Jayden Shiba knows all too well how Emily is feeling. Having experienced this himself, he understands just how traumatic this is. He understands far more than any of the others.
He also understands that she wants to be alone but is afraid to be. She wants to feel safe but her safety net is gone. She is falling backwards into a downward spiral that doesn't seem to have an end. The one she looked to for any form of comfort, is gone. He understands the anger she feels about the most important thing in her life being taken. He understands the tears running down her face.
It's cruel, really. Life. Fate. As cruel as it is, it's also a beautiful existence. It took him years to see it, though. For years, he didn't understand the point of it all. Nothing had meaning to him. Everything reminded him of his father and that hurt him deeply. Seeing his friend in such misery opens his scars of the past.
Though, only five at the time he last saw his father, he remembers that his father meant the world to him. He had always wanted to grow up brave and strong- like his dad. To him, his dad will always be the bravest person he knows. His father went into battle knowing there was a very large chance that he would would not return alive. His father willingly gave his life to give him and the rest of the world a shot at a safe and happy life.
Over the years, Jayden forgot the little things. First, the sound of his fathers voice. Then, the fact that he would always make time for him. After that, it was trivial things. His favorite song, favorite food and that he hated puzzles because he never had the patience to take the time to finish one. He began to forget more and more over the years until he began to forget bigger things. When he began to forget what his father looked like, he cried. After that, he spent several days in his bedroom memorizing a picture of he and his father together. He had locked the door from the inside. No one could come in, unless he let them in. All he did for three days was stare at that photograph.
The photograph showed something he hadn't seen in a while- happiness. In the photograph, a young Jayden and his father were hugging and smiling after a day at the beach.
Jayden's father was a tall man, 6"4 with a head of brown hair. He had broad shoulders and long arms. The laugh lines on his face show that he was a man of high spirits. He didn't let the truth of his world take away his happiness. A truly admirable trait.
To this day, Jayden has that picture in his room. It's become a comfort to him. Though having Mentor Ji helped fill the void, he misses his father. No matter how close he and Mentor Ji get, there will always be a part of him longing to see his father.
That's not to say Mentor Ji hasn't been a wonderful "dad" to him, though. Mentor Ji has been there for him all of his 20 years of life. Jayden was born in the Shiba house. His mother left, leaving him in the care of his father and Mentor Ji. For the first three years of life it was just he, his dad, and Mentor Ji.
However, in his third year of life the Nighlock rose again. Shortly after, the team of that generation was called. He doesn't remember much of that time but he knows that they all had a big part of raising him.
The mother figures in his life weren't his own. They were the mothers of Mia and Emily. The other father figures in his life were the fathers of Kevin and Mike. Still, spending time with them would never compare to the times he spent with his father.
Though towards the end of his father's ranger duties, his time was scarce. Even still, he always found time to spend with Jayden. Those memories are the ones he hopes to hold onto forever.
After his father died, he was in a deep pit of sadness. He was drowning in a lake of his own tears, fears, and insecurities. Mentor Ji finally broke through and threw him a life preserver. That night, he held Jayden as he cried. He held Jayden and soothed his fears.
Things began to look up at that point. No longer showing up late to training with red-rimmed eyes or lying awake at night. The broken feeling inside him was mended. Not completely fixed but mended.
He began to cherish the sunrise. He began to find beauty in the world around him. He became greatful that becoming a ranger would help him feel closer to his father.
Though Mentor Ji was a part of pulling him out of his sadness, Antonio played a big part as well.
He met Antonio when they were seven. When Antonio was there, he remembered how to laugh. He remembered how to smile. Antonio was his only friend, but he was his best friend. Antonio and Jayden would get into trouble together. Playing instead of training. Laughing instead of reading.
When they were ten, Antonio had to move away. Jayden gave Antonio the Octozord before he left. Antonio, on the brink of tears, promised that they would see eachother again and that he would fight alongside Jayden when the time came.
Seeing the girl who had come to be like his little sister fall into the blackhole hurt him deeply. A blackhole is the the only way to describe the overwhelming feeling of sadness and pain. The blackhole is consuming. It sucks you in and spits you back out as a shadow of the person you were. Everything begins to lose meaning until there is nothing.
Jayden decided then that he would not let her fall into the hole. He would not let this torture her innocent mind. He would not let her go down the deep, dark path that he once went down.
He would help her remember the good times. He would make sure she wrote down the little things while she could remember them. He can't change that her sister is no longer on the Earth but he can help her realize that her sister is still there.
Though not in the physical sense, he had come to realize that your loved ones are always there. They are in your heart or there in little ways. There will always be reminders of the ones you love but Jayden likes to think of them as ways they are showing you they are there.
In his training routine alone, he is reminded of his father. He wants Emily to see that she and her sister will always be together, even through element alone.
Serena and Emily both possess the Earth element. Even though Serena is gone, Emily will always be able to feel a connection to her sister.
After he left the dojo, he sat on the floor around Emily. He wants to provide as much comfort as he can at this point. He looks up to her porcelain face, that is now stained with tears. Even in her sleep, her mind is taunting her.
Jayden sighs and takes her hand.
"It will all be okay. It hurts. I know it does. I can promise that it will be okay. You will be okay..."
In that moment, Jayden didn't know if he was reasuring Emily or himself.