Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. I think Saban owns them again. It was Disney for a while, but whoever owns them, it's definitely not me. I also don't own any song lyrics I've used. I'm just borrowing to set the tone for the chapter.

AN: Here's chapter 3! Thanks for all the great reviews. Enjoy and let me know what you think!

AN 2: Set in 2007 following the Operation Overdrive episode "Once a Ranger". Refer to the prologue and chapter 1 for other important author's notes.

Crimson Rising

Chapter 3: Mine

Do you remember, we were sitting there by the water?
You put your arm around me for the first time.
You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter.
You are the best thing that's ever been mine.

Song: Mine

Artist: Taylor Swift

Los Angeles

Apartment of Connor McKnight and Kira Ford

Kira giggled, as she and Connor bathed in afterglow of their morning lovemaking. She was desperately trying to keep control, but her boyfriend's amorous intentions were causing her concentration to go out the window.

"Con, I have to be at the studio in an hour," she complained, as his lips grazed on her neck.

"With L.A. traffic, you're going to be late," he said, his voice thick with passion.

"Exactly! I need to shower," she insisted.

"The shower sounds perfect," he replied, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

"I seriously need to get ready," she insisted in a moan, as his hands roamed her body.

"Don't let me stop you then, babe," he teased, grinning down slyly at her.

"You know how I feel about being called babe," she said, glaring mockingly at him. He smirked.

"Yeah, you hate it…except when I do it," he replied cockily. She glared and turned the tables on him, her hands roaming as well. As his eyes closed and he moaned, she smirked.

"Who's in control now, Tyranno boy?" she hissed playfully. He pounced on her and the passion between them grew urgent. Sometime later, Kira fell back to the bed, her chest rising and falling rapidly, as she tried to get her breath.

"I'm so going to be late," Kira complained, as Connor collapsed beside her and smirked.

"I can get you there on time," he replied, grinning mischievously.

"Dr. O is going to skin you alive if you keep using your super speed all the time," she scolded, giving him a playful shove.

"Fine, I'll drive you, but don't complain when we get stuck in traffic," Connor responded, as she tossed her pillow at him. He caught it and started following her into the bathroom.

"What are you doing?" she questioned.

"We should save time and shower together," he replied huskily, as they stumbled into the bathroom.

"That's so not going to save any time," Kira giggled, not really caring if she was late anymore.

Blue Bay Harbor

Ninja Ops

Hunter returned from the Thunder Academy late that afternoon. Since both he and Tori each taught at the two academies, Sensei Watanabe and Sensei Omino allowed him use of the teleportation system so he could live in Blue Bay Harbor with Tori and still teach at the Thunder Academy. Dressed in his black Ninja uniform, which was trimmed in crimson, he ran a hand through his shaggy sandy blonde mane.

"Hey man," Dustin called, as he came trudging down the stairs. Hunter chuckled at his dirt covered appearance.

"What, did you take a dirt bath?" he joked.

"Sort of," he said nervously, as she Shane came down behind him, laughing. Tori and Cam were next, both chuckling as well. Hunter's grin widened.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Would you like to tell him or should I, oh great Sensei Brooks?" Shane joked.

"Dude…it happens, all right. I didn't know there was mud hole in that spot," Dustin responded. Tori giggled.

"Dustin was teaching his students to use their earth powers to travel underground and burrowed right into a mud hole. His students are covered in it," Tori giggled, as she kissed Hunter's cheek.

"Yeah, ha ha ha, laugh it up," Dustin said, taking it in stride.

"So, are we grubbing?" Shane asked.

"Totally, I'm starved. We gotta wait for Marah and Kapri though," Dustin said, mentioning his girlfriend and her sister.

"They won't be done with class for another half hour," Cam mentioned.

"You guys wait for them and we'll meet you at the pizza place in an hour," Hunter said, as he and Tori joined hands, before heading for the stairs.

"Where are you guys going?" Shane asked.

"For a walk," Tori replied, rolling her eyes as the teasing and kissy noises began.

"You guys are so immature," she complained.

Aquitar…

Billy Cranston dug his fingers into the wiring of the panel and made one simple adjustment, before nodding to his friend.

"Try it now, Cestro," he told the blue Aquitian ranger. Cestro turned the nob and all the lights on the device in question lit up in working order. The blue Aquitian ranger grinned.

"You crossed the wrong wires," Billy said.

"I labored over this for hours. I cannot believe I did not see that," Cestro replied. Billy shrugged.

"Sometimes, it's the simplest errors that can elude us," the former blue wolf ranger said, fondly recalling the time that he had put the batteries in backwards in a device during one of his many battles as a ranger himself.

"Thank you, now maybe Delphine will "chill out" as you earthlings say," Cestro said. The former first blue ranger of earth chuckled and suddenly felt something latch onto his leg. He grinned and gazed down playfully at the tiny girl, whose green eyes danced with laughter. He lifted his tiny four-year-old daughter into his arms. In his teen years, Billy had never imagined being as happy as he was and certainly never suspected that it would be on a planet light years away from his birthplace.

"Trina Marie, did you wander away from mama again?" Billy asked.

"Yes, she's as slippery as a dolphin," Cestria's voice chimed, as she entered her husband's lab. Despite his young age when he arrived on Aquitar, he married Cestria a year later and after two years together, they began to start thinking about having a family. Unfortunately, they were nearly heartbroken to learn that they were not biologically compatible to produce children the natural way. But being a society with advanced technology, Aquitar's gifted scientists told them it was possible to have a child, albeit if the child was mostly human. Even though Trina, named after his best friend Trini, was created in an unconventional way, she was still born of his and Cestria's love. She was completely human, but her DNA was enhanced by the Aquitian affinity for water. She couldn't breathe underwater like her mother, but already at four, she was a fast swimmer and could hold her breath longer than any human was capable of. She was also a child prodigy, like her parents, and a unique hybrid of human and Aquitian genes. Despite being unique, a human would never suspect that she was anything but a normal human child. She had her mother's brown hair, gentle smile and her father's green eyes. Neither Billy nor Cestria cared that her birth wasn't traditional, because she was theirs and that's all that mattered to them.

"Daddy is working sweetheart," Cestria cooed, watching her daughter pout and hook her arms around her father's neck. Billy chuckled.

"It's okay, we're about done for the day," he told his wife. Trina perked up at the sound of that and squealed in delight, as her father shifted her onto his back.

"Hold on Princess," he told her, as he joined hands with his wife and they left the lab for their residence.

Blue Bay Harbor Beach

Hunter and Tori strolled along the beach, hand in hand, as the sun slowly dipped below the horizon.

"You've been quiet tonight," she said, noticing the pensive look on his face. He sighed.

"I talked to Blake today," he stated. She was silent for a long moment.

"You told him?" she asked.

"Video chat isn't exactly how I wanted to do it, but when he called the Thunder Academy to talk earlier, I knew it was going to be the best time. I asked him if he would be home for Thanksgiving and he won't, but possibly Christmas. I didn't want him to find out then so I told him," Hunter confessed.

"How did he take it?" she asked.

"He didn't believe me at first, since he pointed out that you and I never had much to do with each other unless he was around. I told him that a lot of things had changed in four years. I think sometimes he forgets that it's been that long," Hunter replied.

"Was he angry?" she asked. Hunter smirked.

"He yelled at me and asked me how I could even think of stealing "his girl" when I was supposed to be his bro," Hunter said, pausing for a moment.

"I informed him that before he left that you weren't anyone's girl. I explained to him that him that we became good friends after he left and that's all it was at first. He shrunk back a little when I told him that we bonded over both missing him," Hunter said.

"It's true and I don't want to feel guilty about being with you anymore," Tori said passionately.

"Me either. I love you and nothing's going to change that," he promised, as he caressed her cheek.

"So…are things okay between you two?" she asked, biting her bottom lip.

"We'll be okay. He might have a stick up his ass for a while, but I know Blake and I think he's actually madder at himself that he lost you to his big brother," Hunter said sheepishly.

"Lost me? Like I'm a trophy or something?" she asked indignantly. Hunter held his hands up.

"Hey, it's how Blake is acting, not me. I know you're with me because you want to be," Hunter defended himself. She smirked.

"And because I love you, thunder boy," she added playfully.

"I love you too, water nymph," he whispered huskily to her. Tori felt the heat rise in her cheeks. The passionate, romantic side of Hunter was something only she had ever seen and she always blushed when he called her that, especially the first time he had, early on in their relationship, coining it in retort to her playful nickname of thunder boy for him. He decided it was the perfect name for her, since he often found her at the beach in her free time, surrounded by her element.

"So you two are really okay?" she pressed. He nodded and kissed her forehead.

"Yeah, we may compete with each other all the time, but we'll always be brothers. I know deep down that he wants us both to be happy most of all," Hunter told her.

"I'm glad, but don't think I won't be telling him that Tori Hanson was not a trophy for him to win," she said with a look that meant business. He chuckled and pulled her into his arms.

"Blake can have all the motocross trophies in the world and I'll still be the winner as long as I have you," Hunter told her.

"You know, I know that you mean every single word of that and if you weren't so sincere and…sexy, it might sound corny," she teased. She suddenly laughed out loud as he dug his fingers into her sides, tickling her mercilessly. She shrieked and ran from him. He gave chase and caught her easily with his Ninja speed. She pretended to protest, as he swept her into his arms, bridal style.

"You are such a cheater, Hunter Bradley. Using your Ninja powers out in the open like this is shameful," she chided, though she couldn't hide her teasing smirk. He smirked and plopped down in the sand, setting her down beside him, before leaning over her.

"Are you going to rat me out?" he asked.

"Maybe, unless you do something to convince me not to rat you out for your bad boy ways," she replied, playing along. He smirked.

"Oh I think I can," he replied, as he kissed her passionately. As they began a playful make out session in the sand, the wind began to pick up and blew harshly around them, tossing sand about. The sudden change was enough to perk Hunter's keen Ninja senses. Like they all were, he was particularly tuned to his element. He turned his head up to the sky and they watched dark clouds swirl over the ocean.

"That storm moved in fast," Tori mentioned.

"Yeah…too fast," Hunter replied, as his eyes fixated on the strange clouds.

"Hunter…what is it?" she asked.

"This storm is not natural," he replied, as the rumbling in the sky was felt beneath them now. Hunter got to his feet and helped her up, as the clouds in the sky took on a purplish glow. Tori's eyes widened, as she watched her boyfriend raise his communicator to his lips. A communicator that was for emergencies only and hadn't been used since Lothor's return three years ago.

"Shane, you and the guys need to get down to the beach now," Hunter said in a deadly serious tone. He was in what she referred to as "red ranger" mode and that worried her deeply.

"Hunter…it can't be. It can't be Lothor," she whispered, as she gripped his hand.

"It's not Lothor," he assured.

"This is something…else," he said in an ominous tone. She knew Shane would be in leader mode as well and not even question why Hunter had used the communicators they had used during their ranger days. It didn't take the guys long to Ninja streak to the beach.

"Dude, you're freaking me out, man. What's so important that you used the communicator?" Shane asked, as he rushed toward them with Dustin and Cam flanking him. Hunter pointed at the sky and looks of awe and confusion came to the others faces.

"Dude, those are some seriously creepy clouds," Dustin said.

"Look at the water!" Cam cried suddenly, as it was suddenly oozing purple.

"Gross…what is that?" Tori wondered.

"I don't know, but somehow I think we're about to find out," Shane responded, as the oozing substance reached the shore and began to take form.

"No way!" Dustin cried, as several oozing creatures suddenly surrounded them, muttering unintelligible words. Tori jumped back in disgust, as one made a grab for her. He was met with Hunter's fist in response, knocking the creature away. He pulled back his fist and found it covered with purple goo.

"That's nasty! What are these things made of?" Dustin cried, as he shoved one away.

"I don't know, but they want a fight so let's give it to them!" Shane called, as he delivered a flying side kick to one. Tori and Hunter took fighting stance back to back, but no matter what moves they used, the creatures kept getting back up. Dustin held his stomach in pain, as one got a good hit on him.

"Man, these things definitely don't belong to Lothor," he said, as he made some motions with his hands and disappeared beneath the sand. Three of the creatures looked confused and Dustin unleashed his earth powers, as he emerged from the ground, blowing the creatures back and spewing sand everywhere.

Cam clutched his arm in pain and helped Shane up, as he was thrown to the ground.

"This is bad…" Cam said.

"Yeah…are you sure the morphers are powerless?" Shane asked. Cam nodded.

"The last battle drained them and Tori's was only restored temporarily as well," Cam said.

"Then I guess we have to rely on our Ninja powers," Shane said, as red energy swirled in the air around his hands and he launched an air attack at the oncoming foes. Cam smirked.

"Or in my case, my samurai powers," Cam said, as he made motions with his hands, calling on the residual energy from the Samurai Amulet that had bonded with him genetically. Green energy swirled into an energy orb and he launched it. He managed a direct hit in the chest, making a hole in the creature.

"Nice one Cam," Shane complimented.

"They can be beaten! We just have to get creative!" Cam called, as he launched another attack.

Water swirled around Tori, as she used her elemental attack. The torrent of water blew several back, but they kept advancing.

"They don't seem to mind water so much," she said in disappointment.

"Let's try thunder then," Hunter said, as crimson lightning sizzled between his palms. He concentrated and willed it into a crackling ball of lightning, before launching it at the creatures. But even if Hunter and Cam's attacks seemed to slow them down, giving them a sliver of hope, the creatures kept coming until they slowly backed the former rangers into a cluster and surrounded them. And then, as quickly as they had come, they disappeared.

"What the…" Shane wondered in confusion as he looked around.

"They're gone…" Hunter said.

"Good riddance," Dustin huffed.

"Yeah, but they were winning. Why did they just leave?" Cam asked.

"I'm not sure, but I'm just glad they're gone," Tori replied.

"We need to tell Sensei," Shane said.

"Knowing Dad, he's already felt that something's wrong," Cam said, as they nodded to each other and Ninja streaked back to Ops.

Ivan Ooze observed the battle between his Ooze henchmen and the five former rangers and Ninja's on his view screen. The harnessing of their elemental powers intrigued him and the ability to use them so effectively would prove to be an exciting challenge. But he would dominate this world this time, of that he had no doubt. He would enjoy defeating them all time and again, delivering them the feeling of utter despair and just before he crushed them for good, he would pull back so he could do all over again the next day. The irony that they would experience what so many of the enemies that they had fought previously had only added to the delightful torture he had planned for them all.

"They are powerful, even without ranger powers," Toxa said, as she watched her father recall their henchmen.

"Father…what are you doing?" she asked.

"Relax my daughter, this was simply a test. Pay close attention and you will learn the art of revenge," Ivan instructed, as he froze the screen on the four young men and one young woman.

"Are you not worried about their control over their respected elements? The thunder one especially has shown immense unpredictability in the past," Toxa said. Ivan smirked evilly.

"Yes, he will be challenging, as most reds are. But he has one very exploitable weakness," Ivan said. Toxa nodded.

"The wielder of water," Toxa said. Ivan chuckled.

"Those silly reds are usually easily manipulated when you threaten one of their females. The males in general always gravitate around the heart of the team," Ivan said, as he pressed a key and the screen changed, bringing up several female former rangers.

"Attack the heart of the team and bring turmoil. That idiot Zedd almost succeeded years ago, but then managed to muck it up of course. Fortunately, this isn't my first rodeo. But first thing is first," Ivan said, looking to his top General.

"Xinshing," he called.

"I await your command, my Lord," Xin said kneeling before him.

"Send your troops to Aquitar and Triforia. Kill the Gold Ranger and the Aquitian rangers. Conquer Triforia and destroy Aquitar. It is of no use to my Empire. Once that is accomplished, send them to Mirinoi. I want the galaxy rangers captured and Mirinoi under my rule as well," Ivan ordered.

"I will have my best generals leave with a deployment at once," Xin responded.

"Good, then you will hit Mariner Bay. I want it in ruins and the Aqua base destroyed. If the Lightspeed rangers should die in the attack, it is of no consequence. Even if they do manage to survive, they will be powerless," Ivan said.

"At once my Lord," he responded.

"Toxa," he said.

"Yes father," she bowed.

"Have you sealed the Earth in a barrier as I have instructed?" he asked. She nodded.

"Yes father, neither Time Force nor SPD will be able to interfere as any time gates or warps will be nullified. The Animarium has also been sealed off," she responded.

"Good, prepare to take a detachment to Briarwood and destroy the magical forest and the town when I give the word," Ivan said.

"What about the Space rangers?" she asked. He smirked.

"We will deal with them in due time as well," Ivan responded…