Chapter 23: Dad?

Hey, guys! So you are going to hate me after this chapter? So this is going to be after about a year. So… here are the ages.

Jayden- 6

Serena- 7

Kevin- 6

Mike- 5

Mia- 6

Emily- 4

The day was just like any other. The kids were in school or pre-K, in Emily's case. The adults were talking about their battles with Nighlock, and Mentor Ji was cleaning up after breakfast. The adults knew something was coming. There was an eerie air to the nice, warm day. "It's the calm before the storm," said Joseph. The others agreed. They didn't want their kids to know.

"There haven't been any significant Nighlock attacks for two weeks," said Shane, "What are they building up for?"

"Who knows," said James, "It could be anything."

They fell silent. James was right. It could be nothing. Or it could be something major. The team would not know until the attack happened. The alarm went off, and the team ran off to investiage. It was just Moogers, but there was a lot of them. After half an hour, they had defeated all of the Moogers that had attacked.

A few hours later, the kids returned home excited to talk about their day. The other kids wandered off with their parents. Jayden stayed in the courtyard with his father. James hugged his son tightly. He didn't know why, but he wanted to hug his son. Jayden hugged him back hard.

"Is something going to happen, Daddy?" asked Jayden.

"I don't know, kiddo," said James.

The two of them fell silent. Jayden didn't pull away for a long time, and James was okay with that. Jayden had grown up a little, but he still liked to cuddle sometimes. Right now, he seemed like today was one of those days. He shoved his face into Jayden's straight hair. Jayden buried his face into his father's chest.

"I don't want you to leave me," said Jayden.

"I don't want to leave you either," said James.

That night, Xandred attacked the Shiba House. The kids hid in the safe room, except for Jayden. Jayden tried to follow his father. He knew how to fight, and he was decent. He could help. Maybe, then no one would get hurt. His father was going out, and so was he. He couldn't let his father get hurt. However, James caught Jayden.

"You can't come," said James.

"But I can help," said Jayden.

"Jayden, no," said James.

"Why?" asked Jayden.

"One day the great responsibility of being the red ranger will fall to you. Remember protect the world from evil, stand by your allies, and never run from a battle," said James, and he handed the red lion folding zord to Jayden. Jayden looked at him with tears in his eyes, and he hugged his dad tightly. James held Jayden for a moment. "I have to go." Jayden nodded. He wiped his eyes. "Go to the safe room, son, please." Jayden nodded and ran to the safe room with the other kids.

Emily hugged him, crying. He held her tight. They could hear the sounds of the battle raging on outside the house, but they were safe from harm. The battle lasted the entire night, and the kids were scared. Mike was the next to start crying. Jayden shifted Emily to one shoulder, and he pulled Mike to him. Kevin sat on the other side of Mike, and he rubbed his back. Mia huddled herself into a corner. She soon started crying too, and she cuddled up to Kevin. The five of them remained huddled up together all night.

When the door opened, the kids ran to their parents. Jayden looked for his father, but he couldn't find him. He ran throughout the house, but his father was nowhere to be seen. "Where's my dad?" Jayden asked with tears in his eyes. The older team looked between each other. Joseph knelt down and looked at Jayden sadly. Jayden cried.

I told you that you would hate me.