Winter Forest

Between Tanya, Torr, and the other soldiers, Ferra was found only hours later.

Tanya had found a clearing in the woods where she saw a little house. Peeking through the window revealed the little kutter wearing small, Earthrealm clothing and playing with a plastic knife, much to the dismay (and fear) of the Earthrealm family inside.

Without a word of introduction or warning, Tanya walked in the house, not bothering to knock. The Earthrealmers jumped with surprise at the sudden intrusion, but the man recovered quickly. He stood up and walked to the Edenian, placing a hand on her chest in a halting gesture.

"Wait just a minute," he said, "Who are you?" Tanya simply twirled around him. He tried to grab her, but she ducked under his hand.

"If you must know, I'm here for her," Tanya finally said. Ferra was practically growling at the woman. "Calm down, child. D'Vorah sent me. You're coming home." She finished with a little smile.

"Torr?" Ferra asked, light appearing in her eyes.

Before Tanya could answer, the Earthrealm man cut in. "Wait just a damn second!" He began to make to his door. "I don't know who you are or where you came from, but this is my house, and I want you out." He finished by opening his front door and motioning the Edenian out. But he failed to see the hulking mass of Torr standing in the doorway.

The brute made himself know with a low growl. The Earthrealmer didn't have his gun this time. Torr took a lumbering step into the house as the man turned his terrified eyes to him. "Frrha," he grunted.

The man had immediately lost his spine. "Just-just take her."

"TORR!" Ferra shouted as she dashed to the beast. She leapt into his arms with such force that the hulking brute staggered back through the doorway. Torr retaliated with a bear hug that nearly crushed the little girl.

"FERRA!" Torr grumbled back.

"Tanya!" an Edenian announced from inside the house, "Is getting tired of this lovefest. Let's get going already," she said as she walked out of the house and back into the woods where the portal was.

The two followed, but Torr didn't put Ferra down; he doubted he ever would again

______________________________________

Meanwhile, in back in Japan

Ermac was immediately confused.

He had teleported back to Japan to inform Ana of his departure but she had greeted him in a strange way. The moment he returned she exclaimed, "Oh, thank God!" grabbed him, and placed her lips on his.

Ermac was momentarily paralyzed. He hadn't experience contact like this since... He never had. He had gathered that it was a show of affection, but that emotion was foreign to say the least.

Not to say he had no idea on the concept. His souls had of course experienced contact ranging from this to more intense meaning. In fact, many of his souls were cooing and congratulating him. He wasn't entirely sure how to react to any of this.

It was probably less than five seconds, but it felt considerably longer to the construct. When Ana finally stepped back she immediately embraced Ermac, holding him quite tightly.

"Ana," he spoke up, "What was that?"

"I..." she mumbled quietly, not releasing him, "I was worried you'd be hurt or..."

"We are fine, be assured." Ermac placed his hands on her shoulders. Thousands of his souls told him to do something more, but he was in charge and would do as he felt was fitting. "Merely, you're reaction surprised us."

Oh," she said and finally released him. He saw that she had tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry. Its just... I don't have any friends or..." she sniffed loudly. "You're all I have..."

Ermac's souls immediately erupted into chaos. They shouted, they pleaded, they reasoned, but all clearly wanted him to comfort her. Simply to silence the mass, he placed his hand on her arm. "We..." he hesitated. Could he even do that? He doubted he had the authority, but he just couldn't leave her like this. "Do you wish to come with us?"

Her eyes immediately snapped to his. Even flooded with tears, they captivated him. "Where?"

"Outworld," he explained, "Our home. You would meet the Kahn, live in the palace. Make friends with the others." He had to convince her. "You would never be alone."

Misaki Ana looked to her feet. She was evidently in deep thought. After a long pause, she answered, "Okay."

With a nod of his head, Ermac placed a hand on her shoulder; his souls shouted for him to take her hand, bit he ignored them. He then teleported Ana and himself back to the desert where the Osh-Tekks still stood waiting for him.

"Oh, there you are sir," one said, "Ygar just made a pretty good joke while you were gone."

______________________________________

Four explanations later

"So to summarize," Kotal Kahn said, once again sitting cozily on his throne, "During our 'unscheduled outing,' Erron, you battled petty gang members," Erron scoffed, "Ferra/Torr, you two got lost in the woods and Ferra was adopted by Earthrealmers," Ferra pouted while Torr sighed, "Ermac, you found a... a woman," Ermac stood emotionless while Ana blushed, "and Reptile, you were saved by an Earthrealmer not once, but several times. Is that all true?"

"The situation was more complicated than that," Reptile said defensively.

"But I did save him," Derek interjected, "Your, uh, highness."

"Childish as it sounds, the gangsters started it," said Erron.

"We protected her from a serpent of sin," Ermac stated. The girl he was with frantically babbled in some foreign language.

"Ferra/Torr kill bad doggies!" Ferra shouted.

As his rangers' voices overlapped and lost audibility, Kotal rubbed his forehead. He felt he had dealt with enough insanity for a lifetime.

"What Big Bossy do while gone?" Ferra shouted again.

"Er," Kotal hesitated. He wasn't too fond with the prospect of telling his soldiers that he had been arrested. "I, of course, worked tirelessly on returning here. And... it worked. Excellent job, my First Minister." D'Vorah smiled. "Now, as many questions I'm sure we all have, I'm certain we would much rather get some rest."

The throne room was chorused with agreement. "Servants, find lodging for our Earthrealm guests. Grant them some luxuries, for I believe they have deserved such." A few servants nodded and escorted the Earthrealmers to their rooms, while the Outworld generals sighed, yawned, and stretched as they made their way to their quarters.

Once alone in his throne room, Kotal turned to another one of his servants.

"Fetch me the strongest wine we have and pour me the largest mug we have. Prepare some for the rest of the company as well. Gods know they'll want it after that ordeal."