So I'm back from Austin and my sleeping pattern is ruined. It is almost 1am and I'm sitting here eating jelly. Also, Austin was INCREDIBLE. Already planning on going back next year.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!
Chapter 9: Different
Ari watched silently, sharp eyes on the young form of Spencer, who was practising kicks in front of her. Pushing up the glasses sliding down his nose, the 9 year old kicked up quickly, and looked to his mum for comments.
"Good," she nodded, and he smiled at the approval. "Just make sure to keep your other foot well balanced," Ari said as she approached him, gesturing to his left foot. "You don't want to fall over kicking the first guy that comes at you, do you?" she smiled.
After a lot of pleading – especially once Annie had begun her training as a Thunder Ninja – Spencer had finally been allowed to start his own training as a Sun Ninja. He spent his time training either with his Sensei, Ari, or with Daggeron, honing his Sun Magic. He was growing quickly, and Ari could see why the Elves had wanted him when he was born. There was a lot of power in the young boy.
Standing opposite the green eyed boy, Ari demonstrated the kick, and he watched carefully. "Like that," she smiled.
"Thanks," Spencer nodded eagerly, and began trying himself. While still sloppy, he had the basics caught almost immediately.
"I'm telling you, you should come teach at the Academy," Zoe said as Ari walked back over to her. "Sensei Maris has nothing on you," she told Ari, who blushed.
"I'm good. Besides, after the amount of times I've bailed on Mr. Hartford, I can't exactly call up and say 'yeah I'm not gonna be able to skate as much anymore, I'm moonlighting as a teacher in a secret Ninja Academy," Ari chuckled, and Zoe grinned in amusement.
"Fine, be a loser," she teased, nudging her friend. "He's improving so quickly, I mean I know he gets extra lessons with you, but he's a fast learner," Zoe commented, her eyes back on Spencer.
"I know. At this rate, he might actually beat my record and graduate even earlier," Ari grinned proudly.
"Doubt it. Kid might be good, but you had special circumstances. You know, saving the world and all the Academies?" Zoe laughed.
"True," Ari agreed. "Hey, you hear about the new Ranger program being set up in New Tech City?" Zoe glanced at Ari with a frown. "Space Patrol Delta are working on their own Rangers, for their best cadets," Ari explained with a grin.
"How'd you hear about it?" Zoe asked her curiously.
"Doctor Oliver told me. They've got files on all Ranger teams, kept entirely confidential except to those with high enough access," Ari told her. "They went to Doctor O and asked his advice, since he was a mentor as well as a Ranger and worked with Hayley to create our Dino Thunder Morphers," she explained.
"Huh. Interesting," Zoe murmured.
"Yep," Ari nodded. "They're wanting to use a Ranger system to help catch the more dangerous criminals," she explained.
"I still think it's weird that there's aliens on earth now," Zoe murmured. Ari nodded in agreement. "At least they're more friendly than the ones we dealt with," she commented.
"Well, most of them anyway. And they stick to New Tech City as part of the agreement of being allowed to live on the planet. They can visit other places, but they live in New Tech for the most part," Ari said. She found it just as odd as Zoe that they were living in harmony with aliens now.
It hadn't been long after the invasion that the Megaforce Rangers - along with help from previous teams - had defeated, that Space Patrol Delta, an intergalactic police system, had arrived on Earth. They had offered to help, to make sure such a disaster didn't happen again. With their help, an agreement had been drafted that allowed aliens and humans to live in harmony. And most of them stuck to that agreement. Those who didn't, faced judgement from SPD, who had set up base in New Tech City.
Ari was snapped from her thoughts, glancing around as she heard the front door open.
"Mum!" she heard the echo of Teddie's voice, followed by a cry and a loud crash. Ari sighed, walking back into the house. Spencer rolled his eyes, not moving.
"Althea Bly, what have I told you about running in the house?" Ari scolded her fallen daughter, who was being helped up.
"Sorry mum..." Teddie blushed, lowering her head as Chase snickered. Teddie was only full-named when in trouble, and it was always funny.
"Stop your laughing," Ari glanced at him, and the 7 year old went red. "Are you okay?" she asked Teddie, who nodded.
"I'm good," she smiled, and Ari smiled back at her.
"Good. How'd training go today?" she asked.
"It was so much fun! We learned how to ride Mystic Racers!" Teddie smiled eagerly up at her mother. Ari arched her eyebrow, and looked up at her father, who was standing with them.
"Althea's idea. I suggested the Carpet, but..." Daggeron sighed. "They didn't go too high, or too fast," he assured the protective mother.
"I suppose that's something. Guys, go get washed up for dinner, okay? You're covered in mud," Ari commented as she looked at the two children, who nodded and rushed off. "How's their training going?" Ari asked as they walked into the kitchen.
"Slowly," Daggeron admitted. "They're progressing, yes, but at a slow rate," he told Ari as she set a coffee down in front of him at the table.
"They didn't start using Dino powers until they were almost four. And they still can't glow. Rose thinks it might just not be entirely hereditary," Ari sat down with him, looking down at her own cup. "But their Dino powers...it's strange," she shook her head.
"Chase can only use the defensive side, and Teddie the offensive side," Daggeron nodded. "Perhaps it is due to them being twins? The powers were split?" he suggested.
"It could be," Ari agreed. "Maybe the glowing was split to the point where they can't use it at all...I don't know," she shook her head.
"Are you upset that they haven't inherited all of your powers?" Daggeron asked her curiously. Ari shook her head quickly.
"Not at all," she insisted. "I'm just curious as to why it has worked the way it has. Ryan inherited both his parents' powers, which I don't envy Kira and Trent for at all," she smiled slightly, and Daggeron shivered at the thought. He'd met Kira and seen – heard – her power. A baby with that sort of cry was a dangerous thing. "Maybe the splitting up thing is like their magic. I mean, Ted has Earth Magic and Chase has Sun Magic," Ari shrugged.
"We can't know everything, Meraki," Daggeron reminded her.
"True," Ari laughed. "Thanks for bringing them home, dad. I'll let Xander know not to worry about picking them up on his way home," she pulled out her phone.
"I actually did it with an ulterior motive," Daggeron admitted. Ari frowned, leaning back in her seat.
"Oh yeah?" the Knight nodded.
"Althea and I were contacted by an old friend, from before the great war," he started. "He's called in a favour. The Master's dark forces are still being finished off around the Magical Realm, and they've finally been cleared from the Marine Kingdom, Dunedin," Daggeron explained, and Ari smiled.
"That's fantastic," she said. She knew how hard everyone was working on clearing out the evil forces. Even Chip, who finally got his Knighthood after working with Daggeron and Leanbow for a great deal of time, had been helping. "What's the favour he's asked?" she asked her father curiously.
"He knows that we worked on helping the Magical community get back on its feet here when the Master was first defeated, and has asked us to join him in helping the kingdom recover," he told her.
"Wow, that's pretty awesome. Where is this kingdom?" Ari asked, amazed at the request. It was a massive honour to be asked to help out another kingdom.
"That's the thing. It's on the far side of the Magical Realm. I believe there is a gateway there that leads to New Zealand," Ari whistled at the distance. "I had an idea. One that you do not need to agree with," Ari's brow rose again at her father's quick words.
"What is it?" she asked warily.
"It's about Chase and Teddie. I believe they are comparing themselves to Spencer, who progressed a lot faster through his training, and it does not help that many of the citizens of the area met Spencer during his training. I believe they would improve a great deal in another area, where their brother is not so much of...well, a celebrity," Daggeron explained. Ari's eyes widened at the suggestion.
"You want to bring them with you?" she realised what he was saying.
"As I said, you do not need to agree. It is simply my belief that they would do better in a place that does not lead to constant comparison with their brother," Daggeron explained. Ari was silently for a moment, her eyes on her hands.
"It does make sense. I mean, I constantly compared myself to Joe, Mal and Jessie when I was a kid. It didn't help that dad did the same when it came to studies and going on to a medical profession," she murmured, in thought about it. "When do you leave?" she asked, her gaze sharpening again.
"At the end of the week," Daggeron told her.
"I get that we'd still be able to see them, I mean with magic it's not that difficult to get around. And I trust them with you. It's just..." Ari hedged.
"They're your children, and they're only seven. I understand your hesitation in letting them move halfway around the world," Daggeron nodded in understanding.
"At least the Orava Kingdom is a little closer, I mean it has a gateway in Europe," Ari laughed lightly.
"I hail from the Orava Kingdom, did you know that?" Daggeron asked, and Ari blinked in surprise. "I came here when I was training to be a Knight," he told her. "That aside, I'll let you consider it," he downed the last of the contents of his cup and set it down before standing.
"Thanks dad," Ari stood and hugged him. "It's an amazing offer, thanks," she told him. Daggeron nodded.
"I best get back, the last I checked, Apollo and Diana were trying to teach Fireheart tricks," he sighed, and Ari laughed.
"Good luck with that. He plays a mean game of fetch though," she grinned as he left. Her smile fell as he did, and she rested a hand on her hip. "New Zealand huh?" she murmured.
"Mum!" she perked up as Teddie ran in again.
"What's up Ted?" Ari smiled at her as the girl ran over.
"Here, I found this in the marketplace!" she held up a necklace that had the symbol of the Sun Mystic on it. "Dia lent me money for it. For you!" Teddie smiled, showing off a missing tooth that had yet to get the new one.
"For me?" Ari knelt in front of her, taking the necklace. The sun was carved with a great deal of detail, and painted gold. She knew after the Master's defeat, the symbols of the Mystics became a popular design in both worlds, but she'd not seen a necklace of it before. "Thank you," she pulled Teddie into a hug, and the little girl giggled, wrapping her arms around her neck.
"Mum! What's for dinner?" Chase asked as he walked in.
"Dinner?" Spencer peeked in through the open door. Ari stood up, and Teddie giggled as she was lifted with her.
"I did tell you Annie and Hunter were calling round as well, right?" Zoe grinned as she stood behind Spencer. Ari rolled her eyes, walking to the counter while carrying Teddie effortlessly.
"You're all lucky I cook," she muttered. Zoe's grin just widened, and she ruffled Spencer's hair as she walked in past him.
"Are you two sure about this now?" Xander asked as he sat with the twins.
"Yeah!" Chase nodded eagerly. "I wanna get better at my magic, and if Gramps thinks it'll help, I wanna try it," the boy insisted.
"And you Ted?" Ari looked at her only daughter, who seemed deep in thought. She looked up after a moment, and smiled.
"I wanna go. Like Chase said," Teddie decided.
"They get this mature stuff from your side," Xander told Ari, who rolled her eyes.
"I guess that recessive personality trait skipped a generation," she sighed. She met his gaze, and he gave a small nod. "Okay, you can go," Ari decided, and they cheered. "On the condition," she continued in a louder voice so they could hear her. "That you behave yourselves. You'll be in another Kingdom with your grandparents. You have to do what they say," she told them firmly.
"Yes mum," they chorused.
"Good," Ari pulled them both into a hug, and they squirmed, too excited to be held. "And remember that we're just a phone call away. I think your dad has the teleporting thing down," she smirked.
"Haha," Xander spoke in a flat tone as the twins giggled. "You go and kick butt, okay guys? And as soon as you want to come home, just let us know," he told them, and they nodded. "Good. Now let's go watch Annie kick your brothers butt," he grinned, and they cheered again, rushing off as Ari slapped his arm. "Ow! What?" Xander laughed.
"You could stand to be on your son's side here," she scolded.
"Ari, Annie is from two Ninja families and has been training since she could walk. Not to mention, she's two years older than Spencer. I know you kicked the whole age difference thing to the curb, but I don't think he stands a chance here," Xander grinned, leading her to the door. Outside, Zoe and Hunter watched as the dark haired boy stood opposite the taller blonde girl, who was starting to look more and more like Zoe, despite having her father's colourings.
"Ready to call it quits?" Annie smirked to Spencer, who was breathing heavily.
"Why? You getting tired?" he grinned back at her. Annie gave a small laugh, and darted at him. Spencer fended off her punches and kicks, but as Xander had said, she was more experienced than he was. Annie suddenly dropped to the ground, and swept Spencer's feet out from under him. The boy let out a startled yell and crashed to the ground, making everyone wince. "Okay...I give," he moaned, and with a laugh Annie straightened up and offered her hand.
"That was great, both of you," Zoe clapped as Hunter smirked victoriously. Ari stuck her tongue out at him.
"You're still a brat," he muttered to her.
"And you're still a jerk," she retorted.
"It speaks in volumes that Annie and Spencer get on better than you two," Zoe rolled her eyes.
"She started it," Hunter complained.
"You kidnapped me," Ari folded her arms as he glared at her.
"I make one lapse in judgement-"
"One?" the other three chorused, and he scowled.
"Our parents are weird," Annie muttered to Spencer, who nodded in agreement. Ari's phone suddenly rang, and she pulled it from her pocket.
"Hey Rose, what's up?" she answered the Pink Overdrive Ranger's call, and frowned. "Okay, take a breath," Ari walked away from the others, and the other three ex-Rangers glanced after her, wondering what was going on.
"That was so cool!" Teddie exclaimed as she and Chase approached Annie and Spencer. "You guys fight so well," she told them.
"Thanks Teddie," Annie beamed.
"You think we could ever fight like you two?" Chase wondered.
"If you keep up with your training, of course you can," Spencer nodded. "I'm nowhere near good enough yet. I gotta keep practising," he muttered, more to himself than the others.
"You can try all you want, you'll never beat me," Annie grinned at him, and Teddie giggled as Spencer shot her a scowl, fixing his glasses.
"Xander!" they all looked around when Ari rushed to the door, her eyes wide. "I'm going to San Andreas tonight," she told him quickly.
"What? Why?" Xander followed her back inside as she ran off back inside. Confused, Zoe and Hunter followed, and the four children did the same.
"Rose just called me," Ari was pulling a bag from the cupboard that was always stored there, filled with items that were necessary if she had to go away suddenly. Spencer exchanged looks with Teddie and Chase. In the time they'd known the bag was there, they'd never seen it used.
"What's happened?" Hunter asked, seeing the worried look on the younger woman's face.
"It's Mack. He was off on an expedition with a group of Mr. Hartford's guys. They were looking for something," Ari ran a hand through her hair as she grabbed her jacket and tugged it on.
"Is he okay?" Xander asked as all of them grew worried for the young man.
"That's the thing. He's missing."
Just one chapter left, then we're finally into SPD!
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