~Star Cove Outskirts~
Shiori led the new comrades to the outskirts of the city, where the Shiba House is. Everyone gaped when they saw how big the house was. "Isn't this all a bit Warring States Era?" Sophia joked, only to receive a glare in response. "This place is amazing!" Josh declared, and Shiori smiled softly. Isabella jogged up from her workshop. "Nicely done, you guys." Isabella complimented. "Thank you. Who are you?" Jessica asked. "Isabella Garcia, at your service." She said, curtsying playfully. "This is my best friend, and the woman who created everything you just used to wipe out the Gedoushu." Shiori explained. "No way!" Fae gasped. Isabella winked. "Yep. Would you believe I learned how from a high school science teacher?" She responded, giggling at the team's expressions. "She's kidding, right?" Hannah wondered. Shiori shook her head. "It's time to explain why you're here." She said. Isabella grinned. "I'll get the projector!" She exclaimed, rushing off. In the living room, Isabella put up a map of ancient Japan that had hundreds of red dots marked on it.
"There are gaps in the dimensions. Gaps that allow the Gedoushu to travel back and forth, from the Netherworld, to our world." Shiori started. "Five hundred years ago, in Osaka, Japan, a portal that we call a Convergence opened up, and the Gedoushu emerged. They would have obliterated Japan, but-" Shiori was interrupted by Sophia. "Would have?" The Green Samurai asked. "Yes. They were stopped by seven powerful samurai. The abilities they used is called Mojikara, or Kanji Power." Shiori continued, as Isabella showed a slide of the seven ancient samurai. "That armor is amazing." Josh breathed, looking at the powerful armor. "Yes it is. In the final battle, my ancestor, Moritaka Shiba, sealed the Gedoushu away in the Netherworld using a powerful sealing Kanji. Every hundred years or so, the Gedoushu manage to break free, but each time a different generation of Samurai stop them. We're the eighteenth generation. It's up to us to stop the Gedoushu from flooding our world." Shiori finished the explanation. "It's for that reason that we need you guys to be on permanent standby." Isabella piped up.
"What?" The Rangers gasped. "We can't." Josh and Hannah exclaimed. "You have to." Shiori replied. "Can we think about it?" Abigail asked. Shiori nodded. "Of course, just don't take too long." The Red Ranger replied. The Rangers split up, and went to different areas, all except Sophia, who stayed to talk to Shiori. Jessica tapped Shiori's shoulder. "May I tell my wife and daughter?" She asked the Red Ranger. Shiori nodded. Jessica walked off again, and called her family. Sarah picked up instantly. "Hey love, what's up?" Jessica asked. "We're worried about you. Is everything okay?" Sarah responded. Jessica sighed heavily, and launched into her explanation of what happened.
With the twins, they called their father, Maxwell Kolnecki. He picked up on the first ring. "What's wrong?" He asked, his deep voice worried. "Nothing's wrong Daddy, except we need to tell you something." Hannah responded. "What's happening?" Max asked. "Well Dad, we became Power Rangers." Josh said bluntly. "Stay safe. After what happened to your mother, I can't lose either of you. No matter what happens, I love you both, and I'm always proud of you." Max said, crying softly. "We love you too Daddy." The twins replied as one. They talked with their father for a couple of minutes, before Max left for work. Hannah looked at Josh. "He's still hurting." She whimpered. "It's only been three months since Mama died. Of course he is." Josh replied, opening the locket on his neck. It was a picture of the four of them, laughing at Christmas time, judging by the décor in the background. Hannah burst into tears, and hugged Josh tightly. He held her, whispering soothing words in her ear. She eventually calmed down, still sniffling. Back with Fae, Sophia, and Abigail, they didn't need to call anyone. They waited for the Blue, Orange, and Silver Rangers to finish their calls.
~The Netherworld~
Dokoku once again tried to leave the ship, but the Sealing Kanji blasted him backwards. His body was smoking. "Damn this accursed seal!" Dokoku roared angrily. Dayu helped her master up. "Even without the seal, we're still bound to the Sanzu River. Without it, we'll dry out. Luckily, I found something in an ancient text." Shitari commented. "What is it?" Dayu asked. "Every time there is a calamity in the human world, say, an earthquake, or death, any sort of disaster, really, the Sanzu River will rise, and if we make it rise enough, we'll be able to flood the Earth, and never dry out." Shitari explained patiently. Dokoku mulled it over. Eventually, he nodded. He whistled, and a red/blue Ayakashi appeared. He had a tail on his head. "What can I do for you, my master?" This Ayakashi asked. "Ootsumuji, go to the human world, and fill up the Sanzu River with their misery. And, if you see the Samurai Power Rangers, kill on sight." Dokoku ordered. The Ayakashi nodded, and leapt back in the water, disappearing through a gap. Dayu looked at Shitari. "What about the Rangers' robot?" She asked. Shitari chuckled evilly. "Don't worry. I have a plan for that." Shitari replied.
Isabella ran up to the Rangers from her workshop, as the alarm sounded. She held her tablet. "One hundred Nanashi, and an Ayakashi." She reported. Shiori frowned. "Come on guys, let's go." The Red Samurai declared. Jessica, Hannah, and Josh rejoined the group. Shiori took out her Shodophone. She drew the Kanji for Van, and a black SUV with the Shiba Crest on the hood materialized. Once they reached the site of the battle, they got out of the SUV, and it vanished in a flash of red light. "Let's do it guys!" Shiori called. "Ippitsu Soujou!" The seven Rangers declared, Morphing. "Stop right there, Ayakashi!" Shiori ordered. Ootsumuji and the Nanashi turned around at the sound of her voice. "Who are you?" He demanded. Shiori smirked under her helmet.
"Samurai Ranger Red, Fire, Ready!" Shiori started.
"Samurai Ranger Blue, Water, Ready!" Jessica called.
"Samurai Ranger Green, Wood, Ready!" Sophia yelled.
"Samurai Ranger Orange, Sun, Ready!" Josh stated.
"Samurai Ranger Silver, Moon, Ready!" Hannah added.
"Samurai Ranger Pink, Heaven, Ready!" Abigail called.
"Samurai Ranger Yellow, Earth, Ready!" Fae finished.
"The Samurai authorized by providence! Power Rangers: Samurai!"
The Power Rangers declared triumphantly. The Ayakashi snarled angrily. "Nanashi, kill them!" Ootsumuji declared furiously. The Nanashi charged the Rangers, splitting them up. "Samurai Arms!" They all yelled, calling on their respective weapons. In one part of the area, Jessica fired her energy bolts at the Nanashi, destroying several of them. "Water Bow!" She yelled, jumping off a ledge, and taking out several more Nanashi with ease. "Wood Spear!" Sophia called, and with powerful vertical swings of the spear, green energy surrounded the Nanashi, and obliterated them. "Sun Daggers!" Josh ordered, as the twin daggers materialized. He danced through the Nanashi, taking them out with precise strikes. "Moon Whip!" Hannah yelled, using her whip to grab a Nanashi, and hurl it at its comrades. She took several more out, using the same method. "Heaven Fan!" Abigail added, using the powerful winds to confuse her opponents, blowing them around as if they were in a tornado. "Earth Shuriken!" Fae called, taking his fight with the Nanashi by some nearby rubble. "Boomerang Throw!" He added, throwing the shuriken at the Nanashi.
What he didn't realize, was that the shuriken was heading towards Shiori, who was fighting the Ayakashi nearby. The yellow shuriken hit Shiori on the shoulder, causing her to stumble, and fall, using her Fire Buster as support. Fae ran up to her. "Oh my god I'm so sorry!" He apologized profusely. The Ayakashi laughed, and charged up his head tail for an attack. "Whirlwind Scythe Attack." He called, and the powerful energy attack hurtled towards the Red and Yellow Rangers. Fae jumped in front of the attack, and Demorphed, yelling out in pain and shock. Ootsumuji kicked Shiori back, as the other Rangers ran over to them. Ootsumuji would have smirked if he could.
"Seven birds with one stone! Whirlwind Scythe Attack!" The Ayakashi yelled, swinging his tail appendage, as it glowed with energy. The energy blast consumed the rest of the Rangers, causing them all to Demorph. The Ayakashi laughed loudly, and walked away, believing his enemies to be dead. Shiori was the only one who managed to stay Morphed. "Get up! We can't give up, no matter what!" Shiori yelled. She grimaced in pain, but ignored it, and wobbled clumsily towards her nearby Spin Sword. "Are you nuts?!" Abigail demanded. "No. I'm willing to die to save this world, if I have to." Shiori responded, picking up her Spin Sword. This shocked the Pink Ranger. Jessica nodded in agreement. "When I became an officer, I knew that I could die in the line of duty. There's no difference when it comes to being a Ranger. Shiori's right, we have to fight!" Jessica yelled. "We're fighting for our father. He needs us to survive. We're fighting too!" Josh and Hannah declared as one. "My daddy was disappointed that I wasn't a boy, he wanted me to take over his company someday. This is my chance to prove to him that I'm not. I'll fight!" Sophia yelled, picking up her Shodophone. "Yeah, let's do this!" Fae called. Abigail just stared at her comrades. "You guys are nuts, but so am I!" She finally decided. They all picked up their Shodophones. "IPPITSU SOUJOU!" They yelled, Morphing, and jumping in front of the Ayakashi's next attack, cutting through it with their Spin Swords.
"What?!" Ootsumuji yelled angrily. "Your time has come!" Shiori declared. "Spin Swords: Seven Element Slash!" Shiori called. The Rangers placed their elemental disc on their swords, and they all began glowing with their respective element. Shiori ran forward, slicing the Ayakashi. Jessica followed, then Sophia, then Josh, then Hannah, Abigail, and finally, Fae. "Oh sweet Dokoku, no!" The Ayakashi screamed, as the overwhelming energy ripped through his body, and obliterated his first life. The Rangers skidded to a stop nearby. "It's not over yet." Shiori warned. Sure enough, the Ayakashi came back to Megazord heights. The Rangers turned their Origami into the Zords, teleporting into their cockpits.
The Ayakashi fired energy bolts at them, and they all scattered. Sophia took charge, and the Green Samurai blasted the Ayakashi back, causing him to stumble, and snarl angrily. The other Rangers cheered. "Is there a way to combine the Zords?" Josh asked. "Yes there is." Shiori replied. "Can I try?" Hannah asked. Shiori bit back her laugh. "Sure, go ahead." She replied, interested to see how this would turn out. Hannah took out her Shodophone, drawing the Kanji for Super. "Samurai Megazord, combine!" She yelled, but instead of combining into a giant robot, all of the Zords were in a totem pole of sorts.
Ootsumuji tilted his head, confused. "What's going on? The Ranger babies are playing with blocks?" The giant demon taunted. Hannah gasped, and blushed in shock, as the Lion Origami Zord floated around the Zord tower. "Why am I low woman on the totem pole?" Sophia demanded, as the Rangers started arguing. "Enough!" Shiori yelled. "Hannah, it's OK. I'll do it this time. She took out her Shodophone, and drew the Kanji for Super. "Samurai Megazord, combine!" She ordered calmly. The Lion Zord roared proudly, as it turned into the main body. The Bear and Dragon Origami Zords formed the legs, and the Phoenix folded, and latched on to the back of the Lion Origami Zord, forming wings, and the Ape and Turtle Origami Zords formed the arms, as the Basilisk Zord coiled itself, turning into the shield. "Samurai Megazord, we are united!" The Rangers declared. Ootsumuji stepped back. In the Netherworld, Dokoku, Dayu, and Shitari were watching the battle. Shitari began muttering an incantation, and back in the human world, ten Kaiju sized Nanashi appeared, holding staffs. "What the hell?!" All the Rangers cried out in shock. "Nanashi, kill them!" The Ayakashi yelled, and the Nanashi charged, slicing the Megazord repeatedly.
The Nanashi managed to throw chains around the colossal robot, holding it in place. "You humans aren't the only ones with surprises!" The Ayakashi yelled in triumph. "Yeah? Well this surprise is gonna come back to haunt you!" Shiori yelled, and the Japanese woman pushed forward on her Control Sword, causing brilliant flames to erupt from the Lion Origami Zord's mouth. The scorching hot fire obliterated the Nanashi closest to the Megazord, and melted the chains holding them. The Megazord took hold of its sword, and destroyed the rest of the Nanashi with several quick and precise movements of the massive katana. "What?!" The massive demon yelled in shock. "Finishing Move: Transcending Samurai Slash!" The seven Rangers yelled together. The silver katana glowed with energy, and the robot swung it an arc. The Rangers yelled, and sliced downward, right through Ootsumuji. "Master, please forgive me!" He yelled, falling over, and exploding in a massive fireball. The Rangers cheered. "Samurai Rangers, victory is ours!" Shiori yelled triumphantly.
~The Netherworld~
"Those damn humans will pay dearly for destroying a fellow Ayakashi!" Dokoku declared. Shitari couldn't frown, but he would if he could. Even with Kaiju sized Nanashi, they still managed to win. These so called Rangers will be a problem. Shitari mused silently. Dokoku took out his sword, and sliced one of the columns of the ship, causing it to rock, and the Sanzu River reacted to his anger, as he continued rampaging inside the ship. His fellow Gedoushu stumbled along with the swaying ship. "DAMN THOSE HUMANS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SANZU!" Dokoku roared furiously. Dayu started plucking at the strings of her shamisen, calming her master down. A Nanashi came up to Shitari, and handed him an ancient scroll. The old sorcerer opened it, and chuckled as he read the contents. "This is going to be very interesting indeed." Shitari chuckled, as Dokoku calmed down.
Meanwhile, back at the Shiba House, Sarah and Haley came in from their flight. When the Ranges got back from the battle, Jessica ran over, and hugged her family tightly. "Rangers, can I introduce my family?" Jessica said, her Southern drawl poking through. Shiori nodded. "This is my wife, Sarah, and our adoptive daughter Haley. Girls, this is Shiori the Red Ranger, Sophia the Green Ranger, Abigail the Pink Ranger, Josh and Hannah, the Orange and Silver Rangers, and Fae, the Yellow Ranger." Jessica said, as each of the Rangers smiled or waved as their names were called. "My momma is a hero." Haley cheered, the hyperactive ten year old bouncing on her feet, her blonde hair bouncing with her. Shiori knelt down, and ruffled the girl's hair. "Yes she is. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here." Shiori replied, smiling softly, but also thinking of her own mother. Haley grinned, and ran back to her mothers. Isabella jogged up. "I just finished setting up your family room. I can take you there." She said, before introducing herself to the Cyruses. The family of three followed Isabella to their new room.
Shiori turned to the Rangers. "The battles are only going to get harder from now on. You need to be prepared, so, first thing tomorrow, we'll be practicing our Kanji Power. We need to be ready at all times for an attack." Shiori said. Everyone nodded, and they walked inside the house, seeing the various suits of armor, and all the training equipment. Shiori went over to a closet. She pulled out seven outfits, that were all similar, except for color. "These are the uniforms you'll be wearing." Shiori explained. They were mostly black, with the Shiba Crest on the right side, and the Rangers' individual colors on the belts and the stripe circling the uniform. "Very nice." Sophia approved. "We'll start training first thing tomorrow. You guys did an amazing job today." Shiori said. "For now, though, you guys can explore the house, if you want." She added.
The Rangers nodded, but Sophia noticed the time on the clock, seven at night. "Are there rooms for us?" The Green Samurai asked. Shiori nodded, and led them to their rooms. The Rangers went into their individual rooms, except for Josh and Hannah, who shared a room. "I'll come in and wake you guys up when it's time for training." Shiori said, before adding, "Goodnight." The Rangers returned the sentiment. In Josh and Hannah's room, they had separate beds, and they pulled out Josh's phone to call their father. In Sophia's room, she unpacked her various entertainment systems, and plugged them in. In Abigail's room, she pulled out her computer, and sent an email to her girlfriend back in Canada. With Fae, he was pulling his stash of comics and movies based on comics out of his bag. He pulled out the latest Wonder Woman comic, and started reading.
With Jessica, Sarah, and Haley, Jessica just finished regaling her daughter with the story of their latest battle. Haley's blue eyes closed, and she was asleep within minutes. Jessica and Sarah got into their bed, and fell asleep as well. In Shiori's room, she was looking at a picture of her mother, the previous Red Ranger, and her sister, Moeru Shiba. Nobody can know about you. I hope your training goes well, Onee-san. She thought. I miss you so much, Oka-san. Shiori thought. She closed her eyes, and remembered the worst night of her life, the night her mother died.
~Cue Flashback~
The Shiba House was on fire, and the Gedoushu, led by Dokoku Chimatsuri, were attacking. Moeru had just left on horseback before the attack began. Arashi Shiba knelt down to her five year old daughter's level. She was Morphed, but helmetless. She kissed Shiori's forehead softly. "Be strong, my brave Samurai. The Lion Origami Zord will be yours someday. Be a strong leader. I love you, my beautiful daughter. If you wear this charm, I'll always be with you." Arashi said, putting a silver bracelet with the Kanji for Samurai on it. "I don't want you to go." Shiori whimpered, tears filling her green eyes.
Arashi hugged Shiori tightly. "Be strong, my precious daughter." Arashi whispered, putting her helmet on, and joining the previous Rangers. "NOO!" Shiori's little voice screamed. "Dokoku, your reign ends here! Kanji Power: Seal!" Arashi's voice yelled loudly, and she threw the Kanji at Dokoku, but not before he sent a powerful energy attack at her, killing her instantly, because the seal Kanji took up all of her energy. The Gedoushu were sucked back into the Netherworld. Shiori ran to her mother's side. "MOMMY, WAKE UP! PLEASE WAKE UP!" Shiori wailed. When Arashi didn't wake up, Shiori just sobbed harder. The Orange Ranger, Aaron, knelt down next to Shiori.
He hugged her tightly, as she continued sobbing. The other Rangers closed their eyes, having a moment of silence for their fallen comrade. The previous Yellow Ranger, Jackson, opened his Shodophone, and pointed it at the ground. "Kanji Power: Grave." He said, and a rectangular hole opened in the ground. He picked up Arashi's body, and placed it in the grave. He sealed it up. The other Rangers hugged the sobbing Shiori tightly. "We'll never forget her, or her sacrifice." The Blue Ranger, Gabby, said. "We'll always be there if you need us." The Green Ranger, Cara, added. "Promise?" Shiori whimpered, looking up at the Rangers. "We promise." They all said as one, hugging her. The previous Silver Ranger, Landon, took Shiori's hand, and they all walked back into the house. He conjured a blanket, and put Shiori in her bed, and she fell into a fitful sleep.
~End Flashback~
Shiori gasped, pulling herself out of her maudlin thoughts. She cried softly, before she heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" She called. "It's me." Isabella's soft voice replied. Shiori opened the door. Isabella sat down on Shiori's bed. "What are you thinking about?" Isabella asked. Shiori just pointed to the picture of her family. Isabella hugged Shiori. "Thank you for always being there for me." Shiori whispered. "What kind of girlfriend would I be if I wasn't there for you?" Isabella retorted softly, kissing her girlfriend's head. "Stay until I fall asleep?" Shiori asked. "Always." The tech genius said, and the two fell asleep, hand in hand.