A/N: So glad people are enjoying this, as promised the new chapter. And Merry Christmas :)
Chapter 7
The next day as expected the gap sensor went off.
"Kevin and Mia need help" says Ji.
"Time to take this Nighlok down" nods Jayden.
"Let's do it" agrees Evie.
They race out of the house and soon reach the battle ground, arriving in time to see Mia and Kevin on the floor.
Launching their attacks the four of them manage to hit the Nighlok a few times before helping Mia and Kevin up.
"Where did you four come from?" demands the Nighlok.
"Jayden" smiles Kevin.
"We got here as fast as we could once the gap sensor went off" replies Jayden.
"Thanks, you got here just in time" nods Mia.
"Moogers, come out, come out wherever you are" calls the Nighlok.
The moogers appear and the six of them jump into the fray.
Evie flips backwards transforming her sword into her whip as she takes out one of the moogers throwing him into another mooger. "Oh did that sting, my bite is definitely worse than my bark" she smirks as she takes out another one.
As Evie finishes off the moogers around her she sees Kevin and Mia hit the Nighlok with a double hit and he drops to the floor exploding.
"That's what you get for upsetting Ryan" says Mia.
"You did a great job there Mia" smiles Kevin.
"You too" replies Mia.
"That was great teamwork" agrees Jayden.
"We're not done yet" says Evie as the Nighlok grows.
"Now I'm going to make you all sad" he warns.
"The only sad thing here is how ugly you are" retorts Evie.
"Mia, let's take this guy out" says Kevin.
"I completely agree" she nods and the two activate their zords attacking the Nighlok together.
"They've had their revenge, now it's time for us to finish this, together" says Jayden.
Each activates their zords and launch an attack.
"Zords combine" orders Jayden as he draws the symbol and they form the megazord.
"I'm going to rip you apart piece, by piece" threatens the Nighlok.
They manage to block a few of his attacks but he manages to grab hold of one of the arms and sends their sword flying out of their hands.
"Well shit" swears Evie as they're all thrown against their consoles.
"Now what?" asks Mike.
"I've got an idea" says Kevin.
"Then go for it" replies Jayden.
"Dragon leap" calls Kevin and their vaulted into the air.
"Aerial turtle strike" shouts Mia as her zord detaches from the megazord and smashes into the Nighlok before reattaching itself.
"Nice one Mia" smiles Emily as the Nighlok loses his weapon and they pick their sword back up.
"Now, where were we?" asks Jayden as they each pull out their swords.
"Time to take this bastard down" smiles Evie.
"Katana power" they call as each channels their power into the attack. "Samurai strike" they finish as their sword slice through the Nighlok and he explodes into nothing.
"Samurai rangers, victory is ours" smiles Jayden.
"All in a days work" smirks Evie.
"Now lets go and see if this doesn't fix what the Nighlok broke" says Mia.
They de-morph and their zords return to their small size as the group heads to the park in time to see Ryan be handed back his kit as they settled on the benches.
And everyone smiles as they see Ryan jump up and return a few moments later in his uniform.
Jayden pulls out his samuraiser and draws a symbol Evie recognises, and a moment later a man in uniform appears behind Ryan, looking like a ghost.
"Dad" he smiles happily and everyone looks at Jayden in surprise save Evie.
"Go get 'em tiger" smiles his dad before he disappears again.
Ryan smiles and runs off to the others.
"How did you do that hocus pocus?" asks Mike leaning forwards.
"I just made a dream, into a vision. But it could only be sustained for a moment" replies Jayden.
"A beautiful moment" smiles Evie.
Kevin looks at Mia, "you know we make a great team" he smiles, "we're going to fight these Nighlok and we're going to make sure no one else has to give up their dreams" says Kevin.
"Or what they love" smiles Mia in agreement.
They watch the game and everyone cheers as Ryan makes a home run.
Evie turns and looks at Mia and Kevin, "well done, both of you" she smiles.
"Ryan did the hard part" replies Kevin.
"But you helped, and that is what matters, the end result. And we'll keep doing it, until the Nighlok are no longer a threat to this world. Together" smiles Jayden.
"Together" echo the others.
"All for one and one for all" smirks Evie.
"What is it with you and pop culture references?" asks Mike.
"That was not a pop culture reference, the musketeers are much older than that" corrects Evie.
"You get used to them, but she finds them for every occasion, it's a slightly cute if sometimes annoying trait" replies Jayden nudging her.
"Dumbass" she murmurs but the smile stays on her face.
Once the game as finished they head home, "well I don't know about you, but I am hungry" says Kevin.
"I'll whip us something up" offers Mia with a smile.
"No" calls everyone in unison.
Mia looks surprised and Evie recovers first.
"I said I'd cook tonight, Mike said he liked spaghetti bolognaise last night, so I told him I'd make mine. Its kind of awesome" explains Evie.
"Oh okay" nods Mia.
"Maybe another night" agrees Jayden.
Everyone nods happy to have avoided hurting Mia's feelings.
Evie drops next to Mike, "you do like bolognaise right?" she asks.
"I'll eat just about anything if it tastes good, so as long as you're better than Mia, we'll be fine" assures Mike.
"Good" nods Evie, "but for the record I make a really mean bolognaise" promises Evie.
"I don't doubt it" smiles Mike.
Evie just smiles back.
Ji is waiting for them when they return, "well done" he says.
"Mia and Kevin did most of the work" replies Emily.
"Different situations will require different skills, you each did your part. And will continue to do so as we continue to battle the Nighloks" assures Ji.
"Now I don't know about you guys, but I need a shower" says Mia.
"Yeah sounds like an idea" agrees Kevin.
"You can use ours so you can both go at once" offers Jayden.
"Thanks" smiles Kevin.
The two of them disappear off and Evie turns to Ji, "I'm cooking tonight, bolognaise, if Mia asks we all need excuses at the ready to stop her getting near the kitchen" she explains.
"Seconded" nods Mike.
"Thirded" agrees Emily.
"Yeah" sighs Jayden.
"Oh and Mike asked for the spaghetti bolognaise if Mia says anything" adds Evie quickly.
"Understood" assures Ji.
"So on that note I am going to get everything ready, we do have everything right?" asks Evie looking at Ji.
"Of course" smiles Ji.
"Great, tears here I come" murmurs Evie as she walks off.
"Tears?" asks Emily.
"Evie's eyes don't get along with onions, she'll look like she's crying while she cuts them, she'll be fine once she's cooking them" explains Jayden.
"I hate onions too, they make me cry. And then I try and wipe my eyes and then I make them worse" nods Emily.
"Well maybe stay out of the kitchen while Evie cooks them then, we wouldn't want to upset your eyes" says Mike.
"Good call" agrees Emily as she yawns, "sorry I didn't sleep so well last night" she says.
"Go and take a nap dinner won't be ready for a little bit" urges Ji.
Emily smiles and disappears, "lemme know when dinner is ready, I'm really looking forwards to trying it now" says Mike.
"It is good" assures Jayden.
"I taught her myself" nods Ji.
"Then I really can't wait" replies Mike before heading to his room as Kevin walks out holding his towel.
"Still okay for me to use your shower?" asks Kevin.
"Sure thing, go in through my room, there's stuff in there" assures Jayden.
"Thanks" says Kevin.
Jayden turns and heads for the kitchen as he hears music begin to play from it, walking in he finds Evie dancing around as she grabs the things she needs.
"Quick thinking" he smiles.
"Her cooking might suck, but we don't want to be cruel" replies Evie, "despite what you like to tell me, I'm not quite that bad" she adds.
Jayden walks over and catches her hand, "no you're not that kind of cruel" he agrees. "Though we are going to need to get creative to keep her out of the kitchen" he adds.
"We'll find a way, if not we may need to learn a vanishing symbol" snorts Evie.
"I might start looking that up" chuckles Jayden.
"I vote yes" replies Evie as she continues grabbing what she needed.
Jayden sits down wating her while she prepped and cooked, humming along to the song on the radio as she danced around the kitchen. He grabs one of his sketch pads from the draw and starts sketching.
"Kevin's using our bathroom by the way, just in case things have been moved" says Jayden as he continues sketching.
"Pretty sure I didn't leave my underwear on the floor" smirks Evie.
"He went in through my room" replies Jayden.
"Don't like the idea of someone else seeing my underwear?" teases Evie.
"Not even a little bit, not on the floor and definitely not when its on you" answers Jayden.
Evie glances at the door before walking over and leaning on the counter in front of him, "good" she says before leaning over and kissing him quickly and then looks down, "I like it" she smiles.
"Not done yet" replies Jayden.
"I always like what you draw, you're good Jayden, at so much more than symbols" smiles Evie as she turns and continues cooking.
"Thanks" he replies as he continues, Evie's picture taking form on the page as his pencil flew across the paper. "You know I liked the move you pulled today" he says.
"Which one?" asks Evie.
"Where you threw one of the moogers into another mooger" chuckles Jayden, "very smooth" he adds.
"Thanks, I've been working on it" replies Evie.
"Need any help?" asks Jayden.
"Can you do the onions?" ask Evie turning with a pleading look on her face.
"You always tell me I don't cut them small enough" reminds Jayden.
"Well I'll take too big onion pieces over streaming eyes" replies Evie.
"Alright" smiles Jayden closing his sketchpad as he grabs the onion and starts slicing off the skin while Evie gets everything she needs for the sauce.
They carry on in an easy silence, moving around each other without issue.
As the smell of food starts to carry through the house the others slowly filter in.
"Mmm, that smells good" says Mike as he sits down.
"Nearly done, who wants cheese on it?" asks Evie.
Everyone raises their hands and Evie smiles, "good" she says as Jayden throws her the cheese and she grabs the grater.
"You guys done this a lot?" asks Kevin noting the easiness they worked with.
"Yep, Ji wanted us to be able to look after ourselves which included cooking. We've been doing this since we were about 11 or 12" answers Jayden.
"Oh and kitchen rule, no symbol power in here" says Evie, "poor Ji and I got traumatised when we were 13" smiles Evie looking at Jayden.
"It was one time" huffs Jayden.
"What?" asks Mia.
"Let's just say symbol power to boil water because someone got impatient is a very, very bad idea" answers Evie as she starts dishing up the food.
"Got it, no symbol power for cooking" chuckles Mike.
They hand out the plates and everyone tucks in as Ji joins them.
"Wow, Evie this is good" compliments Kevin.
"Very" agrees Emily.
"I'll make you mine next time" beams Mia.
Mike just nods enthusiastically around a mouthful of it.
"Eat the damn food man, don't just inhale" chides Kevin.
"I'm sorry its good and I'm hungry" says Mike.
"You're always hungry" points out Jayden.
"True, very true" agrees Mike.
"Okay can I ask, who's the one who has the water practically at boiling point? Because you should maybe warn a guy" says Kevin as he looks at Evie and Jayden.
"Not me" says Jayden nodding to Evie, "she's the one who likes to boil" he adds.
"Its not that bad, I like hot showers" shrugs Evie, "maybe you're just fragile" teases Evie.
Everyone else laughs while Kevin just shakes his head, "either way, warn someone next time" says Kevin.
"We'll put up a sign" answers Evie.
Emily then notes the sketchpad and flips it open, "wow, these are really good, who' the artist?" she asks.
Evie smiles and looks at Jayden, "that would be our resident red, his skills extend far beyond symbols" replies Evie.
"These are good" echoes Mia as she looks at a couple.
"Thanks, its just a random hobby" replies Jayden as Mia slides the pad over to him.
"Well it's a damn good hobby" she answers.
Jayden blushes a little, unlike Evie he wasn't a performer he'd never been overly fond of other people seeing his work. The closest had been an art exhibition in high school, and he'd hated being the centre of attention. While Evie knew how to capture a rooms attention when she danced, and she was not one for stage fright, Jayden really didn't like it in any capacity outside of being a samurai.
Sensing he was uncomfortable with the attention Evie laces her hand with his under the table squeezing it reassuringly.
Jayden throws her a small smile before releasing her hand.
Dinner continues with idle chatter before everyone settles in to watch a movie.
"What are we in the mood for?" asks Evie.
"Action" says Mike.
"Comedy" answers Emily.
"Romance" smiles Mia.
"I'm fine with whatever" says Kevin.
"Okay then, how about a little bit of each" says Evie as she pulls out Fast Five.
"Nice" nods Mike.
They all settle down on the couch while Jayden hands out popcorn.
Evie goes to lean on Jayden but stops herself and settles back into the cushions instead.
Ji smiles as he looks at the team, they were beginning to bond, and moments like this were pivotal in ensuring that continued happen. So, he turned off the lights and disappeared into his own study to do some work.
A/N: As always review, fav and follow :)