Story: So Much Like Your Mother
Rating: K-K+
Series: Power Rangers Mystic Force
Focus Characters: Leanbow, Udonna, Clare
Summary: Moments when Leanbow and Udonna notice how much Clare is like her mother, Niella. Includes family building moments, as well.

Author's Note(s): For the sake of the story, Clare didn't become a full sorceress in Mystic Fate, and Leanbow and Udonna stick around for a while longer after The Master is defeated, postponing their trip with Nick at the end of Mystic Fate II.

Chapter 1: Discovering Family
Time: Takes Place during/after Heir Apparent II
Summary: Someone needs to fill Clare in. That someone becomes Daggeron.

Clare was worried. Worried... and curious. When everyone had returned from the other dimension, the one that Leanbow had teleported them to after Imperious tried to kill them in the Underworld, she noticed a difference in everyone, especially her aunt and Daggeron. She went to Nick for some answers, but he simply told her that she shouldn't look forward to seeing Leanbow anytime soon. When she asked Madison what was going on, The Blue Ranger simply told her that she had best ask Udonna, and that Clare should probably wait a while to ask.

Waiting was torture for Clare, but she restrained herself for a while. That was, until she met Daggeron, who had decided to feed Fireheart. "What are you doing here?" She asked. She had been the one to feed the dragon lately, so finding Daggeron there seemed out of place.

"Just... visiting the dragon."

"Visiting the dragon?"

"Yes, just visiting with Fireheart."

"Visiting with..."

"I'm avoiding watching Nick break his mother's heart." He admitted honestly.

Clare raised an eyebrow. "What happened? Did Nick tell her he was a ranger?"

"What? No. Udonna's talking about Leanbow returning."

"Uncle Lee? Why would Nick break his mother's heart if Udonna's talking about Leanbow?" Clare asked, voice full of naivety.

Realization splashed over the knight's face. Slowly and carefully, he asked, "No one has told you, have they?"

"Told me what? Everyone's just telling me to go ask Udonna."

Daggeron thought for a moment, trying not to say to much. "When Udonna was teleported back here, what did she tell you?"

Clare hesitated for a moment. "N-Not much. Actually, she only called out my name before she collapsed."

"After that?" He pressed.

"Um... Well, when she came to, she mumbled something about Leanbow. I mean, I didn't know that she had found him until she had stumbled over to the crystal ball saying that he was turned back into Koragg. I mean that Leanbow is Koragg. I mean he was. I mean-" She stumbled over her words, looking flustered as she tried to clarify. "I really don't know what happened in the Underworld, or what happened after Udonna ran out of here saying that she believed in magic again."

"She stopped believing?" The Knight asked concerned. "Udonna stopped believing?"

Clare nodded slowly. "Yeah. B-But only when it looked like Leanbow or the Rangers would die! She figured something out about Nick's blanket, and then she ran out of here saying she believed again."

Daggeron took a huge breath. "Clare, sit down." He said, gesturing to a nearby chair. The blonde did as she was told. "Clare, um, not only did we find Leanbow, who you know sank into the depths, but Udonna discovered that Nick was... well...

"Yeah...?" Clare pressed.

"She found out that Nick was her lost son, Bowen."

Shock. Pure shock flooded Clare's face. "Udonna is Nick's mother?"

Daggeron nodded.

Clare continued. "Nick is my cousin?"

"Yes."

"Nick is baby cousin, Bowen?"

"Yes."

Clare stayed silent for a moment and Daggeron was waiting for a reaction.

"That's so cool! So why would Nick be breaking Udonna's heart?"

The older man sighed. "Clare, Udonna lost her husband again yesterday, to The Master again, no less, but she has found her son, who was with her this entire time. She still has hope that Leanbow will be back, but Nick doesn't think so. And Nick isn't one to let him opinions be unheard." Daggeron said with a heavy heart. He felt that he should have really let Udonna tell Clare, but he also felt that it wasn't fair to leave Clare, her niece, in the dark.

The younger blonde's face fell. "I'm sorry about Leanbow." She said carefully. Not only had he been her aunt's husband, making him her uncle, but he had been Daggeron's close teacher. "I know how much Aunt Udonna missed him after the war. And I know how highly she spoke of your relationship."

"My relationship? With who?"

Clare smiled. "Leanbow... and everyone else. She said that you were incredibly honorable. A great man. Was Leanbow's equal in values and virtue."

"I don't feel worthy of such praise." Daggeron stated flatly. "I couldn't be there for Leanbow the first time he fought the master, nor the second. I couldn't protect Udonna and Nick from watching Leanbow sacrifice himself. I've failed as a student."

"Don't say that." Clare said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Udonna said that you were very brave and loyal and corageous. She said that you laughed in the face of danger many times as an apprentice. I would just run in terror. She also said that you were also very gentlemanly to her and Niella throughout your training. Apparently, my mother was very taken with you. She said that you were a great and knightly friend."

"She said that?" Daggeron said with a deep blush.

Clare nodded. "Or at least that's what Udonna said that she said."

Daggeron just bowed his head. He knew that Udonna would never lie about her sister after death. Sure the two had gotten into trouble in their youth, but nothing insane like Leanbow's "I may have accidenly set Udonna's house on fire" story.

The two stood in silence for a moment before Daggeron suggested doing what had both come to the dragon's den to do. Clare and Daggeron each threw the dragon a head of lettuce before turning and peering into the main room, where Nick had just grabbed a broom, and Udonna had just walked out.

The two smiled as they withdrew back to the back room.

"So Clare... your life hasn't exactly been easy, and no one will claim that it is, but what do you think of your family?" He asked honestly.

"Oh... Well..." Clare began before smiling broadly. "I wouldn't have it any other way!"
-

I don't know why, but it really bugs me that Clare's relationship with Leanbow, Udonna, and Nick wasn't really built on in the show. I mean, you really forgot that she was related to them in anyway after The Gatekeeper. Kind of makes me sad. And even when Udonna goes on her quest to find her lost husband, Clare follows her and really doesn't mention that their quest is to find Clare's uncle. It really bugs me the lack of development of that family other than Nick with Leanbow at the end in Mystic Fate (other than Heir Apparent when they find out that they are family, and again, no mention of Clare as a cousin/niece). GAH! The annoyance.

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Okay, this was my first Power Rangers Mystic Force fic, let alone Power Rangers fic, let alone first fic in... a year or more? I don't know. Anyway, first PRMF fic, so please be kind. ANYTHING (except senseless flames) would be appreciated, so don't hesitate to review with constructive criticism. Also, tell me if you think this works in the fic, or if I should move it to a different story of it's own.

Review please!