Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, House of Anubis or Big Time Rush
House of Power Rangers
Chapter 26: House of Battles
It had only been a day since Jayden left (and Antonio still hadn't come back either) but Nina had come to realise that considering how long she's been doing it, training had definitely become one of her methods of distraction and release hence, she was in the outdoor dojo now. She had gone to sleep early last night, too much had happened, emotionally and physically over the past few days but that meant she had been up even earlier than usual and after doing about two hours of school work she had headed straight out to train just as the sun was beginning to light it up. She had no idea how long she had been out, but she knew the others ought to have been there when it felt as though it had been a few hours (which she had also realised usual meant it had been much longer). Taking a break, she checked the time and seeing it was just after twelve, she headed inside, just to check the other rangers were okay. It doesn't take her long to find them all together in the indoor dojo. It was a loud thump on the ground that she was 90% sure was Mike that lead her there. Arriving there, she saw her were suspicions were correct, as the green ranger was on the ground, the yellow, pink and blue rangers standing at the steps.
"Hey Nina, wants to go," Kevin says, pushing her forwards into the dojo slightly as she notices her. "You want to spar against Lauren, don't you?"
"Err, sure?" Nina shrugs confused by his abruptness. She had seen Lauren against the Nighlok a couple of days ago but that was in the mega zord. She was still yet to see her fight one on one.
"That would be great," Lauren grins as Mike hands Nina his training sword.
"Good luck," he mutters.
"Thank you?" she replies confused. Just how bad… good, technically, could she be?
"Just letting you know, I'm not quite at my best today," Nina says getting into position. "That Nighlok blast had more of an effect on me than I realised."
"Do you want me to go easy on you?" Lauren asks but Nina laughs, shaking her head.
"No way! I want to see how well I fight on a bad day." Lauren just smiles, before attacking.
Soon after Nina and Lauren battle (Lauren technically won but when Nina was on the ground, before Lauren could 'perform her finishing move' Nina was actually able to point her sword at Lauren which in an actually fight would be enough for her to get back up) and once they'd showered, it was time for lunch… courtesy of Mia.
"I'm impressed with how well you were able to hold your own," Lauren smiles at Nina as they walk to the kitchen with Emily.
"Thanks, but you were incredible Lauren," Nina says.
"She's right," Emily says as they enter the kitchen. "Yeah, it seems like you must've trained day and night."
"That's not too far from the truth," the female red ranger replies taking a seat at the table. They all pretend not to notice the empty chairs.
"But I bet," Mike whispers, leaning over to her. "Nothing could have prepared you for this." Lauren furrows her brow, clearly confused as Mia turns around.
"Lunch is ready," she says, giving plates to Emily and Lauren, before turning to grab so more plates for the others.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Lauren takes a bite, and after a few chews her eyes widen before she digs in.
"Mmm!" She sighs, Nina looking around at the others, very confused, Mike violently recoiling from a piece of chicken (Nina's actually not too sure what it is).
"So, Lauren, you say you trained day and night," Kevin says, trying to make conversation to avoid eating. "Right?"
"Yeah," she says, taking another bite. "I mean, that's my life. I practice the sealing power, I exercise, I train. This tastes great!" Nina just eyes her plate confused, before noticing the smoke coming from the oven, only slightly alarming her.
"So, what do you do for fun?" Mike asks. "Do you go to the movies? Or go dancing?"
She shakes her head, "I train."
"Do you ever go out to eat?" Emily asks, hiding a piece of food in her napkin as Mia's back is turned.
She shakes her head again, "No, but I bet you don't either with Mia cooking." Mia comes and places the pot in front of her. "This is so good!" She exclaims happily, taking another large spoonful out of the pot onto her plate.
"I can't believe this is actually happening," Mike mutters. However, just as he goes to put a bite in his mouth, the gap sensor sounds.
"Not a moment too soon," Mike says, spitting out his food and jumping up.
"I was really starting to enjoy this," Lauren sighs.
"It'll keep," Mia smiles, taking the pot away to put it in the fridge. "We'll have leftovers for later." Lauren grins widely before running to the living room with the others. Tapping the table to open the map they see where they're going.
"Corner of Fifth and Roslyn. Come on," Lauren says but Emily hesitates.
"I hope Jayden's okay," she sighs before catching up with the others.
"Nighlok!" Lauren calls as they arrive. They see Antonio demorphed on the ground, but he smiles, when he sees them. "Back off."
"Go, go samurai!"
"Oh, colour coded target practice!" The Nighlok exclaims happily before diving into the centre of the battle and it's soon obvious just how much stronger the Nighlok is than others they've faced before. Soon enough, Lauren is forced to enter super samurai mode and when she manages to knock down the Nighlok, it gives the other rangers just the opening they need to use their quintuple slash before Lauren uses the bullzooka to take it out for good… until it comes back in mega mode. The rangers decide to form the Battlewing megazord which they use to take him out until…
"A third life?" Kevin exclaims.
"He must be channelling something from the netherworld," Nina pants.
"Whatever it is, it's making him way too powerful," Mike says.
"There's only one thing that will stop him now," Emily says.
"Right," Lauren agrees, pulling out a disc for them to form the samurai gigazord. "This is our last chance I need everyone's symbol power now!"
"Dragon symbol power! Swordfish symbol power!" Kevin says, drawing his symbols out. Next in Mia.
"Turtle symbol power!" Then Mike.
"Bear symbol power! Beatle symbol power!"
"Ape symbol power!" Emily says, followed by Nina.
"Wolf symbol power!"
"Bull, lion and tiger symbol power!" Lauren calls finally.
"Symbol power!" They all say together. "Mega strike!" They yell, taking out the Nighlok once and for all and this time, it doesn't come back.
"Samurai rangers, victory is ours," Lauren announces.
Arriving home, however, they see Mentor sitting sadly with Antonio, both of them quite dirty.
"What happened?" Nina asked, being the first to enter. "Are you guys, okay?" And when both men nod, Lauren asks.
"Did you find my brother?" This time it's only mentor who nods.
"Yes, he's fighting Deker."
"Of course, he is," Nina scoffs. The room is silent enough to hear a pin drop. The rangers can't believe it's actually finally happening but at the same time, each of them knew that it was going to happen sooner rather than later.
"We have to go stop them," Mike says.
"You can't stop this. I've already tried," Ji tells them.
"Well, I'm going to," but as Antonio begins standing up, it's clear just how much pain he's in.
"No," Emily warns. "You need to stay and rest."
"We'll take care of it," Mia adds as the rangers begin running out, but Lauren, Kevin and Nina don't move.
"Kevin, Nina, come on let's go," Mike says.
"We're going to stay with Lauren," Kevin says, looking at Nina who nods. "We need to divide and conquer in case there's another Nighlok attack. I hate to split up the team, but this way Lauren can continue mastering the sealing power while you help Jayden."
"We understand," Mia nods.
"Don't worry," Mike says. "We'll get him back here safely."
"Kevin, if you need to go and be with the others, I understand," Lauren says, noticing him staring at an original samurai suit in the hall. "You guys are more than just samurai. You're friends. I hear you and Mia are a bit more than that too."
Kevin smiles, "Thank you, Lauren. I know you can handle yourself but… as a samurai… my duty is to protect the entire city from evil. Not just my friends. Don't worry about me."
"You're all very lucky to have each other," she smiles. "I've never had a good friend."
Kevin takes a few step forwards, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Now you do." Lauren just smiles at him. "Now, let's go train."
Changing into his gear, Kevin steps out into the dojo finding Nina there.
"Want a partner?"
"Of course," the purple ranger grins as he steps up. "I heard what you said to Lauren by the way. It was really sweet."
"It was the truth," he replies. "Oh, and I'm just warning you, I won't hold back," he says.
"Good," Nina smirks. "It'll be more fun taking you down that way." Kevin rolls his eyes as he gets into position.
After a while, the duo outside begin to get hungry so they decide to take a break, heading inside. On Nina's way to her room though, she hears laugher, and peaking around a corner, she sees Lauren and Antonio in the indoor dojo. Antonio sitting on the steps and Lauren in her training gear, standing with her practice sword. She'd seen Antonio walk over once Shaylee had finished patching him up, but she had to admit she was slightly surprised to still find him there. She was glad they were getting along though. She moved along quickly though as her stomach began to complain and after a shower and change of clothes, she found herself in the kitchen with Shaylee and Kevin.
"Kevin," Lauren says, finding the three of them in the kitchen with Nina.
"Lauren, what do you need?" He asks, putting down his cup of water.
"What I need is for you and Shaylee to go with Mike and the others."
"What? No. I need to protect you and the city while you perfect the sealing power."
"And I need to be here in case of you gets hurt. And Antonio is still recovering," Shaylee points out.
"Your dedication is admirable, but it is okay. I can take care of myself and even then, I'll still have Nina."
"She's right. As much as I want to go, I can't. I have a task to do here right now," Nina says, thinking back to her letter from the previous generations' red ranger. "But Kevin, there's no attack right now, so you don't and Shaylee, Antonio's fine now. Jayden… will need your help."
"Besides, I'm worried about Jayden too. He's my brother," Lauren reminds him to which he sighs. "I'll stay here in case there's a Nighlok attack, but you guys should go."
"But- "
"Kevin, Shaylee, Jayden needs you both now. Far more than I do. I can feel it, so go to him. Please,"
"Alright, we're going," he nods, heading for the doorway with the assistant mentor. "And Lauren, thanks."
Nina had just lit the candle that Kendall got her for Christmas (she was so shocked that there was even still wax left considering how often she felt like she used it especially recently) because she absolutely loved the smell… and today was the sixteen of April. Big Time Rush were back from their tour today. Nina shocked herself with how excited she was that they were finally back because she'd really missed them… especially Kendall. She didn't know how or when she had but she thinks she'd developed a… she didn't want to think it! She wasn't even supposed to be seeing him as often as she had been but… now wasn't the time to be think about that. She had other things to think about like –
"Help me," a male voice says but whipping her head around to check her surroundings Nina sees that it is just her. "Please help me." Was this a vision? Nina wondered so closing her eyes, she took a deep inhale but as she exhaled and opened her eyes, it was no longer her room she was seeing. Instead, before her was a burning building and in front of it was a woman, covered in ash, cradling the body of a man. However, just as she begins to run forwards to help, she hears the voice again, although this time, it is actually from behind her.
"Please, help me. I don't want to kill him," he pleads and turning, she recognises the man immediately. "I want just to be free." Deker.
"Kill who?" She asks, before it dawns on her. "Jayden? Deker, no. What can I do?"
"I don't know," he replies, shaking his head.
"Okay," Nina sighs, looking around. She's wouldn't be here if there was nothing she could do. "What is this? Who are those people?"
"We were supposed to live in that house," he points at the burning building. "My wife Dahlia and me. It caught fire during the night and I… I don't know. She pulled me out, but I think she was too late."
"That's you? The man she's holding, is you?" she asks, and he nods.
"She cried out for help," and as she speaks, the scene before them seems to progress, Dahlia's lips moving, although without the sound. "And that when a beast calling himself the king of Nighlok's answered."
"Xandred?" Nina questions but that's not the Nighlok that appears.
"Serrator," Deker corrects. "He offered to save my life and my wife loved me as much as I did her so she accepted but to do so, he transformed me into the human-Nighlok hybrid, taking all my memories away from my conscious mind, transforming Dahlia into one of the Nighlok too in the process."
"Dahlia's Dayu?" Nina gasps, seeing his wife transform.
"Yes. Because of our love, I don't think she fully comprehended the fate she was cursing us both to. She remembers it all while I'm left, trapped in this cursed body with the need to fight. Not quite human, not quite Nighlok, fitting in nowhere. All I've ever wanted was to be free." And just like that, it's like neon signs flashing in Nina's head. Free. Trapped. Free.
"Of course," she mutters, turning to the Nighlok hybrid. "Deker, I know how to help you. I can free you. But you're gonna have to trust me."
Deker nods, locking his eyes with hers. "I will."
"I – I should let you know though," Nina says. "Your Nighlok half is what's keeping you alive."
"Do what you have to do." The purple rangers take a deep breath, pulling out her morpher.
"You have to transform into your Nighlok form." Once Deker's done so she opens the morpher, raising it as she steps closer. "I hope this doesn't hurt." She begins drawing a symbol lighting up in gold, straight onto his chest. It takes her a bit of time but as she finishes, she whispers, "symbol power, freedom." The golden light from the symbol slowly spreads across his whole body with a shattered effect. He starts flickering between his human and Nighlok forms and as he begins falling, Nina reaches out to catch him guiding him to the ground, holding him up in a slanted seated position. However, looking around Nina realises the scene around her has changed. She's in a ring of fire besides Deker who's sword is raised… to Jayden.
"Jayden, watch out!" Nina hears the other rangers scream, and looking to her left, just outside the ring of fire is the pink, green and yellow rangers (it's clear they can't see her though). It looks as though, if the other two hadn't been holding her back, Emily would've jumped through the fire without a second thought. However, just before Deker can strike, the Nighlok drops his sword, falling to his knees and Nina's scene switches again. She back in front of the burning building, and the cracks of light on Deker glow so bright that she has to turn away but when she turns back, the flickering has stopped. It's human. Fully human. Then she's back in the ring of fire just as the blue ranger arrives but strangely enough, that's not her concern. Her concern is lying on the ground, his human form and Nina knows, now, that's his only form. At first, it looks as though, he's staring at Jayden but when he begins to speak, it's clear he's looking at her.
"Chosen one," he mutters. "You've freed me. I'm free at last."
"I'm sorry, Serrator cursed you to this," Nina says, kneeling down.
"No matter. It's been done. Although, it's a shame we couldn't have fought on the same side. I think we could've been good allies."
Nina can't help but chuckle at that. "You know what, if you weren't constantly trying to fight Jayden, I think we could've." Deker smiles weakly at this. "Purple ranger, thank you."
"My name's Nina," she says, and his head shifts slightly on the ground as he nods, his eyes no longer focusing on her.
"Then thank you, Nina."
"You're welcome," she replies just as Jayden turns, hearing a familiar name. However, it's just as he does that that Deker draws his final breath…and Nina's back in her room.
"The Marina," Nina tells Lauren and Antonio as they enter the living room the next morning, hearing the gap sensor. The others still hadn't returned.
"Guys, I know this is hard without Jayden, but I really need you for this battle."
"I would be honoured to fight by your side," Antonio says, placing a hand over his heart. "So please, lead me into battle already." Lauren just chuckles while Nina rolls her eyes amused as they run out.
They arrive, and while Antonio and Lauren enter the claw armour megazord, Nina decides to stay on the ground fighting moogers but there are too many! She doesn't know if she can hold them all off since Lauren has the black box but suddenly the number of moogers surrounding her now long seems so overwhelming and after a moment she realises why.
"I was beginning to wonder whether or not you guys were gonna show up," Nina teases as she spots the other rangers morphed around her… all except Jayden.
"Sorry," Mike replies, although she can practically hear his grin. "We wanted to be fashionably late, but we worried whether or not you could handle it."
"Oh, you know I had this under control," Nina grins.
"Yeah, we did," and turning around she sees the un-morphed male red ranger. "But we couldn't let you have all the fun, now could we?"
"I suppose," she begins, pausing for a moment to take out all her surrounding moogers before smiling and facing all the other rangers who have done the same. "the party's more fun with all of you."
Yay Jayden's back and chapter twenty-six is what I believe we call, completed! I'm just finishing off writing the final chapter! This is so crazy! I hope you're enjoying it as much as I'm enjoying writing it. Anyways, I'll see you on Tuesday and thanks for reading
