A/N Thanks to everyone for waiting so patiently for me to get this story started. It has been a long time coming and I can't wait to share it with you. I'd like to add a thanks to NaNoWriMo and the great friends I made along the way who helped me to bring this story into life and a special thanks to my close friend Twix3780 who has stuck with me through all of this and for being my sound board.

Anyway enough from me. I hope you enjoy the story.

Novi was sat on a bus heading back to Oceans Bluff when the ground started to shake, and the bus swerved on the road. Once things settled down Novi heard the phone in her pocket chime.

T- Hey Novi, sorry to bother you, Sensei says you need to come to the Academy.

N- Is everything okay?

T- Not sure but she says it's important that you get here as soon as you can.

N- I will be there soon, in fact I'm almost in Briarwood now as I was heading back to Ocean Bluff.

T- OK see you soon.

Novi tucked her phone back in her pocket and pushed the bell so the driver would know she wanted to get off the bus. The bus slowed as she pulled one headphone out of her ear, grabbing her bags from the overhead rack, and climbed off the coach. She then pulled out her phone to send a message to RJ to let him know her return would be delayed.

N- Hey RJ, I got a text from a girl at my old academy saying that Sensei Yuza needs to see me as soon as possible. I'm not sure what's going on, but I might not be back for a while.

RJ- No worries. See you when you get back.

~~~xXx~~~

She saw some familiar faces as she headed for Sensei Yuza's office, knocking on the door.

"Enter," come a voice from within.

Novi opened the door to see the Sensei sitting at her desk.

"Have a seat," she said indicating to the empty chair across from her desk.

"I had a text message from Tessa saying that you needed to see me and that it was very important, is everything alright?" Novi asked.

"Everything is fine. It just that I got a message from Udonna in Briarwood informing us that the Gate has risen. She requested you to return to Briarwood immediately as someone with your unique magical abilities will be an asset in case the darkness should once again try to enter the Human realm."

Novi nodded in agreement. Her abilities were unique so much so that it had been hundreds of years since anyone alive had been able to wield them and most people were afraid even at the mention of them. Unlike most students at the Academy who had only one or two elements they could learn to master, she had four. It didn't take long for the rumors to spread across the school about a four-core elemental. Not long after she had been asked to leave the school as many people, both students and their parents were concerned she was a too much of a danger to the school. Sensei had sent her to Oceans Bluff to train with RJ and she ended up staying there until now.

"Here is a scroll to give to Udonna once you get there," said Sensei Yuza pulling Novi out of her own thoughts.

"Thank you, I won't let you down," said Novi taking the scroll.

She grabbed her bag and headed out of the Academy. She headed to the nearest bus stop to head back to Briarwood.

~~~xXx~~~

It felt weird being back here again, after everything that had happened at the Academy. She was about to head in the direction of the forest when a familiar voice called her name.

"Novi?"

She turned around to see Maddie and the others outside of the Rock Porium. Maddie hand her camera in her hand and Vida was lounging in the back of her truck, music coming from behind her. She smiled and headed over to them.

"I thought that was you," said Maddie as she got close. ""Where have you been? You haven't been around in a couple years?

"I kinda got kicked out of school here and had to move to Ocean's Bluff," Novi explained. There was a lot more to the story, but it was things she couldn't tell them. She hated lying but she didn't have much of a choice.

"Ooh, what did you do to get kicked out set the place on fire?" Vida teased.

"Something like that," Novi said with a laugh.

Before anyone could say anything more, they heard a man speak.

"Someone please help me, please someone, anyone I need help," he begged.

Novi dropped her bags in Vida's truck and follow her to where the man was standing.

"It's my brother, we were walking just up the road and some creature grabbed him. I fear the worst. It's just out of town, the creature took him into the woods," he continued to explain.

At the mention of the woods many of the people that had gathered around shook their heads and started to back away.

"Imagine that V, him asking someone to go into the woods, V?" Xander said when Vida didn't even look at him.

"Won't somebody please help me?" the man begged again.

"I will," came another voice to the left of the group.

The crowd parted and there knelt a boy around her age, working on his motorcycle. He set down the tool he was using and stood up, wiping his hands on the leg of his pants.

"I could use a break," the boy said coming over to the man.

Xander walked over to the boy and blocked his path.

"I'm Xander, you're new around here aren't ya? Probably not aware of all the facts and there is just one, you go into those woods, you don't come out," Xander explained.

"Heard about it, but the guy needs help and no one else in this city seems to care," said the boy.

"I'll go with you," said Vida stepping forward. "Not everyone in this city is a coward."

"I go as well. I used to live here and kinda know my way around the woods," said Novi stepping next to Vida.

"I'll go to, I've always wanted to go on a dangerous quest," said Chip enthusiastically. "This is a dangerous quest, right?"

"Perilous," said Vida.

"Sweet!"

Novi smiled at Chip's childlike enthusiasm. He hadn't changed a bit since she had been away.

"Well let's go," said the boy with the motorcycle heading in the direction the old man had indicated.

Novi and Vida quickly followed leaving Xander and Maddie watching them departure. They followed the old man as he led them out just outside of the city limits and to the edge of the forest. Novi saw that the 'Danger. Do not enter signs remained and it was here the old man paused and turned to them.

"Are you sure you are willing to enter? The woods are a very scary place."

"You ask a lot of questions for someone who's brother is in danger," said the boy.

"Everyone is in danger," the man replied.

"Everyone is in danger? Ah yeah!" said Chip.

Suddenly they hear a car beep behind them, and the group turned to see Vida truck being driven by Xander and Maddie in the passenger seat.

"Xander, I told you if you ever took my car, I'd rearrange your limbs!" Vida warned.

"You are going into the woods, and never returning. As if you are ever going to see it again," said Xander in a mocking tone.

"He's got a point," said Chip.

"You're my sister, where you go…I go," said Maddie.

~~~xXx~~~

With that the six teens, leaded by the old man entered the forest. It was just as creepy as Novi remembered, like the others she had heard the stories of people entering the woods, never to be seen again or stories of strange creatures being spotted wandering through the woods and even though she had walked through them many times during her time at the elemental academy it didn't make them less creepy. Novi shuttered as they passed through the invisible barrier that separated this world of the Mystic realm, a chill running down her spine. Maddie seemed to feel it to as she paused and spoke to them.

"What was that? I felt something, something weird."

The others turned to look at her and noticed the old man was no longer with them.

"Wait, where the old man?" he asked walking around looking for where he might have gone, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Ten seconds in the woods and we are already lost," said Xander in disbelief.

"All right," said Chip excitedly.

He was the only one who seemed excited by the idea of them being lost. The woods around the was silent apart from their footsteps and Chip's voice as he told stories about the things they were rumored to live in these woods. Novi wasn't listening as she couldn't shake the feeling that someone or something was watching them. She heard a rustling to her left and quickly turned only to find nothing there.

"Ive also heard that a witch lives her, she's hideous, with green skin and a black tongue with yellow drool that slows drips out of her month when she speaks," continued Chip and they walked deeper into the forest.

"You've been reading too many fairy tales' friend," said the boy from the back of the group. "Guys there is no such thing as witches."

As he spoke Novi and the others had turned to face him and Novi took an involuntary step back as behind the boy a figure in a black cloak was standing behind him. The boy laughed seeing the horror on their faces.

"Okay, so now you're playing with me. Ooh, someone's behind me. I'm so scared," he said in a mocking tone.

"There is someone behind you," said Vida her voice shaking.

Nick whirled around to see the cloaked figure and he jumped back letting out a small cry. They starred at the figure as it got closer. Novi tried to move but found her feet refused to cooperate.

"Anybody wanna run?" asked Maddie.

"Already tried, but my feet won't move," said Xander nervously.

Suddenly a group of strange creatures burst from the forest and surrounded the six teens.

"She brought friends," warned Vida as the creatures moved around the menacingly.

The woman in the cloak pulled out some kind of wand and uttered a phrase in a strange language and the six teens found themselves being lifted by something and carried through the air heading deeper still into the forest. Novi looked up to see she was being carried by a flying broom and could hear the shrieks of the others. The brooms seemed to know where they were going and soon Novi could see a large tree that stood below the rest of the canopy and below it a clearing in the forest. She felt her stomach lurch as the brooms started to descend and they teens were deposited in the clearing.

"So New Guy, now you know why on one goes into these woods," said Xander as the teens stood up.

"My name is Nick," he replied.

"What is this place?" asked Vida looking around the clearing.

Novi was just as lost as the others while she had been in these woods before, she had never gone in this deep and had never seen this clearing before.

"I call it Rootcore," said a raspy voice behind them.

They turned around to see the cloaked figure from before and she was walking towards them. The six teens slowly back up and she got closer the mouth they hadn't noticed closed behind them. They stumbled around in the dark down a hallway Novi nearly tripped as she found themselves in a dimly lit room.

"I thought it best you were brought here," said the voice again making them jump.

"Hi, I'm Xander, it's a really nice place you got here. It's really…woody," he said rapping his knuckles on the table in front of him.

The woman pulled out the wand again and pointed it behind them, they turned to see the brooms that had carried the here, materializes into colored coded spots.

"I am the sorceress Udonna," the woman said flinging off the cloak she had been wearing. "Welcome to my home."

As she held out her arm the room started to light up and the teens could see monitors, seating areas, symbols on the walls around them.

"When the six of you entered the forest, you stepped into a magical dimension," Udonna continued to explain.

"A parallel dimension outside of Briarwood. Do you live in a great city or what?" chip interrupted.

"A few years ago, there was a great battle in our world. Dark magic conquered our realm and was about to enter your dimension, when we finally defeated them and sent them back to the Underworld, but at a great cost. The gate was sealed with a powerful spell, however during the recent earthquake a crack appeared in the gate and evil has slipped through," Udonna explained.

"'Member me, Xander? Well, I just wondering what that has to do with us?"

"It could mean the end for both our worlds," Udonna replied.

"Please," said Nick with a laugh. "None of us are buying this fairy tale."

"This is not a fairy tale; what I tell you is what happened."

Nick laughed again in disbelief.

"Hey, let's at least hear what she has to say," said Novi turning to Nick.

"Yeah, we can always leave after that," said Vida in agreement.

"The Xenotome, the book of the unknown. In it is everything we do not know," said Udonna opening the book in front of her. The other gather around as Udonna spoke an image and strange language appeared on the page before their eyes.

"What kind of language is that? I've never seen it before," said Maddie moving in for a closer look.

"It is the language of the Ancients," said Novi earning a surprised look from Udonna.

"That is correct. You will soon learn it. It says that when evil rises again six Mystical warriors from the human realm will step forward. You are those warriors, you are the Power Rangers," said Udonna turning to the teens.

"Look excuse me but there must be some mistake. How are we going to defeat pure evil? Our high school hasn't even won a football game in like six years," asked Xander.

"These are your magic wands," said Udonna as she began hand each teen a wand.

"Udonna…Udonna? Oh, hello, nice to meet you. Udonna?" the girl then leaned in to whisper something in Udonna's ear.

"You must stay here until I return. Do not go into the woods by yourselves " said Udonna waned before she snapped her fingers and vanished in a flash of white light.

The girl snapped her fingers, but nothing happened.

"I wish I could do that, I practice, and I practice but…Nothing."

She suddenly remembered that they were there and turned to them.

"Oh uh…hello again. I am Claire, sorceress-in-training here at Rootcore.

"Okay that's it. I'm outta here," said Nick as he started to head for the exit.

"Uph, no, you can't go. Udonna said you have to stay here until she returned," said Claire blocking Nick's path.

"Yeah, we all better go," said Maddie. The others nodded in agreement.

"Oh, this is not good…I know I will conjure a spell that will freeze you where you stand until Udonna gets back…Corum oviat ditrum," Claire muttered but it clearly didn't work as she changed into a sheep.

Nick staggered back and quickly set his wand down on the Xenotome and rushed out of Rootcore, the others followed his lead. Novi watched them leaving debating whether to follow them or stay and wait as Udonna had instructed them. She soon changed her mind and followed the others tucking her wand into her back pocket. She wasn't going to disobey two orders from Udonna.

~~~xXx~~~

She sprinted through the forest and quickly caught up with the others as the reached a nearby woodland village but as she approached, she could see something had attacked the village and most of the huts were damaged and charred.

"What happened here?" asked Maddie.

"Woodland village was destroyed, tomorrow it will be another village. The darkness destroys everything in their path until they find what they want," Udonna explained.

"What are they looking for?" asked Chip.

"Me…and then they will go after you."

"Hold on just a sec, I never agree to be part of this," said Nick.

"It is them; it is them the protectors are here," cried and Elf coming towards them and calling to the others. "Hail the Mystic Force!"

Soon most of the creatures in the village stood and knelt in front of them.

"Ive always wondered what it would be like to be worshiped, it's not so bad," said Xander wand Vida just rolled her eyes.

Suddenly the calmness of the forest was shattered as a large creature thundered towards them and the woodland creatures fled. Novi figured this must have been what destroyed their village before.

"Okay that's bad," said Xander.

"Take out your wands," said Udonna.

Novi was the only one who had brought the wand with her.

"Ugh, we kinda left them back at the tree," said Chip sheepishly.

"Alright stand back," Udonna said to them before turning to face the creature. "You've left me no choice."

Magic Source, Mystic Force!

"Flurry of Snow, White Mystic Ranger!"

Novi watched as Udonna morphed then followed her lead.

Magic Source, Mystic Force!

"Wielder of the Elements, Scarlet Mystic Ranger!"

Udonna jumped up and fired a blast of ice at the large creature but it didn't seem to do anything.

Novi looked down and saw she was in a similar uniform as Udonna only hers was scarlet in color.

"Whoa so this is what that feels like," she breathed before turning her attention to the large creature.

She touched the ground a drew water from its depths and aimed it in a fine beam at the creature which groaned but didn't really seem to have an effect on it. The large creature slammed a fist aimed at her and Udonna, but they were able to back-flip out of the way just in time. Novi heard more sounds behind them, but she didn't have time to look like the creature tried to hit them again and she was barely able to roll out of the way. Novi again drew power but this time from the earth itself and launched a barrage of rocks at the creature, but it just batted them away. It covered it eyes with it hands before blasted at the pair with beams that shot out of its eyes. Udonna was able to move out of the way but the blasts hit Novi in the chest and knocked her back on the ground hard. Her suit sparked but she remained morphed. Novi could now see what the other noise was. Several human shaped creatures were fighting with the others. They were gray in color and their faces were half rotted away. The larger creature seeing Udonna was still standing took a swipe at her knocking her to the ground.

Udonna!" Novi called out but Udonna quickly got up on one knee and spoke to the others.

"Remember to use magic, all you need to do is believe in magic."

Novi took a deep breath and tapped into her fire power, she hated using this because she couldn't yet control it but nothing else seemed to be having any effect on the creatures. She closed her hand into a fist and flicked it open, to her surprise a small flame appeared in her hands and she smiled to herself. She aimed both hands at the creatures and turned the blast on it. The creature roared as the flames hit it. Novi watched as Udonna launched an attack of her own and the creature froze solid.

"Alright," Novi cheered but the victory was short lived as she turned and saw Nick was in trouble. The others had clearly managed to tap into the magic within them, but Nick was having trouble. Novi went to help him, but Udonna held her back.

"He needs to do this on his own," she told her.

Novi watched as the creatures blasted Nick knocking him once again to the ground.

"Okay, I guess I believe too," Nick said breathlessly but nothing happened.

Novi glanced at Udonna as the creatures moved closer to Nick, their weapons drawn to attack, and she was about to rush in herself when Udonna used her staff and froze the creatures and they disappeared.

"Power Down!"

Udonna demoprhed and looked over at Nick before turning and speaking to all of them.

"Very nice. You truly are the ones. Are you up to the task? Are you know ready to accept your legacy?"

"Oh yeah, bring it on," said Chip eagerly.

"I'm in," agreed Vida. "I kicked some serious evil back there."

"Definitely, " said Novi. "That was amazing."

"This is so unlike me but…but I'm sticking with my sister," said Maddie.

"Someone's gotta look after these guys, right," said Xander putting his arms around Vida and her shoulders.

Novi laughed and shrugged him off, lightly hitting him in the chest. Nick was the only one who hadn't agreed to be a part of the team.

"Me? No way. I'm outta here."

"Are you sure this is what you chose?" asked Udonna walking closer to Nick.

"Look, the 'I believe in magic' thing didn't work for me."

"Try believing again, maybe it didn't catch one the first time," suggested Maddie.

"He is a non-believer. I can do nothing for him," Udonna said her voice almost sad. "Claire will lead you out of the woods safely. Claire?"

"Here I am," came Claire's bleating voice.

"Oh, my dear child, when will you get your spells right?" Udonna asked with a light chuckle. "See him safe passage."

"Yess Uddonna!" Claire bleated. "Follow me"

Udonna raised her eyebrows at Nick before he turned following Claire out of the forest.

Suddenly there was a loud crack behind them, and they turned to see a figure standing there. It was dressed in purple armor with a shield and the hilt of a sword in the shield. It liked almost like a knight and he spoke to them.

"You may have defeated my hidacs, but you will not defeat me. Wolf Attack!" he called out.

The eye on his shield opened and from it shot two wolf heads encased in dark magic hit them knocking them to the ground.

To Be Continued…