Power Ranger Ninja Storm, Heather Ray [best classic romance novels txt] 📗

Rangers had turned you against me...as if they were using you the way Lothor was using me. I was determined to get you away from them, break their influence… and I was willing to do whatever it took."

His fists clench. "I played right into Lothor's hands. So long as you were with the Wind Rangers, I knew you'd get caught in the crosshairs. So I had no choice but to follow Lothor's orders. If I didn't, he'd send a general that didn't give a damn whether or not a Thunder Ranger was tossed into the body count."

I frown at his callous tone. "Body count? We never tried to kill the Winds when we fought them together. What was with the sudden excessive force?"

"Before we found out the truth, I personally didn't really care one way or another about the Winds," he admits. "Lothor couldn't get me to get my hands bloody, but on the other hand, no way would I help the Winds unless I owed them something."

He raised his head, his eyes narrowing. "When I thought the Winds had manipulated you, I decided they were more than only a minor nuisance. They became a threat in my eyes, and that meant more decisive action."

His choice of words sent a shudder up my spine, and I quickly looked around, feeling very distinctly the absence of the three Wind Rangers. "What happened after I passed out?"

Hunter glances at me. "You didn't 'pass out,'

you idiot. You electrocuted

yourself. You'd think a Thunder Ninja would know better than to touch a fully charged Thunder Staff bare-handed!"

I roll my eyes at the little sermon, and my brother actually cracks a smile. "The Winds saved your life. There's no other way to say it. They saw you needed help, and they stepped in. And they even reached out to me, the jerk that caused most of the trouble, and offered me a ride back to the more normal parts of the globe. After we arrived at Ninja Ops and got you stabilized, Sensei Watanabe managed to clear the suggestive magic that was blocking my memories."

He takes a deep breath, nodding slowly. "You were right, Blake; I have been underestimating the Winds. They're honorable, they definitely have their strengths, and I know we can count them as allies."

I smile widely, punching my brother in the arm. "See? I'm an excellent judge of character!"

"Or, you have a weakness for cute ninja girls, and you just happen to have been right about this one."

I try not to laugh, feeling the renewed soreness in my chest. "Where is Tori, anyway?"

When he doesn't answer, I look up and blink at the teasing smirk on my big brother's face.

Even though he didn't actually say anything, I can just imagine what he's thinking. "You brought her up!" I defend weakly.

Hunter laughs, and for the first time in weeks it isn't a cruel, mocking chuckle. It's great to hear sincere humor in his voice again...even if it's at my expense. "Watanabe sent the Winds out for some exercise. They've been cooped up in here for days, and they're far too hyper to sit still. Hopefully a ten-mile jog will burn up some energy."

He claps my shoulder. "Think you can walk yet? Cam can probably check on their progress, if you're curious."

I refuse to admit it to Hunter, but I am anxious to see Tori. I brace my arm with his as I slide onto the floor, testing my footing.

"Yeah, I can walk," I decide, taking a few careful steps. Hunter releases me, and side-by-side we enter the control room of Ninja Ops, where Cam is sitting before a large computer monitor, watching three forms in black maneuver through the dense trees of the surrounding forest.

"It is good to see you've recovered, Blake," Sensei comments from the console.

"Thanks for all your help, Sensei, Cam," I reply with a respectful bow.

"It is the least we can do for our allies. However, the question remains: how formal shall our alliance become

?"

I blink, turning to my brother. Hunter's eyebrow slowly rises; it's clear the question came as a surprise to him.

"During your brief stay, I have considered your ambitions," Sensei reveals. "You both have seen firsthand the result of maintaining your own crusade against the dark ninja. Lothor's powers are too great to be trifled with."

I wince somewhat guiltily, and Hunter bows his head.

"You understand that we share a common foe. Only if we combine our powers can we eliminate the threat that hangs over our planet."

My eyes widen as the meaning of Sensei's statement sinks in. "Wait...you want us to join forces with you? After everything that happened?"

I didn't think it was possible for a guinea pig to smile, but now I see it. "You were blinded by hatred and rage over the deaths of your parents, and Lothor manipulated those destructive feelings to his own advantage. Now, you have both seen how easily such feelings can corrupt even the most noble of ninja. I hope that this lesson has been taken to heart, Thunder Rangers."

Absolutely. It's amazing, looking back, just how gullible we were to believe anything Lothor said. I guess we just wanted so much to cut loose on the bastard that took our parents that, when Lothor pointed his finger at Watanabe, we didn't ask too many questions. We just went running, weapons drawn. To hell with the big picture. Collateral damage didn't matter. We had blinders on...all we could see was our goal.

It disgusts me, now. That's not the kind of person I want to be.

"Lothor will pay for killing our parents." I look up, and notice the fierce glint in Hunter's eyes.

But Sensei doesn't seem phased by Hunter's pent-up anger. "Lothor has committed many atrocities, and justice must be served. He had wronged me and my family, as well as yours."

That comments piques my curiosity. His tone is too regretful...I'm convinced he's not just talking about being turned into a rodent.

"Still, we all must do our best to separate ourselves from our personal pain, and discern the true scope of the threat. Lothor is a danger to the entire planet. If he is not stopped, how many more families will be torn apart?"

It's a question I personally don't want to contemplate.

"And to protect himself, Lothor has preemptively stripped the planet of most of its ninja defenses, leaving only a handful of capable warriors left. Would it not be wise for us to work together, unite our strength, and strive as one to defend this planet?"

"Defense isn't my style," Hunter insists. "If you sit here and just wait for Lothor's every move, you'll never get anywhere!"

"A wise ninja bides his time, and cautiously waits for the opportune moment to strike," Sensei responds sagely. "We defend now, because we have much to lose. I well know that my Rangers will not succeed in a direct attack against all of Lothor's army. Neither will you."

"He's got a point, Hunter," I comment, feeling my brother tense beside me. "We know we're no match for Lothor's forces. Not now, anyway..."

"You have much yet to learn, to fully utilize the powers given you," Sensei continues. "So do my Wind Rangers. I would be honored to continue your training, help you advance your skills, until Amano can complete your formal instruction."

I turn to Hunter, my eyes wide with silent excitement. A chance to continue formal training...that'll definitely

help us both master these powers! True, he's a Wind Ninja, so I doubt he can really teach us much about advanced Thunder techniques, but that doesn't mean we can't learn something different. Something to make us more well-rounded ninja.

Hunter watches me for a long moment. "I guess I don't even need to ask for your opinion."

"We can't do this alone, Hunter," I remind him. "And we owe it to the Thunder Academy, and our parents, to be the best Rangers we can be."

He looks away from me, lifting his head toward the ceiling. But I'm sure he doesn't see etched stone. I wonder what he's looking for, what he's thinking as his eyes narrow, his fists clench.

I can guess, though. I can think of one person floating high over our heads in his spaceship, that always seems to be forefront on my brother's mind.

That's the first thing that needs to change.

"Hunter?"

He closes his eyes, and releases a long, steady breath. "I hear you, Blake, I hear you."

He then turns back to Sensei Watanabe, and folds into a deep, formal bow. "We accept your invitation... Sensei."

My excitement is restrained to only a broad smile as I mimic the formal bow to my new instructor.

Then, when we rise, I grab my brother in a fierce bear hug. "Thanks, Bro."

"Yeah, yeah," Hunter sighs, as he always does, but this time he returns the hug a bit more tightly than usual. "Just...don't get too worked

up. Don't want you to have another heart attack."

I pull away, looking around Ninja Ops with new curiosity. When will we train with that cool wall-mounted armory? What ninja legends are contained on those ancient scrolls?

It's been a long while since I've felt like I'm really on track. Since I've had a purpose and direction that wasn't so closely tied with niggling guilt.

There's just one thing I have to take care of. One sore spot that needs attention.

"Hey Cam? Where are the Winds now?"

Cam looks up from whatever he was doing, and presses a few keys on his console. "Tori's two miles away, and Shane and Dustin are about half a mile behind her. They'll be getting back to the waterfall any minute now."

Perfect.

Epilogue: Risk

After everything that's happened, do Blake and Tori even stand a chance together?

Author's Note:

Make sure your tray tables and seat backs are in their upright and locked positions, because we are making our final approach to our destination! Ahem. This honest-to-goodness final chapter is told by the same character that launched this rollercoaster ride: Tori

.

Usually, running clears my mind. The breeze in my hair, the smell of the grass and soil, the sound of the wind rustling the trees...it leaves me in a state of total focus. I work out my body and leave my brain no energy to seethe, mope, or worry.

But this time it doesn't work. I push myself, running as quickly as I can without channeling any Ninja power. I've never run so fast...I can't even hear Dustin and Shane anymore. My muscles burn, my senses are at their sharpest, but I still can't shut