Disclaimer: My first venture into the Power Ranger Fandom. I do not own Power Rangers other than my OC's. There will be slash in here. You get to guess whom! There is also the element of time travel and there will be flashback chapters (just as a warning if things get confusing). Obviously I have no BETA so I apologize for any grammatical mistakes in advance. WARNING: SLASH (BOYXBOY) in this fic. Griffin will be traveling back in time to when the Thunder and Wind Rangers have already become a Team and Cam has already gained his Samurai Powers.
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
QUICK RECAP
Flashback to Hunter's childhood
His classmates frame Hunter
Hunter goes to the principal's office
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
Flashback continuing from Chapter 21
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
"You have to be kidding me."
"Your PARENTS thought it would be easier on you to take the ultimatum this way. Those are your choices if you decide not to take the after school tutoring/ mentorship."
"And why should I… wait did you say PARENTS?"
"He did Hunter" said a new voice coming through the opening door. Two familiar figures passed through the door much to the surprise of Hunter.
"Jeremy, Kathleen, shouldn't you two be at work?" asked a confused Hunter.
"Well Hunter we haven't been completely honest with you lately" Kathleen (Hunter's foster mom) began.
"I know the drill. When do I have to pack my bags?" said a depressed Hunter.
"Sport you completely misunderstood us" Jeremy (Hunter's foster dad) added ruffling Hunter's mop of blonde hair with one of his hands.
Hunter's head jerked up quickly from looking up at his feet to the two individuals who walked through the door and sat in the two chairs next to him.
"I will give you a few moments. Hunter you can have the rest of the day off. I will inform your teachers. It was nice seeing you again Jeremy. Kathleen you are looking as stunning as usual."
A brief exchange of small talk and polite comments were exchanged between the three adults. All of it went over Hunter's head until Jeremy lightly elbowed Hunter out of his stupor.
"Thank you Principal Thorn-Brooks" said Hunter in a confused tone. He did it more out of necessity than respect or courtesy. Hunter was normally a polite individual, but he had begun building up barriers around him within in the past few years. He was both sick of and afraid of being hurt. He held the notion of "respect being earned, not simply expected" true to his heart. The man always seemed odd to the bright eyed and extraverted blonde.
"Good luck Hunter, you'll need it!" Principal Derrick Thorn-Brooks said as he closed the door to his office. Sometimes he regretted the mistakes in his life. But what was about to occur was one of the few times in his life that he was proud of his actions. He was glad that he could help. He knew from the beginning Hunter was a good kid. This was one of the reasons he was glad he chose the profession he did. It was all about giving back to the community (as well as making up for past digressions).
"Well Sport we've been busy lately, but it isn't because Kathleen has had to take a few extra shifts at the hospital or that my case load has been extra heavy at the firm."
Hunter was becoming extremely suspicious.
"Let me cut to the chase" Kathleen began. She continued after a nod from Hunter and her husband Jeremy. "What my husband is trying to say is that we have been extremely busy for another reason, and its not to get rid of you. And while we wont deny there will be some changes in our home, there is no need to worry about us getting rid of you."
"It's been almost since a year since we welcomed you into our home. And we have become fond of you Sport. You know that we could never have kids of our own and we love you as much as we would any child, whether related to us by blood or through spirit. It is not the blood that ties a family together, but the love shared between the individuals" Jeremy added.
"So we know that lately you have grown more distant and that your grades have been falling. Your Principal, not your TEACHER, brought the matter to our attention so we discussed a few things and she thought it would be best if you received some tutoring and was placed into the advanced work class."
A million things were going through his brain that the next thing would take a while to be processed.
"And we also decided Sport that we would like to adopt you if that's ok with you."
Hunter face faulted (and he lay unconscious on the floor).
"Honey did you really have to bring that all up?"
"Well Jeremy how else are we going to get him to agree to join the advanced track at school?"
"You are a cruel woman."
"I am only looking out for the best interests of the men in my life."
"Sure you are."
"Be happy we didn't have to mention the whole Thunder Academy thing."
"Thank God."
"Yeah, that's your job" she said Ninja streaking out the window.
'Sometimes, really… that woman is going to be the death of me' thought Jeremy as he carried Hunter out over his shoulder.
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
End of Flashback
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
The last time he had been here had been many years ago. He really did not expect to be back here any time soon as it was a small stepping-stone on the path of his life. He had moved onto bigger and better things, but he still had ties back to this place. The person who gave him a second chance at live. And the other who stuck by him, through thick and thin, evil and good, and before and after his fame as a motocross rider.
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
Flashback
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
Hunter was dreading this day, but it was part of what he agreed to with being adopted. He knew the Bradley's would have adopted either way, but they both worked long hours and they wanted to make sure he was supervised and having fun.
He was waiting to be picked up after school in his new classroom on the first day of the school year. The advanced class was a lot nicer than the one he was in before. He wasn't afraid to be smart. No one was excluded at recess or sat alone at lunch. Everyone was genuinely a friend with each other on some level. Everyone respected each other and wanted to learn.
On the dot of three o'clock exactly there was a knock on the door. And when his teacher went to answer the door, he wasn't expecting the teacher to be talking to someone like HER.
"Hunter can you come over here? Gather your things."
Hunter did what he was told and walked slowly to the door. The kids who took the bus were already gone, only the students whose parents picked them up remained in the room (there were only two or three left besides Hunter).
"Don't worry. You're not in trouble. This is a former student of mine, and some you will get to know over the next few months."
"Hi I'm Kimberly. I've heard a lot about you Hunter. I may be pretty, but I'm no pushover. I may like the color pink and shopping, but I'm a lot smarter than I look."
Hunter's jaw dropped. Sure he was still at the age where boys thought girls had cooties, but even he had to admit how pretty his "babysitter" / "tutor" was. He had to remind himself mentally to keep his mouth shut and keep his staring to a minimum to avoid her getting the wrong impression.
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
End of Flashback
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
The door he was knocking on opened.
"Kim, we need to talk."
"Long time no see Hunter I'm kind of on my way out though."
"That can wait" Hunter said with a pleading look.
If there was one thing he learned from Kim over the years, there was one thing… well three things that could make her give in: Shopping Sprees, Free Clothes, and Hunter's puppy dog pout.
"What's wrong? This better me important Hunter. I'm not the valley girl you met when you were younger. I have a career and social life and everything."
"You're going to need to clear your schedule. There is a lot to talk about BARBIE."
"I happen to think she is a good role model for young girls aside from her unrealistic anatomy."
"That's besides the point."
Then it dawned on Kim.
"You asshole. I'm not a valley girl any more and you KNOW IT!! I worked hard to get my job and it is very satisfying financially and intellectually. I have grown up over these past few years, but I don't know if I can say the same about you dude. You look like a mess. What's with the puppy dog pout? You haven't used it in years. And it has been quite a while since I've heard from you."
"A few things have gone on for the worse. I've been forced to grow up quicker than either of us expected. I doubt you would understand, but there is something I really need to talk to you about."
"What about?"
"Colored Spandex" was all he said before her jaw dropped and she ushered him inside.
"This better not be some kind of joke Hunter."
"When I have a pulled something like this?"
"Um…?"
"Never… And that's not even funny Kim."
"You better start from the beginning Hunter."
"I thought you had to go somewhere?"
"What is so important about this fashion emergency of yours?"
Hunter slapped his forehead. He knew it was going to take a while and be quite difficult to do, but Kim was making this much more difficult than it needed to be.
'Colored Spandex' thought Hunter. 'What exactly have I got myself into?'
Kim waited impatiently for Hunter to get it all off his chest. To be honest she didn't have anything big to do today other than meet someone for coffee. She was definitely glad to see a familiar face and for her day to get that more interesting. It had been a while since EVIL had reared its ugly face directly. She was beginning to think it would all be worth it now...
Power Rangers Ninja Storm: Hurricane Chronicles
Author's Note
I know that I am taking a lot of artistic license now trying to create a past for Hunter, but I couldn't help but put together "Mr. Dark and Brooding" and "M(r)s. Ray of Sunshine/ Damsel in Distress."
College is kicking my ass, so I will do my best to keep up with the weekly updates and to keep them at reasonable lengths. I have a lot of ideas to add and use to the plot, but I have little time to do so. I am only taking five courses this semester but they are a lot more time consuming than any I have had before. Or at least it seems that way. PLEASE REVIEW! It's the only way I have an idea of where to go with the story or if anyone is really reading it.
The Principal is important here too! Derrick Thorn-Brooks will appear in the future too. There is more than meets the eye with him.
I'm taking some license also with assuming MMPR (1-3), Zeo, and the first half of Turbo was essentially the four years of high school. Hunter is older than Blake so I am having issues trying to keep everything as canon as possible. It's not easy trust me with trying to make all of this believable. Ninja Storm is the 11th season. So seven years have passed since Kim and the others should have graduated. The Wind Rangers are 18 or 19 during their season (2003) so Kim and the others should have been 18 or so by Turbo as Billy "graduates" a year early in Zeo Episode #10 "Graduation Blues." Turbo is the fifth season so Kim and the others should be 24 or so by Ninja Storm (18+624). Which would make her a few years older than Hunter. Hunter and Blake lost the Bradley when Hunter was in his early teens so this is making my crossover moment difficult but not impossible. It should all work out though if Hunter is 20 in Ninja Storm, Blake 19, the others 18 more or less.
If my math with the adoption of Hunter and then Blake mentioned here, and in chapter 4 and 21 is off I apologize, but it's difficult when you don't know if the first few seasons are years, or just months. Don't they graduate at the beginning of Turbo though?
-Griffin