"Well, well, well," the nighlok's voice slithered through the air, each word dripping with malice as he approached with deliberate, taunting steps. "Look who is here..."

The sound of his whisper was like icy fingers trailing down Bloom's spine. Her heart raced, every beat echoing in her ears as if the world had narrowed to his sinister presence.

"My arch nemesis!" he growled, his voice carrying an almost tangible force that jolted through her chest. Bloom's knees buckled slightly, the weight of his words pushing her back both mentally and physically. Arch nemesis? The term rattled in her mind. How could she be his arch nemesis when she had only just met him?

Sweat pooled beneath her gloves, turning them slick and making it increasingly difficult to maintain her grip on the sword. She clung to the hilt, unwilling to show her weakness. She never did. But now, every breath was a struggle—shallow and quick, her chest heaving in an uneven rhythm as if trying to escape the storm inside.

Bloom closed her eyes, searching desperately for an anchor amidst the chaos. Faces flashed before her, their voices mingling in a desperate symphony of encouragement.

"You are brave," her father's voice resonated.

"Take control of your life," her sister's voice urged.

"I'm always there for you," her brother's words provided solace.

"You are more capable than you realize," Ji's voice reminded.

But amidst the echoes, they felt distant, almost ethereal. The words seemed like mere wisps of comfort against the overwhelming storm. Bloom's mind spun in a disorienting whirl, and she almost lost her footing.

Then, through the tumult, a face emerged. Initially blurry, it sharpened into focus—her own. Her reflection in the chaos.

"Stop whining and get up and fight!" Her own voice rang out, fierce and unyielding. "You are the only one who can face this! You were born for this!"

Bloom inhaled a shivering breath, surprised by her own words. Never had she realized she would tell this to herself, but here she was, yelling out the words in her head.

Suddenly, as if noticing her still reluctant demeanor, her voice yelled, "FIGHT!" Bloom's eyes snapped open and her hands held her sword tighter. A sudden rush of adrenaline pushed herself forward and there was no turning back.

The nighlok's gaze shifted, noting the subtle yet significant changes in her demeanor. His face twisted in disgust, a sneer of distaste stretching his lips. It was clear her newfound strength had not gone unnoticed, and it seemed to irk him.

Swords clashed with vigor. Bloom put in her everything to fend him off, her teeth gritting against each. She landed her blow every time she found an opening. But all it took was a single blow from the nighlok to send her skidding off 10 feet away. Bloom's breath came in ragged, but not from fear. No. She was getting frustrated, angry, irritated even. She raised her sword in the air and with one strong push of her leg, flew in the air and landed with a heavy hit on the monster. They whirled and turned and clashed. The formidable fight between two legends, it seemed. 

"Fire smasher!" Bloom yelled, spinning the fire disk, and a giant sword appeared in her hand. There was no sign of weakness in her. The girl who struggled to merely get the weapon up was no longer in sight. All that was left was a shell of a young girl in whom a warrior now resided.

She didn't let herself to think, because she couldn't let herself think. If she did, she knew doubt would start clouding her mind again. 

Climbing over walls, cars and what not, Bloom was doing her best to fend off her apparent arch nemesis. 

What wasn't visible was that the nighlok was shocked to see such power. He wondered if all those years in the depths rusted his skills. The great Rogolder! And here he was, fighting a girl who was giving him an equal fight. He refused to accept it. It can't be, he thought. It's her luck, he convinced himself. 

Bloom didn't pull herself back. Her muscles ached with exhaustion but she didn't pay heed to it. Her blows became harder and more calculated. His weak spots were clearly visible as if it was being highlighted by some invisible force.

Bloom lifted her sword really high and pulled it down with all her strength, assuming it to be the final blow. The nighlok jumped away, halting at a wall with a gap on it. "I'm drying out," he grumbled. "But I'll come for you again, and that time, you won't be so lucky." 

Just like that, he disappeared. Bloom demorphed and fell to the floor, on her knees, her face twisting in pain. She didn't want this. She didn't want this life. But she had to. She had to fight. She can't show her weakness. She didn't want to be a burden anymore. No more life would be cost to save her. This time, it was her turn. She would give her fullest to save those who love her.

Bloom pulled out her morpher and her hands almost dialed Jayden, but stopped, hovering over the keys as if it were a forbidden curse. Her brother's voice echoed in her mind. What would happen if he decides to call in the other rangers? She didn't want that. But she wanted her brother. Her heart ached to hear his voice, no matter how worried it may sound.

Her fingers still hovered. People started regaining their composure and started moving. Few glanced at her kneeled helpless form. They must've thought she was crazy because their looks clearly conveyed the message. 

Before she could talk herself out of it, Bloom pressed call and forced her hands to hold it near her ears. After few rings, Jayden answered. "Are you alright?" His voice came through, coated with worry. "It has become so long. You never take this long to finish a fight!"

Bloom gulped, fighting back tears that were threatening to spill out. The idea was stupid and illogical. Crying now is illogical. And there is no way she was going to cry to him, especially if it was going to influence his decision. 

"Bloom?" He called, careful when she didn't reply. "I just fought a nighlok," she forced the words out.

"What?" Jayden asked, his voice a daze as if he didn't actually expect this to happen and Bloom completely understood. He almost sacrificed his life to defeat this very nighlok and now, they were re-emerging and it hadn't even become so long.

"Is the nighlok gone?" He asked, suddenly determination taking over. Bloom nodded, for a stark moment, forgetting he couldn't see her. "Yes," she said in a small voice.

"Come home immediately," he instructed. "We need to talk. Face to face."

Bloom gulped again, nodding more vigorously, and sid, "OK," with the same small voice.

Getting up and dusting her jeans, she turned on her heels and reluctantly walked home. She knew what was going to happen. Jay wasn't going to give her a choice. Something told her this earlier too but she wanted live in the delusional world just a little longer. Now that she was facing the situation head on, it was more than clear.

Walking into the Shiba house, pushing the door slowly, she immediately spotted Jayden and Ji. Jayden didn't waste a minute to run to her and engulf her in a hug. "Are you alright?" He whispered, not wanting to let her little sister go. Bloom nodded, resting her head on his chest.

Pulling back, the siblings shared a look and a silent conversation passed through. Both knew what was to come next. "The arrows are ready," Ji said, snapping their heads towards him. Bloom glanced at the giant bow in his arms and the arrows with the Shiba family crest on it. Things were escalating fast. A little too fast.

"I'm not sure I'm ready, Ji," Bloom said, voicing out her deepest worry.

"Let me let you in on a secret," Jayden said, holding her hands. "No one truly is ready. I wasn't ready."

Bloom looked at him with desperation, her eyes turning a shade of orange. "But when something happens," he said, looking intently at her. "Tell yourself that it is destiny and go with the flow."

His sister nodded her head like an obedient student. She wasn't ready. Oh, she was so not ready! But she had no other choice. 

"I need to go take my bag from school," she said in a hoarse voice.

"Give me a time then," Ji said thoughtfully. "So that I can mention it to make it easier for you to meet the team."

"Three," Bloom replied mechanically. Jayden used symbol power to make the words appear, and soon Ji was out, carrying the arrows to launch them in their trajectory. 

Without wasting anymore time, Bloom immediately left to her school to collect her bag, her mind completely clouded on this new team she'll have to meet.

Don't think, she told herself. It only make things worse.

______________

Bloom's going to meet her team in this next chapter, so don't miss it!

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