Last Poll Results: What should TZTori's aka Tobi's sister's nickname be? Tied for first: Ri and Lia. Tied for second: Tora and Trista. Tied for third: Fin, Lil, Lynn, Nessie, Tina and Jen. So, Tobi's sister's nickname will be revealed in this chapter…
Author's Notes: This chapter is basically a resolution of the last chapter before the story progresses again, so no real action, just drama. And, I'm so sorry for it being forever since the last chapter, but I had… uh, personal issues around this story. Would you believe it was June 15 of last year, as in eight months ago! I've actually read through this entire story twice since then and tried to fix any major errors I noticed. So, since it's been so long, I decided to do a sort of refresher chapter with this one, you know, to remind you of the characters developed during this story and also get myself back into the world I created. Though, no one's like completely forgotten about this story, have they? If you feel lost, just read the "Previously in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm" below. Oh! And I discovered that I've been using the word blonde wrong! It's blond for boys and blonde for girls. Now I know…
Review Comments:
Thanks griffin blackwood for continuing to review my other stories while this one was on vacation. Um, yeah, vacation sounds better than other words I could use… And it was things like that scene where Hunter meets Kim and they have a conversation about crimson being like pink just as one example, that gave me some interesting ideas. I didn't end up doing a pink morpher trap, though it is an interesting idea. And I could never be Power Rangere'd out, so I'm not sure how that works for you, but if you prefer Harry Potter right now (or at least when you wrote this review), then do what you enjoy!
Thanks Ghostwriter for sticking with this story through thick and thin and praising my action centric chapters like the last one. I know it's been a really long time, but I'm hoping you'll start following this story again if I continue writing it. I know you probably want to go all Marah and Kapri kick-butt on me after this, so again, I'm sorry!
Thanks megsjedi for all your praise for the last chapter and the direction I took both with Dustin and Tobi's physical relationship and with all the cam love. Also, thanks for your vote for Tobi's sister's name. Was it the winner? I guess we'll find out what I decided to call her in this chapter. Yes, of course, your vote counts double. ;p And now I have to take up watching wrestling… I wonder how my dad would take that!
Thanks LadySociopath009 for never failing to write reviews like this one that encourage me to keep going when I really need some encouragement. I feel like I let you down personally though. There you were, telling me how awesome the story and even I was and then I just left you hanging with no real explanation. And we had just talked about what I was going to do *after* this story! I know it's not really much, but I added a little tiny something in here about the origins of the pink morpher that might interest you. Hint, it's about the *type* of Power Rangers that possessed it.
Thanks YellowPrincess for supporting not only my story, but every single pairing I come up with. You name it, you were there to show your support! I'm *really* sorry I just up and stopped writing like that. I had…personal issues to deal with. That, and I found other things to keep me busy. I *try* to make it up to you by having Cam express his feelings more for Tobi's sister like you suggested in your last review. And, to answer a question you asked in that review, Shimazu stole the morpher and crystal off the wall of Vexacus' ship when the two of them went looking for the pieces of the Gem of Souls that ended up at the bottom of the ocean after Cam threw them away in an early episode of Ninja Storm. Don't worry, I go over this in this chapter, since I know it was a quick scene in chapter 40. And, lastly, yes, I just couldn't resist the whole making rainbows and pregnancy thing!
Thanks Hampsta66 for reading through the whole story and sticking with it even when you weren't sure where it was going to go. I'm glad I was able to come up with things that kept you amazed. And, yes, I know you've been waiting forever for a new chapter! I can't promise this will be something that's worth the wait, but I'll *try* not to torture you like that again…
Thanks BafflingBravado for encouraging me to take my time! Anyone else would be like, "Why haven't you updated in forever? Where's the next chapter?" It's actually a good type of encouragement, so thanks. And you are…Um…Who calls me "love"? This will probably come to me at some point… I'm terrible at guessing apparently. Do I get another clue? Please?
Thanks Tarice the Styraurus for joining the world of Parallel Realities Ninja Storm! Thanks for your reviews too, as they help me know what you think as you go along, since each chapter presents something different. I'm also glad you enjoy the story, though no pressure to drop everything and read the rest. Yes, yes, I'm writing a new chapter, but they are *so much* faster to read then they are to write, so you have plenty of time. It's not like *I'm* up to date with *your* stories anyway! ;p Ha! For all I know, you're reading this like months from now too… *face palm* Take care, PB!
Previously in Parallel Realities Ninja Storm:
Cam is taken prisoner by Vexacus and, despite Sensei's warnings, the others are willing to trade the pieces of the Gem of Souls that Hunter had kept (and possibly the fate of the world) for Cam because they all care so much about him. But, when Choobo captures all the rangers except for Tobi and Skyla, Tobi's connection to Dustin is severed, weakening him and Dustin to the point of near death. While Skyla fights to protect hippy Marah and Kapri, Tobi helps space ninja Marah and Kapri retrieve the Gem of Souls from Ninja Ops. However, in the end, the space ninjas realize that the aliens they work with are constantly trying to kill them whereas the rangers are always trying to save them, leading that Marah and Kapri to join the rangers against the aliens. Once free of Choobo, Dustin and Tobi regain the strength and connection and Tobi wants to kill the aliens, but Dustin stops him, though their combined powers ends up brining Condortron to life. Clearly outmatched, Vexacus, Shimazu, Choobo and the now living Condortron are warned off by a seriously pissed off Cam. But, once the aliens leave, a vengeful Vexacus kills both Condortron and Shimazu before returning to Lothor with the pieces of the Gem of Souls he found in the ocean. Meanwhile, couples form and they share a happy ending for the night (despite Dustin and Tobi discovering that they can make each other pregnant if they're not more careful) until Skyla leads them to the remains of Condortron and Shimazu and the pink morpher that Shimazu stole from Vexacus' ship…
Parallel Realities Ninja Storm: Chapter 42 (Home For Good)
Dustin and Tobi stood outside the window of Dustin's bedroom, quietly giggling in the dark. If you go first, I can give you a push, Dustin thought at Tobi, adding the mental image of his hands on the blond's buttocks as he pushed Tobi into his room.
Alright, butt lover, Tobi agreed with a giggle.
"That's not the only part of you I love," Dustin whispered, giving Tobi a quick kiss on the lips while his hands explored Tobi's body.
All of me, I know, Tobi thought, adding, "Awesome Dude."
Dustin chuckled before trying to pry his window open. It's stuck.
I could use a little force, Tobi started to suggest mentally before an image of shattering glass came from Dustin's mind. "Probably right," he agreed.
"We'll just go in through the front door," Dustin whispered, taking Tobi's hand and leading him around the house. My mom's probably already asleep and I know Maya is.
But, as Dustin fumbled with his house key in the dark, the front door opened, revealing—
"Mom," Dustin gulped.
"Waldo, honey," she greeted happily. "I was hoping you'd come back, especially after our talk."
"Our talk?" Dustin started to ask, but Tobi's thoughts reminded him of Waldo's earlier visit to pick up clothes. "Oh, right," he said, noticing her turn to look at Tobi. "Oh, and mom, this is Tobi Hanson, Tori's twin brother."
"But we've known the Hanson's for years," she protested, studying the blond. "They don't have a son."
"Uh, yeah, that's a long story," Tobi commented just as her eyes drifted down to his and Dustin's intertwined hands.
She looked at her son, blinking.
Tobi could feel Dustin's nervousness and he started to pull his hand from the brunette, but then Dustin tightened his grip and smiled at him.
No, you're like part of me now, TZT, Dustin thought at him. You have all my crazy and awesome memories. She's partly your mom too.
Tobi grinned back and they both turned to Dustin's mom at the same time and, in unizon, said, "We're boyfriends."
Her eyes went wide and she opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Dustin gave her a nervous look. "I'm like really sorry I didn't tell you about this sooner, but things have been…"
"Intense," Tobi added.
Dustin nodded, watching his mom. "Mom? You're not…disappointed, are you?"
She blinked quickly, reaching out to take her son by the arms. "No, Waldo, I love you no matter what. And…I always kinda suspected you might be gay. You were an odd child. Like that time—"
"Mom!" Dustin interrupted.
"He likes girls too," Tobi added.
"Oh," she mumbled, raising an eyebrow. "Then why didn't you ever date girls like other boys, like your friend Shane?"
"He was…" Tobi started to answer for Dustin, knowing his memories as well as his own, but he didn't want to admit how Dustin could never reach out. He only made friends when people came to him and introduced themselves. He never sought them out, and the only girls he'd known besides Tori were weird or mean.
"I was just waiting for the right dude to come along," Dustin finished, adding quietly, "from the Twilight Zone."
"What was that about the Twilight Zone?" Dustin's mom asked curiously, an excited smile forming. "We have every episode of the original series. We can stay up and have a Twilight Zone marathon of our own." She couldn't help but clap her hands and bounce on her heals with anticipation.
Dustin ran a hand through his wavy brown hair nervously. "Uh, we were gonna go sleep."
"Oh," she realized, her expression falling. "I guess you want to have your sleepover with your…" She paused, staring at Tobi. "…boyfriend." She then turned back to Dustin. "Honey, did your dad ever have the talk with you?"
Tobi stifled a giggle as he recalled Dustin's dad's attempted "talk" and how poorly it had went. "Uh, birds and bees and stuff and…good talk, son." Mr. Brooks was definitely more a man of action than words.
"Don't worry, mom," Dustin assured her. He looked at Tobi and the blond immediately picked up on his thoughts, pulling out the box of condoms his sister had given them.
Let's not mention the whole risk of pregnancy thing, Tobi thought at him.
Dustin nodded, blushing as his mom looked at the box in Tobi's hand.
"Uh…" she mumbled. "Well, I trust you," she assured her son. "My baby's growing up," she whispered while gesturing for the two to come inside.
Sharing Dustin's thoughts meant that Dustin's house already felt like home to Tobi. He looked around the living room, stopping to look at Dustin's mom, who looked uncomfortable, like she sensed she was just in the way. She knew her son deserved space and didn't want to be smothered, but, as his mom, she wanted to be part of his life. Tobi didn't have to look at Dustin to know the brunette was reading his thoughts.
"Hey, maybe one episode of Twilight Zone would be cool," Dustin told his mom.
She literally skipped over to the tv. "There's this one staring William Shatner," she began, "the actor who played Captain Kirk on the original Star Trek series, that always scared Waldo."
"Because of his fear of heights," Tobi realized outloud as the two followed her to the couch.
"Oh, you've seen it," she said, disappointed. "Oh, but what about To Serve Man?"
Tobi laughed as Dustin's mind immediately provided the ending to the episode in question and then to the episode of the Simpson's Treehouse of Horror parody.
"Whatever you pick'll be cool, mom," Dustin told her.
As she smiled at her son, Tobi decided to add, "You raised an awesome son, mo—Mrs. Brooks." He glanced at Dustin, who had a dreamy look in his eyes.
"Thank you, Tobi," she said, leaning in to whisper to her son. "He seems like a keeper so far."
"Oh, he's a total keeper," Dustin whispered back, knowing full well that Tobi could hear everything he could.
As Dustin's mom picked out a DVD, Tobi laid his head on Dustin's chest and let out a sigh.
"Home is where the heart is," Dustin whispered, remembering Tobi's thoughts form the night Dustin died.
Tobi just nodded as Dustin ran his fingers through his hair.
"So, how did you two meet?" Dustin's mom asked as she sat on the couch next to the two.
This caused them to both laugh as the two pictured Tobi running from another dimension, yelling at Hunter and Blake and passing out at the sight of Dustin shirtless. Dustin added in an image of him showering thoroughly after that for Tobi's amusement.
"Uh, we met at Storm Chargers," Dustin offered.
"That place certainly is popular," she commented as the episode began. "You two want some popcorn?"
"Yeah," both agreed together.
"I'll get some," she said, giving her son a wink as she skipped off.
So, I guess we won't be using these tonight, Tobi thought to Dustin, picturing the box of condoms.
Dustin cocked his head to the side. It feels weird thinking of having something between us, he thought back, picturing a condom.
Tobi nodded. But we can't get much closer. We've shared our bodies, our minds, even our spirits.
Dustin's golden brown eyes looked dark in the light from the television. Tobi felt Dustin share his memory of the night they had spent together in Dustin's room and he felt an idea forming in Dustin's mind as the earth ninja took his hand. "Feel," he whispered.
And Tobi immediately knew what Dustin meant. It wasn't just feeling the warmth of Dustin's hand in his or feeling his own hand in Dustin's from their shared perspectives. He closed his eyes and let his mind see their life forces, the strands of life flowing through them and connecting them. He could feel the bones in their hands, the joints and muscles, the blood as it flowed through them, the distinction between blood with oxygen and without. His and Dustin's thoughts were one as they both followed the bloodflow back to each other's hearts. The beating of their hearts seemed to become so loud and so intense until suddenly the beats synchronized and became one.
Thump! Thump! It wasn't a double sound or an echo, but a single beat between them. Even their breathing matched, each breathing in and out as the other did. Time seemed to stop and all that mattered was that they were together.
Dustin's mom returned with popcorn in hand to find the two with their eyes closed, sleeping in each other's arms, their hands still clasped together. She smiled down at her son and his boyfriend before pulling a blanket off the back of the couch and placing it over the two. After kissing her son's forehead, she turned off the tv and decided to leave the two lovebirds in peace. But, as she turned to go, she shook her head at something she thought she saw but knew she had only imagined. It almost looked like the two were…glowing.
Blake watched Hunter show Waldo the blond's room while generously offering to let the brunette stay as long as he wanted.
"I hadn't really thought about anything permanent," Waldo admitted.
"No pressure," Hunter replied with a smirk.
"I'm amazed, with those two, there's not more of a mess on your bed," Waldo commented. "Is that…whip cream or…?"
"Uh, yeah, but it does smell like…sex in here," Hunter added, looking the bed over.
"You're thinking of them in bed together," Waldo pointed out. "Me too."
"Yeah," Hunter agreed, looking at the brunette.
"I'm…happy for them and all," Waldo explained. "After having Dustin in my head, I can't not be, but it just feels like I was left out…"
"I know what you mean," Hunter nodded along. "This is the bed we sat on when I told Dustin how I feel about him."
"I remember," Waldo replied. "You were so…sincere in your belief that we—that you and Dustin were destined to be together."
Hunter ran a hand through his hair nervously. "Yeah, well, as Tobi would say, you make your own destiny."
"Yeah…Tobi would say that," Waldo agreed, looking back at the bed. "It's strange that I'm not more turned on, since he basically had sex with my duplicate."
"Just because someone looks the same doesn't mean he's not his own person," Hunter explained, smirking at the brunette.
"Right," Waldo mumbled, unable to keep from smiling himself.
"Hey, if you're not tired yet, wanna dance?" Hunter suddenly offered.
"Awesome," Waldo agreed, taking the blond's hand.
"Don't be surprised if I shock you, though," Hunter chuckled as he led Waldo into the living room and put on some music. "Us thunder ninja's build up static electricity really easily."
"Don't worry, dude," Waldo assured him, following the blond's moves as the two began to dance together. "Being an earth ninja means I'm very good at grounding charges."
"You're welcome to ground my charges anytime you want," Hunter chuckled.
Waldo shook his head. "That doesn't even make sense."
Hunter shrugged. "I know." Then he noticed Waldo's eyes drift to the corner of the room. He followed the earth ninja's gaze to Blake standing in the corner, a troubled look on his face. "Bro, you okay?"
"Yeah," Blake mumbled, heading for Hunter's room. "I just…better put away those toppings."
"We'll help you," Waldo offered, pausing in their dance.
"I got it," Blake assured them, picking up some stray topping containers.
Hunter and Waldo reentered Hunter's room, the blond picking up a whip cream container and sniffing it. "I'll put this in the fridge," he offered, heading for the kitchen.
Blake watched him go before turning back to look at Waldo. "So…you two seem pretty close now," he commented.
Waldo looked at the younger Bradley while picking up some chocolate sauce. "Yeah," he agreed, smiling. "We are."
"Um, cool," Blake mumbled. "He…deserves to be happy. He's been through…a lot in his life."
Waldo just nodded.
"Here, I'll take that," Blake offered, taking the container in the earth ninja's hands and leaving the room.
Hunter was closing the fridge when Blake stepped into his view. "How long is he gonna stay here?" the shorter Bradley asked, his expression forced neutrality.
"As long as he wants to," Hunter replied, turning to study his brother's face. They'd grown up together and he knew the navy ranger better than anyone else. "Are you jealous, bro?"
"No," Blake quickly defended. "It's just… It was always you and me and…that used to be our song."
"You are the thunder and I am the lighting," Hunter repeated the lyrics.
"I love the way you know who you are and to me it's exciting," Blake added.
"Listen, bro," Hunter said, leaning against the fridge. "It used to be just you and me and…that was okay, but it stopped the day you met Tori."
"And you met Dustin," Blake pointed out.
Hunter nodded.
"Not that I don't like Waldo and all," Blake defended. "He seems good for you. It's just…"
"Blake," Hunter said, placing a hand on the shorter Bradley's shoulder, "you'll always be my bro, even after we're a couple of old married guys."
Blake rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'll probably be an old man before I can get Tori to marry me."
"One step at a time, bro," Hunter told him. "Call her. She probably just got back from dropping everyone off."
"Right," Blake replied with a nod, thinking.
"Go get her, tiger," Hunter teased, kissing his brother on the forehead, which the navy ranger quickly wiped at. "Or do you go by blueberry now?"
Blake rolled his yes. "That's just something between Tori and me," he explained, adding, "Strawberry."
Hunter studied the containers that Blake had. "It looks like they decided to use strawberry toppings and not blueberry…"
The navy ranger set the containers on the counter and Hunter took them, putting them into the fridge while chuckling softly to himself.
"Any leftover's in there?" a voice suddenly interrupted the brothers. They turned to see Waldo.
"Yeah, leftover blueberry jam," Blake mumbled.
"The strawberry was left over," Hunter told him. "Besides, she likes blueberry better than strawberry. Though she'd love both…"
"Whatever you've got is fine," Waldo suggested.
"How about a Bradley Sandwich?" Hunter teased, winking at his brother. "We Bradley's love to share."
Blake glared at the blond. "Not unless two Tori's are involved, bro."
Hunter shrugged. "That would be nice, but who gets her cherry?"
"Blueberry and cherry go together better than strawberry and cherry," Blake insisted.
"Only because strawberry loves blueberry so much," Hunter replied.
"Any flavor's fine with me," Waldo suggested. "What's the Bradley Sandwich filled with?"
"Oh, it's filled with—" Hunter began before his brother jabbed him in the ribs. "Awesomeness," he settled for.
"Awesomeness isn't an ingredient, not being a physical substance," Waldo started to point out before grinning, "but it sounds…awesome, dude."
"Well, you can have it minus one Bradley," Blake said, walking off. "I'm gonna call Tori."
"Good luck, bro," Hunter called.
"What's he need good luck with?" Waldo asked.
"The whole talking on the phone thing," Hunter explained.
Waldo looked at the crimson ranger, puzzled. "Does this Blake not know how to use a phone?"
Hunter chuckled. "He just has trouble with the talking part."
"Uh, sure," Waldo mumbled.
"And, bro," Hunter yelled from the kitchen, "try not to eat a foot sandwich again."
Waldo blinked at the blonde before asking, "So, how about that sandwich?"
Hunter stared at the brunette for a moment. "I…don't think we're ready for that yet."
Waldo raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Are you missing an ingredient?"
"Aside from missing one Bradley?" Hunter replied. "It's just, sandwich-making isn't something you wanna rush into." He paused, studying Waldo. "Even if we do have all the other ingredients…"
"Like awesomeness?" Waldo suggested, grinning.
"Like awesomeness," Hunter agreed.
In Blake's room, the navy ranger raised his morpher, calling Tori. "Yeah, I finished dropping them off and just got home," she explained. "So, why'd you call?"
"I just…wanted to hear your voice," he admitted.
"You just heard it like an hour ago," she reminded him, her smile audible even through the morpher.
"Yeah," he agreed, scratching his head, "but I just wanted your voice to be the last thing I hear before I go to sleep."
There was a silence on the other end of the line and Blake fidgeted with his morpher.
"Look, I'm sorry if I just put my foot in my mouth again," he quickly apologized. "I just—"
"No, Blake," she interrupted. "That was sweet. I guess I'm just not used to this side of you."
"Well, you know," he began, "blueberries are a pretty sweet fruit."
She giggled. "They can be. Goodnight, Blake. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, blueberry," Blake whispered.
"Sweet dreams," she chuckled.
"Always," he agreed as he laid down on his bed and she signed off. "Sweet dreams indeed."
Shane and Skyla had already called it a night, but Cam was still sitting in the main room of Ninja Ops hard at work analyzing the mysterious pink morpher that Skyla had found among the remains of Condortron and Shimazu in the woods.
"Son, perhaps you should get some rest," Sensei said, approaching the green ranger.
"Just a little longer," Cam assured his father.
The guinea pig agreed, nodding before leaving to go off to sleep himself.
"Sensei's right," Tobi's sister told the samurai, leaning over his chair.
"I'm still studying how the crystal interfaces with the morpher itself," Cam replied without looking up. Suddenly he felt himself being dragged backward.
"You said you need someone to push you to do things you'll end up enjoying," she said, pulling him away from his work. "Well, I happen to know your body will really enjoy sleeping."
Cam sighed, relenting. "Circuit, continue the tests on the morpher and scan your memory for anything similar," he ordered the flying moth. "Have a report ready for me in the morning."
"Of course, Cam," Circuit agreed, immediately picking up where the green ranger had left off.
"I had no idea you were such a slave driver, Cam," Tobi's sister chuckled, dragging him out of the room. "So, which one's your room?"
"It's just down the hall, on the left," he replied. "Are you planning on tying me to the bed?"
"That's really tempting," she agreed, arriving at the room. Looking around, she noted, "This place is pretty sparse."
"I prefer a lack of clutter," he explained, following her gaze.
"There is a middle ground," she suggested. "Anyway, let's get to bed."
Cam's eyes widened.
"I just mean to sleep," she assured him. "Unless…you want more."
"No, I'll be fine," he replied quickly.
"Yeah," she mumbled. "I guess you probably think I'm Tobi's evil twin sister, the one who betrayed you and who, even before then, had sex just for sex."
He frowned, studying her expression. "No, I…I understand what it's like to have sex just be sex."
"I thought you were a virgin," she pointed out.
"With…Cyber Tori," he reluctantly admitted.
"Ah," she realized. "Well, I am just another Tori."
"You're not just another Tori," he told her. "You're…unique." He couldn't help but run a hand through her short blonde hair.
"Yeah, unique," she mumbled, frowning.
"That's a good thing," he assured her. "It's what has made me realize something."
"That you're really bad with compliments?" she suggested.
He rolled his eyes. "That…I love you."
Her expression froze on her face.
"I realized what love is," he explained. "It's caring for someone so strongly not in spite of their faults but because of them." He waited for her to respond. "Or…so I've concluded." He noticed that her eyes were shiny. "What's wrong? If it's because I said I love you, I actually care greatly for a number of people. I'm not—"
"Cam," she interrupted. "It's just…besides my brother, no guy has said that to me before. All those guys…but no one…"
He reached up to dry her eyes. "Maybe the best course of action would be a fresh start."
She blinked away the remaining dampness and nodded. "I like that idea. You're always the practical one, Cam." She thought for a moment. "I think a good place to start would be to not be just another Tori, even by name."
Cam raised an eyebrow. "You don't have to change your name to distinguish yourself."
"I know," she agreed, "but I like the idea of trying something new. Suggestions?"
He furrowed his brow, thinking. "Well, Tori—this dimension's Tori…" He paused. "I see what you mean. She…Her middle name is Ophelia and I always thought it sounded—"
"Stiff and formal," Tobi's sister interrupted. "That's my middle name too, but I've never liked it."
"And you're anything but stiff and formal," Cam agreed, thinking. "How about a shorter version like…Lia."
"Lia?" she repeated, testing the sound. "I don't know if it's just because you're the one saying it and I'm obviously hopelessly in love with you, you big geek, but I like it. Lia Hanson, older and wiser sister of Tobi and Tori Hanson."
"I'm pretty sure you and Tori are the exact same age," Cam pointed out.
"A couple hours make a lot of difference," she assured him. "Look at Tobi and me. Speaking of a couple hours," she realized, "that's about all the sleep you're gonna get unless you go to bed this minute."
"Alright, Lia," Cam sighed, fighting off a smile.
"Goodnight, loverboy," she teased. And, leaning forward, she gave the samurai ranger a goodnight kiss. They slept peacefully that night.
The next morning, Dustin and Tobi were still lying on the couch in Dustin's living room with their bodies intertwined when the sound of the television woke them from a shared dream where Dustin's insecurities about not fitting in blended with Tobi's insecurities about not belonging until their pasts, like every other part of them, intertwined.
The two stretched, noticing Dustin's sister watching a nature program. "I didn't want to wake you two, but it's afternoon already, so I figured I'd waited long enough," she told them.
"Sorry about that, Maya," Tobi apologized. "We were just—"
"Tired," Dustin continued. "It was a—"
"Long night," Tobi finished.
"So, who's your boyfriend?" she asked without taking her eyes off the screen.
"How—" Dustin stammered. "How'd you know?"
"Let's see," she began, counting on her fingers. "He knows my name, you two were sleeping together, you finish each other's sentences and you're still holding hands." She looked away from the tv to glance at her brother. "Did I miss something?"
Dustin and Tobi looked down at their hands. They hadn't even noticed their fingers were so tightly intertwined.
"Okay, you win," Dustin conceded. "He's Tobi and he's Tori's twin brother."
"Tori doesn't have a twin brother," Maya corrected.
"I hear that a lot," Tobi groaned. "Even back in the other dimension I came from, people often—"
"Didn't notice you right away because Tori…outshined you," Dustin continued, reading Tobi's thoughts word for word. No one could ever outshine you, he mentally reassured Tobi.
"Dimensions are fixed parameters used for measurements," Maya explained, "like up, down, left, right. Are you sure you don't mean a parallel reality?"
"Um, sure," the two agreed.
She studied Tobi for a moment. "So…that would mean that quantum spatial fractal discohesion is possible after all…"
The two just blinked at her.
"My physics teacher owes me an apology," she said, turning back to the television.
We slept through all the cartoons again, didn't we? Dustin thought.
"Yeah, we both seem to do that a lot," Tobi agreed. You hungry?
"Starving," Dustin nodded.
Maya turned to study the two suspiciously as they got up and headed for the kitchen.
"That's my favorite breakfast food too!" Dustin declared before noticing his sister watching them. He just offered her a thumbs up.
As Dustin approached the fridge, a wave of dizziness came over the two.
But we didn't do it again last night, Tobi thought.
I know, Dustin agreed. "We just did the whole feeling each other's life force thing."
"Maybe that's it," Tobi realized.
Aw, but I liked it, Dustin whined.
Tobi closed his eyes and concentrated on seeing the life force connecting the two. Let me try something, he thought, focusing on narrowing the connection from a wide blur of energy into a string.
Dustin stepped closer to Tobi and then further away as he saw Tobi manipulating their connection. The thinner the string, the longer it became and the further apart they could be, but it also made the string much more concentrated. It became a brighter and brighter glowing strand to Tobi, but was completely invisible to everyone else.
Suddenly the chair next to the kitchen table fell over as the life force string connecting them bumped the chair.
"It can touch things?" Dustin gasped.
"When it's concentrated like this instead of spread out," Tobi realized.
We might be able to use this sometime, Dustin thought.
"Yeah," Tobi agreed. Let's see what Cam has to say.
"Yeah, he knows everything," Dustin agreed.
"Can you two read each other's minds?" a voice asked and the two turned to see Maya leaning in the kitchen doorway.
The two glanced at each other, exchanging thoughts. "Would you like believe it if we could?" Dustin asked.
"External trans-spatial cerebral interconnection," she declared, "just like my science project."
"You mean that thing you made me wear on my head?" Dustin asked.
"And he thought you just knew his thoughts because he's such an open book," Tobi realized.
"So, how's it work?" she asked, pulling out a notebook and pen from her overalls.
"Um…" the two repeated, scratching their heads. This might take a while.
"I can use my science project to learn how it works," she suggested.
"Um," Dustin mumbled as he thought of what he and Tobi did together in Hunter's bed and he pictured her reading those thoughts. "On second thought, we have somewhere to be."
"The track," Tobi added and Dustin nodded along, grabbing a couple Pop Tarts and waving at his sister as the two rushed off.
Lia awoke to find Cam already gone, so she headed to the main room of Ninja Ops, where she knew he'd be hard at work as usual.
As she entered, Shane and Skyla were arriving, laughing together.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"Hey, Tor—er…" Shane began.
"You can call me Lia," she replied, glancing over at Cam, who was indeed hard at work in front of his computer.
"Okay, cool," Shane agreed.
"I like it," Skyla added.
"So, spill already," Lia demanded.
"Well," Shane began, chuckling. "See, Skyla slept over—just slept," he clarified, "and my parents found us and were like, 'Is this the woman you plan to marry? Because this kind of thing will not be tolerated.' Then Skyla asked what married meant. You should have seen the looks on their faces."
"I think she can still see the look," Skyla suggested, completely serious. "They looked frozen still when we left."
"Marriage," Lia replied, sticking a finger in her mouth. "Gag me."
"I thought the explanation sounded very beautiful," Skyla argued.
"And what's that?" Lia asked. "Being stuck cleaning up after the same lazy slob for the rest of your life?"
"No, Skyla replied, confused. "he said it was being with the person you love forever."
"Oh…" Lia mumbled, again glancing at Cam.
"Hey, let's see if Cam's figured out anything about that morpher you found last night," Shane suggested, bounding over to the green ranger. "So, anything new?" he asked.
"Good morning to you too," Cam greeted. "Circuit says the configuration matches morphers belonging to alien Power Rangers from a planet called Esparia."
"Kalindrean?" Skyla repeated, staring at the pink morpher next to Cam.
"Did you go there in one of your forms?" Shane asked.
"Yes," she replied. "The Power Rangers there were feared for their psychic powers."
"Psychic energy," Cam realized. "So that's why conventional energy sources couldn't activate the morpher's power source to test its energy matrix."
"You're psychic," Shane suggested. "Maybe you can use it. Maybe it even chose you."
"Like destiny?" she asked.
"Exactly," he agreed.
She slowly reached out and picked up the pink morpher.
"Be careful," Cam warned.
She nodded, studying the crystal embedded in the morpher. Then, as she ran her finger along its smooth surface, she froze.
"What's wrong?" Shane asked. When she didn't answer, he shook her gently. "Skyla!"
Cam reached out to take the morpher from her, but she blinked and then looked around. "I'm fine," she assured them. "I just…I saw where this has been. I saw…" She shook slightly, so Shane steadied her in his arms. "The Psychic Rangers from this dimension are different. They tried to use the morpher's power to help the people of Esparia. But then I saw Vexacus kill all the Psychic Rangers and take their morphers and power crystals. Then he just displayed them like…like trophies. Shimazu took this one from Vexacus' ship because he thought it looked pretty, but Vexacus killed him too… There's so much death around this morpher…" She dropped it into Cam's hand and pulled her arms away from it.
"Then it's good it found you," Shane consoled her. "You wouldn't even hurt a fly. Literally! You guys should have seen her when I explained bug spray after seeing Goldwinger's little hologram moth flying around in the other dimension's Ops."
"Well," Cam declared, "given that you managed to discover more about its origins in a couple minutes than I did in several hours…" He groaned, rubbing his eyes. "…I think you should hold onto it." He then held the morpher out for her.
"Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly.
"Cam's never wrong," Lia mused.
"I wish that were true," Cam mumbled, glancing at her, "but it seems that's more the case for you, Skyla. You are unique."
"And that's a good thing," Lia added, grinning at Cam.
"All this faith you guys have in me…" Skyla began. "I'll try not to let you down."
"Don't' worry," Shane assured her with a kiss. "You couldn't even if you tried."
She smiled before furrowing her brow. "I think someone wants to talk to you, Cam."
"Who?" he asked just as a beep sounded from Circuit and the mechanical moth lowered itself over the computer.
"Do I look good?" came the unmistakable voice of Goldwinger from the computer as the eccentric butterfly appeared onscreen.
"You always look good," Ryan replied from somewhere offscreen.
"Cam, are you there?" Goldwinger asked.
Cam turned back to the screen, stifling a groan. "Yes, I'm here Goldwinger."
"Ah, there you are, you cutie you," Goldwinger cooed. "Is that studly hunk of a man Hunter around by chance?"
"Fortunately for him, no," Cam replied. "Why?"
"No reason," Goldwinger replied dismissively with a wave of one of his winged arms. "Just need someone big and strong over here to take care of a little mess. Not that you can't do it too, you know. It's just—"
"What kind of a mess?" Shane interrupted.
"Oh, well, Mayor Lothor is off receiving some metal along with the Golden Guardians for something," Goldwinger explained. "Now, if you ask me, I deserve a metal. After all, you know who was flying around healing everyone? That's right, yours truly. And who had to come home to find his precious factory destroyed? Again, poor little ol' me."
"Goldwinger, please just get to point," Cam insisted.
Lia patted him on the shoulder, leaning in to whisper, "Not much patience for giant gay butterflies. I'll remember that next time I want to torture you."
"Ah, yes," Goldwinger realized. "A few of the Power Rangers that escaped from the Abyss of Evil showed up back in Blue Bay Harbor and are wrecking havoc, picking on poor defenseless aliens like myself. You know, what Power Rangers do over here." He sighed dramatically. "If it were only one, maybe I could handle it, but…"
"We get the picture," Cam replied, glancing over at the others.
"With Lothor stuck in space, I guess we can afford to help him out," Shane agreed.
"Great…" Lia mumbled.
Just then, the other dimension's rangers entered Ninja Ops.
Hunter skidded his bike to a stop just past the finish line of the dirt track, where Waldo had already done the same. "You weren't kidding when you said you could handle Dustin's bike," he said, pulling off his helmet.
Waldo also removed his helmet. "With Dustin's memories, it came naturally and, with my understanding of physics, the combination gave me a definite advantage. That, and those jumps were killer intense. Dude, I know Dustin's afraid he'll get hurt, but I just can't get enough of them."
"The adrenaline rush," Hunter agreed.
"Right," Waldo nodded. "It's not all about being one with the track and this…Zen thing Dustin has. It's…different."
"Makes sense to me," Hunter replied, smirking as Blake pulled in beside them.
"Man, my wheel's totally dragging," Blake complained, removing his helmet.
"Keep telling yourself that, bro," Hunter chuckled as they noticed Dustin and Tobi approaching.
"Sorry, we overslept," Tobi apologized.
"And totally forgot," Dustin added, shaking his head.
"Kelly came by and reminded us last night," Hunter explained.
"So you pretended to be me?" Dustin asked.
"Yeah," Waldo replied. "Hope you don't mind."
"Nah, it's cool," Dustin replied.
"I'm glad you decided to play Dustin with us," Hunter told Waldo.
"Speaking of playing Dustin, we've got one too many right now," Blake warned, drawing their attention to Kelly, who was approaching.
Tobi glanced at Dustin, who nodded before diving behind a nearby bush. Tobi became dizzy only momentarily before he readjusted their connection. Though, when he did, the bush suddenly went flying through the air.
"What the—" Kelly called, jumping out of the way. While she was distracted, the two concentrated until a new bush grew out from the dirt.
"Did you guys see…" she began, approaching the riders and Tobi, all of whom had innocent looks on their faces. "Nevermind. Well, for the most part, your times have improved, but we should get in a few more laps if you guys want to be ready for the qualifying match in less than three hours."
Just then, a beep came from the four ninja's morphers, as well as the nearby bush. They exchanged nervous glances.
"Hey, Kell," Blake interrupted, jumping off his bike as Tobi stepped in front of the bush. "My back wheel's acting up. Maybe you could have a look?" He then nodded toward the others and they quickly jumped off their bikes and ran off, a bush running right along with them.
"I'm your sponsor, not your mechanic!" Kelly called after them.
Once they were out of sight, Dustin emerged from his bush and Tobi helped him pick leaves out of his hair.
"Go for Blake," the navy ranger said into his morpher.
"Guys," Cam's voice began, "there are some Power Rangers loose in the other dimension and my father says it's the perfect time for…the other dimension's rangers to return…home."
The rangers looked at Waldo and Tobi.
"All of them?" Hunter asked.
"I…don't think so," Cam replied uncertainly.
"TZT's not going without me," Dustin argued.
Hunter just looked at Waldo as he repeated Cam's word, "Home."
The sky outside Ninja Ops sparkled gold as both dimension's rangers watched Goldwinger's Moth Zord materialize overhead before landing nearby and knocking a few trees over in the process.
Goldwinger peaked his head out and looked around. "I'm seeing double," he declared. "Two of every studly hunk? I think I might faint." He then scampered over to the others. "And two Hunters? You know, I dreamed about this last night."
"We're glad to see you too," Hunter offered, rolling his eyes.
"Goldwinger, we missed you," Tobi agreed.
"And, dude, you missed out on a lot," Dustin added.
"You do know I'm only a phone call away?" Goldwinger asked. "Or a moth call," he corrected.
"We're sorry about that," Cam apologized for the others.
"We were…busy," Tori added.
"I'd love to hear all about it after we take care of our little…problem," Goldwinger offered.
"Hold up," the other dimension's Shane interrupted. "Who's the freak?"
"That'd be Goldwinger," this dimension's Shane explained to his counterpart. "And he's your only ticket home."
"Giant talking butterflies are the bomb," the other dimension's Cam insisted.
"If you say so," the other dimension's Hunter shrugged.
"Ah," Goldwinger gulped. "These are the…evil Power Rangers?"
"They've changed sides," Tobi assured him.
"We whipped them into shape," Lia added.
"You wish," the other dimension's Blake commented.
Goldwinger fidgeted nervously with his wings.
"Everyone deserves a second change," Cam told the alien, "and they've more than proved themselves." He smiled at Lia.
"So, what do you say, D-Man?" the other dimension's Cam asked Waldo. "Ready to go kick some Power Ranger booty? We'll totally be able to morph again!"
"Power Rangers trashing the city is right up our alley," the other dimension's Hunter added. "And I seriously miss morphing."
Waldo looked between this dimension's Hunter and the others before asking Goldwinger, "How long do you think it would take?"
"With you studs, a month tops!" Goldwinger declared. "We just need to round them up, ship them off and then you guys can help me rebuild."
"A month?" Cam's mom repeated, looking at the others.
"What about you, Tori?" the other dimension's Shane asked Lia.
"If I have a choice, I'm never setting foot in that dump again," she snapped.
"Ouch," the other dimension's Blake commented.
"What about us?" space ninja Kapri complained.
"What about you?" the other dimension's Shane asked.
"You're an asshole, you know that?" she declared.
"Yeah, I do," he replied. "Thanks."
"I don't know about you guys, but Cam and I are totally going," the other dimension's Hunter insisted. "It sounds fun."
"Then I'm taking my baby doll here with us," the other dimension's Blake said, grabbing space ninja Marah by the waist.
"We'll all go and help you guys," this dimension's Shane declared. "We're a team."
"Shane," Sensei addressed. "Your loyalty is commendable, but we can not voluntarily leave this world undefended."
"What about that field around the planet?" Dustin asked.
"My dad's right," Cam replied. "We can't all go. I guess it is time to part ways after all."
"Well, I volunteer," space ninja Kapri announced.
"Since when do you volunteer for anything?" space ninja Marah asked, confused.
"When it involves kicking Power Ranger butts," she explained.
"It figures," Tori mumbled.
"I'm coming!" space ninja Marah insisted. "Blake won't let you leave me behind!"
"And I try so hard," space ninja Kapri grumbled.
"Fairy elf dude," the other dimension's Cam called. "You coming?"
"Yeah, we didn't mean to treat you the way we did," the other dimension's Hunter added.
"You're cool," the other dimension's Shane said simply.
Tobi looked from them to Dustin and then back again. "You know I never belonged there."
"Yeah, we're sorry about that," the other dimension's Hunter apologized.
"You can belong," the other dimension's Shane added.
Tobi smiled at them, but shook his head. "I belong here," he told them. "Home is where the heart is and this is my home. Even if I thought Dustin and I could travel between dimension's with our connection, this crazy world where kelzaks and aliens are bad guys and the president is some human… It's home." He took Dustin's hand in his and smiled up at the brunette, who smiled back.
"I guess I have no choice," grumpy Sensei grumbled. "They'll be helplessly lost if I don't go with them. They'd probably end up joining the other rangers and trashing the city with them." He looked up at his wife.
"You don't even need to ask," Cam's mom assured the guinea pig. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me." She then turned to this dimension's Cam. "Just because you're not my Cam doesn't mean I won't miss you. I should have treated you better when we first met. You're a good kid, Cam. A little too serious sometimes, but I guess you get that from your version of Kanoi."
"The boring me," grumpy Sensei clarified for his wife.
"You may be different than my real mother," Cam told her, "but…I've enjoyed having you around. Good luck."
"And you make sure these kids behave themselves," grumpy Sensei told the other guinea pig.
"Of course," Sensei agreed. "And…you gave me a great deal to think about."
"Likewise," grumpy Sensei nodded his little head before realizing something and removing his hat. "Here," he called, tossing it at Sensei. "The one I knocked off your head is still back in our dimension."
"Thank you," Sensei said, placing the hat on his head.
"Still looks better on me, but whatever," grumpy Sensei commented, shrugging.
"We don't have to go back, do we?" Geo asked, holding Destiny protectively.
"Sensei, does that means we can stay?" hippy Kapri asked.
"If you wish to," Sensei offered. "You may choose your destiny." He nodded toward grumpy Sensei.
"Yay!" Geo cheered, dancing with Destiny.
"Then say 'bye' to uncle for us if you see him," space ninja Marah told her hippy counterparts. "Like, under all the meanness and trying to take over the earth, he's actually—"
"A nice guy?" hippy Marah interrupted, shocked.
"A total dick," space ninja Kapri corrected and space ninja Marah nodded.
"Oh," hippy Marah and Kapri mumbled, exchanging looks.
"So…I guess we'll be in touch?" the other dimension's Blake asked Lia.
She shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not." Cam cleared his throat and she added, "I mean, yeah, we will."
"Oh, all these farewells are making me cry," Goldwinger blubbered, sobbing into his wings before blowing his nose on a rainbow handkerchief.
The group exchanged hugs and goodbyes before parting ways, the other dimension's Shane, Hunter, Blake and Cam with grumpy Sensei, Cam's mom and space ninja Marah and Kapri heading toward Goldwinger's Zord.
"Remember, so long as you have your little golden friend Circuit, we'll never be too far away!" Goldwinger called as he and his passengers boarded his Zord.
The remaining group waved as the Zord lifted off the ground before vanishing in a flash of sparkling gold dust.
Tobi looked from the tiny fragments of gold over to Dustin and smiled. Home for good, he thought.
Dustin just kissed him on the lips.
"What're we gonna do now?" Geo asked, looking around at the others.
"The motocross qualifying match for nationals is about to start," Blake suggested.
"What's motocross?" Geo asked.
"You never saw motocross, Geodude?" Dustin asked. "Aw, man, we have to bring you."
"I'll let you play yourself again," Waldo offered Dustin. "I'm thinking of taking up freestyle."
"Freestyle?" Dustin repeated. "Isn't that like kinda dangerous? That's why I stopped."
"It's not as dangerous if you calculate the velocity in relation to the gravity and motionary dynamics," Waldo explained.
"Right," Dustin mumbled, glancing at Tobi.
"I guess I could try it," Tobi replied to some unspoken thought.
"Try what?" Hunter asked.
"Try racing with you guys," Tobi explained.
"Last time you kept complaining about your seatbelt being too tight," Hunter reminded him. "You never even made it to the track."
"That was before he had my awesomeness in him," Dustin bragged.
"Yep, I'm filled with your awesomeness alright," Tobi chuckled. "Lots and lots of your awesomeness."
"What does awesomeness look like?" Skyla asked Shane.
"Um, I'll tell you later," he mumbled.
"With the field around the earth, I doubt Lothor will try anything again soon," Cam began, turning to Lia. "So… I was wondering if you'd like to…go out."
"On a date?" she asked, surprised.
"As much as I know how it works," he replied sheepishly.
"Do it, Tori," Tobi encouraged his sister. "He's a great guy. I'd date Cam if I weren't in love with Dustin." He winked at Cam.
"It's Lia now," she corrected, "and I already know that, little brother. He's a great guy indeed."
"Lia?" Dustin repeated. "Awesome."
"I believe you have all earned some time off," Sensei announced, "but we will continue training tomorrow. Lothor will not be content to be trapped where he is. And, we do have the other ninja students to rescue."
"Sensei's right," Tori agreed.
"Don't worry, we'll help," hippy Marah added.
"And Destiny will help too!" Geo insisted.
"Lothor's really met his match this time," Shane laughed.
"Yep," Tobi agreed. "Together, we're unstoppable."
One Month Later…
Lothor stood below a massive, towering Megazord in the darkened lower level of his space fortress. He suddenly lowered a scroll he was reading as he heard someone entering the room.
"How did you get in here?" he snapped, looking up to see Vexacus approaching, his hands behind his back.
"It was a simple matter of scrambling the lock," the shark-like alien replied dismissively.
"I should destroy you were you stand," Lothor threatened, tightening his grip on the scroll.
"But you won't," Vexacus replied. "Who else would you have to turn to? Choobo or a few dozen kelzaks?" He chuckled.
"I'm surprised you haven't destroyed them by now too," Lothor grumbled.
Vexacus shrugged, glancing up at the Megazord. "A Zord," he commented. "And here I thought you'd been spending the entire past month reading the Scroll of Destiny and missing your nieces."
Lothor quickly pulled the scroll closer.
"Oh, yes, I know all about that particular scroll," Vexacus mused, still approaching with his hands behind his back. "And, while you've been in here tinkering with a way to open the Abyss of Evil, I've been busy myself."
Lothor narrowed his eyes as the shark-like alien pulled a glowing sword from behind his back. Instantly, yellow flames erupted along its surface as it expanded in size and the alien chuckled, diving his sword toward Lothor. But, the space ninja simply sidestepped away, the scroll still in one hand.
"I happen to be more than just a bounty hunter," the alien commented, spinning his sword and sending out a wave of energy. "I'm also a collector and your head…along with the scroll and the Gem fragments will make a perfect addition to my trophy collection."
Lothor raised his single free hand and deflected the beam. Then, with a quick jump into the air, the space ninja sent a blast of purple energy down on the shark-like alien. The energy instantly dissolved the powerful new weapon in Vexacus' hands as if it were paper caught in a violet fire.
Lothor finished his leap by landing on Vexacus' chest, the alien grunting under his weight. "I could destroy you this very moment," he breathed down on the alien, "and add your head to my trophy collection."
Vexacus could do little more than grunt under the pressure.
"But I'll give you one more chance," Lothor offered, lifting himself off the alien.
"Th—thank you, sir," Vexacus choked out, his confident tone gone.
Lothor gestured to a pedestal that held three crystal fragments. "You fetched those pieces of the Gem of Souls from the ocean floor for me. Now you will help me complete them so I can power this newly completed Megazord and use it to open the Abyss of Evil."
"Of course," Vexacus agreed, pulling himself to his feet as Lothor stepped away. "What did you have in mind?"
"I'm sure you're not surprised I don't trust you," Lothor began, waving a hand.
The alien just nodded.
"I will complete the Gem myself," the space ninja continued. "You and Choobo will be a…distraction."
"As you wish," Vexacus grumbled.
"I do," Lothor replied, pulling a small device from his outfit and attaching it with a loud snap to Vexacus' head.
"What are you doing?" the shark-headed alien asked.
"Just a little insurance that things go my way," Lothor replied, grinning wickedly. "Let's just say, if Choobo fails to force the Power Rangers to join the rest of the ninja students in capture, they will meet a very explosive end."
Vexacus grumbled inwardly, but said nothing.
"Now, get out of here," Lothor snapped. "By now, the Power Rangers will have become complacent and vulnerable. The fragments of the Gem of Souls I have will get us through that field my nephew set up around the planet and then…" He began laughing to himself.
Vexacus just backed out of the room, reaching up to feel the device stuck into his head…a head that was actually a helmet.
To be continued...
Author's Notes: So, yeah, the one month that goes by not only gives Lothor a chance to make that big Megazord seen in the last episode of the series ("Storm Before the Calm"), but it also represents the time that has passed since I last wrote a chapter… So, yeah, the next chapter will have more of a sense that time has passed. And, please don't hate me too much… Review and tell me your thoughts on my return to the world of Parallel Realities Ninja Storm, what you thought about this chapter and what you want to see next! Be honest, even brutally so!