Suddenly, a small figure flickered into existence from the morpher. Antonio yelped in surprise, stumbling back.

The figure was small, maybe the size of a large mouse, and it was glowing a warm, comforting red.

The creature looked up at Antonio, its eyes were large and round, mirroring an innocence that tugged at his heart. "Greetings, my name is Flameheart, a Kwami of fire." It announced, its voice echoing the familiar timbre of Jayden's.

"Jayden? Is that you, bud?" Antonio blinked, taken aback, his voice a mere whisper, with disbelief and a hint of hope in his eyes

The Kwami tilted its tiny head, eyes squinting in confusion. "I'm sorry, I do not know this Jayden, and who would you be?"

A cold shiver ran down Antonio’s spine, his heart pounded in his chest.

"No, this can't be happening, Jay, it's me, Antonio. Don't you remember?" His voice was desperate, pleading.

The Kwami merely shook its head in response, Antonio could feel a despairing wail rise in his throat.

But he swallowed it down, he didn't have time for this, the battle was still raging on, and the other Rangers needed him.

And, he realized, they needed Jayden as well, even if Jayden was now...a Kwami?

"Alright, Flame Heart," Antonio said, forcing a smile onto his face while his heart raced with worry and fear.

He had to be strong, for him, for Jayden, for the team and for the entire world he swore to protect "Why don't you show me how to use these powers? Let's get back into the fight."

The Kwami perked up at that, its eyes gleaming like two bright embers "yes, of course! To transform, you just need to say these three words, 'Flameheart, flares ablaze!'"

Antonio nodded, gripping the morpher so tight his knuckles turned white. "Flameheart, flares ablaze!" he called out, and the world exploded into a whirlwind of red.

---

Back on the battlefield, the other Rangers were struggling. The Nighlok was powerful, and without Jayden's leadership, they were faltering.

"Where's Antonio?" Emily, the Yellow Ranger, called out, parrying a strike from the Nighlok.

"I don't know!" Kevin, the Blue Ranger, shouted back, struggling to keep the Nighlok at bay "but we need him!"

"Goldenferno!"

Suddenly, a burst of golden fire shot through the air and towards Soul Wraith.

The rangers turned behind them seeing Antonio was there, glimmering out in his new gold Maroon Ranger's suit "sorry I'm late."

The other Rangers were stunned seeing their red ranger comrade but Antonio's voice coming from the suit.

"Antonio?" Mike, the Green Ranger, called out "what happened to Jayden? Why are you wearing that armor?"

Antonio didn't have time to answer, already engaging the Nighlok in combat.

With Jayden's powers, he was a force to be reckoned with, the tide of the battle quickly turned.

Soon, the Nighlok was retreating, vowing revenge, once the battlefield was clear, the Rangers turned to Antonio "where's Jayden?"