A/N: Okay so this one is a bit of a biggie, but I felt like it needed to be a oner.
The next morning Ji began everyone's training, starting with symbol power in order to assess the new rangers.
"There is more to being a power ranger than just mastering a sword. You must also learn to use your inherited samurai symbols" explains Ji as he looks at each of them.
"Ah, the fire symbol" he nods as Jayden finishes his and the fire burns away the symbol and sets his brush on fire calmly blowing it out.
Evie rolls her eyes, as she finishes her symbol and steps to the side and a metal spike shoots out.
"You've been practicing that one" nods Ji as he catches it and it disappears.
Kevin finishes his, "Yes, water" says Ji, and Kevin's symbol then proceeds to splash water all over his face.
Evie suppresses a laugh and sees Jayden doing the same as Kevin splutters.
Emily concentrates on hers, "good Earth symbol" says Ji and a rock comes out of the symbol landing on Kevin's foot.
"Ow" he yells grabbing his foot.
"Oh I'm sorry, are you okay?" asks Emily concern lacing her voice.
"I'm fine" assures Kevin still grimacing in pain.
Mia finishes her symbol, "ah the symbol for wind" smiles Ji as a pleasant breeze blows her hair gently.
Mia smiles, "very good" nods Ji.
"Ugh that's not right" huffs Mike, "maybe this way" he says as he draws another part to the symbol.
"That's it" nods Mike but then nothing happens.
"The stroke orders are wrong" says Ji, "Mike you must practice more" urges Ji.
"Okay I get it, practice" sighs Mike.
He goes to start again but turns to Ji putting his hand on shoulder, "how about a lunch break? You'd be amazed how well I can practice after a few slices of pizza" smiles Mike.
Ji just looks at him and then at his hand and Mike's smile drops as he removes his hand quickly.
Evie shakes her head; Mike clearly loved his food.
They all separate for their own training after Ji had made Mike re-draw his symbol ten times. Evie is training with her sword outside when Mia, Mike and Kevin appear.
"We can't find Emily" explains Mia.
"Give me a second to change, I'll help you look" assures Evie.
They head out into town together and split up, but find nothing.
They met up in one of the malls, "any sigh of Emily?" asks Mia.
"No" replies Kevin.
"Nothing" confirms Evie.
"Mike what about you?" asks Mia as Mike walks up with food.
"What?" asks Mike.
"Emily" answers Kevin. "Were you even looking for her?" he demands.
"Yeah, but I got hungry" replies Mike. "Emily probably went out sightseeing or shopping or something. I'm sure she's okay" says Mike.
"I'm don't know. She's a country girl she wouldn't just wander around the city on her own" points out Mia.
Kevin sighs and nods.
Mike goes to take a bite of his food before offering it to Kevin, "want some?" he offers.
"No, I never snack between meals during samurai training" replies Kevin.
"When aren't you in training?" asks Mike.
"Never" replies Kevin.
Mike shrugs and offers one to Evie who smiles and takes it, she takes a bit and nods, "that's really good" she says.
"I know right" nods Mike.
"You're really serious about the samurai lifestyle" realises Mia.
"Of course. Aren't you?" asks Kevin looking at her.
"Yes, but I'd also want to have a normal life. You know find my prince charming someday. I'm getting used to the idea that now I'm a samurai, but it's a little scary" admits Mia.
"Well it's a big adjustment, you'll get used to it" assures Kevin, "I'm sure Evie knows what I mean" he adds looking at her.
"Know what you mean about what?" asks Evie still chewing.
"Devotion to the samurai lifestyle, living in the Shiba house with Mentor" says Kevin.
"You do realise he can be a normal person too right?" asks Evie. "Jayden and I did have a semi normal childhood, he was trying to raise people, not samurai robots. I do have hobbies and plans" assures Evie.
"But what about you, you gave your dreams of being in the Olympics to be here Kevin, don't you miss it?" asks Mia.
"No. When a samurai decides to serve, he is committed. Forever" replies Kevin, that was what he believed, what he'd been trained to believe. Even if leaving had been far harder than he ever thought it would be, and he'd left behind so much more than the others knew.
"Wow, forever? That's a long time to go without a snack" notes Mike.
"Hey there she is" calls Mia pointing to Emily below them on a patch of grass.
They head down to her and see her training with her sword.
"Emily" calls Mia as they walk over.
"You've been training here all by yourself?" asks Evie.
"Yes! The dedication of a samurai" beams Kevin resting his hand on her arm.
"It's not just that" interrupts Emily. "I promised my big sister that I'd work hard, so that I can be as good a fighter as the rest of you" she adds.
"Your big sister?" asks Kevin in confusion.
Emily sighs and pulls out a flute, "my big sister was supposed to be the yellow ranger. But she got sick and I had to take her place" explains Emily.
Evie's eyes widen in surprise and in sympathy.
"Wow, that's a lot to ask of you" says Mike.
"It's been tougher to see her go through her illness. And I wasn't a superstar in school" admits Emily.
"Don't sell yourself short" argues Mia.
"Oh I do have talents" assures Emily, "I'm really good at playing the flute, and I can definitely handle a sword. So, becoming a power ranger is a fresh start for me" smiles Emily.
"Did you hear that? She has the heart of a true samurai warrior" nods Kevin looking impressed.
"Here, you've been training hard, you need this more than I do" smiles Mike as he hands her one of his shish kebab.
They head back to the house, a new insight into Emily for each of them.
They hadn't been home long, when the gap sensors sound, she and Jayden move into the living room as Ji brings up the map and tells them they're at city hall.
"Samurai, we have a battle to fight" says Jayden as he and Evie turn and jog out of the door as they have many times before, the others soon following them.
They arrive and see the moogers and the Nighlok causing havoc and terror.
Jayden unleashes his folding zord which bounces around the Nighlok before landing back in his hand.
"Who's this?" asks the Nighlok.
"Go, go samurai" they calls and morph into their ranger forms.
"Samurai together" they yell before charging into battle, they activate their special weapons and Evie flourishes her whip with ease taking out the moogers until she hears a cry from behind her and turns in time to see Emily's earth slicer hit Jayden and the Nighlok use the moment to send Jayden into the wall.
She tries to go to him but the moogers attack again and she's forced to fight them off.
She beats them back in time to see Emily throw herself in front of the Nighloks attack and the others doing so as well.
"No" cries Evie as she sees them fall.
The Nighlok turns thinking himself triumphant when Evie sends her whip at him striking him hard across the back, "hey ugly, we're not done yet" she calls tauntingly glancing back in time to see everyone else stirring, though only Jayden was still morphed.
The Nighlok groans in pain and turns back to face Evie.
"Fine one more ranger won't be much of a challenge" he says.
"That's what you think" she replies.
"Evie" calls Jayden struggling to his knees and throwing his sword to her.
Evie catches it, "now lets have some fun" she smirks beneath her helmet at the Nighlok.
He charges towards her and Evie uses her whip to wrap around one of the beams and lets it pull her over his head slashing him with Jayden's sword as she lands pulling her whip free.
The Nighlok turns and charges at her again, as he swings back his sword she sends her whip forwards and it wraps around it, she hardens it and swings her sword at the now trapped Nighlok and slashes a devastating blow across his front causing him to howl in pain. Evie releases the whip and vaults over the Nighlok so she was between him and the others in time to see Jayden moving to help a little girl.
"Jayden" she calls and throws his sword back to him and transforms her whip back into a sword.
The two of them attack the Nighlok together while the others recover.
"They're both so focused on destroying evil, I really hope I'm up to it too" says Emily as they pull themselves to their feet.
"Lets show them we are, go, go samurai" they call and morph once more and racing into the battle again, jumping up the four of them send a simultaneous blow to the Nighlok sending him back.
"No" he cries as he explodes.
Evie and Jayden looks at each other and nod, neither needing to see the others faces to know that both wore the same proud expression.
"We're not done yet" says Kevin.
"Nope, here comes the megamonster" nods Jayden as the Nighlok grows into its second form.
"Let's go" says Evie as they pull out their zords and activate them.
But their zords alone aren't enough.
"Uh where's the turbo switch?" asks Mike.
"We have to combine our zords, together we take him down" answers Jayden.
"A zord combination, lets do it" nods Kevin enthusiastically.
They begin the combination but Mike, Emily, Mia and Kevin connect, knocking Evie aside in the process and not leaving room for Jayden.
"What the hell did you just make?" asks Evie as she sees the four giant folding zords connected together.
"What's that a ranger totem pole?" laughs the Nighlok, "the rangers are playing with blocks now?" he jeers.
"Kevin what did you do?" asks Jayden, both he and Evie's zords still flying around.
"Did I make a mistake?" asks Kevin in concern.
"Yeah, you left Evie and I out" replies Jayden.
"Oh god I'm sorry" says Kevin as the whole thing starts to wobble and the Nighlok knocks the four of them down.
"Alright this time, I'll start it, Evie, follow my lead" says Jayden.
"Don't I always" smiles Evie as this time they lock their zords in correctly to make their samurai megazord, and within moments all six are stood in the control centre, their swords locked in.
"Samurai megazord, we are united" they smile.
"Now this is a megazord" nods Mike.
"I'm sorry" starts Kevin.
"We can deal with that later, right now we've got one ugly bastard to rid the city off" interrupts Evie.
"And he's coming right for us" says Jayden.
"Katana power" they call activating their zord weapons.
The battle was quick, the giant moogers being taken care of with ease and a single powerful strike destroys the Nighlok for good.
"Samurai rangers, victory is ours" smiles Jayden.
They power down and return to their normal sides, though the fox zord snaps at the dragon zord angry at having been knocked aside.
"Sorry, she takes things a little personally" apologises Evie as she catches her and pockets her quickly.
"A lot like her samurai" replies Jayden nudging her.
"Charming" retorts Evie but she smiles none the less.
They head back to the house everyone still buzzing from the megazord battle.
"Oh that was amazing, the way our zords came together" beams Kevin.
"The second time" reminds Evie.
"When we worked as a team" nods Jayden.
"I'm sorry I got overzealous" apologises Kevin.
"Enthusiasm and dedication is great Kevin, but maybe reign it in a little" suggests Jayden gently.
"I'll try" assures Kevin.
"Well done, all of you" nods Ji with a smile.
"Thanks Ji" nods Jayden and everyone looks pleased save Emily who hangs at the back not looking as pleased.
"Hey Em, what's up?" asks Mike.
"Well, I almost let you all down today" she sighs.
"You did great Emily" assures Jayden.
"I hit you with my splicer, and everyone else got caught in the blast. The only one who didn't was Evie and she kicked ass on her own" points out Emily.
"We're still learning, you four especially with your ranger weapons, Evie and I have had longer to practice with them. Believe me, we both hit each other without meaning too. I'm sure we've all had training accidents" replies Jayden.
"Jayden set my shirt on fire with a symbol power backfire" nods Evie.
"Evie almost skewered me when she mistimed switching from her whip back to her sword" offers Jayden.
"I grew a tree in the middle of my house" says Mike.
"I broke two lamps, a table and almost sliced the couch in half while training with my sword" adds Mia.
"I almost broke my dad's ribs when I mistimed a hit" finishes Kevin.
"See Em, we all do it. It's normal, you're learning. But you came back from it, you didn't let it keep you down. The courage to continue is what counts, as long as you get back up, you've never really lost. And you didn't let anyone down" assures Evie. "We just need to learn to work as a team, its an adjustment for everyone" agrees Jayden.
"And your sister would be so proud of you" smiles Mia wrapping her arm around Emily.
"Hey guys, I learned a new symbol" says Mike suddenly.
"Really?" asks Ji sounding a little sceptical.
Mike walks into the dojo and casts the symbol causing an explosion of confetti as he turns the sound system on and starts to dance.
"Now that is cool" smiles Evie as she joins Mike, she'd always loved dancing.
The playful atmosphere continues as the others join them before they head off to do their own thing.
Evie walks into her room and cracks her neck shutting the door as she shrugs off her jacket and kicks off her boots dropping back onto her bed and shutting her eyes as the evening sunshine pours through her windows warming her as she settled in the patch of sunlight.
She hears the door open but knows who it is so doesn't move.
Jayden smiles as he looks at Evie.
"Maybe your animal should be a cat rather than a fox" he chuckles.
"I like patches of sunlight, that does not make me a cat" retorts Evie.
"No but I think your claws might add some persuasion to the argument" replies Jayden.
"You're usually not complaining" flirts Evie.
"Oh I'm not" assures Jayden as he walks over and Evie stands up wrapping her arms around him.
Jayden loops his around her waist, "how are you, that hit looked like it hurt?" asks Evie.
"I'm better than the others, and I'll heal" assures Jayden.
"I'm sorry I didn't block you" sighs Evie.
"You were right not to. You kept that Nighlok off of us long enough for the others to get back up. You were quite the badass, as usual" smiles Jayden.
"I was wasn't I" smiles Evie.
"Very" agrees Jayden resting his forehead against hers.
"I'm just glad you're okay" says Evie.
"I had you watching my back, of course I'm okay" smiles Jayden.
"And people don't think you can be charming" teases Evie.
"Who says I can't be?" asks Jayden.
"Not me" assures Evie as she glances at the door before leaning up and kissing him softly.
Jayden returns it, one hand cupping her face before pulling back.
"We're starting to gel" he smiles.
"A bit more practice and we'll be good, and in time we'll be unstoppable and Xandred won't know what hit him" replies Evie.
"I like your confidence" says Jayden.
"Though we're a way off yet" admits Evie.
"That zord was a mess wasn't it?" grimaces Jayden.
"Such a mess, I had to agree with the Nighlok when he called it a totem pole" laughs Evie.
"Well shh, we won't tell them that, poor Kevin felt bad enough" snorts Jayden.
"Yeah you could tell even over the comms" agrees Evie.
"You were certainly right when you said life wouldn't be dull" notes Jayden.
"I'm usually right surely after over a decade you'd have learnt that fact by now" teases Evie.
"Smartass" retorts Jayden.
"But it's a great ass" smirks Evie.
Jayden just shakes his head, "you want the shower first or can I have it?" he asks.
"I will then I can nap some more" she smiles as she walks into the bathroom and shuts the door.
Taking a quick a shower she wraps a towel around herself and sticks her head into Jayden's room, "all yours" she says before she walks back through to her room changing quickly before deciding to forgo her nap, and walking back out and finding Emily and Mia sat in the living room.
"How are you guys feeling that Nighlok gave you a good whack?" asks Evie.
"I'm okay" assures Mia.
"Me too, I'm really clumsy so I'm used to bumps and bruises" replies Emily.
"Stay away from Ji's bonsai then, I think he loves those things more than anything" chuckles Evie.
"So you really grew up here?" asks Emily.
"Yep, Ji's raised Jayden since his father died and after my parents were gone I came here" nods Evie.
"And you said it wasn't just hardcore samurai?" asks Mia.
"Not completely no. Don't get me wrong that was a huge part, Jayden was going to have to deal with moogers before the rest of you were called, and I sure as hell wasn't going to be left behind, so I trained just as hard. But there was other more normal stuff we did Freshman and Sophomore years of high school, that did not end so well though" admits Evie.
"You guys did high school?" asks Mia in surprise.
"Ji wanted to lets us interact with other people our own age, you know social stuff and the like. See the real world we were going to be protecting, but my god a week in that place I was ready to flood the Sanzu river myself" snorts Evie.
"High School can really suck" nods Emily, "but you're so pretty and so confident I doubt you had my issues" she notes.
"Yeah what was so bad?" asks Mia curiously, she'd quite enjoyed school.
"Just so many people, all their petty, pathetic problems, the gossiping and the sniping and the bitchiness. Just all seemed so pointless" explains Evie, "plus cheerleaders really do seem to be the bitches they're portrayed as on TV" she adds.
"You got on the wrong side of a cheerleader?" asks Emily with a wince recalling her own issue with that.
"You could say that, she started it though, cheerleading captain or no" replies Evie. "Either way it wasn't quite what Ji had planned" she finishes with a snort.
"High school never is" agrees Emily.
"So we already know Emily has an older sister, what about you Mia, any siblings?" asks Evie.
"A younger brother, Terry" replies Mia.
"You close?" asks Evie.
"Very, I miss him" admits Mia, "but I'm sure once we settle things will be good here too" she adds with a smile.
"I hope so, I already like it here" beams Emily.
"Its home" agrees Evie, "hopefully you'll come to think so too, after all, we're going to be spending a lot of time together" adds Evie.
"I think it'll be nice to have other girls around, I've only had Terry" smiles Mia.
"And I always like meeting new people, and making friends" beams Emily.
"It'll be nice having someone other than Jayden and Ji to talk too" admits Evie.
"Though I imagine it must be an adjustment having all of us here" says Mia.
"A bit, but we knew it was inevitable, all samurai are trained here when they're called. And if you guys need anything, let me know" assures Evie. She knew it'd be an adjustment for all of them, she just hoped it happened with minimum drama, though she doubted that. She had the distinct impression things could only get more complicated from here.
"Damn it Mike" yells Kevin.
"Cue complicated" mutters Evie.
"Dude just chill" retorts Mike.
The three girls stand up and move towards Mike and Kevin's room where the two are stood, Kevin holding what appeared to be some clothes and Mike just in his pants sans a shirt.
"No I will not chill, keep your shit on your side of the room" snaps Kevin shoving the clothes at Mike. "And is it so hard to ask you maybe clean up a little?" he adds.
"We agreed my side, I can do what I like" retorts Mike.
"Except your shit is not just on your side" answers Kevin.
"It was a couple of shirts dude" replies Mike.
"I don't care, your side is enough of a mess as it is, I like order and I like clarity and your seriously messing that up with all this crap" snaps Kevin.
"Well you can't be very focused if all it takes to set you off is a little bit of a mess" snipes Mike.
"You're going to talk to me about focusing?" demands Kevin squaring up to Mike.
"Yeah, since it's so easily broken" smirks Mike.
Kevin's face shift and his hand clenches into a fist and both Evie and Mia move forwards, Evie getting in front of Mike, Mia doing the same for Kevin.
"Let's cool things down a little shall we, how about we take a walk?" suggests Mia.
Kevin doesn't respond, "take the walk Kevin" orders Evie without turning away from Mike or the staring contest they'd engaged in, her voice carrying a clear command.
Mia pulls Kevin out of the room.
Once he was gone Evie raises an eyebrow without breaking eye contact with Mike, "you done, because I'm lacking the hormone and the body part that feels the need for this pissing match?" asks Evie.
Mike sighs and turns away dropping one shirt onto his bed and pulling on the other, Emily's attention being pulled towards Mike's torso and Evie can't help the smile when she notes exactly where Emily's gaze is, and the clear look on her face. Not that she could blame the younger girl, Mike was definitely in shape.
"Mike" starts Evie.
"Look I know okay, I don't practice enough, I'm not focused enough a tidy life means a tidy mind or some such shit" interrupts Mike as he finishes pulling on his shirt and Emily blinks returning to her senses.
"I'm sorry do I look like I subscribe to that sort of BS?" scoffs Evie.
Mike looks at her.
"You're going to need to be the one who bends here, and I know it sucks and I get you're not used to a roommate, especially not one as organised as Kevin. But we are going to be together for the foreseeable future and having our blue and green rangers at each other is going to wear on everyone. I am not asking you to be his friend if you don't want to be. But Kevin looks like at this stage he will break if we ask him to bend. So how about you keep yourself to a little more organised chaos?" suggests Evie.
"Meaning?" ask Mike.
"Don't leave the clothes lying around, clean or otherwise, if it comes to it, just shove them all in the wardrobe so Kevin can't bitch about them" replies Evie.
"That it?" asks Mike.
"And maybe at least pull the comforter over the bed so it looks semi-made, otherwise, organised chaos. Believe me it'll give you so much less of a headache with Kevin" replies Evie.
Mike sighs before nodding, "I can do that" he nods.
"Thank you, look this isn't going to be easy, and it will take some adjustment. But you need to accept Kevin does things his way and I doubt we'll get him to change it. So, you're going to need to deal with his quirks because he is just as entitled to them as you are" reminds Evie.
"But he has a stick lodged so far up his ass I still can't believe he can sit down comfortably" retorts Mike.
"Maybe so, but I am sure we can dislodge it a little with time. But Rome was not built in a day. You have all barely been here a week, and you are settling, we are all settling. There will be bumps, but testosterone overloads will not get us anywhere" answers Evie simply.
"He's an ass" repeats Mike.
"And I am sure he thinks the same about you. You're going to need to learn to work together Mike, and to live together. All of us. One step at a time" replies Evie.
"Fine" sighs Mike, "I still think he's an ass though" he adds.
"Like I said, I'll bet he thinks the same about you" answers Evie with a smile.
Mike snorts and Emily giggles.
"Clean it up a little, gives him less reason to be an ass" says Evie patting Mike's shoulder before walking out, looping her arm around Emily as they go.
"You handled that so well, you and Mia both" notes Emily.
"I'm used to dealing with ego" answers Evie, "and Mia is a big sister, I'm sure your sister would've defused that too" smiles Evie.
"She would've, though she might've just knocked their heads together" admits Emily with a smile.
"Give me some time" answers Evie and Emily laughs.
Mia pulls Kevin outside and they walk down the road.
"You're an only child right?" guesses Mia.
"I am" nods Kevin, "but what is so wrong about liking things to be neat and orderly?" asks Kevin.
"Nothing, but not everyone is going to feel the same. And like it or not you are roommates and teammates you're both going to need to give a little. But this is such early days, there is bound to be clashes and issues. They need to be handled like adults though, not by getting into some sort of pissing competition" replies Mia calmly.
"He just annoys me so much, his stuff is all over the place, he's irritating, he'd rather play games than train" huffs Kevin.
"You thought everyone would be as dedicated as you?" guesses Mia.
"I did" admits Kevin.
"Like Evie said Kevin, we're people too, not just robots. And we're going to need to learn to live together. And that means accepting who we are as people as well as learning to work as samurai. Mike is different to you, but he has his own strengths I'm sure. And the two of you will need to learn to at the very least deal with each other. No one is expecting instant besties or anything, but you have to try. Maybe with some time you'll rub off on Mike" smiles Mia.
"You think? He seems pretty set?" notes Kevin.
"We'll see. But nit picking and needling won't help, besides its not your job Kevin. We have Mentor for that and if anyone will pull Mike up on any performance issues it'll be Jayden, he's the red ranger" reminds Mia having noted Kevin already seemed to worship Jayden a little.
"True, I'm sure Jayden can help" nods Kevin.
"Exactly" agrees Mia.
"He's still a dick though" says Kevin.
"I'll bet he said the same about you. You're very different people Kevin, but different does not mean bad. It just means different and you will both have to accept that" advises Mia. "Let him keep his side how he likes, and you keep yours how you like. Besides if it does bother you, call it a test of your self-control" notes Mia.
"That could work" muses Kevin.
Mia rolls her eyes but smiles, if it worked, it worked. She just hoped Mike had listened equally to Evie as they head back to the house.
Emily sat up in bed, she looked at the clock and saw it was four in the morning and she sighed.
She'd had a bad dream, her earlier issues still weighing on her mind. Usually she'd crawl in with Serena but that wasn't an option, she glanced over at Mia.
"Mia" she says.
Mia doesn't even stir.
"Mia" she calls a little louder.
Mia mutters something and rolls over.
"Mia" repeats Emily, but still gets nothing.
Emily bites her lip and cuddles her teddy bear, she really just wanted a hug, as childish as it sounded. She missed her sister and her parents; they were always an open and affectionate family and Emily missed that.
Deciding to take a chance she got out of bed and slipped out of her room walking down to Evie's.
She knocked on the door before opening it and sticking her head in inside in time to see Evie roll over and sit up looking at her.
"Emily?" asks Evie in confusion rubbing her eyes, still half asleep.
"I'm sorry I just, I had a bad dream" admits Emily suddenly feeling extremely childish.
Evie being no strangers to nightmares herself, nor how comforting she'd found it to have Jayden with her just smiles and throws the covers back on the other side and pats it, "come on" she says.
Emily smiles and walks over sliding into bed next to Evie who hugs her, "nothing wrong with having bad dreams" she assures.
Emily nods, "thanks" she says.
"We all get them, you can always come to me" promises Evie, "and after today I think I can guess what it was about" she adds.
"I'm sorry" admits Emily.
"We all have to learn Em, you'll only get better, and I'll help, however I can" smiles Evie.
Emily smiles, "thanks" she says.
The two settle down. Emily falling asleep quickly, Evie looks over at her and she's surprised at how pleased she is that Emily had come to her. She might still be adjusting, but the fact Emily felt comfortable enough to come to her made her smile. She was just glad that Jayden was in his own room for the night, because that would've been really hard to explain. Smiling she shuts her eyes and is asleep in moments.
A/N: If you like, follow, fav and review