drunkenpandaren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
drunkenpandaren) wrote2010-07-07 01:15 pm
drunkenpandaren) wrote2010-07-07 01:15 pm
Entry tags:
It Could always Be Worse SPD to JF 6/?
“Go, go, go!” exclaimed the Silver Guardians as they moved out, surrounding a group of Chillers that were in town for the day, lead by a monster of the week. “Silver Guardians get in position!” barked Eric.
Tiida Lanster found his first week at SPD to be interesting. While it wasn’t quite as shiny as a stay in Mid, it was certainly busy. Their drill sergeant or field commanders were Wes Collins and Eric Meyers, two of the veteran Rangers from what they confirmed as the “post-Zordon” era.
Since arriving, he had been subjected to various stress tests of all types, endurance and then marked with the symbol of the Silver Guardians on his TSAB uniform. Fortunately for his sanity, they used energy weapons since he was certainly not used to the recoil of projectiles, something he wouldn’t get used to at all.
“This is a normal day for us?” groaned Tiida as he took up position next to another member of the group, a man named Devin Tate.
“Oh yeah, this is routine,” chuckled Devin. “Especially since Operation Overdrive can’t seem to keep their enemies to their side of the fence.”
“What were you doing before this?” inquired Tiida as the command to open fire was issued, and the Chillers got a face-full of blasters and device fire.
“Scientist. I helped create the new Delta Morphers,” said Devin. “Haven’t finished the bugs yet so we’re not quite ready for the new squad to be debuted.” His shot took off the head of a chiller as it exploded into snow. “How about you?”
“Sharpshooter for the Cranagan Defense Forces on Mid,” replied Tiida, loosing a few blasts from his device. “I wanted to become an Enforcer, but they pulled me out for this special joint forces program.”
“I hear you. I was a police officer before I joined up with the SG’s. Couldn’t keep away from the action,” chuckled Devin. “Down!”
The two men ducked behind the car as the monster of the week fired a blast that tore up the cement in front of them. “Geez!” exclaimed Tiida at the flying shrapnel. “This is nuts!”
“Gotta love it! Oh and here come the big boys,” said Devin as the two commanding officers strode into the battlefield to deal with the attacker. “Take a good look Tiida, this is how it’s done on earth.”
“Time For Time Force!” exclaimed Wes, touching his Chronomorpher.
“Quantum Power!” shouted Eric as he thrust his arm into the air.
In a blast of red energy, Time Force Red and the Quantum Ranger formed as they went to town on the opponent. Tiida stared for a long moment and said, “We’re not going to have to wear spandex are we?”
“If you’re chosen, then it might be a good idea,” grinned Devin, sniping a Chiller that got too close. “Quite a change from Mid jackets huh?”
“I’ll tell you one thing: it’ll probably up my chances of getting a date.” Tiida ducked a flying rock. “Or not. I’ll let you know when we survive this.”
“Nyah nyah, you can’t catch me Tia!” exclaimed Subaru as she ran around giggling.
“Come back here!” exclaimed Teana, her hair tied up in little pigtails, Subaru’s handiwork no less.
“They make a good pair,” said Lothor as he sipped his tea, keeping an eye on kids who were tearing around making a scene in the courtyard of the building that served as SPD/Silver Guardians headquarters.
“If you say so,” said Tiida, clearly unnerved that the man sitting in front of him was the notorious Lothor, a man so infamous in this time as a space ninja that there had even been wanted posters even in Mid and the outer-rim worlds of the sea.
“Are you scared of me?” inquired Lothor.
“Petrified,” admitted Tiida. “That girl of yours is energetic.”
“Oh she’s not mine, she’s Quint’s. I’m babysitting while she does her duties here. I’m just the hired help.” said Lothor with a grin.
“Quint?”
“Nakajima. You know, Genya’s wife. I’m under observation as it were. Little kids seem to have that softening effect on me. Makes an old space ninja feel like a father again.” explained Lothor.
“… Crazy world…” muttered Tiida, hanging his head.
“Hello?”
“Hiyo~!” exclaimed Ninjor on the other end of the phone.
:”Oh, Ninjor.” Tommy blinked. “You never use the phone.”
“Yes well I figured it was a good time to call as any. Operation Overdrive’s gearing up for their final battle, so I would suggest that you buckle down in case wiggy things happen.”
Tommy blinked. Checked the calendar. “Wait, it’s barely been a year…”
“Kids these days,” said Ninjor cheerfully. “Always rushing things. No lasting power too for heroics. In any case, I decided to give you a call just in case they screw up and need backup…”
“You seem to be pretty sure they’re going to fail,” said Tommy in a conversational tone.
“Well someone’s got to bet against them. Besides, I really want to see Sentinel epic fail when he finds out that his little tiara isn’t the most powerful artifact in the cosmos.”
“So it’s all about sibling rivalry,” said Tommy with a sigh. “Well I guess I can’t fault that. Just step in if they really do need help.”
“Of course I will! I’m petty, not stupid. Laters~!”
Tommy looked at the phone and hung up. “I think the off-worlders are starting to prove a point. I think we all ARE crazy.”
Ring Ring.
“Hello?”
“Tommy its Cam.”
Tommy palmed his face with his other hand. “I hope this is good news, Operation Overdrive just finished beating Flurrious in the box three hours ago.”
“Nope, sorry. RJ called: Dai Shi escaped an hour ago.”
“What is WITH this timing?” demanded Tommy.
“Hey don’t look at me. Ninja Storm was waiting nearly 30 years for Lothor to return.”
“Alright, send me the info on the latest Rangers and I’ll head a little delegation there. Any suggestions?”
“Yeah, bring Jason with you. The new blue will probably squeal and pass out according to RJ.”
“We’re going to a pizza place in another city?” asked Fate as Tommy pulled their jeep up to the front of Jungle Karma Pizza.
“More or less. I couldn’t get anyone on the line and I wanted to go and visit RJ’s new team,” replied Tommy as he unbuckled his seat belt.
“Too bad Vi and Aunt Kim can’t come,” said Wendi. “We’re waiting for Jason though right?”
The roar of a motorcycle alerted the group as Jason rolled up and doffed his helmet, Quattro leaping off the back. “Wendi,” said Quattro.
“Sis,” replied Wendi cheerfully. “Getting into trouble?”
“Mother let me built a quantum accelerator,” said Quattro with a little smile. “How about you?”
“Passed classes. Top of my class.” Replied the ex-Number.
Quattro smiled as she took her father’s hand. “Let’s go get some pizza.”
Entering the building, it was busy with a nice sense of a “hole in the wall” pizzeria, a place that was full of life and it wasn’t definitely a franchise. “Welcome to Jungle Karma!” exclaimed a mousy looking girl with thick glasses and frizzy hair. “Table for five?”
“Yeah, and can you tell RJ that Tommy’s here to see him too? And Jason.” said Tommy.
“Oh of course. Right this way.”
Sitting them in a table, the girls busied themselves with the crayons and coloring stuff while men looked around. “Cozy, comforting, hole in the wall. Probably cheaper and way better than those cardboard pizzas they serve at Pizza Hut,” remarked Jason.
“Yeah.” Looking over in the corner where a young man with brown hair was flipping pizza effortlessly, he indicated with a flick of his head. “Ranger?”
“I honestly can’t tell, but he’s learning martial arts.” Said Jason. “Good technique. I guess RJ doesn’t believe in color coded uniforms.”
The pair singled out the girl and the Asian boy behind the register as Ranger material by the skilled way they moved and soon, RJ himself bustled over. “Hey Tommy, Jason,” greeted the pizzeria manager. “Welcome to Casa de RJ. What can I get you?”
“Two large pizzas, um, house special,” said Jason. “And coke to drink for me and Tommy. Juice for the girls.”
Quattro pouted. “Father says soda makes me hyper.”
“So that’s two Wolf Spirit pizzas,” said RJ. “Alright. I’ll get those made up for you. Once you guys are done, we’ll close up shop and introduce you to the kids.”
As expected, Theo had a fit much like a foaming fanboy before he was forced to breathe into a paper bang after meeting Tommy and Jason, and the young man was sitting on the floor mats, slightly dazed.
“I never saw Theo act like that before,” said Casey in a low voice to Lily.
“I’ve never seen him act like that PERIOD. But just wow. Tommy Oliver and Jason Lee Scott, two of the most famous Power Rangers in the world…” Lily smiled. “And their kids were so cute too. I can’t believe they’re all adopted!”
“Just breathe in and out Theo, you’ve had a big day,” said RJ, coaxing Theo into breathing exercises to keep the boy from passing out again.
Theo nodded, still a little flushed from his near-screaming and fainting fit.
“Just calmly breathe in, let the awesome of their presence flow in… and exhale and let those nerves out…” coaxed RJ.
“Any more presence of awesome RJ and Theo might collapse entirely,” said Casey and Theo shot him a look. “Hey just saying!”
“So RJ, are we going to get any actual help instead of a visit?” inquired Lily.
“Ahhhhh no. Not yet. Maybe if a villain from a previous team decides to rear his ugly head but it’s tradition that we take our first steps without older Rangers hovering over our heads.” Said RJ. “So no, the Power Rangers aren’t going to breathing on our necks till later.”
“Awwww,” chorused the trio, really hoping that they would get help in their first awkward steps as Jungle Fury Rangers.
Einhart was wandering around the grounds of SPD that day when she noticed a little blonde girl sitting on a bench, chatting animatedly with a pair of older girls, one violet haired, the other red headed. When the blonde turned her head however, Einhart’s heart leaped into her throat. It was HER.
She never met her before, but deep in her heart she knew who this was; the Saint Kaiser, the reincarnation of the queen that was known as the strongest warrior-queen during the times of Ancient Belka. Her own blood seemed to sing as she stared intently at the blonde.
“Hello!” chirped Vivio and Einhart jumped visibly. “Don’t be shy, come on over! I’m Vivio Hart. And these are my friends, Teana Lanster and Subaru Nakajima!”
“Hiyo~!” sung out Subaru and Teana bowed politely.
“… nice to meet you,” said Einhart softly.
“I love your eyes,” said Vivio and the little girl blushed heavily. “Hmm?”
“Aww how cute,” teased Subaru, “she’s flushing!”
“N-no I…” stammered Einhart. “Vivio! I-I… I challenge you!”
“Huh?” said Vivio. “Challenge me? To a fight?”
“Mm!” exclaimed Einhart, dropping into a stance. “I want to prove who’s better in the Kaiser arts!”
“That’s a Strike Art stance,” said Subaru in surprise. “You’re from Mid?”
“Do you accept?”
“Mama said don’t fight needlessly…” Vivio said, standing up. “But I’ll accept anyway!”
Doggie rubbed his forehead as Kim wore an expression akin to frustration and pride all at once. Yuuno and Chrono were trying not to laugh in the corner while Quint and Tiida had a look of pained amusement. “This fight of yours… managed to shatter concrete walkways, break a few walls, a couple of potted plants and…” Doggie looked at Kim.
“Three swathes of windows,” finished Kim.
“Yes. Three swathes of windows. Well?”
Doggie’s voice made the four little girls wince. “In our defense, it was already damaged?” said Subaru weakly.
“No, they weren’t.” said Quint. “Subaru…”
“Now, now, they were having all good fun,” said Lothor as he stepped into the room.
“This isn’t your concern Lothor,” said Doggie sharply.
“Of course it is,” said Lothor. “I was supposed to be watching Subaru and Tia and Vivio and I stepped away for a moment. Thus, my fault.”
Chrono and Yuuno shared a glance that read “Uh Oh”. “What did you have in mind?” asked Chrono.
Lothor smirked, and it was one of those smiles that sent a chill down everyone’s spine. Even Doggie’s.
“When you said “you had a plan” this was the last thing on my mind,” said Cam as Marah and Kapri gushed over the four little kids. “Uncle…”
“What? You were saying that you were bored dear nephew. And it’s not like Shane, Tori and Dustin have any time on their hands.” Smirked Lothor.
“But I’m BUSY.” Insisted Cam. “I can’t teach four little kids how to fight!”
“On the contrary Cam, I believe it is a good idea.” Said Sensei as he walked into the courtyard. “Lothor.”
“Ah dear brother,” chuckled Lothor. “Once again I grace these halls but not as a conqueror. I’ve had enough of that for now.”
“How much training have you put Subaru through?” asked Sensei and his brother smirked. “I see. Well then. Cam, I believe you should take over their training, until we can decide on a course of action.”
Cam looked extremely pained at the concept but sighed. “Fine. Is there anyone else you want me to train while I’m at it?”
“Well we could always grab the Takamachi kid, but then you’d have to take on Oliver’s kids too,” said Lothor.
“PASS,” said Cam. “Nanoha’s scary enough without melee training.”
“She is already being instructed at any rate,” said Sensei. “Her family has decided to train her in the sword, as well as physical conditioning since her accident.”
“Scary time is now…” muttered Cam.
“Oi, Nanoha,” said Vita, bustling into the Takamachi dojo behind the house. She frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Sword training,” panted Nanoha as she thrust her sword down one last time and wiped her forehead as she straightened her gi top. “After the accident, mom and dad decided that I needed more physical conditioning to recover. I’ve been training ever since.”
“And you never told me?” said Vita, put out. “C’mon, you and me. Sparring. Let’s go.”
“Eh? But I’ve already…” started Nanoha and then she was ducking a swing from Graf Eisen. “Hey!”
“Fight!” snapped Vita as she swung the weapon over and over in bashing blows. The impacts rattled her bones as she withstood the impacts with the blows to her bokken. “C’mon Nanoha, where’s the white devil inside?”
Nanoha growled and pushed back, pressing in a flurry of practiced blows which had Vita grinning. “There you go, that’s it! C’mon, show me that fire you had!”
The pair fought back and forth, hammer to bokken, Vita pressing her advantage since Nanoha was already tired. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon!” laughed Vita. “Isn’t this fun?”
Despite sweat pouring down her body and her muscles aching, Nanoha nodded as they clashed again and in a snapping noise, the bokken shattered, sending Nanoha sprawling to the ground as Vita leveled Graf Eisen at her neck. “Good job.” Said Vita as she recalled her device and offered a hand.
“Thanks. I’m nowhere near Fate-chan though in physical melee,” said Nanoha as she stood up with Vita’s help. “But Vita-chan is still so incredibly strong! I feel jealous.”
“Eh, you’ll catch up to her,” said Vita, side-stepping the compliment that left her cheeks tinged pink. “If you want more sword training, ask Signum for that. She’s not much of a trainer but she knows how to hurt people.”
“R-right.” The pair stood there, a little awkwardly before Nanoha said, “Want something cool to drink?”
“Sure.”
“You know when I said I wanted to stay local to do my practicum, I didn’t think I’d be assigned here,” said Shamal as she bandaged up Vivio’s arm. “You and Einhart are getting along well.”
“She’s so cool,” gushed the seven year old going on eight. “She’s so graceful and her strike arts are so neat!”
“That’s good, but don’t overwork yourself, okay?” said Shamal gently as she patted Vivio on the head.
Turning to her other patients, she frowned. “Tia, Subaru, can you two STOP hurting each other? What was it this time? Ninja streak? Air walk? Earth-surfing?”
“Water-walking… right into rocks.” Muttered Tia. “Is everyone crazy here?”
“You get used to it,” said Shamal cheerfully.
Einhart watched the young doctor in training move around working on the various students. She had been assigned as part of her training in the Wind Ninja Academy to aid the doctors, bringing bandages and healing salves to the group as part of a control exercise. Why Shamal rarely used magic though was beyond her, as magic could heal most of these trivial wounds.
“Penny for your thoughts?” chimed a voice behind her as Einhart turned to look at an unfamiliar pink-haired woman that wasn’t Kapri in one of her preferred disguises. “Watching Shamal work can be very soothing.”
“Ah, I am… her assistant,” said Einhart. “It is a control exercise.”
The woman’s lips turned up in a smile. “Well that certainly is a Shamal thing to do. I’m Signum.”
Signum of the Wolkenritter. Of course, Einhart should have realized it with the way the woman moved, her arm leaning to the side like it was brushing against a sword all the time. “A pleasure to meet you, I am Einhart Stratos.”
“Ah I see… the descendant of one of the Kaisers of the Ancient Belkan era.” Signum nodded as she gestured for Einhart to sit down. “We were briefed on your existence. To think that there was a descendant running around.”
“My family is small, but lasting,” said Einhart, sitting down and folding her hands in her lap demurely.
“Indeed. I see though that you are under the guardianship of Anubis Cruger. How did that come to be?”
“My parents are dead,” said Einhart simply. “However when I heard that Vivio Hart existed, I simply had to come to Earth. So I snuck away from the orphanage.”
“And met Anubis. I see.” Signum said. “I understand then where you are coming from. I too am without parent, but I have my Meister, Hayate Yagami.”
Einhart nodded, biting her lip. “I’m just… not very good with new people.”
“It will come with time,” said Signum. “I’m not a very social creature myself, but I know the value of good people.” She looked up at Shamal who was standing at the door. “I should go. And learn from Shamal, Einhart.”
“Of course,” said Einhart as Signum swept by Shamal who gave the pink haired woman a knowing smile.
“Oh here you are Hayate-chan,” said Fate as she and Nanoha clambered into the cockpit of the Shogun Megazord and sat down next to her. “What are you thinking about?”
“The future,” said Hayate, running her hand across the cockpit controls. “Fate-chan, Nanoha-chan, did you ever really give thought to what we’d be doing in the future?”
Nanoha blinked. “I would have thought that it would be obvious. Our future selves are here, right? We’ll be Power Rangers or Mages or both.”
Hayate’s lips twitched into a smile. “Same old Nanoha-chan. No I mean, what WE will be doing. Our older selves have given us food for thought, but remember we also saw what we could do in another world. It’s been giving me some time to figure out what to do in our lives.”
“I was wondering about that myself,” said Fate. “My older selves looked so elegant and graceful. One is passionate and fiery. The other is like a flowing river….”
“Like night and day,” agreed Nanoha. “In fact, the two versions of each of us are definitely different.”
“I think we should forge our own path,” said Hayate. “We have our powers, but already we’re showing how different we are between them. Like for instance, Nanoha-chan, you didn’t learn swordsmanship in that other world, but in the Ranger future you did and your weapon is a staff that becomes a sword. But at the same time, you’re also just as dedicated to your magic.”
“I see. So that gives us a reason to become our own people,” said Nanoha, nodding. “We’re not the same, as much as we look up to our older selves.”
“Right. We can do this. We can become our own people, Ranger, Mage, whatever.” Agreed Fate.
“Yep! And I’m sure Vivio feels the same way as well,” said Hayate.
“Ha-choo!”
WHUMP.
“Ack!” Einhart scrambled to Vivio’s side as she helped her up. “S-sorry! That was a low blow! Are you okay?”
“It’s okay,” said Vivio, holding her swelling cheek with a hand. “I sneezed at the wrong moment. I think someone’s talking about me.”
“Ha-choo!” Chorused three girls, one with grey hair, one with blue and one with short brown hair.
“Bless you,” said Vivio, looking up from her book. “Someone’s talking about you guys?”
“How’d you figure?” asked Hayate, rubbing her nose.
The elder platinum haired girl grinned as Alicia laughed from her side. “Because when I was a kid, I just got coldclocked on this day by Einhart-chan during training. Now I KNOW it’s not coincidence.”
“So if we’re being talked about, then who gets to make Alicia sneeze?” asked Hayate.
“HACHOO!”
THUMP.
“Ow…” groaned Alicia as she rubbed her head. “That hurt.”
“It’s supposed to hurt,” said Sister Schach as she lowered her two tonfa devices. “Please pay attention a little more Alicia, it’s part of your studies.”
“Right, sorry. I get the feeling though I missed something,” said Alicia. She picked up her staff and spun it around. “Ready.”
Tiida Lanster found his first week at SPD to be interesting. While it wasn’t quite as shiny as a stay in Mid, it was certainly busy. Their drill sergeant or field commanders were Wes Collins and Eric Meyers, two of the veteran Rangers from what they confirmed as the “post-Zordon” era.
Since arriving, he had been subjected to various stress tests of all types, endurance and then marked with the symbol of the Silver Guardians on his TSAB uniform. Fortunately for his sanity, they used energy weapons since he was certainly not used to the recoil of projectiles, something he wouldn’t get used to at all.
“This is a normal day for us?” groaned Tiida as he took up position next to another member of the group, a man named Devin Tate.
“Oh yeah, this is routine,” chuckled Devin. “Especially since Operation Overdrive can’t seem to keep their enemies to their side of the fence.”
“What were you doing before this?” inquired Tiida as the command to open fire was issued, and the Chillers got a face-full of blasters and device fire.
“Scientist. I helped create the new Delta Morphers,” said Devin. “Haven’t finished the bugs yet so we’re not quite ready for the new squad to be debuted.” His shot took off the head of a chiller as it exploded into snow. “How about you?”
“Sharpshooter for the Cranagan Defense Forces on Mid,” replied Tiida, loosing a few blasts from his device. “I wanted to become an Enforcer, but they pulled me out for this special joint forces program.”
“I hear you. I was a police officer before I joined up with the SG’s. Couldn’t keep away from the action,” chuckled Devin. “Down!”
The two men ducked behind the car as the monster of the week fired a blast that tore up the cement in front of them. “Geez!” exclaimed Tiida at the flying shrapnel. “This is nuts!”
“Gotta love it! Oh and here come the big boys,” said Devin as the two commanding officers strode into the battlefield to deal with the attacker. “Take a good look Tiida, this is how it’s done on earth.”
“Time For Time Force!” exclaimed Wes, touching his Chronomorpher.
“Quantum Power!” shouted Eric as he thrust his arm into the air.
In a blast of red energy, Time Force Red and the Quantum Ranger formed as they went to town on the opponent. Tiida stared for a long moment and said, “We’re not going to have to wear spandex are we?”
“If you’re chosen, then it might be a good idea,” grinned Devin, sniping a Chiller that got too close. “Quite a change from Mid jackets huh?”
“I’ll tell you one thing: it’ll probably up my chances of getting a date.” Tiida ducked a flying rock. “Or not. I’ll let you know when we survive this.”
“Nyah nyah, you can’t catch me Tia!” exclaimed Subaru as she ran around giggling.
“Come back here!” exclaimed Teana, her hair tied up in little pigtails, Subaru’s handiwork no less.
“They make a good pair,” said Lothor as he sipped his tea, keeping an eye on kids who were tearing around making a scene in the courtyard of the building that served as SPD/Silver Guardians headquarters.
“If you say so,” said Tiida, clearly unnerved that the man sitting in front of him was the notorious Lothor, a man so infamous in this time as a space ninja that there had even been wanted posters even in Mid and the outer-rim worlds of the sea.
“Are you scared of me?” inquired Lothor.
“Petrified,” admitted Tiida. “That girl of yours is energetic.”
“Oh she’s not mine, she’s Quint’s. I’m babysitting while she does her duties here. I’m just the hired help.” said Lothor with a grin.
“Quint?”
“Nakajima. You know, Genya’s wife. I’m under observation as it were. Little kids seem to have that softening effect on me. Makes an old space ninja feel like a father again.” explained Lothor.
“… Crazy world…” muttered Tiida, hanging his head.
“Hello?”
“Hiyo~!” exclaimed Ninjor on the other end of the phone.
:”Oh, Ninjor.” Tommy blinked. “You never use the phone.”
“Yes well I figured it was a good time to call as any. Operation Overdrive’s gearing up for their final battle, so I would suggest that you buckle down in case wiggy things happen.”
Tommy blinked. Checked the calendar. “Wait, it’s barely been a year…”
“Kids these days,” said Ninjor cheerfully. “Always rushing things. No lasting power too for heroics. In any case, I decided to give you a call just in case they screw up and need backup…”
“You seem to be pretty sure they’re going to fail,” said Tommy in a conversational tone.
“Well someone’s got to bet against them. Besides, I really want to see Sentinel epic fail when he finds out that his little tiara isn’t the most powerful artifact in the cosmos.”
“So it’s all about sibling rivalry,” said Tommy with a sigh. “Well I guess I can’t fault that. Just step in if they really do need help.”
“Of course I will! I’m petty, not stupid. Laters~!”
Tommy looked at the phone and hung up. “I think the off-worlders are starting to prove a point. I think we all ARE crazy.”
Ring Ring.
“Hello?”
“Tommy its Cam.”
Tommy palmed his face with his other hand. “I hope this is good news, Operation Overdrive just finished beating Flurrious in the box three hours ago.”
“Nope, sorry. RJ called: Dai Shi escaped an hour ago.”
“What is WITH this timing?” demanded Tommy.
“Hey don’t look at me. Ninja Storm was waiting nearly 30 years for Lothor to return.”
“Alright, send me the info on the latest Rangers and I’ll head a little delegation there. Any suggestions?”
“Yeah, bring Jason with you. The new blue will probably squeal and pass out according to RJ.”
“We’re going to a pizza place in another city?” asked Fate as Tommy pulled their jeep up to the front of Jungle Karma Pizza.
“More or less. I couldn’t get anyone on the line and I wanted to go and visit RJ’s new team,” replied Tommy as he unbuckled his seat belt.
“Too bad Vi and Aunt Kim can’t come,” said Wendi. “We’re waiting for Jason though right?”
The roar of a motorcycle alerted the group as Jason rolled up and doffed his helmet, Quattro leaping off the back. “Wendi,” said Quattro.
“Sis,” replied Wendi cheerfully. “Getting into trouble?”
“Mother let me built a quantum accelerator,” said Quattro with a little smile. “How about you?”
“Passed classes. Top of my class.” Replied the ex-Number.
Quattro smiled as she took her father’s hand. “Let’s go get some pizza.”
Entering the building, it was busy with a nice sense of a “hole in the wall” pizzeria, a place that was full of life and it wasn’t definitely a franchise. “Welcome to Jungle Karma!” exclaimed a mousy looking girl with thick glasses and frizzy hair. “Table for five?”
“Yeah, and can you tell RJ that Tommy’s here to see him too? And Jason.” said Tommy.
“Oh of course. Right this way.”
Sitting them in a table, the girls busied themselves with the crayons and coloring stuff while men looked around. “Cozy, comforting, hole in the wall. Probably cheaper and way better than those cardboard pizzas they serve at Pizza Hut,” remarked Jason.
“Yeah.” Looking over in the corner where a young man with brown hair was flipping pizza effortlessly, he indicated with a flick of his head. “Ranger?”
“I honestly can’t tell, but he’s learning martial arts.” Said Jason. “Good technique. I guess RJ doesn’t believe in color coded uniforms.”
The pair singled out the girl and the Asian boy behind the register as Ranger material by the skilled way they moved and soon, RJ himself bustled over. “Hey Tommy, Jason,” greeted the pizzeria manager. “Welcome to Casa de RJ. What can I get you?”
“Two large pizzas, um, house special,” said Jason. “And coke to drink for me and Tommy. Juice for the girls.”
Quattro pouted. “Father says soda makes me hyper.”
“So that’s two Wolf Spirit pizzas,” said RJ. “Alright. I’ll get those made up for you. Once you guys are done, we’ll close up shop and introduce you to the kids.”
As expected, Theo had a fit much like a foaming fanboy before he was forced to breathe into a paper bang after meeting Tommy and Jason, and the young man was sitting on the floor mats, slightly dazed.
“I never saw Theo act like that before,” said Casey in a low voice to Lily.
“I’ve never seen him act like that PERIOD. But just wow. Tommy Oliver and Jason Lee Scott, two of the most famous Power Rangers in the world…” Lily smiled. “And their kids were so cute too. I can’t believe they’re all adopted!”
“Just breathe in and out Theo, you’ve had a big day,” said RJ, coaxing Theo into breathing exercises to keep the boy from passing out again.
Theo nodded, still a little flushed from his near-screaming and fainting fit.
“Just calmly breathe in, let the awesome of their presence flow in… and exhale and let those nerves out…” coaxed RJ.
“Any more presence of awesome RJ and Theo might collapse entirely,” said Casey and Theo shot him a look. “Hey just saying!”
“So RJ, are we going to get any actual help instead of a visit?” inquired Lily.
“Ahhhhh no. Not yet. Maybe if a villain from a previous team decides to rear his ugly head but it’s tradition that we take our first steps without older Rangers hovering over our heads.” Said RJ. “So no, the Power Rangers aren’t going to breathing on our necks till later.”
“Awwww,” chorused the trio, really hoping that they would get help in their first awkward steps as Jungle Fury Rangers.
Einhart was wandering around the grounds of SPD that day when she noticed a little blonde girl sitting on a bench, chatting animatedly with a pair of older girls, one violet haired, the other red headed. When the blonde turned her head however, Einhart’s heart leaped into her throat. It was HER.
She never met her before, but deep in her heart she knew who this was; the Saint Kaiser, the reincarnation of the queen that was known as the strongest warrior-queen during the times of Ancient Belka. Her own blood seemed to sing as she stared intently at the blonde.
“Hello!” chirped Vivio and Einhart jumped visibly. “Don’t be shy, come on over! I’m Vivio Hart. And these are my friends, Teana Lanster and Subaru Nakajima!”
“Hiyo~!” sung out Subaru and Teana bowed politely.
“… nice to meet you,” said Einhart softly.
“I love your eyes,” said Vivio and the little girl blushed heavily. “Hmm?”
“Aww how cute,” teased Subaru, “she’s flushing!”
“N-no I…” stammered Einhart. “Vivio! I-I… I challenge you!”
“Huh?” said Vivio. “Challenge me? To a fight?”
“Mm!” exclaimed Einhart, dropping into a stance. “I want to prove who’s better in the Kaiser arts!”
“That’s a Strike Art stance,” said Subaru in surprise. “You’re from Mid?”
“Do you accept?”
“Mama said don’t fight needlessly…” Vivio said, standing up. “But I’ll accept anyway!”
Doggie rubbed his forehead as Kim wore an expression akin to frustration and pride all at once. Yuuno and Chrono were trying not to laugh in the corner while Quint and Tiida had a look of pained amusement. “This fight of yours… managed to shatter concrete walkways, break a few walls, a couple of potted plants and…” Doggie looked at Kim.
“Three swathes of windows,” finished Kim.
“Yes. Three swathes of windows. Well?”
Doggie’s voice made the four little girls wince. “In our defense, it was already damaged?” said Subaru weakly.
“No, they weren’t.” said Quint. “Subaru…”
“Now, now, they were having all good fun,” said Lothor as he stepped into the room.
“This isn’t your concern Lothor,” said Doggie sharply.
“Of course it is,” said Lothor. “I was supposed to be watching Subaru and Tia and Vivio and I stepped away for a moment. Thus, my fault.”
Chrono and Yuuno shared a glance that read “Uh Oh”. “What did you have in mind?” asked Chrono.
Lothor smirked, and it was one of those smiles that sent a chill down everyone’s spine. Even Doggie’s.
“When you said “you had a plan” this was the last thing on my mind,” said Cam as Marah and Kapri gushed over the four little kids. “Uncle…”
“What? You were saying that you were bored dear nephew. And it’s not like Shane, Tori and Dustin have any time on their hands.” Smirked Lothor.
“But I’m BUSY.” Insisted Cam. “I can’t teach four little kids how to fight!”
“On the contrary Cam, I believe it is a good idea.” Said Sensei as he walked into the courtyard. “Lothor.”
“Ah dear brother,” chuckled Lothor. “Once again I grace these halls but not as a conqueror. I’ve had enough of that for now.”
“How much training have you put Subaru through?” asked Sensei and his brother smirked. “I see. Well then. Cam, I believe you should take over their training, until we can decide on a course of action.”
Cam looked extremely pained at the concept but sighed. “Fine. Is there anyone else you want me to train while I’m at it?”
“Well we could always grab the Takamachi kid, but then you’d have to take on Oliver’s kids too,” said Lothor.
“PASS,” said Cam. “Nanoha’s scary enough without melee training.”
“She is already being instructed at any rate,” said Sensei. “Her family has decided to train her in the sword, as well as physical conditioning since her accident.”
“Scary time is now…” muttered Cam.
“Oi, Nanoha,” said Vita, bustling into the Takamachi dojo behind the house. She frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Sword training,” panted Nanoha as she thrust her sword down one last time and wiped her forehead as she straightened her gi top. “After the accident, mom and dad decided that I needed more physical conditioning to recover. I’ve been training ever since.”
“And you never told me?” said Vita, put out. “C’mon, you and me. Sparring. Let’s go.”
“Eh? But I’ve already…” started Nanoha and then she was ducking a swing from Graf Eisen. “Hey!”
“Fight!” snapped Vita as she swung the weapon over and over in bashing blows. The impacts rattled her bones as she withstood the impacts with the blows to her bokken. “C’mon Nanoha, where’s the white devil inside?”
Nanoha growled and pushed back, pressing in a flurry of practiced blows which had Vita grinning. “There you go, that’s it! C’mon, show me that fire you had!”
The pair fought back and forth, hammer to bokken, Vita pressing her advantage since Nanoha was already tired. “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon!” laughed Vita. “Isn’t this fun?”
Despite sweat pouring down her body and her muscles aching, Nanoha nodded as they clashed again and in a snapping noise, the bokken shattered, sending Nanoha sprawling to the ground as Vita leveled Graf Eisen at her neck. “Good job.” Said Vita as she recalled her device and offered a hand.
“Thanks. I’m nowhere near Fate-chan though in physical melee,” said Nanoha as she stood up with Vita’s help. “But Vita-chan is still so incredibly strong! I feel jealous.”
“Eh, you’ll catch up to her,” said Vita, side-stepping the compliment that left her cheeks tinged pink. “If you want more sword training, ask Signum for that. She’s not much of a trainer but she knows how to hurt people.”
“R-right.” The pair stood there, a little awkwardly before Nanoha said, “Want something cool to drink?”
“Sure.”
“You know when I said I wanted to stay local to do my practicum, I didn’t think I’d be assigned here,” said Shamal as she bandaged up Vivio’s arm. “You and Einhart are getting along well.”
“She’s so cool,” gushed the seven year old going on eight. “She’s so graceful and her strike arts are so neat!”
“That’s good, but don’t overwork yourself, okay?” said Shamal gently as she patted Vivio on the head.
Turning to her other patients, she frowned. “Tia, Subaru, can you two STOP hurting each other? What was it this time? Ninja streak? Air walk? Earth-surfing?”
“Water-walking… right into rocks.” Muttered Tia. “Is everyone crazy here?”
“You get used to it,” said Shamal cheerfully.
Einhart watched the young doctor in training move around working on the various students. She had been assigned as part of her training in the Wind Ninja Academy to aid the doctors, bringing bandages and healing salves to the group as part of a control exercise. Why Shamal rarely used magic though was beyond her, as magic could heal most of these trivial wounds.
“Penny for your thoughts?” chimed a voice behind her as Einhart turned to look at an unfamiliar pink-haired woman that wasn’t Kapri in one of her preferred disguises. “Watching Shamal work can be very soothing.”
“Ah, I am… her assistant,” said Einhart. “It is a control exercise.”
The woman’s lips turned up in a smile. “Well that certainly is a Shamal thing to do. I’m Signum.”
Signum of the Wolkenritter. Of course, Einhart should have realized it with the way the woman moved, her arm leaning to the side like it was brushing against a sword all the time. “A pleasure to meet you, I am Einhart Stratos.”
“Ah I see… the descendant of one of the Kaisers of the Ancient Belkan era.” Signum nodded as she gestured for Einhart to sit down. “We were briefed on your existence. To think that there was a descendant running around.”
“My family is small, but lasting,” said Einhart, sitting down and folding her hands in her lap demurely.
“Indeed. I see though that you are under the guardianship of Anubis Cruger. How did that come to be?”
“My parents are dead,” said Einhart simply. “However when I heard that Vivio Hart existed, I simply had to come to Earth. So I snuck away from the orphanage.”
“And met Anubis. I see.” Signum said. “I understand then where you are coming from. I too am without parent, but I have my Meister, Hayate Yagami.”
Einhart nodded, biting her lip. “I’m just… not very good with new people.”
“It will come with time,” said Signum. “I’m not a very social creature myself, but I know the value of good people.” She looked up at Shamal who was standing at the door. “I should go. And learn from Shamal, Einhart.”
“Of course,” said Einhart as Signum swept by Shamal who gave the pink haired woman a knowing smile.
“Oh here you are Hayate-chan,” said Fate as she and Nanoha clambered into the cockpit of the Shogun Megazord and sat down next to her. “What are you thinking about?”
“The future,” said Hayate, running her hand across the cockpit controls. “Fate-chan, Nanoha-chan, did you ever really give thought to what we’d be doing in the future?”
Nanoha blinked. “I would have thought that it would be obvious. Our future selves are here, right? We’ll be Power Rangers or Mages or both.”
Hayate’s lips twitched into a smile. “Same old Nanoha-chan. No I mean, what WE will be doing. Our older selves have given us food for thought, but remember we also saw what we could do in another world. It’s been giving me some time to figure out what to do in our lives.”
“I was wondering about that myself,” said Fate. “My older selves looked so elegant and graceful. One is passionate and fiery. The other is like a flowing river….”
“Like night and day,” agreed Nanoha. “In fact, the two versions of each of us are definitely different.”
“I think we should forge our own path,” said Hayate. “We have our powers, but already we’re showing how different we are between them. Like for instance, Nanoha-chan, you didn’t learn swordsmanship in that other world, but in the Ranger future you did and your weapon is a staff that becomes a sword. But at the same time, you’re also just as dedicated to your magic.”
“I see. So that gives us a reason to become our own people,” said Nanoha, nodding. “We’re not the same, as much as we look up to our older selves.”
“Right. We can do this. We can become our own people, Ranger, Mage, whatever.” Agreed Fate.
“Yep! And I’m sure Vivio feels the same way as well,” said Hayate.
“Ha-choo!”
WHUMP.
“Ack!” Einhart scrambled to Vivio’s side as she helped her up. “S-sorry! That was a low blow! Are you okay?”
“It’s okay,” said Vivio, holding her swelling cheek with a hand. “I sneezed at the wrong moment. I think someone’s talking about me.”
“Ha-choo!” Chorused three girls, one with grey hair, one with blue and one with short brown hair.
“Bless you,” said Vivio, looking up from her book. “Someone’s talking about you guys?”
“How’d you figure?” asked Hayate, rubbing her nose.
The elder platinum haired girl grinned as Alicia laughed from her side. “Because when I was a kid, I just got coldclocked on this day by Einhart-chan during training. Now I KNOW it’s not coincidence.”
“So if we’re being talked about, then who gets to make Alicia sneeze?” asked Hayate.
“HACHOO!”
THUMP.
“Ow…” groaned Alicia as she rubbed her head. “That hurt.”
“It’s supposed to hurt,” said Sister Schach as she lowered her two tonfa devices. “Please pay attention a little more Alicia, it’s part of your studies.”
“Right, sorry. I get the feeling though I missed something,” said Alicia. She picked up her staff and spun it around. “Ready.”