Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, House of Anubis or Big Time Rush

House of Power Rangers

Chapter 13: House of Stories

It had been a couple of weeks since Emily's birthday, but the rangers had found the Nighloks and moogers to be relentless in their efforts. Today was no exception. The rangers were almost home from their battle with some giant moogers. It was clear that even the common moogers were getting stronger every day and it was taking a lot more effort to take them down, especially since the Sanzu River was beginning to seep through the cracks! They needed a greater advantage. Luckily, it was possible that Ji had a solution to their problem.

"The black box?" Nina questioned as Ji showed them a page of an old looking book, or more accurately, journal. It sounded familiar to her, but she couldn't quite pin her finger on where she'd heard it. She didn't think it was from her gran so maybe she was recalling it before that... a lifetime ago… no, well maybe but there was another time...

"Ji, we can't," Jayden says, shaking his head.

"Why? What is it?" Mia asks. It was obviously the question on everyone's minds.

"A magic talisman created by the very first red ranger. It is said that it can unite to symbol power of all rangers into one," Ji explained, piquing the interest of the rangers, excluding the red.

"Okay cool, so let's fire it up!" Mike suggests but Ji and Jayden simply look at each other for a moment, clearly having a silent conversation before the red ranger replies,

"It's not as simple as that. The red ranger never finished the talisman."

"Many have tried," Ji added. "But none have the skill and power to complete it." Realising the issue, the rangers fall silent. It's a couple of minutes until Emily speaks up, "What about Antonio? He's a tech wiz!"

Nina doesn't even realise as she zones out of the conversation, thinking about where she'd heard about the black box. Maybe it wasn't just that she'd heard about it… yes that was it! Last year back at Anubis house when she'd be trapped after they failed to win Senet, the ghost of Victor Rodenmaar Sr. had spoken to her of power of the Chosen One and the Osirian (of course back then she hadn't known it was Eddie) and he'd mentioned he'd read something talking of a black box in one of Robert Frobisher Smythe's journals. She'd found it in the secret study but hadn't been able to read too much before Amber had found her. She didn't want to take it with her in front of her just in case she found herself wanting to read it which may lead to more questions she hadn't been prepared to answer. Maybe she could ask Eddie to-

"Nina? What do you think?" Kevin asks her. Regaining her focus, she sees everyone looking at her.

"Of what?"

"Of Antonio fixing up the black box?" Mike asks, looking slightly unnerved by her lack of attention.

"Oh right! Yeah, sorry. I agree; we should give him the chance to say yes," she replies. Jayden furrows his brows at her, but she just nods, silently saying she's fine.

"Okay," he finally agrees.

"First, you must retrieve the Black Box. For generations, it has been protected by the guardians of the Tengen Gate," Ji tells them.


Once the team finish planning their day tomorrow, they all get up to leave and Nina rushes to her room, shutting her door before pulling out her laptop opening her email, the one she uses to contact Eddie.

Hey Eddie,

I know we haven't spoken in a few weeks; things have been pretty hectic around here and if your year's anything like mine was, I'm gonna assume I can say the same for there. Anyways, how are you? Has the locket been of any use? It usually worked for only me, but I figured since you're my Osirian it might work for you because our weird mystical connection.

Could you do me a favour as well? You know where Robert's secret study was in the basement right? In the there's a book, it's red and black leather with gold detailing. I think it's called Secrets of Amneris and Osiris or something like that. There's chapter mentioning something about a black box. Hopefully it's still bookmarked where I left it. Could you send me photos of the pages in that chapter please?

Hopefully, we'll be able to talk soon,

Nina

Just as she finishes up her message, she hears a knock on her door.

"Come in," she calls, and it opens revealing Jayden.

"Hey," he says entering, "are you alright?"

"Yeah, sure why?"

"You just seemed kind of out of it while we were talking earlier," he says, leaning on the wall by the door.

"I know," she sighed trying to think of something that's not completely a lie. "I was just trying to remember where I'd heard of the Black Box before." Before Jayden can reply there's another at the already open door and Mike pokes his head in.

"Am I interrupting?" he asks looking between the two.

"No, it's fine. I didn't want to do my work right now anyways," Nina says shutting her laptop. "What's up?"

"Uh, Nina I need your help with something," Mike says, awkwardly.

"Okay… you wanna talk and spar?" She suggests to which Mike nods.

"Yeah that'd be perfect! I'll go get changed and I'll meet you out there." Nina looks to her leader and shrugs.

"I'll take that as my cue but seriously, if anything's bothering you, you can tell me," he says walking out. She nods but before he shuts the door, he turns but to her, "And you actually will have to do your schoolwork eventually."

"Shh," she whispers as he shuts the door smiling. She gets off her bed, going to get her training clothes from her wardrobe thinking over what he said.

If anything's bothering you, you can tell me. She seriously wishes she could take him up on that offer but being the chosen one is her burden.


"She did enjoy it," Nina tells Mike, before swinging her bow staff at his legs causing him to jump. It turns out he was actually just kind of worried about how his date with Emily had gone. It had been a few weeks and Emily had to her and Mia how it was and how much fun she'd had with him. However, the two of them hadn't really been able to talk much since then because they'd just been getting busier by the day. He was beginning to get worried that he'd messed things up.

"So, it's not me?" He asks as she parries one of his hits.

"No," she says, pinning down his staff with hers. She holds it there as she talks to him, "Go and talk to her now. This is about as free as we get these days. I'm sure she wouldn't mind the help in preventing a catastrophe in the kitchen with Mia."

"You know what, you're right." Nina takes his staff. "Thanks Nina!"

"Maybe shower first," she calls as he runs off inside. She shakes her head, smiling at his enthusiasm.


The next day the rangers (minus Antonio who had stayed behind) headed out early to the Tengen Gate. As they reach the sacred place, they see the familiar Shiba family crest on the wooden gate.

"The Tengen Gate is an important part of ranger history," Jayden tells them after Mike calls it a 'big wood thing'. Bowing as they enter, Jayden continues, "It commemorates where the first samurai rangers battled the Nighlok army."

"They say the Sanzu river flooded the entire city," Emily added. Jayden smiled at her nodding.

"What happened?" Mike asked. This time it was Kevin who asked his question.

"The rangers defeated them because they never gave up. And they took their training seriously." He said the last part looking pointedly at Mike. The green ranger looks like he's about to reply when another man, with a grey beard and robes approached speaking instead,

"They certainly did, although the legends tell us that the green ranger was a bit of a prankster. Apparently, he drove the blue ranger crazy." The rangers laughed at this; sometimes history does repeat. "But they were still the best of friends. I am Daisuke, the elder guardian," he said introducing himself. The team bow to him, showing respect. "Welcome to the Tengen Gate. Your mentor advised us that you were coming. Please," he says, motioning for them to enter the building.

Jayden doesn't follow immediately, instead falling behind, looking at a stone statue.

"A penny for your thoughts, Jayden," Daisuke asked. He was familiar with the red ranger, having met him before on occasion.

"It's nothing," Jayden replied.

"You still haven't told them your secret, have you?" the man guessed.

"They're my friends, Daisuke. I don't like lying to them, but…" Jayden trailed off looking back to the statue. Daisuke placed a hand on Jayden's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Jayden, but it is your responsibility to be the red ranger."

"I know. I won't fail them."

As Mia and Kevin look around the house together before coming across an interesting tapestry. It was clear it was telling some story and luckily the perfect person to tell them had just entered.

"It's an old folk tale," Daisuke began, getting the attention of the other ranger who come and join them. "A young woman made a deal with the Nighlok King to save the life of her beloved, but the king tricked her and turned them both into Nighlok."

"That sure sounds like something a Nighlok would do," Kevin says, shaking his head in disgust.

"The king away the man's memory and cursed him to walk the Earth alone together," the elderman finished.

"It's strange, I feel like I've seen this woman before," Mia says, touching the tapestry and she wasn't the only one who felt that way. Nina was sure she's seen the woman too. That couldn't be a coincidence, could it?


It's not long before they're seated in a circle in the living room. Daisuke presented them with the Black Box before one of the other guardians who also stays at the gate presents them with a tray of tea. The six rangers and Daisuke each take a cup, toasting to the ancient rangers, and for good fortune in battle. The red ranger drinks first as the other raise their cups to the lips, however, they are startled by the clanging of a cup dropping and Jayden falling to the ground, clutching his throat as though physically trying to open his air passages.

"Jayden!" Nina exclaims as she pulls her leader's head into her lap.

"It's the drink," he chokes. "It's poisoned!"

Before anyone else can do anything, the guardian who brought in their tea runs through the door.

"Daisuke! There are Nighlok in the garden!" The rangers begin to rise as they hear the commotion outside.

"We can't leave Jayden," Mia says but Jayden shakes his head.

"I'll be fine!" He gasps. The rangers except Nina begin to run out.

"Nina. Go," he tells her, looking up, flushed. She doesn't want to leave him like this, but she knows she'll be able to do a lot more good out there than in here. Nodding at the guardian, she hands him over before running out to join the team, morphing on her way out.

"I'll call Antonio for back up!" She yells at no one in particular but they could use all the help they could get, especially with Jayden down.


It doesn't take too long for Antonio to find them in the forest but when he does arrive, they send him inside to attempt to help Jayden. The rangers put up a good fight, the purple ranger getting in a good few hits with her lightning mace however, with the Sanzu River leaking into their world, the Nighlok were much stronger than they were ready for. So strong that soon the moogers and the Nighlok leading them - whose name was Arachnitor - had eventually managed to knock down, demorphed and almost all unconscious. Kevin managed to keep his eyes open long enough to see Arachnitor somehow pulled back into the Netherworld through a gap in a tree before everything turned dark for him too.

By the time Antonio found the team he was alone. He found Octoroo, pestering Jayden for the sealing symbol in exchange for the antidote. While Antonio occupied himself with said Nighlok, a man he had been with earlier approached. Transforming to a Nighlok before his very eyes, he took the red ranger. Finding his team unconscious, he realised there was only one thing for him to do.

"Mentor," he spoke into his Samuraizer.

Chapter thirteen woo! I'm just realising Nina needs a bit more bonding time with Kevin, Mia, Antonio and even Mentor Ji! She gets loads with the others. I might have to slightly edit the following chapters or if I'm feeling lazy (which I must admit is a possibility) I might just add more into chapters you'll get much later (so chapter 22 and onwards). Also, ooh cliff-hanger (I don't think I've done one before). Anyways, we're a week into 2020 and I have so far been consistent so yay! See you on Friday and thanks for reading