Episode 8: A Leader's Burden

Centuries ago in Japan, Nighlok monsters invaded Japan, but samurai warriors defeated them with power symbols passed down from parent to child. Today the evil Nighlok have risen once again and plan to flood the earth. Luckily a new generation of heroes stand in their way they are the Power Rangers Samurai.

"This is too easy!" The new Nighlock taunts as as parents lead around a strange white creature while their children cry, curled into balls of unhappyness just as Marvelous, Nicole, Mia, Doc, and Violet arrive.

"Nani?" Nicole says confused.

"Nicole-sama?" Mia wondered confused as she takes out her Gokai Touch.

"This is Nakinakite, a Shinkenger enemy...he doesn't exist in Samurai...or shouldn't."

Marvelous shrugs, "I don't like the way he looks so he's going down anyway...Gokai Change!"

"Goooookaiger!"

"Huh? you're not the Samurai Rangers!" Nakinakite says confused as he looks to the Gokaigers, "Who are you guys?"

Gokai Red scoffs as they introduce themselves, "Gokai Red."

"Gokai Green."

"Gokai Gold."

"Gokai Silver."

"Gokai Violet."

"Kaizoku Sentai..."

"Uchuu Teikoku Sentai..."

"Gokaiger!"

"Let's make it showy!"

The Gokaiger's charge forward, swinging their blades but Nakinakite deflects them with his club, before blasting them with an energy attack.

"Nicole-sama, is there anything we should know about this guy?"

"Yeah!" moving quickly to flank Nakinakite before firing her Gokai Gun, "Watch out for his little red pes..."

She is cut short as Nakinakite launches a red ball at her that sticks to her suit before quickly growing into a red figure, Ah mou!"

"Your Highness!" Violet runs over, his own saber draw and about to slash, "I'll get it off you!"

"No wai..." but she is cut short as his sword strikes the creature and both it and Nicole howl out in pain. Before Violet can react another red orb is thrown to his exposed back and grows into his own burden.

"Getting heavy," Silver groans before buckling backward and falling onto her back Violet face planting next to her.

Nakinakite laughs, "My little kiddies will cry and cry and cry, getting heavier and heavier until they crush you! And there's nothing you can do to stop it!"

"Bet it will vanish when we destroy you!" Gold growls as she charges forward!"

"Catch!"

"What?!" A confused Gold says dropping her weapons as something is thrown at her, only for it to be one of the red ball which stick to her chest and quickly weights her down.

Red and Green open with Gokai Gun fire forcing Nakinakite as Violet opens his Mobirate groaning but his burden bats it out of his hand, "Hey!" he protests slapping his burdens hand who only wails and get's heavier.

"It's no use, the only way to make them lighter is to make them happy, and NOTHING makes these things happy but misery, their still Nighlok after all!" Silver argues.

"Everyone don't worry," Green glances back, "We'll beat this guy quick and save you!"

"Surprise!" Nakinakite leap back from their attack as he launches another energy attack, as the Gokaigers stumble a red ball latches onto Red and Green in the chaos.

Marvelous growls as he flips open his Mobirate before the ball fully grows, "Need a little...urk...help here!" before collapsing backwards under the weight of his new burden."

"We're on our way!" Jayden's voice calls from the other end.

Nakinakite pauses as his leg dries, "Looks like I have to cut and run!"

Before fleeing into a gap.

"Wait!"

"No!"

"Get back here!"

Around the bend Spike looks at the scene and then back to Bulk who is sitting eating a hotdog as Spike pats his shoulder, "Hey Uncle Bulk!"

"What is it Spike," Bulk says annoyed, "Can't you see I'm eating?"

"Um...I think the Rangers are in trouble."

"What?" Bulk says throwing his meal to the ground as he looks around the corner and quickly hurries off, pausing only a moment to look back to Spike, "Come on Spike!" before grasping his collar.

"Don't worry," Doc smiles as he powers down, "I'm sure our comrades will fix this."

"Don't worry Nicole! We'll save you!" Bulk says charging in, as he and Spike take a hold of her burden and pull.

She groans in pain, "B-Bulk don't, their bound to us!"

Bulk quickly back peddles stumbling back and tripping over Spike the two tumbling backward just as the Samurai Rangers arrive along with Navy and Light, the red demons chuckling.

"Hey I think their getting lighter," Doc says pushing to his feet.

"How can we help?" Samurai Red asks just as Doc is forced back to the ground as his burden starts to cry.

"The Nighlok got away but the damage is still done," Mia notes pointing around to the many crying children, "You have to help these kids find their parents."

Nicole nods, "And somehow break the spell of the white demons who have taken their place in the parent's hearts."

"What about you?" Bulk inserts himself, reaching out for the demon pinning down Nicole. "We can't just leave you to be crushed by these things."

"Nothing you can do," Violet comments, "The only thing these things respond to is pain and suffering of others."

Bulk pauses pulling Spike into a huddle as Samurai Red looks around at the children, "Split up Rangers, I'll stay behind to help our friends, you have to find these kids parents and defeat the imposters!"

"Right!" The others says together as they break off.

"We got this!" Bulk exclaims as they exit the huddle, "You go help those kids!"

Samurai Red tilts his head confused, "Y-You sure?"

Bulk nods, as Samurai Red runs off, just before Spike trips him and he tumbles backward.

The red demons laughs, getting lighter, as Bulk growls shoving Spike as he gets to his feet.

"I don't believe it!" Nicole chuckles as she gets to her feet warily, the others rising with her. "We're being saved by Bulk and Spikes slap schtick!"

"Keep it up you two!" Marvelous smirks as Bulk gives Spike a weggie, "It's working."

"But they aren't getting any smaller," Doc notes.

"It's a start, at least we won't be crushed." Violet adds.

In the distance the white Nighlok watches, arms crossed, 'Interesting tactics...unorthodox but effective.'

"Your such a good boy!" a couple coo over the white demon as they walk through a park.

"Yes, we are so lucky to have you."

"That isn't your son!" Samurai Blue proclaims, pulling a crying child from behind him, "Can't you tell the difference between that Nighlok and your own flesh and blood?"

"Samurai Ranger?" the mother says confused and angry, "how can you call our dear boy a demon!"

"Yeah! It's you who's protecting the monster, can't you see that!"

"M-Mom, D-Dad!" the boy cries.

Kevin sighs, "Looks like I'll have to do this the hard way!" charging in and pulling the white demon away from the parents.

"Son!"

"You monster!"

The Blue Ranger turning around to see the parents coming at him wielding Mooger swords, "Oh boy." as he bobs and weaves to avoid them, 'I can't fight back they're humans, and confused, but if I don't...'

"Oh ah oh! You really did a number on those Pirate Rangers Babi," Octoroo pats Nakinakite's back as he looks out over the water, "The rising Sansu should really help Master Xandred's recovery."

"Just doing my part to help take over the human world."

Dayu huffed, looking around, "Wonder where that new girl got off too, you'd think she'd be all over gloating over the Ranger's suffering."

"Who?" Babi wonders.

"Oh ah oh, a new Nighlok showed up, told Master Xandred all about how Yamiror was planing a coup against the Master."

"Maybe she's out causing more misery then?"

"She can't," Dayu comments, "She says she would dry out to quickly in the human world, she can only peek in until the river get's deeper."

Babi shrugs, "The Sansu's still a pretty big place, I'm sure she's around."

"Symbol Power: Bind!" Samurai Red dodges a deranged mothers sword as he summons out a rope to bind the parents as he moves back to the abandoned daughter, "Don't cry, your parents are just confused, deep down you know they still love you right?"

The girl dries her tears a moment and slowly nods, "Uh huh."

"Love her, that little monster? Never!"

"Good now...ARG!" Samurai Red howls as the white demon catches him off guard with a sword slash to the back.

"Way to go our little flower, show that nasty Ranger and that beastly girl who the real hero is."

The girl's eyes water as Samurai Red rolls along the ground, the while one advances on her sword raised.

"End it!"

"Destroy that little pest!"

And swings for the kill.

"No!" The girl's eyes clear as she snatches the Spin Sword from the ground blocking the killing blow and struggling to keep the white demon at arms length, though clearly she can't hold out, "I know your just confused mom, dad. The Rangers would never lie to us!"

A side kick knocking the white demon back as Samurai Red reclaims his sword, "Are you ok?"

She nods, a fierce look on her face, "Go get that monster!" as she runs over to her parents, "Mom, Dad, It's me, Suzy," tears running down her face, but not tears of sadness, tears of joy, as she wraps her arms around them, "I know you don't remember, I know your just confused. But deep down you remember. I know you love me, and I love you."

"S-Suzy?" The father says softly his hands trembling as the rope vanishes, his arms slowly wrapping around her as his eyes water, joined in a moment by the mother, "Oh Suzy! Can you ever forgive us?"

"Of course I can!" she smiles in tears, "Your my parents!"

And in a single stroke Jayden destroys the white demon, smiling under his helmet as he sees the family reunited.

"Thank you Samurai Ranger!"

"Thank you!"

Jayden nods as he runs off, "Family is the most important thing, never forget that!"

"We wont!" The three say waving as Jayden runs off.

"Thanks Jayden," Mike says into his Summarizer as he dodges the wild swing of the white demon and ''his' parents, "I'll give it a try."

"Symbol Power: Bind!" he draws quickly as vines tie up the parents and he goes to duel the white demon, glancing back at the young boy, "Now's your chance Sam, go you your parents, make them remember, you can do it!"

Sam slowly dries his tears, looking from the Green Ranger to his parents, "A-Are you sure?"

"Of course I am," he laughs, "this looser isn't their real son, you know, I know it, you just need to make them remember it too."

Sam nods as he moves to his parents.

"Nooooooo!" Babi howls from the Sansu! "My babies, I can sense it!"

"Sense what?" Dayu scoffs.

"Those blasted Rangers have found a way to break the spell my babies have on their parents!"

"Oh ah oh, you better get back there are fix things up then!"

"Right!" Babi turns for the shore, "I'm on it, I'll make those Ranger's cry next!"

Bulk and Spike lie exhausted on the ground as Nicole smiles rising to her feet, "Nice job guys."

"So it was you two looser!" Babi growls as he appears. "Well that's easy enough to fix!" as he prepares to hit then with an energy attack.

"Bulk!"

"Spike-sama!"

"Catch!"

"Goodbye!" Babi howls as he launches his attack.

"Goooooookaiger!"

As the smoke clears Gokai Gold and Silver stand in the dust, dazed a moment as they stare down at their gloves and then each other.

"Uncle Bulk," Gold muses, "We're..."

Silver takes a defensive stance, "I know, but now is not the time," as he raises his Gokai Spear, "Final Wave!"

"R-Right Uncle Bulk!"

"Final Wave!"

"Gokai Shooting Star!"

"Gokai Scramble!"

Babi rolls along the ground smoldering as he gets to his feet, laughing nervously, "I'm still alive losers!"

"Not for long," Gokai Navy leading the others to flank Gold and Silver.

"Yeah we destroyed all your little monsters and reunited the kids with their parents." Samurai Blue exposits.

"Meaning there's only one thing left to do." Samurai Red says as he slides in a secret disc and spins it a red glow enveloping his sword.

"Final Wave!"

"Gokai Blast!"

"Quintuple Slash!"

"Gokai Shooting Star!"

"Noooooooo!"

Babi drops to the ground, exploding as the Rangers turn together in victory, the Gokaigers burdens now vanishing.

"It's not over yet Rangers," Samurai Red calls, "Here comes the second life."

"Not so tough now are you small fries!"

Bulk and Spike power down as they fall on their rears, "I-I think you better handle this Nicole!"

Nicole and Mia smile as they take back their Gokai Touches, "Thanks."

"You two get too safety!" Doc orders as he flips open his Mobirate, "Gosie-san we could use your Headers."

"On the way."

"Folding Zords!" Samurai Red calls out, "Mega Mode Power!"

"Ohhhh two Megazords! Am I suppose to be scared!" Babi counters with an energy attack.

"Move it Rangers!" Samurai Red calls as they move to intercept, blocking with their shield.

"Header Strike!" The Gokaigers countering with the 5 headers of the Gosei Megazord forcing Babi to stumble back.

"Uncle Bulk," Spike pauses to look back to the fight, as the Gosie Megazord stumbles, "Isn't there more we can do. The Gokaigers are still weak from their burdens."

Before Bulk can respond the Samurai Megazord is knocked into a building, but quickly recovers and charges Babi with his sword.

"Help! Somebody help me!" A voice cries out.

Bulk runs to the rubble, "Don't worry," he grunts, grabbing a large piece of rubble and throwing it aside. "Come on Spike give me a hand."

"Right Uncle Bulk."

Nicole's eyes drift to the ground, as she spies Bulk and Spike before returning to the controls, "Guys we're not in a good place for a prolonged fight, too many civilians still in the area, we need to finish this."

Marvelous nods as he looks over to the Samurai Megazord, "You ready to finish this Jayden-san?"

"On your lead Captain!" As he draws his Mega blade, the Megazord's Blade being draw out as its inscription starts to glow.

"Victory Charge!"

"Samurai Slash!"

Babi howls as he is paralyzed by the Victory Charge as the headers circle around and slam into him just before the Samurai Slash tears into him, ending the battle, the two Megazords turning to clasp hands.

"Samurai Rangers, Gokaigers. Victory is ours!"

As the sun begins to set Bulk and Spike fall back on the ground exhausted, "today was quite a work out, wasn't it Uncle Bulk."

He nods, his stomach rumbling, Spike following suite.

"Hey Uncle Bulk..." Spike smiles.

Bulk shakes his head, "Sorry, I'm broke."

"This a private party or can anyone have a seat?" Nicole smiles as she walks over and drops to the ground next to the two.

"N-Nicole!" Spike flusters, "I er..."

"We owe you our lives," Violet adds as he makes his own way over.

"Oh hey look, what a nice place for a Picnic Emily," Mia smiles leading the rest of the group.

"Oh hey everyone, I'd like to introduce you some friends we made since we landed here." Nicole smiles as Doc, Mia (Samurai), Emily, and Kevin help set out a picnic blanket, "Panorama City sure is full of kind people."

Marvelous smirks.

"Such nice people for a gang of lost pirates," Mia muses. As she helps put out the food.

"Care to join us Bulk, Spike," Emily offers, "I'm Emily."

"Mia."

"Jayden."

"Kevin."

"Mike."

"And you already know my fellow Gokaigers," Nicole smiles handing sandwiches to Bulk and Spike as she motions to her group. "Our Captain Marvelous."

"I could get use to a city like this."

"Team medic and engineer, Don 'Doc' Dogoier!"

"Nice to meet you two officially, Nicole talks a lot about you."

"Mia, my sister, of sorts."

"Sister?" Bulk wonders as he pauses from his meal to look between the two, "I sorta see the resemblance."

Mia and Nicole chuckling as Mia motioned to Los Dark and Violet, "and these are our Bodyguards Los Dark and Violet."

"That's a weird name," Spike muses.

"For a human," Los Dark counters, "Violet and I are not from Earth."

"A-Aliens?" Spike swallows hard.

"Neither am I, Marvelous, or Doc," Jealoushitto adds, "I'm Jealoushitto a former Action Commander of the Zangyack Space Empire."

Bulk offers his hand but quickly retracts it to wipe it clean on his shirt before re-offering it, "We we're just trying to help, nice to meet you."

Emily smiles as she looks skyward to the appearing stars, "Look's like it's going to be a nice night."

Spike smiles, looking from Mia (Samurai) to Nicole, "Y-Yeah, a beautiful night."

"Where have you been?" Dayu scowls as the their mysterious ally pulls herself onto the junk.

Nicole in her Nighlok guise smiled, "Missed me Dayu?"

"No but we were expecting you to be ecstatic after Babi raised the Sansu a good bit."

"Oh ah oh, where were you?"

"Oh that," Nicole lounges on the edge of the junk, "I noticed the river rising and thought I'd see if I could actually enter the human world, even if just to torment some poor kid from the shadows. Big mistake, I didn't get as bad as Master Xandred but I needed to rehydrate for most of the day."

"Well that was stupid," Dayu scowls.

"Your probably right..."

"Yeah well you..." Dayu stops cold and blinks, "What?"

"I said you're probably right, I need to learn patience like Master Xandred."

Dayu flusters, "Yeah...well...er...don't do it again."

"Oh ah oh, we need all the Nighlok we can can get while the Master Recovers, and your ability to peek from the shadows is invaluable for intelligence gathering!"

Nicole nods, "Sorry Octoro, I'll try and behave. After seeing what Master Xandred can do even Sealed The last thing I want to do is get on his general's bad side."

"Oh ah oh, good for you, at least your smarter then that traitor Yamiror!"

Nicole smiles, "Well I better get going, I've heard some rumors I should really investigate."

"Rumors?"

She nods, "Yes, seems there may be a way to tip the odds in our favor, to supercharge our Nighlok, but I don't know much more then that, after all there has to be some sort of catch right? Otherwise why wasn't it done before?"

"Oh ah oh! Then you better get back to work."

Nicole smiles rolling into the Sansu before waving up to Dayu and Octoroo, "See you two around."

"Oh ah oh, see you!"

Dayu smiling as Nicole swims off.