Fighting to Love (Power Rangers Samurai)

Mission: Over and Successful.

This episode is in between The Master Returns and A Crack In The World. Jayden is awake now (I'm choosing not to show that scene). Bring out your tissues - it's time to cry.

~~~

Red Panda. Raven. Anaconda. Tiger. Repeat. The words raced through my mind as I trained, Jayden hitting one of the dummies with a wooden training staff alongside me.

I heard a big whoosh in the sky and recognized the sound immediately. The Blackbird.

"Jayden, come here." I said, turning into human form. He obeyed, and the Blackbird turned visible. The doors opened, and 11 people came out.

Rogue. Scott. Bobby. Kitty. Jubilee. Storm. Professor X. Colossus. Night crawler (in his original form). Beast. And Logan.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "I thought-"

"The mission has gone successfully, yes." Professor X said. "But defending the border of Paranormal City can not wait. We must begin planning the strategy now."

"Now? I have to leave? Now?" I asked.

"I see you've made ties." Professor X replied calmly. "Now, if you'll let us inside, we have some explaining to do."

~~~

Ji and Professor X greeted each other with warm arms. The others, however, did not.

"Scott Summers." Scott shook Jayden's hand. "Leader of the X-Men."

"Jayden Shiba, Red Ranger."

The others just stared at each other, while Evelyn threw her arms around Night Crawler.

"There's my best friend." She said with a grin.

"Ji, we have some important matters to discuss." Professor X started.

"This deals with Ashlynn and Evelyn leaving, doesn't it?"

"Wait, you're leaving?" Mike asked. I nodded. "But, it feels like you just got here!"

"Mike, it isn't that simple. The mission was, as you all know, was to protect you from my enemies. The deal was, is that at the end of the mission, I would no longer be standing by your side."

"What do you mean?" Asked Jayden. "What do you mean, you won't be standing with us?"

"I myself, and the team will border the city, making sure all civilians are safe, and making sure that no one will interfere with the battle. That saying, I need to leave, right now. Evelyn needs to go too." I said.

"What about us?" Jayden questioned.

"Us has nothing to do with the matter, no. The only thing that concerns "us" is if either of us dies trying to save what's left of a better future." I replied, gaining tears in my eyes whom I refused to let fall.

"I have already convinced the airport staff and harbor people to shut down their businesses for a few months, just so that the area is clear. Some have already fled to safety." Professor X explained. "Let me introduce the team. The one with glasses is Scott, the leader. You already know Logan and Beast. Jubilee, Kitty, Bobby, Kurt and Rogue are your age, I believe. Storm is the woman with white hair, and Colossus is over there. I, am Professor Charles Xavier. You may call me Professor X."

"Will my baby sister be alright?" Antonio asked.

"I can not ensure that she will be alright, but I know she will stay a strong fighter until the end of the battle." The Prof replied. "Ji, would it be possible to stay the night?"

"I can arrange that." Ji replied.

"This is my team." Jayden spoke up. "Kevin, the blue ranger. Mike is the green ranger, Mia is pink, Emily is yellow and Antonio is golden. I am the Red Ranger, Jayden."

"The rainbow rangers." Bobby smirked. Kitty punched him in the shoulder, and the smirk wiped off of his face.

Emily and Mia led all of the girls (not including Storm) into their room.

"It's nice to see some girl power." Mia complimented.

"It's like, so totally cool that we're like, here! Like, thank you so much for letting us like, stay here for the like, night." Kitty grinned.

Jubilee smiled. "It has been a while since I've met a yellow female ranger, but it is a refreshing change."

"Ah think we're only staying the night... Ah'm okay here. Please... No one touch me." Rogue said. Emily glanced at me with a confused face.

"Rogue can't touch people. She either absorbs their powers or blows humans out of consciousness." Evelyn explained with a sheepish smile. Rogue pretended not to hear.

Knock knock. "Uh, Ashlynn? Can we talk for a minute?" Jayden asked, outside of the door.

I got up. "I'll be back."

~~~

We took a walk in the courtyard. "You're leaving."

"Jayden-"

"No, I get it. It's okay. You're leaving me. World before yourself."

"I don't want to play with your feelings. I never did. I fell in love with you, and if you love someone, you have to let them go."

It was dark out now.

"Will you stay until tomorrow?"'

"I don't know. Maybe."

"But what's going to happen to us?"

"I'll come back, and you'll be there, still standing." I replied quietly. "I will be okay."

"I know you won't be."

"But this will." I replied, kissing him soft and slowly. It wasn't so fast that it turned into a make out session, but it was slow enough to count as a long, sweet, wanted, hungry kiss. And after, we stood there, in the moonlight, our foreheads touching, our eyes gazing into each other.

"The world may change, but my love for you never will." I whispered.

~~~

I zipped up the last suitcase in my room. It was late. Nearly everyone was asleep, except for the X-Men.

Logan appeared in the doorway with Evelyn in hand.

"It's going to be a long night. Are you sure you're ready?" Logan asked.

"Yeah, I'm ready. You can take the bags out, I gotta do one more thing before we leave." I replied, grabbing a post-it note and writing something down.

I ran to Jayden's room softly, then stuck the post-it note on his side table. I kissed him on the forehead softly, then walked out, and stopped at the doorway.

And looking back at his sleeping body, I quietly whispered, "Goodbye."

~~~

Dear Jayden, and the team,

I'm sorry our leave was so abrupt and quiet. War can never wait. Thank you for your hospitality and trust.

Evelyn and I will be okay. We're doing this all for you. You can always call me, though I may not answer . I did this to protect you.

-Ashlynn.

~~~

A/N:

This chapter was really hard to write. So Jayden and Ashlynn aren't technically a couple anymore - she subtly broke up with him by leaving, but reminded him that she loves him.

I know a few tears have been shed, but we have 3 more chapters left, and then the epilogue. Please hang in there and bear with me if the chapters seem to be coming slowly.

-Sophie