A/N: So I hold my hands up, I have no excuses, I've been massilvey focused on my House of the Dragon fic over on AO3 and this has fallen to the wayside, while I won't promise such regular updates as that gets, since we are nearing the end, I do not intend for it to be another two months. Thank you to those of you who are still with me! :D


Jayden climbed back out of the ravine, he could feel Deker was coming, knew he wouldn't stop. He had to finish this, really finish it this time.
The sound of hoofbeats reach him then and he turns, his eyes narrowing when he sees Deker now on horseback galloping towards him.

Pulling his samuraiser he draws the symbol, a horse appearing in front of him, and he vaults into the saddle with far less ease than usual.
He was sore, but he wasn't going to let that stop him, drawing his sword he kicks him forwards, the sound of metal singing out as their swords clashed, circling each other.
Though it was anything but easy. Horseback combat was something Jayden had only practiced sporadically, and now he was wishing he'd done it a lot more.


Mike paced the room, "We have to stop them. Or we have to go and help at least."
"We can't stop this, I've tried," says Ji.
"We have to," protests Antonio.
"Okay before we decide anything, Evie should be part of this, out of all of us she'd know what Jayden would actually want," counters Emily.
"Right now I think what she wants is to kill Jayden herself," snorts Antonio.

"Either way Emily is right, Evie should be here too," says Mia.
"But Jayden benched her for a reason, much as no one might want to say it, but I agree with his decision. Sure she's not suffered too much with the pregnancy so far, that however can change in an instant. Would any of us forgive ourselves if something happened and she lost the baby? And would she forgive herself if one of us was seriously hurt or lost in defence of her and the baby?" argues Kevin.

"Lauren what do you think we should do?" asks Ji turning to her.
She swallows nervously, wiping her hands on her skirt to try and not make it obvious they were sweating.
"I'm sorry no offence, but when Jayden isn't here, Evie is the one who leads the team, she's the one we turn to, so I say she should be here for this before any decision gets made," retorts Mike.

"Except Jayden himself has decided she isn't going to be the one to lead the team, because she is incapable of being neutral right now. So since Lauren is here, she should be the one to make the decision," protests Antonio.
"Enough okay, arguing over who makes the decision has little bearing on the fact we have to make this decision. So how about we act like adults instead of passing the puck to someone else," interrupts Mia.

"What if we split the team," says Kevin.
"What do you mean?" asks Lauren.
"Evie and I stay here with Ji and Lauren. Lauren continues to practice the sealing symbol, and she has back up if we are needed. While the four of you go and help Jayden. If someone is feeling brave, how about we go and ask Evie where he is right now, and go from there?"


Mike looks at Mia and Emily who both nod, and Antonio moves next to them as well.
"Alright then, I'll go and see Evie," says Emily as she turns and heads down the corridor.
Getting to her room she knocks gently, "Evie, can I come in?"
When she doesn't get an immediate no she opens the door, and finds Evie sat on the bed, twirling yet another throwing knife in her hand.
"Mike, Mia, Antonio and me are going to help Jayden, we were hoping you could tell us where he is."

"Me coming with you would make more sense."
"Maybe so, but precious cargo and all that, I am sorry for how Jayden did it though."
"Men, never underestimate how fragile their egos are," she scoffs.
"You don't mean that Evie, and Jayden is only doing what he thinks is best for you and the baby, because he loves you. And I know part of you knows that too, under the anger and the hurt."

Evie scoffs again, before she sighs and shuts her eyes.
Emily waits quietly, assuming she was using the bond to track Jayden.
And a few minutes later her eyes open again, "Higher up in the Peaks they've crossed the bridge and they're on horseback now. I advise you do the same if you want to get to him quickly. And hurry, I can feel how this is wearing on him."

"We will, we'll bring him home Evie, I promise."
Evie purses her lips but nods.
Emily gives her a tight smile before stepping out of the room and moving back to the others.

"So?" asks Mike.
"Further up into the Peaks across the bridge, they're on horseback so we need to go now."
The four of them turn and rush out of the door, summoning horses as they do so, though Antonio being unable to is pulled up behind Mia.

Ji returns to his room to clean up, and Kevin wanders the house, he hoped he'd done the right thing. In theory he'd kept the two strongest rangers in himself and Evie back here with Lauren. But he truly did think Jayden had done what was best, none wanted to risk Evie, nor the baby. And he knew she didn't either, it just went against her nature. The conundrum that was Evie's mind continued to baffle him.


Jayden's sword clashes against Deker's as they continue their battle.
"You will fall to my sword again Deker," warns Jayden, as he rounds on Deker again before charging, "go, go samurai!" he calls as he morphs his sword clashing against Deker's.
He rounds again, "Let's take him down"" he shouts as he charges the two continuing to clash across the terrain.
They separate but face off, "I won't rest until we finish this duel," warns Deker.
"Then lets finish this!"
Both charge, their powers manifesting around them but both dive into the air their swords clashing.


Lauren finds him looking at one of the armour stands.
"Kevin."
He starts and turns to her.
"I get it if you want to be with the others. You guys are more than just Samurai. You're friends, hell, you're a family."
"Thank you Lauren, I know you can handle yourself. And as a Samurai, my duty is to protect the entire city, not just my friends."

"You're all very lucky to have each other. I've never had a good friend, and its been a long time since I was part of a family."
Kevin closes the gap between them, resting his hand on her shoulder.
"Well now you do, and you're part of this family too."
"Thank you. But seeing you all, I'm starting to think duty might not be the most important thing, when it comes to your family."
Kevin sighs, "Hard decisions are a privilege of command."
"Who said that?"
"It's from a movie Mike made us watch."
"Well it's not wrong."
"No, no it isn't, come on, lets go train."


The sky darkens temporarily around Jayden and Deker, the ground smoking and grey as a dim light returns and they re-engage.
Deker laughs, "you feel it too, the way of the sword is the only way to live."
"No, that's where you're wrong" replies Jayden as he jumps backwards, "the only good that comes from fighting is the defeat of evil," replies Jayden, renewing his attack.

"How far off are we?" yells Mike as they gallop through the woods.
"Not far now," says Mia.
"We need to get to him before it's too late, I refuse to lose my best friend," Antonio clutches the reins tighter, he couldn't lose Jayden, he just couldn't.

Darkness had completely fallen around them, their swords flashing against each other.
"The last time we duelled, you broke Urumasa in two. But this time the only thing that will break is my curse, and you," assures Deker as he pushes Jayden down onto his knees trying to block him. Jayden cries out in pain as Urumasa slices across his shoulder.
"You will fall to my sword red ranger. And then Urumasa and I will be free at last" states Deker as he swings his sword towards Jayden again. "And this time, you lover is not here to defend you."
His sword slices across Jayden's chest sending him sprawling backwards.

Jayden gasps in pain as he pulls himself up trying to ignore the burning in his body.
Only for a warmth to radiate through him, a sense of just Evie, surrounding him.
It wasn't strength per say, he wouldn't dare risk pulling from her in case it hurt the baby. But it was a reminder of what he was fighting for. It was her belief in his ability to do it.

"No, I will defeat you. And she is always with me," retorts Jayden as he blocks the blow and pushes his sword along Urumasa slicing across Deker's chest in a devastating blow.
He turns and blocks Deker's attempt at another attack and Urumasa flies into the air, "this ends now!" yells Jayden as he slices his sword up Deker's chest in a fatal blow, Urumasa landing on the floor between them as Deker explodes and drops to the floor in human form. Jayden collapses as well, de-morphing as he does so.

An explosion rips across the horizon.
"No Jayden!" cries Antonio urging his horse faster as they race towards it.
"No, no, no, come on man don't make me go back and tell Evie we failed," pleads Mike.


Evie stood in the kitchen; her eyes closed as she channelled through the bond.
If she couldn't physically be with him, at least he'd know she was still with him in the way she could be.

She feels the triumph surge through Jayden and the image of Deker dropping to the ground, as her almost collapsing against the counter in relief.
Resting her hand on her stomach she takes a deep breath, "You got any idea how much trouble you've caused kid?"

"Taking after his mom then," says Kevin as he walks into the kitchen.
Evie turns to him, "She, gets it from her dad too."
"I still think he."
"Then you're going to be wrong. I know, it's a she."

"How's it uh, how's it going?" he asks.
"Deker's down, but, it's not over yet, I wish to God it was, but it's not. I hate that I've left him to this. That Deker managed to isolate him again. And I guess the reason he managed it was cause of me. He'd never have been out there alone if it weren't for me."
Tears welling her eyes, she couldn't bear the thought of losing Jayden. Of him never getting to meet their daughter.

"Hey. No, no don't say that. Deker would've found a way even if you and Jayden hadn't argued."
Kevin takes her hands.
"But he wouldn't have been alone. We wouldn't have been sending Ji to help him, wouldn't have been sending half the team to him possibly too late to be any help, and with all due respect to the others, leaving the two best fighters at home.

I'm pregnant, I'm not freaking broken and I don't care how up on numbers we are, I can do things that the others can't, just like you can. We thought we got rid of Deker once and he came back again. Which means what Jayden suffered through, was him getting off easy. This is going to be worse; I can feel it. And if we fail, what the hell is going to matter if I'm still pregnant or not, because the Nighloks will flood the land and we'll all be dead anyway. And say we do win, how am I supposed to not resent my child, if her existence costs me her father?"

Evie pulls her hands from his starting to pace.
"You're not wrong," comes Lauren's voice.
They turn to look at her.
"Lauren, hey, what do you need?" asks Kevin.
"What I need, is for you to go and save my baby brother."
She pulls Evie's samuraiser out from behind her back and holds it out.
"Both of you. Jayden's intentions were good, and his logic was sound. But the final battle isn't here yet. And when it does come, we'll need Jayden to win it. So go and save his ass, as I hear you've been doing for a number of years."

"No, no I need to protect the city and you, while you perfect the sealing symbol, and Evie, I'm sorry but I agree with Jayden on the risks," protests Kevin.
"Your dedication is admirable and as I said, Jayden's logic is sound. But he needs you, both of you far more than I do. I'll be here if a Nighlok comes, and I hear Evie is a dab at transport symbols should it come to it.

He's my little brother, I can't lose him when I've only just gotten him back, and Evie's right, you and she are the best fighters, and from what I understand, Evie has a way of dealing with problems that other people don't think of. Something tells me Deker is the one we'll need that with most."

Evie reaches out and takes her samuraiser, "Thank you Lauren, you have no idea how much this means to me."
"I think you're probably right, but I can imagine. And Kevin, she'll have you, keep her safe, and bring your family home."
"Thank you," he nods and taking Evie's outstretched hand they race out of the kitchen, calling for their horses as they do, and begin tearing through the growing darkness.
"We're coming Jayden, you better not fucking die in the interim," she mutters following the pull of their bond.


Jayden pulls himself into a sitting position, and smiles, "it's over."
Then a laugh echoes from Deker and Jayden's smile falls.
Deker rolls onto his side, "this isn't over yet," he says struggling to pull himself up.
"That's impossible," groans Jayden.
"This cursed body won't stop," chuckles Deker through it was devoid of humour as he pulls himself up and his hand closed around Urumasa.
Jayden's grip tightens on his own sword.

"There they are!" yells Mike.
"Jayden!" screams Emily.
Jayden turns sharply counting four of his team, and for a moment he had really hoped to see Evie.
"What are you doing here?" demands Jayden.
"You have to stop!" yells Emily as they reach the edge of the fire and the others stop.
"What fresh fucking hell is this, and episode of the Vampire Diaries?" demands Mike as he looks at the flaming circle.

"You've fought enough," pleads Mia.
"Jay, stop," begs Mike looking for a way into the circle.
"Let's finish this." Deker's tone unabashedly goading.
"No, neither of you have to do this," argues Emily.

"They don't know what they're talking about, this is all I've ever needed to do," says Deker. "Raise your sword" he orders as he stands, "it's time I found peace in your defeat."
He struggles to pull Urumasa out of the ground, belaying the weakness of his body beneath the strength of his words.
Jayden smirks, "Face it Deker, it's over. You're too tired to even lift your sword."

He pulls himself up, watching as Deker has a conversation with someone he can't see. "This fight is over," he says as he turns and starts towards his friends.
"If only that were true," replies Deker, as he transforms into his Nighlok form with a laugh and pulls Urumasa charging at Jayden.

"Jayden!"
He turns, trying to bring his sword up, but his adrenaline was already crashing and he realises he's not going to be able to block the hit.
Only for a sword to appear through Deker's chest.


He stills, Urumasa dropping from his hands as he looks down at the blade protruding from him.
It's wrenched backwards and he drops to his knees, revealing Evie stood behind him.
"Evie." Jayden was torn between relief and fear as he looked up at her.

Evie looks down at Deker.
"I told you I'd put my sword through your chest if you touched him again."
But despite Deker being gone the flames weren't dying down.
She hurries over to Jayden, "Come on idiot, something tells me there isn't a sexy hybrid on his way for this part."

Kevin and Antonia appear as well, helping him to his feet, guiding him out of the flames, taking his weight off of Evie.
Mike wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Look," they turn and watch as Deker's body disintegrates, gone for good this time, leaving only Urumasa sticking out of the ground.
"His curse has been broken," says Jayden as they lower him to the ground.
They look at it in silence for a few minutes, the weight shifting off of them at an enemy being gone.

"So the secrets safe again, none of the other Nighlok know about you two," says Mia looking at Evie and Jayden.
"Guess so," she nods.
Jayden just makes a noncommittal sound.

As the darkness starts to clear, the flames begin to die down, the group settling on some nearby rocks and Kevin looks Jayden over.
"Anything serious?" he asks.
He shakes his head.

"Evie, he lying to me?"
"Nothing serious, he can deal with the aches and pains given they're his own fault," she retorts, pointedly sat with her back to her boyfriend, a gesture not lost on any of them.

Jayden sighs and stands up, turning to look at them.
"Thank you for coming to help me. But I thought you would be staying to keep Lauren safe?"
"She overrode you, sent us ahead, Kevin and Evie were meant to stay on overwatch at the house, but clearly that didn't take," says Mia.
"She overrode that too, gave Evie back her samuraiser and told us to come and help. Looks like it was a good thing she did."

"You made the gap to get Evie through?" assumes Mike.
"Water works best against fire, and sticking a sword through someone's chest kinda felt more like Evie's thing," he shrugs with a smile.
"We're just glad you're okay buddy," Antonio pulls Jayden into a tight hug.
"Maybe next time though, don't try to take the psycho Nighlok by yourself?"

Jayden pats his back and pulls away, his gaze shifting to Evie who was still pointedly keeping her distance. Her arms crossed and her body tensed in a way he knew meant she was still angry.
And to be honest he was kind of a little angry that she was here too.


But before he can say anything Kevin's samuraiser goes off.
He flicks it open, giving Ji a quick sound of affirmation before he turns to them.
"We got to get to the Marina, now, Lauren's already on her way."
"Then lets go," smiles Mike.
"Evie, if you would, Lauren did say you're good at this part," says Kevin.
"Hang on a second," starts Jayden only for Evie to already be drawing the transport symbol.
"Marina," she spins it and a moment later they reappear.

"Shit, Mooger party everywhere," says Mike.
"Lets put them down then," smirks Mia.
They morph and race into the fray, Kevin and Emily doing the same."
"Antonio, go help Lauren in the Megazord, we might need yours for this," urges Evie.
"Right on Chica," he morphs before leaping into the cockpit.

"Hola senorita, room for one more?" he asks as he materialises next to Lauren.
"The more the merrier," she nods.

Jayden turns to Evie, but she's already morphed and racing ahead of him.
"Fucking hell," he mutters, before drawing his own sword and charging in behind her, even if morphing wasn't an option he could still fight, and still keep her safe.

They cut through the moogers, Mia getting separated from the pack ending up near some of the rocks, only to spy Dayu.
"What are you doing here?" she demands.
"I'm a Nighlok aren't I? I'm here to feast on human suffering," she cackles, Deker was gone and now it was time to embrace what she was.
"The only thing you'll be feasting on is my blade," retorts Mia.
"Foolish girl, soon it'll be nothing but darkness."

She disappears and Mia turns, only to see her approaching.
"I'm here for you," she snarls charging forwards.
Mia blocks her attack, this time she wasn't going to hesitate.
And as her blades slices through Dayu and her hamonium she thinks she's set things right, until a swirling black vortex explodes from it, and Mia gets an awful feeling things are about to get so much worse.

"What the hell is that?" asks Evie as the vortex appears.
"Nothing good," replies Jayden, "Can you feel that?"
"Yeah," nods Evie, as the sadness felt like it was seeping into her. They beat back the Moogers before racing towards the sea where the source was.


Suddenly a tidal wave rises up and an awful feeling fills their stomachs as a figure begins to emerge.
"Oh no," gasps Mia.
"It's him," realises Kevin in horror.
"Not again," groans Mike.
"I thought he was gone," cries Emily.
"Things just got a lot more complicated" says Evie her hand shifting to her stomach as Xandred emerges looking stronger than ever.

"Xandred," mutters Kevin.
"Samurai Rangers," Xandred bellows as he steps forwards. "Give it up, you have no hope," he laughs before turning to Dayu.
"Dayu, thanks to you, I'm back."
"I repay my debts."
"Now the humans world shall fall to me!"


A/N: So not a long one I know, but I do like to go by episode, the next one however will be bigger, lemme know your thoughts :D