A/N: Welcome to the main event of the Project Phoenix series. As a disclaimer, this series is inspired by Kctimes2's The Adoption (one of the best stories I've ever read here). Before reading this, you should read The Crane's Destructive Path and its accompanying one shot, Granted Wishes.
A/N 2: This is the story of when Jayden leads Rangers old and new into a fight for Earth's survival...with his corrupted mother. This chapter includes the birthday celebration...and an ambush?
A/N 3: Couples featured are Jayden/Mia, Memily, Lantonio, Jason/Kat, Adam/Tanya and a slew of other old-school pairings. You'll have to read on to see if there is Tommy/Kim at the end...hehe.
A/N 4: Usual disclaimer. Power Rangers doesn't belong to me.
Chapter 14: Spectacular 17th Part II
Sept. 9, 2012, late afternoon
The Shiba House
Panorama City, CA
Jayden was awed at everything he saw.
His Ranger family had spared no expenses.
Everyone was here sans the Rangers such as SPD and RPM who were from different dimensions.
Almost every Ranger was smiling but most notably his Samurai teammates. No doubt, since it was here, they had a large role in planning this whole thing out.
"Happy birthday, man," Mike said, embracing his teammate for the first time since Jayden had put the spandex back on ten days ago. "Thanks for saving us in that first battle when Scorpina and Draco were about to make mincemeat out of us."
"No problem. I take it everyone knows everything?"
"Yeah, and we're cool with it now but you should know some of the team was ready to rebel. Lauren, Antonio and I had to set them straight. Mia was straight out pissed. You could have told her when we were watching Kevin, you know," Mike said.
"I know and I'm going to have a talk with her when this is over," Jayden said. "There are reasons I didn't say anything, and I will speak with you all later about that. For now, I think we should just enjoy the celebrations."
"Just so you know, she's still a little peeved with you. Some of the Rangers calmed her down but be warned. Talking with her may or may not be a good idea right now," Mike said.
"Point well taken," Jayden said as he went to get himself some cake. Even then though, his senses were tingling. He just had the nagging feeling something was going on, and remained alert at all times.
As he sat down next to Kat, he said, "I see you found out what my favorite cake is."
As it turned out, he liked it simple. Red colored cake with white frosting. That hadn't been missed by anyone either.
"Yeah, when you know Mentor Ji, Daisuke and Lauren and have been in contact with them for a while, you tend to get an idea of these things."
The celebration was jovial for a while as everyone enjoyed the treats and refreshments provided, but as everyone moved into the living room to get set to open Jayden's presents, things suddenly took an unexpected turn.
Even Lauren noticed the difference as she was one of those that handed Jayden his presents. He accepted his gifts, but he was obviously in some sort of trance or something.
Indeed, he was barely paying attention. Because a voice was filtering through his head...a voice he had never before heard, but it belonged to a person that he was tied to by blood.
'Jayden, Jayden, are you there, my son,' was all he heard.
Son, he thought. That must mean the voice was...
'Mom, is that...you?'
'It is. I am so happy to speak to you at long last. Happy birthday, my son.'
'Thanks, mom. Is something wrong?'
'Yeah, I wish we were speaking on better terms. Listen to me closely, I only have a few seconds. You must act quickly. My alter ego is trying to spoil your birthday. It's an ambush. The Shiba house has been invaded. Find the threat, quickly!'
'Your evil half's army can penetrate these walls?'
'Absolutely. Find the threat and do it quickly! Good luck, my dear, sweet Phoenix.'
Almost instantaneously when Jayden snapped out of his trance, things suddenly went to hell. Jayden's eyes flashed a partial shade of green and crimson which made everyone do a double take.
"Everyone! Out, now! Out of the house!" Jayden barked. "No exceptions!"
"But, your birthday!" Mia protested.
"No, Mia. Out. You especially. The Shiba house has been compromised. I will handle the threat. Go. Everyone, be ready to morph at a moment's notice. Ji, get them outside."
"You heard him," Ji ordered. "Everyone go! No exceptions."
As soon as everyone was out of the house, Jayden breathed a sigh of relief. He then called on his animal spirit once again for guidance and tapped into his invisibility power to make sure no one could see him.
He soon pinpointed the source of the disturbance. It was upstairs of course. That was where some of the Rangers slept, and there was an attic up there too.
He quickly hightailed it upstairs and found where the disturbance was quickly. It made him groan.
Mia's room. Of course.
It was a sound, if but unoriginal, strategy. Use Mia against him in some way.
Sure enough, he poked his head in the door and saw Vipera, head of the Temptatonians, with one of her lead Rattler soldiers, Venomo, who was also very dangerous.
"Ninja Ranger Power, Phoenix," he murmured, which transformed him into his ninja mode.
"It's perrrrrfect," Jayden heard Venomo hiss. "Once I put this spell on the Pink Samuraizer, that girlfriend of the Crimson Ranger will be all ours some day. And the best part is that Crimson Ranger will be helpless to stop it."
He then charged up his hands with evil energy, directly leveled at Mia's Samuraizer, which sat on her nightstand. One big blast, and the spell would slowly, but surely, take effect.
Venomo and Vipera had no idea someone else was in the room. They didn't have any idea until a pink-tinted energy arrow completely swallowed the would be blast whole and struck Venomo's arm, causing his body to spark violently and Venomo to cry out in pain.
"Vipera! Get this damn thing off me!" Venomo howled.
She barely had time to rip it out (which left a trail of gross, green blood on his arm) before a crimson blur came flying at the two of them, sending them flying into the wall and nearly ruining Mia's bookshelf. They glared at the unwelcome attacker.
"You! You killed Squalus you crimson freak!" Venomo hissed angrily.
"Yeah and you'll be next if you don't get the hell out of my girlfriend's room and do it now!" Jayden snapped back. "Don't think I won't do it."
"On second thought," Jayden added, "I think I have a better idea. Time for you to meet some of my friends."
Without a second's hesitation, Jayden leapt forward, grabbed both villains and smacked their heads together, leaving both villains woozy. Before they could recover, he grabbed them both and pressed a button on his crimson communicator, which took the three of them out of the house.
They landed in front of a group of fifty or sixty some-odd Rangers who watched the scene in shock. Jayden had been right, the Shiba House had been infiltrated in some way.
"Oh, gross," Emily cried, barely able to keep from gagging as she saw the icky green blood trickling off Venomo's arm.
The Samurai Rangers were probably most surprised; they felt the Shiba House was invincible. They'd been proven wrong.
And Tommy didn't miss that Jayden was holding an old weapon he was very familiar with.
The Power Bow.
"So not only can he control mine and Kim's Zords, he probably has all of our weapons at his beck and call too," Tommy murmured. "Wow."
Vipera and Venomo were also in shock. How the hell had the Crimson Ranger found them in the first place? He was preoccupied with his birthday!
Jayden then turned to the Samurai Rangers, especially Mia.
"They were in your room and tried to corrupt your Samuraizer," Jayden said to Mia, then looked at his Samurai teammates. "They invaded our privacy. You guys want to let them have it?"
"Absolutely. They tried to ruin this special day. Not only that, they were on my property," Mia said. "Let's morph and kick their asses."
Unfortunately for them, they wouldn't get that chance.
"I don't think so, Rangers," Vipera growled as she helped Venomo to his feet. "We're not that stupid. Two of us against 60 or so of you is like suicide. You win today, Rangers, but you haven't heard the last of us."
With that said, the two of them disappeared before the Rangers could attack.
"Yeah, run and hide you cowards," Jayden said.
"Are we all clear, Jayden?" Mentor Ji asked.
After a moment of consulting with his animal spirit, Jayden turned to Ji and said, "Yes, we're all clear. Power Rangers, one and all...Victory is ours," Jayden said.
The Moon Palace
"Crimson Ranger...DAMN YOU!" Flammia bellowed. The throne room at this point was empty, as expected. No one was in the room, and rightfully so. Anyone within Flammia's sights right now was going to get annihilated she was so angry.
"I had the PERFECT PLAN! How COULD IT FAIL!" she ranted and raved.
'Correction. You THOUGHT you had the perfect plan. Too bad for you that I know what you're up to,' a sweet, sickening voice echoed through her mind.
Flammia had to admit, this was going to be so much tougher than she ever thought possible. It was almost like she was fighting a two front war now.
It was bad enough fighting the new Crimson Ranger and his awesome powers, but she still had to deal with the fact that Kimberly Hart was still alive and well.
And that Kimberly really didn't care that much about her well being anymore. As long as the Crimson Ranger was protected, she was more than happy to continue the status quo.
No doubt, that former pink Power Parasite had let her damn son know about the Shiba House being compromised. And predictably, Vipera and Venomo alone didn't have much of a chance against Jayden, not to mention 60 or so Rangers who were there to celebrate his birthday.
She was only too lucky that Kimberly had grown too weak to do anything more after she'd let Jayden know of the attack. That's why she'd been able to call Vipera and Venomo back so easily this time, otherwise that Pink Ranger would be growing even stronger.
'Face it, missy, you took a bad gamble. You thought he'd be so preoccupied he wouldn't notice the attack. Too bad he has help,' the voice rang through her head again.
"I will kill your soul some day, Kimberly Ann Hart. Then you, your son, and your world will belong to me. The day of reckoning is coming and we will devour you," Flammia growled.
'So far, the good guys are two for two against you. I look forward to it being three for three. I'd say good luck, that you'll need it, but I'd be lying.'
"Some day I'm not going to need luck to beat your son. Some day, HIS luck will run out. You'll see."
To do it though, she knew she'd need to take the kid gloves off. Even today, she knew, wasn't a well planned out attack. She'd only sent two of her top warriors and none of her footsoldiers.
Flammia was in unfamiliar territory, she knew. The territory of not being in control of the fight. Jayden was in control of the fight instead, so far. He was dictating everything, and had dealt some devastating blows elsewhere rather than just on Earth. She already knew Trey and Phantom Ranger were no longer prisoner and would one day be good enough to fight.
She recalled 10 days ago, when she found out the unfortunate truth that she'd lost two potential trump cards and was lucky she hadn't lost more.
Flashback, 10 days earlier
She wondered how this day could get any worse, as she attempted to sleep off the devastating loss and the shocking turn of events which led to the revelation that indeed, there was a serious challenger to her iron grip on the entire universe.
Perhaps she shouldn't have asked.
That's when she heard a knock at the door.
"Whoever it is, go away!" Flammia bellowed. "I need my sleep and I need it now!"
"Mistress, I need you to come with me. It is absolutely urgent," the voice of General Finch said.
The second Flammia ripped the door open, and looked at Finch, he almost regretted that he had to do what he was going to do.
"This better be important. I can't take a visit for trivial matters right now, Finch!" Flammia roared.
"This is very important. I have a transmission from my lieutenant Jorus on Triforia. You need to hear this," Finch insisted.
Flammia grunted. Jorus was very reliable. What could possibly happen?
Moments later, they walked into Finch's room, where a connection was already established. Flammia could see this wasn't good, Jorus had a nervous look on his face.
"This better be good news, Jorus," Flammia said.
"Unfortunately, Mistress, the news isn't good," Jorus said. "Mere hours ago I received word from my men guarding Trey and the Phantom Ranger that they just disappeared. Just, poof, they were gone."
"Jorus men have been looking all over for them throughout their palace, wondering if they were hiding. They searched every nook and cranny. They found nothing," Finch said.
"After putting my men through immense torture, I had them run a scan of Trey and the Phantom Rangers' energy signatures. It appears they were transported...to Earth."
"You can't be SERIOUS!" Flammia screamed. "What the hell could have made that happen?"
"I have my suspicions, but I can't prove it yet," Finch said. "I have a feeling it has something to do with the appearance of the Crimson Ranger that beat us today."
Flammia scratched her chin. It was an interesting thought, but there was no way the Crimson Ranger could have been in two places at once.
"Did the Crimson Ranger show up and take him, Jorus?" Flammia asked.
"No, he didn't," Jorus responded.
"I believe the both of you, but I'm not happy that I lost two of my trump cards!" Flammia roared, as she stomped out of Finch's room, leaving both men quite distressed.
Later that night though, the truth had come to her in a vision. It had turned out that the backlash of power from the Crimson Ranger's morpher had teleported both of the prisoners to Earth, and had almost set free the former Divatox and Dimitria as well.
She apologized to both Finch and Jorus for her outburst the next day, but was still angry. Beyond angry.
End Flashback
10 days later, and the anger hadn't subsided.
She had the most dominant army in the universe, that even at the Rangers' best outnumbered them by quite a bit. She didn't blame any of her soldiers, they'd done what she asked them to do. And, they were family.
She more or less blamed herself. She'd underestimated badly Jayden's abilities and he'd beat her twice in a row.
But she knew one advantage that she had. There was strength in numbers. That was their biggest advantage, and next time she decided to attack, she was going to use it.
The Shiba House
Everyone had been surprised ten days earlier by Jayden's physical abilities. Physically, he was a freak of a specimen. He was in the best shape of his life, and knew how to use his powers.
In some ways, to the group of Rangers that sat back down in the Shiba house, in a few ways they were even more surprised than what happened a little over a week ago.
Because he'd diagnosed a sneak attack, an infiltration of the house really before it even got started. Some of the Rangers looked at Tommy, who shook his head. It was clear the father had no idea how his son got the knowledge there was a sneak attack. Only Jayden had the knowledge of the infiltration. He clearly had dirt that no one else did.
The Samurai Rangers were also a bit melancholy. Like the early waves of Zordon's teams with the old Command Center, they believed the Shiba House was a place evil could never touch.
Yet, the new bad guys in town had infiltrated the place like it was nothing at all. And if Jayden had not stopped it, it would have been bad news for Mia. Clearly, they were already placing a target on the Pink Samurai Ranger, as was expected.
The pensive mood soon turned to celebration though, as Jayden still had presents to open.
Many of them were special in different ways. Justin and Hayley had come through for him again, presenting him with a game designed for his iPad and his iPad alone, though most Rangers had this game too.
It was a Ranger-specific game based on past Ranger situations and monsters faced. In it, Jayden would have the opportunity to place himself in certain situations to see how he would handle them.
For his wardrobe, he received some...well, dressier outfits, including a crimson colored suit coat and matching tie for really formal situations.
But the real special presents were the last gifts he received. The second he opened the first of the gifts, he knew just on instinct it was extra special.
It was some sort of necklace, but just feeling it, it brimmed with power. And the attacked pendant was similar to phis new Power Coin in one aspect.
It had the emblem of a Phoenix in the center, but the Falcon and Crane flanked either side. It made Jayden's eyes mist over.
After his first encounter with his mother (well, sort of), and now this, Jayden's motivation had increased significantly. Not that he needed more than he had.
"That necklace was made by my first father, my deceased father from the reservation outside Angel Grove, Samuel Trueheart," Tommy said. "Sadly, he passed about a year ago. But he had a wisdom that rivaled Zordon's. He knew this day would come. My brother, your uncle David, said there was a message attached to that pendant. I have not seen it. You and I will view it once we get back home."
"That is amazing what you just received, Jayden," Mia said.
Jayden nodded mutely. It was a real honor to receive such a special gift. That was when he decided to speak up.
"Before we go to the second gift, speaking of Mom and this pendant, I talked to her."
All Rangers associated with Zordon shot up like a bolt of lightning.
"You WHAT?" Aisha said.
"You heard me," Jayden said. "I didn't see her but I talked to her. It's because of her that today's threat was thwarted. She doesn't have a lot of strength but used to it warn me."
Everyone nodded solemnly. They didn't doubt it was true.
Tommy's eyes brimmed with tears of happiness as did all those who knew Kimberly. The Crane may not be what she was, but she still had the ability to fight her oppressor.
"It's like I told you guys earlier," Antonio said, specifically addressing the Samurai Rangers. "You all need to put more into this mission than you've ever put anything else. There is so much at stake here. There's no shame in giving it all you have win or lose, but there is a lot of shame in not giving it your best."
They all listened, as Antonio's words pierced through their souls.
Mia in particular felt the weight of those words. Her sanctuary in the Shiba House had been breached and now she was going to be a major catalyst in this war.
Rocky, as her mentor in more ways than one, tried to reassure her, but it wasn't much use. The pressure was overwhelming.
"There is another thing that I'd like to discuss with all of you, while we're on Ranger business," Jayden said. "It's going to pain me with what I'm going to say."
"You all need to move out of here, as soon as possible," Jayden said. "There is a new Chamber of Command outside my original hometown of Angel Grove."
The Samurai team looked at him like he was incredulous. How in the world could he ask them to do this 10 days after they'd just moved back in?
Mentor looked none too pleased also.
"I'm serious, guys," Jayden said. "The new digs are a lot safer than the house right now. You seriously think they can't get in here again? If they get in here again and you guys are caught it's going to be really bad."
"It's one time," Kevin said. "This house means too much to me."
Mia looked pensive though, like she was thinking about it.
Finally, she stood up.
"I'm with him," Mia said. The others looked surprised. There was a clear divide between those who wanted to stay and move.
"I'm sorry but the more I think about it, the more it horrifies me tha they were in my sanctuary and that ugly green blood is yucking up the place. The smell is probably horrific too. How would you like it if they invaded your privacy?"
Slowly, everyone started to stand up. First Kevin, then Mike, then Emily, then Antonio.
Jayden groaned inwardly though as the two people he hoped would stand, remained seated.
"We'll do it," Antonio said. "I believe what he's saying. I haven't seen the new digs but word is they're pretty nice. Lauren, please come with me."
Lauren and Mentor shook their heads.
"I'm sorry, but we'll stay for now," Mentor said. "This place means too much to your sister and I."
Jayden looked at them hard. He didn't like the answer, but he respected it.
"I accept this answer, but the second trouble comes up, you better come join us," Jayden said. "Are we clear?"
"Clear," Lauren said as she gripped her adopted brother's hand.
Tommy cleared his throat, and the Rangers realized suddenly that still more business was at hand.
"Your second gift, is coming through the door right now," Tommy said. "It's the grandparents you DON'T have to worry about."
"So not the Paris clan," Jayden said.
"No. We'll cross that bridge later once this whole Flammia thing is taken care of," Tommy said. "These are my parents, Elizabeth and Jim. They informed me years ago during the Dino Thunder saga that Zordon talked to them and told them everything...he felt they needed to know. They know about you too."
Jayden gulped deeply. This one could go any number of ways, he knew.
"No, it's OK. They've been looking forward to this for years, and they can't wait for you to bring...her...my Beautiful, home. Mom, Dad, please come on out."
Before Jayden knew it, he was swept up in a loving hug by two older adults who looked to be somewhere in their 60s.
"I have waited for this day for so long, hoping that one day I would get to see my grandson grown up," Elizabeth Oliver said. "Now, it's finally here. I was actually near downtown just getting off work when you tore the house down 10 days ago. You're still the talk of Angel Grove, well at least your spandex form is."
"And just think, you've met so many new family members you never knew you had," Jim Oliver said. "I'm looking forward to seeing you grow into a fine young adult, with or without your mother in the fold. It's a tragedy what's happened to her."
"I'm going to bring her home. We're going to win this thing," Jayden said.
"I hope you can, but I also know the cold, harsh reality. This army makes Rita and Zedd's army look like paradise. Your mother was the finest young lady I ever had the privilege of meeting and it's a damn shame what the fates did to her," Elizabeth said.
"I'm going to win. We're going to win. These guys and I are going to systematically destroy Maligore's henchmen until it's just me and Flammia. Then, I'm going to make my dreams come true," Jayden said. He then turned back towards the Rangers.
"Just a second, if you'll excuse me, I have a favor to ask. Uncle Billy, Uncle Justin, cousin Cam?"
"Yeah?" Billy, Justin and Cam said simultaneously.
"I want you to go up to Mia's room while we have a moment. Get a sample of that blood, if it's still there and take it back to the Chamber of Command. I want to know everything about those two monsters' DNA and possibly how to beat them."
"Got it, let's go guys," Justin said as they headed upstairs, while Jayden resumed talking with his grandparents.
"And beware of the smell!" Mia called.
"We know," Billy replied.
Later That Night
Inside, the cleanup was underway. It had been a birthday celebration to remember, in more ways than one.
Tommy and Jayden would head back to Reefside in a bit, but for now, Jayden needed space.
The attempted ambush, the presents, the significance. He'd never had a birthday celebration like this before, then again he'd never been in a situation like this before.
He heard movement near him, and heard someone sit down next to him. He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. He could recognize those footfalls anywhere.
"What a day," Jayden sighed as he turned to face his girlfriend, really for the first time in an informal setting since he'd returned.
Jayden gulped inwardly. There was really no other way to do this...
"I'm going to tell you why I did everything I did since May, but I'm going to let you rant first," Jayden said. "I know it's coming so I may as well just listen and take it."
"Under normal circumstances, you bet your ass I'd let you have it," Mia said. "And I'm still a little peeved that you kept this from me simply because of pride, but your father, the Ninja Storm team and the Dino Thunder guys told me why you kept this from us."
"As much as it pains me to say it, you did the right thing. What would have happened if you had told us back in July, a month before they attacked? I would have been stressed out of my mind, would not have been totally focused on life itself and my schooling, and wouldn't have been using the gift you gave us," Mia said. "The ability to go on with our lives."
"That was, in the end, why I decided to let it go at that point. That and I didn't want to let Flammia's goons have any inkling to what I was doing. Had I told you, you all would have rushed back home to protect me, wouldn't have been living your lives and Flammia may have suspected," Jayden said.
"Yeah," Mia said. "By the way, I've decided to give up on my dream...in a way."
"What do you mean?" Jayden said.
"I hope you noticed I wasn't anywhere near the kitchen today," Mia said. "Ever since I started with Rocky, well, I tried. But he and I have come to the agreement that being in the kitchen itself is just too difficult for me. I don't know why none of the things I cook work out, but they don't."
"So, Rocky decided to point me towards the business college that's affiliated with his school. He thinks I'd be much better with the clerical aspect of running a restaurant," Mia said. "I'm just really sad that my dream will never be a reality."
"Hey, it still is. Just not in the way you think. I'm glad you finally figured out that maybe cooking isn't your thing," Jayden said. "You're still potentially in the business, and just like with our team, it takes a team to run a restaurant. Just because you're not in the kitchen, doesn't mean you aren't part of a team."
"You're right," Mia said. "And besides, I can still be a part of your dreams. As long as your dreams come true, I'm happy."
"Thanks for taking my suggestion to switch locations," Jayden said. "I couldn't live with myself if the house is compromised and something happened to you."
"Yeah that wouldn't be good at all," Mia said. "Besides, I don't even want to go up there right now. The stench is probably pretty terrible still."
"Yeah I admit I went a little crazy," Jayden said. "I didn't know I could spill their blood or that they even have blood, then again, I turned Flammia's top shark general to ash 10 days ago."
"I just know they're going to sic the numbers game on us," Mia said. "The size of their army...it actually makes me wish for the Moogers. Ew, did I just say that?"
Jayden could barely stifle a laugh. But in a way, she was right. The Moogers, as annoying as they could be, were nothing like this army.
"Yeah, they outnumber us, and outstrength us, but so far they haven't proven to be that smart," Jayden said. "But yeah, they'll probably try to overwhelm us next time we face them. Whenever that is."
"There's so much pressure though. When Antonio spoke, it felt like he dumped the weight of the world on my shoulders," Mia said. "To me, losing isn't an option here. This is about your future...OUR future."
"No, that's where you're wrong. It isn't about winning and losing, even Antonio said that. I know you'll fight for me and so will the team. As long as you give it your best, win or lose, I can accept that," Jayden said. "It's not trying at all that's unacceptable. But I know that's not going to happen with you or I...us. We'll give it our all and hope for the best."
"In the meantime, let's just enjoy the moment," Jayden finished.
It was at that moment when both of them saw Tommy stick his head out the door.
"You ready to go, Jay?" Tommy said.
"Yeah, I am, give me just a second," Jayden said, turning back towards Mia. "Let me know when you get your stuff together and are ready to move out. Trust me, you'll like the new base."
"OK. See you soon, Jayden," Mia said as she hugged him tight. "And happy birthday."
"Thank you," Jayden said. "See you soon, too."
With that, Jayden headed inside, grateful that he had avoided a potential rant from Mia. He'd have to thank the Ninja Storm team and Conner when he could. And of course, his father.
That said, he had an uneasy feeling that Mentor Ji and Lauren had decided to stay here for now, as he gathered up his gifts and prepared to head back to Reefside.
He just hoped sentimental feelings wouldn't come back to bite Ji and Lauren...and by extension, his team and family.
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