Their honeymoon in New Zealand had been everything Mia wanted it to be. Everywhere they had gone had been beautiful, and because they had been in the southern hemisphere, they got the chance to enjoy the summer sun, the warmth, and the amazing beaches. They had gone sightseeing, eaten out at some of the best restaurants, and spent a lot of time in their hotel room.

But they were back in the States, standing by the luggage carousel and waiting for their last bag to come around. Their honeymoon had been a dream, but they hadn't forgotten the news they had received about their daughter only a couple nights before. They had checked in with their family several times and knew Riley was going to be perfectly fine, especially once the stitches came out, but they were still eager to get home, take care of their daughter, and see that everything was okay with their own eyes.

While Mia kept a vigilant eye on the carousel, Kevin paced back and forth with the bags they had already collected. He was a lot more anxious about getting home than Mia.

"What if she can't fight? Stitches in the knee, that's pretty…"

"Just above the knee," Mia reminded him, "And why would she ever have to fight? Xandred's gone. The Nighlok are gone."

"We signed her up at the Shiba's Dojo," Kevin said, "If she's going to be a Samurai, she'll need to learn to fight."

"And she will. You heard the others. She'll be a regular kid, you know that. A kid who, after we kick her ass for playing with swords, will grow up to kick ass, just like her daddy."

"Are you sure they've been taking care of her? Cleaning the stitches, around the stitches? What if there is an infection? What if they have to amputate?"

"Now you're just being silly," Mia finally saw the bag she needed and reached across to grab it. When she had it, she rolled it over and grabbed Kevin by the arm, "Let's just go home, yell some ears off, and then we can relax."

-Samurai-

Lauren winced as Troy took another fall and landed roughly on his back. He groaned loudly and slowly pulled himself up to his feet while Lauren rushed over to help him.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine," Troy nodded, "Sorry, Sensei, I know I need to focus. I just… I haven't been sleeping well."

"Why don't you take five minutes?" Lauren pointed to the bench. Troy rubbed the back of his neck.

"My dreams are coming back. Has Sensei Jayden…?"

"I heard a little bit," Lauren nodded. "You're dreaming of the Samurai Rangers? The red Rangers?"

"Not as much anymore. Now it's… Megaforce. Do you know what the hell that is?"

"Nope," Lauren shook her head, "I've never heard of that. Are you sure you're not just watching too much TV?"

"Maybe, but… it's really starting to bother me. The other night, I was actually in a battle against these things called… Boogies? Loogies?"

"Loogies?" Lauren asked and tried to stifle a laugh, "And I thought Moogers was funny."

"What's that?"

"Nothing," Lauren sat on the bench with Troy and shrugged, "I hear talking about your dreams helps, so why don't you just… get it all out?"

"But we're training."

"A strong mind is just as powerful as a strong body," Lauren said, "If these dreams are bothering you, it's best we figure it out. So, Megaforce and Loogies, huh?"

"You think that's weird? There's also a giant tiki."

"And these… Power Rangers? They're like… heroes, right?"

"Yeah."

"Megaforce, Loogies, and tikis? What a team…"

"I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's like I told Sensei Jayden, these dreams feel very real. It's like they've already happened or they will happen. Sometimes, I wake up and expect to find myself where the red spandex. I'm not a leader. I couldn't possibly be a Ranger, right? Just the other day, I couldn't even stop Riley from sticking her fingers up my nose. How am I going to stop Loogies from destroying the planet?"

"A giant tissue?"

"The only thing giant is that tiki head the Rangers lug around with them," Troy muttered, "Is this… do you think this is all crazy? Sensei Jayden said sometimes your dreams try to tell you something. Do you think maybe… could my dream be trying to tell me something? Could I be the red Ranger and not know it? I don't want to be a Ranger. I don't want to lead a team. I don't even really know how to make friends. I never really had to…"

"Troy, just calm down," Lauren placed her hands on Troy's shoulder and gave him a smile, "Look, I know a thing or two about the Rangers and I doubt they would ever ask someone to be a Ranger, never mind be the red Ranger, if they didn't think he, or she, was good enough to get the job done. If this dream really is some higher power trying to speak to you, maybe you do need to listen. Or maybe you need to stop watching TV and relax. Either way, I think you just need to relax."

"I do?"

Lauren nodded, "Our time together is short, but how about we make the most of it. I promise, if this tiki headed, loogie fighting Megaforce Ranger dream is true, you'll be ready for whatever's going to happen. By the time I'm done with you, you're going to be someone I trust with my life, and there are only a handful of people with that privilege."

"And if it's all just as crazy as it sounds?"

"Knowing how to defend yourself never hurts," Lauren shrugged and gave Troy a smile. "Why don't you go home? You can come back tomorrow refreshed and ready to learn what it takes to be a red Ranger."

"Do you even know what it takes to be a red Ranger?" Troy asked then started to collect his things and stuff them into his bag. Lauren shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll do my research. Just make sure you get some sleep. Don't stress out too much."

"I promise. Thank you, Sensei!"

Lauren smiled and watched as Troy left. She started to pick up the training equipment they had used and couldn't help but notice there was a grin on Emily's face. Though she was playing "imagination" with Riley, she had listened in on Lauren and Troy's conversation. The red Ranger crossed her arms over her chest and sighed, "What?"

"Loogies! That's funny!"

Lauren rolled her eyes and then looked up at the clock, "Oh, shoot! Emily, Riley, we're going to be late!"

-Samurai-

Mia's mother had been at the airport to pick up the newlyweds and instead of driving them back to their house, a little welcome home gathering had been planned at the Shiba House. The couple was tired from their flight, and the jet-lag was nothing to laugh about either, but their excitement to see their friends again kept them awake long enough.

"Leave your bags in the car," Noa told her daughter and son in-law, "I'll drive you home later."

"We need one bag," Mia insisted as Kevin went around to the trunk. "We bought everyone a couple souvenirs."

"Let me get it," Noa said, "You two head inside. Everyone's waiting for you."

Kevin nodded and joined Mia at the door to the Shiba House. Before they walked in, he took her hand, "Riley's going to be there, and everyone else…"

"I'm sure they know what she did…"

"Can we yell at our daughter in front of everyone, though? I mean, we've got to let her know what she did was stupid, but does it have to be in public? Would that be bad parenting?"

"I guess we're going to find out. We'll play it by ear, okay?"

"Okay," Kevin nodded and was about to open the door when he heard someone call out. He and Mia turned around and saw Lauren, Emily, and Riley running up to the house.

"You don't see us," Emily said as they raced past the couple and into the house, slamming the door behind them. Mia started to chuckle.

"Someone's late. Should we give them some time to get set up with the others?"

"Naw," Kevin shook his head and opened the door wide to catch Lauren, Emily, and Riley as they were taking their jackets off. Riley buried her face in Emily's chest to hide. Her parents had promised to talk about her swordplay when they came home, and now they were home. She knew she was in a lot of trouble.

The other Samurai knew they were home from having spied out the window and came to the hallway to greet them with big smiles.

"Welcome back, guys," Jayden said and started with the welcome home hugs. When Mia got to Riley and Emily, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her sister and daughter, "Who should I start with first?"

"They, uh, they told you, huh?" Emily shifted Riley in her arms and gulped nervously, "I only spent one night in the hospital. And it's nothing serious."

"And I had to hear about it from Antonio."

"I didn't want to ruin the honeymoon," Emily shrugged her shoulders and looked to Mia with her puppy eyes, "Especially since it wasn't serious."

"You're lucky," Mia said and then hugged her sister. When she pulled away, she placed her hand on Riley's back, "Alright, Riley, we need to talk."

Riley shook her head and tightened her hold around Emily's neck, "I no want to talk. I learned my lesson."

"No, we're talking," Mia took the little girl from Emily's arms and carried her to the common room where she set her down on the couch. Meanwhile, Kevin looked to Lauren. She mouthed to him: "I'm really sorry."

"It's alright," he smiled reassuringly, "Riley's a bit of a troublemaker. Thanks for stepping up."

He gave the red Ranger a hug and then followed Mia to the common room for his talk with their daughter. Mike placed his hands on Lauren's shoulders.

"See, it's all good. They know you didn't cut her leg off yourself. It was an accident."

Lauren breathed out a sigh of relief and nodded her head, "I think I'll feel even better once the stitches come out and we can forget this ever happened."