Been pretty busy lately, hence the later update. Plus I've been obsessed with Digimon thanks to the first part of Tri being released.

Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 7: Dance The Night Away

"He's going to wear a hole in the floor at this point," Xander commented, leaning closer to Ari. She looked up as Theo checked his watch for what seemed like the hundredth time, sighing loudly as he paced around Jungle Karma Pizza.

"Wonder what his deal is. He's not even working today," Ari shrugged, lifting the last piece of the pizza they had been sharing.

"Maybe he's got a date?" Xander grinned.

"Theo? Dating?" Ari scoffed.

"Hey, a lot said the same about you remember?" the Earth Mystic teased, and Ari threw a pizza crust at him.

"What time do you guys have?" Theo rushed over to the pair.

"12.05. Just like that clock," Ari gestured to the clock that hung on the wall. Theo sighed heavily, and rushed over to Fran, making her shriek as he grabbed her wrist to check her watch, causing her to knock over the glasses and bottles she had collected from a table.

"Is this thing right?" he asked.

"No..." Fran blushed. "It's 24 hours ahead...helps me keep on time," she explained.

"And they call me weird," Ari muttered, making Fran's blush grow.

"What's so important that you have to make a mess?" she called as Theo continued his pacing. He slowed, and looked around.

"Sorry..." he apologised. "It's the second Tuesday of the month," he told them, and received several blank stares. "Lily and I always try a new lunch spot on the second Tuesday of the month. She's supposed to meet me right here at 12 o'clock!" Theo explained, sighing again.

"Aw, how cute!" he frowned, looking at Fran. "You guys have a standing date!" Fran teased with a giggle.

"It's not a date," Theo rolled his eyes. "We just like hanging out!" he told them firmly.

"Sounds like a date to me," Ari piped up.

"Definitely a date," Xander confirmed with a nod.

"It's not a date!" Theo insisted. The three smirked to each other, and Fran giggled as she walked past the Blue Ranger. "It's so not a date!" he groaned. "No date!" Theo cried out.

"Sure," Ari giggled as Fran fixed the fallen glasses. Spotting RJ, Theo rushed over to him, nearly bowling the Master down.

"Have you seen Lily?" Theo asked as RJ weaved around him.

"Yeah man, she's upstairs, getting her groove on with Casey," RJ danced as Theo's eyes widened. He darted back up the stairs, nearly taking RJ out as he did.

"Oh, this isn't gonna be good," Ari sighed, getting up to follow him up.

Theo stood at the top of the stairs in the loft as he watched Lily dancing for Casey. As the music faded and Casey praised Lily's moves, Theo walked down the stairs and Ari leaned on the railings, watching carefully.

"Lil, did you uh...forget something?" Theo asked in a quiet voice as Lily smiled at him.

"Oh! Right! I was gonna do a triple flip at the end, but my ankle's not feeling it," Lily smiled, shaking her head. RJ and Xander walked up, and as Xander stood beside Ari, RJ walked down the stairs.

"No, I meant our lunch...appointment," Theo cleared his throat.

"Theo, of course I didn't forget! I even picked out the perfect place!" she told him brightly. RJ cleared his throat, and Casey shot out of his chair quickly, and RJ walked over to where his latest invention was waiting. Lily giggled.

"You guys are gonna love it!" she told them.

"Uh oh..." Ari immediately whispered.

"Guys?" Theo repeated, scowling.

"Sweet! I'm starving!" Casey cheered.

"But before we go," Lily stopped him as he went to change. "I wanna show you another move. I'm gonna need your help though; it takes three," she smiled, oblivious to Theo's mood drastically changing. "One to throw me, one to catch me," the Yellow Ranger explained.

"I'll catch you," both Casey and Theo said at the same time.

"Double uh-oh," Xander muttered as the two male Rangers glared at each other.

"That's a good idea Lily," RJ spoke up from where he stood. "Teamwork is the name of the game! The new Claw Cannon here will take all four of your Animal Spirits to work; two to charge it, two to shoot," RJ told them proudly.

"I think I should catch you," Theo spoke up loudly before Casey could speak.

"No, I was the catcher in my baseball team, I'll catch you," Casey insisted. Lily's smile faded as the two glared at one another again. Ari put her face to her hand.

"But now you're a big strong Tiger, you should throw," Theo told him firmly.

"I don't wanna throw, Theo, you throw," Casey growled.

"I'm not throwing," Theo told him. "I'm catching," he stated.

"This is painful to watch, but I can't look away," Xander muttered as Ari groaned. The two continued to fight about who would throw, and who would catch.

"Look, Lily and I go way back. We have history. You're just the new guy," Theo said harshly, making everyone react in surprise.

"Theo!" Lily hissed as Casey's eyes widened. Theo just ignored the glares shot his way, too angry to care that he might have hurt Casey's feelings.

"So that's how it is?" Casey stared at him. "I'm just 'the new guy'?" he repeated.

"Yeah. That's how it is," Theo told him coldly.

"Fine," Casey's voice was quiet. Before anyone could speak again, the alarm blared.

"Oh great, just what we need," Ari muttered, running to join the team.

"Hey!" Casey yelled as they spotted Stingarella standing with a group of Rinshi.

"Rangers! You are no match for my rhythmic Rinshi!" she laughed as she saw them running towards her.

"Well that's new. And really weird," Ari commented.

"You don't know the half of my power. Attack!" she ordered. The Rinshi leapt forwards and continued to dance, easily dodging the attacks thrown their way. Ari dodged their moves; her animal spirit guiding her to avoid their dance moves. The other three were thrown to the ground, and Ari ran to them. "Watch this dance!" they got back up just in time for Stingarella to leap through the air and kick them. Landing, she continued to move, using dance-like moves to overwhelm them.

"Man I hate dancing," Ari complained. "Uh, no offence Lil," Ari commented.

"None taken, she's giving it a bad name," Lily growled. Stingarella grabbed Theo, about to attack again, when there was an explosion behind them. Looking around, they found Toadie growing to a much larger size.

"Toadie? What are you doing?" Stingarella yelled in surprise.

"I'm saving you from these colourful fools!" Toadie shouted furiously, stabbing at the Rangers with his clawed fists. The four leapt back to avoid his attack.

"It's Zord Time!" Casey yelled, and the four called on their Megazord. Immediately Toadie slammed into them, knocking the Megazord to the ground.

"This guy has some serious armour, watch out!" Ari warned, remembering her fight with him when the Five Fingers of Poison had first arrived several days ago. They got back to their feet, and Toadie continued to bombard them with attacks.

"Enough of this! Spin attack!" Casey yelled, and Toadie leapt right into their attack.

"Stingarella?" he called, realising that the Scorpion Rinshi had left.

"What's his problem?" Theo asked.

"Oh, I get it!" Ari put her hands to her mouth in surprise.

"I've ruined everything! No!" Toadie sobbed, running off and shrinking as he escaped.

"That freaky dance group had some moves," Lily commented as the four returned to the Loft to regroup. "I'll give them that," she chuckled. RJ suddenly spun around in his chair.

"So do you, Lily," RJ commented, looking thoughtful. "I think it's time to fight fire with fire," he told them. "I want you to teach your new dance to Theo and Casey, and then incorporate it into your fighting style," RJ decided, and Lily smiled brightly.

"No, no," Theo shook his head immediately. "I don't dance," he told their Master.

"Great, more dance time for the new guy," Casey smirked, and Theo bristled. "But what about Ari?" he glanced to the Gold Ranger.

"Dude, I don't dance," Ari folded her arms.

"You know how to though," Xander smirked, and earned a glare.

"That may be, but Ari seemed to handle her own. Her animal spirit gives her the agility she needs to avoid their moves," RJ nodded, and Ari cheered. Lily rolled her eyes, but was smiling at the Gold Ranger.

"Can't I just do that?" Theo complained.

"The Jaguar isn't as agile as a bird," Ari smirked at him. Theo glared back, and Ari leaned closer. "But it would mean that Casey and Lily spend more time alone together," she winked, and bounced away as Theo's glare intensified.

Ari dodged the punch thrown her way and slipped around Xander, who blocked her own strike as she aimed for his side. He then countered with a kick that Ari moved around, and she got in close, striking him in the chest and knocking him backwards. Catching her wrist as he stumbled backwards, Xander pulled her closer and twisted her arm behind her back, only for Ari to suddenly disappear in golden sparks.

"You said no magic!" the young man protested as he looked around for Ari, who suddenly landed on his shoulders from above. Xander stumbled forwards, barely remaining standing.

"Did I? I don't remember that," she commented, leaning on his head as he caught his balance.

"Two can play at that game," Xander muttered, disappearing just as suddenly. With a startled yelp, Ari fell to the ground.

"Mean!" she exclaimed.

"You started it!" Xander defended as he leaned against the side of the wall. Hearing a grunt, they looked around to see Theo and Casey bumping into each other again.

"They really need to sort out this rivalry thing they've got going on here," Ari shook her head as she got back to her feet. Lily looked just as exasperated, and RJ was shaking his head. "Let's hope they can get over it soon, if Toadie and Stingarella team up, we'll be in trouble," she commented.

"Out there, you said something about getting it. What did you get?" Xander asked as Ari watched Lily attempting to teach Casey and Theo the next set of moves.

"Toadie has a crush on Stingarella," Ari told him as if this were obvious. "And he's trying to get her to notice him. He attacked us earlier to protect her and get her to notice him," the Gold Ranger said.

"Protect her? But she was kicking your butts. No offence," Xander added when Ari frowned at him.

"He still poses a big problem, especially if she figures it out and agrees to team up with him," she mused. "We'll need Casey and Theo working together," Ari sighed, hoping that when the time came, they could put aside their differences.

Casey and Theo perfected Lily's new dance just in time for Stingarella to return, and were still behaving like children.

Rushing out to meet the Scorpion already Morphed, the Rangers were prepared to fight her.

"Let's show these fools what real rhythm looks like!" Stingarella called to her Rinshi, who danced with her as the Rangers watched.

"It's time to dance to a difference group!" Casey called, and the three got into the mind-frame of their dance. They ran to jump into the middle of the of the Rinshi, using their new moves to avoid the attacks the Rinshi threw into their own dance.

"Well, it's not bad," Ari commented, before running in to join them. Easily avoiding the Rinshi around her, Ari moved around them, tripping some up and knocking others aside. Before long, the Rinshi were all destroyed, leaving just the four Rangers, and Stingarella.

"But how?!" Stingarella shrieked.

"It's all in the beat!" Casey smirked.

"I won't let them destroy you!" they looked around as Toadie returned. "You are my responsibility," he declared. Ari rolled her eyes.

"How romantic..." she muttered.

"Since when?!" Stingarella snarled. "You are just a worthless toad!" she told him harshly.

"Enough! This is my destiny!" Toadie told her. "I love you, and together we will destroy the Rangers!" the Toad Rinshi announced loudly.

"Oh...that's so chivalrous," Stingarella cooed, won over by his words.

"Ew, that's so gross," Ari groaned.

"Jungle Tonfa!" Theo leapt through the air, but his Tonfa bounced off Toadie's armour and he ricocheted backwards.

"Jungle Bo!" Lily attempted as well, but Toadie batted her aside easily.

"Call to the beast inside! Free the Tiger!"

"Call to the beast inside! Release the Sparrow!" seeing their weapons weren't effective, Casey and Ari called on their animal spirits.

"Toad power!" Toadie yelled, and a layer of what seemed like thick slime surrounded him. Their attacks just bounced off harmlessly.

"What?!"

"No!"

"My love, together we will be unstoppable!" Toadie declared to Stingarella, who stared at him.

"Call to the beast inside! Bring out the Cheetah!"

"Unleash the Jaguar!" Lily and Theo sent their animal spirits to attack, but their moves were just as ineffective.

"Stingarella! Attack!" Toadie called to her as his slime shield faded and he stepped aside. Stingarella flipped, spinning at them and knocking all four to the ground. As the Rangers groaned and looked up, they saw the two Rinshi arm in arm as they walked away.

"Well...great," Ari sighed.

"Hey!" Theo yelled as they finally caught up to the two Rinshi. "Going somewhere?" he called.

"Follow us to your doom!" Toadie yelled.

"Not this time!" Theo shook his head. "RJ, send the Claw Cannon!" he called to their Master.

"No," Ari's voice stopped them in surprise. "It won't work," they looked at her in surprise.

"How do you know that?" Theo growled at her. "His armour can't be that powerful!" he told her.

"I'm not saying that!" Ari whirled around to him. "I'm saying that it won't work. And it's not against RJ either. His work is amazing. But you and Casey, you're the reasons it won't work!" she exclaimed.

"What?" Theo was surprised at her words.

"Forget this!" Casey shook his head, stepping towards the two Rinshi.

"Casey, we need teamwork, remember?" Lily reminded the Red Ranger.

"Yeah, tell that to Theo," Casey scoffed, and ran at the two.

"See what I mean?" Ari rolled her eyes.

"Call the Claw Cannon anyway!" Theo yelled.

"It won't work!" Ari told him loudly, turning to Theo as Casey was overwhelmed. "We need to use our animal spirits in harmony for it to work. All four of them," she said to the Blue Ranger, who growled back.

"We don't need him!" he yelled, just in time for Stingarella to bounce over and knock them all to the ground with powerful kicks. Nearby, Toadie slammed Casey to the ground, and the Red Ranger groaned in pain.

"We did it!" Toadie cheered. "I told you, together we rule!" he said to Stingarella, who laughed happily.

"You were right all along!" Stingarella leapt into his arms. "I love you!" she told him.

"Let's get married!" Toadie declared, carrying her off. "Then finish the Rangers!" he decided.

"Then we'll honeymoon in Vegas!" Stingarella cheered. The two walked off happily, leaving the four Rangers behind.

"I don't believe it! Casey, we could have had them!" Theo yelled at the Red Ranger.

"So which is it Theo? Are we a team? Or am I the new guy?!" Casey growled back, and stormed off.

"So you've noticed it too, huh?" Lily asked in a soft voice as she and Ari walked back to Jungle Karma Pizza. Casey had gone on ahead, and Theo had chased after him.

"That they're being absolutely ridiculous? Yes," Ari sighed. "Sorry that I stopped you guys from calling the Claw Cannon, but-"

"You're right," she stopped as Lily interrupted her. "It wouldn't have worked. RJ said the Claw Cannon has to have us all working together, and they are doing everything but that," Lily shook her head. "I hoped learning to dance together might help them, but I guess all that's left to do is to talk some sense into them," a determined look shone in her eyes, and Ari grinned, liking the look.

When they reached Jungle Karma Pizza, they heard Casey and Theo arguing, yelling at each other. Lily's gaze darkened, and she stormed in.

"No, you're just trying to steal my best friend!" Theo yelled at him.

"That is ridiculous," Casey rolled his eyes as Ari listened to them yelling.

"Oh don't deny it, you and Lily-"

"Hey!" they looked around quickly as Lily called them, looking furious. "As long as you're talking about me, let me join in," she growled. "Casey, I don't care how long you were at the academy. You are a member of our team, and we need you to work with us on the battlefield," neither Casey nor Theo spoke as Lily shouted at them. "Theo, we have got a bond that will last a lifetime, got it?" she asked.

"Got it..." Theo mumbled.

"Good. And Casey's my friend too. A new friend. I mean come on guys, we are in charge of protecting the world here. This isn't the prom. Work it out," she snapped at them, and stormed off again.

"And to think, she didn't even have to punch anyone," Xander muttered, having heard the whole thing.

"Oh shut up," Ari rolled her eyes, blushing.

When the scanners finally picked up Toadie and Stingarella once again, the four Rangers hurried out to stop them. As Toadie hurled several explosives at a dormant volcano, the four leapt through the air, using their weapons to deflect the explosives. The four then clashed together and exploded, shocking the two Rinshi.

"Stop right there!" the four chorused as they landed and faced their opponents.

"Those Rangers again?!" Stingarella shrieked. They leapt through the air, changing forms before they landed in front of the Rangers.

"So! You've come back for a final beating!" Toadie laughed mockingly.

"Only this time, you're the ones getting beat! Right guys?" Casey looked to his team.

"Right!"

"Ready for the Claw Cannon?" Theo asked.

"You know it!" Casey nodded. Lily and Theo summoned the red, yellow, blue and gold cannon, going down on one knee each as they caught the large cannon.

"Charge!" the two put their hands to it to charge it. Casey and Ari leapt forwards, fighting off the two as they waited for the cannon to charge. Together, Stingarella and Toadie were powerful, knocking both Casey and Ari around.

"Come on guys, just another minute, it's almost charged!" Lily cheered as Casey pushed himself up. Ari leapt over his shoulders, kicking Stingarella back as she cried out. Casey grabbed Toadie and struggled to hold him place as Ari and Stingarella fought.

"Ok I know I said RJ's work was great and all, but it couldn't charge any faster?" Ari groaned as Stingarella kicked her in the stomach and knocked her to the ground.

"Guys! It's ready!" Theo yelled. Casey struggled to push Toadie backwards, and Ari spun from the ground, tripping Stingarella up, before the two leapt over to Theo and Lily.

"You think that little weapon can hurt us? I'll use my forcefield!" Toadie laughed, calling on his slimy shield again. He laughed, and Ari and Casey pulled the trigger back.

"Engage!"

"Powered by animal spirits! Fire!" they fired a powerful blast that slammed into Toadie's shield, cracking through it and destroying Toadie. Stingarella shrieked as she was thrown backwards, and the four Rangers cheered.

"You destroyed my beloved!" Stingarella cried out tearfully. "For that, you will fall!" she began to grow, and the Rangers summoned their animal spirits to form their Megazord.

"Let's get ready to battle!" Flit cheered as Camille and Minos approached, watching hopefully.

"Let's see how you like this! Scorpion attack!" Stingarella hurled scorpions at them, and they covered the Megazord.

"Dudes, stop moving!" Ari yelled as the other three thrashed in fear. "We've got this!" she laughed.

"Ari's right!" Casey nodded. "Spin attack!" the four began to spin, and the Savage Spin easily tossed the scorpions aside.

"No! That's impossible!" Stingarella leapt at them. The Jungle Pride Megazord leapt up to meet her, and destroyed her easily.

"Typical..." Camille growled.

"That's what you get for messing with love sis," Minos laughed, walking away as Camille glared at him.

"Hey, it's your hide on the line here as much as it is mine, you could stand to be a bit more concerned!" she called after him, but Minos just continued to laugh.

Ari hummed as she grabbed her skateboard and helmet from her room, emerging to find Lily leaving her own, in her civilian clothes.

"Oh, you look nice. Got a date?" she winked, and Lily rolled her eyes. "Oh no wait, it's your steady lunch date!" Ari laughed, and Lily swatted at her.

"It's not a date. Theo and I are just friends," she told Ari firmly, walking past with her nose in the air as Ari laughed even more.

"So does that mean Casey has a chance?" Lily stumbled in surprise.

"Ari, do you have an off switch?" she asked, looking around with a scowl not unlike the one she had worn when she had shouted at Theo and Casey.

"I've been wondering that for years," Xander spoke as he walked back up the stairs.

"Funny," Ari rolled her eyes.

"You coming? Casey's waiting for us," the ex-Green Ranger told her. Ari nodded, bouncing up the stairs with her skateboard and helmet already on her head.

"Casey is?" Lily asked in surprise.

"Yup! Turns out Casey is into skateboarding too, so we're gonna go to the skatepark," Ari grinned.

"Oh, have fun!" Lily smiled.

"Thanks, plus it means with Casey out of the way, you can enjoy your not-a-date date!" Ari laughed, running off before Lily could shout at her again.

Gonna be away in Dublin again this weekend so won't get anything written, but I'll aim to update by next Friday!

Hope you liked it!

Please review!