A/N: I hereby present to you all my own version (yes, another one) of Power Rangers: Samurai. It does have a much darker theme to it than Saban's version (which I do not hate, as you can obviously tell by my other PR stories). There were some flaws, yes, and I'm still going to use some terms you are familiar with.
Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers Samurai or Samurai Sentai Shinkenger. I just own most of the plot and the characters and things you don't recognize from the original version.
I AM SO SORRY THIS IS LATE!
~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~
"Mia was willing to sacrifice herself if it meant saving the brides, but Dayu's more clever than she's given credit for. She's not a General for nothing, after all."
Better Together
Power Rangers: Samurai REDO
Season 1, Episode 8: Unholy Matrimony
Chapel Hill Church, Panorama City, California
May 24, 2014
Emily felt really uncomfortable. She didn't know why, and that really bothered her.
Recenty, the city has been reporting a missing persons' case. At first, it had just been one or two, but then it grew into a whopping number of ten.
Ten people missing.
But not just any people. Brides. On their respective wedding days. And when the witnesses all stated that "fish-faced monsters" were the culprits, that was the cue for the Samurai Rangers to jump into action.
Logically (according to Kevin), the best way to find the missing brides was for one of the two girls (Mia or Emily) to be kidnapped themselves, which meant they had to stage a wedding of their own.
And now, here they were.
Mia had volunteered to be the bride, and after Kevin and Mike backed out (from either nervousness or fear, or both), Jayden had taken up the faux mantle as her groom. And for some reason, Emily was not okay with that.
But, fortunately, she wasn't the only one. Mike obviously wasn't one for sappy romance stuff like a wedding, Kevin was crying and blaming it o the flowers he was wearing (allergies), and Antonio seemed a little too weirded out from Ji's fake crying.
Mia was determined to save those poor brides. If she was in their shoes, she'd be sad and angry at the same time (just like they probably were).
As the preacher they hired continued the traditional speech about love, Mia glanced over at Jayden's stoic face. He glanced back at her, both obviously sharing the same thought.
'The Nighlock should have shown up by now.'
Then, as if on cue, Antonio's tablet (which was hooked up to the Gap Sensor) began to go off. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to Antonio before he looked up from the tablet and groaned, "Sunrise Cathedral."
Mike exhaled in frustration. "That's not even in the same district as we are!"
"Come on!" Jayden swiftly ordered. "If we hurry, we can still save that bride!"
All dressed in their Sunday best, the other four followed Jayden out the door.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Sunrise Cathedral, Panorama City, California
The five Rangers arrived at the Cathedral fully morphed and ready not fight, yet were suprised at how few Marauders had shown up (probably due to the fact that they didn't expect the Rangers to shown up). Fortunately, they had arrived just as the Marauders were dragging the newly-targeted bride out the doors.
Jayden, Kevin, Mike, and Emily immediately charged forward to fight the enemy, yet Mia stayed behind. As the other four swung their Swords to combat the Marauders, Mia's own Sword remained sheathed at her side.
She's never wanted to save someone so much in her entire life. But there was no way to save this bride without saving the others right now. They needed to know where the place that these ladies were being held in, right away if possible.
That's when Mia got an idea, probably her best one yet.
She quickly ducked behind a wall and de-morphed, before stepping back out and letting her bride disguise completely fool the Marauders. Kevin had said early that the most logical way to find the Nighlock base was for one of them to get captured and then relay the location back to the others. So, Mia was going with that idea.
Mia barely managed to hide her gloating smile as the Marauders quickly grabbed her by the arms and pulled her away from the scene. It took Mia all of her willpower not to fight back (her fighting instincts always got high whenever she saw a Nighlock: foot soldier, Action Commander, or General).
But she was completely missed the fact that she was surrounded by a pink aura.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Forest Shrine, Outskirts, Panorama City, California
When the Marauders finally came upon a shrine in the forest, Mia got ready to fight, ready to free the brides. She didn't care about praise from her teammates. She just wanted to save those brides.
Mia was caught off-guard when she was forced on her knees. Her brown eyes glanced up in time to see the real bride (the one she had followed) being shoved into what looked like a giant cake. She also saw giant rainbow-colored threads coming from the cake, connecting it to a wedding dress on a stand up against the northern wall.
Mia continued to survey her surroundings (despite being confused about why she wasn't in the giant cake with the other brides). Marauders stood guard at every waypoint, making it impossible for anyone to escape.
"Hello, Pink Ranger," said a female voice. Mia softly gasped when she got a good look at the face of the Nighlock who just spoke.
'Dayu? The first and only female General under Master Xandred?' Mia recalled what she read in the archives once. 'She's in the archives! But how does she know it's me?'
"Did you really think my Marauders were stupid?" Dayu continued, sounding as if the answer to Mia's unspoken question was super obvious. "No wedding has two brides and one groom! Besides, they saw you un-morph, sweetie. Every Nighlock here knows you're the Pink Ranger!" Mia watched a Marauder hand Dayu the Pink Samuraizer and the Turtle Folding Zord.
That's why Mia was shoved into the giant cake with the real bride. Dayu and the Marauders knew it was Mia the entire time, and now Dayu was going to use Mia to destroy the other Samurai Rangers.
"What are you planning, Dayu?" Might as well get some answers while she waited for the others to realize she was gone.
"Ah, I see you already know me," the female General replied, clutching her Harmonium in her hand as if was the only thing keeping her alive. "That saves me the exhausting task of having to introduce myself, Pink Samurai of the Wind. You see this dress right here?" Dayu motioned to the dress against the northern wall. "This is my own wedding dress, being sewn by the tears of the brides who had the special day ripped from underneath them! And once it's complete, Pink Ranger, I'll wear it and use it to make every male in the city fall in love with me!"
Mia's eyes slowly glanced down. Dayu sounded as if her own wedding day was ruined, so she was taking it out on humanity itself.
"But your Ranger friends will be a challenge," Mia snapped out of her reverie when Dayu continued to speak. "Their powers give them special protection, especially if they've already unlocked that so called Havoc Mode of yours."
Kevin and Emily...they were sure to be targeted because of their own Havoc Modes. Mia's mind wandered to when Emily activated her Havoc Mode against Yamiror. That Nighlock had to get Emily twice before she went down. So Dayu's words just now, about Havoc Mode acting as an extra barrier, must be true.
"Aha!" Dayu grabbed Mia's chin and pulled it up so that Dayu and Mia were looking into each other's eyes. "I have an idea, Pink Ranger, and I'll need your help."
Mia's stomach churned in worry and dread. What did Dayu have up her sleeve now?
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
Kevin was pacing in utter worry. "Anything yet?" He stopped and asked Antonio for the umpteenth time in the past hour.
The tech-wizard was using his laptop to try and track Mia down.
"Not yet." Once again, Antonio's voice was calm, which was a good thing. "But once I do have something, you'll be the first to know. Trust me."
Mike was sitting, bouncing his leg in anticipation. Jayden was also sitting, around the same table as Mike, glancing at a list of some kind on a clipboard, looking as if he was in deep thought. Emily was standing next to Jayden, trying to think of a way to help, in any way possible.
"Do you think they took Mia to the Sanzu River?" She asked, wanting to help by narrowing down the placed that Mia wouldn't be at.
"No," Ji quickly replied, a book in his hand. "The living can't survive there for long. The moment they touch the Sanzu River water, they would be poisoned and die, unless treated right away. That goes for you Rangers, as well. Your powers would act as a barrier, but a weak one."
"You know, I've been thinking," Jayden spoke up.
"Oh yeah? What about?" Mike asked him.
"About why our fake wedding didn't work," their leader replied, completely stoic. He held up the clipboard he was looking at. "This is a list of all the wedding scheduled in the city for today."
The other residents of the house leaned in to get a closer to look. Emily pointed out the first thing she noticed about the list.
"There are so many weddings," she said. The list was about two, almost three, pages long. "That's the problem."
"Yeah," Kevin agreed, before reasoning out, "No wonder our wedding didn't get any attention. The Nighlock already have a lengthy list to choose from."
"Right," Jayden continued. "So, if we can narrow their so-called 'list', there might be a stronger chance that they'll pick our wedding and fall for our trap more easily."
There was a beat of silence before Mike interrupted it.
"You're planning something, aren't you?" The Green Samurai asked.
"I am," Jayden was completely honest. "And I'll need Emily's help in making it work."
Emily suddenly became questionably nervous. "M-Me?" Jayden only nodded. "O-Okay. I'll do my best, Jayden. Whatever you need me for."
"I know, Em." Emily's heart skipped a beat when he called her that. "I have faith in you." This brought a smile to her face.
"Found Mia!" Antonio called out. Kevin immediately turned to him.
"You did?"
"Yep," Antonio replied, before explaining. "She must have crossed an evil barrier or something, because her Samuraizer is not working. That's why I had trouble earlier. So I decided to switch to her Turtle Folding Zord, which, as you guys already know, is a sentient being, so the Zords will never run out of power–"
"Antonio!" The Latino paused in his techno-babble when Jayden interrupted him, before remembering that not everyone could understand what Antonio was talking about. Jayden nodded, wanting him to get to the point.
"Right, sorry," Antonio replied. "Long story short, I know where she is, and she's okay. At least, for now."
Jayden's Samuraizer suddenly received a call. He immediately picked up. Every single Ranger and Ranger ally was within eyesight of him, so it had to be Mia.
"Hello?"
"Jayden?" He was right.
"Mia!" The other Rangers immediately crowded around him. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he heard her say. "I'm with the missing brides. Pier 32, at the Waterfront."
"Got it," Jayden replied, still keeping his cool despite the current situation.
"And Jayden?" She stopped him from hanging up.
"Yes?"
"Please, hurry," her voice sounded urgent, yet full of quilt, and it made Jayden wonder why.
"We're on it, Mia," Jayden replied before hanging up. He slowly turned to Antonio. "Antonio?"
"Yes, buddy?" The energetic Latino questioned.
"Is Mia at the Waterfront?"
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Pier 32, Waterfront, Panorama City, California
The Marauders surrounding the warehouse on Pier 32 watched as the four remaining Rangers, full morphed wordlessly rushed inside.
Once the four were completely inside, the Marauders shut the front doors, the only way out.
The one Marauder in charge pressed the button on the remote, to activate the dynamite inside.
Seconds later, the entire warehouse exploded, engulfed in flames. After making there was nothing left of that warehouse, the Marauders surrounding the rubble moaned in victory.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Forest Shrine, Outskirts, Panorama City, California
Mia watched the screen in utter horror, trembling at what she had done.
She had given the others the wrong coordinates (against her will, mind you), and they had just paid the price for her stupidity.
It should have been her that had just died in that explosion, not the other Rangers. It was her mistake, and she along should have paid the price.
All five of Mia's senses went completely numb. She could barely hear Dayu laughing in evil victory.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
'Is Mia at the Waterfront?' Jayden had asked.
'No, not even close,' Antonio replied, solemnly. 'She's on the opposite side of the city, in a forest on the outskirts of town.'
'She lied,' Jayden revealed. 'Mia said she was at Pier 32.'
'Maybe she was forced to give us the wrong coordinates,' Emily suggested. 'Against her will. There's no way Mia would betray us.'
'Emily's right,' Kevin agreed, just as quickly as Emily did.
'I'm not saying she's a traitor,' Jayden defended his stance. 'I'm only suggesting that Mia could be in more trouble than we thought.'
'Then we have to hurry,' Emily pointed out.
'But we can't just barge straight into a trap,' Mike brought up a really good point. 'We need a plan.'
'We've got one,' Kevin said, referring to the plan Jayden had just shared with the group. 'We just need a way to avoid that trap waiting for us at Pier 32.'
'Dopplegangers!' Mike suggested.
'Good idea, Mike,' Kevin replied.
'Let's do it,' Jayden ordered, getting out his Samuraizer, the other three Rangers following his example.
'Symbol Power: Doubles!'
And now, here they were. Ji had just gotten back front being on the phone for about half an hour.
"Phase 1 of Jayden's plan has been completed," Ji revealed. "I notified all of the weddings, aside from one, about the bride kidnappings and all of then being potential targets."
"That way with only one wedding scheduled," Jayden further explained, "we know exactly which one the Nighlock will hit. Phase Two is the part where I need you, Emily." Emily nodded in understanding. "We're going undercover."
As the groom and bride, respectively, Emily realized. She didn't know why she was so nervous and shaken up. She's worn disguises before, usually to hide from bullies, and about once or twice to help her dad catch some criminals. She shouldn't be nervous like this. And she didn't know why.
But she would suck it up, for the sake of humanity. The safety of the city came before her feelings.
"R-Right."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Junk Ship, Sanzu River, Netherworld
Octoroo was watching Dayu's progress through the head of his staff.
"Dayu's taking all those ladies on one sad ride, but to me, that dress says she hasn't let go of the past, after all," he said.
"Dayu's soul is in pain, just like my head," Xandred added. "I need more medicine," he said as he drank some medicine from his plate.
"I admit that her idea is pretty genius," Octoroo stated aloud, "but I think she's still unhealthily clinging onto the past."
"As long as Dayu helps me flood the river," Xandred said, "she can do whatever she wants."
"You're too...should I say it...soft on Dayu, Master," Octoroo replied. Xandred merely groaned. "I know you said we wouldn't talk about Deker anymore, Master, but we really should. I'm constantly monitering him through the gaps, and he keeps saying that he's found a way to break his curse..."
"Deker is strong," Xandred said. "That's how he made General of the Nighlock army, but after we found out he was half-human, I kicked him out. Hmm...maybe we can use Deker to our advantage, after all..."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Diamond Hall, Diamond Hall Park, Panorama City, California
Elizabeth Campbell looked in the mirror, fixing her wavy, blonde hair before she would get ready to walk down the garden aisle. Her bridesmaids had already left to take their places at the outdoor altar. She was just waiting for her grandfather (in place of her deceased father) to come and get her.
There was a knock on the door. Elizabeth immediately turned to the door, a big smile on her face.
"Grandpa!" But her smile faded as the door opened, revealing who was really on the other side. "Who are you?"
Emily Shields quietly held up her Ape Folding Zord, to which Elizabeth gasped, her smile returning.
"Y-Yellow Ranger!"
"Shhh!" Emily silenced the bride by a putting her index finger to her mouth. "Please, keep it a secret." Elizabeth nodded, fully intending to keep that promise. "Listen, the Nighlock are targeting you. If you go out there, you will be captured. In order to prevent this from happening, I need to take your place, so they take me instead."
"A-Are you sure?" Elizabeth asked. "I don't really like the idea of you getting hurt to save me..."
"I'm a Power Ranger," was Emily's gently reply. "That's one of the risks we take. Trust me, I'll be fine."
Elizabeth hesitated. "O...O-Okay. I assume you Rangers must have a plan."
Emily made a good point, "We wouldn't be doing this if we didn't."
"True...I have an extra dress in the closet over there, in case this one got ruined in any way," Elizabeth revealed. "It's an exact replica. We seem about the same size, so it should fit you."
"Alright," Emily said, before her own smile faded. "Listen, I'm sorry this is happened to you. And I'm really sorry we're the cause of it."
"It's alright," Elizabeth gently answered, pulling the extra dress out of the closet. "Just promise me this plan of yours will work, that you'll rescue those brides so that they get enjoy the happiest day of their lives without any interference."
"I promise."
Mike exited the room they had placed the groom in. Kevin was standing guard outside, waiting for Mike.
"Okay, the groom knows what's going on," Mike revealed to Kevin. "I had to make him promise not to tell anyone we were Rangers, though."
"Same with the crowd," Kevin said. "But they know what's going on, too, so they won't be surprised if their relatives aren't the ones who walk down the aisle."
"Good," Jayden's sudden appearance, dressed in a black tuxedo, surprised them. "I just hung up with Antonio. He's got a solid lock on Mia's location, and he's ready to track the Ape Zord."
"Great," Kevin clapped his hands once, pleased at how smoothly this was going. "We're ready to start. All we need is–"
"Emily..." Jayden breathed. Kevin and Mike turned around to see where Jayden's blue eyes had wandered off to.
There stood Emily, completely dressed up in the second dress Elizabeth had.
She looked...amazing.
"You look...really beautiful, Emily," Jayden complimented.
Her bashful blush only made her more adorable. "Thank you."
Kevin and Mike could swear that Jayden's face was red as well.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Diamond Hall Park, Panorama City, California
Jayden walked down the aisle, with Emily holding onto his arm. The air was tense, despite it being quiet, aside from the music from the piano playing. Despite the fact that they covered inch and hid every hole in the plan, Jayden was still fairly nervous about whether or not this plan would actually succeed.
Would the Marauders recognize Emily as the Yellow Ranger and keep as prisoner, a weapon to use against the other Rangers, like they did with Mia?
Well, according to the Nighlock, all the Rangers aside from Mia were dead from the explosion in that warehouse on Pier 32.
The two only made barely halfway down the aisle before the Marauders actually showed up. Jayden tensed up, ready to fight, as soon as the Marauders grabbed ahold of Emily by the arms.
His protective instincts had flared up, even though he knew Emily could handle herself, as well as the fact that Emily getting captured was part of the plan. Jayden didn't know why, but all he wanted in that moment was to get Emily to safety, a feeling he only got when Antonio or Ji were on the battlefield with him.
Then again, he felt that he shared a special connection with Emily. They were so alike: how they both liked hot chai tea and a cinnamon roll for breakfast, how they both like peace and quiet and less-crowded areas, and especially how they both cared for people so much, they'd die for them.
He especially liked how nice and understanding she was.
He worried about her, though. When they first met in that forest, she seemed really freaked out by something, something he couldn't see. Either she was mentally insane in some way or she was a special target for an unknown enemy. He was worried about that, especially since every time he or someone else brought it up, she didn't want to talk about it.
Emily nodded at him, and Jayden nodded back, feeling willing enough to let her go.
He was rather reluctant to let her leave his sight, but he sucked it up.
The safety of the city came before his feelings, and Emily knew that very well.
Kevin and Mike handled crowd control while the three guys waited for Antonio and Emily to get back with the information necessary to take down the head of this missing brides operation.
Jayden sighed in relief when his Samuraizer went off. He picked up right away.
"Emily?"
"Jayden? I found the brides," she sounded a little smug.
"And Mia?"
"Mia too."
Jayden calmly smiled. "Well done, Em."
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Forest Shrine, Outskirts, Panorama City, California
Dayu had been successful in kidnapping yet another bride. Twelve brides taken now...
And it was all Mia's fault. Maybe if she hadn't thought that letting herself get taken during the middle of the fight, the others would still be alive. And if they were still alive (all no thanks to her), they probably would have prevented that bride from getting kidnapping too, just like the others before.
"My dress is almost complete, Pink Ranger," Dayu said, but Mia still did not pay any attention to what she said. "And now that your teammates are gone, too, I don't need you anymore."
Dayu pulled a dagger concealed within her Harmonium. She raised it, ready to make Mia join her teammates.
"Say goodbye, Pink Ranger!"
But before Dayu could do anything, Mia's reverie was shattered by a minature Zord flying around, hitting and knocking out Dayu and the Marauders in a blaze of fire.
'The Lion Zord?'
Mia held out her hands in time for the Lion Zord to drop off her Samuraizer and the Turtle Zord in them.
Dayu got back up just as three males entered the building.
"What?! Rangers?!"
Mia's head immediately snapped towards the entrance, where these three males were standing.
Jayden (in a tuxedo), Kevin, and Mike (with both he and Kevin in casual clothes)...
"Y-You guys...you're still alive..." Mia could feel tears in her eyes now, happy tears.
Kevin smiled at her, before going over to help her up. "You okay there, Mia?"
"I've never been better," she replied, her voice thick with emotion, before she threw her arms around Kevin's neck and gave him a tight hug.
"Good."
"That's impossible!" Dayu shrieked. "The warehouse...it blew up! I saw it happen! You should be dead!"
"Sorry," Mike said. "Guess you should have double checked to see if those Rangers were clones or not."
Clones...
Mia mentally slapped herself in the face. She would never forgive herself for doubting her team so much. Antonio would have found a way to see where Mia really was, so the team would never have been in danger in the first place!
"No! You Rangers are supposed to be dead!"
"I guess we were smarter," Kevin said.
"And by the way," Jayden calmly interrupted, "Mia's not the only Samurai Ranger that you kidnapped today."
Before Dayu or Mia could ask what he meant, giant slashes came from inside the giant cake. Once the cake was destroyed, there stood the twelfth bride with a Spin Sword in her hand. She then took off her veil, revealing to Mia and Dayu who she really was.
"Two Ranger brides are twice as nice, don't you think, Dayu?" Emily asked with a bubbly smile across her face.
"Emily!" Mia called out, her voice and face filled entirely with happiness.
"Hi, Mia," Emily replied. "We're all glad you're okay."
"Same here..." Mia muttered.
Emily turned to the real brides, the ones that had been captured, and told them, "Go on! Get out of here!"
On their way out, they knocked down Dayu's dress and trampled all over it, effectively ruining it.
"No! My dress!"
Emily joined the other four Rangers over by the door, as Mia said (with her willpower back), "Your dress-making days are over!"
"Oh yeah? We'll see about that!" Dayu blew a black aura ball from her mouth at them.
To avoid it, Jayden quickly pulled out his Samuraizer and teleported all five of them out of the shrine.
"Go, Go, Samurai!"
Those words were familiar. That was their morphing call!
"Quick! My Harmonium!" A Marauder nearby handed Dayu her Harmonium before the Marauders all followed her out the door.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
Parkside Quarry, Outskirts, Panorama City, California
Once Dayu got outside, she surveyed her surroundings. "You Rangers can't hide forever! Show yourselves!"
A twig cracked and Dayu immediately turned to face the source of that sound.
Jayden, fully morphed, came out from behind a tree. He unsheathed his Sword, saying, "Samurai Fire, Power Ranger Red!"
On Dayu's left, Kevin rolled out from behind another tree. He also unsheathed his Sword, saying, "Samurai Water, Power Ranger Blue!"
Dayu glanced up to see Mia standing in a tree, on a strong branch. Her Sword was already unsheathed. "Samurai Wind, Power Ranger Pink!"
To the left of Kevin, Mike stood up from his seat on the steps. He stretched before saying, "Samurai Forest, Power Ranger Green!"
Completing the circle was Emily, who was walking forward as she unsheathed her Sword as well. "Samurai Earth, Power Ranger Yellow!"
Mia jumped down from the tree as the five Rangers encircled Dayu, trapping her. "Dearly beloved, we're gathered here for one thing."
"Rangers Together, Samurai Forever!"
"I have but one thing to say," Dayu pretended to play along. "Marauders! Attack!"
Jayden, Mike, and Emily rushed forward to combat the Marauders, while Kevin and Mia went after a retreating Dayu, bu also ran into some Marauders.
Once Kevin and Mia finished their groups, a couple of blasts sent both flying to the ground. They immediately stood up once they saw that the one who had hit them was Dayu, standing on a cliff above them.
"Surprised to see me?" Dayu asked.
"I don't like surprises," Kevin replied. "Hydro Bow!"
He fired a few arrows at Dayu, and they seemed to hit her straight on, but she came out of the resulting explosion unfazed.
Dayu landed in front of them. "Ha! That's all you've got? You Rangers are even weaker than I thought. Now, lend me your ears for the last song you'll ever hear." She strummed her Harmonium.
"Not a chance!" Mia called out, before she and Kevin leapt up and struck and Dayu, who easily blocked their swords with her Harmonium.
It was like a dance. Despite being a Nighlock, Dayu was very graceful on her feet. And when she tripped Kevin, Mia stepped up to protect him. She wasn't successful for very long.
"Here's a tune with some edge!" Dayu said, before super-speeding up to them and striking at them with her dagger.
Kevin and Mia both fell to the ground, injured.
"We need something else," Kevin muttered, right before the Turtle Zord flew out of Mia's pocket and into her face.
"Master, you've unlocked Havoc Mode."
Mia was confused. "W-What?"
"I'm not joking, Master," Turtle said. "You received it earlier, when you were about to sacrifice yourself."
"Okay," Mia said. "I'll take your word for it."
"Ready whenever you are, Master!"
"What you Rangers up to now?" Dayu asked.
"Havoc Mode, Engage!" A pink light surrounded Mia. When it faded, she was morphed in Havoc Mode.
Mia's helmet was different (the kanji on it was more pronounced and it had a mouth piece, like Emily and Kevin's had been previously). She was also wearing a black sash with the Ranger emblem on it (that hung from her left shoulder all the way down to her right waist, and was tucked into her belt), had dark pink fishnet sleeves, no black stripes around her armbands (which were now completely pink), and her belt buckle had been replaced with the Turtle Zord in Defense Mode. Her boots were the same, but her gloves were now black and she had white-colored thigh-high stockings.
"Samurai Wind, Havoc Mode Pink!"
"Oh, really?" Dayu asked. "As if an outfit change can help you!"
"Windstorm Arrow!" Mia pulled out a bow (very different from Kevin's Hydro Bow). "Stay back, Kevin. I got this!" Kevin nodded, appreciating the fact that Mia wanted him to recover.
Mia aimed a kick at Dayu's head, who merely ducked, but Dayu wasn't prepared for Mia's kick at her torso. Dayu stumbled backward, holding her injured stomach. Mia charged with her Windstorm Arrow in her hand, hitting Dayu with it a few times before, pulling back the mechanism and charging up an arrow.
"Flower Hurricane!" Mia fired the pink-colored arrow, which was surrounded by pink-colored wind and flower petals.
It hit Dayu square in the chest, and she fell backwards onto the gravel below her feet.
"Mia!" The said Ranger turned back to see Jayden standing with the Fire Smasher equipped, and standing beside him were Kevin, Mike, and Emily. Mia rushed over.
"Don't worry, Mia. We'll take it from here," Jayden replied, holding up the Beetle Disk.
And Mia nodded, grateful to still have a team to fight alongside her.
"Fire Smasher: Cannon Blast Mode!" He turned to his team. "Lock and load." One by one, all five colored Power Disks were locked into the Cannon.
"This should change your tune," Mia said, once all the Disks were loaded.
"Five-Disk Beetle Cannon!" The other four Rangers knelt, while Jayden took the final strike. "Fire Strike!"
But instead of Dayu's first life ending in an explosion like they expected, a white-colored Nighlock with red eyes landed in front of her and sliced the Cannon Blast in half with his sword.
Mike and Emily immediately stood up and unsheathed their Swords.
"Red Ranger, you shall be my sword Uramasa's greatest challenge," the white-colored Nighlock said.
"What?" Jayden muttered, obviously confused.
"Deker!" Dayu called out. "What are you doing here?"
"Red Ranger, we will duel soon," the stranger (apparently called Deker) continued. "Until then." Then, he took Dayu by the arm and pulled her up to a cliff.
"So you're running away?" Kevin asked.
"Cowards!" Mia called after them.
"Giant Marauders!" was all Deker said before he and Dayu disappeared into a gap.
And cue the said enemies appearing from the same gap.
"Well then," Mia said, as the Rangers immediately went on the offensive. MIa unhooked Turtle Zord from her belt.
"Samuraizers!"
"Lion Folding Zord!"
"Dragon Folding Zord!"
"Turtle Folding Zord!"
"Bear Folding Zord!"
"Ape Folding Zord!"
"Ready! Zords Combine! Samurai Megazord, We Are United!"
The Rangers stood in a formation they hadn't been in before (Mike, Jayden, Mia, Kevin, Emily), and Mia found that she had regained her Spin Sword (and the sheath, as she needed her Sword to control the Megazord).
Jayden handed Mia the Beetle Disk. "Here."
"On it!" Mia said before hooking up the Beetle Disk to her hilt. "Summon Beetle Zord!" She called out, spinning the orange-colored Power Disk on her Sword's hilt. "Samurai Artillery!" Mia called, the other four ready. The Beetle Zord shifted its parts in order for it to fit onto the Megazord.
"Beetle Blaster Megazord, Armed for Battle!" All five called out.
"Let's roll!" Mia ordered.
The Megazord rushed forward, striking down two Marauders with its sword. Then it turned to face the four behind it.
"Beetle Cannon!" Mia called out. A direct hit on all four. "Bullseye!"
But then the remaining Marauders charged forward quickly and used their weapons to jam the controls.
"Come on!" Kevin said, trying to break free of the sabotage. "I can't break free!"
More Marauders leapt into the fray to trap the Rangers even more.
"What do we do now?" Mike asked, before the intercom came online, along with Antonio's voice.
"If you release the Beetle Zord, guys, the force should push those Marauders back and free you long enough to get your bearings," Antonio advised. "And then you can use the Swordfish Zord to gain the upper hand again."
"Good thinking, Antonio," Jayden said, as Mia unhooked the Beetle Zord from her hilt.
Antonio's idea worked, fortunately.
"Mia!" Kevin handed Mia the Swordfish Disk, which she hooked up to her Sword's hilt.
"I'm on it," she said, before spinning the aqua-colored Power Disk. "Summon Swordfish Zord!" The Swordfish Zord arrived, making its entrance by firing two torpedoes at the Marauders surrounding the Megazord. "Samurai Artillery!" Mia called, the other four ready for action. The Swordfish Zord shifted its parts in order for it to fit onto the Megazord.
"Swordfish Fencer Megazord, Armed for Battle!" All five called out.
"One final strike should finish the job," Kevin suggested.
The Megazord threw its sword up in the air, before catching it with the Swordfish hat the Megazord was wearing, blade pointed up in the air. The Megazord began rotate its body around in a circle, gathering up energy for one final strike.
"Katana Power: Swordfish Slash!"
The Rangers spun the Disks on the hilts of their Swords, the Swordfish Disk hooked up to Mia's, and a downwards slash made the Megazord do the same, unleashing all the energy gathered to strike down the remaining Marauders once and for all.
"Samurai Rangers, Victory is Ours!" Mia announced.
~B~E~T~T~E~R~~T~O~G~E~T~H~E~R~~~P~O~W~E~R~~R~A~N~G~E~R~S~~S~A~M~U~R~A~I~~R~E~D~O~
City Square, Panorama City, California
After the battle was over, Emily had taken the liberty of calling Elizabeth to let her and the other people at her wedding know that the danger had passed. In return, Emily got to keep the spare wedding dress. She was rather reluctant to do so, but Elizabeth said she deserved a reward for doing her best.
The five were on their way back to the House now. Kevin and Mike were up in the front, and Jayden in the back. She and Mia were in the middle, but Mia was lagging behind. She looked like something was bothering her.
So Emily slowed down in order to let Mia catch up with her.
"Mia?" Her voice was low so the others wouldn't heart them. "You alright?"
"I know you guys were never in danger from that trap at Pier 32, but I still feel so guilty," Mia quietly confessed, refusing to look up from the ground. "What if we didn't have Antonio? What if you guys hadn't tracked down my real location?"
"Mia...those brides would probably still be captured if it weren't for you willing to sacrifice yourself to save them. You also wouldn't have unlocked Havoc Mode without it."
"Thanks, Emily, but you know Dayu? I can't help but feel that her plan with that wedding dress evolved from past sorrow," Mia finally met Emily's hazel eyes.
Emily gave her a soft smile. "Don't worry about that right now. At least the dress is gone."
"Yo, guys!" Mike called out to them. He and Kevin were standing in front of a bakery. "Let's get a victory treat!"
"He's right," Emily told Mia. "We may not have defeated Dayu for good, but at least the brides are safe. Right?"
"Yeah," Mia finally smiled and nodded, before she turned and walked toward Mike and Kevin. "As long as we get something for Antonio!"
"Alright!" Mike cried out with excitement, making Kevin chuckle at his antics.
Meanwhile, Emily had turned back to Jayden, who had also lagged behind.
Jayden's mind was filled with the stranger earlier, the one who protected Dayu.
"Jayden!" Emily's cheerful voice snapped him out of his reverie, and he looked at her in her puppy eyes. "Come get a victory goodie with us!" Jayden glanced over at the other three, who motioned him to join them. "Samurai Rangers, Cupcakes Are Ours!" Jayden couldn't help but laugh out loud when she did that.
"Why not?" He finally replied. "As long as it's not wedding cake," he joked, making Emily laugh, before the two crossed the street to the bakery.
TO BE CONTINUED...
~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~
Original Shinkenger Episode: Act 8
Original PRS Episode: There Go the Brides
Note: Mia's Havoc Mode rollcall, I'm imagining, is similar to Kyoryu/Dino Charge Violet/Purple's.
A/N: Do review, please. If you guys have any ideas you want me to consider adding, please PM me. A preview for the next chapter:
Season 1, Episode 9: "True Blue"
"None of them were willing to fight one of their own, in a fight to the death, but it had to be done."