Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.

A/N: I lied. This is the end of A Bend in the Road. I have at least two more stories in the Not Canon Samurai Series. This is because I decided to really explore Antonio's adventure on Eltare before heading back to Earth.

Antonio, Jayden and a reluctantly Emily, arrived at Antonio's place early in the morning. "I don't see why I'm here," Emily told them as sat down on Antonio's couch.

"Because you need to be with the team," Jayden told her, "Whatever happens today, the team has to remain intact with a Red Ranger." He sat down on the couch with her, twisting to keep an eye on Antonio at the same time.

Antonio nodded distractedly as he opened the front blinds. "We all need to be here today, Emily." He said quietly.

"What's wrong, Tony?" Jayden asked.

Antonio sighed, "I just have a feeling that today isn't going to end well." He shrugged, "I'm just worried about Mikayla's color."

"Why?" Emily asked.

Antonio shrugged, "It's nothing, I just can't decide how Mikayla will react to being whatever color she is."

"I'm sure Mikayla will be able to handle it," Jayden said firmly, "She's a Ranger, after all." He watched as Antonio stared out the window for a long moment before turning away, "What?" Jayden asked.

"We've got a couple of hours to kill," Antonio replied with a big grin, "what should we do first?"

/…/

They left Emily at Antonio's place when Merric arrived, she had fallen asleep, and so they left her sleeping peacefully on the couch. Merric took the two Rangers to a place where they could watch the coming confrontation without Mikayla noticing. Merric had just vanished to get to his place when Mikayla appeared, alone, carrying a staff. "Right on time," Antonio murmured as the Lady Red began to train.

"This is not going to be easy, is it?" Jayden asked.

"Once we know her color," Antonio replied, "all the other Rangers that match are going to gang up on her and make her face facts. That and the research should help, and you're a good man, you won't let her feel like anything less than a valued member of the team and your big sister."

"You'll be nice to her too," Jayden said.

Antonio pointed, "There's Cole."

"Oh, that's not creepy at all," Jayden replied, staring at the Red Ranger in his Dekker disguise.

They couldn't hear what was going down between Mikayla and Cole, but Merric wasn't even trying to be subtle when he showed up. He teleported in, a streak of silver that cleared to show the other Ranger, unmorphed, standing between Mikayla and Cole with his back to Mikayla and his hands up in a halt gesture. "Cole!" He shouted, "Stop!" Then he turned slightly to say something to Mikayla.

"I wish we could hear them," Jayden muttered.

"Me to," Antonio replied. He glanced down in surprise to find that Jayden had taken his hand. They exchanged shy smiles before focusing on the action as Merric began to glow. "Um, close your eyes," he told Jayden. The warning came none too soon, because mere seconds after they'd closed their eyes then a bright flash of light erupted in front of them.

Antonio opened his eyes and grinned at the sight of the gold aura around his hand. He glanced over at Jayden, whose red aura was equally distinctive. Finally, Antonio looked down in to the valley.

Mikayla was on the ground, a bright silver aura around her. "Oh no," Antonio breathed and started to scramble up, yanking his hand free from Jayden's hand as he did.

"What?" Jayden asked.

"Antonio!" Merric bellowed angrily.

"She's Silver," Antonio told Jayden as he threw himself down the slope.

"Is that bad?" Jayden asked as he followed.

"Only in that using the Red morpher could have killed her," Antonio replied as he gave up on running down the slope safely and launching into a streak.

"Why didn't you tell me she was Silver?" Merric demanded when Antonio reached him.

"I swear, I didn't know," Antonio replied, looking from Merric to Cole and then down to Mikayla. "I really didn't know, Merric. She just, I didn't think she was the type."

"We have to take her to Eltare," Cole said. "That means you to, Antonio."

"I know," Antonio replied. He knelt and pulled Jayden's morpher from Mikayla's pocket. "Let me grab my bag and explain… Jayden doesn't know."

"Make it fast," Merric growled.

"Yes sir," Antonio replied, he ran back to Jayden. "Here," He shoved the morpher at his friend, who caught it. "Jayden, we're taking Mikayla to Eltare. Use your morpher and stay with the Samurai."

"What's going on?" Jayden asked.

"I don't have time to explain," Antonio said, "just trust me that everything's going to be all right." He wasn't going to say good bye, wasn't going to admit that he might never see Jayden again, instead, he just kissed Jayden and whispered, "I love you," before taking off to get his bag.

Thankfully, he didn't wake up Emily when he got to the house, and he made it back with no incidents. Jayden was now arguing with Cole and Andros, while Zhane waited nearby. Merric and Mikayla were not in sight, so Antonio decided they were already on the Mark II. "Ready?" Zhane asked.

Antonio ducked his head, "Yes sir," he replied and tried not to shudder when Zhane rested his hand on Antonio's shoulder.

"Let's go then," he said. "Andros, Cole."

"Wait," Jayden began, "Antonio."

Antonio couldn't look at his best friend, and he couldn't stop himself from wondering if Jayden would forgive him if Mikayla died.

The golden light of the teleportation seemed almost cold and Antonio kept himself from hunching in on himself after the trip by force of will. "We're not mad at you," Zhane began.

Antonio winced a little, because he could tell, they were, and they'd all forgotten he was empathic to boot. "Just," Antonio said, "where am I going to be out of the way?" Zhane pointed to a chair which Antonio took and tried to put up his best shields as the Mark II pulled out of orbit on its way to Eltare.

A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn. ~Author Unknown

Also known as the title source. I thought it fit the story. Until next time!