Everyone had a blast at the party. Everyone danced, and some sang. Then, they all ate the cake that Tori baked for Crystal. Everyone ate the cake, even Sensei. It was past midnight, and everyone fell asleep. Hunter and Crystal were out by the lake. They were the only ones who were still awake. It was a full moon, and they were both staring at it.
"Thank you, Hunter," she told him. "I knew you and everyone else could free me."
"It was hard for all of us," he said. "We were afraid of the outcome."
"You will never know the outcome until you try," she said.
Hunter smiled, and so did Crystal. They once again kissed, and then hugged each other. They went back to Ninja Ops, and saw that everyone fell asleep. They didn't want to wake them, so they just sat down near the computer. They soon fell asleep, and dreamnt away.
The next day, Lothor was even furious. Not only did they lose the powerful Ranger, but they lost again to the Rangers. Shimazu told Lothor that he could summon his Wolfblades, ancient creatures that use to terrorize villagers thousands of years ago before Shimazu was frozen in time as a statue. Lothor then agreed, and asked Shimazu to carry out his plan.
At Storm Chargers, Blake and Hunter showed Tori, Dustin and Shane an ad about a talent contest. Whoever wins gets to go to Hollywood, and start a recording contract. The three of them rushed out to practice for the show. Hunter showed Crystal, who was just outside, and she was surprised about it.
"Are you going to do the show?" he asked.
"I'm not really sure," she said.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I don't know what I'm really good at," she said. "I'm good with the zords, and other things. But, I don't know what else I am good at."
"Oh," he said. "But hey, I don't know what everyone else's talents are. You should find something that you are good at."
"I'm not sure if I want to enter," she said.
"Why?"
"Because," she said, "recording contract. Hollywood. Don't you think that it would separate us?"
"Oh," Hunter said, "I never really saw it that way."
"Plus, we have a duty that we can't put aside," she said. "We've made a commitment to protect the planet."
"I guess you're right," he said.
"Its up to you," she said. "If you want to enter, enter. Don't let me hold you back. Its your decision. Besides, its not everyday that people get to win a talent show that could give them a recording contract. I'll be at Ninja Ops."
Crystal kissed Hunter on the cheek, and headed back to Ninja Ops. Hunter went back inside, and worked.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Blake asked.
"I just talked to Crystal," he said. "I was wondering if she was going to enter or not. But she wasn't sure what else she was good at."
"Well, we don't know much about her," Blake said. "And maybe there are things that she doesn't know about herself."
"Yeah," he said with a frown. "But if we win, we'll get a recording contract, and go to Hollywood. She thinks that once one of us has a recording contract, it might separate us."
"Good point," Blake said. "And we promised to protect the Earth from Lothor, and we promised to help Tori and them. We've made a commitment as Rangers to protect the Earth."
"But she also said that its up to us if we want to enter," Hunter said. "She said that we shouldn't let her hold us back. And its our decision if we want to enter."
"Yeah," Blake said. "Crystal has many points. Good ones too."
"Yeah."
At Ninja Ops, Tori, Shane and Dustin were all practicing for Totally Talented. Cam was wondering what they were doing when he entered the room, and Sensei had earmuffs on his head so he couldn't hear all the noise. Crystal was at the computer, just doing some check up on the zords.
"What's going on here?" Cam asked.
"They are all preparing for the talent show coming up," Crystal said. "Whoever wins gets a recording contract, and be sent to Hollywood."
"That's nice," he said. "Are you entering?"
"I'm not really sure," she said. "I've made a commitment to protect Earth from Lothor. I can't go against my duties."
Then, everyone stopped practicing, and looked at one another.
"Man. I forgot about that," said Shane.
"Yeah," said Tori. "I forgot that we promised to protect the planet."
"And if one of you wins, you get sent to Hollywood, and have a recording contract," Crystal told them. "Don't you think that would separate the team?"
"Yeah," said Dustin. "You have a point."
"What're you listening to me for!" she said to them. "Don't let me hold you back! I know that it might separate us, but it is a once in a lifetime chance! If its any of your dreams, go for it! Whatever decision you make, I'm alright with it."
"You sure?" Shane asked.
"I'm sure, Shane," she said with a smile. "Just don't forget about any of us when you become famous. Its your decision if you want to enter the talent show!"
"Okay, I guess," Tori said. "Then, I guess we're all doing the talent show. If Crystal's alright with it, then I'm alright with it."
"Same here," said Shane.
"Same goes for me," said Dustin.
Everyone agreed, and continued what they were doing. A few days ago, Cam went to the museum for his dad. Sensei got a letter from one of his students saying that an artifact needs to be guarded. Cam was able to get it out, but he ran into trouble at the museum. Motordrone also wanted that artifact. But Cam was able to get it out of there, and brought it safely to Ninja Ops. Sensei said that the time to open it will come.
A few minutes later, the town is being attacked by three wolf monsters. The Rangers didn't know what kind of monsters were these, but decided to go and fight them. Crystal stayed behind to find Hunter and Blake. By the time she found them, the three of them were on their way to help the others.
"Ah. Here they are now," said Shimazu.
"You won't get away with this!" exclaimed Crystal.
"Ready?" Shane asked.
"Ready."
"Ninja Storm!"
"Thunder Storm!"
"Samurai Storm!"
"Ice Storm!"
"Ranger Form! Ha!"
They activated their morphers, and morphed.
"Ninja Ranger Power!"
The Ninja Rangers took out their Ninja Swords, the Thunder Rangers took out their Thunder Staffs, Cam took out his Samurai Sword, and Crystal took out her souba. The Ninja Rangers attacked one of the wolf monsters, the Thunder Rangers took out another one of the wolf monster, and Cam and Crystal took out the third wolf monster. They tried to do damage, but every hit they make doesn't hurt the wolf monsters. They even tried combining their weapons together. They put together the Thunder Storm Canon, but even that didn't work against the wolf blades.
"Rangers. Come back to Ninja Ops," Sensei told them.
"Alright, Sensei," Shane said. "We have no choice. Everyone head back to Ninja Ops!"
The Rangers then teleported back to Ninja Ops. Crystal didn't teleport, but stayed behind, and stared at Shimazu.
"What? Leaving so soon?" he said in a mocking tone.
"You may have won this round," she said in an angry tone. "But next time won't be the same, Shimazu."
"Ooh. I'm so scared," he said in a mocking tone.
Crystal scoffed, and teleported to Ninja Ops. There, Cam was looking up the new monsters that Shimazu summoned.
"Apparently, they are called Wolf Blades," Cam explained. "Shimazu summoned them to terrorize local villagers nearby."
"How are we going to beat them?" Dustin asked. "Apparently none of our weapons have any effect on them."
"We'll find a way," Crystal said in a serious tone. "Everything in the world has a weakness. We just to need to find out what."
With that said, Crystal headed out, and went to the beach. She kept thinking about the battle just a few moments ago. This was the first that she had to retreat from battle as a Ranger. The other rangers retreated from battle before she became a ranger. The feeling of losing a battle got to her. Crystal clenched her hand until it started to bleed. Hunter saw what she had done.
"Crystal!" he yelled. "What are you doing!"
Crystal looked at her hand, and saw that it was covered in blood. Hunter took out a handkerchief, and tied it around her hand.
"Sorry," she said. "Guess I lost control of my anger."
"You shouldn't take out your anger on yourself," he said. "We were trained to control our anger."
"I know," she said. "But..."
"Crystal. I've never seen you like this before," he said. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes," she lied. "Don't worry. Everything is alright."
"I know you better, Crystal," he said. "Tell me the truth. I know you're lying."
"Its just..."
Crystal tried to tell him, but the words wouldn't come out. Then, Hunter realized what she was angry about.
"Ah," he said in a soft tone. "The battle...You're angry that we had to retreat."
"I didn't say that!"
"But you are anyway," he said. "I can tell by how you made your hand bleed. Crystal. Its alright. There are going to be battles that we might have to retreat from. Sometimes when we retreat, we can learn from our mistakes, and do things differently. We'll get them next time. Don't worry."
"Okay," she said. "Thanks, Hunter."
"Just remember," he said smiling at her. "We'll always find a way to get things done. Nothing is impossible."
"Right," she said smiling back at him. "Impossible is just a word people say to make them feel better when they've given up. And the Rangers are far from giving up."
"Right."
Author's Note: Alright. Its getting near the ending. What do you think so far? And the saying where Crystal says that "Impossible is just a word people say to make them feel better when they've given up." If you are a fan of Skies of Arcadia, that's what Vyse tells to Marco before he enters Upper City. I felt like I had to use it in here since Crystal was upset of retreating from battle. Alright. Time to work on the final chapters coming up.