Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers in any way, shape or form. They belong to Disney. I only own Kaylee Hanson and the storyline for this story.

Author's Note: Alright, so onto the next Story of the Kaylee Series, Earning the Leopard. I wrote this a really long time ago and had to look it over and edit it myself but after reading it so many times in the past... close to a year now, I couldn't sit through it long enough to edit, so while posting OO I did bits and pieces of it. What I'm trying to say is, if this isn't up to par with the usual quality, bare with me please. Hopefully the next few chapters will be improved.

I hope you all enjoy this sub-season. It's basically a tie in for Operation Overdrive and Jungle Fury, but it is really important to the rest of the Kaylee series. You definately cannot skip this story.

Enjoy! :)

Earning the Leopard

Kaylee dropped her bags after closing the door to her room. She had just been picked up at the airport by Blake and was anxious to go to bed. Though she had spent the last little while in a hotel with Dustin, resting from saving the world, she was still exhausted from her ride home. Sadly the flight home from San Angeles was over-freaking-night! Blake opened the door behind her and dropped her last bag before giving her a hug.

"I'll tell the others you're here," he smiled, happy to have her home. Though it wasn't the ideal home, the Wind Ninja Academy was going to be her temporary home while Cam trained her in a different fighting style. Seeing as she was a favourite for mentor/rangers nowadays, he figured she would be perfect for whatever plan he had in his overworking brain.

"Tell them not to wake me up though," Kaylee yawned as she squeezed Ducky, making it quack. She let out a giggle before crawling into bed and getting under the green blankets.

"Do you want your pyjamas?" Blake asked his sister in-law. When there was no response, he asked again. "Kaylee? Kayl?"

He turned around and saw that the blond had fallen asleep. Blake smiled, tucking her in and leaving the room in the dark so she could catch up on her sleep.

When he got outside, he ran into Shane. The red Ranger was excited to have his friend home, and wanted to say hi, but he calmed down when he saw Blake quietly leave the room, and slowly shut the door.

"Right, I forgot how tiring it is saving the world," Shane laughed.

"She'll be up in a few hours," Blake smiled, walking down the hall so he could see his wife again. He had to get up early in the morning to pick up Kaylee and didn't get the chance to really see Tori at all yet.

"So what do you think Cam has planned for her?" Shane asked his long time friend. Blake just shrugged as the boys finally reached the Sensei's room.

"Probably something really awesome that none of us are going to get to enjoy," Blake answered. He found Tori on the couch, still in her pyjamas, and sat next to her. He noticed she seemed bored, and as soon as he started paying attention to the people talking, he knew why.

"So then we like, totally told cousin that there was like, this party and we just had to go!" Kapri said as Marah nodded, agreeing with every word her sister said.

"You don't say," Tori frowned, not at all interested.

"Totally," Marah said. Tori rolled her eyes and found her escape plan when she noticed Blake beside her.

"Blake, didn't you have something you wanted to show me, you know in the..." Tori cleared her throat as her eyes showed Blake she meant the bedrooms. He started turning red and he pulled on his collar. He didn't have to say anything before the two girls ran from the couch, screaming.

"Eww! We, like, totally could have gone our whole life without hearing that!" Kapri whined. Tori watched the girls go and turned to Blake, smiling.

"Thank you," she laughed, putting her head on his shoulder. Blake realised she was just kidding and rested his head on hers.

"Kaylee's sleeping in her room. Though I'm guessing with that loud pitch scream from bug head, she's going to be here soon," Blake laughed.

Hunter and the others sat down next to the couple with Dustin eating his breakfast. He had been lucky enough to catch an earlier flight and was already well rested.

"So you finally proposed," Blake smiled, watching the engaged yellow Ranger stuff his eggs in his mouth and swallowed them, whole.

"Yep," Dustin smiled, "In April I asked her. She totally said yes!"

"And you didn't book the same flight?" Hunter frowned. "That is a weak start to forever, bro."

"It's close to Christmas. We couldn't get the same flight home, so I took the first one and Kaylee took the second," Dustin explained as egg dropped from his mouth. He suddenly put the plate on the coffee table and smiled. "Maybe I should save some of this for when she wakes up."

Tori looked down at the eggs and frowned. "Don't worry about it, Dustin," she smiled, staring at the chewed up pieces that went unnoticed by everyone else, "I'll make her fresh eggs."

-----Earning-The-Leopard-----

When Kaylee finally did wake up, she felt a little sick; just like she had been feeling for almost two months now since after the Halloween party. She jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, reaching the toilet just before throwing up. As she did, she felt a hand on her back and her hair being pulled away from her face.

"Welcome home," Tori laughed, watching as her sister threw up the airplane food into the toilet.

"Probably something I ate," Kaylee breathed as she backed away from the toilet and sat on the floor.

"Since the party?" Tori asked. Dustin had told her Kaylee wasn't feeling well, and Tori believed him when she heard her baby sister puking from the hall. Kaylee shrugged, allowing Tori to help her up. "Want anything to calm your stomach?"

"Naw, I feel better," Kaylee smiled. She grabbed her yellow sweatshirt and some gum while she followed Tori down the hall to meet the others. Instead of hugging everyone, like her friends thought she would, the small girl curled up on the couch between Blake and Dustin. She put her head on Dustin's lap and smiled to the others.

"Good morning," she said, waving a hand and sticking the gum in her mouth. It wasn't the best way to cover up her barf, but it was better than nothing.

"Kayl, it's one in the afternoon," Shane laughed, waving back.

"But I just woke up, so my brain says morning," Kaylee smiled. Cam put a plate of food in front of Kaylee, but the blond refused to eat.

"You might want to Kay," Cam frowned, still holding the plate of food. "As soon as you're done you're starting your training."

Kaylee's jaw dropped as she looked up at the computer geek. Cam just looked down at her, his expression not changing into one of sympathy.

"The airplane ride wasn't that long, Kayl," Cam laughed. "And training now is a part of your training."

Kaylee titled her head in confusion. Cam just smiled, so she stood up and followed him, seeing as she refused to eat her breakfast anyways. Before the two were gone, Tori grabbed a piece of toast from Kaylee's plate and held it up.

"At least eat this!" she called, tossing the toast to her sister. "You're going to need it."

Kaylee took a bite from the toast and stuck her tongue out at her sister before the door shut behind her.

"Why won't she eat?" Hunter frowned, worried about the green Ranger. It wasn't like her to refuse food.

"She's been sick for the last few days," Dustin explained. "She doesn't know why, and I think it's the shrimp."

-----Earning-The-Leopard-----

Kaylee rocked on her feet as she stood in front of Cam. They were waiting for some Master dude to show up. Kaylee smiled when she thought about Cam's lecture on why he was a Master and not a Sensei. The blond had called Master Mao Sensei Mao and that set Cam off on his rant.

"So, is this Master Mao person going to show up soon?" Kaylee asked. She looked around the room and saw pictures of animals. The ones that stuck out for Kaylee were the Tiger, cheetah, Jaguar, Lion and the snow Leopard.

"I'm right here," a man in orange said as he walked into the room with a scroll. He noticed the girl he was training seemed tired. He smiled and bowed, "I'm Master Mao."

Kaylee bowed to the Master. "Kaylee Hanson... sorta Sensei."

Mao turned to Cam and frowned. The older green Ranger mouthed something that the blonde failed to understand, but it caused Master Mao to smile.

"Our first test will show your speed in battle," Master Mao said as his arms were brought up in front of him.

"Begin," Cam smiled. Kaylee turned to her friend, but was suddenly attacked by the so called master. "HEY! No attacking! I'm not ready!"

Kaylee ducked under a punch thrown by the Master and quickly swept his feet out from under him, knocking him down. It happened so quickly, that Cam failed to see it.

"I guess pass," Cam asked. Master Mao nodded as Kaylee helped him up.

"I did pretty well for someone who wasn't ready," Kaylee smiled, feeling a sense of pride at beating the master.

"Next test, strength," Master Mao said as the door behind Kaylee opened and Marah walked in. Kaylee glared at the girl and whispered her usual "bug head" comment. Over the years, Kaylee and Marah had warmed up to each other, but the nickname bug head still stuck, seeing as Kaylee could hold a long grudge.

"I thought you said strength," Kaylee frowned. "Shouldn't I be lifting boulders or something?"

"Animals each have their own qualities that make them unique. A cheetah is known for its speed, like you have shown me," Master Mao explained.

"So am I a cheetah?" Kaylee asked.

"A tiger is known for its strength," Master Mao continued. "But not all tigers are alike in strength. With some, strength is physical, and with some, it's emotional."

Kaylee nodded, showing the Master she understood. She turned to Marah and waited for the signal to start fighting.

"Begin," Master Mao smiled. As he watched the two girls fight, Cam whispered to the Master.

"How is this strength?"

"I know of Kaylee's grudge against Marah, and I want to see if she's strong enough to keep her emotions from taking the best of her."

Cam nodded in understanding. He turned back to the fight and smiled when he saw Kaylee was doing very well.

While watching the spar between the girls, Master Mao noticed Kaylee possessed the speed of a cheetah, the strength of a tiger, and the stealth of a jaguar. He had an idea as to the animal spirit she possessed, he just needed to test her some more.

Kaylee blocked a kick from Marah as she started feeling a little woozy. Suddenly, the younger, formerly evil sister aimed a punch for Kaylee's stomach. Kaylee didn't have the time to block it and bent over in pain. Marah's leg swung around quickly, nailing Kaylee once more in the stomach. Kaylee groaned in pain and clutched her stomach. Seeing how weak her opponent had become, Marah aimed another punch at the same spot. Kaylee fell down, her stomach hitting her knee as she fell.

She thought the pain was only going to last a few seconds, but the pain just got worse and worse as the seconds went by. Kaylee clutched her stomach and curled up.

Cam ran over to Kaylee and knelt down next to her. He put his hand on her back and tried to calm her down. "Kayl, you okay?"

Kaylee shook her head, holding her stomach tighter as the pain grew. Cam started to worry as he watched her suffer. He knew she had been hit in the stomach before, and Marah's blow was in no way stronger than anything Kaylee's been hit with before. He pulled his cousin down to comfort Kaylee as he ran out of the room to get Tori and Dustin.

Marah had no idea what to do, so she turned to Master Mao, but noticed he was gone. Her panic didn't last long as Tori and Dustin rushed into the room.

"Kayl," Tori asked, holding her sister in a sitting position, only to have Kaylee fold over in two. Cam was already on the phone with the medical team. Dustin sat down in front of Kaylee and positioned her so she could look him in the eyes.

"Kaylee, where does it hurt?" he asked his fiancé. Kaylee didn't answer. Dustin noticed that Kaylee seemed a bit distant, and knew what was happening next. Kaylee's eyes then rolled back as she passed out.