I figured I'd update today as I'm going to be going to Dublin for Eirtakon tomorrow and won't be back until Monday which meant there wouldn't be an update until then, and I did get chapter 10 written so...here you go!

Enjoy!

Let me know what you think!

Chapter 3: Welcome to the Jungle Part 2

Cheering as she leapt through the air, Ari bounced over the heads of several Rinshi. Spinning as she landed, she kicked one backwards into the rest, and with several powerful punches, she knocked the rest flying.

"Call to the beast inside! Release the Sparrow!" she called on her golden spirit, that flew around, attacking the Rinshi and turning them to dust. "So much for hanging up my morpher for good. But this is pretty awesome," Ari giggled as she rested a hand on her hip.

Still unable to morph, Casey dismissed it as he saw Fran on the ground at the mercy of the monster from before. He ran towards her, before a group of Rinshi grabbed him. Losing his temper, Casey let out a roar, summoning his animal spirit.

"JUNGLE BEAST, SPIRIT UNLEASHED!" he morphed into a red and black suit and destroyed the Rinshi around him. "With the Strength of a Tiger, Jungle Fury Red Ranger!"

Fran screamed as she was hurled through the air, before Casey caught her and landed easily. As he let her down and she ran off, the new Red Ranger turned and punched the monster, sending him flying.

"Dude..." Ari gave a small laugh as she, Theo and Lily stood together.

"He's amazing!" Lily cheered.

"You'll pay for that!" the monster recovered and blasted Casey, who leapt through the air.

"I'll pay in full!" Casey yelled, easily fighting off the monster. The other three watched as he easily knocked the monster about, before summoning his animal spirit. "Call to the beast inside! Free the Tiger!" his red cloaked tiger spirit raced through the air, and destroyed the monster. "I did it!" Casey laughed.

"That was so cool," Ari told him as they ran over to the excited Ranger.

"How did I do it?" he asked them curiously.

"I knew you could do it," Lily smiled at him as she took his hand.

"Gotta admit, you're one tough tiger," Theo nodded, putting a hand on theirs.

"We're all pretty tough," Ari put her hand on top with a laugh.

"Thanks guys," Casey smiled, before there was a roar, and they looked around to see the monster burst from the rubble.

"You think you have destroyed me, but I'll show you what real power is!" he declared.

"Oh no, please don't go big," Ari groaned.

"I'm gathering people's fear, and it makes me stronger!" he declared, suddenly becoming much larger. "It makes me grow!" he cheered as he now towered over them.

"Ok, now that we can't take. Run!" Ari pushed the three and they ran off, before being knocked off their feet as the monster struck the ground and caused it to quake. As he reared up to attack them, he was suddenly hit by a glowing orange blur. They looked up and found Master Mao facing the monster.

"Go Master Mao!" Theo cheered, and he blasted the monster back again.

"It is not safe here," he flew down, and the four disappeared.

"No!" the green armour clad female cried.

"Dai Shi ain't gonna be happy..." the brown armour clad male sighed.

Landing on top of a building, the four demorphed and pulled their Solar Morphers off.

"Master Mao, I thought you were gone forever," Casey told him, confused.

"The spirit of a Pai Zhuq can never be destroyed," Master Mao told them as he stood before them, translucent and glowing orange. "My body no longer exists on this earth, but I will be watching over you," Master Mao explained.

"Ok, that answers my first question. Now can you explain how that Mantis grew to the size of Dodger Stadium?!" Casey demanded.

"It's an advanced level of battle technique. Your enemies have mastered it," Master Mao explained.

"No duh," Ari muttered. "Just how do we take them on like that when we can't do the same?" she asked, folding her arms.

"You have a new Master. He must teach you," Master Mao replied, before disappearing.

RJ sat cross-legged on his mat, enjoying the serenity of his loft as he meditated. However, that peace was shattered as Casey, Lily and Theo ran in, yelling at the same time about the battle and making him fall over.

"Ok...now, everybody take a deep, cleansing breath, and tell me what happened. Calmly," he instructed. The three took a deep breath, before exploding into what had happened. A loud whistle shut them up, and they looked around as Ari walked in.

"The monster grew big, as pretty much every monster that has attacked the Earth has done before - so it's really not that big a surprise – so we need you to teach us how to go big too, or else the Earth is doomed and I don't get to go back to my real job," Ari summed up as she stood on Lily's other side.

"Heavy..." RJ blinked. "But you're not ready for the growing ginormous technique," he told them. "No way," he shook his head as he stood up, and walked away, leaving the four stunned.

Mantor shrieked as he was slammed face-first into a tree, and his arm yanked up behind his back.

"A Rinshi Beast defeated so easily...shameful!" a woman wearing a long red and brown dress with her black hair up in a strange style snarled, releasing him.

"But Master Mao is strong!" Mantor told her, turning so his back was pressed against the tree.

"Excuses are not what Dai Shi wants to hear," he looked around to see a young man wearing a brown tunic over a long sleeved black shirt, and black trousers leaning against another tree, his arms folded. His hair was short with one part falling over his face, and his blue eyes were sharp and intimidating. "You have ten seconds to give a reason why I shouldn't let my sister here squash you, insect," he told the quivering Rinshi.

"Because I...have a new plan!" Mantor exclaimed. "When I break the city dam, it will flood Ocean Bluff!" Mantor told them.

"I love it," the woman told him softly, before laughing as she summoned her armour. With a low chuckle, the man called on his own armour.

As Lily, Casey and Theo wondered amongst themselves as to why RJ refused to teach them the much needed growing technique, Ari decided to approach their Master.

"So what's the deal RJ?" she asked, tilting her head as he looked up from the TVs. She sat down on the ground in front of him, watching him. "Why won't you teach us the technique we need?" Ari asked him. "I get it, we're not ready, but what do we need to do to be ready?" she asked.

"Before this happened, Master Mao sent me a message telling me about you four, asking me to become your teacher if something happened to him," RJ told her, leaning forwards and resting his elbows on his knees as he studied the girl sitting on the floor. "Ari, you wouldn't happen to be the Ninja that was transferred to the Pai Zhuq academy, would you?" he asked, and Ari grinned.

"Well, it's not Theo, is it?" she glanced over to the irritated looking Blue Ranger, and RJ coughed to disguise his laugh. "What gave me away?" Ari asked, looking back up at the Master.

"You've only been a student of Pai Zhuq for a month, but you fight with more skill than Theo or Lily," Ari felt herself blush at his words. "Just when did you graduate from your Ninja Academy?" RJ asked her.

"Five years ago," Ari answered honestly, and RJ's eyes widened in surprise. "If you tell me what we need to do to be ready to learn the technique we need, I'll tell you why," she grinned.

"Bribing your Master, are you?" RJ raised an eyebrow at her, and she laughed.

"I'll do whatever it takes to find out what we have to do RJ," she told him seriously. "The city is in danger and we need to stop this mantis when he comes back. And he will come back. They always do," Ari told him as she stood up, brushing her white leggings off. Impressed, RJ nodded and stood up as well.

"Just what I like to hear. Very well, I'll tell you what you need to do to be ready," he agreed, speaking loud enough for the other three to hear. Ari broke into a wide smile, and followed him over to a weapons rack. "Once you all master your assigned weapon, then we'll talk," he told them, lifting a pair of tonfa. "Theo," he held the orange and black wooden weapons out to the Blue Ranger.

"Tonfa?" he raised an eyebrow as he smirked cockily. "No sweat. I mastered these bad boys my second year," he told their Master, and proceeded to prove it by demonstrating a series of moves. RJ then handed Lily a long orange and black staff.

"Sweet!" Lily smiled as she took the end. "I'm a pro with a Bo," she showed off her own moves with a bright smile. They all looked up as the ringing of metal echoed through the Loft, and saw RJ holding a pair of wickedly sharp looking swords to Ari.

"Uh, is that really such a good idea to give a newbie those?" Theo asked as Ari took them with a wide smile. Holding them backwards, she then demonstrated her own moveset, jumping and spinning through the air before spinning and stopping with her blade inches from Theo's neck as he stared wide-eyed at her.

"Who are you calling a newbie?" Ari giggled.

"But...how?" Theo didn't dare move until Ari lowered the blade. "Weapons training doesn't start for at least six months into training, and those weren't traditional moves for that weapon," he accused her.

"I believe I've figured out why you graduated early," they all looked at RJ quickly, with Ari grinning in amusement. "I've seen those moves before," he told her.

"Graduated? What do you mean?" Casey asked, looking from RJ to Ari.

"I imagine you would have seen those moves before. If you were making Morphers for the Order of the Claw, you would have checked out previous Power Rangers," Ari stated, and RJ nodded, impressed.

"What are you two talking about?" Theo was getting annoyed at their cryptic conversation. Ari then turned to them, flicking her hair from her face.

"As well as the Pai Zhuq Academy, there are several other Academies all around the country, that train students to master their inner element and become Ninjas," Ari told them. The three stared at her in awe. "I graduated from the Celestial Academy in Briarwood as a Sun Ninja when I was 15, and then a little over a month ago, my Sensei requested that I join the Pai Zhuq Academy as a way of creating a friendship between the two," Ari explained this to her new team-mates as they stared in shock.

"Is that why you've been doing so well in just a month?" Lily asked her.

"Partly, yes. While I don't use what I learned outside of Pai Zhuq, a lot of it is quite similar, so it hasn't been very difficult," Ari nodded.

"But what did you mean when you said that you've seen her moves before?" Casey looked to RJ. "You said something about the Power Rangers?" he asked as he turned to Ari, who nodded.

"Normally you have to be at least 18 to graduate from a Ninja Academy. I graduated early because when the Academies were attacked five years ago, I became the Gold Ninja Storm Ranger and helped stop Lothor and save the kidnapped Ninjas," Ari explained.

"What? But that's..."

"Impossible?" Ari finished for Theo, looking amused. "I assure you, it's definitely not," she chuckled.

"But that's not all of it, is it?" RJ asked her, making Ari look to him again. "There have been rumours circulating for years that the same person has been helping each team as the Gold Ranger," he said.

"I remember that," Casey nodded. "Everyone was certain because they fought in exactly the same style each time, and when the Gold Ranger refused to show her face like the rest of the Overdrive Rangers last year, everyone was convinced. Even when they said that she wasn't the same, it was obvious," the Red Ranger remembered what had been on the news non-stop.

"In my defence, it wasn't like I went around volunteering for every team. I just...I'm kind of a magnet for this sorta thing," Ari shrugged, blushing. "And Mr. Hartford recruited me because he saw what happened during the final battle in Briarwood. His stupid satellites picked up the whole thing. Stupid rich people," she muttered.

"Prove it," Theo told her suddenly.

"Theo!" Lily hissed at him as Ari looked a little surprised.

"Sure thing," she suddenly smiled, and fell into thought.

"Ari, you don't have to, Theo's just being a jerk," Lily told her, and Ari shook her head.

"It's cool, there should be trust in a team. How can we work together if he doesn't trust that I'm honest about something like that?" she asked. RJ watched her, looking slightly impressed by her words. "Now how to prove it?" Ari wondered aloud. "I suppose I could call Mr. Hartford, but he's probably away again with Mack," she rooted in her bag and lifted something from it.

"What is that?" Casey asked curiously as she straightened up, holding a gold and black device in her hand.

"It's my Mystic Morpher," she flipped it open, and pointed to RJ's TVs. Golden light flew from it, making the four jump back in surprise, and the screens flickered to show the final battle against Flurious. "Mr. Hartford's satellites pick up everything," Ari rolled her eyes, but it was more from amusement this time.

"Not so fast Frosty!" Mack yelled as the vehicles skidded to a stop and the team leapt out.

"Nice of you to show up to see the destruction. But I have some bad news. You won't be here to see it," Flurious told them firmly.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"OVERDRIVE, ACCELERATE!" they yelled as Flurious cast a huge wave of ice and snow, freezing the Rangers, as well as the entire city.

"Goodbye San Angeles! Welcome to the new Ice Age!" Flurious declared. Suddenly the ice around Ari shattered.

"You tried to freeze someone with the power of the sun within them?" she taunted, Morphed. Flurious let out an alarmed bark. "How stupid are you?" she mocked. Snapping her fingers, the ice around her team also shattered, and they finished Morphing. The Chillers around them shattered.

The video ended, and the TVs returned to normal. Ari flipped her Morpher closed, and returned it to her back.

"I'm sorry," Theo muttered, his face glowing red from embarrassment.

"Dude, you gotta stop thinking yourself above me and Casey just because we're new," Ari smiled at him. "We've all gotta be equal for a team to work. That's why I told you about my Ranger history. There can't be secrets on a team," the Blue Ranger nodded, his face burning. "But yeah, let's stop going on about me and get Casey sorted with a weapon so we can learn the growing big technique," she told them determinedly.

It turned out that learning the growing large technique was not going to be as easy as Ari thought. Casey, unlike her, had no previous training, and had been given nun-chucks to learn, a weapon that was difficult even for experienced students. Smiling to the customers as she placed drinks on their table, Ari tucked the tray under her arm and took their order.

"Everyone to their stations, the 12.32 lunch rush is about to..." RJ trailed off as a crowd began to pour in.

"Sorry boss, Casey and I have some training to do," Theo dragged the Red Ranger out.

"But who's gonna help me serve all these people?" RJ asked as Ari handed him an order and grabbed menus, leading away the first group.

"Me!" Fran volunteered, having been sitting at her usual spot at the front. RJ looked hesitant, before sighing, knowing they needed the help.

"Ok," he handed her an apron. "You're hired," RJ told her, looking worried as she grabbed menus.

"Welcome to Jungle Karma Pizza," Fran turned to the next group. "Table for two? Right this-" Fran gestured and threw the menus. "Way..." she finished. RJ just watched as she led them away.

"Better than nothing RJ, I don't know how you did this before us," Ari laughed as she walked past him, carrying two trays of drinks.

"And where did you learn to do this job? I'm guessing there wasn't a course on this at your Academy," Lily smiled as she then passed Ari a bill.

"Nah. I worked part-time in a cyber-café in Reefside when I was finishing high school there," Ari told her, going to hand over the bill and seat another table. RJ couldn't help but sigh in relief as he went to go make the pizzas. At least one of his new staff had the experience.

The lunch rush had just ended when RJ alerted Lily and Ari to a problem in the city. The dam had broken, and the city was at risk of flooding.

Running through the city, the two female Rangers met up with Casey and Theo.

"The streets of the whole city are flooding!" Lily called to the pair, before they saw a huge torrent of water flooding towards them. "Watch out!" she cried, and Ari grabbed hold of the three, before disappearing. They reappeared on top of a building, safe from the rushing water.

"We need to stop this water," Ari said as she let go of the three, who were a little confused by the sudden location change.

"Uh, giant mantis alert!" Casey spotted Mantor walking through the city, splashing through the water easily.

"How are we gonna stop him?" Lily groaned.

"Come on!" Casey led them around the roof, only to find their way blocked by a group of Rinshi, led by two who looked human.

"Leelee!" Ari blinked at the woman, who looked very similar to her friend in Briarwood. For all of two seconds, before the woman's tongue shot out and smashed the ground in front of them. "Ok, not Leelee. And gross," Ari scrunched up her face.

"Not this time Rangers. I'm Camille," she introduced herself.

"Minos," the man introduced himself with a smirk. "Basically, we're here because you're becoming a bit of a nuisance," Minos summed up.

"So we're going to destroy you. Special orders from Dai Shi," Camille smirked as she finished what her brother was saying.

"A chameleon. So you can change your appearance at will. And...that's the look you're going with?" Lily asked her with a smirk. Minos snorted, and Camille shot him a glare.

"And really, of all the creatures, a chameleon? At least the dude here looks intimidating," Ari grinned, gesturing to Minos.

"We'll see who's intimidating when I destroy you," Camille snarled at her. The four Rangers then grabbed their Morphers, slipping them on.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"JUNGLE BEAST, SPIRIT UNLEASHED!"

"With the Strength of a Tiger, Jungle Fury Red Ranger!"

"With the Stealth of a Jaguar, Jungle Fury Blue Ranger!"

"With the Speed of a Cheetah, Jungle Fury Yellow Ranger!"

"With the Agility of a Sparrow, Jungle Fury Gold Ranger!"

"Pretty colours," Camille mocked. "Now keep them busy while Mantor wipes out the city," Camille snapped her fingers, and the Rinshi leapt forwards.

"I hope you don't mind sister, but I think I'll join them," Minos smirked, walking past Camille as he was surrounded by his brown armour.

"Always a show-off," Camille rolled her eyes, but let him move towards the Rangers as they fought off the Rinshi. Looking up as Minos called on a long hammer, Ari grinned under her helmet.

"Jungle Blades!" she held out her hands and called on her weapons. Grabbing them as they appeared, Ari dodged her opponent's attack and kicked out. "Not content letting your foot-soldiers fight us?" Ari asked as she swung her swords.

"Where's the fun in that, little bird?" Minos laughed, blocking her swords with the handle of his own weapon. He swung it again, and she ducked. "I prefer to have a little fun with my prey," he told her.

"Oh, you're original, aren't you?" Ari rolled her eyes, jumping to the side again and kicking him back. Minos stumbled backwards, surprised at her strength. Ari followed him, and when he swung his hammer, it slammed into her shield. It ricocheted, and Minos spun, tripping and falling to the ground from the force.

"Oh..." Minos growled, but was smirking under his helmet. "This really is going to be fun, isn't it?" he chuckled, leaping back up with a roar. "You're no regular human, are you?" he asked as his hammer clashed with Ari's swords and pushed her backwards.

"Hate to break it to you, but I'm not really human," Ari replied, her arms stinging from the blow. She then put the ends of her swords together. "Calling on the Spirit of the Sparrow!" her swords began to glow as she spun them, and golden light shot from them, slamming into Minos and sending him flying. Turning just in time to see Casey almost taken out by Mantor.

"Casey!" Lily, Theo and Ari ran to help him.

"You ok?" Theo asked as they helped him up, watching the monster tower above them.

"We can't beat him from down here!" Casey told them.

"We need to go big!" Ari nodded, before they heard a beeping inside of their helmets as RJ contacted them.

"Rangers, listen up! It's time to go big!" he told them.

"But we don't know how!" Theo complained.

"Sure you do! You just don't know that you know how!" RJ told them, and Ari groaned. "Ari said it before. You guys need to be equal. Well, you are now!" RJ explained.

"I think I get it!" Theo realised. "Lily, you're the heart of the team!" he told her.

"And you bring the brains!" Lily caught on. "Just like Ari's the spirit of our team!" she looked to the Gold Ranger.

"And Casey has the strength!" Ari laughed.

"Excellent! You're ready for the next level! Combine your Animal Spirits and see what happens!" RJ told them confidently.

"We can combine them?" Lily turned to the other three.

"Worth finding out!" Ari nodded.

"We can do it guys! I know we can!" Casey told them. "Animal Spirits unite as one! Power Rangers Jungle Fury!"

"Jungle Fury, Beast Spirit Mode!" they summoned their massive spirits, which attacked Mantor.

"Animal Spirits, unite!" the four spirits combined, with the Cheetah and Jaguar becoming the legs, attaching to the Tiger as it formed the upper body, arms and head, and the Sparrow docked behind, its wings covering the front of the body.

"Jungle Pride Megazord!" the Megazord stood ready to fight Mantor.

"Let's bring on the Fury!" Lily cheered. Below, Camille watched, looking bored.

"Big deal," she rolled her eyes. "With my added power, Mantor will shred them to bits," she smirked.

"I wouldn't be so sure," she looked around as Minos walked over, a hand on his chest. "That girl was stronger than I expected. And even better," Minos looked at Camille with a grin. "She ain't even human," he laughed. Camille scowled at him, before retching. She spat out a huge fly, and Minos groaned.

"Minos is right! They have managed to form the Jungle Pride Megazord!" the fly declared as he buzzed around. "That won't be easy to beat!" he told them.

"Flit...you little pest, how did you get out?!" Camille demanded furiously.

"Gods Camille, why couldn't you have just destroyed him like the rest?" Minos sighed, shaking his head. Flit began to narrate as the Jungle Pride Megazord easily overwhelmed Mantor. When Mantor attempted to attack, they flipped out of the way and onto a building, before flipping over his head and landing behind him.

"Jungle Setsukon!" the Rangers called on their weapon.

"Casey, use it just like your Jungle Chucks!" Theo told him.

"All over it!" Casey nodded, and they swung into battle again, swiping and attacking Mantor.

"Savage Spin!" they began to spin rapidly, slamming into Mantor and destroying him. He turned to stone, and shattered as Flit cheered below.

"Camille, please make him shut up," Minos pleaded with his sister. Her tongue shot out, and wrapped around Flit as he continued to yell, and she swallowed him whole.

"I've had enough of you...now we have to deal with Dai Shi," Camille exchanged worried looks with Minos, knowing that their master would not be happy.

"We gotta get this place cleaned up for the 5.27 rush," Fran said as she mopped the floor. Ari moved around her, easily dodging the wet spots as she set out new place-mats and napkins as she spoke on the phone.

"You know, I've seen Ari around the temple for the last month, but I never really got to talk to her. Who knew a Ranger legend was training at the temple the whole time?" Lily chuckled as she walked up to RJ.

"She definitely doesn't make it obvious, but I imagine that's why she's not been found out," he nodded as the girl laughed, talking animatedly down the phone. "Who's she talking to?" RJ glanced to Lily.

"Her boyfriend. She said something about not having spoken to him in like a month," Lily shrugged, before looking over to the other two Rangers as Casey taught Theo how to make pizza. "I'm glad those guys got it together," Lily smiled, but it faded after a moment. "You know, Camille and Minos and their army aren't gonna let up," she looked up at RJ, worried.

"It's not those two I'm worried about...it's Dai Shi," RJ admitted, wondering where the spirit had gone.

I will update when I'm back!

Hope you enjoyed!

Please review!