"Whoa, you built that?" Preston laughed impressively. He was approaching Calvin and Hayley from the other side of the school's workshop. He also wasn't alone. Nym and Brody were with him, each looking as impressed as the last.
Calvin, who had been working on the engine, stood up. He smiled proudly at his work and wiped his oily hands on an already dirty cloth. "Not too bad, huh?" he asked.
"I've always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle," said Brody with an admiring grin.
"I can imagine there were a lot of milestones that you missed out on while in space," said Nym.
Brody nodded. This was true. Riding a motorcycle, however, this was something that he had wanted to do since he was a kid. His father had promised to teach him when he turned eighteen, but obviously that day wouldn't come.
"Did you know Aiden knows how to ride a motorcycle?" Nym asked. "Why don't you ask him for some pointers."
"Yeah, I heard Kali and Nick taught him," said Hayley. "Calvin took a look at Kali's bike last week. Fixed the engine for her. She even paid him."
"Sounds like Kali," said Nym. "She's not above paying for a job well done. Also, it's hard to find a reliable mechanic these days, apparently."
Calvin shrugged. "Kali's bike is phenomenal," he said. "High end, too."
"Again, Kali only rides the best," said Nym. "She may have a down-to-earth air to her, but she's a sucker for high end stuff."
Hayley laughed. "I'll say. Her wardrobe is immaculate," she said. "I can't even afford one piece of her clothing."
"I'm sure, if you asked, she'd lend you some things," said Nym. "Or even offer you shopping. She hates shopping, at the best of times, but she knows how to spoil and treat people in her care."
Hayley looked considerate. "I'll keep that in mind," she said.
Calvin turned to Brody. "You say you want to learn to ride, yeah?" he asked.
Brody nodded.
"Well, how about you test drive this puppy for me?" Calvin asked, patting the motorcycle's seat.
Nym cocked her head as Preston and Brody frowned at their friend.
"Don't you want to test drive it first?" Preston asked. "I mean, it's your baby."
Calvin shook his head. "No, no, it's okay," he said. He sounded nervous, and a small layer of sweat had started to form on his forehead. "I'm okay with Brody getting first turn."
Hayley smiled patiently and placed a hand on Calvin's shoulder. "It's okay," she reassured. "You can tell them."
"Tell us what?" Nym asked.
Calvin sighed and took a deep breath. "I don't know how to drive," he admitted. "Cars or motorcycles."
"But, you have a truck," said Nym. "I've seen you driving it multiple times."
"Actually," said Hayley, holding up a set of keys. Nym recognised them as Calvin's car keys. "I'm his personal chauffer. You just never noticed," she turned to Nym. "The only time you see Calvin in the driver's seat is if he is fixing the steering or something's gone wrong with the dash. Otherwise, it's me."
Nym raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I don't get it," said Brody, shaking his head. "You're always working on cars. How come you don't know how to drive?"
"When I was little, I was driving a go-kart and then I was swimming in the a duck pond," said Calvin. "I don't even know what happened or how I managed to lose such control to end up in the water. But all I know is from the moment on, I have been terrified to get behind the wheel of anything that's road worthy. I did try and go for my licence, but I had a panic attack and almost crashed. Instant fail."
Nym reached across the bike and squeezed Calvin's shoulder. "Well, remember how I said Aidan learned from Kali and Nick?" she asked. "Why don't we ask them to teach you and Brody? It'll be done in a safe environment, and they won't force you to do something if you're nervous."
"I dunno," said Calvin. It was more than just nerves when it came to doing something he didn't like, he also didn't want to humiliate himself in front of everyone.
"You don't have too," said Nym. "But at least this way, you won't see the scary side of it. And" she added, "you'll have company in the form of another beginner." She nodded at Brody.
Despite still being hesitant, Calvin nodded. The idea did intrigue him.
~X~
Kali watched with a cautious eye as Brody tried to stand on the motorcycle she had conjured, while the engine was still running and the bike moving. They had come to another dimension to practice, a place that Kali and Nick had brought Aiden when he had asked to learn.
"Careful, Brody," Nick called. "This is how accidents happen."
"I got it," Brody called back.
"Maybe so, but accidents still happen to the professionals," said Nick. "Just tone it down until you get the basics."
Brody sighed and jumped down, sitting like a normal person would when riding a bike. Again, Nick and Kali were telling him what to do and what not to do. The only person who had any right to do that was his father, maybe his brother.
Kali turned to Calvin. "You ready?" she asked.
"Um, I don't know," Calvin said. He swallowed nervously.
"It's okay. I was scared my first time, too," Kali said. "Riding a bike is not like controlling a car. But we'll go slow. If for now you just want to watch, then that's fine."
Calvin looked back at Brody. He seemed to have learned so much in such little time. "He looks like a pro," he said, quietly.
"But he's making rookie mistakes," said Kali. "Just because someone looks professional, doesn't mean they are. Being cocky on a bike causes accidents. Trust me, Brody is showing off because he is safe here. Out on the real road, he wouldn't be doing such dangerous acrobatics."
Calvin looked down at the bike beneath him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to do, and then placed one foot on the step. He pushed it down, the engine roaring to life and purring.
"Step one complete," said Kali, smiling. "Step two is about balance. As long as you're moving, you'll stay up right."
"Like a cyclist," said Calvin.
"Exactly. I suspect you know how to ride a bicycle?"
Calvin nodded.
"Well, just think of this as similar to that," said Kali. "Except with an engine instead of pedals. Are you ready? I can hold you up with magic until you get a feel for it."
"Thanks," Calvin said.
Kali snapped open her mystic morpher, pointed it at Calvin and muttered a spell. He suddenly felt very light on the bike, like an invisible force was holding him just above the seat. "It may feel uncomfortable for a little while, but that's just you getting used to the spell and me getting a feel for your weight. Start when you're ready."
Calvin nodded and faced away. He could feel the spell adjusting around him, but while he trusted Kali, he still didn't trust himself or the bike. What if he messed up? Would the others laugh at him? His hands tightened around the handlebars at the thought.
Pressing his foot against the stand again, Calvin pushed as hard as he could and the engine surged to life. The bike jolted forward, Calvin yelled in alarm, frantically trying to turn the handlebars to get the bike to stop.
"Whoa!" Kali shouted. She felt the spell surrounding Calvin break, and the yellow ranger surged forward into a pond.
A silent gasp lingered in the air before Hayley broke it and rushed towards the bank as Calvin emerged. He was soaked through, wet, stringy moss clung to his hair, and a lily pad was lodged on his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" Hayley asked. "What happened?"
"That bike just tried to kill me," Calvin said, angrily. He faced Kali. "You said you had me."
"Clearly, I didn't," said Kali.
Calvin huffed. "I need to change my clothes!" he stormed away from the group, stepping through the portal hole that appeared in the middle of the field, and disappeared.
"He'll be okay," said Hayley.
"You don't sound so sure," said Nym.
Hayley sighed. "I've tried everything," she said. "Reassurance only works so far, but I know he can do it. He just needs to let go of his fear."
"That's not always easy," said Nick. "Fear is paralysing. Trust us," he glanced at Kali. "We've had to face our fear numerous times, and it's always worse the second time."
Nym turned to the two Mystics. "Isn't there something you can do to help?" she asked. "You did Pai Zhuq training, Kali, and you had to face your fears at one point. You even got Antonio to do the same training."
"I don't think Calvin is ready for the Spirit Realm," said Kali. "Exposure therapy is damaging, and to be quite honest, I don't think exposing Calvin to his deepest fear is going to help him. It may make it worse."
"But you and Antonio…"
"We were in the heat of battle," said Kali. "Myself and the other Jungle Fury rangers needed the fear training to unlock our Spirit mode, plus, RJ had just been captured. Antonio and his team were fighting Serrator, the circumstances were different."
Nym shrugged. "I don't see a difference," she said. "We're fighting Galavnax. Shouldn't Calvin be a priority for that?"
"What Kali means," said Nick, "is that you're not directly facing a final boss fight. The monsters you're currently facing are minimal level, at best. If your opponent were Galvanax, and Calvin's fear was holding him back then yes, we'd send him for spirit training."
"Until then, he's not ready," said Kali. "Unfortunately, gentle learning isn't helping either. When I was a kid it was either sink or swim. You either did something and succeeded or you sunk and tried again. It's not the best approach but forcing him into could break through his guard."
"Isn't that the same as exposure therapy?" Brody asked.
"Yes. But with a different result," said Kali. She wasn't in the mood for Brody's defiance. "Sending Calvin to the spirit realm for exposure therapy is a last resort. The trip itself isn't an easy one, not to mention getting the spirits to actually agree. They only show their expertise to a chosen few. Here, Calvin has twenty-four access all day every day, and with people that have been through it themselves. His better options are here than there. Plus, if anything were to happen while he was in the spirit world, he wouldn't be able to return until he completes his training. You'd be a ranger down."
"Sounds dangerous," said Preston.
"It is," said Nick. "You don't know what monster Galvanax is gonna send next. Having Calvin nearby is more beneficial to you all, than having him in another dimension."
A screech cut through the air just as a shadow fell over the group. They looked up, Nym letting out a terrified scream as a spider descended from the trees.
"What is that?" Preston howled.
"MOVE!" Kali shouted, throwing herself aside. She rolled over, just in time to see Brody, Nym, Preston, Hayley, and Nick get sucked inside the spiders jaws.
The spider laughed as he dropped out of the tree, landing on two feet in the middle of the training grounds. "Delicious!" he said. "Oh!" he added, spying Kali, picking herself up. "I have room for one more inside."
"You're joking, right?" Kali asked. "What makes you think I'd let you eat me, too?"
The spider shrugged. "I wasn't going to ask." He opened his jaws, spitting his sticky web at her.
Kali deflected it with a shield. "Nice try," she said. "But you're not my first. I was hoping I'd be done with this, though. Guess not." She reached for her morpher, snapping it open, and morphing.
"Hellhound!" the spider gasped, stumbling back. "Uh-oh. I'm outta here!"
Kali twirled her staff between her fingers. "Magi Staff, sword mode!" she called, racing after the spider. He wedged himself between trees before finding a solid one that he used to try and climb away.
"Not so fast!" Kali shouted, racing up the trunk. She pushed off and flipped up, landing on the branch just above him. "I wonder if spider really does taste like chicken?" she wondered, launching herself into the air. She dropped, dragging her flaming sword down the spiders underbelly.
He dropped, hitting the ground, and rolling over. "I'm not equipped to deal with you," he said.
"No one ever is," said Kali. "Return my husband and children."
"I can't do that!" said the spider. "Adios!" he shrunk down, disappearing between the leaves on the floor.
Kali pointed her magi staff at the ground and muttered a revealing spell. Nothing showed up. "Damn it!" she swore. "Aidan, Calvin," she added into her mystic morpher. "Meet me at Rootcore. We have a problem."
~X~
"How's the new start coming, Mick?" said Redbot, walking away from the kiln and over to where head-mechanic Mick was working on a new Ninja Star. Normally they would be out in their newly created workhouse, but Kali had called an urgent meeting for all those in the vicinity of Rootcore.
Mick lowered his sawing machine and lifted his goggles. "We're getting better at making them," he said, proudly, holding up a star that actually looked like it was meant to. The others he had created were a little lopsided, rounded off, or jagged.
The door lifted up, allowing Aidan and Calvin entry. They were alone, much to Mick's surprise. Especially since Calvin had left with the others and two Mystics only an hour ago.
"Where's mum?" Aidan asked. "She said to meet here. Sounded urgent."
"She called for us, too," said Mick.
A door on the other side of Rootcore opened, and Kali walked in with Daggeron and Eithne in tow. The three looked worried and immediately Mick, Aidan, and Calvin felt the same. A worried Kali was enough to put everyone on edge.
"Where are the others?" Calvin asked.
"They were taken," said Kali. "By a godforsaken spider, of all things."
"A spider?" Aidan asked. "Like the Boar beast?"
Kali shook her head. "No. I refused to use the Cimmerian forest for training. We were actually in the [] dimension instead. It was a little safer."
Aidan cracked a smile. "Safer for you or them?" he asked.
"It's not a secret that I dislike the Cimmerian forest," said Kali. "But I wouldn't take untrained mystics to that place, much less untrained teenagers."
"True," Aidan nodded. He could remember during his own training, his mother refused to take him into the Cimmerian forest, no matter how much he asked. Even his fear training was done in a different dimension, apparently having to save multiple students from the boar beast was enough to get Kali to change her mind.
"What did the spider do to them?" Calvin asked.
"Trust me, you're better off not thinking about that," said Kali, shaking her head. "However, they are still alive."
"How do you know?" Mick asked.
Kali cocked her head as she turned to look at him.
"Oh, right. Hellhound," Mick chuckled, awkwardly.
Aidan rounded the table to stand beside his mother. "Where's Dad?" he asked.
"He also got taken."
Somehow, Aidan felt relieved at the news. At least Brody and the others weren't entirely alone inside the belly of a monster; they had a Mystic, and someone who knew what it was like to be eaten before.
"How do we save them?" Calvin asked.
"We start my scanning for their location," said Eithne. "If we can narrow down the area they are in then we can work on a plan to get them out."
Mick nodded and turned to Redbot.
Daggeron placed a hand on Calvin's shoulders. "We'll save them," he said, reassuringly. "Despite the situation, they're in good hands."
"What's up with the Prism?" Aidan asked. He approached the clear star just as an image of a motorcycle appeared at its core. He turned to his mother. "That's dad's bike. It got sucked in, too?"
Kali looked surprised. She hadn't seen the bike being taken, but then, she hadn't been focused on the material things in the clearing, only the fact that her husband and those in her care were taken.
"Mick, why is the Prism showing Nick's bike?" Kali asked.
"Well, uh, the Prism never shows a vision without a reason," said Mick. "Maybe the bike is important to saving the others?"
"It can't be much help inside the spider," said Kali. "And mine was in an accident."
Aidan looked surprised. "You were in an accident?" he asked.
"Not exactly," said Kali, shaking her head. "Either way, it doesn't matter. We don't have another bike for whatever reasons the nexus is implying."
"Actually, we do," said Calvin. "I built one. It's what started this whole thing about me and Brody learning to ride."
"You built a bike?" Aidan asked. "From scratch?"
Calvin nodded. The details weren't important right now. The fact was, he knew what the Prism was telling them to do, telling him what he needed to do.
"Cal?" Kali asked, raising an eyebrow.
Calvin sighed. "Mick, do you have any new throwing stars?" he asked.
Mick seized the one he had been working on before the others had arrived. "What exactly are you planning?" he asked.
"You'll see," said Calvin. He took the metal star, turning it over in his hands. "How do I activate this?"
"Throwing it at the Prism," said Mick. "Be careful, though. That thing throws it back with one hell of a punch."
Calvin nodded. He turned his attention back to the prism, took a deep breath, and then threw the star as hard as he could. It disappeared through the centre of the prism, sparking it to life. A bright glow illuminated Rootcore, bathing everyone in its warmth, then the Prism started to move clockwise, sparks drawing themselves to the centre where the glow was growing stronger.
"Get ready," said Mick.
The new Ninja Star shot out of the prims, pinging off the shield that erected itself between Calvin and the nexus. It bounced back, hit the wall, and ricocheted around the room.
"Momentum!" Kali called, pointing her wand at the Ninja Star. It stopped midair and then fell, landing on the floor with a clatter.
Calvin picked it up, tentatively.
"I did warn you," said Mick.
"I think I know what I'm supposed to do with this star," said Calvin. "But it means I have to ride my bike."
Aidan cocked his head. "That's a problem?" he asked. "Riding a bike isn't that much different to a truck, and you drive that all the time."
Calvin stared at Aidan, confused. "Oh, right, you weren't there," he said.
"Weren't where?" Aidan asked. He looked from Calvin to his mother. "Have I missed something?"
"I don't have a licence," said Calvin. "A bike one or a car one."
Aidan furrowed his brow. "Then how -?" he started.
"Hayley."
"Oh. Uh, well, now is a good a time as any to learn," said Aidan. "It's pretty easy, once you come to terms with it."
Calvin sighed. "That's what we were working on before the others got taken," he said. "I was the one in the accident with Kali's bike."
"It was an accident," said Kali. "I'll get it fixed."
"I'll fix it for you," Calvin offered. "You don't have to pay me for it, either. I was the one who totalled it."
"Nonsense," said Kali.
Calvin sighed. "But none of this matters," he said. "I don't have the confidence to ride my bike, and therefore can't save the others."
"I can do it," said Aidan.
Kali placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can go with him," she said. "But I believe this is something Calvin has to do alone."
Calvin covered his face. He could feel tears welling in his eyes. He was both humiliated and scared, and crying was a force of habit when he was forced into either corner.
"Hey," said Kali, tugging his hands away. "No one is judging you for not being able to drive. We're all learners at some point, hell, I'm still learning things now. But the only person holding you back here is yourself."
"I don't know how to get over this fear," Calvin said. "The others are going to be destroyed, and there's nothing I can do about it."
"That's not true," said Kali. "You have a plan. As for getting over your fear, who says you have, too?"
"But?"
"My biggest fear was being a failure," said Kali. "I had to face that fear every ranger team. Do I still fear failure? Yes, I do. But do I let it stop me? No. That's the difference, Calvin. You're always going to have this fear, and if I'm quite honest, I don't think you're fear is motorcycles, your deepest fear is humiliation. You're afraid of looking like an idiot."
Calvin took a shuddering breath.
"Don't let your fear hold you back," said Kali. "You're always going to have to face it from time I time."
"The Prism wouldn't have shown you the motorcycle if it didn't think you could handle this," said Mick. "We all believe in you, Calvin."
"Are you going to let your fear stop you from saving your friends?" Aidan asked. "From saving Hayley?"
Calvin's eyes widened. "No, never," he said, shaking his head. "You're right. I have to try."
~X~
Aidan glanced around as he approached the coordinates Eithne, Mick, and Redbot had deciphered. He couldn't see no spiders - magical, alien, or otherwise. The plan was that he would be the bait. The one to lure the spider out into the open, so that Calvin could do what he needed to do with his new power star. They had divided at the school - Calvin heading inside to get his new bike, while Aidan came here.
"Here, Spidey, Spidey," Aidan called softly. He was fully morphed, his senses working overdrive to try and pinpoint the arrival of the spider; it was all he could do to not let it sneak up on him. He wouldn't be much help to Calvin if he let the spider get him, too.
Aidan turned to the left. A faint buzzing noise was coming from the harbour; he crept over, reaching into thin and air crushing the buzzcam that hovered just above the ledge. How these things managed to hide was beyond him, they were roughly the size of a giant beetle.
"I know you're out here!" Aidan called, turning around. The buzzcam confirmed that one of Galvanax's lot was somewhere within the area, they had to be or the buzzcam wouldn't have been there. They were only sent to broadcast the fight one earth back to the ship in space. Galaxy Warriors was, after all, a TV show.
Aidan stopped walking as a green glow appeared before him, and seconds later a spider stood in his path. He was exactly like his mother had described, but definitely not a boar beast.
"I'm all rested up," said the spider, "and ready for dessert." He stared Aidan down, cocking his head. "You're not the Hellhound."
"Nope, but you should be thankful for that," said Aidan, pulling his sword from across his shoulder. "If mum were here, this battle would be short. You're not eager to be destroyed, are you?"
The Spider scoffed. "I'll eat you, your friends, and whoever I need to draw them out. We have unfinished business."
"Finish it with me," said Aidan. "Ninja Sword, lightning mode!"
As the spider opened his mouth, his webs forming between his pincers, the roar of an engine cut through the air. Aidan turned and saw Calvin riding toward them. He was a little wobbly, trying to find the perfect balance, but at least he was steady in his confidence.
At the last second, as Calvin drew closer, Aidan threw himself aside, narrowly missing the spiders web. Calvin fired his lasers, destroying the sticky substance and also hitting the spider directly.
The spider howled and was thrown backward.
"Nice one, Cal!" Aidan said, jumping up and high-fiving his friend. "Sweet ride."
Calvin grinned. "Do you know how to get the others back?" he asked.
"Mum says we have to get the spider to spit them out," said Aidan. "We can do that by targeting its stomach."
Calvin nodded and kicked his leg over the bike. He reached for his belt, unhooking his power star, and attaching it to his sword.
"Ready?" Aidan asked.
"Ready!" Calvin echoed.
"Element star," Aidan called, activating his sword mode. "Lightning mode!"
"Element Star, Earth mode!"
The spider snarled at them, arms opened wide and his stomach in perfect striking distance.
Racing forward, Calvin whipped himself into a circle, drawing the tip of his blade along the ground at the same time; strong currents of wind wrapped around him, drawing up chunks of broken debris and stone which hit the spider, knocking him back.
Aidan rushed forward, leaping into the air, and raising his sword above his head, he pointed it down, and struck it straight through the Spiders soft underbelly. He howled, twisting, and turning as he tried to free himself.
"Did we do it?" Calvin asked, as Aidan wrenched his sword from the spiders body.
Aidan shook his head. He had only read about his mother's defeats of various monsters, especially the first one she had ever faced that had eaten her - it had been her second battle as a ranger, but her first fight against an actual monster. She had told him how Vida and Chip had saved her and the others, but she was vague on the details of how it had happened.
There was a green glow, similar to the one that had appeared before the monster had earlier, and then five separate balls of green light exploded from the monster. They disappeared as the others hit the ground.
"Oh, what a rush!" Nym said, shoving off the spider webs.
"Dad!" Aidan called rushing forward. "Nym!"
Nick turned and took his son's hand. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes," he said. "Well done, both of you!" He clapped Calvin on the shoulder. "We knew you could do it."
"I hate spiders," Nym whined.
Aidan chuckled and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm surprised you didn't transform without me in there," he said. "Well done! Mum will be impressed, you know."
Nym grinned. "Thank you," she said, snuggling against Aidan's chest.
"Hey, cool ride," said Brody, noticing Calvin's new bike. "Where'd you get it?"
"Calvin created it with a Ninja Star," said Aidan. "He used it to create an opening in the spiders jaws. It was how we were able to get you out."
Nick glanced at his son. "Kali told you about Mucor, huh?" she asked.
"You guys had already told me," said Aidan. "She just gave me a refresher."
"You both should be proud."
"But the fights not over yet," said Brody, spotting the spider nearby. "Look who's back for round two."
"You'll pay for this!" the spider howled.
"Someone's gonna pay," said Calvin. "But it won't be us."
Nick clapped Aidan on the shoulder. "That's my que," he said. "I'll see you back at Rootcore." He disappeared in a flicker of magic.
Aidan turned to the others. "Let's finish this!" he said. "You guys with me?"
"Yeah!"
Brody, Nym, Hayley, and Preston reached for their belts. "Ninja Spin!"
Tangleweb grit his teeth as he looked from one ranger to the next. "You may have escaped," he said. "But not for long! I'll just eat you up all over again."
"How do we stop him from sucking us back in?" Hayley asked. "Holding on didn't do anything last time."
Nym glanced at her friend. "I have an idea," she said. She reached for the power star on her belt. "Element Star, Ninja water attack!" she pressed her thumb to the edge, spinning the star into a clockwise motion. A swirl of water engulfed her blade, and she spun into a circle, unleashing a stream of water into the air. She turned to Brody and flagged him down. "A little help on the fire?" she asked.
"Got it!" Brody nodded. He didn't have the faintest clue what Nym was doing, but he figured she wouldn't be asking for help if she didn't have a plan. "Element Star, fire attack!"
As flames wrapped around his blade, Brody struck the air with it, sending a fireball hurling at the water. The two elements connected and the area filled with steam.
"Oh, I get it!" said Calvin. "The steam makes it so he can't see us!"
"Exactly!" said Nym. "It gives us an advantage. At least until the steam starts to lift."
"Then let's get to it," said Aidan. "Arrow blast!" he fired a lightning bolt into the steam.
The spider raged and spun around. "You've given away your position, foolish rangers!" he said, swiping at the air.
"You sure about that?" Calvin asked, racing in from behind. He struck him with his Ninja claws.
Tangleweb spun around. But he was alone still. "Show yourselves!" he roared.
"UP HERE!" Preston and Hayley shouted. They landed to the left and right of the Tangleweb, striking him with their blades.
The spider spun wildly, arms flailing about. But hitting nothing. "Stop doing that!" he screamed. "Where are you?"
"In front of you," said Nym, sliding across his path. She pressed her feet to his stomach and pushed up, kicking him into the air and out of the steam.
Tangleweb groaned as he hit the ground, sliding directly into a metal beam. He staggered back to his feet, several eyes searching desperately for any signs of another attack. "All I wanted was a meal!" he groaned.
"Well now you're getting your just desserts," said Brody. "Claw mode!"
"Blade mode!"
"Bow mode!"
"Hyper mode!"
Nym felt the bow in her hand vibrate as she fired an electrical arrow toward Preston. He caught it, channelling the energy into his blade, and shooting it into the air at Aidan. Beside him, Brody caught the combination of Hayley's arrow and Calvin's energy blade.
The two brothers landed before their friends, unleashing a sphere of energy at Tangleweb.
"Hyper claw shred!" they echoed one another.
The attack cut through Tangleweb's outer armour, slicing him to ribbons. He howled as he exploded.
~X~
Nym, Aidan, Brody, and Preston looked up as Calvin's yellow truck rolled to a stop outside of the Rock Porium. Grinning proudly behind the wheel was the yellow ranger himself.
"Oh, yes, Calvin!" Nym grinned, jumping up and rushing up the steps to greet him and Hayley. "You did it, right?" He had to have succeeded in getting his licence or he wouldn't have been driving. Kali had said only registered drivers could drive any vehicle on the road - sure, it didn't stop some people, but it was the responsible thing to do, especially if an accident occurred.
Calvin jumped down from the driver's side and showed the little plastic card in his hand. "Yeah, I did it!" he grinned, accepting the excited hug that Nym offered him.
"Congratulations, Calvin," said Kali, appearing from the record shop.
"He didn't just pass," said Hayley. "He totally nailed it. The instructor said he'd never seen anyone get such a perfect score. Now I have a chauffeur," she added with a laugh.
Aidan high-fived Calvin.
"I was a little nervous," said Calvin, meeting Kali's gaze. "But I overcame my fear. It's still there. I can feel it. But it doesn't have as strong a hold on me anymore."
Kali smiled. "You did amazing, Calvin," she said. "You should be proud of yourself. You all should. Despite what happened with Tangleweb, you believed in each other and your teammate to get you out of a sticky situation. I'm proud of you."
"It's amazing the things you can do when the people you love are in trouble," said Calvin, smiling.
Despite the smile on her face, Kali rolled her eyes. "Now you're being sappy," she said. "I'm going back to work. Don't be late for school!" she called over her shoulder.
Nym and Aidan laughed as they met one another's gazes.
"Mum's not one public displays of affection," said Aidan. "If you hadn't noticed, not even she and dad act like a couple on public."
"We noticed," said Hayley. "They have subtle hints, but nothing over the top."
Aidan nodded.
"Anyway, does anyone want a ride to school?" Calvin asked, gesturing over his shoulder.
The others nodded and raced to secure seats in the bed of Calvin's truck. It wasn't ideal, but it worked.
"Oh, wait, Mick gave me these before we left Rootcore this morning," said Nym. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a Ninja Star. "He says that the Mega Morph Cycles will be at our beck and call whenever we need them. All we have to do is attach one of these stars to our ninja swords, and spin. The star will do the rest."
"Oh! These are awesome!"
"Wait, there's only four stars here," said Preston.
Nym shrugged. "I don't know how to ride, not that I want too," she added quickly.
Aidan wrapped an arm around her. "She's gonna be my passenger princess," he teased.
The others chuckled and Nym rolled her eyes.