Chapter 19
For now we pause in the samurai rangers' journey and turn back the hands of time. The time where their whole journey began and how they came to be the samurai power rangers.
All was quiet and peaceful in a normal bustling city where the civilians are enjoying their lives. Currently in a local park, a young boy was playing hide and seek with some friends of his. The boy of course is the seeker and once he finished counting, the child went out to seek his friends. He soon came to an empty alley way, hoping to find his friends. Not able to see any of them, the boy called out "Brian, Jimmy! Where are you?"
The young child soon approached some stacked crates and looked through the gap, not knowing the dangers lurking within it. Suddenly the gap began glowing dark red and moogers jumped out, making the boy fall back in fear. The creatures quickly surrounded the human looking to harm him until from out of nowhere a little red lion figure appeared and attacked the moogers.
As the evil moogers were down, Nariko arrived and darted over to the boy making him quickly stand on his feet "Run! Get away from here!" the young child nodded and ran off, Nariko smiled in relief as she watched the boy escape. She soon dodged an attack from a mooger and flipped backwards away from the creatures as they began getting up.
Nariko was soon joined by Jayden who protectively stood in front of her, with his lion zord and samuraizer in hand. Ji arrived too and threw a smoke bomb in front of the moogers letting Jayden morph easily.
"Look before you moogers! This is the eighteenth leader of the samurai power rangers! Descendant of the man who destroyed your master years ago…You have two choices…Retreat now or become rust on his blade." Told Ji
"Don't bother…I don't want them to retreat I want to take them for a spin." Said Jayden, he prepared his spin sword and slowly drew it.
The moogers not wasting anytime charged the red ranger who easily dodged their attacks. Jayden did not hesitate in ridding the evil creatures and soon all were destroyed, letting peace resume for now. Jayden then powered down and walk back over to Ji and Nariko who patiently waited for him.
"I'm so proud that the boy I devoted my life to train, has grown to be a master samurai and is ready to lead others into battle." Said Ji
"I agree…I can see why my Father chose Jayden to be my fiancé and not any other man." Said Nariko
Jayden smiled a bit and held out his hand to Nariko who grabbed it and let him pull her over to his side. The red ranger gave a light squeeze to Nariko's hand and focuses his attention on Ji "But I'm used to fighting them all alone. I don't want anyone else in danger."
Nariko looked at her fiancé "Jayden…The nighlok attacks are escalating…More and more of them are coming across to do their evil."
"Sure and if any more moogers to pay us a visit, they'll be having a taste of my spin sword." Told Jayden who began walking away, bringing Nariko along with him.
"Jayden…Do not underestimate the power of Master Xandred if he awakens. After all the illness he placed on Nariko when she was just an infant is beginning to slowly take its toll on her…His nighlok legions are too much for one person…Even one as strong as you…Teams of samurai have battled this evil for centuries with the Yamada clan giving aid, training and guidance." Said Ji
This happens to make Jayden stop in his tracks and think for a moment before turning to Ji "I'm really supposed to lead a team?" "It's what you're training prepared you for. There are four others who have trained for these dark days and they await the call to join you and to fight as samurai rangers!" the red ranger just gave a small nod and continued his leave with Nariko by his side and Ji following after "I understand…I'll do whatever it takes."
Little did they know the three of were being watched through the gap, by the loyal Octoroo who chuckled evilly "Hehehe…So will I!" a cracking noise soon caught his attention and the nighlok looked towards the Sanzu River "Oh ah ooh…What was that?" he began approaching the water "Oh ah ooh! I've got a lump in my throat, is what I hear the Master's boat?"
Out from the depths of the river water emerged a bone like boat, one that Octoroo quickly climbed onboard. There inside sat a female nighlok by the name of Dayu who happened to be playing her Harmonia. Octoroo sighed a bit in relief "Oh…It's good to be onboard again! So Dayu…Where's the big red one?"
She remained silent and continued playing her instrument which greatly annoyed Octoroo "Come on out with it! Just where is that barnacle of a boss? Out with it! Where is Master Xandred?" not at all fazed by his little outburst Dayu calmly said "Octoroo I get it…You missed him." "Come on! Tell me, tell me please! You're the only one who knows! We've been without our leader for so long! We need him back, sure he's mean to me but that's just boss being boss!"
Just then Master Xandred himself stepped out from another room with his sword in hand "Shut up you fool! I have a splitting headache this morning so zip those lips! Unless you want to spend the rest of your life untying those noodles you call a face!" "Oh! You're pretty grumpy for someone talented enough to talk with his mouth close!" said Octoroo, he then tapped his staff on the floor and looked at two moogers "You two there! Quickly give him his medicine to ease his necking noggin."
Once given his medicine Master Xandred began gulping it down quick, Octoroo watched as he did so "That should help, you'll be back to normal in no time. Feel better?" "Ugh! I don't want to even think on what I had to endure because of those lousy samurai rangers. Good thing I destroyed them all."
Octoroo immediately turned away at his master's statement "Oh Master Xandred…How should I say this…I thought you knew about the rangers…They survived…" Dayu immediately ceased her playing and looked to Octoroo, saying in disbelief "Are you joking?" greatly angered by this Master Xandred stood to his feet "What? Those brats defeated me?"Octoroo held up his hands and tried to calm down his master "Oh ah ooh! Please calm down Master!"
At this time a nighlok by the name of Tooya came onto the boat "Yeah man! Let's get this party started! I see that Master Xandred is back in charge! So let's celebrate!" still angered by the thought of the samurai rangers surviving, Xandred slammed his sword hard on the floor making the boat violently rock back and forth "Unbelievable! How did those brats defeat me?" once the boat had ceased its rocking, Octoroo turned to Tooya "Forget celebrating Tooya, that mouth on your skirt is as ugly as Master Xandred's moods!" "Hey if anybody here got hit with the ugly stick it would be you!" "Listen…The best way to welcome the boss back is to jump through a gap and freak out some humans."
Tooya looked to his nighlok master in wonder "Is that right Boss?" Master Xandred stood there in silent for a bit then looked to Octoroo "If I remember correctly…The Yamada clan's dear princess...Does she still have that illness I casted upon her years ago?" "Why yes! And it so happens it's slowly taking effect on her." "I see…Go now Tooya and then I'll make those samurai rangers regret the day they messed with Master Xandred!"
Back in the human world, the four other samurai rangers; Kevin, Mia, Emily and Mike were going about their daily life, patiently waiting for their call. Currently at the Shiba Household Jayden and Nariko were sitting outside together, holding hands. The couple was just enjoying the peaceful time that they had right now when Ji briskly walked over to them with a bow and arrows in hand.
"Jayden, Nariko! I think Master Xandred has finally awaken, a new breed of nighlok more powerful than any other moogers has immobilized. You cannot wait any longer! The time has come to summon your time of samurai rangers." Told Ji
As the couple quickly stood up on their feet, Jayden couldn't help but ask "Are you sure I'm ready lead?" Nariko turned to him, placing her hand on her fiancé's arm "Jayden, one samurai is strong but a team is unbeatable…Just remember your Father's words when he and my father left for the final battle…" and he did which brought a small smile to his face. Jayden grabbed Nariko's hand placing a kiss on it "You're right…Thank you Nariko I'll never forget his last words…I must not fail! I am the red samurai ranger!"
"The other rangers have spent their whole lives preparing to fulfill their samurai destinies. Fulfill your destiny to lead them!" advised Ji
The samurai mentor then handed Nariko the bow and arrow, she quickly prepped the bow and armed it with a green arrow. Aiming the bow towards the sky, Nariko shot the arrow which immediately disappeared. She did this three more times before following after Ji and Jayden into the household. There Ji opened a secret panel, revealing four more samuraizers "I've been saving these until you were ready Jayden, take them your fellow samurai are on their way." Jayden nodded and grabbed the devices before going outside with Nariko and Ji following.
The Yamada princess handed the red ranger a bag to which he placed the samuraizers in. He then pulled out his and wrote a symbol in the air "Symbol power: Horse!" right there in front of them a white steed appeared, as Jayden climbed on Ji placed his hand on Nariko's shoulder "I want you to go with Jayden, Nariko." "Are you sure?" "Yes just to make sure everything goes well, but please do be careful." "I will." Nariko went over to Jayden who pulled her onto the horse having his fiancé sit behind him.
"Never forget the mission of the samurai rangers, be brave, work together and no matter what don't ever give up!" told Ji, the red ranger nodded at this and galloped off towards the city.
Meanwhile inside the city as Tooya and the moogers were causing havoc, Kevin was making his way towards the commotion when spotted a vehicle bearing the samurai ranger symbol "The ranger symbol!" he quickly went over to the vehicle making it stop before standing right outside the passenger door "I'm Kevin and I'm here with you!" the window to the vehicle rolled down to reveal Mia inside.
Surprised to see her Kevin quickly zipped up his jacket, after having to leave his swim meet. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't know the red ranger was a girl!" apologized Kevin, Mia stepped out of the car "I'm not the red ranger…I'm the pink, my name is Mia." Soon Emily showed up and ran over to the two. Once standing in front of them, she eagerly looked at Kevin "Are you the red ranger?" "No…I'm the blue." "Oh…" lastly Mike showed up and casually strolled up to his fellow rangers "You guys must be my peeps."
"You're the red ranger?" wondered Kevin, Mike scoffed at this and shook his head "No! I'm mighty green!" before he could say more, all four of them heard a horse whinny.
They looked to find Jayden and Nariko approaching them a white steed. The group looked at them in amazement as Jayden helped Nariko down from the horse. "With an entrance like that you must be the red ranger." Said Mike towards Jayden who nodded "Yes I am the red ranger." As the couple approached and stood in front of the group, Kevin said "We're your team of samurai!" "Let me warn you now if you follow me there is no turning back. Either we defeat the nighlok together or they will take over the world." Told Jayden
He then took out a samuraizer from the bag Nariko is holding "I will only give these only to those who accept the challenge. Do not accept because you were trained only to do so, accept only if you're willing to commit and fight as samurai power rangers with all your heart." Kevin looked at his swim cap that he had in hand before looking back at Jayden "Without hesitation!"
"I've been planning for this since I was a little girl so yes!" firmly said Mia
"I'm ready to give it all I've got!" said Emily with a smile upon her face
"Ok, ok do we have to be so formal? Let's do this thing!" said Mike with utter confidence
Jayden looked to Nariko and nodded, she returned it then went over to Kevin, Mia, Emily and Mike, handing them their samuraizers. The princess then returned to the red ranger who held her shoulders "I want you watching from a safe distance while we handle this, understand?" "Yes…You and your team be careful." "We will." Jayden gave a swift kiss to Nariko on the forehead before leaving with his team following close behind.
From a far Nariko watched as the rangers morphed for the first time and began fighting the moogers that are in their way. She watched a bit in worry as the moogers surrounded the rangers, it soon faded once Jayden summoned his Fire Smasher and got rid of a whole number of moogers that surrounded his team. Nariko smiled at this "That's my red ranger." Soon Jayden faced off with Tooya who proved to be no trouble at all for the red ranger to defeat with his Fire Smasher.
Kevin, Mia, Emily and Mike went over to their leader to congratulate him on his victory when they were met with mega size form of Tooya. Not hesitating at all Jayden went into mega mode power to which Kevin and the others followed his example. Together the samurai rangers defeated Tooya once and for all with their zords and teamwork.
Later back at the Shiba Household, the group had just walked through the front gates talking about their first victory. "What a rush! We did good!" said Emily, Mike nodded "Piece of cake!" "We wouldn't have done it without each other." Told Jayden, Kevin patted his leader's back "Thank you for leading us into battle."
At this time Ji stepped out of the household and went over to the group "Bravo! Such energy, such grace!" "Who is that?" wondered Mike "Your mentor." Told Nariko, once standing in front of the ranger team Ji greeted them "Welcome to your new home you all have come from different places and families, but share one noble goal…I'm very proud of how you come together."
"We just followed some pretty good advice and worked as a team." Said Jayden
"Yes but you're just not any team…You're the samurai rangers." Told Nariko
With that being said the team formed a circle with each other and held up their folding zords high in the air "Rangers together, samurai forever!"