Chapter 36: The Search
A/N: Revised Chapter
Serena walked back to the infirmary a few minutes later to bring some food to Antonio. "Antonio, I've brought some food," she told him, opening the door to his room. She dropped the plate when she saw the bed empty. "Oh no," she whispered, walking backwards and leaving the infirmary.
Outside, the rangers were preparing to leave. "Alright," Kevin began looking at the rangers. "We're going to search the east quadrant of Panorama City. The Purple ranger shouldn't have left the city, so she has to be here somewhere."
"Dude, we've searched almost the whole city and there hasn't been any sign of them," Mike told the Blue ranger. "We can't give up," Emily told him. "We need to find them to get some answers."
Suddenly, a horse whinnying caught the attention of the rangers, before hearing the clatter of hooves coming closer to them. They saw a white horse galloping towards them, making them dive to the sides.
The Samurai rangers rolled to their feet seeing the War Horse race out of the gates. "What was that?" Mia asked startled. "I don't know," Kevin answered, shaking his head.
"Guys!" Serena yelled, catching their attention. The Yellow ranger reached them and gasped out, "Antonio! Antonio left the Shiba House!"
"Well there's your answer!" Mike stated sarcastically. "Dammit Antonio!" Kevin growled before looking at the rangers. "Let's find him before he does something stupid!"
Serena watched the rangers mount their horses frantically before grabbing Emily's hand. "I'm coming too!" The Yellow ranger looked at her older sister and nodded. "Let's ride together," Emily told her.
Antonio glanced back to find the rangers getting on their War Horses, ready to go after him. He turned around and clenched the rein tighter.
If they can't find Jayden, then I will!
Maria appeared inside of Iyashinomizu carrying items to cook some food.
During the last days, the Red ranger had rested in the cave, healing himself with the caves water. He was training by himself, trying to grow stronger.
Right now, after an intense training with Hideo, he rested near the waterfall, meditating.
Maria placed the items on the ground before approaching the Red ranger and crossed her arms across her chest. "You know, I think it's time for you to return to the others." The Red ranger slowly opened his eyes and grimly replied, "I know, but I can't go back. You out of everyone should know that."
Maria clenched her jaw and stated, "I knew that once I shared who I really was, there was a chance you would act like this. But despite knowing your secret, your rangers need you and you need them." "I can't go back to them," Jayden replied, turning to glance at her. "I failed against Master Xandred, I failed in the future, what chance do I have? I'm not even the real Red ranger!"
"But you're their leader and their friend!" Maria declared. "And what good does it do for them?" Jayden spat, getting to his feet to glare at her. "I was almost killed! I couldn't even protect them!"
There was a stunned silence making the Purple ranger look at the Red ranger wide eyed. She could see the tears welling up in his eyes and starting to slip down his cheeks. The Purple ranger glanced the ground and whispered, "Jayden, you out of anyone should know how my rangers failed. My rangers weren't as united as yours. My rangers drifted apart over the years, and that was their weakness. Do you want your rangers to drift apart because you decided to be weak? To sulk in the shadows while they risk their lives to save the world?"
"They're the true rangers," Jayden told her, his green eyes flashing. "I'm just a shadow of the Red ranger." "A shadow that kept them together over the years," Maria spat back. "You're the anchor that has kept these rangers together. Don't make the same mistakes my Red ranger did. Don't let them drift apart because you lost your confidence. Go back to them and be the leader they need."
Jayden looked at the Purple ranger and growled, "I'm just not strong enough."
"You'll never be strong enough if you do this by yourself," Maria pointed out. "Don't let this be a burden you carry by yourself. Trust in yourself. There's a reason you sent me here from the future."
Jayden glanced at her sadly, wondering how the innocent Tashiko had turned into this wise battle ridden warrior. "Thank you," the Red ranger told her.
Maria nodded and turned around. "Now then, I bet you're hungry."
Antonio threw more wood on a small campfire he had constructed to keep himself warm. He petted his War Horse, who let out a soft neigh before continuing to eat the grass on the ground. The Gold ranger watched the fire in front of him before looking at his hand. Tashiko's purple ribbon slowly moved with the gentle wind, making Antonio sigh. He wished that everything that had happened lately, would just be a nightmare.
The rangers were broken, the Red ranger was missing and Tashiko was even dead.
Antonio closed his eyes, hoping that once he opened them, he was back in the Shiba House. He would find Tashiko training with Mike, Jayden training by himself, the girls laughing together and Mike and Kevin messing with each other. He opened his eyes, finding in disappointment the campfire instead.
Antonio sighed, knowing it was a lost hope to a fake dream. Jayden was still missing, Tashiko was gone and the rangers were probably frantically looking for him.
Suddenly there was a snap of a tree branch, causing the Gold ranger to bring his guard up. He took out his Samuraizer and glanced around for any sign of trouble. He heard a swoosh, making him turn around to find the glint of a sword cutting across his arm.
The Gold ranger jumped back, dropping his Samuraizer in attempt to transform, only to find a cool blade underneath his chin.
His War Horse neighed in terror, galloping away from the scene. The Gold ranger tried to move but heard a familiar voice state, "Try to run, Gold ranger, and I'll finish you off."
"Dekker," Antonio growled, narrowing his eyes. "What do you want?" The half-nighlok smiled and sarcastically said, "What do you think Gold ranger? I want to know how the Red ranger is doing. I heard he took quite a beating." Dekker eyed the Gold ranger, smirking, when he noticed his bandaged chest and right arm.
"And so did you."
"We all did," Antonio answered, his blood boiling. "Don't you think I'll spit out information for you Dekker. I won't backstab my friends for you."
Dekker chuckled quietly and stared right into Antonio's chocolate brown eyes. "Even though I have information about that wannabe ranger? What was her name? Tashiko?"
Antonio's eyes went wide and breathed, "What?"
"Oh, you don't know, do you?" Dekker inquired letting out a dark chuckle. "She's dead!" Antonio spat out angrily. "Is that what they've been telling you?" Dekker grinned slyly, making the Gold ranger frown. "What do you mean?" Antonio asked.
"That wannabe ranger isn't dead, Gold ranger," Dekker sneered. "She's very well alive."
After the two ranger finished eating, Hideo appeared in the cave. "Hello Jayden, Maria," the half-nighlok told them, walking towards them. "How are you this fine evening?"
"Better," Jayden replied, getting to his feet. "I'm going to train some more." The Red ranger left the Purple ranger and the half-nighlok by themselves, making Hideo look at the Purple ranger. "He looks better," he told her. "Changed his mind?"
"He better," Maria replied, glancing at Hideo. "We cannot let these rangers divide themselves. We cannot let this timeline fail as well." The half-nighlok gave a nod in agreement and said, "The rangers are growing desperate. I think they way you introduced yourself to them, wasn't the correct one. They see you as their enemy know."
"It doesn't matter," Maria declared. "I'm not written in this timeline. Right now I am an anomaly." "You're a trump card for them," Hideo nodded. "But that can come with great consequences. You entered a timeline uninvited." "Right now, we shouldn't worry about that," Maria replied, looking at Hideo. "They're always too slow to notice." "Yes, but this time it was a one way ticket," Hideo told her. "You didn't tell him that you cannot go back to the future, did you?"
Maria narrowed her eyes and didn't reply.
"I thought so," Hideo sighed, glancing at the Red ranger. "They will notice that you cannot return." "Drop the subject Hideo," Maria growled, glaring at the half-nighlok. "We need to worry about the rangers first. I'll worry about myself later."
The Purple ranger left the cave, making the half-nighlok sigh.
Antonio's eyes went wide and shook his head. "You lie." Dekker chuckled and looked at the Gold ranger right in the eyes. "Really? I doubt a dying warrior would tell me such lies."
Antonio clenched his jaw and spat, "Who told you?" "Does it matter?" Dekker declared. "She told me she saw a warrior wielding the power of Lightning. Her hair long, raven colored, with a purple qipao shirt and black battle skirt. Held the weapons of two kamas with purple ribbons."
The Gold ranger glanced at the ribbon he held in his hand and clenched it tightly. There was no way Tashiko would be alive.
"Kameyo also told me that Hideo and Uragiri held a deep secret. With her dying breath she told me how Hideo knew the young girl before she "appeared". Hideo took the girl's memories and sealed her powers away in an attempt to save her." Dekker laughed once more and stated, "It seems that half-nighlok didn't have the intentions in helping her, instead, wanting to wield her as a weapon. Uragiri does want the satisfaction of killing her in the most painful way. Just like I want the satisfaction of a worthy duel with the Red ranger."
"You're crazy!" the Gold ranger spat at him. What kind of nonsense was that?
"Think what you want, Gold ranger, but you know what I say, holds some truth," Dekker told him. The Gold ranger grabbed the blade that was near his neck, despite cutting his hand and slammed a kick on the half-nighlok's chest.
Dekker staggered from the impact at the Gold ranger took off running into the forest.
Antonio had the intentions to find Jayden by himself, not get killed by Dekker.
Dammit! Antonio thought, knowing he had dropped his Samuraizer. Now I can't get help!
The rangers had stopped by a river to let their War Horses drink, seeing the sun beginning to set. Darkness was blanketing Panorama City, the rangers growing desperate with no signs of Jayden, Antonio or the Purple ranger. "I'm exhausted," Mike stated as he petted his horse. "Same here," Emily yawned tiredly. "Still no sign of anyone," Serena sighed, glancing at the Blue ranger.
"We'll try again tomorrow," Mia declared, seeing everyone's tired faces.
Suddenly they heard a noise neigh and turned around to find Antonio's War Horse, galloping in panic. "Whoa!" Kevin yelled, trying to calm the horse down. He grabbed the reins and slowly raised his hand, trying to relax the panicked horse. The white horse slowly calmed down, panting in horror. "Is that a War Horse?" Mia asked, approaching the Blue ranger. "Yes it is," Kevin answered, petting the horse.
"It has a golden emblem," Emily noticed, seeing the saddle on the horse's back. "It's Antonio's," Mike whispered, causing the rangers to look at him.
The rangers exchanged worried glances, making Kevin state, "He's in trouble if his horse ran away spooked." "We need to find him, now," Serena nodded, hoping on Antonio's War Horse.
The others nodded as well and rode their horses into the forest.
Antonio panted as he kept running, hearing how Dekker was close behind him. He turned around, only for the ground to give away from his feet. He yelled in alarm as he rolled down the hill and landed painfully on the ground. The Gold ranger quickly got to his feet once more, looking around to find a place to hide. His chest was hurting from Xandred's attack, his fingers were sliced from grabbing the blade and his arm ached from Dekker's slash.
"Gold ranger, where are you?" Dekker called out, his voice echoing the forest. Antonio glanced around before hiding behind some trees. He tried to steady his breathing as he watched Dekker, in his Nighlok form, look around for him.
"Gold ranger, you are drying my patience," Dekker told him. The half-Nighlok walked dangerously close to where Gold ranger was hiding, making Antonio close his eyes, hoping Dekker would leave.
Suddenly his back exploded in pain, the tree trunk he was leaning against groaning as it collapsed into the ground. The Gold ranger was thrown face first into the ground, his back bleeding as Dekker approached him.
"I told you not to run," Dekker growled, his red eyes flashing angrily. "I wasn't finished, Gold ranger." "Really?" Antonio cockily replied, trying to get to his feet. "Because you looked finished to me." Dekker snarled, raising his sword to slash at the Gold ranger, when there was a growl.
A wolf appeared, it's jaw opened, it's teeth baring at Dekker. It was huge, taller than Dekker, grey with purple streaks. The Samurai emblem was on her left shoulder as the wolf's hackles raised, glaring at Dekker with beady black eyes. "What is this?" Dekker asked, glancing at the Gold ranger. "Is this your new toy?"
The Gold ranger was looking at the wolf confused before Dekker raised his sword once more. "Even with this new toy, I will get rid of you!" Dekker snarled, swinging his sword at him. The Wolf Zord shot forward, clamping her jaws in Dekker's arm. Dekker yelled in agony, trying to shake off the zord off his arm. He grabbed the Wolf Zord by the neck and threw her against a tree. The Wolf Zord slammed against the trunk and landed on the ground, whimpering in hurt.
"No!" Antonio yelled, seeing the injured animal. "Since you don't cooperate, I have no other choice but to finish what Xandred started," Dekker growled. He raised his sword once more, making the Wolf Zord throw back her head and let out a howl.
The rangers continued to ride on their horses, deep into the forest, before Kevin halted his horse. "Whoa!" he called out, making the other rangers stop. "What's up Kev?" Mike asked the Blue ranger, who got off his horse.
The Blue ranger walked from the rangers before kneeling down. He picked up an item and turned around to show it to the rangers.
It was Antonio's Samuraizer.
"Oh no," Serena murmured, as the rangers exchanged worried glances. "Now how are we going to find him?" "I think we should focus on actually finding him," Mia replied. "He's in more danger if he can't transform." "Mia's right," Kevin nodded before tossing the Samuraizer to the Green ranger. "Try to see if the plants can find a clue-"
The Wolf Zord's howl interrupted him, making him turn around towards the direction the sound was coming from. "What was that?" Mike asked, raising an eyebrow. "A wolf," Serena stated, glancing at the rangers. "And not just any wolf," Kevin growled. "It's the Purple Samurai's." The Blue ranger quickly rushed towards his horse, and hoped into him, grabbing the reins. "Let's go!"
The Blue ranger's horse galloped towards the direction the howling was coming from. The other rangers followed behind.
Antonio summoned his broken Barracuda Blade in attempt to block the attack, when suddenly there was a bright purple light.
The Gold ranger heard the clink of swords clashing before he uncovered his eyes to find a woman standing in front of him. Her raven hair reached her waist and wore a purple qipao shirt with a black battle skirt. In her hands she held a Spinsword, blocking Dekker's fatal shot.
Dekker's lip curled upwards and growled, "You."
The woman gave him a smirk and declared, "You sound like you know of me."
"I've heard stories about you, Purple ranger," Dekker replied dryly. "It's an honor to finally meet the one who took the Red ranger."
Antonio took a sharp inward breath, hearing this and slowly got to his feet. "So you're the one who took Jayden."
The woman froze, hearing the Gold ranger's voice but didn't turn around.
"You're the Purple ranger," Antonio continued, glancing at her. "Where do you have Jayden?" "Yes, Purple ranger, where do you have the Red ranger?" Dekker sneered, pushing against her sword. The Purple ranger pushed Dekker away from her sword and jumped back.
"I have nothing to say to you, Nighlok," the Purple ranger declared.
"Then tell me!" Antonio yelled at her. "Tell me where the hell Jayden is!" "Or what?" the Purple ranger declared, her back towards the Gold ranger. "Are you going to fight me with that broken blade of yours?"
The Gold ranger flinched back and clenched his teeth. "I will fight you in order to make you tell me where Jayden is." "Fight me?" the Purple ranger scoffed, lowering her sword. "I doubt it."
"Face me, and you'll see," Antonio told her, getting into a fighting position. The Purple ranger wielded her sword beside her before taking a step back and turned to face the Gold ranger.
Immediately Antonio's eyes widened and whispered, "No." He dropped his Barracuda Blade in shock and took a step back. "You, you're supposed to be dead… You…"
But he couldn't deny what he was seeing. The raven hair, the hazel eyes, the three scars in her face that Jayden had inflicted when he was a werewolf.
"Tashiko…" Antonio gasped. "You're Tashiko…" Tears welled up in his eyes and yelled, "How are you alive? Serena told me you were dead! That you vanished! How could you leave us without a word?"
"Because this person in front of you isn't Tashiko dear," came another voice. A gap opened revealing Ami and a few dozen of Moogers, surrounding the Gold and Purple rangers and Dekker. Immediately, the Purple ranger clenched her teeth, seeing her nemesis. The Gold ranger quickly got to his feet, grabbing his broken Barracuda Blade.
"Uragiri," the Purple ranger growled, narrowing her eyes.
Ami smirked and began to laugh. "Seems you're not the idiot of Tashiko anymore. Welcome back to hell, Maria Abukara."