Casey had been feeling left out. Theo, Casey, Lily, RJ and Master Engel all seemed to know something he didn't and it drove him crazy; on top of all that, ever since Leanne's arrival Kaylee had been pulling her away from the team to talk to the red head or to Lily.
He was also feeling like he was falling behind in his training. Theo and Lily had their new weapons and their own personal masters, with whom they promised to trained with every once in a while. Kaylee had two masters by her side, Master Engel and Leanne.
Casey had been left with no one.
He stepped into the kitchen, where RJ was tossing pizza dough and Engel was spreading sauce.
"RJ, can I ask you something?" he asked.
"Six horses, a toilet plunger and a wireless mouse," RJ answered, smiling as he turned to the cub. Casey and Engel exchanged confused glances as they looked at the master strangely. "Sorry, I thought that might be the answer... go on."
"What would the question have been?" Engel muttered, rolling her eyes.
"I know this is a sore subject..."
"Sore as in muscle pulls, or sore as in I don't wanna talk about it?" RJ laughed nervously.
"When am I going to get a new master?" Casey asked, coming out with it. He figured it would hurt less if he didn't stray from the subject.
RJ's face seemed to fall, "Casey... you trust me right?"
"Sure, you're my Pai Zhuq Master!"
"Then why do you want another?"
The ground suddenly started to shake as the Rangers ran into the kitchen, collecting Casey to make sure this wasn't a monster attack. RJ and Engel stayed in the kitchen, trying to keep things on the shelf.
When the earthquake stopped, Leanne ran down the stairs.
"What was that?" she asked the other Masters.
Now that Casey was gone, RJ turned to Engel. He knew the tiger was supposed to get a new Master soon, even if he was against it.
"When?" he asked the Master. Engel shrugged, looking to the clock.
"He... uh... he might be making a grand entrance in the middle of a battle," she shrugged.
"Engel..." RJ sighed.
"RJ, I told you, you have to face this, sooner or later! Right now those cubs need to remember!"
"Can't the others just... tell Casey?"
Engel looked over to Leanne and rolled her eyes.
"This is why I always made sure there was at least one girl master. If not, I would always have to repeat myself."
She turned to RJ and took a deep breath, before yelling in his ear.
"THE TRUTH CANNOT BE TOLD!"
"Okay... okay..." RJ said, backing away from the woman.
"C'mon guys, let's go monitor the battle," Leanne laughed, running back up to the loft.
-----Jungle-Fury-----
The Rangers returned from battle, seemingly happy about something. RJ didn't know what, until he saw Master Finn walked in.
"RJ, you won't believe it! I found my new master!" Casey smiled, presenting Master Finn to RJ. RJ smiled weakly at the man, looking up.
"Hello dad," he said.
Casey's eyes widened as he turned from Finn to RJ.
"Dad?" he asked.
All eyes were on father and son as they looked into each other's eyes. They didn't say a word of greeting, before Finn started to look around.
"Well, look at this," he sighed, picking up some garbage that had been left on the floor, around the couches, or between the cushions. "You're now a Master and you still need me to clean up after you."
"I like my loft the way it is," RJ smiled. "Things are where I want them."
"Yes, so I see, potato chips... dirty socks..."
"NO!" Kaylee groaned, slamming her hand into her forehead. "Not again... I thought I got out of the dirty lucky socks deal when I ditched Ronny!"
"I like things my way," RJ commented. "It shouldn't affect you."
"Of course it reflexes me, everything you do reflexes me, you're my son!"
"Yes... that I am... but what's it been, six, seven years since we last spoke?" RJ asked.
"That was your doing, if I remember."
"Well... let's not get into it."
"All I ever wanted was to teach you the ways of your father... my father, and my father's father..."
RJ looked over at the crowd of people watching him argue with his father. He sighed, "Can we just drop it? I know why you're here."
RJ's glare turned to Engel, who backed away nervously, putting her hands in the air defensively.
"I'm here to train the tiger cub," Finn frowned.
"He doesn't need your training," RJ growled.
"That's not what the Great Master Engel thinks."
"The 'Great Master Engel' still has to learn how to work a toilet!" RJ yelled. "I don't think she's as wise as we all let one!"
"Hey! I can totally flush a toilet!" Engel frowned.
"Engel..."
Engel walked over to RJ, grabbing his arm roughly as she pulled him away.
"RJ, you know why I had to call him," she growled in a low voice, glaring daggers at him.
"Something about remembering the truth," RJ frowned, "But this is my father! We have issues."
"I'm sorry you're dealing with daddy issues, but this is the world we're talking about. The faster the team remembers the truth, the faster we can save the world, and Dustin."
"Dustin turned his back on the one he loved... he's bad to the bone..."
"RJ..."
"And why isn't anyone helping me remember, huh?" RJ asked.
"Because... RJ... those four remembering is important... they are the ones saving the world... please... trust me on this... okay?"
RJ looked down at Engel and smiled.
"Okay... he can train Casey... but..."
"I'm helping you to get over your daddy issues too," Engel smiled. "You may be a master, but you're still human. Don't worry, I've got plans for you."
Engel winked before pushing RJ back with his dad.
Casey walked over to Finn with a big smile, "I was wondering if you could train me now."
Finn nodded, looking at his son briefly before turning away with Casey. RJ smiled as he watched his father go.
-----Jungle-Fury-----
Finn had given Casey a pair of shark sabres and was teaching him to fight with them. Casey was doing okay... for a cub, but he was nowhere close to mastering it.
"You'll never master the shark technique at that speed!" Finn frowned.
"I'm trying!" Casey yelled. He jumped in the air, spinning, but couldn't catch himself fast enough, and landed face down in the dirt. Finn groaned, shaking his head.
"Are you spinning or is it just me?" Casey asked, sitting up.
"Soon you will know everything there is to know about the shark technique," Finn assured the cub.
"Master, I won't disappoint you," Casey smiled.
"No... no one likes to be disappointed," Finn walked over to the bag he had left by the arc, and pulled out a new pair of sabres, handing them to Casey. They were made of wood, but Casey was still excited to hold them. "You'll get the new ones when you master the technique."
"Teach me," Casey grinned.
Master Finn stepped away, giving himself room before showing Casey the fighting stances for the sabres.
After hours of training, Finn was finally proud.
-----Jungle-Fury-----
"Okay, sit down," Engel sat, pulling RJ into his chair, as she sat on the couch. "Lily and Theo are managing the store with Fran and Kaylee and Leanne are training. You have my full, undivided attention."
RJ sat forward, looking Engel in the eye.
"When you had Kayleigh, you had big dreams for her, right?" he asked.
"She was my daughter, of course I did," Engel nodded.
"Did you want her to train in the ways of the Leopard?"
"Yeah... I did," Engel frowned, "what does this have to do with anything?"
"Did she ever let you down?"
Engel looked over at the master and sighed, "I died before she was even a year old," she reminded him. "Whatever dreams I had for her... I never..."
"Engel... I'm sorry..."
"I watched over her as she grew up... not once did she ever disappoint me," Engel smiled, remembering her daughter. They lived together now in the spirit world, but there was always that small reminder Engel had, telling her she missed out on her daughter's life. For twenty years, Kayleigh didn't know her mother. "I wanted her to follow in my footsteps, learn the ways of the leopard... but she didn't."
"Were you..."
"She learned the way of the fox," Engel explained. "She was a fox, a beautiful, cunning, resourceful animal. I was upset she didn't follow me, but she was her own person. She had taken her future in her own hands. I will always be proud of the life she led, even if it was a short one."
RJ nodded, "My father wanted me to learn the way of the shark."
"And did you?"
"No... and he was disappointed... he was hurt that I didn't want to follow in his footsteps... so I ran."
"RJ, believe me, a parent can never push their child away for something that idiotic. So you didn't want to be a shark, big deal. You followed your own path and became who you wanted to be. I'm sure your father is proud."
"I would like to hear it from him," RJ frowned.
"HEY, RJ!" Casey called, running into the room with Finn on his trail. RJ looked down at the cub and sighed. Casey didn't notice as he beamed with pride, "You dad is the bomb! He started teaching me the shark sabres... whoa! Amazing! I never thought I could do stuff like that."
"I'm glad, you're so... happy," RJ forced the words out of his mouth as he saw his father look down at Casey in sheer joy.
"I'm so proud of this little tiger," Finn smirked, patting Casey's shoulder.
When Finn looked back up at his son, RJ was gone, and Engel was leaning on the handrail, frowning.
"You fail at parenthood, Finn," she sighed. "That, or you're just that oblivious to your own son's feelings."
"I guess it's time for the talk," Finn sighed.
"Ew... no... I think he's already had that talk," Engel frowned, shaking her head in disgust. "No... ew... just... ew... tell him you're still proud of him... for being himself... ew."
Engel turned away from the Master, shaking slightly.
"Ew..."
-----Jungle-Fury-----
"Rangers, Camille and that seafood dinner monster are attacking again!" Leanne warned the Rangers over the Solar Morphers, borrowing Kaylee's as the Leopard tried to keep the monster away. "You kinda have to hurry!"
"Already here!" Casey smiled, running down the beach with the Shark Sabres in his hand. He jumped into the air, slashing at the crustacean with the sabres. The monster staggered backwards, before attacking once more.
Kaylee and Leanne watched as the Red Jungle Ranger fought the monster off with his new weapon, blocking and hitting the monster gracefully.
"I wish I had popcorn," Kaylee whispered to her master. "This is totally awesome!"
"I wish I had a camera!" Leanne laughed. "Those sabres are way to flimsy to be that effective."
When Crustaceo was thrown into the air, nearly hitting the two girls, Leanne looked over at Kaylee.
"Statement retracted," she laughed.
"Hey, no having fun without us!" Theo and Lily laughed, joining their leader. Kaylee frowned, powering up and running over to the two.
"This means I have to work, don't I?" she laughed.
"Maybe a bit," Lily smiled.
"Whatever, watching is only fun for so long," Kaylee smirked, "And now I get to show Leanne the claw cannon!"
The cannon was summoned, and the three Rangers charged it, before Casey fired it at the fish, defeating it.
"It's going to grow! It's going to grow!" Kaylee called, jumping in the air happily as the monster grew. "CALLED IT! Leah! Did you see that! I called it!"
"Good job Kayl!" Leanne smirked, giving Kaylee a thumbs up, before turning away and rolling her eyes.
'Oh, here's a match up for the ages!" a fly called, buzzing around Leanne. She tried swatting it away, but it wouldn't leave.
"What the fuck are you?" she asked.
"Unfortunately, he's with me," Camille groaned, rolling her eyes.
"You're that bitch," Leanne frowned.
"Not now!" Camille snapped. "I'm watching a battle."
"The challenger, Crustaceo, delivers a mighty, mighty blow!"
Master Finn stumbled upon the battle, seeing his cub and friends were losing. He looked up at the Megazord and smiled.
"Summon the Shark Zord!" he called.
"The Rangers are taking it to the next level... A new Zord!"
A blue shark Zord landed in the water, before jumping towards the monster.
"And what's Crustaceo got?" Flit narrated, "Oh, not enough!"
The monster was taken down by the shark, but got back to his feet before the next attack. He held his hand up, over the shark and smiled.
Suddenly, the shark jumped up, biting the Megazord's waist.
"Pain in the ass!" Kaylee yelled, scowling.
"Kayl, fight it!" Leanne called to her student. "You can do it!"
"Right," Kaylee nodded, "Calling the spirit of the Cat!"
A giant white cat emerged from the Megazord, clawing at the shark. Kaylee giggled as the shark retreated back into the Megazord.
"Kitty, fish head over there is dinner!" Kaylee laughed, pointing to the monster. The cat turned to the fish, and saw food. She licked her lips before jumping at the crustacean.
"No! I don't wanna be cat food!" he yelled.
"JUNGLE PRIDE WITH CAT POWER!" the rangers called as the white cat combined itself with the Megazord, giving it a pair of claws.
"Whoa... that rhymes with bat," Kaylee smirked.
"Focus, Kayl," Lily sighed.
"Right!" Kaylee nodded. "Watch what Leanne's taught me!"
Kaylee jumped, causing the Megazord to do the same. She attached herself to the giant fish, clawing at its face.
"NO!" the overgrown crab yelled.
The Megazord started tossing the crab from one hand to another, smirking evilly as it played with what was soon to be it's dinner.
"Ew," Kaylee frowned as Leanne's car ate the crab.
Master Finn looked up, feeling hurt his Zord attacked the Rangers.
"I failed..."
-----Jungle-Fury-----
"I let you down," Finn frowned as the Rangers joined him and Leanne. "I'm sorry."
"That wasn't your fault," Lily assured him. "Things happen."
"Yes... but not to me."
"Master Finn..." Leanne frowned.
-----Jungle-Fury-----
When the Rangers got home, Kaylee found RJ tossing cards into a hat – well he was trying. She sat down next to him and laughed.
"You're not very good," she said.
RJ turned to his cub, "It depends how you look at it," he smiled, "what if the purpose was to avoid the hat?"
"Well, then, you would be awesome," Kaylee laughed.
There was a silence, before Kaylee looked over at RJ.
"Eva wanted me to talk to you," she said.
"You're on a first name basis with her now?" RJ asked.
"No, nickname," Kaylee smiled. "Evangeline's her first name... but it's too long."
Kaylee put her hand on RJ's shoulder, "I want to talk about your dad."
"What's there to say?" RJ asked. "I told Engel everything."
"But you didn't listen to everything," Kaylee frowned. "Take it from me, RJ, you can't be mad at your parents forever."
"You never were," RJ pointed out.
"No, but I lost mine," Kaylee said. "And it tears me to pieces to know that you still have a dad, and you're pushing him away!"
"Kaylee... you say how he was... he..."
"I would kill to have my parents walk into my house and complain about how messy it is!" Kaylee frowned.
"Kaylee, he..."
"I don't care what he did, all I know is he's still around! Take advantage of that! Forgive him for trying to bond with you and trying to teach you what he truly loves."
"But he never listened to me," RJ sighed.
"Did you ever talk to him?" Kaylee asked.
"I..."
"For someone to listen, you have to be ready to talk," Kaylee smiled. "You can tell a million people what's troubling you, but if you don't tell the one person who matters, then you'll never feel better."
"Thanks, Kaylee," RJ nodded, pulling her into a hug.
"Anytime," Kaylee said. "No, go find him!"
-----Jungle-Fury-----
RJ arrived at the beach just in time to see Dustin advancing on Master Finn. He pushed Kaylee away, rolling his sleeves up before jumping in the air and knocking the villain down.
He stood before his father protectively.
"Hey, Dustin, you mess with my dad, and you mess with me!" RJ growled.
He closed his eyes for a second, before channelling his animal spirit.
"SPIRIT OF THE WOLF!"
Dustin was pushed back by the spirit, but stood his ground. When the violet wolf disappeared, he looked to RJ.
"Tomorrow is another day, wolf Master," he growled.
RJ suddenly had flashes appear in his head. He remembered Kaylee telling him about Dustin, and the wedding. He remembered her telling him about the first time she and Dustin met.
Dustin wasn't the bad guy. He was the victim.
RJ's fighting stance dropped as Dustin ran away from the battle, swearing to return.
RJ called out to the master, "And tomorrow, today will be yesterday!"
RJ turned to his father and Kaylee, smiling.
"I always like to leave my foes with confusing thoughts," he said.
"Wolf, huh?" Finn asked.
"I'm sorry dad," RJ said. "It's who I am."
"I can see," Finn smiled. He remembered his talk with Engel as he put his hand on his son's shoulder, "You make an old Shark proud."
"Kaylee!" Casey called from the distance, before pulling the blonde in a hug. Kaylee squeaked as she was lifted off the ground.
When Casey put her down, he looked her in the eyes, "I remember... Dustin, he's..."
"I know," Kaylee nodded. "I found out not too long ago."
"I remember too, Kaylee," RJ smiled, hugging his friend.
"Thanks guys... you've always been by my side. I'm just glad to know you remember what the truth is."
Kaylee's phone suddenly vibrated. She looked down at the message she got.
"Brat, I totally remember Dustin! He's not a son of a bitch! He's the man you love, and the man who loves you.
Kira & Tori"
"Everyone remembers," Lily smiled. "Master Engel said we would all remember when we had more power."
"Well, we did all train under new masters," Theo said. "I think we're pretty powerful."
"Unstoppable," Casey agreed.
-----Jungle-Fury-----
Leanne grabbed her bags, looking over at Engel, "I still can't believe you're alive," she said.
"Well, Kit, believe it," Engel laughed.
"C'mon, Finn," Leanne called, pulling the Shark Master away. "I've got to go, and you're carpooling with me."
"I am?" he asked.
"Yes," she nodded. "Carpooling to the front door."
Finn shook his head, rolling his eyes, goodbye cubs," he waved to the Rangers.
"Bye Master!"
"Bye dad!" RJ waved.
Before Leanne could leave, Kaylee ran up to her, holding a camera.
"Tori and Kira are due any day now," she whispered, "and I might not be able to be there with them when they give birth... can you take pictures of the babies...?"
Leanne nodded, taking the camera, "Of course I will, and I'll call as soon as their water breaks. Who knows, you might be able to come down."
"Thanks, Leah," Kaylee said hugging her friend.
"No problem, butthead," Leanne laughed.
