6. Goodbyes
It had been a year since the two future samurais started school. Emily was bullied merciless, not that she cared. Emily had developed a crush on her best friend. Her brother knew about it and would tease her.
Jayden had accidentally told Antonio about being a samurai. Thinking everything was over, both children stopped going to school. Antonio, being a year younger than Jayden, didn't find out until reeses. Antonio was angry at first, but later understood, as long as he was trained.
Emily and Jayden were drawing symbols when Antonio appeared. He seemed sad. Both samurais-in-train looked at each other then at their friend.
"What's wrong?" Jayden asked.
"I'm moving," Antonio muttered.
Emily's eyes widened.
"No! You can't go!" she shouted, as she hugged him.
"I'm sorry Embers," he said, stroking her hair.
"When are you leaving?" Jayden asked.
"Tonight," he answered.
Jayden nodded at the eight year old.
"Emy, let's play with Antonio before he leaves," Jayden told the five year old.
She nodded.
"Wha we gonna do?" Emily asked, sitting on the ground.
The two boys shrugged and sat on the ground.
Mentor shook his head as he watched the trio sit around and do nothing. He knew Antonio would backtrack their training.
Shaking his head, he left to get lunch ready.
"We can play with our folding zords," Jayden suggested.
Emily and Antonio nodded.
Jayden left to get the Ape, Lion, and squid-like zords.
"Meet the Lion," Jayden said, holding it on his palm.
"The Ape," Emily said holding hers.
The other zord just sat there.
"What's its name?" Antonio asked.
"Octozord?" Emily suggested.
Jayden nodded. They started to run after the zords.
They chased the zords around. Laughing, they tried to jump for the zords that her in the air. Emily jumped high, but landed bad on her ankle.
"Ow!" she cried out.
Both boys ran to her.
"Embers, are you okay?"
"Mils, does it hurt?"
"A-ankle, p-pain," she whined.
Jayden reached for her ankle, and put pressure on it.
"It hurts!"
"Sorry Em, I have to make sure you didn't break anything," he told her.
She nodded. He put pressure on her foot as she grabbed Antonio's hand.
"It'll be fine," he said, wiping her tears. She nodded.
"It's not broken, but it's sprained. How about we go inside, and play a board game?" Jayden suggested.
"Embers, are you okay with it?" Antonio asked.
"As long as we all togetter," she answered.
Jayden smiled at her inability to say long words correctly. She was smart for a five year old. She could say things he couldn't when he was her age.
"I'll help you up," Jayden offered, as he slowly pulled her up, making sure she didn't put pressure on her bad ankle. He put her right arm over his shoulder, as Antonio did the same to her left. Together, they went to the common room and sat her on the couch.
"Wha we gonna play?" she asked the two boys.
"That one zord game you two play all the time. Octozord will be mine," Antonio suggested, smiling.
The two young samurais nodded.
They played a few games, Jayden winning every game.
"Not fair," Emily pouted.
"She's smaller. I'm barely learning, you have an ad-advantage," he said, sounding the word.
Jayden smirked.
"Lunch!" Mentor Ji called out.
The two boys ran to the kitchen forgetting about Emily's injury. Mentor Ji carried her to her seat in the kitchen. Antonio and Jayden sat on one side of the table, while Emily sat down next to Mentor Ji across from them.
"Mentor Ji, thank you for letting me visit," Antonio said, with a lot of respect.
"You are welcome, Antonio," he said back.
The four people dug into their sandwiches. Mentor Ji watched the children interact. He knew Antonio's leave was going to hit them hard, but it was for the best. Jayden and Emily would become better, with no distraction. He knew his two students would grow up fast, and before he knew it, they would take their parents' place as Earth's Protectors. Antonio's leave would only make them stronger.
Emily was the last one to finish, yet she always ate less then the boys. Mentor Ji carried her to the yard, where she watched Antonio and Jayden play.
It was almost dark. All the three children were in the yard, sitting on the ground in a circle.
"I'll come back. I'll train to be a samurai like you two. I'll be the gold ranger," Antonio told his best friends.
"I'll be the leader. I'll be red," Jayden added.
"No forget yellow. That me," Emily said.
"We'll be the best team ever," Antonio said.
Jayden nodded. "You, me, and Mils."
Emily added, "Tonio and Wayn."
Jayden smiled with Antonio. The zords were flying around the three children. They heard a beep from the other side of the gate.
"That's my dad. I guess this is goodbye for now," Antonio said.
Emily's tears welled up in her eyes. "I-I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Embers," he said. He walked up to her, and gave her a light kiss on her cheek.
She hugged him, crying. "Tonio, don't go!"
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
She let him go and let Jayden talked to him.
"Well brother, until we meet again," he said, as he shook Jayden's hand.
"So you'll remember to come back," Jayden said, as he showed him Octozord on his hand.
"What about it?" Antonio asked.
"Take it. It'll be a reminder to come back," Jayden said.
Antonio smiled. He said goodbye one last time. He ran out the gate. Jayden hugged a crying Emily, as they listened to the car drive away.
"Jay, why does evybody leave us?" Emily asked.
"I don't know, Em," Jayden whispered. "I don't know."
Chapter 7: Growing Up
Seven years have passed. Jayden and Emily are older, and more advanced. They don't know real life. They don't know life outside of training. What will happen when Mentor Ji lets them go out?