A/N: Greeting readers, here is the first chapter of my story, 'The Cursed Heart'. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Chapter One: The Capture.
The Master was finally destroyed, everyone in Briarwood was glad it was over. Except one person. Xander was sitting on a rock, outside of Rootcore, thinking about the times he had as a Ranger, when suddenly, out of the bushes, came out Phineas the Troblin. Xander leaped from the rock, "It's only you, Phineas," He spoke.
"Oh, it's only you, Xander." Phineas replied, sarcastically. "So, why aren't you back at Party?"
"I'm not really in the mood…you know…after…"
"I know, after you had finally defeated the Master, you thought you would be glad that it's over, but you're not."
"Right." Xander began to massage his neck, as he continued to speak. "Hope you don't mind Phineas, but I like to be on my own."
"No problem, I should be getting back anyway. Leelee will wonder where I am." Phineas stood up and said, "See you later." He started singing to himself as he walked off, leaving Xander on his own.
A couple of hours later, Chip, Madison and Vida were still at the Rock Porium, cleaning up. "Has anyone seen Xander?" Vida asked.
"Phineas told me that Xander was sitting outside of Rootcore, when he saw him." Chip answered.
"I hope he's okay." Madison said.
"I'm sure he's fine, sis." Vida replied.
"Do you guys think Nick will come back?" Chip asked.
"I'm sure he will," Vida replied. "After all, Maddie's got his blanket."
Madison giggled.
Meanwhile, Daggeron walked out Rootcore, finding Xander still sitting. Daggeron spoke, "Xander, it's getting late, you should heading home." Xander didn't reply. As Daggeron sat next to him, he asked, "What's the matter? I thought you would be glad that it's over."
"I am. I'm just really going to miss everything we've done as Rangers."
"I know, we all will."
"Daggeron, will it be okay if I stay here tonight? I will be homesick, if I go home."
"Won't your parents be worried?"
"They're visiting relatives back in Sydney, so I'm on my own. Please?"
Daggeron thought about it for a few seconds. He replied, "Very well." Xander smiled. "But," Daggeron continued to speak, "you'll be sleeping with Fireheart." Xander stopped smiling and his eyes widened. Daggeron chuckled. "I'm kidding. You can stay with me and Jenji."
"Thanks." They both smiled at each other as they got up and went inside of Rootcore. As they entered, the newly sorceress Clare appeared out of nowhere, Xander leaped two steps back, looking stunned. "Xander will be staying with us tonight Clare." Daggeron said.
"That's great…I mean, it's nice to have someone-some people to stay," she replied as she looked bashfully at Xander. "I'm just going to, um, check on Fireheart." She clicked her fingers and vanished. Xander wondered what was going on with Clare. Clare's never been shy around me before, Xander thought. I wonder what it is?
Suddenly, Jenji the Genie came out of lamp, he said to Xander "Hey Xander. What brings you here?"
"Well, Daggeron said it was okay that I stay here overnight." Xander replied.
"Fine, but I don't want you asking me for wishes. The last time Chip stayed overnight, he wished for a herd of Sheep so he could count them to make him fall asleep."
Meanwhile, Chip, Madison and Vida were walking into the forest laughing and chatting, when suddenly, a bolt of purple lightening attacked them, from out of nowhere. They screamed as they fell onto the cold, wet grass. They grunted as they got up, when a dozen Hidiacs grabbed them, but they managed to break free. " I thought we got rid of the Hidiacs." Madison panted.
"Let's take care of these goons, before something else happens." Vida replied.
They ran towards the Hidiacs and started attacking them, they took the Hidiacs down one by one, when suddenly, the lightening reappear and attack them. Back at Rootcore, Clare checked out the crystal ball, and shouted, "Daggeron, look." Daggeron and Xander ran towards the crystal ball, to see what was going on. "Hidiacs?" Xander spoke, "but I thought they were gone for good."
"Something's not right." Daggeron replied, "Come on, Xander, we have to help them." They ran out of Rootcore, as Clare continued to check what's happening in the crystal ball. As soon as Madison and Vida got up, they lifted Chip up . Then, out from one of the trees, an armoured warrior, in black and purple spandex, appeared. She spoke, "You may have defeated those Hidiacs. But you will not defeat me." They ran to attack her, when she blasted the lightening bolt at them. They were stuck to the ground, they tried to move, but they couldn't. They looked down, a purple spell seal was dragging them down under the surface. Suddenly, two people yelled out for them. The warrior turned around. It was Daggeron and Xander. But, by the time they got there, warrior and the other rangers were already going down the surface. Xander ran towards them, but it was too late.