A/N: So here it is, chapter nine. This chapter follow final face off and the face stealer monster. Next we go into Potion Notion, that should be interesting, Neve really hates Love Potions. Lol. Anyways I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I will be working really hard to get the next one up before the night is over but I don't know. Anyways R&R!
Purple with Shock.
Chapter 9: Final Face-Off.
Angel Grove, California;
May 20th, 1995:
Neve grinned as she walked along the blue mat beside the balance beam, in case she wasn't able to catch Kim in case she lost her balance, and clapped and Kim pulled off one of her more difficult flips on the beam, her hands in the air as she twirled back around and did some simple illusions as she began to walk back to the other side. Seeing just how good Kimberly really was – though she was not ignorant to the fact her mother was fabulous gymnast as she had been her coach for years – in her prime made her guilty.
Kimberly was training so hard, taking these Pan Globals so seriously and Neve knew she would not be able to compete because of her. She would eventually be able to but she would miss her biggest chance, and she knew from stories how hard it had been for her mother to get into the Pan Global games after that. While she herself loved Gymnastics, like everything else she mostly saw them as hobbies, something she did for fun.
None of the things she did were career worthy to her. Singing was an outlet to escape and let her feelings out. Motocross was just in good fun and she hadn't really ridden her bike since she left Blue Bay – Hunter had it in storage for her in Blue Bay – and Ballet, well that dream had been cut short. While she could still dance, and do ballet it just wasn't something she could compete or do advanced routines anymore.
Her leg had been so badly injured – the accident she'd had during her days as a free-stylist in Motocross which shattered her leg - that competing just wasn't something she would be able to do, and she had never really found the joy in Ballet she found in other activities. Ballet had just been something she wanted to do as a child, and it helped her Gymnastics. No what she wanted to do was teach, children, maybe work her way up to high school students or maybe the other way around. The hard part was deciding what to teach.
"Looking good Kimberly," Neve said and Kim smiled as she did a flip and then finished her routine. Neve smiles as the smaller, yet only by two inches brunette flipped gracefully off the balance bean, landing on her feat like she had done this forever. In way both of them had. Kim had done Gymnastics since she was five years old and Neve had been learning since she was almost six.
"Thanks Neve," Kim said as she moved forward. She was dressed in spandex like shorts in pink and white and a pink sports like bra. Neve wore a light purple leotard and a pair of worn shorts and over a chair was a purple crop cardigan top. "I still don't understand why you don't want to join me with this. I mean you love Gymnastics almost as much as me."
Neve shrugged, smiling. That was true but Gymnastics wasn't a career for her.
"Your right, I love Gymnastics but I want to teach. While I could always teach Gymnastics like my mother, it just isn't what I want to do," Neve said, and Kim smiled.
"That's great, what do you want to teach?" Kim asked as they walked over to a bench and sat down, Kim picking up her water bottle. Neve shook her head, unaware really of what she wanted to teach.
"I don't know, maybe History or English. Eventually I want to teach children, but I figure I should handle the more rowdy bunch while I'm still young," Neve said with a laugh. "I also figure since I am so close to their age they might take me more seriously or at least relate to me better." Kimberly nodded and smiled placing her water bottle down.
"Well I think your going to be a great teacher one day," Kim said and Neve laughed, giving Kim a bright smile.
"My mother thinks so too."
xXx
While Kim and Neve were at the gym the guys and Aisha were all at the Angel Grove Museum, gathering Information for the report that was due in History the following week.
"Well, according to this map the exhibit should be." Rocky looked and gestured to ahead of them. "Right up ahead," he finished and Aisha walked up to them right after, pamphlets in her hands.
"I got us these pamphlets, I figured we could use them for our research reports," she told them and the guys smiled nodded in thanks as they each took one.
"Man, this place is actually kind of cool," Hunter said looking around. "My brother would have a heart Attack he never could get me to set foot in these things." They all looked at Hunter and Tommy asked, confused.
"You have a brother?" he asked and Hunter bit the inside of his cheek. Well it wasn't to totally bad that it was simply Blake that slipped out, and as long as the pills held up until they left for the future they'd never remember until sixteen years latter anyways. Not to mention it wasn't his life that was in danger of not existing, it was Neve's and slowly the date of her conception was approaching. Neve pretended she wasn't worried and she really didn't like thinking of her conception much because then she'd have to admit her parents actually had sex.
"Uh, yeah," Hunter replied. "Blake, he was on Neve and mines first team. Like me he started out evil, the Navy Thunder Ranger." The gang smiled but not a too happy smile. Sometimes they forgot that not only did Neve start out evil but so did Hunter.
"Were you and Neve working together as well?" Adam asked, curious and Hunter looked at him confused. "When you were evil." Hunter's eyes widened and he chuckled bitterly and shook his head.
"No, thank god. If Blake, Neve and I had been evil together the Wind Rangers would have been toast early on. Neve is dangerous, well more so Nix is dangerous," Hunter said, sighing. "She makes Rita and Zedd look like amateurs at times. The things is you never really notice because she fails a lot with her plans or so it seems. I just hope you never had to see her like this, at least not in this time."
"God, so what is Nix?" Aisha asked. "You avoided the topic mostly." Hunter sighed.
"I don't know if I should be saying this at all. Neve's parents were Rangers, and no I won't tell you who or when or what team. Just know that they were good but at one point in time, sometimes more then once, they were both evil," Hunter began praying he hadn't said to much.
"Neve told me one that she had been told by Nix and her parents Ranger forms in a coma that Nix was her evil, the evil she had been born with. The residue evil off both her parents almost, and that is why Nix is so powerful. She would have still been there even if both her parents had never been evil but because her parents did pass on a bit of their evil to her it made Nix stronger, more sentient." Hunter looked at them and shrugged.
"Do you get what I am saying?" Billy nodded.
"I believe I do, whatever spell Neve was put under when she became a Ranger brought Nix out to the surface but it was because she was turned evil more then one Nix really formed into her own being inside Neve. The darker half of her soul, the part she'd always had but her conscience and soul stopped her from becoming. It's like a unlucky case of Multiple personality disorder, only she doesn't have the problem of changing without consent," Billy said and Hunter nodded.
"Yeah, I would give you another example, something one of our teammates started saying to explain Nix better. An Angelus complex is what calls it, but since that TV series hasn't come out yet you wouldn't understand it. Basically the show had a vampire in it named Angel and he was cursed by gypsies with a soul. Before that he was evil and called Angelus." Hunter stopped as he caught his breath and then continued.
"The curse latter was showed to have a clause and his soul left him turning him back into Angelus. I never watched the show myself, but that's how our Blue Ranger explained it to me when she began calling it that," Hunter finished explaining and the others nodded. Tommy didn't know why the talk about Nix was bothering him so much. He knew he was very protective of Neve, and he had platonic feelings for their Purple Ranger but he wasn't exactly sure why or how they were so strong so quick.
"Let's move on to something different, and not so depressing," Rocky suggested and the others nodded.
"Hey where is Kimberly and Neve? Don't they have this assignment?" Adam asked suddenly as they began to walk towards the location of the exhibit.
"Yeah, they came during the week though," Tommy began. "She's busy today. Neve is helping her out."
"Gymnastics," the others said in unison and Hunter chuckled nodding.
"I've got to hand to her man, she's really taking these Pan Global Games seriously. Even roped Neve into helping her. If I didn't know any better, I'd think Neve was her twin or something," Tommy said and the others chuckled.
"That's realistically impossible, but if they were they'd be fraternal twins and even then Twins are not statically showed to always enjoy or have similar personalities. Now children are a different thing..." Billy began but Hunter cut him off as politely as possible after hearing where the conversation was going.
"Hey, isn't that the exhibit up ahead?" Hunter asked, pointing up ahead. They all turned and nodded.
"Yeah that's it," Adam said and walked over to the exhibit.
"Here we are guys, the Kahmala face stealer exhibit," Tommy said and Aisha winced slightly at the masks and things displayed in front of them.
"I'm glad we came together," she began. "This is kind of spooky." Not seconds after she had spoken a woman, in a blue suit and obviously not from around here came to stand behind the display, in front of them and smiled.
"It kind be kind of spooky at times," the woman said. "Hello, I'm Axena." The Rangers all nodded and smiled at the woman.
"Have any of you ever read the legend of the Face Stealer?" Axena asked and Billy looked at his friends before answering.
"Well according to ancient scriptures the people of Kahmala were terrorized on the day of the fourth full moon by a creature called Face Stealer," Billy said and Adam took over.
"The Face Stealer would come down from the sky and terrorize the citizens of your country by robbing them of their faces and leaving them without souls," Adam finished and Axena nodded.
"That is right, you both know your history," Axena said and Bulk and Skull appeared to the side of them and they all turned to look at them as they spoke.
"Face Stealer, oh please," Bulk said rolling his eyes.
"I take It you are not believers?" Axena asked.
"Hey were into fact, cold hard facts," Bulk began and Aisha rolled her eyes. Hunter crossed his arms as he listened to the two clowns talk. Maybe it was simply his nature to not like to many people, Blake had always joked he suffered from a social phobia or it could be the fact the two tended to flirt with Neve a lot. So maybe his animal spirit was a bit territorial and in return that made him territorial. Who knew? He just did not like Bulk and Skull. "Then we'll talk."
"Hey, what's in the jar?" Skull asked.
"Isn't that where the spirit of the Face Stealer is kept?" Hunter asked, suddenly not feeling the need to stare Bulk and Skull down with his hard gaze.
"Yes, well that is the legend," Axena began. "Using these masks as protection a brave team of warriors captured the Face Stealer it's spirit in this urn. It will remain here for eternity."
"Wow," Aisha said with a grin.
xXx
Up on the moon Rita had been watching the whole thing and pulling away from the telescope she smiled, and idea coming to her.
"Face Stealer huh?" Rita asked with an evil undertone which obviously meant she was up to something. "If I had a monster like that, I could get rid of those power pest once and for all!" She laughed and Zedd who now stood in front of her growled low.
"Oh brilliant idea," Zedd began getting into her face. "Except for one thing. It's a foolish fairytale." Rita huffed as Zedd moved away some and she got in his face as she asked.
"How would you know?" she asked and Zedd rolled his eyes, though you'd be hard pressed to prove that.
"Your so gullible you'll believe anything," Zedd told her. "Hey, I've got a crater on the dark side of the moon I'll sell you cheap." Lord Zedd laughed as he walked away and Rita growled and gripped her staff tightly.
"laugh now grate face, the fourth full moon of the year is tonight!" Rita announced. "I'll release that wonderful creature and turn every living thing, including the Power Rangers, into walking zombies." With that Rita walked back over to her telescope after sending out word that she wanted to talk to Rito and began observing the Rangers, noticing that the Pink and Purple ones were not with them.
She was looking around when Rito appeared in her scope.
"Hey sis, here's looking at you kid," he said and she stood up straight and glared at her brother.
"Don't do that!" she yelled. "How many times have I told you not to do that?"
"You said you wanted to see me," Rito argued. "So I thought..." he trailed off as Rita cut him off.
"Don't think, that's why you get into trouble," Rita said. "Now take Babo and Squatt to that museum and get me that Face Stealer!"
"And don't come back without!" Rita yelled and Rito took a step back and nodded.
"On it Sir..Ma'am."
"And HURRY!" Rito nodded.
"Right no my way."
xXx
Down on earth the Rangers had spotted Rito and the others headed towards the museum on their way out in Rocky's red jeep. They had instantly headed into battle, after Rito had summoned the Tenga Warriors to fight them. Now garbed in their Ninjetti form they fought against the Tenga.
Tommy was handling two by himself and Rocky was playing around with another using the Ninjetti form of Ninja Streaking and Aisha and Billy were double teaming two of the birds. Adam and Rocky took on another two and Hunter handled two on his own.
"Let's go, that should keep them busy," Rito said and the three henchmen walked off to get the face stealer.
Hunter saw them and tried to move to stop them only to be grabbed by two tenga and thrown against a tree. Glaring at the Tenga he fell into a stance against the tree and jumped up into a branch as they rush him, one hit the tree hard and fell back and he ran the length of the tree and flipped off behind the last Tenga. Spinning around his kicked it hard in the back, sending it with a fierce force face first into the tree, and it toppled backwards on the other tenga.
Chuckling Hunter streaked off to join the others at the entrance of the museum.
"Is everyone okay?" Tommy asked looking to each of his teammates and they nodded.
"Yeah," Adam said and Tommy nodded.
"We've better get inside and see what Zedd's goons are up to," Hunter said.
"He's right, we have to hurry. Whatever they're after can't be good news." Rocky said with a nod and Tommy agreed.
"Right, let's do it," Tommy said and they grabbed their Ninjetti garb and thew them off and they were instantly back in civilian form. They then ran back inside. They soon found themselves at the Exhibit where Axena stood, a solemn look on her face.
"Axena what's wrong?" Aisha asked as they came to a stop in front of her. Axena looked up at the young group of teenagers and sighed.
"Face Stealer, it's gone. I only left for a few seconds and when I came back it was gone!" Axena exclaimed and the Rangers looked at each other in dread and Hunter shook his head.
"This is terrible," Rocky said and Aisha shook her head.
"We have to do something," Aisha said and Tommy nodded.
"Look Axena, we'll start looking for clues," Tommy said and Hunter nodded.
"Tommy's right, we'll go look around, see if we can find anything and you stay here and see if anything turns up," Hunter told Axena who nodded.
"Thank you," Axena said and the gang nodded.
"It's our pleasure," Aisha said smiling and Billy nodded.
"Let's go," Billy said the group ran off, and after a quick sweep of the museum went to the Command Center.
xXx
"That's enough for today Kim," Neve said as Kim finished yet another practice. "We don't want to tire you out to much." Kim smiled and nodded grabbed a pair of white sweats to put on over her spandex shorts and Neve placed her cropped top on over her leotard and they both walked over to the same bench and sat down. Reaching down Neve pulled a cup of yogurt each and two ham sandwiches. Passing one yogurt cup and sandwich to Kim she sat hers down on her lap.
"Thanks," Kim said. "I'm starving." Neve chuckled and nodded.
"I'm not surprised, we've been at this all morning," she said. They had gotten here around eight and it was now almost twelve thirty.
"I want to thank you again for doing this for me Neve, I know you probably had better things to do then help me with my routines," Kim said and Neve shook her head, swallowing the food she had in her mouth.
"Your welcome, besides it's been a long time since I've done anything like this. Ever since I became a Ranger two years ago things have been hectic to say the least. I've got so much on my plate and so little time most my hobbies have taken a back seat to everything else," Neve said and Kim smiled.
"How many times exactly have you been a Ranger Neve?" Kim asked. " I know you said you had two different teams before this but you seem like you've been doing it for decades." Neve laughed and shook her head.
"I'm no where near that old Kimi, besides I love being a Ranger but I don't want to be doing this that long." Neve bit her lip. "I've been a Ranger twice before this. I was the Pink Ranger on the Ninja Storm team then the Green Ranger on the Dino Thunder Team. Neither started on good notes for me. Sometimes I wounder if I'm destined to be evil." Kim's eyes widened and she pulled the other girl into a hug.
"Your much to sweet and kind to be evil Neve. You've been dealt a bad hand in life but you've also been dealt good things as well and you've handled it all. You have Hunter and us and your family back home who love and support you. If anyone deserves some peace and quiet it's you and I'm sure you'll have. Everything happens for reason, and even if it's bad things at first everything works out in the end," Kim told her and Neve smiled. It was almost like being home, talking to her mother again. In a way she was, but then Kimberly wasn't yet her mother. Kim was just a teenage girl who was helping a friend. She had no idea how much her words meant to Neve.
"Thanks, that means a lot," Neve said and just as they had begun to finish their lunch their communicators beeped. Looking at each other they stood, placing their things down on the bench.
"Neve here, we read ya Zordon," Neve said lifting her wrist watch to her mouth.
"Neveah, Kimberly report back to the Command Center," Zordon said. "It is of great importance." Nodding the two girls stood straight and pressing a button they were teleported out in Pink and Purple lights.
xXx
"Is it possible Zordon," Billy began. "I mean could Rita and Zedd really unlock the spirit of the Face Stealer?" The Rangers were all gathered in the Command Center now, only seconds after Zordon had contacted Kim and Neve who now stood with the group. They remembered the Face Stealer exhibit from the museum when they'd went together last Thursday, if Rita got that thing out it would mean bad news they were sure.
"UNKOWN BILLY, IT IS UNDETERMIND IF THIS KAHMALA LEGEND HAS ANY BASIS IN REALITY," Zordon replied, answering Billy's question. Sighing the Rangers looked at each other and back to Zordon.
"Guys," Adam began and they turned to him slightly then turned back, still listening to his words. "Today is the fourth full moon of the year. If the legend is true, Face Stealer will appear."
"Great, something tells me we're in for a fight to remember," Neve muttered running a hand through her hair.
"Ai-yi-yi, I don't even want to think about it," Alpha said and not seconds latter the alarms went off and Alpha looked to the system as the Rangers turned to the viewing globe on instinct.
"RANGERS, IT SEEMS YOUR FEARS HAVE INDEED BEEN REALIZED," Zordon told them and Tommy shook his head.
"They did it, they released the Face Stealer on Angel Grove," Tommy said and Hunter clinched his teeth as he narrowed his eyes at the globe.
"We've got to stop him," Hunter said. "Before he does any damage."
"Hunter's right, we can't let the Face Stealer hurt anyone, or steal any faces assuming that part is true," Neve agreed and the Rangers turned back to Zordon.
"Neve's got a point," Adam said. "Zordon, does this monster have the power to steal faces like in the story?"
"WE MUST ASSUME IT DOES," Zordon began. "OBVIOUSLY IT IS A DANGEROUS MONSTER. YOU WILL NEED THE ADDED POWER OF TITANUS TO DEFEAT HIM. ALPHA HAVE YOU MADE ALL THE NECESSARY CHANGES TO ACCOMMODATE THE NINJA ULTRA ZORD?"
"Not just yet Zordon, but I'm almost done," Alpha replied.
"WE CAN'T WAIT, FACE STEALER MUST BE INTERCEPTED IMMEDIATELY."
"Right, we're on it," Tommy began coming to the front of the Rangers. "It's Morphin Time!"
"White Ranger Power!"
"Gold Ranger Power!"
"Black Ranger Power!"
"Pink Ranger Power!"
"Purple Ranger Power!"
"Blue Ranger Power!"
"Yellow Ranger Power!"
"Red Ranger Power!" They all cried and were instantly morphed into their suits. Moments latter they flipped onto the scene where Face Stealer was and fell into stances.
"Let's smash him," Tommy said as they faced the monster.
"I like how you think," Neve said from one side of him.
"Stand aside pathetic humans," the Face stealer began. "I must go to your village and steal faces."
"Your not going anywhere you rotten fruit," Hunter told the monster as the Rangers moved some, almost circling the monster in a way. It was just then they heard the yells of two very familiar people.
"Alright no body move, we've got reported trouble here!" Bulk yelled as they ran down a hill towards the fight.
"Yeah," Skull agreed.
"Oh this all we need," Neve muttered. "Stupid and stupider." Kim looked at Neve and titled her head.
"Which one is which?" Kim asked almost forgetting about the situation and Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Eh, who knows," Neve said with a shrug.
"No, get back!" Rocky yelled, waving his arm at the two boys. "Let us handle this!" Bulk and Skull stared at the monster and Rangers with wide eyes.
"My first victims," Face Stealer said and the Rangers turned back to the monster.
"Bulk, maybe we should let the Power Rangers handle this," Skull suggested and Bulk nodded.
"An excellent idea Skull," Bulk began. "This is way out of our area of expertise." but before the two could leave the Rangers gasped as the Face Stealer shot a blue beam out of it's mouth and it hit Bulk and Skull and left them with no faces.
"Oh that's just gross," Neve said. "Your gonna pay for that!" She pointed accusingly at the monster and it laughed.
"I love stealing faces," it said with a laugh.
"So you really can steal faces," Tommy said, clinching his fist. "We're going to shut you down clown."
"I don't think so foolish ones," the Face Stealer said and attacked. And the Ranger jumped threw the air, Tommy and Hunter first, but they were grabbed and flipped through the air, Hunter landing on his back and Tommy on his front. They both got slowly to their knees.
"Man, he's stronger then he looks," Tommy said.
"Yeah, no kidding," Hunter replied. Aisha, Kim and Neve went next. Aisha tried to sweep it's feet out from under it but it jumped it and Kim kick it in the side only for it to bat it away and Neve did a tornado kick to it and it stumbled back only a little before they all three went after it again and were slashed in the chest by it hands, or talons or whatever they were. Billy and Rocky attacked next but met the same fate as the girls got to their feet a little ways away, gripping their chest slightly from the sting.
"Man, he's tough," Neve said and Kim and Aisha nodded.
"Time to face the music," the monster said and shot a beam at Adam who ducked and it hit some rocks and blew up.
"Wow, that was a close one," Adam said and the face stealer growled.
"I need faces," it whined.
"You alright?" Hunter asked as they went over and helped Billy and Rocky up.
"Yeah," Rocky said and Billy nodded. The face stealer sent another beam at Adam but he jumped out of the way and rolled, and then stood going to where the girls were as the Face Stealer turned and shot the beam at the boys. The four gasped and dived out of the way except for Hunter who didn't have time and it struck him four times. Once in the center of his chest, then to the side, and twice below the cobra shield as Neve had taken to calling it. His suit sparked and he fell face first to the ground with a groan.
"Hunter!" Neve yelled and breaking free of Kim she ran over to him as he struggled up. "Hunter are you okay?" she asked but he just shook his head and mumbled like he was trying to talk and couldn't.
"Hang on, I'll get you out of there handsome," she muttered and the face stealer laughed.
"I don't think so!" it exclaimed and shot another three shots at Neve who took them straight to the chest and flipped through the air from the impact and landed on the ground harshly and the Rangers gasped.
"No!" Kim yelled and they all rushed to Neve's side and Aisha helped Hunter. Neve seemed to be more hurt then Hunter had been, most likely because he had the shield to protect him from a lot of the damage the beam seemed to do to them, probably because it had to get through the suits.
"Now for the rest of you," The face stealer began as Rocky stood protectively in front of them as Tommy picked up Neve bridal style, Billy standing by him encase he needed help but of course Neve was almost a small as Kim so it really wasn't that hard to do and Kim, and Aisha and Adam kept Hunter standing. "I'll take all of your faces and turn you all into zombies!" the monster laughed.
"There is no need to run away from me Power Rangers," the face stealer said as the Rangers back away from him, sort of running sideways to get more distance. "I'll get you and your faces eventually."
"Laugh now face stealer," Tommy said as he growled low in his throat at the face stealer. He didn't know exactly why he was reacting this way, sometimes they got hurt it was just something that happened as Rangers but for some reason he just wanted to rip the face stealer apart and he was sure his eyes were flashing green under his helmet. "but you haven't seen the last of the Power Rangers," he said and together they teleported to the Command Center, Neve still in Tommy's arms and Hunter between Kim, Aisha and Adam as they left.
"Hey come back your cowards!" the Face stealer yelled. "I want more faces!"
xXx
After getting back to the command center Tommy sat Neve on her feet and they straighten the two Rangers up, they seemed to be able to stand without much trouble after the positioned them in a way that didn't have then toppling over. They all took their helmets off and then slowly unclasped Neve and Hunter's helmets. Kim unhooking Neve's and Rocky hooking Hunters. As they pulled the helmets off they all let out sharp gasp at the faceless friends. It wasn't like they did not expect it but it was still shocking.
"Oh god," Kim muttered as she placed a glove hand over her mouth and then moved to Neve's sigh, stroking her long hair in a comforting motion even though she never moved once.
"Ai-yi-yi, this is terrible!" Alpha exclaimed and Aisha bit her lip as she stared at her two friends.
"The face stealer got Hunter and Neve's face Zordon," Tommy said with a sigh.
"And unfortunately Bulk and Skull are in much the same condition," Billy told their mentor.
"What do we do now?" Rocky asked.
"We have to find a way to get Hunter and Neve's faces back," Adam said just as the alarms went off.
"There is something on the viewing globe," Alpha said and the Rangers turned to look at the globe where the face stealer was skipping through Angel Grove laughing.
"We can't just go after him," Tommy told the others. "We'll all end up like Hunter and Neve and then we won't be able to get them back to normal."
"Your right Tommy," Billy said with a sigh and then turned to Zordon. "There has to be some way to protect ourselves from the face stealer spell."
"RIGHT BILLY. EVERY CREATURE HAD ITS WEAKNESS, IT JUST HAS TO BE FOUND," Zordon said and then Billy smiled.
"Wait a second, I think I've got it," he said and Aisha looked at him.
"What?" Aisha asked and Kim looked at him expectantly as well.
"Alpha, can you look after Hunter and Neve?" Billy asked and Alpha nodded.
"Of course Billy, but what..." the robot was cut off by Billy who looked to the others.
"Come on lets go," he said and with a nodded they all left, their helmets back in place.
xXx
Moments latter they were in the museum and looking for Axena.
"We have to find Axena," Tommy said. "We have to borrow those mask."
"But what if the legend is wrong?" Kim asked and Billy shook his head.
"Nah, it's been right so far about everything else," Tommy told them and they began walking around and not long after found Axena as she walked out from around a corner.
"Power Rangers? What are you doing here?" she asked.
"We need to find whoever is in charge of this exhibit," Aisha said. "It's an emergency."
"I am, I'm Axena," Axena said.
"The face stealer is threatening downtown Angel Grove," Tommy told her.
"Oh this is terrible," Axena said.
"It is that's why we need your help," Kim said and Axena looked at the Pink one in shock and a bit of admiration. Axena had heard of the Rangers upon her move to Angel Grove but this was the first time she'd seen them in real life and not from the TV or gossip.
"Me, but what can I do?" Axena asked.
"You can lend us those mask," Adam said and Axena blinked as Billy, Kim and Tommy went over to the mask.
"But what will you do with them?" she asked and Rocky and Aisha put a hand on her shoulder from either side of her.
"You'll just have to trust us," Rocky told her and Aisha nodded.
"We'll bring them back, we promise," Aisha told her.
"Alright, just be careful," Axena said and the Rangers each held a mask and nodded.
"Thank you Axena, you won't regret it," Tommy said as they teleported out.
xXx
They all appear with their backs facing the monster moment latter.
"Hey, your back!" the monster exclaimed and laughed. Rocky was the first to turn around, the face held up to his face.
"Look lard ball," Rocky said with a smirk.
"Check it out," Kim said as she turned.
"Almost stylish, don't you agree?" Aisha asked as she turned next.
"Not really my style, but you seem to recognize it, old phase?" Adam asked mockingly and Billy turned with a laugh and Tommy was the last to turn around.
"What's the matter, don't like our faces anymore?" Tommy asked.
"Ah, how dare you show those mask in my presents!" the Face Stealer cried in anger.
" I get the feeling hes seen these mask before guys," Tommy said and they lowered the mask for a moment before putting them back in place as he fired a beam at them but it did not hit them, instead it hit the ground.
"Hey, it works!" Rocky exclaimed and Adam nodded.
"The beams can't get us when we ware the masks," Adam said. "Must be his unlucky day."
"Put those away, I need to steal more faces," it whined and shot more beams at them but they hit the mask and shot back at him instead, causing it to cry out and release the faces it had already stolen.
"Oh no, my beautiful faces!" the face monster cried.
"Hey look, he's releasing all the faces hes stolen," Rocky said.
"I saw Hunter and Neve's come out," Tommy said with a grin. "Yeah, I think they're gonna be okay."
xXx
At the Command Center Hunter and Neve were still standing like statues, faceless when suddenly two faces floated in and in a small flash their faces were returned. Breathing in they both blinked and looked around, unsure of why or how they got there.
"What happened, why are we here?" Neve asked as she turned to Hunter who blinked and tried to remember.
"The last thing I remember is battling the Face Stealer," Hunter said and then they both looked up to Zordon.
"YES HUNTER, THE FACE STEALER THOUGH WAS ABLE TO STEAL NEVEAH AND YOUR FACES," Zordon informed them. "THE OTHER RANGERS BROUGHT YOU BACK HERE. THEY NEED YOUR HELP NOW THOUGH."
"Right," Neve and Hunter said with a nod and Alpha turned to them.
"Zordon, Titanus is now ready for battle," Alpha said and Zordon nodded.
"EXCELLENT ALPHA, RANGERS REJOIN THE OTHERS IN BATTLE AND CALL UPON THE POWER OF THE NINJA ULTRA ZORD IF NESSASARY," Zordon said.
"We're on our way," Neve said and they picked up their helmets. Neve nodded at Hunter as they touched their belts.
"Back to Action," Hunter called and they teleported to the battle field.
"Alright, it's great to see your to are alright bro," Rocky said as he patted Hunter on the shoulder and Kim and Aisha greeted Neve with small hugs.
"Thanks," Neve said to Kim and Aisha and Hunter nodded at Rocky.
"I'm glad you two are alright, but let's finish this guys," Tommy said and they formed a circle and called on their Zords.
"We need Ninja Zord power now!" They called in unison and the Zords came towards them in quick succession and the Rangers jumped into their megazord was completely combined.
"Alright, it's time for blabo here to face the consequences," Tommy said.
"Couldn't agree with you more," Hunter muttered and they all raised their arms as they said in unison.
"Power up!"
"Cut it out," Face Stealer said with a laugh as the megazord began to spin around and lashed out with a foot to the face and it fell down and taking flight the megazord attacked, swooping down to land two fist to the face, knocking it back down as it continued to fly thanks to the Falcon Zord that connected to the back almost like a backpack.
"I think it's time to use the Ninja Ultra Zord guys," Neve said and the others nodded.
"Yeah," Billy said nodding.
"Alright, let's do it," Tommy said.
"Ninja Ultra Zord, initiate transformation sequence now!" they said in unison and titanus came from his hiding place and roared before the megazord swooped in and landed in place with titanus and they began rolling forward firing lasers at the monster. They hit and Face stealer sparked before falling to the found and exploding.
"Great job guys," Tommy said and the others nodded and high fived each other. "Back to the urn you go." they all laughed as they celebrated another battle won and as the Zord went back into hiding they appeared close to the urn. It was only seconds before they sealed it back up and headed back to the museum.
xXx
They were all walking towards the museum when Bulk and Skull noticed them coming and hid behind a pillar watching them.
"There they are Skull," Bulk began. "The Power Rangers have the urn."
"You mean they stole the urn?" Skull asked, shocked as the he watched the right Ranger walked towards them but his eyes seemed to trail the pink, yellow and purples ones more but then so did Bulks as well.
"No you ninny, they probably clobbered that big ugly face stealer creep and took it back," Bulk said and Skull nodded.
"Yeah your probably right," Skull said and Bulk grinned.
"I have an idea, follow me!" Bulk instructed and frowned as Skull shot forward and he followed and they walked to intercept the Rangers. Neve saw them coming and as they stopped walking she groaned and leaned into Hunter, banging her helmet into his chest, or shield as she shook her head. Hunter chuckled and wrapped an arm around her.
"Hold it!" Skull instructed, holding out his hand palm out in the stop motion.
"Well good work Power Rangers," Bulk said.
"Uh, thanks I guess," Tommy said as he looked to the others and then back to Bulk and Skull.
"Now if you don't mind we'll be taking that," Bulk said pointing at the urn. "It's junior police business now." Tommy looked at the others and Neve rolled her eyes and made a small almost silent scuffing sound.
"Alright," Tommy said as he handed over the urn.
"And the masks," Skull said and Rocky looked at the mask and handed it to them as well.
"You'll return it to the museum right?" Hunter asked and the two nodded.
"That is exactly what we're going to do," Bulk said and Neve sighed and moved forward.
"I'll go with them, just to be on the safe side," Neve said as she looked to the other Rangers. Bulk and Skull looked at each other and opened their mouth but one fierce look from the short Purple Ranger shut them up, even if they could not see her face or eyes behind the visor she simply imitated a aura of not someone they wanted to mess with. "I'll catch up with you latter."
The Rangers nodded and Bulk and Skull watched and the Gold one hugged the Purple one slightly and they were almost sure if it was not for the helmet the two would have kissed. So the rumors of a romantic relationship within the Rangers were true? Did that mean the Pink and White ones were an item or was it the Pink and Black one like some others said or the Pink and Blue like others believed. Were the Red and Yellow and item, or was the Yellow one even a girl? Many people were sure she was, she looked female enough even without the skit the pink and purple ones had.
Bulk and Skull were thrown out of their thoughts as the other seven Rangers teleported out and the Purple one turned to them with her hands on her hip.
"Well, lets go," she said and Bulk and Skull nodded and began walking to the museum, the Purple Ranger walking behind them. As they entered Skull began pounding and shaking the urn and Neve had to resit taking it from him and hitting him over the head, with it or her fist she wasn't sure but she settled for rolling her eyes and sighing. As they did enter though many people turned upon seeing a Ranger with them and whispers broke out.
"Mommy, it's the Purple Ranger!" one little girl cried as she struggled against her mothers hand and tried to run to Neve. Many other children where whispering too.
"Oh honey that's probably just some fan," the girls mother said and the girl whimpered and finally jerked out of the woman's hold and ran off to Neve who stopped and turned just as the little girl tripped. She would have fallen on her face it Neve had not caught her first.
"Bulk, Skull wait," she ordered and almost instantly the two who were only a little ways in front of her stopped and turned.
"Neve, I told you that's probably just a fan," the woman cried and at first Neveah thought she was talking to her and was about to freak out when she remembered the girl in her arms and smiled chuckling.
"Neve, is that your name?" Neveah asked and the girl blushed some, looking up at Neveah with big green eyes. Her hair was ravens black and she was no older then five or six.
"Yes, I'm Neve Shane," the little girl said. "Mommy, I know this is the real purple Ranger, I just do," The little girl had turned to her mother as she said this and the woman was looking very unconvinced when Neveah chuckled.
"Well then, your a very smart little girl Neve," Neveah said and couldn't help but feel strange calling this girl by her own name. "You know I know someone with the same name, she doesn't live around here normally, and she older then you but she is just as brave I've been told. She saved our hides a few times when she was in the wrong place at the wrong time." The little smiled and the child's mother glared at Neveah and crossed her arms.
"I don't know who you are, but lying to little children is no way to act," the woman said and Neveah stood up moving her hands behind her back and concentrated on something Sensei Hikari once taught her and moving then in front of her, glowing pink she made intricate movement until there was a small flash and a single purple rose was held in her hand, and on the steam was a tag which said too Neve, from the Purple Ranger.
Gasps were heard and Neveah chuckled.
"It is the Purple Ranger," someone whispered and the theme went around as Bulk and Skull blinked and looked on in some boredom.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go now," Neveah said and the woman blinked and picked up her little girl, and Neveah walked over to Bulk and Skull and as other watched they walked towards the exhibit only to be stopped by two guards on patrol. They glared at them and the big one reached out and grabbed Neve's arm tightly and she looked at him as others began to whisper once more.
"Get off me you big baboon," Neve snapped, not liking being man handled and the guard just tried to pull her forward as the other handled Bulk and Skull.
"Hold up, these items were reported stolen," the big one said. "We're gonna have to take you three in."
"Hey, you can't do that!" a little boy cried as he glared up at the big guys who still had a grip on Neve's arm. She couldn't really do much, and she couldn't hurt a civilian.
"Yeah, let the Purple Ranger go!" two little girls cried and the big guard laughed as did the skinnier one and Neve sighed. This was like Bulk and Skull 2.0. Only worse.
"Purple Ranger, ha, it's probably just an impostor," the big guard said. "I'll prove it." the guard reached froward to unclasp Neve's helmet and she gasped and pulled her arm away just as a little boy kicked the big one in the shin. Neve withheld a chuckled as she stumbled back some and placed a hand on the boys shoulder as she knelt down beside him and he grinned up at her. She smiled at him.
"Hi, my name is Ben," the boy said and Neve smiled and using her spirit powers once more for something which all Ninja could do if they tried she created a glass flame which was hot pink at the bottom and melted into red and clear at the top. The boy smiled and took it as she gave him a little hug. He could be no older then two or so and she was very surprised he could reach the mans shin but then he had been on a slightly older boys shoulders – but that boy had only appeared five or six and was only a tall at the man knee, give or take.
"Thank you," she said and stood.
"I don't appreciate being man handled, but I'll let it go. Just make sure that urn and those mask get back to Axena," she said and then backing away she placed her hands on her belt and teleported out.
"Wa..she really was a Power Ranger," the littler guard said and the big one held his shin and gaped as the children where taken away by their parents and the two guards where glared at by them.
xXx
That day after the battle they were all in the Youth Center celebrating on not only defeating the face stealer but on Hunter and Neve's safe return to normal. For a while there the other Rangers had been worried.
"Oh hey Axena, what's up?" Tommy asked as the woman walked in.
"I wanted to thank you all for your concern," Axena began smiling at them. "The face stealer was returned to us safely."
"Oh congratulations," Kim said smiling.
"Yes, we were very lucky," she said. "But now we've got extra guards to keep watch."
"Well I don't know about you all, but reading about different cultures is great and everything but I think I prefer to read about it rather then live it," Neve told them with a laugh and the others chuckled and nodded.
"Definitely, it won't be something I'd forget," Hunter said as he sat close beside Neve and everyone laughed.
A/N: So what do you think? The Scene with Bulk, Skull and Neve as the Purple Ranger at the museum almost did not make the cut into the story but I couldn't bare not to add it. The little girl's name was actually an accident. I trying to think of a name when I typed the sentence out and instead of the name originally picked I wrote Neve and decided to keep it. Thought it was kind of cute. The little boy and girl have some ties to the next story, Ruby with Pride, but for two different reasons but I thought it might be good foreshadowing even if you don't really understand what I am foreshadowing with them.