Flashback:

“perhaps we should stop.”

“No let keep going I’m fine.” Jayden said but the Latino boy shook his head causing slight disappointment in the future red rangers face “what’s the matter afraid you’ll lose again?”

Despite the knowledge that Jayden was just teasing him, his friend really knew how to get under his skin as Antonio chuckled “oh you’re so on bud.”

Their sparring session continued as Jayden saw that the Latino was getting the upper hand, not willing to give up Jayden decided to strike high but when they locked swords that’s when stuff really got bewildered.

A flash of red began to glow from Jaydens pupils, shocking the Latino man before Antonio noticed Jaydens brown hair turn red. Breaking from their locks Antonio back away and simply stared at what he was seeing.

In his place stood a fierce monster fire aura around him, as it’s. razor sharp teeth were bared, as it raised it bare claws as Antonio swallowed hard ”a…mi…go?”

The monster sneered, its grip on his body tightening, with a surge of power, it launched himself at Antonio, his movements fueled by a force far stronger than his own.

The impact sent Antonio flying, crashing into a stack of crates nearby leaving him slightly dizzy, but the moment the Latino brushed out off Antonio saw the creature coming towards him once again.

“Ja…jay…sto..p…its… me Antonio your friend.” Antonio said dodging the creatures attacks while trying to reason with Jyaden but it didn’t seem to have any effect but the creatures with its sharp claws slashed the boys arm deep within.

“How can i bring Jayden back?” Antonio thought stumbling back as he clutched his injured arm.

Time Skip:

“Mind if I join, or is this a private session?”

Jayden smiled, a small, genuine gesture that reached his eyes. He patted the grass next to him, a silent invitation. Antonio accepted, his boots crunching on the frosty ground as he made his way towards Jayden.

The two men sat there in silence, the only sound the rustle of the leaves in the distant trees and the soft, rhythmic beating of their hearts.

Antonio shivered, rubbing his arms in a futile attempt to ward off the cold.

Jayden glanced at his friend, his gaze catching on a fresh scar marring Antonio's forearm.

“What happened to your arm?” Jayden asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Antonio froze. Memories flooded back, a torrent of images and emotions.

He remembered their childhood, the first time Jayden had transformed into a Nighlok.

The fear in Jayden’s eyes back then, the feeling of helplessness that had gnawed at Antonio's heart.

He instinctively covered the scar with his hand, shaking his head in an effort to push the memories away.

“I... I don't know what happened,”

Flashback Ends:

Antonios eyes went wide as the last of the memories caught up with him, the scar’s glow on his arm dimmed as Antonio looked into the beast flaming red eyes “your Jaydens Nighlok side but how why, i have so many questions.”

Jayden's Nighlok side smirked, a seemingly sarcastic gesture.

"Isn't it obvious, gold ranger?" His voice was smooth, almost mocking. "Jayden is part Nighlok. And as for why, well, isn't life full of surprises?"

“I know he’s part Nighlok, it was a rather shocking discovery first time around.” Antonio spoke with a gentle tone causing the Nighlok to chuckle “but how is it possible for you to exist if he fights against your kind.”

"And yet, here I am. A part of him. What a delicious irony, don't you think?" The Nighlok side of Jayden chuckled, a low, dark sound causing a hint of frustration in the gold ranger which seemed to be picked up on by the Nighlok “in all honesty young human my memories go as far as when my host was born but many of those memories are hazy.”

Antonio felt a wave of sadness invade his subconscious as he knew how hard Jayden fights to keep the curse at bay...

"Jayden!....."

The Next Day:

"You're nothing but a weak human trapped in a web of lies. Your so-called friends will abandon you when they discover the truth about your cursed heritage."

Dekers words still rin in Jayden's ears as a thought occurs to him about what if his enemy was telling the truth.

But his thoughts were cut short as he watched Deker rise from the ground "You should be fully recovered by now."

Jayden quick to his feet was prepared for anything but sensing he was still weak to fight "why do you want to fight me here are plenty of good warriors in the world.."

Deker smirks subtly as he shook his head seeing the man still didn't understand the enemies motives "Yes, but like me, you have a secret festering inside you. We' b both warped, twisted.

A burst of emotion had risen from inside as Jaydens eyes momemtarily went red along with his hair as Jayden spoke "what do you mean?

Deker chuckles slightly as he begun to advancetowards jayden so they are facing back to back "You'd have sacrificed everything Before giving octoroo the sealing power.

Jayden though back to that moment as he knew it was a vow he had sworn to keep a secret at all costs.

"There is a spirit inside you I've never found before in any other samurai, A warrior spirit." Deker spoke breaking the red rangers train of thought once more as he begin to take his sword out "And that's why you're the perfect opponent...."