A/N: Sorry for the ridiculously long wait for an update; real life once again took over. On another note, this was a chapter that came out of nowhere but I think that it is one of my best works. Just to clarify: this scene is something totally thought up, but in its creation still connects to the episode "Heir Apparent I". The content is something a little out of my comfort zone, but I think it turned out well. I've tweaked a few minor items to fit the theme a bit better, but the overall idea of this and the Rangers' time in the Underworld/Infershia has stayed the same… I think. Enjoy!
"…": characters talking to each other
'…': characters talking to themselves
(…): extra facts about something in the story
(Takes place during "Heir Apparent I")
Theme 50: Test
Chamber of Rituals, Infershia/Underworld, December 31, 2006, 11:30 pm – Mystical Realm
The trapped teens looked at each other helplessly. They'd struggled to escape without fail, but no matter what they did, it was never enough. Imperious had trapped them well and good, and Chip had even remarked sadly that Superman couldn't save them.
Whereas Nick and Chip were muttering between themselves, trying to come up with a last minute plan (Imperious had left them alone for some time now, probably to further demoralize them), Madison was observing her twin and Xander. It seemed like he was trying to talk to her, but she was ignoring everything that came out of his mouth. She did happen to catch a few words, such as, "date", "blond", "bimbo", and some rather harsh expletives from her sister aimed at the Minotaur. Xander looked determined, though as to whether that determination was focused into finding a way of escape or in trying to get Vida to listen to him was not seen; nevertheless, he seemed determined to do something.
"Vida, listen to me, please," Xander's words sounded sincere, but Madison knew that he could easily fake sincerity if needed; in fact, each of the them had had to do that since becoming Power Rangers and mages-in-training.
"Why should I, Xander? I gave you a task, a test, and you failed. You let me down." Madison could have sworn that she heard anger and sadness mixed together in her twin's voice and a part of her was ready to rip the Green Ranger to pieces for causing her sister pain... then there was the other part, who was curious as to what the two were talking about.
"So I failed, Vida. I'm sorry about it, but if you'd just seen her –"
"That's it right there! I don't want to hear how you're sorry that some blond bimbo garners more attention than me." Vida's hisses were just loud enough that Madison could hear the words contained, but Nick and Chip could not.
"Vida, listen to me. I'm sorry, but hear me out before you pass judgment." He paused and then added softly, "Please."
A sigh then a muttered okay; Madison strained to hear what her two friends were now whispering, curiosity taking over every other thought process, including that of trying to figure out a way to escape the hellhole in which they were trapped.
However, she didn't hear anything as footsteps soon reverberated around the chamber. Xander and Vida's whispered conversation instantly halted, though Madison could see that the tension around them had evaporated; Nick and Chip were watching the door, dreading who was going to enter. True to their fears, Imperious practically floated into the room, the armor-clad Koragg behind him. Necrolai slunk inside just as the stone door was slammed shut.
"Precious Rangers, how nice of you to join us," Imperious declared walking in front of the five Rangers, each of whom struggled to get their hands free enough to strangle the mummy. "No, no, that won't do. I will not move close enough to put my life at risk. Who do you think me to be, Morticon?" He laughed at his own joke, amused.
As he continued his stroll near the Rangers, he stopped near the Rocca twins. A smirk wove its way onto his face and he reached out a hand to touch Vida's cheek; there was nothing she could do to stop him. Xander, incensed, struggled against his bonds and, miracles of miracles, managed to get one hand loose enough to reach for his Morpher. Unfortunately, Necrolai saw this and with a snap of her fingers a Hidiac had its weapon pushed against the Minotaur's neck.
"Green Ranger, how did I know that you would react the strongest, hmm?" Imperious moved closer to Vida, taunting his foe, whose eyes were attempting to literally burn the mummy. Said mummy was currently dragging his nailed fingers up and down Vida's face, stopping at the edge of her neckline. A black tongue came out and licked his cracked lips. Xander struggled harder, in the process receiving a shallow gash on his neck from the Hidiac's weapon. He didn't care.
Madison watched, alarmed, as Imperious practically eye-raped her sister, who was by now shivering out of a combination of fear and anger. She tried to free herself as well but Imperious' fan was soon pointed at her neck, causing her to freeze.
"Mermaid, do not force me to act," Imperious warned eyes glaring at her. "I much prefer to have my victims alive to... enjoy the rewards that they are granted as my prisoners." He muttered a short incantation and soon the fan was floating in place, leaving his other hand free to touch Vida's hair, smirking at the shock of bright red hair that met his snarled, cracked, gray fingers.
Xander was, by now, all but snarling at Imperious, muttering curses. Nick and Chip weren't far behind, neither wanting to stand by as their teammate was taken advantage of, but like Xander, Hidiacs were guarding them to ensure that they didn't escape.
Finally, Imperious' hands drew back after he stroked the Sprite's face once more. He retrieved his fan with a wave of his hand and moved to stand beside a rather large reflection pool, kneeling. He began chanting something in a language that Madison could translate a few words of, and what she understood was bad. Very bad.
Xander's eyes had now turned to Vida, who wasn't even trying to escape (though the Hidiacs were all now focused on the irate male Rangers), her eyes glassy. Madison could tell that his heart was breaking at the look in her eyes. She could tell that he just wanted to go over to her and reassure her that she was fine, that he would protect her no matter what. But, unfortunately, he was unable to at that time and place.
As Madison's attention turned back towards Imperious, she didn't see Xander's finger twitch; if she had, she might have recognized the miniscule mind-connection spell that Clare had taught the Rangers for fun one day a few weeks previous on one of their rare days off from studying offensive and defensive spells. Chip had dragged them into it, and the others had agreed as they'd been in a mood to do something fun with their magic. If she had, she might have joined the conversation and heard Xander's promise to Vida, which went something like this: "V, I promise that I won't fail you again. This test I failed; I wasn't able to protect you from the mummified bastard. Next time, though, I will. That's a promise that I intend to keep, no matter what."
