Variations Of SPD
Chapter 15: All You Need Is Faith
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: July 5, 2006
Summary: A little faith can go a long way.
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
AN: The surprising chapter! -grins- I'll bet no one expected this fourth chapter this soon, huh? PLEASURABLE READING FOLKS!
"Sometimes, no matter how much faith we have, we lose people. But you never forget them but sometimes those memories are the things that give us the strength to go on." -Unknown-
"When you come to the edge of all the light you have known, and are about to step out into darkness, Faith is knowing one of two things will happen; there will be something to stand on, or you will be taught to fly." -Jonathan Livingston Seagull-
"Faith is daring the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see." -Unknown-
"He who has faith has... an inward reservoir of courage, hope, confidence, calmness, and assuring trust that all will come out well - even though to the world it may appear to come out most badly." -B.C. Forbes-
"Love is patient, love is kind. Love never fails. These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is Love."
-Saint Paul-
"Love is a noble act of self-giving, offering trust, faith, and loyalty. The more you love, the more you lose a part of yourself, yet you don't become less of who you are; you end up being complete with your loved ones." -Unknown-
--
Several hours later, once nightfall had descended upon the plateau, the group of six stood together staring at Dulcea. The animals stood at attention just behind them. "So, what exactly are you going to do with us not that we're all here?" Jack asked Dulcea, who merely smiled at him.
"Give you help finding the power within. At some point, all of your parents were Rangers," Dulcea spoke. "Or at least, at some point touched by the Great Power, which is the center of what is known as the Morphin' Grid, and the power at the heart of each and every Power Ranger team."
Brian made a face when Dulcea mentioned the Power. Without a thought, both Syd and Sky moved to flank him; Sydney took his hand while Sky griped his shoulder in a comforting way. Dulcea's eyes watched them, knowing that even as she spoke, the power that they thought they were searching for was already awakening within them, binding them together on yet another level.
"You've all face personal tests, some of you haven even faced personal demons on your journey to this place," Dulcea spoke slowly, her eyes stopping and locking with each of the six. "And yet, your faith in each other, in yourselves and in your world has brought you to this point. I can only hope that that faith is unwavering; you're going to need it for the final leg of this journey."
"Which is what?" Z all but demanded, only to quiet when Tiger moved to rest her head against Z's leg. The former Yellow Ranger unconsciously placed her hand on Tiger's head, letting the vibration of Tiger's low purring soothe her frazzled nerves.
The Master Warrior continued to smile knowingly. The Rangers and the animals with them were already tuned to each other, which was a good sign. The journey ahead would not be an easy one, but Dulcea did not doubt that they would succeed.
"You must traverse the Neola Jungle, to the monolith within. In the monolith, the Great Power resides. Remember, your trek will not be easy; many have tried and failed, only six have ever truly touched the power at the heart of the Morphin' Grid."
"Then how will we?" Bridger gulped nervously, before looking down at Panda, who had come to sit next to him.
"I have great faith in you," Dulcea told them sincerely. "You six have a kinship, some physical and some spiritual, to the only seven from your world to ever have been Ninjetti. They would not have lent you their spirit animals if they did not think you would succeed." The Master Warrior watched them digest those thoughts before she continued. "The Falcon and Crane have watched over the Dragon and Phoenix since their conception, and by extension, each of the rest of you. They trust the six of you can work together to defeat the being who's only purpose in life has ever been to possess the Ninjetti."
"Dulcea, is there anything you can tell us about Vampra?" Sky asked, needing information about this unknown enemy.
"Lord Vampra is the reason Ninjor and I were the last Ninjetti until Zordon sent the Morphin' Rangers in search of the Temple of Power," the blonde spoke softly. "He's a formidable foe, but locked in his current state, he can't leave the cave Ninjor and I sealed him in. He needs the power of the Ninjetti to break free."
Dulcea waited a few moments to let them digest her words before she continued. "We managed to turn him into a Vampirus monster, but should he gain access to the Great Power, he'll be unstoppable. If you thought Gruumm and Visvajita were ruthless, you're in for a surprise."
"Not to mention he'd ruin the Morphin' Grid," Sydney muttered.
Dulcea's eyebrows arched in surprise and amusement. She'd been thinking the same thing, but hadn't spoken her thoughts out loud. "You're telepathic powers have progressed beyond expectations, young Phoenix."
Jack, Z, Bridge and Sky shot looks at Syd, and Brian, who both looked surprised that Dulcea knew about their 'other' power. "Telepathic powers?" Sky growled, clearly upset that Dulcea knew of something Sydney had never told them, even him.
Sydney had the grace to blush, and then was ready to defend herself, but knew she needed to explain first. "I've had them since the final battle with Visvajita," she spoke softly, gulping as her eyes watch the hurt seep into their own. "Until Brian came, I didn't know how to control them, let alone describe them. I thought I was going nuts for a while there."
Jack's sudden question startled them all, but had them wondering if it was true. "Sydney, have you used them on any of us?"
"Yes."
Four pairs of eyes widened. "SYD!"
Sydney's head snapped up, a fire in her blue eyes as she finally defended herself. "I have never read your thoughts during a personal moment," Sydney vehemently told them. "Only when we were training, or working. If I thought for a second your thoughts were turning to something personal, I backed off."
"But you've still read our thoughts," Jack muttered, angry. "Without our permission I might add."
"What about me?" Sky demanded to know.
Sydney turned toward him, tilting her head back to look up at him. "The only time I've ever read your thoughts were when you were upset about something and wouldn't talk to me, you were having nightmares about that battle, or we were making love."
Sky's eyes darkened with anger and a good dose of betrayal. He'd had suspicious once or twice before, but had dismissed them as his imagination working over time. Now he knew she'd kept the truth from him, instead of trusting him with it.
Z and Bridge, for the most part, looked hurt, but they also looked like they understood, especially Bridge. A look came over Z's face that had her moving the few steps to stand before Sydney. "Why didn't you tell us?" Z asked. The former Yellow Ranger looked like she had a pretty good idea why the petite blonde had hidden her new powers. It had taken years, for all of them, to cope with the powers they had when they were born. Z figured Syd didn't want to feel even more like a freak with these new powers.
"How would I have explained it when I wasn't sure myself?" Sydney asked her. "Besides, so much had happened already, you'd have only worried more. And I..." the former Pink Ranger passionately told them, her head bowing as she tried to keep one of her worst fears from them.
Z reached out and took Sydney's hand. "Already felt freakish with your civilian powers?" Z finished for her, watching as Sydney looked up at her in tears.
"Yes," the blonde cried softly. "I'm sorry, so, so sorry. I shouldn't have kept it from you, any of you, but I just, I couldn't burden you with this. I know it was wrong of me, and I promise, I won't ever do it again!"
Z merely shook her head and smiled before she pulled Syd into a tight hug. "You should have just told us. Aren't you the one that's always telling us not to bottle things up?" Z gently teased, rubbing Syd's back as the blonde's shoulders shook.
The former Pink Ranger held onto her friend tightly, her tears landing on Z's shoulder. The tears she shed now weren't all sad, but they were tears just the same. When Z pulled back, Jack and Bridge looked at each other and then threw their arms around Sydney. "Don't keep things from us," Jack whispered in her ear. "We're a team, we gotta trust each other."
Sydney smiled and nodded when the two boys pulled back and her brother gave her a thumbs-up. Each of them watched nervously as Sydney turned to face Sky, who still looked decidedly pissed. "I can't believe you kept that from me and I can't believe you invaded my personal thoughts without my permission."
With her lips trembling, Sydney took his anger and hurt like an adult. She understood where he was coming from and didn't blame him, realizing her mistake. "I don't know how to make it up to you, Sky. I truly am sorry."
"You're going to have to earn back my trust, Sydney," Sky growled, watching her nod. "No more secrets. From here on out, you tell me everything." His eyes were fierce as Sydney silently nodded, blinking back tears as she turned to face Dulcea.
There was a burning pain in her chest as she watched Dulcea smile sadly at her. Her heart felt like it was breaking, and the only thing she really wanted to do at that precise moment was run and hide and lick her self inflicted wounds. She flinched when she felt the familiar grip on her hand. Turning, she somewhat sighed in relief when saw that Sky had taken her hand, their fingers intertwining.
"Are you ready?" Dulcea's lilting voice broke the silence that had come after the storm. Six heads nodded in unison. "Good, then let us begin. Form a semi-circle around the fire."
Sky squeezed Sydney's hand as they moved to the farthest side of the fire from where they'd been standing. Their eyes met, an understanding passing between them. Sydney brought their joined hands up and turned Sky's over so that she could kiss his palm. She was relieved to see some of the anger fade from his beloved blue eyes, replaced by what she knew was desire and love. He moved his hand up to caress her cheek before pulling back to stand apart from her with the others. Taking a deep breath, Sydney took her place at the end of the line they made.
Dulcea had seen their gesture, and sighed in relief, knowing that while there was hurt and anger still within Sky, the former Blue Ranger would be able to work passed it. "Within each of us is an animal spirit waiting to be released," she told them, smiling. "You six are lucky enough to join a select group who have been blessed to have theirs awakened. Trust your animal guides, for they will not steer you wrong."
The Master Warrior reached into the pouch at her side and drew out a handful of purple sand. Cupping her palms together, she blew the sand into the fire, allowing it to work its magic on the six that stood before her. With eyes closed, each of the group felt the power wash over them, clothing them in new uniforms, while the animals moved to stand beside their charges. Each of them blazed with their signature color, but both Sky and Bridge surprised Dulcea slightly when in their colors she saw two more; blue tinged in Bridge's green and red in Sky's blue. She wondered what that could possibly mean, but kept her thoughts to herself.
Once the magic had faded, the newly minted ninjas opened their eyes and stared at each other and then Dulcea in shock. Grinning, Dulcea moved to stand before the first of them, who happened to be Z.
"Elizabeth honorable and trust worthy, you are the Tiger." Z smiled when she looked down and saw the fierce tiger emblazed in gold on the chest of her yellow uniform.
"Jack, passionate, free spirited, you are the Pegasus." Jack's eyebrows rose only slightly, telling Dulcea he wasn't the least bit surprised about his spirit animal.
Moving over another few steps, Dulcea stopped in front of Bridge, who was grinning wildly at her. "Gentle and loyal, Bridge, you are the Panda." Bridge nodded and looked over his shoulder at the Panda who stood behind him, smiling as well.
"You already know your animal spirit intimately, Brian," Dulcea spoke. "You are the Dragon, mysterious and wise." Brian nodded, happy to have his ninja uniform back, as well as his link with his power.
"Schuyler, righteous, noble, you are the Sphinx," Dulcea spoke, watching Sky look down at the dark blue uniform he wore before turning his gaze back to her. She nodded her head once, and then moved her gaze to Sydney, seeing that Sky's followed. The blue dressed ninja said nothing but his eyes spoke volumes.
"And Sydney, jubilant and elegant, you are the Phoenix, who has risen from the ashes to face this world anew."
Everyone but Sky smiled at the pink clad figure that looked ready to face the world head on. Sky stared at her, swallowing hard when her eyes met his. "To use the great power, you each must be in harmony with your animal spirit. To finish this, the greatest of the tests you face on this journey, you must have faith."
"When do we get started?" Sydney asked suddenly, pulling them all from the awe inspired silence that reigned over them.
"You must go now. Ninjor sent a telepathic message shortly after your arrival here; it was urgent, your friends are in trouble."
"Then let's book it!" Jack called. The six blinked in surprise when the animals suddenly disappeared in flashes of colored light.
"Where'd they go?" Bridge asked.
"They've merged back with you. When you need them, just call. Good luck, Rangers." With her parting words, Dulcea turned into a snow white owl and flew off.
"That was just...creepy," Z commented, eliciting smiles from the others.
"With enough practice, we may be able to do that one of these days," Brian informed them.
Sydney laughed nervously, and then sobered. "Let's get going. If the others are in trouble, we don't have time to screw around."
"Syd's right, let's move," Jack told them, leading them down the path from the temple toward the Neola Jungle, their only light that of the moons above.
--
"Is it just me, or is the moonlight really bright?" Z asked, watching the others nod in agreement.
"I don't know about you, but I'm really starting to dislike this planet," Syd huffed as the six of them left the desert between the plateau and the jungle.
"I'm ready for a big glass of water," Brian muttered.
The others remained silent, but felt the same way. "Hopefully, it's not too much further," Jack told them wiping the sweat from his brow. Their ninja uniforms, even at night, weren't the most comfortable items to be wearing while trekking through a jungle.
"Um, guys!" Bridge gasped. The group looked around in awe at the dinosaur skeletons that surrounded them, or at least that they could see with the trees blocking out all but a little of the moonlight.
"Keep your eyes open," Sky ordered, the entire team tensing.
They walked in silence before the bones finally got the better of poor Bridge, who went up to one of the skulls and looked inside. "Weird," he muttered, waving his hand at it before gasping and backing up.
"Bridge?" Sydney called to him, seeing the stark terror on his face.
"THEY'RE ALIVE!" he squawked, seconds before Jack shouted in alarm.
"INCOMING!" The skeleton in front of Bridge had come to life and was charging after the retreating green ninja.
When the dinosaur tried to spear Jack with its horns, he phased right through it. When it charged at Z, she jumped out of the way. Brian threw up a wall of ice before dashing off in the opposite direction. Sky's shield protected him from attack while Bridge dodged on his own, rolling to the side where Z was standing. Then the five of them heard the last thing they wanted or needed to at that point.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Syd screamed.
"SYDNEY!" Brian cried out, attempting to dash forward only to be stopped by Jack, who pointed at Sky racing to her rescue.
"Hang on Syd!" Sky called out, rushing toward her.
Before the blue ninja could get to her, Sydney found herself backed against a large tree. "Sydney! Get out of there!" Z called out, her heart jumping into her throat.
Sydney's hands groped around against the base of the tree, finally coming into contact with something that under normal circumstances would have made her smile. Without thinking, Sydney gripped her weapon and shouted, "I SUMMON THE STONE!" Her hand was closed around a tiny stone she'd found.
The others gasped when not only did her hands turn to stone, but Sydney's entire body suddenly began to glow pink and then turned to what could only be described as living stone.
"Oh my God!" Z gasped. "SYD!"
Sydney didn't think, didn't plan, she just reacted. Standing to her full height, she drew her arm back and then punched her fist forward with such momentum, her knuckles impacting against the skeleton's forehead, right between its horns.
There was a loud crack followed by the bones suddenly crumbling to the ground. "What in the hell just happened?" Jack huffed.
Before their eyes, the four shocked ninjas watched Sky finish his journey to Syd, pulling her into his arms, the look on his face one of barely contained terror. "Does someone want to explain to me what just happened to Syd," Z broke the silence. "Because, last I checked, she could only do that with her hands."
Four pairs of eyes took in Sydney and Sky, who were holding onto each other as if the other was going to disappear. Sky blinked in surprise even as he held onto her, feeling what he could only describe as her mind touching his, and her surprise when his touched hers back. "Are you ok?" Sky murmured in her ear, one hand rubbing her back while the other cupped the back of her neck. The minute he'd touched her, her body had reverted back to normal.
"I...I...I think so," Sydney stuttered, her body still stiff with tension and fear. After a few moments, she relaxed enough to lay her head against Sky's chest, her breathing almost back to normal, but her body still shuddering.
"Guys, let's get moving. We don't know if any more of those things are going to start chasing after us," Brian commented, eyeing the other sets of bones that were visible.
Z and Bridge nodded while Jack walked over to Sky and Syd. "You two ready to get moving?"
Sky nodded before looking down at Sydney, who was slowly disentangling herself from him. The blue ninja slid his hand down her arm and gripped one of her tiny hands in his, squeezing it in reassurance. Sydney smiled up at him but there was still fear and confusion in her eyes, coupled with the knowledge that deep down, he was still upset at her. "Let's go," Sky mumbled, following the others.
--
The rest of the trek was spent teasing each other about their animal spirits, particularly Jack and Bridge, or discussing what their ninja predecessors must have thought when they received their powers.
Once the sunlight started to filter through, they were amazed to see the lush jungle around them. "Bridge, as nice as your color is, I'm sick of green!" Jack grumbled, stumbling over yet another low lying plant.
Bridge just grinned. "I'm getting sick of all the vegetation myself. Do you think we're near the monolith yet?"
The team attempted to look up, but the thick canopy of the trees blocked everything but a little of the sunlight out. "There's no telling with all of these trees towering over us," Brian commented.
"Guys!" Z cried out suddenly. The other five rushed forward to catch up with her and found themselves in a clearing at the base of the monolith Dulcea had told them about.
"Whoa!" Bridge breathed.
"I wonder what we're supposed to do," Sky mumbled, even as Syd dropped the hand she still held and moved toward the giant piece of rock.
"Syd?" Brian asked, watching his sister walk as if she were in a trance.
Sydney heard them all but didn't acknowledge them. She moved to the rock face, choosing her steps carefully. The world around her seemed to blur. There was a ringing in her ears that was a strange mix of indefinable noise and what suspiciously sounded like a bird.
Closing her eyes, Sydney reached out and laid her hand, palm flat, against the stone. "Sydney, sweetheart, what is it?" Sky asked softly, rubbing his hand up and down her back when he was close enough to her.
"Don't you hear it, Sky?" she breathed out, her eyes clenched tightly.
Sky shared a look with the others, his gaze lingering on Brian in a silent question. The white ninja shrugged and gestured to the stone. In unison, both of them mimicked Sydney by closing their eyes and laying their palms against the stone.
"Oh wow!" Brian gasped.
"Incredible," Sky's voice answered.
Jack, Z and Bridge shared looks with each other before following their teammates' example. All at once, the team gasped as the humming grew louder and they could hear the soft call of a group of animals. "What now?" Z asked softly.
Before any of the others could respond, a rumbling ensued, shaking reverberating through the monolith and the glade before it. The sudden movement caused the six to stumble back down the steps and onto their butts in the dirt before the monolith.
"Uh oh!" Brian announced.
The other five looked up and were shocked. Standing before them were six rock like creatures. "We are the guardians of the monolith, who dares trespass here?" one of the two in the center demanded to know.
The group of six looked at each other, trying to decide if they should answer. Finally, Syd rolled her eyes and stepped forward. "We are Ninjetti, sent by Dulcea and Ninjor to retrieve the Great Power," she told them, gulping.
The six creatures seemed to ponder that for a moment. "If you are Ninjetti sent by the Master Warriors, then you have been given animal spirits. What do they call you, young one?"
Sydney smiled. "I'm Sydney."
"We do not recognize that name. What do they call you?"
The pink dressed ninja jumped a bit when her brother poked into her head. 'Use your animal name, Syd' Brian silently told her.
Nodding, Sydney turned her attention back to the guardians. "I am she who is bearer of the Phoenix, daughter of he who was the Falcon and she who was the Crane."
"And the rest of your companions?"
"The Tiger, the Panda, the Pegasus, the Dragon, and the Sphinx," Sydney murmured.
The creatures gave each other looks and then nodded. "We recognize these spirits. You have come to face your final test?"
"Yes."
"Then tell us, what is your final test?"
Six confused looks suddenly bloomed. They were supposed to know what their final test was? "This isn't funny, we were never told what our final test would be," Z murmured.
"We didn't even know we were being tested until we reached the plateau," Jack griped.
The rock creatures stepped forward. "You know which test this is, if you did not, you would not be here. If you cannot answer our query, you will be forced to fight until you do. What is your final test?"
Sydney and Brian touched minds, and then reached out mentally for Bridge. The three were surprised and a little scared when they felt Jack, Z and Sky as well, and as clearly as they did. 'What was it Dulcea told us before we left the plateau?' Sydney asked her friends silently.
As one the six repeated Dulcea's words to each other. 'To finish this, the greatest of the tests you face on this journey, you must have faith.'
"Faith!" six voices rang out, causing the six guardians to smile.
"Correct." Each of the six stone guardians stepped forward, so that they were standing in front of a Ranger.
The first guardian on the end extended his sword, pointing the blade at Z's chest. "Who are you?"
"Elizabeth Delgado, the Yellow Tiger."
"And what did you learn during your journey, Yellow Tiger?"
Z's eyes closed as the words of a cherished friend came back to her. Had it only been the day before when she and Bear had been traveling the path in the forest, Bear questioning her while she learned lessons she'd carry with her for a lifetime. Smiling, Z repeated the words Bear had told her when they'd left each other's company. "Do not let fear rule you. Love is a gift, cherish it. Strength comes from within as much as without. Loyalty to those you care for is important, but do not let it blind you. And lastly, have faith. All will work out in the end."
When Z's eyes opened, she watched as the stone guardian sank to a knee before her and then disappeared. "WHOA!"
The next guardian raised his sword as he stepped up to Bridge, who flinched only slightly. "Who are you?"
"Bridge Carson, the Green Panda," Bridge announced with pride.
"And what did you learn during your journey, Green Panda?"
Bridge blinked rapidly and thought back on his time with Frog. "That while jealousy is a natural reaction, I don't have to be jealous of what my friends have with those they love, because I have something similar. My powers may restrict me in a lot of ways, but my life has freed me in others. No matter what happens from here on out, I'll never be alone again. No matter how terrified I am of a situation, as long as I have confidence and I believe in myself, I'll never lose. And, last but not least, to have faith."
The Green Ninja blinked when the stone guardian sank to a knee and then disappeared. "Cool!" Bridge gasped, causing the others to smile.
The third guardian stepped forward, this time extending his sword to Jack. "Who are you?"
"Jack Landors, the Red Pegasus," Jack grinned.
"What did you learn during your journey, Red Pegasus?"
Ape's words came back to Jack, lifting the Red Ninja's heart. "That my dreams will come true, in time, even if they do change on me. That I need to learn to let the others be responsible for their own actions, the world does not rest on my shoulders, and lastly, that courage, failure, and faith go hand in hand, and it's ok to not always be courageous, failure is merely a lesson learned, and I must always keep faith." The guardian nodded, lowered its sword, and then knelt before Jack, disappearing just as the previous two had.
The guardian on the far end stepped forward, pointing its sword at Brian's chest. "Who are you?"
"Brian Oliver, the White Dragon."
"What lessons did you learn on your journey, White Dragon?"
The White Ninja's eyes filled with tears that he rapidly blinked away before he closed his eyes. His time with Falcon came back, as vivid as if he were still with the might lord of the skies who was his father's animal spirit. "I learned that I need to stop blaming those who I think are responsible and accept the consequences of my own actions and that I need to place the blame for certain things with the reason that caused it. Tolerance and kindness go hand in hand, and that they are part of the code of the Ninjetti. No matter what I do or say, life goes on, I must live mine to its fullest potential. And I have to keep faith in myself and those around me." When Brian's eyes opened, the guardian nodded, dropped its sword, knelt and then disappeared, leaving Brian to heave a sigh of relief.
The next guardian to step forward was the one standing before Sky. The Blue Ninja stood straighter and waited for what was to come. "Who are you?"
"Schuyler Collins, the Blue Sphinx," Sky spoke, a regal tone in his voice.
"What did you learn, Blue Sphinx?"
Sky swallowed hard, trying to find the words for what he had learned on his journey. "I learned that as much as I don't want to, I have to accept that there are things in life I can't control, and people in my life that I have to welcome with understanding and open arms," Sky looked over at Brian who nodded. "I learned that I have knowledge that needs to be shared, and I need to be careful in the face of temptation. And I learned that my other half, my soul's twin, is the woman that I love, and I'm not afraid to face what comes next, not as long as she's by my side. My faith in her is what keeps me grounded."
The others smiled when Sydney reached out and took Sky's hand, two pairs of blue eyes meeting when the guardian knelt before Sky. Unlike the others, it did not disappear. "You face many trials ahead, Blue Sphinx, but as long as your heart is pure, and your faith is set with the one who is your other half, you will succeed." With those words, the guardian left the Ninjas standing in shock.
The final guardian stepped forward, his sword pointed at Sydney, who swallowed hard and stared up at him. "Who are you?"
"Sydney Oliver Scott, the Pink Phoenix."
"What did you learn, Pink Phoenix?"
The Pink Ninja looked thoughtful, her eyes focusing on the guardian. "I learned to always follow my heart, no matter what, because it won't steer me wrong. I learned that I'm growing into the role destiny has for me to play, even if I still don't know what that is. I learned that just because I'm pink, doesn't mean I can't step up and lead when I have to. And most of all, there are many types of magic in the universe, but the truest of them, the one I possess and know intimately is love; as long as I have faith in those lessons, there is nothing I can't do."
The guardian lowered its sword and knelt before Sydney, its eyes gazing into her own. "You, more than any, shall be tested. Do not waiver from what you know is right and true, because in your darkest moment, those you love and care for will light your way, and he who is your twin will stand strong with you, united in a fight evil can not hope to overcome."
With that, the guardian disappeared, leaving the six Ninjas standing there, bewildered. The reverberating started then, causing the ninjas to stumble back a few steps as the massive stone face before them began to split down the center and a large pyramid began to emerge.
The Ninjas stood in awe as the large gold disk on the front began to light up with energy, revealing the figures emblazed on it. On the top half, which was darker then the bottom, the six could see the animal spirits who guided them on the first half of their journey, while the bottom half of the disk was lighter and had their own animal spirits carved in it.
Before long, the light grew so that it looked like the animal spirits were jumping from the disk to stand before their bearers. Instead, the lights began to dance around the ninjas, while the other six animals emerged and stood before the team. "Congratulations," Falcon spoke, the team focusing on him. "You have passed this, the final test on your journey of self discovery. We are proud of you."
"You face many trials ahead," Wolf spoke. "Be mindful of your decisions."
"Rely on each other for strength," Bear grinned. "You will need it."
"There is no I in team," Ape told them. "Work as one to accomplish your goals."
"You are all connected," Frog spoke up next. "Work to strengthen that connection, for it is the base of your power."
"Above all else," Crane began, flapping her wings. "Remember that anything is possible, so long as you believe. Good luck, Rangers."
The team gasped when their predecessors' animal spirits disappeared in a blaze of light and they were suddenly outfitted in new uniforms. "Ranger powers?" Z gasped.
"Not just any powers, Ninjetti Ranger powers!" Brian laughed, spinning around. The team now wore solid colored suits of their color, their helmets adorned with the face of their animal spirit. Each had a blaster at their side, and a morpher with a crystal in the center at their belt. The morphers were silver and the crystals their signature color, and emblazed on each crystal was their animal spirit.
"So, now what?" Bridge asked.
"You come back to the temple," Ninjor's voice rang out. The Rangers turned and spotted their blue mentor walking from the edge of the clearing. "You need to retrieve your new zords, and your friends are in need of your help."
"Let's go!" Syd called out. In a flash, the seven disappeared in streams of bright light.