The big battle against Octoroo was about to begin. Ji and Kate, the Samurai's mentor and the Earth Samurai's guardian respectively, were looking over the Megaforce team. They were making sure Gia and Noah's injuries weren't too bad for a battle, and that the Megaforce remembered everything they needed to know about not just Octoroo and the Nighlok, but Dekker as well.

James stood with the allies as he told Ally and Jordan especially what to do in the event of a worst case scenario. It made Ally very nervous to know there were plans for the worst. She didn't want to lose Lauren, but she knew there was no turning back. The fate of the world was resting on the Samurai's and the Megaforce Rangers' shoulders. This wasn't a time for Ally to be selfish.

Troy had a hard time focusing. While Lauren walked around the yard of the safe house to be sure the shield was strong in case of an attack, Troy followed her around.

"So, all this time, all that training…"

"I am sorry, Troy," Lauren nodded her head. She and Jayden had both taken Troy under their wing when he had trained at the dojo, but Troy had been Lauren's first student. He had spent the most time training under her. Now that he had a minute, he wanted to get answers from her. "Back then, you were just a civilian. I couldn't tell you anything."

"What about my dreams? I dreamed of you."

"It was freaky, but we all had things to work through after the war," Lauren said. "A lot of people were dreaming of the Samurai Rangers…"

"And the new team? My team? This future stuff."

"Hey, you're the psychic," Lauren said. "How was I to know you were dreaming of a team that didn't yet exist?"

"What about after?" Troy touched Lauren's arm and looked pleadingly at her, "I get the secret identity thing but… I was kind of thrown into the deep end here. You're my sensei. When I moved, you said you'd always be there for me."

"Jayden and I had our suspicions," Lauren said. "That wasn't enough proof to head to Harwood and put our identities at risk. Besides, everyone had a different style of leadership. You needed to find yours for yourself."

Lauren grabbed Troy's arms gently and smiled at him, "If it's any consolation, my team's been keeping a very close eye on you guys since you popped up. We're ready to help at a moment's notice. If it did look like you were getting in over your head, we were going to step in."

"What about after this?" Troy asked. "Don't I get advice about leading a team or…"

"Do you think you still need it?"

"I don't know," Troy shrugged his shoulders. "Lauren, everyone's friends but me. Emma and Gia have known each other since they were born, and Noah and Jake met in kindergarten. How am I meant to compete with that?"

"You think that's hard?" Lauren asked. "At least you all became Rangers at one time. When I was forced to lead my team, they had already been working together for my brother for two years. Try prying your way into that solid bond."

Lauren ruffled Troy's hair and smiled, "You're gonna be great, kid. You're a natural leader, Troy. Stop doubting yourself, and don't compare yourself to me or Jayden. We're different teams. We've got different styles."

"It's just… hard," Troy sighed. "I do have confidence. I know I'll find a way to pull it off, but… it's hard always being confident."

"You wanted advice? You don't always have to be confident. You don't even always have to be leader. The best thing you can do for your team is show them your weaknesses. If you're worried about something, if you don't think you can do the job as well as someone else, let them help. Not long after I took my rightful place as leader of the Samurai, I gave it up. I'll always be the head of the Shiba Clan but at the time, I knew the best thing I could do as leader was stand down. I let my little brother take the lead and it was the best decision I could have made. He wasn't born to lead, but he sure as hell was good at it."

"Any more advice?"

"Yeah, try not to die," Lauren smirked. "The house is safe. Jayden and the others should be fine to wait here while we battle. You can tell your friends they have nothing to worry about."

"Jordan's going to be safe."

"Safer than we'll be," Lauren nodded. She wrapped her arm around Troy as she walked him back into the house, "Look, after this is done, I think I can do you and your team one little favour."

"What's that?"

"Let's kick Octoroo's butt first, then I'll tell you."

-Megaforce-

"You're not going to do something stupid, are you?" Jordan knocked on one of the bedroom doors upstairs after the safety and preparation speeches in the living room. Emma had gone to the bedroom to get ready for the battle with Mia, who had promised to work with her on the battle field. All the Rangers had teamed-up, mostly by colour.

Still, a teammate couldn't put Jordan at ease. He walked into the room and looked at Emma, "I just got you back."

"I just got you back," Emma said. She patted the space beside her on the bed and invited him to sit. "Mia was just telling me about her training. She's been a Samurai since she could walk. I think I'm safe."

"I've got your girlfriend's back," Mia promised. "I'll make sure nothing happens to her. My family's been at war with the Nighlok for centuries. This battle's just like riding a bike."

Emma smiled at the comparison and then turned to Jordan, "I'll be smart. We're all going to be smart. We're not going to fall for Octoroo's tricks. And as long as we don't, he should be easy to beat."

"Octoroo's fat and slow," Mia said, "The danger comes from his plans. If we play it right, we should be fine."

"Just… be careful, okay?" Jordan pulled Emma into his arms. The pink Ranger nodded her head.

"This isn't my first battle, either. I know what I'm doing. I'll be fine, Jordan. You just have to stay in the house while I kick butt, and everything's going to be okay."

-Megaforce-

"So, water from Earth is the best medicine for that red hell water?" Noah asked as he looked up at Kevin.

"It's why we've got to stay in the background," Kevin nodded his head. "By now, there are probably pools of Sanzu Water everywhere. I'm going to make it rain as much as I can so the Sanzu Water isn't as strong, but we've got to keep an eye on the others. If they get splashed, we need to clean them off. The more we wait the worst the burn is going to get."

Noah looked down at the burns that covered his skin. He didn't need to be reminded. He could still remember how much the Sanzu Water had burned him when Octoroo dumped it over his head and left him to dry off slowly. This time, he would have his Ranger suit to protect him, but even his Ranger form could only do so much against the red water.

"So, if I see someone get splashed, I use one of my cards and splash them with water?"

"And, anytime you're not doing that, splash anything that isn't human," Kevin nodded, "Our water is just as poisonous to Nighlok as their water is to us."

"Good to know," Noah said. "I've got a squid I'd love to soak."

"And look, kid, if you get tired at all, just let me know," Kevin gently put his hand on Noah's shoulder. "Don't try and be a hero. We don't need any martyrs."

"I'll let you know as soon as I've had enough," Noah promised with a little nod of his head, and then he looked up at Kevin, "But I'm not going to stand back if Octoroo starts threatening my teammates."

"Kid…"

"They're counting on me. They're my friends. No matter what, I'm not letting them be destroyed by a giant squid."

"You're a good kid. It's no wonder you were picked for blue. You're smart, you're loyal," Kevin leaned in and whispered, just in case the others were listening, "and, between you and me, blue is secretly the best colour. Red is just a glory hog."

"Troy's not like that."

"Just wait until you get a cool new weapon or a power up," Kevin said. "My team has a Super Samurai mode. Only one of us can use it at a time. Do you think the distribution of power was equal?"

"It would only be fair…"

"It would," Kevin chuckled, "But it wasn't. Reds like their toys. Our job is to make sure the red Ranger doesn't let the power go to his head. Secretly, we're in charge. Blue is best."

"Well, I guess I can't argue with that last part," Noah smiled. "I mean, we are going to be the ones healing everyone else during the battle, right?"

"Without us, the Sanzu Water would take them out probably in minutes," Kevin smirked. Suddenly, he felt something wet hit his back. He turned around and saw Mike and Jake were by the sink in the kitchen. Mike was hiding something behind his back.

"Shouldn't you be talking to your teammate?" Kevin asked the green Ranger with a frown.

"Hey, Jake and I talked," Mike said. "He knows what he's doing, right kid?"

"This is going to be an awesome battle."

"And I already told him black and green were the best colours," Mike said. He turned to the sink for a moment, then turned back around and launched a balloon at Kevin. When it hit the blue Ranger it exploded, soaking Kevin in water.

"Mike, this isn't a time to be playing. At least I'm giving my kid confidence."

"Oh, loosen up," Mike waved off the blue Ranger and then he turned to Jake, "I thought having a kid would teach him it's okay to have a little fun once in a while. Turns out, even Riley can't unwind him."

"Hey, I know how to unwind when I'm with Riley," Kevin said and then he felt something hit is foot. He looked down and saw an unpopped water balloon on the ground, with little Felix looking down sadly at it. Then the boy looked up at his uncle. He smiled a guilty smile and then wobbled over to his father.

"That's my boy!" Mike scooped his son up in his arms. "It'll pop next time, kid. You've got to throw them a little harder."

Noah walked over to Jake while the two Samurai bickered about the water balloons.

"They remind me of someone," Noah whispered to Jake. The black Ranger shrugged.

"I don't see it."

"This feels familiar, Jake, don't you…" Noah trailed off as he was splashed in the face. "You were hiding a balloon behind your back, weren't you?"

"Duh."