Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers, but hey I can dream can't I?

*Italic indicates thought

Chapter Thirteen: Battle Realizations

A/N: Ello! I haves another chapter! Yay! Please review! Pretty please!

"We've all got both light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we chose to act on, that's who we really are." -Sirius Black

The next morning Jayden was getting dressed in his room.

"We need to talk!" Lauren stated walking in and shutting the door.

"Lauren!" Jayden exclaimed, jumping. "What're you doing in here?! I'm trying to get dressed!"

"I know you've been having the dreams too, so don't try to deny it."

Jayden froze and stared at her, his shirt half-way on. "What?"

"I know you've been having the dreams too. The ones about Antonio and him d-"

"Don't! Even. Say. It."

"So you have been having them."

"Yeah, for a while now."

"Do you have any idea what they mean?"

"No but-"

"But, what?"

"They've gotten worse," Jayden said pulling his shirt down. "I mean, it's started to feel more real."

Lauren nodded. "Yeah. They have. And I'm afraid they're coming true."

"WHAT?!"

"Shhhh!" Lauren exclaimed. "I don't exactly want the entire house to know we're having this conversation!"

"What...What do you mean they're coming true? They're just-"

"You can't say they're just dreams. You can't honestly say that."

"Well they are! What could possibly make you think they're coming true?!"

"In the dreams it's dark. I've checked Jayden. That circle is still over the sun. And there's less light out than usual."

"So," Jayden said uncomfortably crossing his arms stubbornly.

Lauren sighed. "And there's this black ranger."

"What about him?"

"I think he's the dark figure."

"You mean the one that laughs over Antonio's...c...corpse?"

"Yes. And the fact that the nighlocks might be targeting him doesn't make me feel any better about all of this."

"You think the dreams could be warnings of some kind?"

"Possibly. It's not that far fetched."

Jayden didn't say anything for a minute. "They can't be real. They just can't."

"The are," Lauren said gently. "We just don't want them to be. And we shouldn't...deny they aren't."

"Huh?"

"If we ignore the signs they could come true without us knowing. And...I don't know about you, but the idea of Antonio being killed, and we could've stopped it, but didn't because we were being naive, is worse than him just being killed."

Jayden nodded. "You have a point. But what can we do?"

"I don't know."

-Light and Dark-

"Hey, mì amor," Antonio said to Lauren later that, putting his arm around her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "What's up?"

"Oh nothing," Lauren said. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"Everything. Stuff's just been so hectic lately that it's hard to process."

Antonio kissed her on the neck and put his face in her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Lauren laughed. She was about to reply when the gap sensor went off. She jumped up as Jayden ans the others came out of the house. She pulled Antonio to his feet and he followed them to the battle.

-Light and Dark-

The rangers arrived at the battle to find the moogers attacking people.

"SAMURAIZERS, GO, GO SAMURAI!"

"SAMURAI MORPHER, GOLD POWER!"

The rangers attacked the moogers. Antonio ducked as a mooger swung its word at him. He hit it with his sword, but it wasn't very hard. He had to jump to the side to avoid being hit. Another mooger caught his arm and threw him to the ground. He landed hard and jumped to his feet. He dodged another mooger sword and tried to hit them, but missed. He stopped as the moogers disappeared. He looked around. "What the-ah!" he was knocked off his feet and flew forward. He rolled over and narrowed his eyes.

The black ranger stood not far from him.

"Antonio!" Lauren said still fighting off moogers.

Jayden saw that his friend was in danger and tried to get rid of the moogers faster.

"Hello, Samurai of Light."

"Hello," Antonio replied getting to his feet.

"Master Xandred says that I have to kill you."

Antonio blinked, fear registering for a minute before disappearing. "That's not good."

"Well for you." The black ranger ran at him with surprising speed. Antonio dove to the side and grabbed his sword. He brought int up into a black just as the black ranger swung his. The two weapons hit with a clang! The black ranger tried to force Antonio's arm down. "You know, it's a shame I have to kill you. We could be such good allies."

"One problem with that," Antonio said. "You're evil. I'm not." He sidestepped and slashed the black ranger on the shoulder. He almost lost his barraccuda blade when a flash of pain traveled down his own shoulder. He disregarded it and ducked as the black ranger took a swing at his neck. He kicked the black ranger in the stomach, then stumbled back when he had the wind knocked out of him.

The black ranger came at him again, swinging his sword in quick, decisive slashes. He landed a few blows on Antonio, causing the gold ranger to fall backwards. The black ranger yelped in pain and stumbled backwards. Jayden finally freed himself of moogers and ran to Antonio's aid. He swung his spin sword at the black ranger, who stopped it with his own sword. He spun in his heel faster than Jayden could react and hit the red ranger across the chest.

"Gah!" Jayden shouted in pain. He swung his sword again and managed to swipe his sword along the black ranger's body. He didn't register Antonio gasping in pain. He continued his assault and kicked the black ranger in chest. Antonio wimpered in pain as he felt something smash into his chest. The black ranger retreated a bit. "Stay. Away. From. Him!" Jayden said, hitting the black ranger with every word. He heard Antonio cry out in pain and flinched thinking more moogers must've showed up. From the corner of his eye he saw Lauren running to Antonio, so he focused back on the black ranger.

The dark samurai didn't move for a minute. He looked at Jayden, then back at Antonio. He touched a sore shoulder experimentally and could hear the gasp from Antonio. Jayden ran at the black ranger again but the evil ranger simply disappeared through a gap. Jayden de-morphed and ran to Antonio. He had de-morphed and the others were trying to help him. Jayden was shocked to see how injured Antonio was.

"The moogers and the black ranger really but into him," Kevin said helping the gold ranger to his feet.

"Yeah," Lauren said. "Can you walk?"

"Uh-huh," Antonio said nodding. "I'm ok."

"We should go back," Jayden said. "Ji needs to look at him."

As they walked Antonio leaned on Lauren and thought. Something wasn't right. He couldn't place it, but there something really bad going on here.

-Light and Dark-

"Why didn't you destroy him?!" Master Xandred roared in anger.

"I couldn't," the black ranger replied.

"Pitiful excuse. I told you to end him!"

"Oo aa oo, what reason could you possibly have for failing?" Octoroo asked. The black ranger was perfect for their plan. He should have killed the gold ranger.

"You think you're so smart. That I wouldn't realize your full plan."

"What are you talking about?" Dayu asked.

"Well I'm not falling for it. I'm not some slow-witted nighlock you can scare into doing what you want. I'm out. I'll follow my own plan." With that he turned and left Master Xandred's junk, jumping into the Sanzu River.

"Well," Dayu said. "This is a first."

"If he ever come back destroy him!" Master Xandred shouted.

"Maybe the samurai will do it for us," Dayu said.

Octoroo shook his head. His plan had been perfect...He smiled. "Oo aa oo, this can still work."

"How?"

"The black ranger is going or go after the samurai again, and when he does it'll fulfill the rest of my plan."

Dayu smiled as she realized what Octoroo was talking about. "Lets hope so."