Chapter 18

Hello All! I know it's been. . .well. . .it's been a while. I know it has. I just haven't had much muse lately. Or I'll get it for something completely different. And it's hard to find all the episodes for Mystic Force nowadays. So I have to follow someone else's fanfiction who goes by the story line and try to use that but then not use her ideas or anything. It's actually hard because I feel like I'm taking her story but I'm not, just trying to get the main dialogue from the episodes down.

Anyway, shout out to xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx for her fanfiction Mystic Force: Return of the Snow Ranger.

This fanfiction is the way I am able to write my fanfiction. So thanks so much!

Anyway! Onward!

Darkness. That's all Alyssa could see. She was standing in the middle of nowhere, darkness surrounding her, and silence. Deafening silence.

"Hello?!" She called out, listening to it echo around her, loud and reverberating. At first, there was nothing. She tried again. "Is anyone out there? Hello?" Nothing, but then something.

Laughter. It was faint, small, but heard nonetheless. She didn't understand it. She moved forward, one step at a time, wishing she had her magi staff so that she could light her path. But she was fumbling in the darkness, trying to make sure she was stepping on what she felt was ground.

She stumbled, tumbling to the ground. And the laughter grew louder. "Silly girl. Still think you can win." It was Imperious. She knew that voice anywhere. Alyssa picked herself up on her knees, looking down at scratched and bleeding hands, before turning to look at what she had tripped over.

She gasped, stumbling back once again. Staring at a body, which then became two and three, and then she realized where she was.

"This is what happens when the darkness takes over. This is what happens when Morticon gets his wish. Darkness takes over. And you, my dear, were here to help." Imperious voice spoke once more, as she looked around the city.

"No. . .no! I didn't! I couldn't!" She exclaimed, her own voice echoing around her.

"You are the dark." Alyssa spun around to see Koragg, standing there. He dropped something with a loud thunk, and Alyssa gasped.

"Nick!" She moved over toward the body of her best friend and lover.

"You caused this. You are the darkness that will take over." Alyssa looked over, and then she saw them. Madison, Chip, Vida, all laid out around her. Dead. She whimpered, shaking her head. "I didn't do this. I will save the world."

"Don't you see? You tried to save the world, and in it you destroyed it. You are the darkness, Alyssa, and your world will perish. All because of you."

"No!" A flash of lightning and a clap of thunder echoed with her scream. A flash of purple was seen as Alyssa opened her eyes, before fading back to normal. Alyssa sat up quickly, sweat beading her forehead. The sheets were twisted around her, trapping her. Her breathing was ragged as she tried to catch it. It was dark in her room, and she was trying everything to keep herself from freaking out.

"Aly?" Alyssa's head whipped around when she heard his voice. Nick suddenly appeared in the doorway, disheveled from being woken up abruptly. He had heard her scream from down the hall. Even though they were together, Nick still had a respect for Daggeron and Alyssa. He was merely a guest in the home, and even though he wasn't that kind of guy, he would respect boundaries and stay in his own room, which was nice anyway. But it was only down the hall, an easy two steps to her room in an instant likethis.

She was trying her hardest to untangle her legs, which was speeding up her breathing and causing her to panic. "Aly, hey!" Nick took two steps in the room, making it from point A to point B to help her. "Easy. I've got you." He moved quickly, sitting beside her on the bed and helping to untwist the sheets from her legs. Once she was free, Alyssa could breath. She didn't feel constricted or tied up. She could move. She looked up at Nick, meeting his eyes, purple still glowing but faint.

Nick had never seen her eyes do that. Only when she used her power-ups. Must have been a really bad dream. "Hey, it's okay. It was just a dream. Come here." He reassured her, pulling her to him quickly. He wrapped his arms around her gently, giving her space to move if need be. Aly settled into his arms, her breathing beginning to calm and slow down, her head tucked under his chin.

There were heavy footsteps, and soon Daggeron was in the doorway. He looked different, trying to blend in with the human world and the mystic world was a little difficult for him, but he was trying. Clad in a pair of star pajama pants and a gray t-shirt, he looked over the sight in front of him. Nick met eyes with the Solaris Knight, before nodding.

"Just a bad dream." He said softly, rubbing his hand up and down her back to soothe her. She was calm now, but still visibly shaken. "Aly. . ."

"I'm alright now. Just a bad dream, like you said." She said softly.

"What was it about it?" Nick asked, pushing a few sweaty strands of hair from her face. She looked up at him after a moment, before looking at Daggeron.

"Darkness. That's all I can remember." She said quickly. It was the entire truth, but it was enough to give them an idea.

Daggeron frowned, looking over his daughter, before nodding. He didn't say anything,but nodded his thanks to Nick. Where was Udonna when he needed her?

"There she is!" Xander joked as soon as Aly walked through the door. She chuckled, yawning and heading behind the register to deposit her back.

"You okay? Nick said you'd be late but didn't tell us why." Maddie asked, touching the girl's shoulder as she pulled her Rock-porium shirt on. Aly looked over at her.

"Didn't sleep well last night. Bad dreams. Nick and Daggeron both wanted me to sleep in a bit." She explained to the rangers, leaning against the register.

"Okay, random question. Is he dad or Daggeron to you?" Chip piped up from where he was sorting CDs. Aly chuckled. "Both?" She shrugged. "I'm still getting used to it, even though it's been a few months. He does the same with me. Can't decide whether he wants to call me Alyssa or Amethyst. So we just trade each time." She explained and chuckled, just as Toby walked in. "Morning Toby." She said softly, yawning again.

"And what a fine morning it is! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and I feel like a new man!" Toby exclaimed, jogging in place for a moment, before getting down and doing some push-ups. Aly raised an eyebrow, looking over at Maddie and Xander for a moment.

"Where is all this energy coming from?" Xander asked, following Toby toward the back office. Aly jumped up and sat on the register, looking over at them.

"Well, a few weeks ago, I was heading home from work, eating a jelly donut. When I began to huff and puff." Toby explained. "So, I've decided to turn over a new leaf. Diet and Exercise are the name of the game now!" He jogged from the front to his office door. "You know! I feel great! My body is a machine!" He exclaimed before disappearing just as Nick reappeared.

"What's up with Toby?" Nick asked.

Vida shrugged. "He's a machine." She joked, making the rangers laugh.

"Oh, what a brilliant idea! We can start an exercise club!" LeeLee suddenly spoke when she appeared. Aly smiled. "I don't think that's everyone's cup of tea." She said softly, but as LeeLee went to say something, Nick interrupted her.

"Just stop trying! You don't belong here and you never will. You can't change who you are." He exclaimed, before storming off. LeeLee looked heartbroken, and it actually stopped the rangers. "But I can change who I'm going to be." She said softly, before walking off. Aly exchanged looks with the others, before sighing. "Come on." She whined, jumping off the counter with Chip's help as they followed Nick.

"Um, don't you think you were a little hard on LeeLee?" Maddie asked once they had re-grouped together.

"Oh, here we go." Nick groaned.

"Look, I'm not a big fan of her either. Especially after we found out who she is. But I can't see anyone crushed." Xander countered, looking at him.

"You think I was too harsh, Chip?" Nick asked, looking over at the ranger.

Chip swallowed, before sighing. "I've seen tigers with less teeth." He admitted.

"Guys! Just because she looks cute and harmless doesn't mean she is. She's evil! Her mother is a vampire that almost got us. They took Udonna's powers. We can't trust her!

Aly swallowed. She was the darkness. Technically she was evil. Even though her mother chose good, that didn't mean there wasn't darkness running through her veins. "Look, Nick. . ." There was a beep as their morphers lit up.

"Where's Udonna?" Maddie yelled as soon as they were standing in front of Hekatoid, one of the Terrors. Hekatoid laughed, knocking his horn into Daggeron's sword and sending him flying.

"Don't try and stop me or you'll never see her again!" Hekatoid exclaimed.

"Let her go!" Maddie said again, looking at the creature. He laughed. "You'll never stop my plan. Wait until my babies rain down from the sky." He explained. The rangers looked up at the clouds, confused.

"What are you talking about?" Nick asked.

Hekatoid laughed. "Take a closer look." He spoke.

The rangers looked up, before gasping. "Tadpoles." Xander spoke. "Frog babies." Aly said with a disgusted look.

"Poisonous frog babies."

"Frogs. Why did it have to be frogs?" Maddie groaned, before they flew into battle with Hekatoid.

"Aly! Get down!" Daggeron yelled as Aly was thrown from the fight. Aly looked up just as Hekatoid moved to blow his horn. She covered her ears, feeling something wash over her. When she finally stood up, she realized the rangers were nowhere to be found.

"Now they're in my dimension!" Hekatoid called, before disappearing. Aly looked over at Daggeron, before back at the scene. Now what were they going to do?

"What are we going to do? He has Udonna and now the rangers, and there's no way to get to them from here." Aly exclaimed, running a hand through her hair and sighing. Daggeron sighed. There was no easy way to get to them, not like this. They were hopeless without any help.

"There has to be some way to get into the other dimension, to at least help get Udonna." Daggeron spoke, looking over at her.

"Only monsters and those who have contact with the Underworld can get there. I don't suppose you. . ." Aly thought, before her eyes widened. "LeeLee!"

"Pardon?"

Aly shook her head. "LeeLee! She's Necrolai's daughter. So, she has a way in and out of the Underworld. If I can get her to help us, maybe we can find Udonna." She said quickly, pushing her hair from her face.

"And how can you trust her?" Her father asked.

"LeeLee said she wanted to change. Maybe this can be a start." She didn't know exactly how, but she figured she could at least try. There was a loud gong, and Daggeron and Jenji hurried to the table.

"We have to stop those tadpoles from becoming frogs." Daggeron stated, looking over at Jenji.

"But shouldn't we be looking for Udonna, or the rangers?" Jenji asked. Aly sighed, before shaking her head. "You go on, try to stop Hekatoid and his plan. I'll go see if I can find LeeLee and get her to help us." She said, looking over at Daggeron.

He nodded. "Be careful." He spoke, touching her shoulder.

"I'm a ranger. I'm always careful."

It took a while, before Aly finally located LeeLee. She practically ran into the girl, grabbing her arm and pulling her to the other." LeeLee. Thank goodness I found you. I need your help."

"What for? To mock me again for who I am?" She asked, crossing her arms. Aly rolled her eyes.

"I heard what you said this morning, about wanting to change who were going to be. This may be your one and only chance to change who you are." Aly spoke quickly, practically pulling the girl. "I need a way into the Underworld, so that I can help save Udonna and the rangers, you can help me. You know how to get there."

"So, what? As soon as I help you, you're just going to go back to hating me." LeeLee argued, looking over at the girl. "How do I know you're not just going to leave me once I help you?"

Alyssa sighed. "Look. I know what it's like to have an evil parent."

"No, you don't. Your father is a Knight. How could he even be evil. . ."?

"Because my mother was evil. My mother was born to be evil, but she changed who she was. She changed who she could have been. I'm the epitome of the darkness, and yet I'm a Power Ranger. I can change who I am, and I'm not what people think I am. Isn't that enough?" She explained to the girl. LeeLee looked at her, before faltering after a few minutes. "It doesn't matter who your parents are, it matters who you are, and what you can be. Don't you see it?"

LeeLee looked doubtful, before sighing and managing a small smile up at Alyssa. "So, will you help me?" Aly asked, looking at the other girl. LeeLee smiled and nodded. Aly grinned. "We don't have much time! Come on!" She exclaimed, grabbing the girl's hand and heading into the woods.

"Aly!"

"Claire!" Aly ran at the young sorceress, pulling the girl into a hug. "And Phineas?" She looked over at the troblin. "What are you guys doing here?"

"We came to help find Udonna. What is she doing here?" Claire spoke, glaring at LeeLee. Aly threw her hands up. "She's helping us. But we could use some more." She said. Claire and LeeLee glared at each other, before following LeeLee to the cavern that led to the Underworld.

"Let me do this. They'll detect any magic." LeeLee spoke, before taking a few steps toward the cavern where Hekatoids' minions were waiting.

"Udonna!" Claire gasped as soon as they saw the sorceress, unconscious and laying on an altar.

"And they just left her here?" Aly asked, looking around. After a few fights with some Stykoids, Aly was just glad to get a break, and to watch Phineas and LeeLee flirt. Which was odd but cute in a way.

"Can you break the spell?" Aly asked Claire, who was surveying Udonna. She held her hands out and muttered something, but nothing happened.

"I can't. I need something stronger to channel the magic through."

"Will this help?" LeeLee asked, reaching in her bag and pulling out a staff. "The Snow Staff? LeeLee, where'd you get it?" Aly asked.

"I borrowed it, without asking." LeeLee said with a laugh, before putting the staff with Udonna. Aly moved, clasping hands with Phineas and Claire as they made a circle, reciting the spell to hopefully break Udonna free.

"Fall my children!" Hekatoid yelled. Even though the rangers had freed themselves, there was no stopping him. However, nothing happened, the frogs never fell.

"They're frozen." Daggeron spoke. The rangers turned, knowing only one ranger that could do that.

"Thought you all could use some help." Udonna spoke, smirking as she lowered her snow staff, joining in on the fight. Alyssa followed behind, running at the familiar rangers. "You saved her?" Xander asked.

She shrugged. "With a little help. Now, ready to finish this Terror off?" She asked. The rangers nodded, before the morphed, finishing off the Terror with the help of the white mystic ranger.

"I thought I'd never see you again." Nick spoke softly, hugging his mother once the rangers finally returned to Rootcore.

"Everything happens for a reason, Nick. We just don't always know what that reason is." Udonna responded to her son, before hugging him. Alyssa smiled, leaning against the wall next to Daggeron and Jenji. It was nice to be back at Rootcore with everyone. It felt like everything was normal.

"What is she doing here?" Nick snapped, looking over when LeeLee entered. Claire moved and stepped forward, along with Phineas. "She's with us." Claire spoke, defending the young vampire. Aly moved quickly, standing in front of the three between them and the rangers.

"Nick. She's good. She helped us save Udonna. She doesn't want to be like her mother. Give her a chance." Aly spoke, grabbing Nick's arm and looking up at him. Nick looked down, before sighing. "Come here. Can't have a group hug without the entire gang." He said, grabbing LeeLee's arm and bringing her in. A huge gang of misfits. Misfits that would save the world.