Alpha 6.
The pink ninja just tossed Tori aside, throwing her into Shane.
Just then, a fireball hit Kimberly, sending her tumbling off Tobi.
The others looked up to see a large moth-shaped gold Zord flying by with a small guinea pig atop it.
The Moth Zord landed and the formerly grumpy Sensei flew over to the rangers by riding on top of Circuit. "This is a rescue," he told them. "Hop in this Zord and you're going back to your dimension."
"What?" Dustin asked as he studied Tobi's face.
"Is that possible?" Shane asked.
Tobi reached up and started healing his face and upper chest.
"It is possible and it must be done now," the guinea pig insisted, firing another fireball at Kimberly while Hunter and Blake electrocuted Alpha 6.
"But we can't leave this dimension to be destroyed," Tori replied, washing the blood off Tobi's face with water.
Just then, a familiar Megazord stomped its way toward them. "Sorry for the delay," Cam's voice came from their morphers, "but my fathers were being argumentative." It was Shane, Tori and Dustin's animal Zords combined into their Storm Megazord.
"If you have to finish this before you go, stomp on them now while they are vulnerable," the grumpy Sensei declared.
"I'm with Sensei—one of the Sensei's—on this," Hunter agreed, studying a cut down Dustin's back. "With the Megazord, we can squash them."
Tobi examined the ripped cape before pulling aside the torn fabric on the back of Dustin's costume. "The cape blocked most of the impact," he observed as he ran a finger along Dustin's cut, healing it.
"Cold blooded murder is not the way of a ninja," the voice of calm Sensei came from their morphers.
Tobi stumbled, leaning a hand against the nearby Dragon Zord's foot for support as he again used his amulet to regain his strength. As he held the glowing Sun Amulet in one hand and leaned his other against the Dragon Zord, he felt energy flow through him from the amulet to the Dragon Zord. He looked over to see the black and silver surface becoming gold.
Creak! Clank! He looked up to see the Dragon Zord transforming from a dragon into something with wings…
Shane glanced up at the transforming Dragon Zord before nodding to Tori and Dustin. The three jumped into the air and entered their Megazord.
Tobi backed away from the Dragon Zord as the others began their attack against it using their Megazord. Once his contact was released, the Dragon Zord returned to its black and silver color, but it was now a dragon with a slightly more bird-like face and with wings. Also, its eyes were now glowing and it began to move.
The Storm Megazord reached out, lifting the now alive Dragon Zord by the tail and flinging it across the quarry. Before the Dragon Zord could recover, the Megazord fired a weapon, blasting the entire edge of the quarry. But, as the smoke cleared, the Dragon Zord was hovering on its newly formed wings. A loud growl echoed from it.
"Apparently it's been long enough," a voice said as a shadow streaked across the ground, swirling up around Kimberly, Billy and then Alpha 6.
"You had your chance!" grumpy Sensei yelled, watching the three become part of the smoke as it swirled around the Dragon Zord.
A gust of air blew out from the Dragon Zord, pushing the Megazord back before it vanished in a puff of black smoke.
Hunter pounded his fist into his gloved hand and growled.
"Chill, bro," Blake warned him. "We couldn't just kill them."
"But they tried to kill us," Hunter said. "And they could have killed Dustin easily." He looked at Tobi. "Thanks," he told him. "I owe you one."
"No problem," Tobi mumbled.
"Guys, our friend has just appeared back in the city," Cam's voice came from Hunter and Blake's morphers. "And… it's headed for the park."
Dustin's voice could be heard over the morpher, repeating in a worried tone, "The park… Marah…"
To be continued...
Author's Notes: "I hope you like my milkshake…" So, did it work to have the first half of the chapter less serious and the end more serious? Let me know what you'd like to see in future chapters! As you can tell from reading this one, I add a lot of things based on my reviewers' tastes (examples: YellowPrincess's Marah makeup and Magichalo's Zord suggestion. Remember, you can review anonymously! Just click "Review This Chapter!" Please! Thanks!