Mystic force: The Last battle
Summary: Nick had left Briarwood a year ago and he left his precious blanket with someone he trusted. And now, when he finally had things sorted on this end, his thoughts seemed to return to Briarwood once again. Thoughts? Plural? No. Thought. A single person occupied his mind. The current keeper of his blanket, Madison Rocca.
CHAPTER 4 BLUE AND RED
"Almost there!" She muttered as she stretched her hand to the top shelf. Till of course, everything came toppling down over her. "Uff!" She stabled herself and the rack as she was showered with magazines. "I hate this job!" She screamed as she bent to pick up the fallen materials.
"Now, now. Why's that?"
She looked up to see Toby grinning ear to ear, holding a bright blue guitar. "I didn't mean—ahem—what's that Toby?" Madison asked, turning a shade of red in embarrassment. She had to admit, sometimes she'd grow tired of all the arranging and selling, but then Toby's supportiveness and understanding (and tolerating) nature kind of made up for that.
But still…
"Oh this?" Toby raised the guitar slightly and tilted his head. She could tell that he had been hoping that someone asks him anyways. "This—"
Vida's arm casually dropped around her sister as Madison smiled slightly. Her boyfriend, apparently, chose to enter the shop at the same moment. But Toby seemed unfazed. She and her sister only listened to him out of politeness.
"Well I just wanted to honor you, Maddie."
"Heh?" Madison looked taken aback. Vida's eyebrows rose slightly too. Chip and Xander, deciding that the conversation was interesting enough, leaned in to listen too. Madison blushed as Nick's lips drooped in fake wonderment. She'll get back to it later. Surely.
"Yes, yes! Well you see…that video you made has become so popular that customers have been pouring in this shop double over! 'That's Rock Porium, where Madison Rocca shot that film', they say!"
Madison, if possible, turned a deeper shade of red. Nick, even though was sweet and doting most of the times, still never missed a chance to embarrass her, saying that it made her cuter. And right now he was doing the same thing, by suddenly clapping for her. "For Maddie!"
Toby looked surprised but grinned nonetheless. And well, Vida, Xander and Chip had to make it more embarrassing by singing made up songs about her.
"You don't have to—Uhh!"
Madison was interrupted as Toby handed the guitar to her and smiled. "I'd like you to put it in that display in the front! As a tribute to the blue mystic ranger!" Madison heard Nick whistle and pursed her lips. Not wanting to hurt his feelings (since she already bellowed about the job before), Madison walked with the guitar hurriedly. On the way to the display, she made sure to nudge Nick hard in his ribs making him grunt and then chuckle.
"Well, then! Back to work everyone!" Toby chirped as Madison stood next to the display with her head in her hands, and Xander and Vida had burst in laughter. Madison sighed as she felt Nick put an arm around her shoulder and kiss her head. "Sorry 'bout that, Maddie. But you know I can't resist!" He grinned at the end, making her frown. "I –ah!" Her eyes landed on the earlier left pile of magazines on the floor and her shoulders dropped in defeat. "Ugh!"
"I got it!" Vida, to her relief, pointed her morpher at the pile. The pile, quite magically, rose to the air and one by one all the magazines arranged themselves on the shelves. Nick let out a small gasp, just like Madison and Xander. "Don't do it in public!" Xander hissed as Vida rolled her eyes. "Yes, because magic's such a deep rooted secret!" Vida retorted, scoffing.
Xander shook his head and mumbled something like 'it still freaks out some people', making Madison smile and lean into Nick. Two weeks ago, they had gone back to Rootcore, and miraculously revived their morpher's magic. And now, they were back to being rangers. Although there was no need for them to.
But Vida and Chip seemed to be having the time of their lives –doing tricks and what not to impress people. Xander had a hard time to control them, his leadership instincts warring with his own keenness to use magic. Madison and Nick were the only ones with some dignified control. Most probably because, in her sister's words, they were both mostly busy in snogging each other. Madison would bury her face into Nick's jacket as always while Nick guffawed at her embarrassment, as usual.
"Alright, Toby! Lunch time!" Chip screamed as he dropped his hands around Vida and Xander, pushing them out of the shop. "Oi! I'm the manager!"
"So you don't eat lunch?" Vida grinned as they walked to the nearest Pizza place. "Yeah—well!"
Madison and Nick walk after them, hand in hand and smiling. These days one would find Nick, to general astonishment, radiating a warm happy glow. Not that Madison didn't. It's just not what people expected of him. Madison wasn't surprised though—or may be a little sometimes—but she was mostly smiling because she had seen the glimpses of this side of his personality during her dark-fighting (derived from crime-fighting by Chip) days. When her sister was turned into a vampire. Or when they were practicing magic. Or when they were doing something fun with everyone before.
All in all, Madison couldn't be happier. Of course, Vida still held an argument every now and then that Nick still hadn't said those three magic words. Madison would drop a subtle hint that she didn't say them either, but Vida in retort would just say "Yes, but you still openly dropped the ball on that matter!"
And then Madison would ignore her rattles all the day. The Vida would apologize for being nosy. And then they'd have a long hearty conversation of how much Nick has started resembling his father. Especially since both radiated happiness whenever they were around their lovers. Madison would start stuttering at the word and fumble with her hair (which had reached her waist now, much to Nick's delight—he kept playing with her locks at odd moments). But truly, even Leanbow now glowed with an air of content. Of course, getting back both his wife and son and winning the Great War was bound to make a person happy.
They'd all visited Udonna (Madison greatly embarrassed by her hearty talks about her son and her) and Leanbow. The openness about Nick and Madison's relationship made her a little nervous. But in the end everything was forgotten under the spell of laughter and rejoices.
Yes, everything was finally, as one would put, normal. (Although magical in some aspects) But Madison couldn't be happier. She knew Nick was too. He had finally settled. He had friends, family and of course, her.
Vida, Xander and Chip chatted animatedly as they entered the shop. But before she could follow them, Nick pulled her back out. "What's wrong, Ni—Bowen?" Everyone called him Bowen now. She was practicing but sometimes 'Nick' would just slip out. Nick would tell her he didn't mind. 'It reminds me where I came from and where I am now', he's say. But right now, his eyes held something which she had seen only in his battles against the evil. A soft glowing amber light resembling fire visualized in her mind. And that's what it was in Nick's eyes.
"Nick?" She called softly, as he sighed. His voice was feeble and rung with shame. "I know you're busy with all that videography stuff, but could you come with me on this Friday?"
Madison titled her head and smiled. "Where?"
"Somewhere."
"Okay." She gave a quick peck on his cheek and pulled him into where their friends waited for them.