Chapter 34
Today at the Shiba household Jayden was out in the front yard training with the wooden practice sword along with the other rangers. He couldn't help but grip the sword a bit tight as he thought back to what Deker said on the island.
"Was Deker right about me?" Jayden thought to himself, he shook his head, "No I'll prove him wrong!"
The red ranger then focused as his team attacked him, he quickly blocked their attacks and soon pointed his sword right at Mike who immediately stopped in his tracks. The green ranger then took a step back as Jayden got into a stance.
The rangers' leader studied them for a moment before saying, "Come at me!"
While the rangers did what they were told and attacked at the same time once more, Ji and Nariko were watching this event unfold on the sidelines. The Yamada princess silently gasped and covered her mouth as she watched her fiance take down his team with so much anger.
The samurai mentor looked to her as she did this, "Nariko?"
"I-It's nothing Ji…I just…"
The two then looked back to the rangers as they heard Mike exclaim, "Dude it's only practice!"
"Sorry! Practice…Is over…" announced the red ranger
Emily quickly went over to the green ranger pulling him back from Jayden, "Mike come on! Let's go inside…"
At this time Antonio walked out of the household dressed in his training clothes, "Hey am I late?" he noticed the looks on his friends' face, "Did I miss something?"
Mia quickly went over to the gold ranger, "We were just heading inside…Join us?"
As she and the other rangers walked back inside the Shiba house Mike couldn't help but say, "Man…What was that about?"
Jayden looked over his shoulder and watched his team leave before making his way over to Nariko and Ji, "Mentor…I didn't mean to hit them so hard…What's wrong with me?"
Ji gestured toward his motorcycle, "Come on let's go for a ride."
Before the red ranger joined his mentor on the bike, he looked to his dear fiance "Nariko…"
The Yamada princess gently cupped her loved one's face, "You go on ahead with Ji, I'll meet up with the two of you soon…You two be careful while you're out."
"All right…"
Jayden leaned forward a bit, making Nariko grin a bit before leaning up and meeting her fiancé's lips in a kiss. The couple was like that for a few moments and soon broke apart when Ji cleared his throat.
The Yamada princess was the first to pull away, she gently pushed some of Jayden's hair to the side "I love you Jay…"
"I love you too Nariko…"
The couple shared one more kiss before Jayden joined Ji on his bike, Nariko stood off to the side and watch the two leave waving good bye to them.
30 minutes later near the shoreline, Ji stopped his bike at a huge tree and stood under it along with Jayden. The two were silent for quite some time until the samurai mentor broke it by asking his pupil, "Were you trying to prove something?"
Jayden sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "I don't know…"
"It's Deker isn't it?"
"He says I've become weaker…Have I?"
"No…The team and Nariko have only made you stronger…"
"But I feel different! Like…Like I've lost my edge…I think that' s why I went a little crazy on the team today…It's not like how it was when it was just the three of us…Maybe Deker has a point…"
"And what's that?"
Jayden turned to his samurai mentor, "That I've lost my warrior's edge! I've relied too much on the team!"
Ji took a few steps closer to the red ranger, "No! It's because you're a strong team leader that you've been able to defeat the nighlok up to now!"
"But!"
"You bring honor to all the red rangers who have come before you…Never doubt that Jayden."
The two soon heard the cry of a horse; they turned to see Nariko riding upon a white stallion down the sandy shoreline. Jayden took in the sight of his fiance happily riding along the shore in her long, flowing white sun dress and couldn't help but smile a bit. The princess stopped a few feet away from the red ranger and samurai mentor, she smiled and waved at them.
Ji returned the gestured before gently patting his pupil's shoulder, "I'll leave you and Nariko alone now…I realized that the two of you haven't really spent much time together and I felt that this is the best time to leave you two be."
"Thanks Ji."
The samurai mentor nodded and returned to his motorcycle, as he drove off Jayden made his way over to his fiance. Nariko smiled a bit as her red ranger stopped by her side, "So…How did that talk with Ji went?" "It went all right…"
The red ranger helped the Yamada princess down from the horse before pulling her into an embrace. "Even though you had a talk with Ji, you still look like you have something on your mind." Said Nariko
Jayden sighed and rests his head against his loved one's head, "I…I feel different…What Deker said to back on the island…Maybe Deker has a point…I've lost my edge.."
The princess broke the embrace and gently cupped her fiancé's face, "No…You're wrong…You haven't lost your edge Jayden…"
"I almost lost you to Serrator, Nariko! When I saw you under his control…I thought I had failed trying to protect you…"
"But you found the strength to fight and set me free from Serrator's control…You didn't fail at all Jayden…" she takes her hands away from Jayden's face and grab his hand, "Come on…Let's go for a ride…It'll take your mind off of this…"
"All right…"
Jayden climbed onto the horse first, followed by Nariko who sat behind him. She wrapped her arms around the red ranger as he made the horse trot down the sandy shore. Minutes passed and the couple was happily laughing as they rode along the ocean shore, the red ranger soon stopped their steed and gazed to the sparkling ocean waters.
Nariko happily sighed and laid her head on her fiancé's back, enjoying the ocean breeze that gently blew her hair, "Peaceful isn't it Jayden?"
"Yeah…It feels really nice…"
The couple then became silent as they listened to the sound of ocean waves crashing on the shore. Jayden placed his hands over Nariko's giving them an affectionate squeeze, "I love you Nariko…"
The Yamada princess smiled at this and hugged the red ranger a little bit tighter, "I love you too Jayden…"
Suddenly a familiar beeping reached the couple's ears, Jayden immediately pulled out his samuraizer and answered the call, "Jayden here…I see…All right we're making our way back now…"
Nariko looked at her red ranger as he ended the call and put his samuraizer away, "Jayden?"
"That was Ji…He wants us to hurry back to the household…Another nighlok has appeared…"
"I see…"
"Hold on tight Nariko."
Once making sure she had a firm grip on him, Jayden snapped the horse's reigns. The steed gave a loud cry and quickly galloped off.
Back at the Shiba household, the other rangers had quickly gathered in the living room as the gap sensor went off. They surrounded the table and looked at the virtual map of the city, "There's a disturbance at the coast line but…" said Kevin, though he trailed off once spotting Jayden walk in with Nariko and Ji causing the other rangers to look at their leader.
"Sorry we're late." Said Nariko
"Jayden…We can handle this if you're not…" said Mia
Jayden shook his head, "I'm fine…And I'm sorry…I had a lot of things in my mind earlier…I was wrong to act the way I did…"
"Jayden, it's ok." Assured Emily
"I just want you to know how proud I am to fight alongside you."
Mike gave his leader a grin, "Dude…It's ok…But could you stop the proud stuff? You're starting to freak me out."
Everyone chuckled at this then Antonio raised his hand, catching the others' attention "Uh…Excuse me? Shouldn't we all be high tailing it out to the coastline?"
"Let's go." Said Jayden, he turned to Nariko and gave her a swift kiss before dashing out the household with the rangers.
At the coastline Serrator was roaming along the rocks, holding a locator in one hand and Dayu's harmonium in the other, "It must be here…If I follow these readings I'll locate the final spot that I need to complete my final plan."
He stopped once the locator started going off and nodded in approval, "Ah! Here it is!" he held up Dayu's instrument and studied it, "Now…Play your song of woe and create a crevice of misery so deep that I'll be able to slice this world in two!"
"Serrator!"
The devious nighlok turned and to his disgust found the rangers standing a few feet away from him, "Rangers!"
"What are you up to now?!" demanded Jayden
"Well, well, well…Welcome! As you can see I'm not doing anything. I'm as innocent as a dove!" said Serrator
"Yeah, right!" said Kevin
"Give us a break!" said Mike
"This time you're going down!" told Antonio
The rangers quickly morphed and charged at Serrator only to be stopped by a group of moogers suddenly showing up. While being distracted Serrator walked a few feet away from the rangers and was about to continue with his plan, Dayu showed up and angrily attacked the devious nighlok "Serrator!"
"Dayu!"
The devious nighlok quickly dodge her attack and landed two feet away, Dayu growled and turned towards him, "Serrator! What's your game?! You never intended to fix my harmonium did you?"
"To be honest all I really wanted was Deker and the powerful sad music this makes. You've been nothing but a pawn in my plan."
"You've deceived me for the last time! Liar!"
She charged towards Serrator with her dagger in hand, though before Dayu could lay a hand on him Serrator quickly held up her instrument making the female nighlok stop in her tracks "Ah, ah, ah! And it only took you two hundred years to figure that out."
"Put my harmonium down so I can take you down!"
While she was distracted Serrator took this chance to attack Dayu, she jumped back once receiving the hit and glared at the devious nighlok "Give it back you two bit con man!" She charged at him again, "It's mine!"
"Stop these futile attacks!"
To the rangers' surprise they watched as Serrator used his magic to attack Dayu, his attacks sent the female nighlok to the ground. She groaned painfully from the hits and tried to get up, Serrator scoffed at her attempt and began approaching her "Dayu…Your frustration tastes like the sweetest candy on my tongue."
"I can only hope that your wickedness will come back on you tenfold!"
Serrator stood over the weak Dayu and began to laugh evilly but stop when the sky became dark, lightening flashed and angry growls filled the air. The rangers ceased their fighting against the moogers and looked around, confused at what's going on.
Little did they know that in the netherworld, Master Xandred had received word from Octoroo about Serrator's treachery and became furious "Serrator has been deceiving me this whole time?! I'll go to Earth and destroy him!"
Octoroo immediately grabbed onto the nighlok king's arm, trying to prevent him from leaving "Master I know that you're angry with him but you can't go there! The moment you leave you'll dry out!"
Xandred abruptly turned to his minion and attacked him with his sword, "Shut up!" Octoroo immediately let go and fell back and Xandred began leaving the boat, "Serrator!"
Back at the Shiba household Nariko was with Ji drinking some tea, though as she took a sip from her cup the princess immediately sensed an intense dark aura causing her to drop her drink. The cup shattered as it came in contact with the wooden floor, Ji looked to her in worry "Nariko what's wrong?"
The Yamada princess quickly stood up from her seat and went over to the window. She opened it and looked out to see the dark sky filled with lightening along with the angry growls that sent shivers down her spine, "Oh no…"
Nariko quickly brushed pass Ji and ran to her room, in there the princess grabbed her sais and made her way to the front. Once again she pass by the samurai mentor who called after her, "Nariko! Where are you going?!"
"To Jayden and the others! They're in danger!"
"Wait, Nariko!"
The Yamada princess just ignored his calls and rushed outside, there she made her way over to her horse and got on "Come on boy, we need to hurry!" Nariko snapped the reigns, having the horse cry and quickly gallop off.
With the rangers they continued to look at the sky, all of them were very confused with what's happening. "What's wrong with the sky?" wondered Mike, "It's darkening like an eclipse…"
Suddenly they heard a chilling voice as pieces of rocks began to form a figure, "Days will become night as I escape the netherworld to face my enemies!"
"Xandred…" muttered Jayden
"What?! It can't be!" exclaimed Serrator
"It can be and it shall!"
The rock figure soon exploded and from within it revealed Master Xandred himself, the rangers couldn't help but stare at the nighlok in shock. "Jayden…Is that?" questioned Kevin
"Master Xandred." Told Jayden
"Red ranger…" growled Xandred
"Guess you're not as strong as you thought! You're already losing power!" said Antonio
"His spell is fading so his visit here will be short." Told Serrator
Cracks began to appear on the nighlok king's body causing him to cry out in pain and glare at the everyone, "I will destroy you all!" Xandred sent a powerful attack at the rangers and Serrator who were completely caught off guard.
"Serrator!" growled Xandred, he sent his dark powers towards the nighlok traitor trying to trap him, "It's your turn!"
"I will not be bound!" due to trying to avoid Xandred's power, Serrator dropped Dayu's harmonium, "I never thought you ventured into this realm!" he quickly made his escape from the nighlok king, "While you dry out I'll take my leave!"
"You will not escape me!" declared Xandred
Recovering from the nighlok king's attack, Jayden drew his spin sword and activated his power disk. The red ranger then charged at Xandred, though as his sword hit the nighlok it had no effect at all. Xandred grabbed Jayden's blade, "Ah yes…The red ranger…Pathetic head of the Shiba clan and the one who is keeping my Yamada princess away from me!"
Xandred slashed Jayden with his sword and broke the red ranger's spin sword in two, he then attacked Jayden once more sending back a few feet. This angered the other rangers who immediately attacked Xandred, though their combined attacks were easily deflected by the nighlok king who sent back a powerful attack of his own.
Kevin and the others collapsed to the ground in pain as they received Xandred's attack. Seeing that his team was down, Jayden got back on his feet. He then grabbed Emily's spin sword and pulled out the black box, going super samurai and prepared to use the bullzooka cannon.
"Red ranger…I owe your family some payback and you're the one who's going to pay!" told Xandred
The rangers pleaded to their leader not to use the weapon but he ignored them and said, "I have to try!"
He fired the weapon but the attack proved to have no effect since Xandred deflected the attack. Then both Jayden and Master Xandred battled it out for a few seconds only for the red ranger to be trapped by Xandred's dark powers. The nighlok king slashed Jayden two more times and as a result the red ranger collapsed and powered down.
Xandred scoffed at the sight, "Pathetic…"
"Stay away from him!"
The nighlok king turned around and to his surprise was attacked by Nariko. She quickly dodged Xandred as he tried to grab her and slashed at the nighlok with her sais. Lightning surrounded her weapons and the princess furiously swings her sais, sending two lightning spheres to Xandred. Nariko jumped back and landed in front of Jayden as the lightning hit Xandred, the nighlok king angrily growled "Argh! It seems my princess has some fighting spirit but now is not the time!"
The nighlok king turned away and went to fetch Dayu's harmonium, Nariko took this time to go to Jayden. The princess fell to her knees and gently pulled her fiancé's injured body to hers, "Oh my god…Jayden!" the other rangers quickly made their way over to the couple, "Nariko! How's Jayden?" asked Mike
"Not good...He's badly injured…"
To their dismay giant moogers appeared from the netherworld as Master Xandred made a deal with Dayu. Kevin turned to the Yamada princess, "It's not safe for you or Jayden to be here…Antonio, Mia, Mike and I will take care of the giant moogers. Emily will go with you and help bring Jayden back to the Shiba household."
"All right…Be careful Kevin…"
The blue ranger nodded and took the black box from Jayden who still held it in his hand. While he and the others went off to fight the giant moogers, Nariko looked to the yellow ranger "Come on Emily, we need to get Jayden back."
"You got it Nariko."
Later back at the Shiba household, Kevin and the others quickly finished off the giant moogers and helped Nariko and Emily bring Jayden back. Mike and Emily quickly opened the front doors letting Kevin and Antonio carry an injured Jayden in. Ji who had been anxiously waiting in the living room, stood up from his seat and dashed over to the rangers "Quick Kevin, Antonio bring Jayden to his room!"
The two followed the samurai mentor's orders and carried their leader to his room, with the others closely following. Once inside Kevin and Antonio gently laid Jayden on his bed then stepped back as Nariko immediately went to her fiancé's side.
Ji hurried in carrying a bowl of water, medicine and some bandages. He handed these things to the Yamada princess, "Here Nariko." "Thank you Ji…"
Quickly the Yamada heir went to work, tending to Jayden's injuries. The rangers couldn't help but be worried for their leader as they watched Nariko tend to him. A tear fell down the princess' cheek but she quickly wiped it away with back of her hand and continued tending to her fiance.
"Nariko…" called Ji
The princess sent him a look and went back to the red ranger's treatment, knowing that look of hers Ji turned to the others "Let's wait in the living room."
"What about Jayden?" asked Mike
"Nariko is treating him, so it's best we don't get in her way."
Ji then left the room though the rangers stayed behind for a bit, one by one they reluctantly left the red ranger's room. Kevin was the last to leave and quietly closed the door behind him, while Nariko rubbed medicine on Jayden's injuries she thought "Please be all right Jayden…I know you're strong but…I…I can't lose you…I just can't…"
The princess held back her tears as she continued with her work, time passed and it was soon nighttime. None of the rangers or Ji had left the living room as they continued to wait for Nariko to come out. The princess soon entered the room and immediately everyone snapped their attention to her, Kevin stood up from his seat "How's Jayden, Nariko?"
"He's going to be fine…But he's going to need a lot of rest…"
The rangers sighed in relief at the news, Ji stood up from his seat "I believe it's getting to that time where we should be having dinner…I'll go fix us something."
Later that night Nariko had remained in Jayden's room after eating her dinner with the others. Currently she was gently wiping her fiancé's face with a wet cloth when Ji entered the room, "Nariko? It's getting late…You should head onto bed…"
"I'm fine with staying here Ji…Besides someone needs to watch Jayden and make sure he's all right…"
"Nariko…"
"I'm not leaving his side Ji."
The samurai mentor gently placed his hand on the princess' shoulder, "I understand…But do get some rest…"
"I will…"
Ji slowly left the room but stopped at the doorway and looked back at the engaged couple, he smiled a bit and gave a small sigh then departed. Once the door quietly closed behind Ji, Nariko placed the wet cloth back in the bowl and gently held Jayden's hand from there she watched over her red ranger and remained at his side throughout the night.
Two days have passed since the incident with Master Xandred, it was morning at the Shiba household when Jayden finally woke up from his deep slumber. He looked at his surroundings in confusion, "I'm in my room?"
"Good to see you're finally awake."
Jayden looked to see Ji standing at his door carrying a tray in hand, "Ji…"
"Good morning to you too Jayden. I brought you and Nariko some breakfast."
"What?" the red ranger then felt someone holding his hand and looked down to find the Yamada princess resting her head on his bed, "Nariko…Ji how long have I been out?"
Ji approached the couple and set the tray down on the table, "Two days…Nariko tended to your injuries and from there she hasn't left your side since…" the samurai mentor then left the room, "I'll leave you two now…It's good to see you're well Jayden…"
As Ji left the room Jayden gently pulled his hand out of his fiancé's grasp and lightly shook her shoulder, "Nariko…Nariko wake up…" the Yamada princess groaned and slowly awoke, once her gaze landed on Jayden she abruptly sat up "Jayden!"
"Hey…"
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm feel just fine, thanks to you."
Nariko sighed in relief, "Oh I'm so glad…" the princess then covered her face as she began to cry. Jayden immediately pulled his loved one into an embrace and gently petted her head, "Hey now…Come on don't cry…"
"I-I almost lost you to Xandred! I-I thought…"
"You're never going to lose me…Nor am I losing you…"
"Jayden…"
"That's a promise Nariko."
More tears fell from her eyes and Nariko buried her face in Jayden's chest as she continued to cry. Jayden held her tighter and gave gentle kisses to her forehead as he began rocking his princess back and forth trying to comfort her and ease her worry for him.