AN: Heres Ria's past...
Thunder rumbled ominously overhead. Ria, Claire, and Chip were spending the night in Ria's flat. Ria and Claire were spending some quality sister time away from everything and Chip had come to visit. But a massive downpour and thunderstorm had started and Ria had refused to let him go home fearing he would catch a cold. So Chip was spending the night with her and Claire with Ria showing both of the animes...
Xxxx...
Suppressing a yawn Chip sat up on the couch which he had claimed as his bed much to Ria's contrition. He rubbed his eyes and say in the faint light a figure moving in the shadows and his ranger instincts kicked in.
"Who's there?" Chip asked standing up as the figure jumped.
"Sorry, Didn't mean to disturb you Chip..." Ria said through the shadows.
"You didn't. But why aren't you asleep?" He asked as he tried to make his way to her.
WHAM! Ria switched on the light to see Chip sprawled on the ground.
"Are you all right?" Ria asked concerned.
"Yeah! Tripped myself..." Chip mumbled. "You didn't answer my question though. Why are you up?"
Ria bit her lips before saying quietly, "I didn't want to wake you two up with my screams.."
"Screams?"
"My nightmares...I...They make me scream," Ria mumbled looking down wishing he wouldn't ask about them, she didn't like lying to him.
"I am here to help you, you know..." Chip told her. That did it, Ria thought, he wasn't asking for details, he wasn't asking questions, he was offering to help. And so Ria found herself wanting to confide in him. He is my best friend, she thought, he deserves to know.
"Well sit down for this is going to take time," she waited until they both were comfortable. "Do you remember 5 years ago I wanted to tell you something important?" At his nod, she continued, "Well it was that my so-called uncle... he abused me..."
"WHAT?" Chip screamed as Ria flinched slightly which calmed him down.
"Please don't interrupt or I won't be able to tell you." Ria pleaded. Chip visibly calmed himself down and gave a nod for her to continue.
"It started when gran fell ill, a week after my 7th birthday. He came back. It started small, he used to order me to do chores from cooking to cleaning and would lock me in my room without food if it wasn't done. The first time he hit me was when I burned the steak. He slapped me hard and locked me in my room without food for the rest of the day. As time passed the periods of locking up and starvation grew more frequent as did slaps and even punches. He broke my hand the first time I broke a vase. You remember a few days before my 8th birthday, I told you guys I had fallen down the stairs, it was a lie. The same lie he told gran... She never suspected anything. As time passed broken bones became a regularity as did burned hands. My injuries healed a lot faster, due to my magic I suppose, which infuriated him even more. Then gran died and I grew afraid, what would he do to me now? He grew more vicious. A week after her funeral, he came home drunk. He was angry, he had a broken bottle of alcohol, I was in the way..." She slipped her right sleeve to show him the marks as Chip blanched.
"It was when I decided to tell you. I couldn't take it anymore. I had swallowed my pains so that gran wouldn't be hurt, but I had reached my limit. I tried to tell you the next day. But he interrupted
us and dragged me home. He was furious. He took his belt and... and whipped me. I have forgotten how many times; all I remember is a pain for what felt like hours... Then... then he tr-tried to r.. rape me..." Ria broke down crying as Chip clenched his hands in white-hot rage. "My magic reacted and he was thrown back. He hit the wall and collapsed. I was scared and I ran... I ran away... out of town. I fell into a river and knew no more. When I woke up I was in a forest, the same one where I found Takara." Ria finished and began to cry as Chip hugged her close, whispering soothing words.
"He's dead now," Chip told her, which she already knew. He had died in a fire accident. "He's never going to hurt you... no one is...I promise." He vowed to her as both finally fell asleep.
They were oblivious to a silently weeping Claire who had heard everything from the doorway. She vowed to always protect her little sister...
Xxxx...
The next morning, the Rangers stood in the forest near Rootcore, ready for their first training session with Daggeron. The storm had ceased earlier, and the smell of rain still lingered in the air as the Knight stood in front of the Rangers. Niella watched from the side with Udonna, both smiling a little.
"You must always be ready for the next battle, even if it does not come," Daggeron told them as he paced in front of them. "And to be ready, you must know the ways of the Mystics. You cannot win with magic alone. You will need to hone your fighting skills as well," he told them before his gaze flitted to Chip and Ria as the pair yawned widely. "Am I boring you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No, just up late," Chip told him as he stifled another yawn.
"Ok, if you think that you can be ready by staying up late, step forwards," Daggeron instructed Chip. The Yellow Ranger frowned, glancing to Ria, before stepping forwards. "Prepare yourself," the Knight rushed at him suddenly, and the others stepped back as Chip reacted with surprise, barely dodging Daggeron's attack. However, with a quick sweeping kick, the older man knocked him to the ground. "You are not focused Chip, and that means a quick end for you in a real battle," Daggeron told him sharply.
"But I wasn't ready!" Chip complained as he frowned up at him.
"The enemy won't wait for you to get your act together," Daggeron told him. "I wonder just how committed any of you are to this cause," he shook his head, and Ria stepped forwards.
"Can I try?" she asked, looking innocent. Daggeron looked at her in surprise and watched as the Silver Ranger helped Chip to his feet. "Spar against you, I mean," Ria looked back up at her father.
"If you think you are ready," Daggeron nodded, looking skeptical.
"Uh, Daggeron, perhaps you should-" Udonna started, but Daggeron interrupted her.
"It's alright Udonna," Daggeron told her patiently as Chip stepped back. He didn't seem to notice the smirks starting to make their way onto the other Rangers faces as he fell into a fighting stance. Udonna smirked and glanced at Niella who was looking concerned for her daughter. Ria didn't move, and with an irritated frown, Daggeron moved forwards. Ria easily dodged his first attack, before catching his leg. She kicked him back, and while he was surprised, Ria leaped at him, spinning through the air and catching him with another kick to the chest.
"You're wrong about us lacking commitment," Ria told him as he looked up, a hand on his chest as Ria stood in a fighting stance. Niella looked at her in shock.
"You've been trained," Daggeron nodded in understanding as he got to his feet. "But that does not mean you are ready to save the world! For that you must always be vigilant," he rushed at her again, and this time Ria side-stepped him. Before he realized it, Daggeron was grabbed by his hand and with a perfect judo throw, Ria had him on the ground.
"Oh I guess I am not really a lot vigilant if I stay up late or else you would have defeated me," she replied innocently as the other Rangers hid their laughter.
"What was that?" the Knight questioned from the ground.
"That was martial arts- specifically judo," Ria stated.
"I tried to warn you Daggeron, your daughter has a lot of tricks up her sleeve," Udonna chuckled. Daggeron got to his feet as Ria straightened up. He watched as the other Rangers walked over to Ria, laughing as she smiled at them.
"You probably would have beaten me if you'd not held back," Ria commented to the stunned Knight as Niella helped him up, looking equally amazed.
"I am trained in martial arts; basics of all types and am a master of kung fu," Ria told her parents
"You went to Forest Spirits? The hidden academy of martial arts?" Daggeron looked at Ria in surprise, and the girl nodded.
"But it takes years to learn the basics of all forms, let alone be a master.." Niella looked at her in awe.
"Graduated in 5 years," Ria laughed. Daggeron didn't reply, amazed by how experienced Ria already was.
The other rangers groaned as they realized that three months had already passed off of their bet, and they had lost. (AN: Check first few chapters for more info)
Xxxxx...
After training had ended, the group had gone back inside as Udonna told Daggeron and Niella of Ria's first fight.
Later Daggeron and Niella walked through the forest discussing what they had heard when they heard a distinct sniffling. They looked about to investigated and came across Claire.
"Claire, what is it love?" Niella asked softly making her jump. "Why are you crying?"
"Oh mum!" Niella and Daggeron were suddenly tackled by a very upset Claire. They both stared at each other as they tried to soothe the girl.
"Its Astara," Claire sniffled.
"What about her love?" Daggeron asked his eldest.
In response Claire told her parents all about Ria's past. By the end of it Daggeron was looking to murder someone and Niella was in tears...
Xxxx...
When her morpher chimed, Ria looked down at it quickly.
"We've got trouble in town, meet us there," Nick told her quickly.
"On my way," she told him and flew to the town.
Ria arrived on the battlefield just as Nick went flying past her. When the monster turned to Vida to strike her next, two energy-balls slammed into him and sent him flying.
"Why didn't you let me know?" Ria asked.
"Ask Chip and Daggeron," Vida told her. Ria turned to look at them.
"This monster is dangerous. He traps you in your darkest nightmare and draws your energy" Daggeron told her indicating to Maddie, Xander and Chip who were trapped in a dark cloud and were clearly in pain.
Ria shuddered a bit. They all looked around as the monster got back up, clambering off the table he had been thrown into.
"Come on guys, let's Ranger up," Nick called, and they nodded, drawing their morphers. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"MAGICAL SOURCE, MYSTIC FORCE!" they morphed into their Ranger suits and rushed at the monster to attack. Daggeron's Laser Lamp to striked it, making it cry out before the other Rangers attacked him up close. Bombarded by attacks on all sides, the monster struggled to get any hits in and was tossed back again.
"This isn't fair!" the monster whined. "Hidiacs!" he called on a large group of Hidiacs to help him out, and the mutants swarmed the team quickly.
"Oh yeah, cause this is totally fair now," Vida grumbled as she back-flipped and kicked one back.
"When is it ever fair for us V?" Ria commented as she ran past her.
"Well, we do have some help," Nick glanced over to Daggeron, who was taking the Hidiacs out with ease, both with his lamp and with kicks and punches.
"And these guys aren't that much of a threat," Ria commented as she took out a Hidiac with a spinning kick. Before long, the Hidiacs were destroyed and the monster was alone once again.
"No!" he cried out in horror. Then snarled and threw a dark energy cloud that hit Vida and Nick. They were enveloped in it. Ria looked horrified as they both fell to the ground screaming and crying, demorphed as the monster soaked their energy.
"NO!" Ria snarled and moved to attack the monster who turned towards her and threw another of his energy cloud.
"Astara no!" Daggeron leaped in front of her and was instantly enveloped into the cloud. He fell down in pain.
"Dad!" Ria screamed and attacked the monster with obvious fury. But it side-stepped her and then Ria felt a black cloud envelop her and she fell to the ground and demorphed as pain errupted in her body.
$ INSIDE THE NIGHTMARE $
Ria looked around her old cottage. Suddenly she heard something move and looked back...
There he was standing at the door. As he approached her, Ria felt herself freezing in fear. She tried to call her magic but nothing happened.
"Now there's no one to protect you," he gave a cold harsh laugh.
Ria coiled back in terror as he ripped her shirt. He then ripped off her bra, exposing her breast. He started to trail kisses on her body as tears stung her eyes.
Ria tried to stop him and flailed about in vain. As she was starting to loose hope and succumb to her nightmare, she heard a voice, a voice she knew only too well and it gave her hope...
"He's dead now"
"He's never going to hurt you... no one is...I promise"
The voice grew louder and louder until it filled her nightmare. It gave Ria hope the strenght to fight. She threw him back and then stood up shakily.
"Its OK to fear, but I will not let it rule me!" she snarled at him and the nightmare cloud vanished.
$ OUTSIDE $
Ria woke up from her nightmare and found herself on the streets facing the monster (her shirt was fine).
"What, impossible!" the monster screamed in horror.
"Enough playing. Time to end this!" Ria transformed into her ancient mystic mode and attacked the monster. She striked with both of her swords before kicking him and sending him flying.
"STAR SLASH FULL POWER!" She slashed the monster destroying it.
Daggeron and other rangers woke up from there nightmares.
As Ria power downed to normal mode, she heard gasps.
"You've unlocked your mystic mode?" Daggeron asked her in shock.
"Uh huh! Unlocked it when Claire was in danger. I can tell you about it-" She was cut off as the monster grew. "Or not. We've got this one!" she told Daggeron who nodded. The Rangers grabbed their morphers again, morphed back and activated the spell to become Titans.
"You won't beat me again!" the monster declared as they combined into their Titan form.
"Yeah, we will!" Chip told him, and they rushed towards the monster with their saber. However, the monster disappeared and reappeared behind them. "What-" they all cried out when the monster kicked them to the ground with a laugh.
"You won't beat me from down there!" he taunted them, and the Megazord got back up, swinging around. However, the monster disappeared again, this time reappearing a fair distance in front of them.
"That's my trick!" Ria complained. The monster laughed again and blasted them with dark magic. They let out yells as it threw them about, before forcing them to split apart.
"This isn't good," Maddie groaned as they pushed themselves up.
"I told you that you won't beat me again!" the monster continued to mock them and blasted Nick back when he attempted to attack him.
"This is not good, I need to help them," Daggeron grabbed his card again. He never got the chance as a white blur that shot through the sky, distracting the monster so his attack that would have hit Ria missed.
"What?" Ria looked around and her eyes widened as Takara landed on the roof beside her. "Help me defeat him?" she rolled over and crouched in front of the building. Takara began to glow silver.
She cast the spell code "UTHE MEJOR TAKARA", and Takara flew through a spell seal that appeared, causing her to become Titan-sized. The two combined.
The Megazord stepped forwards, calling on its weapon, ready to fight the monster.
"You and your nightmares don't scare me!" she yelled at him, blasting him with magic. When the smoke cleared, she found that the monster had taken a major blow.
"Really? Well, you should!" He told her and he disappeared, but Ria knew his pattern now. When he reappeared behind her, moving to strike, she spun around and sliced across his chest.
Suddenly her magi staff glowed. "New spell, lets try it," as she tried it, wings appeared on her megazord.
"This is awesome!" she cheered, laughing at the new power.
"Does anyone else know what's going on?" Nick asked, looking around at the others.
"No clue," Chip replied, shaking his head.
"Me neither," Xander stared.
Ria flew up before attacking the monster with great speed, "STAR TRIDENT FULL POWER" and destroyed the monster.
"That was cool," Chip told Ria as she joined them.
Xxxxx..
"You were amazing," Chip told Ria as they walked around the forest. "You overcame your fears and defeated the monster".
Ria blushed. She opened her mouth to say she did nothing special when she heard Chip sigh.
"Ok what is it Chip?"
Chip looked away guiltily, "I didn't want you to face the monster. But you still had to, because I didn't finish him. I promised to protect you and...and I failed."
"Chip look at me," she waited until he did, "You didn't fail me as you put it. You can't always protect me. No one can protect someone always. You were great. I couldn't have defeated him if it wasn't for you. I had lost hope, but then I heard your voice. It gave me hope and the strenght to fight, it helped me overcome my fears. You helped me to overcome my fears. You Chip Thorn are the best protector one could hope for," here she smiled. " You have been my best friend. You are funny, kind, amazing and-" she was cut-off by a surprising source as Chip's mouth closed on her.
The kiss ended as soon as it began. "I..I'm sorry! I overstepped my boundary...I.." Chip rambled on.
But Ria wasn't listening. She put a hand on her lips. Chip had kissed HER!! At that moment she knew that Vida had been right, she loved Chip.
She cut off his ramblings, "Why? Why did you kiss me?"
He stuttered, "I.. I am sorr-"
"Do not apologise! I want to know the reason! Why Chip?" Ria cut him off and asked.
"I.." Chip took a deep breath, "I love you.. I have fallen in love with you." He closed his eyes and waited for her to slap him and say she didn't love him back. He only hoped this wouldn't destroy their friendship.
Ria stood their for a moment before almost tackled him to the ground and smahed her lips on his. Chip was shocked, clearly not expecting it. Before long he began to respond. They broke of when they had to come up for air.
"That was... What was that?" Chip asked dazed. Ria giggled.
"That was me kissing you. I love you too Chip Thorn!" It took him a moment to process it before he grabbed her and swung her around and kissed her.
"YES!!" He yelled as Ria laughed.
They resumed their walk hand in hand. Suddenly Chip stopped. Ria looked around at him questioningly.
"Daggeron is going to kill me!" he exclaimed in horror causing Ria to chuckle.
_x_
AN: YAY! Finally Chip told Ria... Hope you liked it... Please review!!