4. Raised To Be The Best

Mentor Ji sat down on the table with Emily and Jayden. He had decided to teach the toddlers about Symbol Powers, before anything else. He had a earth and fire symbol for them, to show them the basics. The younger they were, the better they would become.

"What that?" Jayden asked, his voice low, sad, but curious.

Emily looked at him, confused and sad. She hadn't been her bubbly self, not that Mentor Ji wasn't expecting it. She had just accepted the fact that her mother was gone and never coming back. Jayden was withdrawn when Emily wasn't around him. He didn't talk much, given his responsibility. He had taken his word to the heart, and wouldn't let anything harm Emily.

"Symbol powers," he answered. "Your father, and your mother knew this."

Jayden's gaze dropped. He missed his father dearly, and was trying to deal with the fact his father was gone. He looked at Emily and saw her stare at the table, with a similar expression.

"Emy, you okay?" Jayden asked, softly. He knew she felt the same as he did.

She looked at him and nodded. She barely said anything. He wrapped his arm around her and looked at their mentor.

Mentor Ji put the two symbols in front of them. Emily looked at the earth symbol, pointed at it, and said, in a sad voice, "Ma."

His eyes widened. He didn't know how she knew. He watched as Emily grabbed the paper and traced the lines with her finger. Jayden slowly reached for the fire kanji.

"H-how did you know?" he asked, shocked

Emily looked at him and pointed to Jayden. "Wayn."

"Jayden taught you?"

She nodded.

Mentor Ji smiled. Teaching them would be easier then he thought. And in everyway, he had no doubt they would become the best Samurais the world could offer.

A Year Later

"Keep practicing," Mentor Ji said as he watched the two children practice symbol.

"Meno Hi, wike tis?" Emily asked, showing him the symbol she drew on a piece of paper. Both children were covered in paint.

Mentor Ji smiled at the young girl. "That's good Emily."

The mentor left for a while.

"Wayn, I bowed," Emily whined as she sat the paintbrush down and turned to her big brother who sat next to her.

"Mily, we need practice," Jayden told her, using a nickname.

Emily sighed as she continued to draw.

Soon their mentor walked toward them with two sticks.

"Wha tat?" Emily asked, curiously. Her eyes shone at the toy-like item. The training reminded her of her mother. It made her feel closer to her, even if she was gone. Being at a young age, Emily wasn't meant to remember, but she did. She wore her mother's necklace, and the folding zord was a reminder.

"Katana Sword," Mentor Ji answered.

"What are we doin'?" Jayden asked, happy that he wouldn't be working with symbols.

"You are going to practice swordsmanship," the older man explained.

He taught the two kids how to hold it. They were practicing what they had just learned.

Jayden was enjoying it. He felt good as he practices. He looked over and noticed Emily having a harder time keeping the sword up. He went over to help her.

Mentor Ji smiled as he watched the two kids interact. He knew together, they would be unstoppable, but he also knew he had to watch out. He knew the Nighlok and Master Xandred would be nothing compared to the real battle brewing. With his blood running threw Emily's veins, her future was inevitable. Jayden, being the future red ranger and leader, will have to choose the course of action. He knew both their future would bring agony. They had to be ready, for anything.

"Take a break," Mentor Ji told them, knowing they would be tired.

Jayden and Emily looked at each other and nodded. The older man watched curiously as to what they were going to do. Jayden turned around, covered his eyes with a piece of cloth he got from his pocket and counted backwards from ten.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Pwaying wit ow swenses," Emily explained.

He watches as Emily tried to tackle Jayden, but he moved.

Try after try, Emily wasn't able to get him. He was using his sense of hearing, listening for Emily's footsteps.

After a few minutes, they switched. Jayden would try to take Emily. She seemed to evade his every attack.

Mentor Ji was proud of them. They found a way to enjoy training.

It was night and the children were eating dinner with Mentor Ji.

"Mentor, tell us about ower parents," Jayden told Ji.

"Jayden, your father was a fearless leader. There was nothing that he couldn't beat, well there was one thing," he said.

"Wha?" Emily asked, curious. She was sitting on Mentor's lap as he helped her eat. She looked up at him, with her hazel eyes. Her mother had been right, her eyes had changed colors, but still nothing like his. There was nothing that connected her to him.

"Taking a little one a shower," Mentor Ji said. He laughed as Jayden blushed. Emily giggled. "His father would have him undressed, and his back to the bathtub. Once Jayden heard the water run, he would run out of the room. His father would chase to little naked Jayden around the house. He ended up more tired then he ever was, even his fights against Nighloks."

"Wayn, yuck," Emily giggled, as she clapped her hands. Jayden reached and tickled her stomach.

Jayden and Emily were so small, they didn't remember a lot, but Mentor Ji would make sure they never forgot. They were going to be the future. They were going to be raised to be the best samurais the world ever got.

Next Chapter: A New Friend

Mentor Ji knows Emily and Jayden need an education. Can they survive school and training? Will the pressure be too much? Can they fit in?