Bloom Shiba

"What are these?"

Sitting at the meeting table, Ji had just spread out four envelops in front of me, each with the Shiba family crest, signed with respective symbols of each family. 

"The others are ready to join you, " Ji stated as a matter of fact and seated himself opposite to me. My brother, who had been a silent spectator till now, sat at the stool beside mine. Great! I have already seated myself at the leader's seat without intending to. 

"Others?" I asked. Was Jayden's team really going to join me? Even so, won't they have the same fate as him. I remember that they used up all their symbol powers too. 

"Yes. Your team," Ji replied. 

"My team?" The words didn't really add up in my mind. 

He simply nodded. I shook my head vigorously, trying to make head and tail off the situation. It seemed as if a few pages of a book was ripped off and then given to me for reading. It was like, missing the main ingredient in a recipe. 

"Ji, I'm going to need more explanation!" I exclaimed, bracing my hands on the table. The anxiety was simply overwhelming. 

"The samurai family lineage has always been vast. Few become rangers, few guardians and most become protectors. But they are all samurai nonetheless. Few of those who come under the lineage of the rangers don't always become rangers. Like, if under normal circumstances, Lauren would've been the only one to become a ranger and you two would've been normal, but yet, you would've gotten the training."

When I heard Lauren's name, a series of emotions coursed through me. It made me uneasy, but I made sure to focus on the task at hand. 

Ji continued. "Same goes for the other ranger families. Every generation gets the training, and one is always chosen for backup for unfortunate situations."

"What are you trying to tell me, Ji?" I asked, losing my patience. 

"There are others who received training just like you and is ready to take your side." He finished. 

My eyes darted to Jayden immediately. 

"Don't look at me," he said. "I recently learnt about this back up thing too."

"Does all the members of your team have siblings?" I asked. 

"I know few, but, few here are cousins, not siblings," he said, picking up the laid out envelopes in hand and went through the sender's address. "What?" I whispered. This was getting out of hand. Cousins? They would have way less symbol power than me, and I'm already a third born.

"Ji, this is risky," I said. "You can't make them fight. I can manage."

The room came to a stand still, the sound of breeze being the only note playing melodious tunes in my ear. I look at two faces- one with a sad smile on his face, and the other who wouldn't meet my eyes. 

"TALK!" My scream pierced through the air like a bullet, rattling the surrounding.

"Bloom," Jayden spoke, his voice heavy with untold emotions. "You just fought a mega monster."

"So?!" I asked, my defense going up by ten fold. "I managed it now, I'll manage it again!"

He shook his head slowly. "You don't know that. You'll need a team to help you."

I wanted to protest. I wanted to protest so bad! My mouth opened but got stuck with gibberish. Frustration creeped up over my neck, my forehead creased. This really can't be happening, can it?

I got the envelopes from Jayden's hands, deciding to look over it myself. And then...

Fire blazed on all directions. Buildings fallen and crumpled to pieces. My suite dirty with all the ash. Other rangers standing beside me, leaning on each other to stand. A huge battle ship stood in the grounds, and I just noticed the sky was blood red. "The victory will be mine," a voice screeched. 

"BLOOM SHIBA!" I heard Jayden's voice, a lifeline in an ocean of chaos. 

I dropped the envelopes to the ground, my breath coming in shallow and uneven. I tried finding words to speak but my mind had just overloaded and my throat became dry. I felt tears prickling the sides of my eyes, but no! I won't cry. I'm not weak. 

Jayden stood beside me, holding my shoulders. 

"No," I managed to say. "There won't be a team. There won't be a massacre."

Immediately getting off from the discussion, I stormed off to my room and shut the door. I sank and sank and sank till I hit the floor and finally let my emotions take over. 

I don't want to be the reason for a mass destruction. I don't want others to fight my battles. The vision just repeated itself and it just made a little more sense, though it was cut shorted this time due to faster interruption from Jay... but still, I remember everything like it already happened. If my powers had to go out of control...

No! There won't be a team. I will and always will be a solo act.

Netherworld

"Welcome aboard, Octoroo," the she demon said, seating herself on the throne at the deck of her majestic ship.

"Ooh  ah ooh! You know Octoroo?" He asked, surprised by the discovery.

"Why not? You are quite famous, aren't you?" She asked, a creepy smile forming on her lips.

"Ooh ah ooh! That is true!" Octoroo exclaimed, overjoyed by the reply.

"Now," Mistress Xalia said, "Tell me about my brother."

Even Octoroo was confused by her question. Brother? How should he know about her brother? What does she think of herself? She is not as famous as him!

"Don't keep mum and test my patience! I know you were his right hand man! NOW ANSWER!" She said in a raspy voice, shaking Octoroo to his core.

"Master Xandred?" Octoroo asked in disbelief. "Yes," she replied and Octoroo started questioning his entire existence. In all his he worked for his master, he never knew about her.

"The red ranger destroyed him," he said, taking in gulps involuntarily.

"Red?! Ranger?!" She asked through gritted teeth. "Yes, Mistress," he said, kneeling down in servitude because it felt right.

"Send word to my nighlok minions. Have them come here as soon as possible," she ordered.

"Of course, Mistress Xalia," Octoroo said, slowly backing off, wondering to whom all he should send the message. But, oh lord! He can't ask her! Guess it was time to hit some new books.

After dismissal of Octoroo, in the haunting silence of the lonely ship, Mistress spoke out a silent warning- "I'm coming for you, Red Ranger..."

Jayden Shiba

Events unfolded faster than I had anticipated. The moment Bloom told me that there were giant moogers, my entire belief collapsed. She really does need a team, after all. I can see where she stands. I was literally her a year back. Taking responsibility of a team isn't an easy task, especially when there is too much at stake. But I found my family in my team; hope Bloom finds hers too...

And maybe I could talk some sense into her..., if she comes out of her room.  

I've been standing at her door at every consecutive interval for the past one hour, begging her to come out and have a talk. She didn't even reply to me. Such was her stubbornness. 

I have my concerns for this new team that was forming too. I couldn't get much from the letters because it was written by their mentors and not the rangers. But what I did notice was, Mike's younger brother will be joining the team; Mia's brother on the other hand, won't. Instead, a cousin of hers is joining. Same goes for Kevin and Emily, eventhough Serena was growing better in health.

I had difficulties in lack of symbol power just by being a second born. And Bloom faced much more difficulty being the third. The only thing that keeps her going is her powers. Considering the fact that this new team consists of cousins- children of second or third born... that is definitely alarming.

But... desperate times call for desperate solution, and I see no other way. Bloom will have to become a leader.

"Bloom! Come out! Atleast have your dinner!" I said, knocking on her door again. I've never had anyone give me silent treatment before and this was exhausting. 

"I'm not hungry." I heard a whisper from the other side. My heart rejoiced on the sound. Atleast she was talking to me now. 

"Let's atleast talk it out. And you can have anything for dinner. Completely your choice," I said, wondering if bribery would work. It usually works on Mike.

"I'm. Not. Hungry." She said, this time, a little too sternly.

Taking in a deep sigh, my eyes wandered to the surrounding. This was getting more hopeless by the minute. Nothing made sense. Then suddenly...

"What if I make a deal?" I asked, suddenly feeling desperation and determination at the same time.

No reply came from the other side. I took that as her confirmation to continue. 

"We won't call in the team now. You can fight solo. But, if a greater nighlok attacks, you'll listen to what I say," I finished. A second passed, then two...

"I can handle a greater nighlok too," she said, sounding more like a baby to me. This just made me more guilty by the thought about the fate I was pushing her in.

"I didn't say you couldn't handle it. I just said you'll listen to me. I'll decide what I'll have to at that instant. No guaranteed reply," I reassured her. More silence followed.

"I know the lack of symbol power of the cousins too. I'll definitely keep that in mind," I added, wanting to give her the idea that the decision will be unbiased. But, who am I kidding? The decision will be completely biased.

The door opened. A red puffed eyed Bloom with blue irises stood at the entrance.

"I want pancakes, " she said. I let out a relieved laugh. Swinging my arms around her shoulder, I said, "you can have how much ever you want."

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