A/N: Enjoy the chapter! Sorry you guys had to wait so long.
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers Samurai or Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. I just own most of the plot and the characters and things you don't recognize from the original versions.
Fun Fact: "Heavy Metal" was the very first Samurai episode I ever watched, which had background Jemily moments in it. Right after that, I watched "Strange Case of the Munchies" which had nothing but Jemily in it. So that's why I ship Jemily so much as well as why Emily is my favorite Ranger.
~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~
"As the Rangers try to recover from the recent revelation of Serrator having ulterior motives, a monster with the ability to make people hungry attacks the city."
Better Together
Power Rangers: Samurai REDO
Season 2, Episode 14: Resolutions
Junk Ship, Sanzu River, Netherworld
April 19, 2015
"Do you hear me, Grinataur?" Serrator asked. "It's important to press the Rangers for time. That way, they are more likely to slip up and make a mistake."
"Of course, Master," Grinataur said. "With my dirt, I'll make all humans so hungry, they'll keep eating until they explode."
Grinataur left, and Octoroo stepped forward, "I know what you're up to. I just figured it out." Serrator to face him, intrigued. "You're driving wedges of misery into the human world to split it open, so you can instantly flood the earth."
"Impressive," Serrator said. "I'm surprised you actually figured it out."
"I just wish I discovered the level of your traitorous insanity earlier," Octoroo replied. "This is incredibly risky. Tearing an opening between our worlds could destroy them both! I don't know about you, but I try to keep my chances of being destroyed to a minimum."
"If it would help me rule both worlds, I'd destroy you a thousand times over," Serratpr shot back.
"Once the boss recovers from drying out, he'll rip you and your plan apart," but then Octoroo stopped. "Wait a minute. You don't have the power to split open their world. You need someone filled with Nighlok rage and human sorrow to do it." He gasped. "Deker! You need him to deliver the final strike, don't you?"
"Now you're on a streak," Serrator replied. "Yes. And I set this all up over 300 years ago."
"But there's no way it can succeed. He'll never agree to it," Octoroo protested. Deker was a former General, after all, and during that time, Octoroo had picked up a few things about Deker that he was positive only Dayu knew.
"Everybody has a price, and I have something he wants," Serrator said. "Nothing will stop me now, especially you."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
"We were lucky we survived," Mia said. She, Mike, Kevin, Emily, and Antonio were in the meeting room, surrounding the Gap Sensor map table.
"Yeah," Mike agreed. "I never thought Xandred would be that scary."
Kevin brought up, "I think it's time we start studying and practicing the Seal ourselves. That way, when Xandred attacks again, we might have a better chance of winning." He turned to Emily, who had been quiet ever since she was told to take the injured Jayden home a couple of days ago. "What do you think, Em?"
She looked up at the other four, as if she had been startled. She nodded, and quietly answered, "Do it."
"Okay," Kevin replied.
Antonio then brought up something interesting, "But why would Xandred attack Serrator?"
"Serrator must be going rogue, attacking odd places like Monalua Island," Kevin replied, thinking. "But why?"
"That's the million dollar question, isn't it?" Mike asked.
Kevin tapped on the table, bringing up the map of the city. "So far, Serrator has made a series of attacks on us. At first, they seem to be random, but I don't think they are. Antonio, pull out your tablet. Read the coordinates of each recent attack beginning with our first round against Serrator, and tap on the location using the map."
Antonio pulled out his tablet and did as Kevin said. As he started placing dots, he said, "I get where you're going with this, Kev, and I agree. Serrator doesn't seem like the type of Nighlock to just attack randomly."
"Exactly," Kevin replied. "There has to be a pattern. I mean, why else would both Xandred and Dayu go after Serrator like that? And why else would Serrator get out of there fast?"
By this time, Antonio had finished placing the dots, "Done. Now, I'm going to clear the map and this time place dots where Serrator has appeared himself. Okay?" He got four confused, and somewhat frightened, nods in return. He placed five dots on the map, one of them on Monalua Island, another at Parkside Trails (where Xandred had appeared in person), and the other three throughout Panorama City.
He then zoomed the map out so they could get a clearer view, and everyone's breath immediately caught in their throats.
"I knew it," Kevin said.
"They form a line..." Mia muttered.
Mike was shaking his head, "This can't be a coincidence."
Antonio turned to Emily, "Em, go let Jayden know."
She nodded and quickly walked to the recovery room. But just as she was about to knock, she paused.
The man in there, injured and in pain, was the man she loved. She understood why he stood in front of them and fought Xandred by himself, even if no one else did: he was protecting them.
But who would protect him?
"Em, you do realize the door is open, right?" came Jayden's concerned voice. "I can see you."
Startled, Emily snapped back to reality, "Oh, s-sorry." Jayden was standing up, walking around in his casual clothes like nothing was wrong.
"It's alright," he replied. "Are you okay? You look troubled."
She tried her best to slap a smile on, though she knew it probably looked obviously fake, "I'm fine. We just figured out something troubling. Serrator's plan...his attacks all form a line."
"I see..." Jayden muttered.
"We still don't know why," Emily admitted, "but whatever he's planning, it can't be good."
"Whatever he's planning, we'll stop him." Leave it to Jayden to be positive after taking a beating.
Emily let slip a small smile, as Antonio's voice sounded from behind, "Hey, Jay. Nice to see that you're well enough to walk around."
Jayden and Emily both turned to see the other four standing behind the blonde.
"Yeah," Jayden replied. "I heal pretty quick."
"Do you feel like taking us on in some sparring?" Mike asked. "'Cause we're about to."
"Let's go find out," Jayden shrugged.
"Be careful," Emily whispered.
"I'll be fine, Em," the Red Samurai told her.
"You guys go ahead and spar," Mia said. "Em and I are going to the mall."
"Oh, yeah," Emily mentally beat herself up for forgetting. "Reppils' End-of-Summer Sale."
"Yeah. C'mon, let's go!"
As the four guys watched Mia almost drag Emily out of the House, they all hoped that this would cheer Emily up.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Reppils Store, Grand Harbor Shopping Mall, Panorama City, California
Mia was glad that Emily had started to cheer up. Whether it was because their spree was all on Mia, or getting out of the House, or something else entirely, Emily looked like she was enjoying herself, as she and Mia tried on all the clothes that had caught their eyes.
Their latest set had Mia in a pastel pink dress and sweater, with some ankle boots and a hat, while Emily had settled on an outfit that made her look like someone in the army.
"So, is this a tough look or what?" Emily asked.
Mia paused to look at Emily's camo cargo pants, army boots, a white t-shirt, and a pair of sunglasses.
"Interesting, Em, but..." she tried to put the young girl down gently. Mia knew of Emily's sensitivity when it came her insecurities, especially when the one talking to her was one of her friends. "It's not really your style."
Emily sighed, "I need to get stronger. I need to be tough like you guys." She faced the mirror, tears of frustration flooding her vision. She just wanted to punch a wall, repeatedly, but she instead punched the air, performing a standard block with her arm right afterwards.
"I see," she heard Mia say. "You want to be strong enough to protect Jayden."
Emily didn't say anything, and she didn't have to. Mia could obviously see Emily's guilt over being unable to protect the man she loved from their greatest enemy.
To Mia, Emily's silence spoke volumes and told the older girl everything she needed to know. So, she smiled and placed both hands on the younger's shoulders, "Em, you're tough. In your own way. Your strength comes from your kindness, and I'm sure Jayden would agree with me."
Emily nodded, before returning Mia's smile.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Spike was checking out some shoes, and he did a double take when he saw who was currently at the cash register, checking out the clothes she and her friend had picked out.
It was the girl he met at the factory, the girl who had gotten him his current cafe job. Mia, Terry's older sister.
She was pretty, but taken, as Terry had said.
She and her friend walked away, but Spike stopped when he saw a pink wallet on the ground.
He picked it up and ran outside the store, to give it back to her.
But when he got there, she was gone.
"What's going on, Spike?" Bulk asked.
Spike turned to see his uncle standing there, a look of confusion on his face. "That girl Mia dropped her wallet." He held up the item in his hand. "I tried to give it back to her, but she's gone."
"It's okay, Spike," Bulk said. "You have a wallet," he took said item from Spike and opened it, "and a driver's license."
"What?" Spike snatched the wallet back and looked at it. "Wow, her picture sure is pretty."
Bulk said, "And we have her address. Now, you can go over to her house and return it yourself."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
City Square, Panorama City, California
"I'll come by the office and pick it up tomorrow," a business man said, obviously on his phone. "I'll talk to you tomorrow." Right as he hung up, a cloud of dirt hit him in the shoulder. He wiped the dirt off, but then felt a splitting headache coming on. He was overcome by a massive thirst and that's when he blanked out.
"Ha, ha! That's right, keep eating! And you!" The people running away from the Nighlock got hit in the back with spouts of dirt. They all fell to the ground, writhing in pain, each person groaning and complaining about thirstiness and hunger.
This was the scene Mia and Emily stumbled upon. They only wanted to get some lunch, but they were now faced with everyone on the floor, eating everything in sight, even fighting each other for food (not literally, but still).
"That's enough, Nighlock!" Emily shouted, she and Mia ready for action.
"Ah, the Pink and Yellow Samurai!" The Nighlock exclaimed. "Hello, ladies. My name is Action Commander Grinataur, and welcome to dinner!"
"What did you do to them?!" Mia demanded.
"Once they get hit with my dirt, they'll get an appetite for self destruction. They'll eat 'til they explode." While he laughed like a complete and utter maniac, the two Rangers flipped open their Samuraizers.
"This ends right now! Samuraizers!"
"Go, Go, Samurai!"
"Nuh-uh!" Granitor waved his finger as if they had done something naughty. "Marauders!"
Mia took the Marauders on directly, but Emily had leapt right over them, her Sword in her hand.
"Emily!" Mia nearly screamed at her before dodging to avoid a Marauder's sword. "What are you doing?!"
Emily swung her sword at the Nighlock, but Granitor easily caught it and used it to pull her towards him. She grunted in pain as he shoved her sword away, with her grip still on tight. Giving her a few sharp jabs in the stomach, she fell on her knees.
Mia brought out her Samuraizer, "Guys, hurry! Emily might be in trouble!"
"What does you mean 'might be'?" She heard Kevin ask.
"Just hurry up!" she replied before hanging up and contuining to fight the Marauders. But not once did her gaze leave Emily.
As she got back to her feet, he gave her a horizontal slash, then a vertical slash, causing her to fall to the ground completely. She got back up right as he brandished a couple of bombs.
"Let's play my favorite game! How about some dodgeball?" Granitor threw approximately four bombs at her.
All four sent out strong shockwaves that knocked her off balance and gave her some internal damage, she was sure. She fell back to the ground, de-morphing on the way.
Mia felt the Marauders behind her being knocked down. She quickly turned to see Kevin there, he and the other guys taking on the Marauders in groups.
"Thanks, Kev!" she said.
"No problem!" Kevin replied, before the two turned back to see Emily on the ground.
Coughing a few times, blood slowly oozing from her forehead and her lip, bruises all over her body, Emily couldn't find the strength to get back on her feet.
"Here's spitting at you, kid!" Emily glanced up to see Granitor spit two shots of dirt at her.
She winced, but the impact never came. She opened her eyes when she heard Kevin and Mia scream out in pain, just in time to see them fall to the ground, de-morphing on the way.
"I'm so...hungry..." Kevin muttered.
"So very...thirsty..." Mia clutched at her throat, feeling like it was dry like a desert.
Emily could only watch with sadness, tears littering her eyes, as Kevin and Mia got up and ran to where the food was.
"Oh no," she whimpered, shaking her head. They had taken those hits for her.
She saw Mike and Antonio leap up and both land hits on Granitor, stopping him from celebrating.
"Hang on, Em!" Mike said, after he and Antonio landed. They two tried to run to Emily.
Keyword: Tried.
"Why you!" Granitor growled before shooting at the two with his dirt.
Emily watched them de-morph too, complaining about their empty stomachs.
She tried to get up, but she couldn't. She was hurting too badly, and her head was aching up a storm.
Red boots landed in front of her. She glanced up to see Jayden standing in front of her, his sword held in front of him. "Don't worry, Em, I'll protect you!"
"What are you doing here?" she asked. "You're hurt!"
"Heads up!" Granitor said, and Jayden turned around just in time to get hit with some dirt.
Jayden held his side, where the dirt had hit him, as Granitor said, "Darn it! You Rangers lucked out! I'll have to reload and get you properly, Red Ranger, but after a dip in the Sanzu River, I'll make you like all the rest!"
Emily watched as Jayden held on for a few seconds, before falling to his knees, de-morphing on the way.
Despite him clutching his dry throat, he said, "Don't worry, Em. I'm fine."
Emily couldn't help but worry.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
As Ji entered the kitchen, he immediately stopped and Emily and Jayden both could see why. The kitchen was disaster. "THIS IS CRAZY!"
"I know, and it's all my fault," Emily replied, the guilt returning as she watched Antonio mindlessly shoveling pretzels into his mouth.
"I knew it would be bad from what you two told me, but this?! Kevin, you put that down! That's for tonight's dinner!" Ji raced forward to stop Kevin from eating all the loaves of bread.
Jayden lightly tugged on Emily's sweater sleeve, "C'mon, Em. We need to patch up our injuries first."
Emily nodded and relented to following Jayden to the recovery room.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Junk Ship, Sanzu River, Netherworld
"Sorry, boss," Grinataur apologized. "I was so close to victory."
"Don't be," Serrator replied. "Not only will the agony of hunger and thirst help my plan, but most of the Rangers are now down for the count. You did well." He gave Grinataur is Locator. "Now, head to Parkside Trails. This will tell you the precise location to cause more misery."
Octoroo watched as Grinataur left the ship with glee.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
Bulk had accompanied Spike to the address listed on Mia's driver's license.
"Woah, not only is this girl pretty, but she's rich too!" Bulk said, before pulling Spike to the door.
Spike pressed the button, and door bell rang.
They heard a "What now?" getting closer before the door opened, revealing a man. "I'm sorry, but we're not interested in buying anything today."
"No, we're not here to sell anything," Spike said. "Um...is Mia home?"
"Mia?" Ji asked. "Um...not right now."
"My popcorn!" sounded from inside the house, before a sound that indicated someone had clearly slipped and fallen.
"Um," Ji looked nervous. "Come on in." Closing the door behind them, Ji led them to some comfy chairs around a table. "Wait here for a minute. I'll be right back."
Ji then left, and Bulk and Spike began looking around. Spike was surprised when Bulk began to nerd out. "It's a dojo!"
"Um, yeah," Spike said. "Why are you so excited?"
"Because I've always wanted to be a Power Ranger, ever since I grew up alongside the Mighty Morphin' Rangers!" Bulk replied.
His face covered in flour thanks to Kevin, Ji walked into the room where he had left Bulk and Spike, only to see them meditating in the dojo. "What are you doing?"
The two immediately scrambled to stand up, as Bulk said, "Well, we saw the dojo and we're interested in martial arts."
"We'd like to sign up!" Spike piped in.
"There's no training today," Ji said, as he cleaned himself off with a rag.
"Come on!" Bulk protested.
"It's only for self-defense, really," Spike added. "Just teach us the basics and we'll be on our way."
"Please," Bulk said.
Ji paused, before telling them, "Wait there."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
"I'm sorry," Emily muttered, after Jayden had finished bandaging her injuries.
"Em, it's okay," he told her as he closed the medkit. "We all make mistakes. Just...why?"
Why would she make the same mistake he did?
"I don't think I'm strong enough," she replied, almost whimpering. "And I doubt I ever will be."
"True strength is not measured physically, Em," he quietly answered. "But emotionally." She gathered up enough to look at him in the eyes (gentle and strong), and he continued, "Have faith in your abilities. You are strong enough. You just don't realize it yet."
And his words brought a permanent smile to her face.
Unfortunately, the moment was ruined when Ji rushed into the room, "Jayden, Emily! I need your help!"
"What's up?" Jayden asked.
"I need one of you to get rid of those two out there," Ji explained. "They want to sign up for self-defense lessons, but this is not the best time. They need to go."
"What are you talking about?" Emily asked, before getting up and peeking out of the door and down the hallway.
She saw two guys, one skinny, one chubby, messing around in the dojo. Her eyes widened at the sight and she silently went back into the room.
"That's the guy Mia met from the factory," Emily commented, before snapping her fingers. "I have an idea."
Jayden smiled when she ran out of the door and into her bedroom. He turned to Ji, "I guess I'm helping you in the kitchen."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Emily snapped her fingers again, this time at the dojo.
The two guys looked up to see a short black-haired drill sergeant standing there (Emily was using the some of the clothes she bought earlier today, as well as a wig inspired by Dr. K).
She took off her sunglasses, trying her best to look strict.
"Atten-SHUN!"
Bulk and Spike immediately stood at attention, straight up and perfectly still, scared out of their wits.
She slowly walked towards them, "So, you guys want to learn..." she straightened Spike's posture and smacked Bulk's hand away when he tried to reach for her, "how to fight?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "Then, get down and give me 500 hundred push-ups!"
She turned around to see the two guys obviously regretting their choice in coming here.
"Now!" She walked closer and got quiet, "Is there a problem?"
Together, wincing, they both replied, "Ma'am, no, ma'am!" before slowly getting down to the ground.
Emily tapped her foot and folded her arms again as they began to do the push-ups. After about four, she said, "Only 498 to go. I'll be back."
As she left them, in the hall right outside the kitchen, she smiled to herself. She took off her wid as she felt her self-confidence start rising.
A crash was heard from the kitchen, and her smile turned into determination.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Emily returned to the kitchen, only to be chased around by Antonio, who clearly wanted the peanut butter and bananas she had taken from Mike.
Jayden and Ji were clearly going bonkers, and it was easy to see why.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
She obviously wasn't going to be much help in the kitchen, so with nothing better to do, she returned to her two students.
If you could call the students.
"Atten-SHUN!"
The two stood up as quickly as they could despite how exhausted they clearly would.
"500 whacks on the dummy," she told them. She heard Spike groan. "Go!"
Once they were using practice swords to wail on one of their practice dummies, she smiled to herself before returning to the kitchen.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Cortez Forest, Panorama City, California
Deker was meditating, or trying to, while Dayu was pacing.
"You really aren't going to just sit here and wait for Serrator to show up, are you?" Dayu asked. "He needs to pay for deceiving us!"
Dayu walked away, only to be stopped by Deker's borrowed sword.
"Please," he told her. "Stay away from Serrator until he fixes my Uramasa."
But Dayu scoffed, "Deker, you are a fool if you really think he intends on helping you!"
She then walked away, leaving Deker alone with his thoughts.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Serrator stood alone in front of a grave that rested at a temple. "My plan relies so much on you, Deker, but fortunately for me, you are so easy to manipulate."
He then reached a hand out, and from the ground, out came Uramasa covered it dirt and mud.
Serrator unsheathed the sword and whipped it to his side once, and the dirt came off, revealing a repaired Uramasa.
"Repaired perfectly," he commented to himself. "Soon, this world will be mine."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
"If we can't stop you from eating like this," Ji said, "we're at least going to make it healthy." Ji then placed a plate of watermelon down on the counter, and the other four Rangers immediately grabbed a slice of watermelon from the plate (though Antonio took an entire freakin' half on the counter nearby).
Jayden grabbed a slice of watermelon himself as Emily walked into the kitchen.
She looked around at the other four eating their watermelon slices away from each other, as if the others would steal it from them. "Wow, it's so quiet in here."
"Finally," Ji said, he and Jayden sharing a look.
Emily then went quiet herself, before picking up one of the six uncut watermelons on the counter.
"What are you doing?" Ji asked.
Emily smiled, "Being creative..."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Emily had Bulk and Spike each hold one watermelon in both hands with one more standing on their heads. Both were in a horse stance, "Hold these until I say to quit." It was a move straight out of the Jackie Chan training handbook.
The two glanced at each other, clearly thinking that they could do this.
As she walked back into the kitchen, she heard the Gap Sensor go off before Mentor called her name. She turned back at it before then pressing the button that muted the alarm.
She turned her attention back on her students, who were turning around to get a better look at what was happening, and yelled, right as Jayden ran past her, "Did I say you could turn?!"
She looked back in time to see Jayden and paused for a moment, but she did a double take when he stopped and looked at Bulk and Spike, clearly confused and weirded out. He shook his head to clear it and ran out the door.
Emily took this chance to run over to the map. She read the location, noting that it was Parkside Trails again, and turned back to face Bulk and Spike right as the map closed up. She had to go help Jayden.
"Now don't move!" She yelled. But they turned around. Emily, however, had a nasty trick up her sleeve. She placed eggs on pedestals and placed them under their hands and chins. "Now, when I said don't move, I meant it. Don't. Move."
And she followed Jayden out the door.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Parkside Trails, Panorama City, California
Granitor laughed and laughed. "Now they're all too busy eating to stop me!"
"Wrong! You forgot to finish the job!" And Jayden landed a hit.
"What? You again?!"
"That's right! It takes more than a handful of dirt to stop me!" He turned around and blocked Granitor's sword with his own.
"Oh, really?" Granitor taunted, pressing his sword into Jayden's shoulder. "But you're back for seconds. I'm impressed, you know." He pulled it out, causing Jayden to stumble backwards.
Emily came right in time to see Granitor knock Jayden to the ground. Now he was in the same position she was in earlier.
And this motivated her to no end. This was her chance.
"Hang on, Jayden!" She swiped the air three times, but no symbol appeared. She took a second glance at what she was holding. She rolled her eyes when she saw that it was her lipstick. She put it in her back pocket, before taking out her Samuraizer. "Go, Go, Samurai!" In a flash of yellow, she morphed and unsheathed her Sword and ran into the fray.
Granitor struck Jayden, who landed on the grounda fair distance away. Granitor held up two bombs and threw them.
Jayden braced himself for the impact, but it never came.
He looked up to see Emily blocking them, which sent them off to the sides. A couple days ago, she was on the ground and he was the one standing in front of her.
But now their roles were reversed.
Now, he was the one hurt, and she was the one protecting him.
"Emily..." she heard him say, not in surprise or shock, but of relief.
"I'll take care of this, Jayden," she said. "I know you're still injured, so just leave it to me."
Jayden nodded, and she charged at the Nighlock, who commented, "Oh, this will be a piece of cake!"
The two clashed, before Emily ducked to avoid his next swing. The two pressed their swords against the other's and struggled, before Granitor kicked Emily in the chest. She rolled to the side to avoid his next attack.
"It's time for you to feel the need to feed!" Grantior told her, before firing more shots of dirt at her.
However, Emily quickly used her power over Earth, "Symbol Power: Wall!"
The clumps of dirt harmlessly bounced off of Emily's wall. Once it disappeared, Emily charged again, this time landing not one, but two hits.
Granitor swung down, and Emily blocked it with her Sword, before the Nighlock grabbed her by the throat.
"Don't get cocky now," he growled, before throwing her into the air. When she came back down, he landed a hit on her, sending her flying.
When he saw her get up, he shot some needles from his head at her. The multitude of impacts sent her back to the ground.
But she got back up again.
"Knock me down all you want..." she said as she got to her knees, "but I will never give up."
Underneath his helmet, Jayden smiled with utter pride, before calling out, "Emily!" She looked at him just in time to see him throw the Black Box at her. She caught it with ease. "Finish him off!"
"Right!" She said, before getting to her feet.
"Bombs away!" Granitor said, before throwing another bomb at her.
Just as she said, "Super Samurai Mode!", she was engulfed in a cloud of fire.
But the explosion disappated, revealing Emily standing there with a white coat over her primary suit.
"Time to shut your dirty mouths!" she said.
"Make me!" Granitor taunted.
Emily hooked up the Black Box to her Spin Sword, "With pleasure!"
The Nighlock blasted her with some energy balls from his trunk, but he was caught off guard when she leapt up into the air and started gliding towards him.
"What the-?"
"Super Primate Cyclone!"
She spun around, repeatedly, going faster and faster until she was one big yellow and white blur. She spun all around him, hitting him multiple times, before she stopped a fair distance away.
Granitor was on the ground, unable to get up right away. Emily took this chance to hook up her Spin Sword and the Bazooka.
"Super Firebull Bazooka!" After placing the Disk into the Black Box, Emily spun the black Power Disk attached to the hilt of her Sword, "Energize!" She aimed the Bazooka directly at Granitor, who was finally getting to his feet. "Fire Strike!" And she pulled the trigger once it had fully charged up.
Granitor saw red, and then a second later, he felt a fiery bull hit him square in the chest, and his first life ended in an explosive cloud of fire.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
Ji walked into the dojo just in time to see Bulk and Spike break the eggs placed precariously underneath them.
They feel to their knees, utterly exhausted. "We held on for as long as we could," he heard Spike said.
"Yeah," Bulk said. "But we have to explain to that drill sergeant how weak we are."
They sounded really sad and down on themselves, so Ji spoke up, "You two did great."
The two turned to look at him. Ji held out ice cold two water bottles. As they took them, Bulk said, "You really mean it?"
"Of course," Ji replied. "You two worked incredibly hard today."
Spike reached into his pocket and pulled out a pink wallet, "Here."
"What's this?" Ji asked as he took the wallet from the young man.
"Mia's wallet," Spike replied.
"We only came here to give it back," Bulk admitted. "But when we saw the dojo, we kinda got carried away."
Ji smiled, "I see. Don't worry. I'll make sure Mia gets it. You two may leave." Bulk and Spike got on their feet and headed to the exit, but stopped when they heard Ji add, "But tomorrow, my drill sergeant won't be so easy on you."
They panicked, and Ji smiled as they practically ran out the door. Ji turned and entered the kitchen, where he saw the four Rangers suddenly snap out of their mindless eating and back to reality.
"What are we doing?" Mia asked, looking at the ketchup bottle in her hand.
Antonio stopped eating the popcorn next to him and used his wrist to wipe off the sauce near his mouth. Mike dropped the baguet he was holding, as if disgusted, as he and Kevin got to their feet.
The four gathered at the table Mia and Antonio were at, and Ji held out some clean towels for them.
"Jayden and Emily must have defeated the Nighlock's first life," he explained, and the four immediately each grabbed a towel from his hands. "They're at Parkside Trails now."
"Parkside Trails?" Kevin asked.
"That was the last place Serrator attacked," Antonio said.
Ji admitted, "His actions are indeed worrisome. However-"
He was about to speak when the Gap Sensor went off. Again.
The five raced to it, and Ji tapped it open (seeing as how the four Rangers were still cleaning themselves off). "City Square," he said. "And the readings are troublesome." He turned to the four, "Change of plans. You four go check out City Square. Leave the Nighlock to Jayden and Emily."
"Right!" And the four raced out, leaving Ji to clean the mess that used to be the kitchen.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Parkside Trails, Panorama City, California
"Don't worry, Ji," Jayden hung up his Samuraizer and joined Emily as Grinataur grew into his second life. "Looks like it's just us two, Em. Let's do this."
"Right!" Emily placed a Power Disk into the Black Box, "Ultimate Samurai Combination!"
"Samurai Ultrazord, We Are United!"
"Shogun Mode: Power of the Ancestors!" Emily activated said Disk, and now the two Rangers all gained gold armor over their spandex, which would help them a great deal, since it was just two of them this time.
"Eat this!" Granitor said, before throwing four bombs at them.
"You eat it!" Jayden said, before he and Emily spun the Ultrazord, letting the bombs bounce off and land at the feet of the one who threw them.
The Nighlock charged, hitting the Ultrazord once, before charging again, this time from behind, hitting the Ultrazord again.
He then headbutted it, sending the two Rangers flying back.
"We need something else!" Jayden said.
"And I know just what it is!" Emily said, before teleporting out of the Ultrazord's cockpit and into Ape Zord's. "Ape Zord: Disengage!"
Ape unattached herself from the formation and immediately hopped onto Grinataur's face.
"Hey! Got off me! I can't see!" the Nighlock cried out.
"Now's your chance, Jayden!" Emily said over the comm. "Get him!"
"You got it, Em!" He said, before the Ultrazord leapt high into the air. It began spinning around, getting closer to the ground. He let Ape hop to safety, before he unleashed the final strike, "Katana Power: Ultimate Samurai Slash!"
Grinataur's second life ended in a cloud of fire, and Emily rejoined the formation. "Samurai Rangers, Victory is Ours!"
"Nice job, Em," Jayden said. "Now, let's go help the others!"
"Right!" She said, before taking the Ultrazord Disk out of the Box, "Ultrazord: Disengage!"
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
City Square, Panorama City, California
Serrator's lightning strike sent Antonio, Mike, Mia, and Kevin (all morphed) to the ground. The ground, meanwhile, was beginning to glow a bright purple.
"We know what your attack pattern is!" Kevin said, being the first one to his feet. "And we're here to tell you that it's the end of the line!"
Serrator scoffed, "You Rangers know nothing. My attack pattern, as you put it, is only the beginning. But none of you will survive long enough to see it come to fruition. Granitor is about to finish off your friends right now, and-" Serrator cut himself off, when he felt a prescence behind him. "Hello, Deker. What an unexpected surprise."
"Spare me," Deker sternly replied. "You know why I'm here."
Dayu had followed him, and was currently hiding in the shadows.
"You've come for your real sword, Uramasa," Serrator said. "Good timing. My plan is reaching its climax. That glow within the ground is humans' misery creating a wedge in the earth. And surprise! It's the one of the two final wedges I need. All of my attacks in this world were designed to create a line of human misery. I used Xandred's monsters to orchestrate a symphony of human suffering to serve my brilliant objective. And now each of the wedges I created are ready to be activated. Accept your fate, Rangers. We're at the end of my perfect plan and the end of the world as you know it. Welcome to the start of my reign. And once this wedge is in place, your world will bursting at the seams, ready to be split open with one mighty stroke. I will flood the entire earth with the Sanzu River. Not with a trickle like Master Xandred had planned, but with a terrorizing torment, the likes of which have never been seen. The earth will be entirely submerged in the red waters of evil, and I will finally become the ruler of both our worlds."
Deker stopped Serrator by pointing his borrowed sword at Serrator's neck, "Enough talk. Give me what you promised. Give me my sword, Uramasa."
"Why of course. But first, to complete our deal, you owe me one final favor."
"So Dayu was right. There is a catch," Deker said, confused but also outraged. "What favor?"
"Just a tiny little favor," Serrator replied, still not glancing at Deker. "The one to crack open the world must be someone that feels the pain of both the human and nether worlds but belongs to neither. That's you." Two pairs of footsteps came up from behind Deker, and everybody noticed, "Ah, Red and Yellow Rangers, you two are right in time to see the end of everything."
"What?" Jayden asked, as he and Emily were confused by what he meant.
"He's going to split the Earth in two!" Antonio cried out to them.
"What?!" Emily said.
"Yes," Serrator replied. "And now, Deker, it is time for you to finish this with a final strike with your one true sword. It is time to play your part." He took out a sword from his robe. "Uramasa, your sword, as promised. Live up to your end of the deal. Take it, Deker. With it, you shall shatter the world."
Deker looked at Jayden and Emily. They didn't need to take off their helmets to read their emotions. He turned back to Serrator, "No. All I wanted is my sword." He reached for it, but Serrator pulled it back before he could grab it.
"Of course you do," Serrator as if it were that simple. "I planned for this and made sure that your centuries of misery and rage were locked up inside of Uramasa."
"What?!" Deker demanded, angry.
On the sidelines, Dayu gasped. This was the reason Serrator ruined hers and Deker's lives?!
"Yes," Serrator revealed, "The only way to release yourself from all that pain is for you to quickly take your sword and strike before this wedge explodes. Trust me. With one quick slash, your curse will finally be broken, and you'll truly be free."
"Free..." Deker muttered. "Free at last..."
Just then, big waves of dark energy surged from the wedge below them.
Kevin said, "The ground is weakening along the line!"
"The wedge is going to blow!" Jayden realized. "Get down!"
And the last thing Emily saw was a blur of red protecting her from the dark energy that suddenly exploded from the ground.
The other four met the same fate on the opposite side.
Dayu managed to get away in time, and hopped onto a building far away. She turned to see Monalua Island's wedge also blow.
"This is just a taste of the awesome power to be unleashed," Serrator told Deker. He revealed himself to be floating in mid-air. "See?! The Earth cries out, ready to be carved in two! And you, Deker, are the only one who can make it happen! I shall locate the spot between the two worlds where the barrier is weakest, so you can make your final strike. I know that, in the end, you will do my bidding."
Deker collapsed amid the rubble, the six Rangers not too far away from him.
Serrator addressed the Rangers, "Rangers, your world is crumbling before your very eyes. And there's nothing you can do to stop me now!"
Jayden struggled to stay awake, but he too was forced to succumb to the darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED...
~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~
Original Shinkenger Episode: Act 41, Act 42
Original PRS Episode: The Strange Case of the Munchies, Stroke of Fate
Note: "Strange Case of the Munchies" is my favorite Samurai episode, so I tried not to change it more than necessary, because it was perfect as is (besides not letting Emily use the Bullzooka). However, I combined the two episodes because it makes sense to press the Rangers for time here.
Much like the shopping market in "Sticky Situation", 'Reppils' is the name of the actual store in canon.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think!
A/N: Do review, please. If you guys have any ideas you want me to consider adding, please PM me. A preview for the next chapter:
Season 2, Episode 15: "Truth and Consequences"
"When Serrator asks Deker to fulfill the final piece of his destructive plans, Antonio begs Deker to reconsider his role in the battle between humans and the Nighlok."