A/N: Enjoy the chapter! Also, I bet you guys either forgot or thought I forgot about the "wolves" thing. Well, I didn't, as it comes back in this chapter.
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 versions.
Also, the Takeshi-being-the-original-Gold twist last chapter was an idea from mpsullivan. (If you have any ideas you want me to consider adding, please PM me. My inbox is always open to ideas.)
~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~
"Dayu's on a rampage, and Xandred has sent after her a Nighlock that puts people to sleep. While Mia witnesses Dayu's dream, Antonio and Jayden discover a disturbing truth about Deker."
Better Together
Power Rangers: Samurai REDO
Season 2, Episode 3: Broken Dreams
Shiba House, Gianni Forest, Panorama City, California
February 5, 2015
Kevin and Mike were sparing together, as where Jayden and Emily (while Antonio was taking his daily walk by the pier). While Kevin and Mike's went on like clockwork, Jayden and Emily's fight was always evenly matched to the point where it was difficult to predict who would win.
As Jayden blocked Emily's swing and parried, his mind wandered to Deker's words last year, when he was poisoned and Deker had saved him.
"That's why I won't fight just to fight."
"Your sister said the same thing."
Lauren had said the same thing to Deker, which meant that they had met before.
How did Deker know Lauren so personally?
"There's a spirit inside you I've never come across before in any other person, which includes you sister."
There really was something off about him, and looking back, Jayden realized that there were a lot more clues that the one that started him off on this particular thought train.
"Buzz off, Deker! I'm the one who's in charge here!"
Robtish seemed to have a personal vendetta against Deker, who was in charge of him before. Jayden knew that it was possible he couldn't been reading way too much into things here, but his gut was telling him otherwise.
Robtish was one of the three wolves, after all.
"Your Yellow Ranger is a clairvoyant, and she appears to have been born that way. But because of these abilities, she is a threat to the Nighlock. They want to silence her before she fully reveals the book of secrets that the Keller House holds, the story being told by her sister's flute which she herself holds."
Because there was the fact that Deker knew about Emily's secret abilities, about the Keller Forest safehouse, about Serena's flute being a medium and the key to solving the mystery.
"Jayden?" Emily's voice pulled him back into the real world. "You okay?"
"Wha–? Yeah, I'm fine." She looked concerned, and he felt bad because he never meant to make her worry about him.
"You sure?" Mike asked, he and Kevin having paused their fight and looking over at him with concern as well. "You just stopped, like you were suddenly a million miles away."
More like a million thoughts away, but it wasn't too far from the truth.
"You know," Emily said as she, Mike, and Kevin, walked closer, "if there's something bothering you, you can tell us."
Jayden found it in himself to flash them a little smile (and he hoped it was real enough to convince them), "Don't worry, guys. I'm fine. Just lost in thought."
The door, at that moment, swung open and out stepped Mia (in civilian clothes), her purse slung over her shoulder.
"Hey, Mia," Kevin said. "You finally decided to join us for practice?"
"No, sorry," Mia replied. "I'm going to the grocery store. I'm making dinner and I wanted to make something special for Antonio. He's been working really hard lately."
"Okay," Mike shrugged, as Kevin was suddenly also lost in thought (the same way Jayden was, like he was thinking of something he didn't like; almost as if he was jealous). "Just watch your back."
"I will!" Mia called back as she exited through the front gate.
Emily's attention was brought back to Jayden when he suddenly turned and went inside the House. He must be going inside to get water, she told herself.
But something told her otherwise.
Was he keeping a secret from her?
~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
Dayu cried out as Xandred threw her against the wall.
"You failed, Dayu!" Xandred was enraged. "I told you to kill Deker and yet the Yellow Ranger was closer to defeating him that you ever were!"
Octoroo quickly got in between them before things could get uglier (because things already were ugly). "Now, now, let's not panic! Deker's just too strong! Let's just let the Rangers take out Deker instead!"
"NO!" Xandred howled. "It has to be Dayu!"
"Because of my past?" Dayu asked. "Because he and I are personally connected? If it's such a problem for you, then just strike me down right here!"
Xandred paused before grabbing her Harmonium, instantly settling it on fire. He threw it to the side.
As Dayu scrambled to retrieve it, he ordered, "Forget your past. You belong to me now. Admit it, Dayu. You know it's true. You have nothing left."
"No! I knew you were evil, but this is absolute cruelty!" Dayu cried out before running off the ship.
Octoroo glanced after Dayu as she left, "Dayu!"
"Octoroo, summon Rhinosnorus," Xandred order. "Have him put Dayu to sleep and make her face the truth."
~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
Dayu exited through the Gap and immediately saw someone playing a guitar on the street nearby. The moment she saw him, she got an idea, filling with hope.
She immediately walked up to him, the crowd around him immediately scattered upon seeing her.
But the musician had nowhere to go (as Dayu had him trapped), and all he could do was look at Dayu dead in the eye and hear her say, "You're musical abilities will be perfect for repairing my Harmonium."
Mia walked through the city, clenching her grocery bag in her hand with mild anxiety. She was making enchiladas for the first time, and since Antonio said that was his favorite dish his mom made, she had to get it right.
She walked past Angela's cafe, outside of which Bulk and Spike were eating sandwiches for lunch (among other people). As they were doing so, they and the other people nearby were listening to a man playing a guitar on the street (and people leaving him money in his case as they walked by).
But she did not expect to see Dayu suddenly emerging from a Gap and immediately go to terrorize said street musician.
She dropped her bag, but it was quickly replaced it with her Samuraizer. "Go, Go, Samurai!" Angry at what Dayu's plan seemed to be, she drew her kanji and morphed in a flash of pink, running at Dayu full speed.
She swung at Dayu just as the Nighlock grabbed the musician by the arm. "Back off, Dayu!" Mia cried as she attacked Dayu, who dodged all attacks with ease.
"When will you learn to quit getting in my business?!" Dayu was also angry. The Pink Ranger was there every time her efforts were thwarted.
Dayu placed the musician in front of her just as Mia swung her Sword again. Mia halted her attack, afraid of hurting the innocent man, who was flung out of the way by Dayu so she could get Mia in the chest.
Mia tumbled to the ground she glanced up in time, waiting for Dayu's next attack, when an arm came through the Gap next to them and mist was sprayed right at Dayu, who used the musician as a shield.
Mia glanced around at the scene, seeing numerous people already asleep (including Bulk and Spike). She quickly turned back at the Nighlock that just passed through the Gap (a red and green monsters shaped like a rhino).
"Rhinosnorus?!" Dayu apparently knew him.
"Sorry, General Dayu," Rhinosnorus apologized. "But Master Xandred told me to put you to sleep, so you could be reminded of why you went to him in the first place, to put it mildly."
Dayu dropped the sleeping musician. "Well, you can tell Xandred one thing: I'm never going back!"
The two charged at each other just as she heard four sets of footsteps run towards her. Kevin (he and the others fully morphed) gently grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Mia replied. "Which one do we fight?" She asked, referring to the fighting Nighlock duo in front of them.
"Both of them," Jayden answered, before leading the charge.
The five Rangers keeping Rhinosnorus busy was good for Dayu, as it allowed her time to pick up the musician and sling him over her shoulder. "Thanks, Rangers. You guys were useful for once." She then walked away. "Time to fix my Harmonium."
But Mia saw this and ran after Dayu, "Oh no you don't, Dayu! Get back here!"
Emily's eyes followed Mia as the Pink Ranger ran after Dayu. "Mia, wait!"
But this took her eyes off of her opponent (which everyone always said was a bad idea).
"You're finished now, Yellow Ranger!"
Emily whirled her head around just in time to see the Nighlock's Sleeping Mist being shot her way, and she braced herself for the hit that would, according to Mia, put her to sleep and leave her vulnerable.
But it never came.
Someone had pulled her out of the way in time. When she finally able to comprehend what had just happened, she glanced up to see Jayden kneeling in front of her, glancing back at her.
"You okay?" He asked.
Emily nodded. "Yeah, thanks!"
Jayden turned his attention back to Rhinosnorus, and said, "Go after Mia. We'll be alright over here."
"Okay," Emily agreed and she and Jayden got up and went their separate ways.
Jayden covered Emily as she ran away from the scene and after Mia, and he was quickly joined by Kevin and Mike as they stood in front of the Nighlock, waiting for his move.
"Sorry, Rangers," Rhinosnorus apologized. "But I have a mission to complete."
Rhinosnorus moved to attack them, intent on finishing this quickly, but he was cut off by miniature fish being thrown at him.
Antonio (unmorphed) stepped in front of the other three Ranger guys. "Don't worry, guys. I've got this."
He didn't last very long, however, as he was immediately hit with the Nighlock's Sleeping Mist.
Kevin groaned as Antonio hit the ground, fast asleep.
"Hey, buddy," Mike said. "Now's not exactly a good time to take a nap."
"Oh, I didn't even mean to get him," Rhinosnorus quipped, before shrugging. "Oh, well. That makes it easier for me to find Dayu. Off into the Dream World!"
A portal opened over Antonio's chest and the Nighlock jumped into it, the portal closing behind him.
~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~
Cortez Forest, Panorama City, California
Mia had caught up to Dayu at this point, and now the two were fighting yet again, this time without any interferences, the still-sleeping musician lying on the ground a ways off.
"You have a bad habit of meddling in my affairs, Pink Ranger!" Dayu gritted out, as she and Mia clashed swords.
A portal opened over the musician, and Mia and Dayu were caught off guard by Rhinosnorus jumping out of it.
"Gotcha!" Rhinosnorus announced his arrival, blowing his mist at the two fighting. "Sweet dreams! But not for you, Dayu!"
He watched as Dayu and Mia (who de-morphed) tumbled down the nearby hill, now fast asleep. Happy with his work, especially since his mission given to him by Master Xandred was completed, he jumped back into the Dream World via the musician's portal.
~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
Now unmorphed, Kevin and Mike watched over Antonio as their Gold Ranger continued sleeping. He was smiling, so it appeared that he was having a good dream.
Meanwhile, Jayden was on the phone with Ji, who the Red Ranger was hoping would have vital information that would help them.
And he did. Ji explained, "Rhinosnorus has appeared in our world before. After sending his victims to sleep, they start having beautiful dreams, but soon he eats them in the Dream World. Once eaten, his victims will never wake up in the real world again. I'm sorry. That's all the archives have on him."
"That's okay. Thanks, Ji," Jayden said before hanging up.
As Jayden joined Kevin and Mike (Antonio still sleeping), he prayed that Emily and Mia were not asleep (especially Emily).
"What now?" Kevin asked, noticing Jayden getting closer to them.
"We have to head into the Dream World," Jayden said, kneeling next to them by Antonio's still form.
"How?" Mike asked.
"We have to find some way of opening that portal," Jayden replied. "We can do it by using Symbol Power."
"Okay," Kevin said. "Sounds like a plan."
"But keeping the portal open for even a few seconds requires a lot of Symbol Power," Jayden added. "One of us will have to stay behind. I volunteer."
Kevin and Mike were quiet, but they both nodded.
~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~
Rhinosnorus' Dream World
Mia exited the concert building from the back, wanting to avoid all the paparazzi.
"Man, I love my fans, but some of them are just so crazy," she commented, before noticing something odd in the background.
A black mist getting bigger...
What was that?
Mia couldn't help but be lured towards the black mist. As she closer, her world got blacker until she realized that she was dreaming and that this particular dream was not hers.
She then noticed a happy couple, newly married it seemed like, walking past her.
A human Deker carrying his new bride, Dayu.
~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
Jayden flipped open his Samuraizer, Kevin and Mike behind him on stand-by.
"Jump in as soon as the portal is open," Jayden told them. "It won't stay open for long."
"Got it," Kevin replied.
"Hang on, Antonio," Mike said. "Help's on the way."
Kevin and Mike watched as Jayden wrote the kanji for 'portal' and activated it. The kanji turned from into a flurry of blue sparkles – the portal was open.
"Go! Now!" Jayden cried.
Kevin and Mike jumped into the portal, and as soon as they were gone, Jayden let himself, and the portal, collapse, his job done.
Thoroughly exhausted, all he could do was have faith that his teammates would handle the situation by themselves as he watched over all of the people that were asleep (Antonio included).
~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~
Rhinosnorus' Dream World
Kevin and Mike entered the Dream World successfully. Their appearances hadn't changed at all, but as they looked around, they noticed that the Dream World was black and white (and various shades of gray), and that the appropriate attire for this place was...random to say the least (there didn't seem to be one).
"Well, everything seems normal," Kevin commented.
"Yeah, Kev," Mike replied, sarcastic. "'Normal'."
Kevin lightly rolled his eyes as the two walked closer.
"Woo! Biggest fish of the year!" they heard Antonio cry out with happiness.
The two went up to him, Kevin confused and Mike relieved that Antonio was okay.
"Antonio! What are you doing clowning around when there's a Nighlock on the loose?" Kevin asked. "You're dreaming!"
"Tell that to my trophy, buddy!" Antonio shot back.
"You're in a Nighlock's Dream World," Kevin slowly repeated. "None of this is real!"
Mike, meanwhile, was looking around, trying to catch sight of the Nighlock (meaning, he was actually doing what he and Kevin came here for), only spotting people having fun with their dreams (including Bulk and Spike acting like samurai).
But then he spotted Rhinosnorus creeping up on the unsuspecting Bulk and Spike.
"Kevin!" Mike shouted for his attention, and (Kevin thankfully snapping out of his argument with Antonio) the two quickly ran towards the Nighlock, whose jaws were opening wide to swallow Bulk and Spike whole.
The two slammed into Rhinosnorus, knocking him down and saving the two guys who wanted to be samurai.
Kevin and Mike flipped open their Samuraizers immediately, "Go, Go, Samurai!"
By this time, Rhinosnorus had gotten back to his feet. "Rangers! How did you get into my Dream World?! I didn't put you to sleep!"
"Let's just say you're not the only one who can teleport," Kevin replied.
"Say your prayers, Nighlock," Mike said. "You're going to bed, permanently."
Rhinosnorus scoffed, "As if! The Dream World cooks whatever I dream up." He did a little dance, and suddenly the ground underneath Kevin and Mike broke apart, came up, and slammed down on them. Rhinosnorus did the dance again, and this time, he summoned a boulder.
Kevin and Mike immediately ran away when they saw that giant boulder start chasing them. At one point, the boulder flattened Kevin (though it had no lasting effects).
After two minutes of this, of Rhinosnorus laughing at them, Mike stopped Kevin. "Wait! Kevin, this is our Dream World too, right?"
"Yeah," Kevin replied. "Why?"
Mike stopped, as did Kevin, and did the same dance Rhinosnorus did. Kevin stumbled backwards as Mike grew into Mega size, before kicking the boulder like a soccer ball (and Kevin was kicked along with it).
The boulder, now a soccer ball, hit Rhinosnorus in the head, and Kevin soon followed with landing feet first on the Nighlock's stomach while he was on the ground.
As Kevin rolled off the Nighlock and back onto hard ground, Mike said, "You know, now that I'm getting the hang of this Dream World, I'm getting a kick out of it."
And Kevin realized then that the Dream World didn't adhere to reality at all, not like he assumed. Mike was right, because the Dream World played by its own rules.
Now upset, Rhinosnorus groaned, "What a snooze! I'm out of here!"
Kevin and Mike reached out for him as he tried to run away.
~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~
Cortez Forest, Panorama City, California
Emily, still morphed, continued to run through the forest Mia and Dayu had run into. It felt like hours now and she still hadn't found them.
"Mia!" She called out. "Mia, where are you?!"
Not hearing anything after this, Emily continued searching.
It was all she could do 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~
Rhinosnorus' Dream World
Deker and Dayu were so happy back then, Mia noted, watching them exchange wedding gifts.
Somehow, Mia knew that Deker and Dayu were actually Derek and Dahlia, and that this was 300 years ago. She also knew that she knew this because it was Dayu's dream, and since they had fallen asleep together, the two's dreams were connected.
Dahlia and Derek had their backs to each other as they both prepared their gifts for the other.
Dahlia turned around with a sword (that closely resembled Uramasa) in her hands, while Derek had turned around with a guitar in her hand.
Dahlia smiled as soon as she saw the guitar, knowing it was for her, "Thank you. It's beautiful."
"You were eyeing it the other day," Derek said as the two took their respective gifts from the other. "I knew you had to have it."
Dahlia admitted next that made Mia smile. "As long as I have you, I don't need anything else."
Derek returned her smile as he pulled her in for a kiss.
The scene changed, and Mia's gut and connection with Dayu both told her that this was a bad thing.
And they were right, because in the next scene, the house was on fire, and a roughed up Dahlia was dragging a heavily injured Derek out of the flames, resting on the lawn outside.
Dahlia coughed, before trying to wake up her husband. "Derek! Derek, wake up!"
Nothing. No response.
How did it come to this, Dahlia asked herself. This was their wedding night! Things were supposed to be great! They were supposed to be happy!
"Help!" She cried, tears filling her eyes.
Suddenly a Nighlock appeared (one that Mia hadn't seen before – that didn't look like Master Xandred at all).
"I can save your beloved," the Nighlock told Dahlia. "All you must do is trade your human existence and become a Nighlock."
"Become a Nighlock?" Dahlia asked, pondering over what that would mean, what consequences that would have. After a short silence, she said, "I accept. Just, please, save Derek."
She loved him. She would sacrifice everything for him (and she did).
The Nighlock pointed his weapon at Derek and hit him with a red energy ball. Red energy waves radiated throughout Derek's body before allowing him to get up, but Dahlia knew something was wrong when she saw echoes of him as he got up – like he was getting up at superhuman speeds.
It scared her when he changed into a white-colored Nighlock, his sword – the one she gave him – in his hands.
"D-Derek?" She asked, her entire body shaking in fear.
He didn't answer her. Derek just ran away from her.
"He has no memories of you," the Nighlock she made the deal with explained. "He has no memories of anything. All he will remember is being half-human, half-Nighlock. Thanks to you." He chuckled, as she clutched her guitar (the only momento Derek had left her) close to her chest and cried out in pain and grief.
Mia watched in horror as the Nighlock laughed as Dahlia assumed her familiar Nighlock form, her guitar turning into her Harmonium as the Nighlock threw a blazing torch onto the already burning house.
In real time, a tear fell down Dayu's cheek as she remembered everything, wishing she had forgotten everything just like Deker did.
Which led her mind down a dark, if not interesting, path.
If the roles were switched, if he was the one who had to make a deal with a Nighlock to save her, would he do it?
Derek would, in an instant, but Deker wouldn't.
And that was the saddest part of all, that her relationship with Deker was once a happy marriage to an unrequited love.
But she would do it all over again if she had to. That's how much she loved him.
~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~
Cortez Forest, Panorama City, California
Kevin and Mike (still morphed) clung to Rhinosnorus' legs as the Nighlock leapt out of the portal the musician used.
"You Rangers are such pests!" Rhinosnorus cried. "I'll just come back when you guys aren't around to ruin everything! Meal time is sacred, you know!"
Mike balanced his Spin Sword in his hand. "Well, we're putting your big butt on a diet." He threw his Sword in the air and caught it right before he and Kevin charged at the Nighlock once again.
After dodging Rhinosnorus' mist attack, Kevin and Mike both swiped at the Nighlock's wrist brace (his mist blower; Ji had said that if they destroyed it, then everybody would wake up).
The mist blower immediatly exploded and Rhinosnorus howled in defeat. "No! Now all my sleeping snacks will wake up!"
The musician opened his eyes to see a Nighlock fighting the Blue and Green Rangers.
Without a second thought, he stumbled to his feet and ran away, not wanting to be caught in the cross-fire again.
~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
A still-exhausted Jayden smiled as the people around him started stirring. Kevin and Mike did it!
Antonio woke up and immediately looked around him, asking, "Hey, where's my trophy?"
Jayden suspected that the trophy was part of Antonio's dream, but he didn't say anything about it. "Antonio..."
Antonio's head whirled around to face his best friend. "Jayden, what happened?"
"You were trapped in the Dream World," Jayden tiredly explained. "Kevin and Mike went in and saved you."
Antonio took a moment to pause and think about that. "Yeah, they were there. They tried to warn me, but I guess I didn't want to listen."
"Don't blame yourself for that," Jayden replied. "You were under the influence of the sleeping mist."
Octoroo watched from a nearby Gap. "Interesting. This is the perfect time to take them out."
"What happened to you?" Antonio asked, noticing how tired Jayden was.
"I had to keep the portal open for the other two," Jayden explained. "Took a big bite of my strength."
Antonio got to his feet and slung Jayden's arm around his shoulders, before helping him to his feet. "Don't worry. We'll go back home and you can sleep all you want."
They took their first step towards the Shiba House when Giant Marauders and Giant Spitfangs began appearing from the Gaps.
"Not now!" Antonio muttered as Jayden unslung his arm from Antonio's shoulders and pulled out his Samuraizer. "Jayden! What are you doing?!"
"Kevin and Mike are dealing with Rhinosnorus," Jayden answered, "and Mia and Emily are dealing with Dayu. It's up to us."
"But how are we going to take them on by ourselves?" Antonio protested. "When you're this exhausted?"
"The Black Box will allow us to control the Zords of the others," Jayden said. "You told us this."
"I did," Antonio answered, pulling out his Morpher. "Fine. Let's do this."
"We'll be fine," Jayden told him. "We also have Shogun Mode on our side. Go, Go, Samurai!"
"Go, Gold Samurai!"
Once morphed, the Red Ranger pulled out the Black Box. "Super Samurai Mode!" Now donned with a white coat, Jayden hooked the Box to his Sword and placed the Super Combination Disk into the Box. "Super Samurai Combination!"
As the Megazord was being formed, Jayden activated Shogun Mode, adding gold armor to his and Antonio's suits.
"Claw Armor Megazord, We Are United!"
The Marauders charged. One used its sword to attack the Megazord, which easily blocked the attack before easily taking around the rest.
The Spitfangs breathed fireballs at them, which hit the Megazord dead on.
Pretty soon they were surrounded.
"Oh, this isn't good," Antonio commented. "There's no way we can win like this, Jayden!"
"There is," Jayden said. "We just have to go all out. Super Samurai Artillery: Samurai Battle Cannon!" After more fireballs hit them, Jayden said, "Hold your ground and wait for my signal!"
"Right!" Antonio acknowledged, both of them watching the screen in front of them as the target was locked on.
The Cannon charged up, and Jayden said, "Put all your Symbol Power into it. This is going to take literally everything we have."
"I know," Antonio replied. "But it's not easy!"
"Nobody ever said it was," Jayden commented softly.
"Katana Power: Battle Cannon Blast!"
The Cannon fired, unleashing the Zords' full power as the two Rangers executed a perfect spin blast to wipe out all of their surrounding foes.
As Antonio celebrated, despite being exhausted, Jayden said, "Samurai Rangers, Victory is Ours!"
~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~
Cortez Forest, Panorama City, California
When Mia woke up, she was still disturbed by what Dayu's dream had to say.
Deker and Dayu were once married, but Dayu made a deal with a Nighlock that changed everything.
Deker and Dayu were the couple that Daisuke's tapestry had portrayed. The folk tale was real. And Dayu was obsessed with that dress because her own wedding was ruined.
She turned to Dayu when she heard the Nighlock sob, hunched over and holding her broken Harmonium close to her chest.
Mia slowly stood up and carefully took a step forward, wanting to comfort Dayu, but a twig crackled underneath her foot. Dayu glanced up.
"I thought I felt someone in my dream..." Dayu growled.
"I'm sorry," Mia instantly replied, and she meant it. "I didn't mean to." She took a deep breath, before asking, "Is it...too late to revert back to your human form?"
Dayu stood up and unsheathed her sword from her Harmonium, facing Mia. She laughed. "Are you really that naive that you would seek a way to save me rather than destroy me? You're even weaker than I thought, Pink Ranger."
"But, Dayu–!"
"I don't need your pity!" And Dayu attacked, knocking Mia's Samuraizer out of her hand. Mia fell backwards on the ground and backed up as Dayu got closer and closer.
Dayu attacked once more, and Mia shielded herself to brace for the impact.
But it never came.
"Mia!" Emily called out to her, and Mia looked up to see the Yellow Ranger blocked Dayu's sword with hers. "Snap out of it! She's trying to kill you!"
~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~
Waterfront Parking Garage, Panorama City, California
After the fight with Giant Marauders, Jayden was deadbeat tired from keeping that portal to the Dream World open for Mike and Kevin, and now using up the rest of his Symbol Power to power up the Cannon.
Now, the two were just resting on a nearby bench.
"Every muscle hurts..." Antonio complained.
"Take it easy, buddy," Jayden couldn't help but smile at his friend's antics. But his smile faded as he remembered Lauren again, which led to his concerns about Deker. "Antonio?"
"Yeah?"
Jayden had to tell him. Antonio knew Lauren personally after. To him, she was a best friend and a possible love interest. It wasn't fair to keep this from him.
"I think Deker knows more about Lauren and her team than we first thought."
"How so?" Antonio was interested, just like Jayden suspected he would be.
"First off, that fight Deker had with Robtish still concerns me," Jayden explained, noting how good this felt getting all of this off his chest. "During that fight, Robtish implied that Deker was in charge of him once before. If that's true, then in charge of what exactly? Second, on Emily's birthday, Deker revealed that he knew Emily was a clairvoyant when we didn't, and he knew about the Keller Forest house and how Serena's flute was the key to solving that mystery."
"How did he know that?" Antonio asked, and Jayden immediately felt better knowing that someone shared this sentiment. "I know he's observant as all hell, but how did he know about Serena's flute when we didn't?"
"Exactly my point," Jayden continued. "And third, in the cave, before you arrived, Deker implied that he met Lauren once before, and knows her well enough at least to know how she fights and how she acts in certain situations."
Antonio was quiet as he processed all of this. "That's concerning."
"Yeah..." Jayden was quiet as he let Antonio ponder over the theory he himself had. He wanted to know if he was crazy, or if Antonio believed him.
And right now, it seemed to be the latter.
As if on cue, the warehouse door next to them opened.
The two rangers glanced up, surprised to see him here, but then Jayden glared and stood up, despite his wavering strength, ready to fight.
"Deker..."
The cursed man had the worst timing in the world.
TO BE CONTINUED…
~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~PRS~REDO~
Original Shinkenger Episode: Act 25
Original PRS Episode: Broken Dreams
Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think! Also, I left out the conclusion on Emily VS. Dayu intentionally. You'll see it in the next chapter (also, Emily won't go down due to a measly hit on her arm, because that was stupid – the fight will be fleshed out). And yes, Serrator was the one that burned the house down.
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 2, Episode 4: "Have a Nice Nightmare"
"The Rangers all have varying opinions on what to do with Deker's threat, but to Jayden, there's only one person whose opinion he cares about, and she's the one who deserves to call the shots this time."