Chapter 4- Straddling Suspension

Xxxxx

Forest Panorama City, CA Earth

"Dalia," Deker called for her attention. He clamped his hand down a little firmer, hoping to get any response or any emotion out of her. "Dalia, do you hear me?"

She remained stiff upon hearing her prior name called from him so lovingly and with concern.

It made her sick.

"I-I-I'm..." the actuality of this situation heavily weighed upon her. She would love to be Dalia again, but she had to be honest with herself. There was a tug of war with her heart. Her essential nature demanding she recompensed his feelings, but the overtaking psyche reminded her she chose this for her life. "It was to save him though," she muttered resentfully.

"Dalia," he huskily repeated once more.

(Flashback)

In the middle of a scenic Town Square, with buildings of various sizes, plenty of stone attributes, and even rockier streets, there were people in the ventures of hustle and bustle. There really was no time to stop, nor was there any time to notice anything else. All they cared about was heading to their rightful destination, even if it meant knocking someone down without a care or second look.

For one man in particular, he busied himself with his assigned task. By sundown, in order for him to get paid and have a necessary meal, he would have to empty his cart full of horses' hay and transport the contents to the parish barn. He ignored this task though, as he caught several glimpses of a distressed woman in the octagonal structure straight ahead. The sight caused him to furrow his brows, and he wished to help her. Although he wasn't sure if he was allowed to, since the look of her clothing was of the noble class and him a serf

He a made a choice, although, this became a challenging situation. He gladly accepted, since he was far from the average. He wiped off his sweat with a dingy cloth, smoothed out his frazzled hair, and escaped to where she was.

The ornate, wooden carved gazebo with forest green, leaved vines, accented with albescent baby's breath, wrapped around each pillar uniformly. In addition, the foundation had vines of autumnal hues surrounding it. There was an ochre colored bench that wrapped around internally which added a little bit of warmth. This was a beauty alright and usually was the center of the town weddings, stone punishments, and where the meetings of the town people were held too.

The woman cried her eyes out. She was new, and for her first day here, she had encountered misfortune already. Maybe, this was a mistake on her parent's behalf.

"Excuse me," the particular man opened his mouth cordially, "is there something I can assist you with?"

She rubbed her nose, while trying to sniffle away the building snot. "No, no, it's quite alright," she lied. She faced him, and she became somewhat scared of his disheveled appearance.

"Are you sure," he asked once more. She nodded meekly. He examined her surroundings. There laid a broken viola. He had a feeling that had something to do with her sorrowed state. "May I take a look," he wished to see her item.

This man was stubborn, she noticed. "Here," she cried, wondering if he could fix this. "Some perturbed miscreant on a horse hurried by me. I didn't see him coming, but suddenly I was on the ground. My instrument became dirtied, the strings were plucked. I couldn't help but fill with despair."

"Were you heading somewhere," he continued, while reattaching the pieces here and there. He smiled at her, since she was slowly warming up. Chestnut hair, innocent doe brown eyes, with apple colored cheeks, this woman beautifully possessed. His heart skipped beats, as he intermittently looked at her.

"Yes, my mother and father sent me to this town, so I can harvest my craft. I was told of a man, who lived here, and he could help me with my music. I was dropped off by horse and carriage, and I would find my way back," she replied with a hint of a smile. "Were you engrossed with something," she slipped a tendril of hair behind her ear.

"I can deal with that later," he answered. He tuned the strings a few times, and he handed the item back to her. "Here you go."

She gasped at the fixed device, and she couldn't believe it was like new. "Thank you," she expressed her gratitude happily. After her eyes were drying, she took a very good look at him. She approved with no doubt now. His muscles, his pretty sapphires, and his masculine face. She thought it was a sin to look at a man this gorgeous, and she couldn't believe she was about to turn him away.

"It wasn't a problem," he replied. "I must go," he planned to head back to work.

"What do they call you," she questioned, in hopes of spending more time with him.

"I am Deker," he responded, as he barely looked over his shoulder at her. "What is your name?"

"Dalia of Edenburg," she answered.

Deker faced her again. He tenderly grasped for her hand and gave a chaste kiss. "It's wonderful to be in your presence."

Her heart fluttered at the touch, and she could feel the spark run through her veins. The two continued speaking, and they roamed the grounds together.

That night, Deker didn't eat, but he didn't care either.

(End Flashback)

She shook her head of those memories. "I'm not Dalia; I am Dayu," she disregarded him, as her heart shattered into a million pieces.

"Your voice, your mannerisms, the way you hold me, you are her," he attempted to get up, but he couldn't. He hissed at the injuries he sustained. His face randomly hashed with red marks, his ribs sore, and even his heart was in agony due to her coldness. "Deker and Dalia are meant to be," he struggled to announce.

"I'm sorry, you have me confused," Dayu said. She aided the fallen man by getting on her knees, extended his arm over her shoulder, and she accompanied him to the closest stream she knew about—the one where she had scooped up her furry wart. As they walked, there were soft touches on her cheeks, his hand examined her body, and he whispered how much he had missed her. They ultimately arrived, and she grabbed the sleeve to his garbs. She ripped a part off and swept it atop of the water. After it was drenched, she began to softly wipe around his face.

"Is he the one that misses you," the man that held her heart questioned.

"I suppose," she speculated.

"Who do you miss," he asked her, while he was being cleaned up.

"Deker, I can't answer that," she murmured, while concentrating on tending to his bruises. She laid him down carefully, so she could gather more water, but was stopped. "What is it?"

"Please, don't shut me out, I just want to know more about you," his wintry impediment dissolved, and he was nicer, warmer, and almost inviting.

She was surprised, but she didn't understand what brought this change. Suddenly, Deker was emotionally attached to her. Declaring to duel for her love, remembering who she used to be, and right this moment, he clinged to every fiber of her being. The former passenger on Master Xandred's ship was overwhelmed.

After Master Xandred's appalling appearance, and with him trying to take her back to the Sanzu River, she was understandably befuddled with the Master from Hell. This must be a cruel joke brought on by Octoroo, but she completely pondered about the totality of that scenario. What would Octoroo or the Netherworld gain with Master Xandred coming to a place that could potentially demolish him? That changed her mind, knowing Octoroo was a pesky, puny brained imbecile, who would do anything for the Master, which meant protecting him from entering Earth's grounds. Master Xandred was almost successful in his unknown plan. Her arm still ached following that kind of hold.

Then, she overheard Deker declare his love and a fight for her. That her Bushido alright, but still, it made no sense.

"Deker, I'm sorry," she replied once more. She continued to wipe gently. "We should be just about done," she pushed the issue away as far as she could.

"Thank you, Dal-uh-Dayu," Deker sheepishly acknowledged, as he sat upright. He rested against a wooden log. His right arm crossed firmly over his ribs, and his right knee resting upward. "I'm sorry," he apologized for his actions. "I thought you were her."

I am her, she remorsefully thought. "It's not a problem. I hope you are alright," she left him and headed to the north.

"Dayu, don't leave," he adamantly ordered.

"Why," she questioned with her back still turned.

"If he comes back, I won't be there. We need to stick together," he answered honestly. "And I need you."

"It hurts too much to," she responded to his plea. "I'm sorry," Dayu fled.

Deker sat, crushed by her action. He didn't understand what he did to her, or what he said to her, but she didn't want anything to do with him. He had this strong attraction to her, even if she looked like a monster. In another life, possibly, they were together, or she knew him before this cursed state. If that was the case, she had to be Dalia.

Yearning to find the truth, Deker slowly rose from his position. He was in pain, but ignored that. He needed to get back to her.

Xxxxx

Ship Sanzu River Netherworld

Blood red droplets littered the floor of the ship. Master Xandred growled menacingly, as he stood at the opening to his personal abode. His body saturated with the essence of the Sanzu River, glowed a unique hue of RED, almost florid. Earlier, he was placed between a rock and a hard place. She was in his powerful grasp, she was about to return, but his body couldn't endure the wholesomeness of Earth. He never comprehended the reason their world was so... good. For this defeat, he planned to make EVERYONE pay. However, there was a certain half Nighlock, half human at the top of his list.

With a big bang, he plopped down on the floor. A big bowl of his remedy already resting beside him. He practically inhaled the liquid.

"MORE MEDICINE, NOW," Master Xandred irately bellowed for the closest Mooger. In a nano second, the Mooger retrieved his drink.

Octoroo watched Master Xandred's pitiful state. He knew this was going to happen."Oh, ah, oh, I told you not to go," he scolded him like a father would do his own child.

"Told me not to go", the Master repeated increduously. "Since when are you able to tell me what I can or can't do," Master Xandred hissed with fury. He wiped his mouth after some of the Sake seeped down the sides. "You are an idiot; you are the reason why I am in this predicament. If anything, you are dead weight to me," he mercilessly tormented his companion as usual.

Octoroo didn't back down. This time, he knew the Master was wrong. For that reason, he fearlessly stood up to him. "Master, you should have known better, you should have listened to me, and I don't know what you were thinking, but you were at fault," he reprimanded firmly. "Why was she so important? You were glad for her to be gone, but now, you act like you need her like Sanzu water! You can't be in love with her!"

Master Xandred ignored the meddling from his only comrade. To him, he sounded like a bee buzzing around.

Octoroo turned his cheek, and he spoke truthfully. This was intended for the best and even the well-being of his lord; ramifications will be dealt with later. "I don't know what has gotten into you. You usually don't act like this, and you could care less about dealing with her. Your heart may be resting in her hands, and she can do whatever she wants with it," he said. "What she chooses to do is stomp on it and pulverize the thing. Her heart belongs to someone else and will always belong to someone else. She will never love you," he coldly stated.

As soon as those words exited the octopus' mouth, the infamous lord extended his arm with electricity expelling out.

Whoosh! With force, Octoroo flew back into a wooden column.

"Will never, will never, will never," the Furry Warts taunted Master and Octoroo. In the midst of their irritating chants, they, too, were in the crossfire. Poof! Yellow feathers decorated the timbered floor.

Octoroo struggled to get up. There were wooden splinters imbedded in his scarlet shell. He groaned at the terrible feeling erupting inside of him. He shook the pain off as much as he could. His staff was near him, and held the item for some assistance.

"You're weak," Master Xandred snapped at him with attitude. "You always have been. I should've let you go instead."

"You can't mean that," the elder stated through gritted teeth.

"I do," he cut the talk there. He softly cleared his throat, and he resumed his business. The matters of whatever heart he had were temporarily put on hold. "Now, where's Empusa? Her job is to destroy those pitiful humans' existence, not catering to that incompetent, no good, embarrassing excuse for a Nighlock King, kind of maggot-"

Octoroo interjected, after realizing something. "Master, could the reason why you're acting crazy be on behalf of Empusa?"

"Don't interrupt me; that's rude of you—what did you say," Master Xandred inquisitively pondered. He was thrown into a stupor alright, and his red, long nailed fingers began to brush his masculine chin.

"Master, you weren't acting like this before," Octoroo remembered Emupsa's insubordination, and how quickly she fled so suddenly. "Oh, ah, oh, I should've seen this coming. I bet you Serrator had something to do with this!"

"SERRATOR, EMPUSA!" Master Xandred's body seethed with outrage. The ship rocked side to side rapidly, exemplifying how displeased he was. "Are they trying to make a fool of me!?" At the center of this tantrum, he heavily growled again.

"Master, please, just get them back here," Octoroo requested in a pleading manner. "My stomach can't take much more of this."

"I will not let them continue," he barked maliciously, but he stopped for a moment. The tiny amount of inclination he had to chase the woman he wished belonged to him; would soon be gone after Empusa's defeat. Though, he would love to kill the rangers and everything a human being stood for, he understood a human's emotion when it came to love. Never again, could he let his guard down though. Dayu would never understand his true adoration for her. As much as he wanted to decimate Deker for making him look like a jester, and how Deker owned the part of Dayu he would never get, he decided it was best to let that go. He shook his head in a futile attempt to ward off the spell.

It wasn't working.

Revenge was a bitch alright, and there were two villains strongly connected to that. Just like Arachnator, the Master of the Netherworld, swiftly pinpointed their location. Thunder and lightning barreled around them. Their engagement was interrupted. It was disgusting.

Petrified by Master Xandred's state, Octoroo and the Moogers hid. They did not want to be demolished. Behind the other boxes, they were safe. They blew out a great breath of relief. The passengers aboard weren't sure who was to die today, but from the looks of it, the Nighlocks were set to lose once again.

On behalf of Master Xandred's discretion for a change.

Xxxxx

Emily's Room Shiba House Panorama City, CA-Earth

The Yellow Ranger sat on her bed with her laptop resting on her thighs. She couldn't wait to inform her sister, Serena, of what occurred today.

This day was a little whacky, but she couldn't help but appreciate the way Mike had acted. She was flattered by Antonio's interest, but she knew her heart completely belonged to the Hispanic, who had a vast infascination with the color green. There was something about the dancing, once in awhile rogue, video gamer that's always owned her attention. Their first encounter, she had to laugh, he was 'mighty green' alright. His emerald eyes caused her to swoon, his brawny arms would make her become putty in his hands, and his smile could literally brighten a dull day.

She sighed, since she wondered what was to happen after he and the rest of the guys were relinquished from the spell.

"Oh, Serena, you have no clue how much I wished you could've been here to see the male rangers. Jayden summoned handcuffs, Kevin over thought his comebacks, Antonio made platters of sushi appear, and even Mentor got in on the craziness. He drew fireworks in back of Antonio and Mike, even yelled, 'toro, toro', and he slapped us with his stick. I never knew he could act like that, but nonetheless, JI is the father figure. Mia got so mad at him though."

Emily giggled to herself, and then she looked towards her closet. In front of her clothes, there was a hanger out of place-it housed a green jacket. She turned a soft red. She pressed the enter key and began her next paragraph, dedicated to the owner of that one jacket.

"Mike pulled out all of the stops. Poisonous plants, rudely making fun of Antonio (the Gold Ranger wants me, I can't believe it), and he went so far as to call me his girlfriend. As much as I want to believe him, I can't. Yeah, here and there, we kind of flirt. Here and there, we hold hands or we have those long, magnetic hugs. Other than that, we are just friends. Almost like brother and sister, but I want to break that. I thought it was happening, after that night of the concert for the children's hospital. We were walking back to the Shiba House, and I was literally freezing. He warmly wrapped his arm around me, and even took off his jacket so I can wear it. The jacket still smells like him. Why does he do this to me!? I really wish he would-"

Her fingers stopped gliding across the keyboard, after she heard a knock on her door. She wrinkled her brow a bit, and she wondered who that could be. Maybe it was Mia, trying to get away from Mentor's overbearing side, or inquiring on whether or not she should lose her virginity to Jayden, or Mia hiding from Kevin. Then again, it could've been Antonio trying to take her out to a movie; she wasn't sure.

She closed her laptop tightly, so no one could pry. Emily barely opened the entryway, and she poked her head out. There was a note taped to the paper door. She took the letter and retreated to her room.

"Em meet me at the weapons shead. we really need to talk.. b there in about 10 min no susspishon right. -Mike"

The Yellow Ranger had to re-read the note. She became slightly uncomfortable with the fact that he didn't know how to spell. Then again, his looks made up for it. She waited ten and a half minutes. She did want to make him sweat it out. Emily walked out of her room, unnoticed, and she stealthily strolled pass the quarreling quartet.

"Mentor, we weren't doing it," Jayden hated that Mentor Ji wasn't trying to listen to his side of the story.

"La, la, la, la," Mentor sang loudly with his fingers plugged into his ears securely.

Mia couldn't believe him. "Mentor, I am still a virgin," she honestly admitted.

"La, la, la," Mentor chirped with a smirk.

"You better be one," Kevin ordered Mia.

Jayden narrowed his eyes. "She is one, and I should know," he defended Mia amicably.

"How would you know," Kevin peculiarly asked him

"I just know," Jayden shrugged his shoulders.

Finally, Emily successfully found her destination. Her knuckles tapped the entrance twice. She examined her surroundings, and thankfully, there was no one near. Unexpectedly, her left arm was yanked, and she found herself surrounded by bo sticks, kendo sticks, practice dummies, and a man clad in green. His cologne smelled heavenly.

"Mike, why did you want to meet here," Emily curiously wondered.

"It's better than being in front of everyone else, right," he queried.

Emily shyly smiled. "Right, but here of all places? You sure are the romantic," she sarcastically complimented.

"Why, thank you," Mike didn't get the hint. He turned on the light that was hanging above them. His breath was taken away at the sight of her. The light vibrantly illuminated her face, and Mike ogled her intensely. "Em, listen, earlier, when I had said all that stuff about you being my girlfriend, like you would be my girlfriend, but I just want you to know, Em, Em. I-" he nervously fumbled over his words. "I know you don't think I'm boyfriend material; I'm not smart like Kevin, nor can I cook or catch sushi like Antonio, and I don't think I have to worry about Jayden, but I know I'm not serious like him or can handle a sword better than him, but-"

"Mike, where are you going with this," she posed the question, and she felt his nerves going all over the place.

He blew out a deep breath. Emily's soft hand graced his wrist, and he was bound to be a bumbling idiot now. Their eyes met, and there was that blissful pregnant pause. She grabbed the bottom of his green, button up shirt, and he began to finger her light yellow camisole. She softly bit her lip in anticipation of what was to happen next, and Mike was filled with anxiety.

He had never kissed a girl before.

"Mike, you can, I'm fine with it," she urged him comfortingly.

"Are you sure," he asked her again.

She nodded.

Once again, Mike began to play with her shirt. He used that to bring her closer. She came right to his shoulder, and he could feel her breath playing on his skin. He loved the feeling, and he couldn't wait to kiss her. Closer and closer their lips were going to be acquainted with one another.

Then, the sound of the gap sensor brought them out of their trance. Mike cursed under his breath, while Emily wanted to use her Earth Slicer to rip the detector to shreds.

"Why now," Mike wrathfully whispered. He turned to Emily, who held the same sentiment. "I'm sorry," he apologized for taking so long.

"The world needs saving, right," she justified, but clearly, she was annoyed with the Samurai logo that would light up periodically. Today, it went off too many times, she mused.

"Right," he concurred.

The two of them kicked the door open and ran to the front as quickly as they could. There, Mentor Ji, Jayden, Mia, Kevin, and Antonio were pointedly waiting for them. Jayden and Mia had a smile on their faces, while Kevin's hazel eyes twirled ever so slightly, and Antonio's eyes were adorned with his signature color. Mentor Ji was none too pleased with this development, and his arms were heatedly crossed over his chest.

"Damn it," Mentor cussed, "I left my stick in the house."

"Mentor, I can hand you my Barracuda Blade," Antonio offered while his eyes stayed on the pair.

"Teacher's pet," Mike sneered malevolently.

"I thought that was Kevin," Emily said.

"I am not a teacher's pet," Kevin stressed loudly. "I've done plenty of things that would make Ji blush."

Mentor's head whipped towards Kevin. "Really?"

Jayden snickered, since the spell was still implanted inside of him. "Mentor, you didn't know about Kevin's porn collection?"

"Porn collection!" Mentor shrieked, while his arms flailed around crazily. "That's it, go to the rock quarry! I have things to take care of." He rushed inside.

"Jayden," Kevin growled.

"Ooops," the Red Ranger smugly placed his fingers over his mouth. He smirked again at Kevin. "Let's go, we got a Nighlock to take care of." He held out his hand, and the Pink Ranger held hers out. They ran to the location.

Mike and Emily shrugged and followed suit.

Antonio delightfully twirled to Kevin. He had his hand out, and he beckoned the Blue Ranger with his finger.

"No," Kevin shook his body around like he was getting rid of cooties and zoomed out of there.

"Oh, he so totally wants me," the Gold Ranger obliviously commented with glee.

As the rangers left, Mentor began to snoop through all of the rangers' belongings. He definitely looked like a chicken with his head cut off. "That's it, all of them are wearing leashes from now on," he muttered.


Next Chapters- Consequential Confessions. (Rangers vs. Rangers, Men vs. Women, Serrator vs. Empusa... Deker with no shirt!)