In 2009 the 17th Lord Shiba dies leaving the Earth undefended against the Sanzu River. All hope is not lost, however. In 2010 Tai Stapleton is contemplating his future. He was a college graduate with a five-year plan. He was building the Watanabe Bushido Studio and planning to propose to his long-term girlfriend, Lokelani Lyong. He thought his days as a Power Ranger were long behind him. Little did he know that destiny had other plans for him.

  A stranger arrives on his doorstep and informs him that he is the heir of the Shiba Clan. Tai Stapleton must accept his role as the 18th Lord Shiba or the Sanzu River would overrun the Earth. Beings called Gedoushu lead by Lord Doukoku wanted to flood the Human World and claim it as their own. If Tai did not accept his duty, they would succeed. Reluctantly. Tai accepts his new role and turns to old friends and new allies to defeat this new threat.

  Dr. Billie Davis-Doyle helps him create Morphers from the relics the Shiba Clan used to combat the Gedoushu incursions. He chooses Lani Lyong, his former partner, as the Pink Samurai Ranger. His next choice is Kane Watanabe of the Wind Ninja Academy and former Samurai Ranger, and he becomes the Green Samurai Ranger. From Japan, retainers of the 17th Lord travel to reclaim their birthrights. Daiki Singuji becomes the Blue Samurai Ranger and Kiari Sakakibara becomes the Yellow Samurai Ranger.

  As soon as he was able, Lord Doukoku begins sending Ayakashi to the human world. The Samurai Rangers battle against him. There are ups and down, but Dr. Billie proves to invaluable. Not only does she create new Zords and weapons, but she also produces a new Ranger. Rena Hart, whose known Tai nearly all her life, went from Bushio Studio grunt to the Gold Samurai Ranger.

  Unfortunately, Doukoku isn't Tai's only problem. A Gedou who calls himself Juzou Fuwa has declared Tai as his ultimate opponent while the girl he raised as a niece, Saeko, claims the same of Daiki. Juzou is later revealed to be a Shiba. A disgraced warrior that drank the Waters of the Sanzu River to get revenge on the clan that killed his wife and child. It is later discovered that it was a former Vassal of Heaven, Ai Shraishi, that led his enemies to his families. She later drinks the Waters herself and becomes Dayuu.

  When things start getting tough, Rex Hart joins the team as the Silver Samurai Ranger, the next completely original Ranger, designed by Dr. Billie. He watches Tai's back as he finally duels with Juzou. After his victory, and Daiki's victory her Saeko, she reluctantly becomes his student. It soon revealed that she is Tai's long thought dead sister, Lena. A trip to Japan leads her to join them as the White Samurai Ranger.

  Akumaro, a grinning Gedoushu, begins devising a devilish plan to release Doukoku from the Sanzu River before his power overtakes them. The Rangers have been relently searching for a way to seal the River and Doukoku within it once and for all. It isn't until a mysterious Phantom Ranger sends them to the ancient past that learn how.

  Akumaro's plans work. When he, Shitari and Dayuu sacrifice themselves for Doukoku, the barriers between the dimensions come down. The Waters begin to flood the Earth. Ayakashi and Nanashi begin swarming. Doukoku considers himself victorious. He did not realize that Tai allowed him to break free. Together the Samurai Rangers use the Seal to send Doukoku back to the Sanzu River and prevent the barrier between dimensions from tearing open again. Unintentionally, they destroyed the Sanzu River when Doukoku's power exploded after being sealed in.

  -----

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  -----

  Characters

  Samurai Rangers

  Tai Stapleton

  Red Samurai Ranger

  Lokelani "Lani" Lyong

  Pink Samurai Ranger

  Daiki Singuji

  Blue Samurai Ranger

  Kiari "Kii" Sakakibara

  Yellow Samurai Ranger

  Kane Watanabe

  Green Samurai Ranger

  Rena Hart

  Gold Samurai Ranger

  Xavier "Rex" Hart

  Samurai Ranger

  Lena "Saeko" Stapleton

  White Samurai Ranger

  Others

  Wilhelmina "Billie" Davis-Doyle

  Taylor Hicks

  Kyousuke "Kyou" Singuji

  HurricaneDragon

  Sasami "Sissy" Elliot

  Masked Riders

  Lena "Saeko" Stapleton

  Masked Rider Inferno

  Daiki Singuji

  Masked Rider Tsunami

  -----

  ART