Blue Bay Harbor

Alice Whittaker sat on her surfboard, feet dangling over each side in the ocean as she felt the strength and power of the ocean. It was relatively calm where she was waiting, out beyond the breaks. But she could feel the wave building in the distance. She was getting in a little extra practice before the last competition of the season. A nearly life-long surfer and swimmer, it was no surprise that the blonde girl became a Water Ninja. She had the ability to control water with her Ki, but out here, she only let herself feel, never control. It was the ultimate woman vs. nature moment and trying to control it would ruin it.

The water under her board began to undulate forcefully. It was coming. She looked at her waterproof watch. This would have to be the last wave before school. It felt like it was going to be a good one. She began to paddle with all her might as the undulations continued. She let everything go blank as the wave formed. Instinct and years of knowledge took over as she stood, catching the wave, and riding it nearly to the beach.

When she finally gave it up for the morning, she pulled her board and herself to the beach. Her new friend, Sissy Elliot ran over to her. Fall was coming to Blue Bay Harbor, and the morning air was crisp. Aly was shivering a little in her wet jacket and bikini, but her dark-haired friend was unfazed in her own beach wear. "That was awesome. I have so got to learn how to surf," she said and helped her friend wrap a beach towel around her to warm up a little.

Aly smiled. "There's nothing like it in the whole world. If I had to choose between the Academy and surfing, surfing would win every time," she said. She checked her watch again. "We'd better get going if we don't want to be late for school," she said. Sissy nodded her agreement and made haste to Aly's house. Since she didn't get wet, Sissy merely had to change into her school clothes, but Aly had to wash the sea water out of her hair.

They were running a little late by the time they got to school. They were hurrying down the steps that led to the front courtyard. Instinctively, suddenly had both girls jerking aside moments before a boy on a skateboard slid past them on the handrail that ran down the center of the steps. "Sorry!" Taylor Hicks said as he slid by. When the rail ended, he sailed through the air for a long moment before the board gave a sharp twist and he turned 360 degrees before finally hitting the ground. He slid to a stop in front of the school and popped the board into his hands. He was already taking off his helmet as he hurried inside.

"Wow," Sissy said.

Aly rolled her eyes. "That last part was completely unecesarry," she declared as they finished descending the stairs.

Sissy suddenly pulled Aly down into a crouch moments before someone sailed over their heads. Kane landed in a crouch. He looked at his watch and blew out a breath of releif. "Made it," he said and jogged inside.

Sissy grinned. "He's so cool," she declared, then blushed at her statement.

"If you like slackers who think they're funny, then sure," Aly declared. Sissy didn't comment. Aly sighed. "The heart wants what it wants, who am I to judge?" she asked, hoping she hadn't offended her new friend. Sissy grinned at her. When they walked in, Kane and Taylor were at their lockers and a brunette with short hair pointing her finger at them.

"Why are you two always barely here before the bell rings? What do you do in the mornings anyway?" Alex demanded of them.

"Sleep," Taylor said.

"I'm just slow," Kane said and gave her a winning grin.

Aly refrained from rolling her eyes again and made it to her locker. Sissy bid her goodbye and made her way to her own locker. She was only a junior and her locker was located in a different part of the hall. And that was how Aly's day started. It was ordinary and usual, even for having a competition after school. She surfed or swam every morning. She rolled her eyes at Alex and her gang every morning. And she made her way to her first period class. She sat down next to Gray every morning and pretended like she didn't have the biggest crush on him in the world. Every morning.

~~~~~

Somewhere outside Blue Bay Harbor

In a dense, overgrown, almost tropical forest in the mountains, there was a erected pagoda-style building of gray stone. It looked ancient, though it actually hadn't been there for that long. Getting to this place was a challenge. Not only was its location unknown to practically everyone, but traps were also set up all over the mountain.

There was life in this place. Children of varying ages, about twelve to eighteen, could be seen doing martial arts drills. There were also black-clad faceless figures milling around listlessly unless given a task. These were Shadelings. The ones seeing to the drills and ordering the Shadelings were five people who seemed to be fused with animals. They were the Shadow Generals.

This was the Shadow Academy. Overseeing all of it was a figure always wrapped in shadows. Only his eyes glowing like an animal's could be easily perceived. Master Kagemoto. A Shadow Ninja of unparalleled skilled and unparallelled madness. A silver-tongued tyrant who'd seduced five of the best ninja cadets from the Wind, Thunder, and Fire Academies years ago.

Falcore had once been a uniquely promising Wind Ninja. He'd also been handsome, popular, and charming until Kagemoto came along and seduced him with promises of power. Now Falcore had one wing sprouting from his back, half his face was that of a falcon's, talons deformed the ends of his fingers and toes.

Sharkita had a been a brilliant Water Ninja with a scientific mind and a thirst for knowledge. Kagemoto used her need to know and experiment. Now what was once a pretty Japanese-American girl was a mutated shark woman with a mouthful of teeth, a dorsal fin splitting her head, and webbed fingers and toes.

Gurahol had been a grounded, level-headed Earth Ninja with a passion for saving the environment. Kagemoto had lured the tenderhearted dark-skinned giant with the idea that the world would be better off with them in charge. Now he almost as much bear as he was man.

Butah was passionate but new-agey. A Thunder Ninja of the highest calibur. An old soul with fresh ideas. Kagemoto was supposed to represent a new future. Now she was an ant-like woman was six limbs and anetennae sprouting from her head.

Zstingerz was a free-spirited spitfire of a Fire Ninja. Headstrong and a little reckless, she was always up for a challenge. Becoming one of Kagemotos first students was a challenge she met head-on and was now a queen bee with compound eyes and iridescent wings.

Sitting in a dark room, draped in shadows and a dark cloak, Master Kagemoto awaited two of his generals. Sharkita and Gurahol had been summoned. Presently, they arrived. They took a knee as they bowed to him respectfully. "Now that we've been discovered, what are you going to do?" he asked them in a voice that seeped out of the shadows. around them.

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"Instead of randomly picking up children to fill in our ranks, I beleive we should start targeting those who would make more exceptional soldiers," Gurahol stated.

"What are your thoughts on this, Sharkita?" Kagemoto asked.

"We've all come to an agreement on that issue," Sharkita answered.

"All five of you agree on something. How, rare," Kagemoto said.

"It was my idea. I didn't give them much choice," a fourth person joined them, staying in the shadows even more than Kagemoto.

"Of course," Kagemoto said with a smirk that was heard but not seen. The two Generals' faces showed they weren't pleased. "Do you have a plan?" he asked.

"There's a surfing competition this weekend. Since I'm the only one who isn't a freak of nature, I'll be around as a spectator, scouting for the best among them," came the answer. "When I give the word, these two, will attempt replication," he said.

"Very well," Kagemoto said. "See to it. I agree, it's time to fill in our ranks with the elite and not whatever scraps we can pick up without being noticed," he said. "See it done. Leave," he said, giving a dismissive gesture with his hand. The Generals backed out of the room. When the other person started to leave, Kagemoto stopped him by clearing his throat. "I'm glad to see you actively participating," he said.

"I'm keeping my end of the bargain. Just remember to keep yours."

Kagemoto grunted as he left. A smile stretched his features. One of smug madness.

~~~~

Blue Beach was crowded with people in town for the competition. Competitors and spectators alike mingling around. "Probably last great beach day of the year and we have to share it with a bunch of alien invaders," Alex complained as she walked along with her friends.

"I take offense to that," Kane said.

"Thought you were human," Taylor said absently as his attention was caught by a pretty bikini clad girl who walked by and flashed him a smile.

Alex rolled her eyes at him. Kane snickered. "I'm as human as you are," he said.

"Yeah, I can see the resemblance," Alex said since Kane's attention had now been captured by Sissy coming toward them.

"Hi, guys! Are you here to watch Aly compete?" she asked as she joined them.

"Among many reasons," Taylor answered as he was distracted again.

"Don't you love how he's not even subtle about it?" Alex said in amusement. Sissy giggled.

"They're the ones that keep smiling at me. It's rude not to smile back," Taylor said. "Did I suddenly get good looking or something?" he asked, a genuine frown on his face.

Sissy blinked and looked at Alex for clarification. "Is that another joke?" she asked.

"Well, same time last year he and Kane were the same height, and he was skinnier," Alex answered. Unlike Cam, who was tall, slim, and gawky, Kane was shorter and stockier in the shoulders. Now, his friend was several inches taller than him and filled out proportionately. "He's always had that face though," she added and shrugged.

Sissy nodded, leaving Taylor more confused than ever. "Anyway, did we miss anything yet?" he asked.

Sissy shook her head and led them to where Aly and several other competitors were set up under a canopy. Aly looked at them. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"It's the beach and one of the last hurrahs of summer," Alex answered.

"And you're our teammate so we came to support you," Taylor added, and jostled Alex's arm. "Right, Alex?" he said. Alex sighed, smiled, and obediently nodded.

"That wasn't necessary," Aly said as she zipped up her wet jacket. "Excuse me," she said. She grabbed her board and lined up with several other competitors for her first round.

"See? There's no point in trying to make nice with her," Alex pointed out.

Taylor shook his head. "Maybe, but you didn't even try," he said.

"Man has a point," Kane said.

Alex crossed her arms and pouted because they were right, but she didn't want to admit they were right. Sissy didn't know the details, but it was obvious that for whatever reason, Alex and Aly didn't get on. She didn't understand why since she liked them both.

"Non-competitors aren't supposed to be in here," a voice said from behind them. A boy about their age in wet shorts and a board had come under the tent with several other competitors that had recently finished their rounds. He was around Taylor's height with warm skin, and features that pointed toward the Pacific Islands. He stuck his board in the sand, looking at them pointedly.

"Sorry! We were just wishing a friend luck, we'll get out of the way," Sissy said.

"Yeah. Sorry," Taylor said.

"No worries," said the young man. The little foursome left the canopy and went to watch Aly's group. Taylor almost laughed when he turned to say something to Alex. She was nearly breaking her neck trying to look back at the competitors' area.

"I like how she's not being subtle about it at all," Kane drawled.

"Right?" Taylor agreed.

Alex flushed and jerked her head back around. "No idea what you're talking about," she denied.

"Uh-huh. Okay," Taylor said. Kane snickered. She kicked both of them in the shin. Sissy could barely contain herself. These three were such an amazing set. It was almost a little intimidating to try and make friends when they were all so close.

Alex cleared her throat. "So, you've been here longer than us, any idea who that was?" she asked Sissy.

"Sam something or other," Sissy answered. She suddenly grinned. "I could try and find out more if you like," she suggested.

Alex shook her head and tried to appear nonchalant. "Only if you want to," she said with a negligent shrug.

"Samuel Callen. Senior from Stone Canyon. He has more championships under his belt than Aly, and that's saying something. Rumor is that he's a shoo-in for this competition as well," Gray Collier said from not very far away from them. His hands were stuffed in his hoodie jacket, and he was watching the surfers on the water. No one had even noticed him until he spoke.

"Didn't know you were into surfing," Alex said without acknowledging her gratefulness for the information.

Gray shrugged. He slipped back into the crowd and disappeared now that competitors were coming out of the water.

"I seriously doubt it was broadly surfing. Probably more like a particular surfer," Taylor said with a slight grin. "Looks like you have more in common with Gray than anyone would have thought," he teased Alex.

Alex pushed him and stomped off, leaving her two immature friends laughing at her back. She stopped when a crack of thunder sounded moments before rain came pouring down. She sighed. "It really is fall," she declared and mucked back toward them.

"We'd better find somewhere to shelter from the storm," Taylor said. An announcer was already announcing a postponement of the competition until the weather cleared up.

"My sister's tea shop is nearby. Let me grab Aly and let her know. Meet you guys there. I can't really do the whole streaky thing yet," Sissy said.

"We're already soaked and in beachy clothes. We can mosey the old-fashioned way," Kane volunteered for all of them. That earned him a couple of side eyed glances from his friends.

"Not necessary," Aly said as she joined them.

-- Unfinished. If you want me to finish and add to Guadian Power Rangers, please go to my profile and send me some encouragement! --