It's a hectic week and a bit, and my motivation to write kinda went down the toilet. Hopefully now it's back!

Master Swoop is probably my favourite Master (other than RJ) so this was kind of a fun chapter to write, even if I did bully Theo pretty hard.

I hope you like it!

Chapter 10: Blind Leading The Blind

The loft was almost silent as RJ and Casey sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, meditating quietly and enjoying the peace.

"What are you guys doing?" Theo broke the peace as he laughed at the sight of student and Master sitting on small stools surrounded by candles. Casey sighed heavily.

"We were meditating," he frowned up at the Blue Ranger. "You should try it some time, it helps the mind to stay focused and on task," Casey explained. RJ nodded in approval.

"You could probably do with that," they looked up as Ari leaned on the railings, a book in hand. "Since you managed to fill the cheese shakers with salt? Steer clear of Xander for a bit, he ain't happy," she laughed.

"Pff, no need," Theo scoffed. "My mind is a well-oiled machine," he tapped his head as he smirked arrogantly. "I can juggle two jobs, read a book, and save the world...all before lunch rush," Theo told them, walking by as he laughed to himself.

"Yeah...about the lunch rush," RJ stood up, not looking happy. "Apparently, when you restocked the kitchen last night, you forgot to close the fridge," Casey stood up, shaking his head as Theo turned around.

"Oh...so that means all the perishables..."

"Perished," RJ confirmed.

"Whoops..." Theo gulped. Ari rolled her eyes. "You see, I was working on my inverted battle technique," Theo explained quickly, and crouched to stand on his hands. "So I did the whole job, walking on my hands," he told them as he walked towards them on his hands, before pushing himself up and flipping to land on his feet. "Pretty cool huh?" he smirked. Ari put a hand to her face.

"Not if you're a carton of milk," RJ replied flatly, not impressed at all.

"Or my stomach. The smell wasn't great down there," Ari called, earning a glare from Theo.

"Look, I know you guys have a lot on your plate, but you need to stay focused on what you're doing, while you're doing it," RJ explained with a sigh, trying not to sound angry.

"Sorry RJ," Theo apologised in a low voice. The alarm then went off, and they looked around.

"I'll grab Lily," Ari sighed, turning and running off.

Two bird Rinshi laughed in the air as they chased away civilians. The four Rangers, already Morphed, ran into view, looking up at them.

"How cute!" the white bird mocked. "Colourful fools!" they landed, and called on their weapons, and while Casey and Lily focused on the black bird, Ari and Theo took on the white.

"Look at the little Sparrow, she thinks she can fight us!" the white bird mocked with a loud laugh.

"Original," Ari rolled her eyes, and leapt at him. He caught her foot and flipped her, and as Ari was thrown backwards, Theo attacked as well, only to be shoved back. He called on his Tonfa, and the white bird blocked his attacks before kicking him into Ari. They both fell to the ground, and the bird laughed.

"Had enough?" he taunted. Theo groaned, and looked around to see Casey and Lily struggling as well.

"No!" he scrambled to his feet. "Guys, I'm coming!" he yelled.

"Theo no! We need to focus on-" Ari was interrupted as the bird slashed down her back, making her scream. She fell to her knees, and rolled out of the way.

"Theo, help Ari!" Casey yelled when he saw Ari struggling with her opponent.

"I'll help you first, then go back!" the Blue Ranger shouted as he ran towards the black bird.

"No Theo!" Lily shouted. Ari was slammed against the wall, and whimpered as her head smacked against the wall behind her, barely protected by her helmet. The hit caused her grip on her swords to slacken, and they fell to the ground with a clatter. She raised a hand and an energy-ball hit her opponent in the face, which did little but surprise him. Ari was able to break free of his grip, but as she made to grab her swords, he kicked her in the stomach, and slashed across her chest. Ari cried out, hitting the ground and demorphing.

"Ari!" Casey cried out in horror. The white bird then flew over, helping to knock the other three to the ground. With loud laughs, they then flew away, leaving the Rangers defeated.

"Who were those things?" Casey asked as the four returned to base, with Casey supporting Ari.

"And more importantly, how do we beat them?" Lily asked. RJ spun around in his chair, looking worried.

"Their names are Bai Lai and Carden, insanely powerful creatures," he explained as Xander ran over and helped Ari, who smiled weakly at him.

"Yikes..." Theo gulped, before letting out a shout as Xander suddenly rounded on him, grabbing the front of his shirt and hauling him up.

"Yikes? That's all you've got to say for that?" he growled as Theo struggled in his grasp; his toes barely skimming the floor.

"Xander stop," Ari groaned as she caught his arm. "Please," she pleaded with him. With a scoff, Xander shoved Theo backwards, and the Jaguar fell to the ground as everyone else stared in shock.

"What was that for? I didn't do anything wrong!" Theo yelled as he pushed himself up, ready to fight Xander. The Green Mystic's gaze darkened, and he made a move towards him.

"Dude, step back," Ari got between the two before Xander did something that would get him in trouble. "You didn't do anything wrong? What did RJ say before we left?" she asked, and Theo frowned.

"I did stay focused! They needed my help!" he insisted.

"But Ari needed you more," Lily pointed out in a quiet voice. "We told you to go back and help her. You didn't stay focused on the task at hand," Theo shook his head, refusing to accept it.

"I did stay focused! I was focused on defeating those two," he insisted.

"You were trying to divide your focus between two enemies," Ari told him. "And because of that, you weren't focused on either!" she exclaimed.

"I'm always focused!" Theo argued.

"Oh yeah?" Ari gave a snort. "So I'm guessing you know about the dude standing upside down above us?" she pointed up, and immediately all but RJ followed her gaze in alarm. The man flew around the room, and the group moved out of the way. When he landed, brandishing a battle fan, Casey, Theo and Lily made to attack.

"Whoa, wait, stop!" RJ got up quickly.

"Yeah, he's been up there since we got here, I doubt he's here to fight us," Ari laughed, and groaned in pain as her ribs hurt.

"Master Swoop," RJ smiled as he approached.

"Greetings RJ," the man gave a small smile as he nodded to him.

"You know this guy?" Theo frowned.

"Did he miss the title Master there?" Xander muttered to Ari, who giggled and winced as her ribs protested again.

"Swoop was my favourite Master, taught me the Swoop technique, fighting without eyesight," RJ explained. Casey, Lily and Ari nodded, remembering him easily defeating them with the technique.

"You taught this Master a few tricks yourself," Master Swoop nodded with a smile. RJ gave a bashful smile.

"I still wanna learn that technique," Ari told her Master, who grinned. Theo approached the Master silently, and waved a hand in front of his face.

"Yes Theo, I'm blind," the man took off his sunglasses to reveal silver eyes. "That doesn't mean I enjoy you waving your hand in my face," Theo stepped back, abashed as Swoop returned his sunglasses to their perch on his nose.

"You always did like to make an entrance," RJ smiled. "Think fast," he tossed an orange to the Master, who caught it easily. His sleeve fell down to reveal the Master's Mark on his arm. "Still got it," RJ grinned, before turning serious. "I can only guess why you're here," Master Swoop nodded.

"Indeed. My Bat Spirit picked up a sonic disturbance in the skies. Bai Lai and Carden have returned," Master Swoop explained in a grave voice as he walked past. "Can I have a word with you RJ? Alone?" he requested.

"Sure. Guys, do you mind?" RJ turned to the team.

"No problem, I'm gonna go lie down, let my bruises rest before the next battle," Ari glared at Theo, and Xander helped her along.

After healing herself for a short while and then sleeping to recover the energy, Ari was feeling almost back to normal when the alarms went off.

"Birds are back in town?" Casey called as he and Lily ran in at the same time as Ari emerged from her room.

"Where's Theo?" Lily asked.

"He's off training with Master Swoop, until he gets back, it's up to you three," RJ turned to them, looking worried.

"Same as the last fight then," Ari muttered.

"I hope he trains fast..." Lily groaned, and they hurried off, Morphing as they left.

A black and purple vortex was opening in the sky above Bai Lai and Carden as Casey, Ari and Lily reached them, helping people escape.

"I've had enough of these birds!" Lily growled.

"Rangers!" the two birds leapt down when they spotted them.

"Back for more?" Casey challenged as they fell into fighting stances.

"Ready for another bird buggle?" Carden laughed, grabbing his weapon as Bai Lai did the same. The two then ran at the Rangers, who called on their own and met them halfway. While Casey fought Carden, Ari and Lily faced Bai Lai.

"You can't fight with the big boys!" he taunted as he flew backwards, landing on a wall.

"Don't be so sure!" Lily scowled back, leaping up to meet him. Bai Lai blasted her, and as Ari leapt past, he struck her with his sword and tossed her to the ground. He then attacked Lily again as she was getting to her feet, and she fell into the side of a car. "Hey! What kind of warrior hits someone when she's down?" Lily yelled.

"The kind of warrior who wins!" Bai Lai mocked, running at them again.

"I'm so done with you!" Ari groaned. She spun, meeting Bai Lai's attack with her own, before he twisted his sword and disarmed her, kicking her to the ground before disarming Lily as well. Nearby, Carden lifted Casey into the air, and when he was high enough, tossed him back down. The Red Ranger cried out as he hit a car hard, and rolled off to the ground.

"Think fast!" Bai Lai swung down with his sword and narrowly missed Ari as she dove out of the way. She then leapt backwards, and then pushed herself back at him, leaping over his head and hitting him from behind. Lily then ran to hit him, and he blocked her strikes before slashing across her chest. Lily shrieked, and hit the ground hard.

"Man, I hope Theo gets here soon," Casey groaned as the three got back to their feet slowly, regrouping as Bai Lai and Carden laughed. "We need him!" he exclaimed.

"We need him to focus!" Ari shook her head.

"He'll come, we gotta stay on our feet!" Lily told them.

"But can you do that?" Bai Lai asked, before blasting all three. With yells, the Rangers were thrown through the air, landing heavily as the two birds laughed. They flew into the air around the vortex as the Rangers groaned.

"Yes! It's ready!"

"When the city is gone, Carnisoar will rule this land!" Carden declared.

"Hey!" the two looked around just in time to be struck by a fan that knocked them out of the sky. "I'm crashing the party! How about some Jungle Fan?" Theo leapt down and landed between the two birds, and his team as he flaunted his new weapon.

"Right on time!" Casey smiled in relief.

"Look who's here! The Blue Ranger!" Carden commented.

"No matter, he will fall too!" Bai Lai screeched.

"Not this time!" Theo declared. He and Bai Lai began to fight, and now focused, Theo easily overwhelmed Bai Lai. They leapt into the air, and with a powerful slash, Theo threw Bai Lai to the ground.

"My turn!" Carden then attacked, but quickly fell as well.

"You're all squawk and no talk!" Theo mocked.

"Go Theo!" Lily cheered.

"Now I'm mad!" Carden snarled.

"Boiling mad!" both he and Bai Lai got to their feet and attacked at the same time, but Theo continued to dodge each of their moves and overpower them. With powerful strikes, he floored them both. "You're going down!" Bai Lai shrieked.

"Ready for an encore?" Theo taunted as he stood between them.

"He's pretty good with that thing," Ari commented, and Theo called on a second fan. The two birds ran at him, only for Theo to leap into the air, causing them to attack each other as Theo remained in the air.

"Two birds in one!" Theo flew through the air, slashing them multiple times.

"Hey! I'm the bird here!" Ari complained. Theo then landed beside his team as the two monsters breathed heavily.

"That's cool!" Lily praised with a bright smile.

"Come on! Let's charge up!" Bai Lai shrieked, and the two birds grew to a much greater height, destroying a building in the process.

"Let's do it!" the Rangers called on their Megazord, facing the two birds. Bai Lai and Carden then began to manipulate the vortex, and it began to suck everything in.

"That vortex is creating massive suction!" Theo groaned.

"Then we need to stop those two before they suck up the city!" Ari slammed her fist into her palm.

"Use the Bat?" they looked around as Theo seemed to be speaking to himself. "Yes Master!" he nodded. "Spirit of the Bat!" he yelled, and they summoned a large bat cloaked in a black aura. "Bat attack!" it screeched and blasted the vortex, destroying it.

"Spirit of the Bat! Unite!" the Rangers combined the Bat with their Megazord. "Jungle Pride with Bat power!" the Megazord gained new wings and blades. They flew into the air, chasing Bai Lai and Carden, before striking Carden. He screeched, and fell, crashing to the ground as the Rangers turned their attention to Bai Lai.

"Everybody focus!" Theo yelled.

"Swoop Attack!" they attacked with a powerful finishing move, making Bai Lai scream as he was destroyed.

"Have you seen Theo?" Lily smiled to RJ as she walked in with Casey, Ari, Xander and Master Swoop.

"I would like to say goodbye," Master Swoop explained.

"He should be around here somewhere," RJ grinned. Ari coughed, pointing up. Casey, Lily and Xander looked up to see the Blue Ranger levitating, his legs crossed.

"I do not believe you need to learn the Swoop technique Ari, it seems you already use your other senses quite well," Master Swoop praised, and Ari blushed.

"Like you need any more abilities," Xander nudged her. Theo lowered back down to the ground slowly, landing on his feet.

"I was just doing a little meditation. It helps the mind stay focused and on task," Ari rolled her eyes as the others grinned.

"I'm proud of you," Master Swoop nodded. "You are an excellent student, and I will miss you," he told Theo, who bowed to him. "But don't forget. You have to sweep the stock room, roll some pizza dough, and focus on saving the world," he told Theo sternly, and the Blue Ranger stared at him.

"Right..." Theo nodded, turning away. As he walked to the stairs, he stopped, and looked around at his Master, who smirked.

"Gotcha," he teased, making them all laugh.

I managed to get one day off this week (seriously, getting time off work is harder than it should be. It's mental.) so hopefully I will get more written. However there will be two – possibly three – additions to my family, as on Thursday night we're getting two kittens. (The third addition is my sister's baby) So I don't know if I'm going to get much done.

Anyway, I hope you liked it! Let me know what you think!

Please review!