Jayden's year of grief (Sequel to the hybrid ranger)

Chapter 17 John comes back to Lauren & Jayden learns to let his sister go

Lauren stood by Kevin's coffin when she felt something weird. John was standing behind her by a few feet or so. "Lauren?" John said. Lauren turned around and saw John standing a few feet away from her. "John?" Lauren said before she ran up to him and hugged him. He hugged her back and they kissed each other. "How are you here?" Lauren asked. "Ariel sent me back. As a reward for helping to defeat Hades. Though, I'm not really sure how I helped." John said. "I don't care. I don't care how you're here, I'm just glad you're here." Lauren said before kissing him some more. "So are you. I'm so happy you're alright." John said. "Not all of us are." Lauren said. "What happened?" John asked. "We found out what Hades weakness was which happened to be the Olympian crystal, at least, that's what Jayden wrote. Kevin and I went to the shiba house and found Hades there with it. I heard that he stole it from his brother, Zeus. Then Hades tried to kill me with it but before I could even get hit with it Kevin got in front of me and took the hit. He risked his own life to save mine. I'm glad that he did that for me, I will never get the chance to thank him for that." Lauren said. "Maybe you will. Remember, we can talk to Ariel so, it might work with Kevin too." John said. "Okay, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try." Lauren said reluctantly. Meanwhile at the shiba house Decker walked in. He walked over to the pile of dust that Hades turned into. "You should have taken my deal." Decker said. Then he moved some of the dust and pulled out the small part of the Olympian crystal that was left. "Like I said. This is the rangers world." Decker said. Then he left. The next day Lauren walked outside and called out to Kevin. "Kevin? Are you there?" Lauren asked. "Yes Lauren, I'm here." Kevin said as he showed up. "I just wanted to thank you for saving my life the other day. I don't exactly know how Jayden is handling this." Lauren said. "Seems like he's taking it a little bit lighter than Ariel's death. Besides, I couldn't let Hades kill you and have Jayden go into a weaker emotional state because of that." Kevin said. "I know. I just want Jayden to be happy once again." Lauren said. "The only way he can do that is if he lets her go, if you know what I mean." Kevin said. "I'll talk to him about it." Lauren said. Then Kevin disappeared. The next day after class Lauren went to go talk to Jayden. It's been about three months since I last spoke to him. He's still trying to get over it but it's taking longer than I was expecting. I think that the only way he can get over this is if he lets me go and never forgets all the good times we had together at the same time. I told Lauren about the plan. "He's been getting over it but it's taking longer than expected." Lauren said. "There's only one thing left to do for him to truly get over it." I said. "And what's that?" Lauren asked. "He has to let me go but he doesn't have to forget about me. He has to remember all the good times I had with him. In a way, you, John, and Mentor Ji have let me go. It's just Jayden who has to let me go." I said. "Okay, I'll get him to let you go. Just wait until I tell him that you live in him." Lauren said. "Okay." I said. A few days go by and after they had dinner they went outside and went to a secret pond that Lauren knew about. "Our sister is waiting." Lauren said when she got to the edge of the pond. Jayden walked up beside her and looked into the pond. "Do you see her?" Lauren said. "I don't see anything." Jayden said. "Look closer." Lauren said. Jayden looked into the pond a little harder and watched as his reflection turned into mine. "You see? She lives in you." Lauren said. "Jayden." I said. "Ariel?" Jayden asked as he looked up at me. "Jayden, you have to let me go." I said. "I can't." Jayden said. "You must remember who you are, the red samurai ranger." I said. "I'm sorry, I don't know how to let this go." Jayden said. "As a power ranger I was most proud of one thing, having you as my brother." I said. "That was a long time ago." Jayden said. "No Jayden, that is forever." I said. "Please, don't leave me again." Jayden said. "I never left you and I never will. But you have to let me go." I said. "How am I supposed to do that?" Jayden asked. "There's only one way to let me go and that is to be around people who love you and who care about you." I said. "And what am I supposed to do, just forget about you? Not happening!" Jayden said. "Jayden, letting me go dosen't mean that you have to forget about me. You can still let me go and remember all the good times that you had with me. Lauren, John, and Mentor have already done that, now I just need you to do that." I said. "Okay, I'll do that." Jayden said. I was happy to hear that. "I also need you to remember who you are. Remember." I said before leaving. "What was that? The weather, very peculiar. Don't you think?" Lauren said. "Yeah, looks like the winds are changing." Jayden said. "Change is good." Lauren said. "Yeah but it's not easy. I know what I have to do but going back to the shiba house means I'll have to face my past. I've been running from it for so long." Jayden said. "Then Lauren hit him on the head with a stick that was on the ground. "Ow! Geez, what was that for?" Jayden asked. "It doesn't matter! It's in the past." Lauren said. "Yeah, but it still hurts." Jayden said as he rubbed the top of his head, then looking at his hand to see if there was any blood. "Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it is you can either run from it or learn from it." Lauren said before trying to hit Jayden again but this time on the side of the head and Jayden ducked. "You see? So what are you going to do?" Lauren asked. "First, I'm gonna take your stick." Jayden said as he took the stick out of Lauren's hand and throws it into some bushes nearby. Lauren decided to leave the stick in the bushes and went back into the college with Jayden.

THE END