The lights in the ranger's training room had been dimmed, giving the space an ominous glow. All the equipment had been moved to the side and the five rangers were sitting in a circle on one of the training mats. In the centre of the group was Master Ji and he was sitting next to a flame that was contained in a metal dish. The room was beginning to fill with a sweet smelling aroma that was emanating from the fire.
Master Ji was the Samurai rangers mentor, he had learned the ways from his father. When Lauren was seven years old, he had taught her everything he thought she would need. Now it was time to point the rest of the team in the right direction.
Ji observed the other rangers going through a few breathing exercises. All of them had great potential and brought something to the team. Kong probably had the most raw power, Dayu had a great mind for strategy, Daniel absorbed information like a sponge and finally VK wasn't afraid to think outside the box and could see what the others couldn't. All of them, his niece included, shared one common problem; they lacked the ability to work effectively as a team. That would be crucial if they were going to be able to summon their zords.
"Good you're all warmed up", Ji began, "if you're going to have any chance of defeating the United Alliance of Evil then you're going to need Zords. We're going to enter a meditative trance".
Lauren looked around at her team mates and took a deep breath, "Alright we're ready". Ji nodded and the group followed his lead by closing their eyes.
Dayu took a tentative sip of the contents of the can but found the drink extremely sweet, "This tastes like liquid sugar", she recoiled at the taste"
"Good isn't it", Lauren smiled, "you act like you've never had cherry soda before".
"Cherry soda?" Dayu looked blankly at Lauren. Lauren shook her head but her response was interrupted but the sound of a heavy thud. One by one the group on the mat toppled over until they were all sprawled out on the mat.
-Dream lands-
When the rangers woke up, they found themselves on top of a hill overlooking a feudal settlement. Looking down they could see nylok moogers swarming over the village as the residents tried to scramble to safety. The rangers were about to run down and help when Ji called out, "You can't help them".
"We have to do something", Lauren replied.
"This is just a vision of the past", Ji began, "you're about to witness the ancient warriors in action". Sure enough five warriors dressed in black with different coloured accents charged towards the moogers. Using the same powers as the rangers had they quickly defeated the enemies, much to the gratitude of the residents. The rangers could only watch in awe at the team work shown by the warriors and the way they could combine their energy intertwined with each other.
"They're pretty good", Daniel commented, "we're a long way short of them".
Ji sighed, "This is your problem, all of you", he stated, "Chi is most effective when you believe fully in its abilities". There was a light gust of wind that billowed through Ji's robes, "Perhaps you need some convincing", he pointed behind the rangers and they slowly turned around. There were five people now standing behind them, perfect copies of themselves.
"This is getting way too meta", Lauren snorted.
"There is no one better qualified to talk some sense into all of you", Ji replied and took a step back.
Dayu was the first to step towards her duplicate, "Wow my hair really is that bushy isn't it", she said towards her clone.
"I'm not here to give you style tips", Dream Dayu replied. "You're a smart person Dayu and the team needs that but are you ready for the challenge?" The real Dayu hesitated for a moment before nodding, "I'm not convinced and trust me, I know what's inside you", her doppelganger replied.
The yellow ranger paused for a moment before replying, "I know I'm not the best fighter here but I'm willing to give everything to protect my friends, family and the world". She paused again, "I might think I know everything but I don't and hopefully I can continue to learn from my team".
"Smart and humble", Dream Dayu smiled, "I think you've earned this". The fake Dayu faded and a yellow energy consumed the teen. The group heard an Oni roar before Dayu faded away.
The rest of the group were alarmed by Ji raised his hand, "This is a good sign, the Oni has deemed her worthy".
VK nodded in acknowledgement before approaching his copy, "Well this is a surprise", his clone smirked, "the guy who hides in the shadows is now trusted to save the world".
"If you're really me then you know what I'm capable of", VK stood up a little straighter.
"Do you though?" Dream Jarrod replied, "tell me what can you add to this team. We already have a strategist, a genius, an expert on Chi and symbol power. Why do they need the former Void Knight?"
"Well clearly not to provide a motivational speech based on this conversation", VK shrugged. His copy didn't look too impressed, "This team has four strong personalities but what they don't have is a voice of reason, ", he turned to the three remaining rangers, "no offence".
"None taken, I think", Daniel replied.
"I might not be any of those things you mentioned", VK continued, "but maybe that's not a bad thing. I have great resolve. After all Chi is all about balance", he flashed his duplicate a broad smiled. Dream VK shook his head but after a few moments he transferred his energy over to the real VK and he too disappeared. In the distance the group could hear a roaring raptor.
"Guess I'll go next", Kong strolled over to his duplicate, "hit me with your best shot".
Dream Kong looked his counterpart over for a few moments before he said, "You're not good enough for her". Kong looked like he had been punched in the gut and took a step back, "That's all it took to repel the mighty blue ranger, you're pathetic".
"Hey leave him alone", Lauren shouted.
"See even now you have to saved by a red lion", Dream Kong began, "you can't stay in his shadow forever", a vicious smiled formed on his face, "do you want to be the sidekick for the rest of your life?"
Kong straightened his back and took a couple of paces towards his duplicate, "I'm no one's sidekick", he touched his duplicate and slowly began to absorb his energy.
"Wait you're meant to convince me with your words", Dream Kong gasped.
"Actions speak louder than words mate", Kong smiled, "I'll show you what this blue ranger can do". Kong finished absorbing the energy until he too disappeared. Kong then beat his chest like a gorilla.
"Typical, can't even do as he's told", Lauren snorted.
"Give it up Lauren, you're going to have to let them in eventually", Dream Lauren called out. "Must be hard being Lauren Shiba, smart, beautiful, power rangers in your blood and yet you're so alone".
"I'm not alone", Lauren spat back.
"And yet your thoughts tell me something different", Dream Lauren began, "maybe if you dropped the snarky attitude and let people through your walls you wouldn't have to spend all your spare time training".
Lauren rocked on her feet as she tried to think of a suitable comeback but her duplicate could only speak the truth. "You're right, it's time to let go of everything. We won't truly be a team until I do that".
Her duplicate smiled, "Once a ranger ", Dream Lauren held out her hands as a wave of red energy moved towards the real red ranger, "remember this moment", Dream Lauren added before fading away to the flash of the peach symbol.
"They've been saving the toughest case to last", Dream Daniel began, "you're such a difficult book to read".
"Maybe that's a good thing" Daniel shrugged.
"See this is what I'm talking about", Dream Daniel began, "you don't seem to taking all of this seriously".
"We're fighting monsters whilst wearing spandex, nothing about this is serious", Daniel replied.
"You're on cruise control", his duplicate began, "I'm not going to lie to you, there's going to be a time when will have to make a difficult decision", his counterpart replied and placed an arm on his shoulder.
"Can you promise me that all my friends will be alright?" Daniel asked.
Dream Daniel shook his head, "No I can't". The pair fell into silence for a few moments before Dream Daniel continued, "I can see that we're at an impasse so I'm going to give you this", he pressed a pink gear orb into Daniel's hand, "if you can demonstrate the skills required to the Phoenix Zord then he's all yours".
"And if I can't?" Daniel asked.
"Let's not think about that", Dream Daniel replied ominously, "now it's time for you to wake up, your test drive is about to begin". Daniel was about to question his counterpart but he suddenly felt like someone or something was shaking his body.
-Shiba Mansion-
"Daniel wake up", Dayu was shaking him vigorously by the shoulders.
"You've got the bed side manner of a troll do you know that", Daniel smiled as he slowly begun to wake up. Dayu slapped him.
"I don't want to break this up", Ji called out and the friends quickly broke apart, "but your team could use your help".
"What's going on", Daniel quickly stood up and approached one of the new features in the training room. a map to show precisely where an attack was taking place. It would prevent them from teleporting to an unknown location and give them time to prepare for an attack.
"The UAE taking a more direct approach this time", Ji placed his hand on the map and it began to zoom in on the location of the current attack.
"Angel Grove", Daniel gasped, there was a small army of Pondermen heading in the general direction of the town.
"The others are already on the scene", Ji began, "you'd better get there now".
"Did you get the Phoenix Zord?" Dayu asked the pink ranger.
Daniel hesitated for a moment as he felt the weight of the gear in his pocket, "Yeah I did", he lied and quickly teleported to the scene of the battle. Daniel had to hope that he could convince the Phoenix he was worthy in the real world because he hadn't been too convincing in the dream world.