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Chapter Eighteen: Ranger Reveal

A/N: Hello! I'm back for another chapter! Yay! Enjoy the happiness in this one while it lasts...

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost

Mike stood with Jason feeling slightly overwhelmed by the number of students sitting in the dojo. He reached two of three classes a night himself. Sometimes he even did more, since Tommy was a teacher, so he was busy some night. And Jason was also an EMT, so as far as Mike could tell, he was the only full time instructor in the whole place. That being said, there were around fifty kids enrolled at the Green Dragon Dojo, and all of them were sitting around the edge of the room. The were taking quietly and whispering amount themselves.

None of them knew what was in store for them today, but all the teachers were currently there, with the whole student body. So obviously something was up. Tommy came into the room, smiling. "Alright, everyone quiet down now. Thank you." Everyone stopped talking and watched him. "We have some very special visitors and friends of mine who are here to give you a special demonstration and tell you a bit about their fighting style. So, please welcome, from the Pai Zhuq Academy in Ocean Bluff, Master Casey Rhodes, Master Lily Chilman, and Master Theo Martin."

There was clapping as the three entered the room. Mike was in a state of shock when he saw them. Tommy has described the three of them as masters of Pai Zhuq, and three of the most esteemed members of the Order of the Claw. Mike had honestly been expecting them to be his bosses age or to look like Buddhist monks. Instead what he got were three adults all in their early twenties who smiled and and even waved to a few of the students. Jason and Mike walked to the center of the room to greet them.

"Casey," Jason smiled, shaking the man in the center's hand. "Good to see you."

"You too Jason. And you must be Mike," Casey smiled, shaking Mike's hand. "I've seen some of your fighting. Very impressive stuff."

"Thank you," Mike replied, thinking Casey has been by before and watched the former green ranger teaching. He has no way to know Casey meant the time he and his tema had seen the samurai rangers in a battle.

Tommy, Jason, and Mike all stepped back so Casey, Lily, and Theo could have the floor. "They're all yours," Tommy said.

"That you. Good evening everyone," Casey said, addressing the students. "As your sensei as just pointed out, I am Master Rhodes, from the Pau Zhuq Academy. I'm good friends with a couple of your teachers here, so I was a little excreted when I was asked to come. Not as excited as Master Chilamn though." The blonde woman made a move to kick him, but he stepped aside. "So, back to business, we're here to tell you about our very unique fighting style.

"Pai Shuq is a selective type of Kung Fu that specializes in connecting someone with their inner animal spirt and using the power of that. animal spirit."

Someone raised their hand. "Yes, question?" Theo asked.

"What do you mean inner animal spirit?" the boy asked.

"I was getting to that before you interrupted," Casey said. "Everyone on the planet has an animal that they identify with. An animal that matches their personality, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. I have the sprit of the tiger. Master Martin has the spirit of the jaguar. Master Chilman has the spirit of the cheetah."

"Yes, you with the braid," Lily said to the next girl who raised her hand.

"So, everyone has an animal spirt like that?"

"That is what he said."

"So, Master Tommy, Sensei Jason, and Sensei Mike all have animal spirits? What are they?"

Casey laughed. "I should've seen that question coming. Well, since you asked, Master Tommy has the spirt of the dragon-"

"But dragons aren't real!" someone objected.

"Please don't interrupt," Tommy said loudly. "Thank you."

Casey nodded to his friend. He looked at the student who had interrupted. "You, there stand up." The boy stood up as everyone around him gave each other looks. "What's your name?"

"R-Ryan, Master Rhodes, sir."

"Well, Ryan, you are correct in saying that dragons are not real. But, it is an animal. An animal spirt doesn't care if it is real or not. It is there regardless. In fact, a couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of teaching a young lady who possessed the spirt of the Phoenix. Also not a real animal." Lily caught Mike's eye and winked. Mike, frowned, confused. "The animal can also be, extinct. Sensei Jason's sprint animal is the dinosaur Tyrannosaurs Rex." A couple of students looked at Jason, who simply smiled. "And your newest teacher, Sensei Mike, has the spirit of the bear."

Mike felt a little disappointed his was a bear, while Tommy and Jason's were exotic and exciting. Hey, my zord was a bear too! That must be some kind of a coincidence.

"You may sit down now, Ryan," Casey said. Ryan sat back down. "Figuring out someone's animal spirt can be difficult at times, but the sprint can sometimes present itself. At the Pai Shuq academy we help students not only learn the fighting style, but learn to fight and work in harmony with their animal spirit. Students get recommended to us from their teachers, and we chose them based skill and attitude."

"Some of you may hope on do your teachers will recommend you," Theo said. "And we always welcome new students. But, this is a very disciplined fighting style. Once you start, you won't be allowed to stop until you've finished your training."

"Or you do something so extreme we're forced to expel you," Lily added.

"Are there any questions?" Casey asked. "Yes, you, in the front?"

"I have a cousin who was at the Pai Zhuq Academy a few years ago, and he said that the Jungle Fury power rangers were from there. Is that true?"

Casey smiled. "Well, I can't say for sure I've ever met a power ranger. But those particular ones did use the same fighting style, so it is possible yes."

"Is it possible you taught them?" someone else asked.

"It could' be," Theo said. "In a way, I think we could've."

"You busy know that all so this is a secretive thing right?" Casey asked, trying to move the topic. "We won't tell you all our secrets."Any other questions? Yes?"

"If you don't mind me saying," Dominique started, "you're all Masters, but you don't look that much older than Sensei Mike. How did you become Pai Zhuq Masters?"

"Theo, you can answer this one," Casey said.

Theo smiled nervously. "Well, there was a...conflict of sorts and our masters noticed our impressive skills and leadership skills in handling the conflict."

"Why did you handle it?" someone else asked. "Couldn't your teachers handle it?"

"This particular one no," Lily helped. "But we did help a lot of people."

"What kind of conflict could be handled by at students but not teachers?"

"As I've told you," Casey interjected. "We won't tell you all our secrets. Nice the though. Any other questions?"

Mike found himself wondering the same thing. (What did happen to them?)

"Any at all?" Lily asked. "Don't be shy we won't bite."

"Can you beat Master Tommy in a fight?" someone asked.

Casey laughed. "We are very good, but Master Tommy is very good, and older than us. Has has more experience, and that is important."

"How about Sensei Jason?" someone else asked.

"He's also older and more experienced," Theo said.

"What about Sensei Mike?" a girl asked.

"Yes," Lily said. "We could probably take Sensei Mike."

A couple of Mike's students looked at him and he shook his head for their benefit.

"If that's it for questions, then we can move on to the demonstrations," Casey said.

Mike watched in almost awe as Casey, Lily, and Theo each showed the students their moves. He was amazed at the skill and power each of them had. Lily appeared to be fates than both the boys. Theo was light on his feet and almost stealthy in his moves. Casey fought with strength and power in contrast to his friends. Mike liked how they all seemed to fight differently, but Mike could tell it was the same style. These guys are really cool.

-Samurai Ranger Life-

After all the students had left, all six adults hung out in the office. Jason, Tommy, and Mike all sat in their desk chairs. Theo and Casey sat on the small love seat, while Lily sat on one of them arms. "That went well," Casey nodded.

"Very," Tommy agreed. "Some of those questions got a little...you know."

"Yeah," Mike agreed. "I can't believe they asked about power rangers. Like you'd know them just because they're from your academy. I lived in the same city as some, but I didn't know them."

Casey frowned. "What?"

Lily looked at Tommy and sighed. "You didn't tell him did you?"

"I was going too," Tommy insisted. "I really was."

"Tell me what?" Mike asked. He felt his muscles getting tense. "What ssinf he tell me?"

"Relax," Theo told him. "You're not in danger."

Tommy sighed and looked at Mike. "Mike, I know you were the green samurai power ranger."

"What-"

"I know I this because I was a power ranger."

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Very funny Tommy. You guys all panned this right?"

"Mike, he's telling the truth," Jason said. "We know you were a power ranger. So were we."

"No, I wasn't a power ranger. I've never been a power ranger."

"We get it, deny, deny, deny," Casey said. "But it's true. Me, Lily, and Theo were Jungle Fury power rangers."

Mike shook his head. "You're really laying it on thick."

"I think he needs a demonstration, Theo said to Casey. Casey nodded and stood up. He took his solar morhers out if his pocket.

"JUNGLE BEAST, SPIRIT UNLEASHED!"

Mike'e eyes widened when Casey morphed. He stared at the red ranger in shock. "You're not joking."

Tommy shook his head as Casey de-morphed. "Afraid not."

"You guys are really veteran rangers."

"Yup," Jason nodded.

"All do you."

"You too," Theo nodded.

Mike looked at Tommy. "When were you a ranger?"

Before he could answer, Jason put in, "The better question is, when wasn't he?"

"Huh?"

"I've been a power ranger five times on four different teams," Tommy explained. "I was a green ranger and a white ranger about twenty years ago. The red zeo ranger; red turbo ranger; and most recently black Dino ranger."

"You were a green?!" Mike asked, getting a little excited.

"Yes. Jason was the red ranger on my first team, and temporarily the gold zeo ranger."

"Wow."

"I was the red jungle fury ranger, Casey explained. "Theo was the blue ranger and Lily was the yellow ranger."

"Wow. So, how did you know I was-"

"Veteran rangers have a habit of keeping track if the current teams," Tommy explained. "Just in case. We had eyes on your team from day one."

"Really?"

"don't look so concerned," Jason smiled. "It takes a ranger to know where to hide in a battle so you can watch. We also had someone tailing your gold ranger for years before he joined you."

"Really?!"

"You think someone can build a functioning morpher form scratch we won't: a, find out about it, and b, keep an eye on them?"

"That's a good point. So, you knew I was a ranger this whole time?"

"Why do you think I gave you the job?" Tommy asked. "You had no credentials and a two year gap in your life. Being a ranger hones fighting skills. I knew you'd be good for this."

"So, does this mean your keeping an eye on the power rangers in Angel Grove right now?"

"Very close," Tommy nodded. "We're hoping it won't keep escalating, but it doesn't look good. We've sent in a couple veterans or keep an eye in the area."

"And two reds volunteered to give some help to the Megaforce rangers," Jason said.

"Really? Who were they? Would I know them?"

"I should hope so," Casey chuckled. "One of them was Jayden."

"Jayden? Like...my Jayden?"

"Yes. He didn't tell you?"

"We've been a little out of touch. Trying to establish lives and stuff."

"We get it," Jason nodded. "It can be hard."

"Wow, so I woke with former rangers."

"The proper term is veteran rangers," Theo said.

"Veteran rangers. This ranger thing is bigger than I thought."

"Coming from someone who's family history consists of rangers, it says a lot," Tommy smiled. "So now you know. You're not alone in the world."

"Great," Mike nodded. He looked around the room and sat bck in his chair. "Figures power rangers would teach fighting."

"Hey, some of us have other jobs," Jason objected.

"Speaking do which, Mike, I need you to pick up on my classes next week."

"Why?"

"Because school is getting out, which means finals. Which means hours of grading."

"And possibly mine," Jason put in. "Graduations means lots of accidents and EMTs working overtime."

"You won't be the only one," Mike muttered. He knew this meant he'd be stuck with all the paper work too. "Ah, my glamorous life."

"Still not as stressful as being a ranger," Tommy said.

"Yeah," Mike agreed. "No where near it."